I don’t mean a wussy go-to-Halifax-to-wave-them-off visit, I mean get your ass on a plane & go to a base that requires you put on a flack jacket? (I bet his son is real pissed he didn’t get to go.)
Does anybody know? I’m too busy to look it up right now, but I just have to say that THIS is whyI voted for Harper.
And this is also why I will never, ever vote for Jack. What a complete a$$hole. Just as the military get excited because for the first time in far too long they have a Prime Minister & gov’t (minority or otherwise) not just willing, but proud to support them, and there’s Jack back in Canada, being the prick that wants to burst that bubble.
As soon as I think I can type an email that will be both coherent & civil enough, I will tell that little weasel what I think of him. I might even post it.
But for now, back to YAY HARPER!!!!
I haven’t felt this proud to be Canadian in a long time.
crossposted at Waking Up On Planet X
well done PM Harper
I have to say I was soooooo proud of our Prime Minister when I watched the news tonight!!!
I say BRAVO!!!!!
Jean Chretien wearing the blue helmet backwards is the last visit that comes to mind.
Ted
Great news! Finally, maybe the rest of the world will stop viewing Canada as a bunch of weenies
Indeed, I just posted on the same subject.
Good stuff.
I have already left my happy sentiments everywhere but again: HURRAY HARPER!!
I guess Layton is starting to emulate Martin even more. The rhetoric of “american” everywhere smells like the same stuff that the other clown kept spouting during the election. Where was all this screaming when Martin originally signed off on this mission? Oh, that’s right, he was in bed with the guy while seeing Buzz on the side, too preoccupied with keeping two men happy at the same time.
“Oh, that’s right, he was in bed with the guy while seeing Buzz on the side, too preoccupied with keeping two men happy at the same time.”
Zing!
OOOWWW – Anne – Touche, Touche!!!
Speaking of Mr. Dithers – he has sort of disappeared – haven’t heard his dithering over anything lately!
I could not agree more . Jack and company have claimed that they are the caring party of the impoverished and the rights violated crowd. In truth , if we where to apply their policy , Afgan women could not be educated , or vote because we would not be their to lend support and ensure that a civil democracy emmerges.
If Jack had his way , Saddam would be in power ,to murder and rape . The US would be our enemy instead of our allie , ans Osamam could have a permanent home in Canada . Their feel good just does not cut it in a post 911 era.
Well, Well, Well – we know what Jack is smiling about anyway – just check out his picture with his two “friends” below. What a joke that man is!
http://dustmybroom.com/?p=3171
right on mr. harper its good to see a prime minister that actually acts like one . too bad so many of the soldiers are away from the base but thats the way it goes.
damn, that pic of boytoy layton sure puts that one of duceppe in the plastic hairbonnet to shame don’t it ? even beats the one of martin playin the guitar .
Forgot who mentioned it the first time around. (I’d give you credit)
But the debate will end with the uttering of these words:
“Mr. Jack, the thrust of the mission in Afghanistan is to secure freedom, democracy and human rights. This may include the ‘human right’ of same sex marriage.”
How can Jack come back to that?
How long is Harper staying there? I’ve heard several days, at least. If that’s true, it means that Harper is taking quite a significant risk here. I applaud him.
Wow, posted that last comment before I even saw that picture of Jack with the ladies, I mean men, I mean whatever, who knows!
Anyone catch the CBC Sunday Report? Love Eric Sorenson with “Prime Ministers frequently make foreign trips as a respite from politics at home” and right after Patrick Brown with “although no one will say it they are thinking that the timing for this trip could have been planned better with so many of the troops out in the field”. The fact that PM Harper will be giving a speech to approximately 1000 soldiers is a pretty good number, nearly half of them. Patrick saying that Harper must have noticed the empty tents is just silly. I am sure that PM Harper is fully aware that they are actually out working and doing the job that they are there for and he doesn’t need to have this explained to him, unlike the CBC.
Well. Done. Harper.
I am so proud to be Canadian right now, and I am SO proud of our PM!!
THANK GOD STEPHEN HARPER IS IN CHARGE!!! CAPTAIN CANADA A-L-L T-H-E W-A-A-A-A-Y!!!
Man, as a friend of Canadians, I’m overjoyed right now. You guys finally got a leader you deserve.
Yeah, and if the idiot media hadn’t been talking about him going there 10 days ago, he’d have actually gone then & spoken to them ALL. Those twits.
Suddenly I have this strange, but familiar feeling welling up in my chest. I can’t quite put my finger on it though, its been a long time since i felt this way. You know what……I think its pride!
Isn’t it great to actually have Prime Minister who actually displays leadership?
I hope that PM Harper gets the credit he deserves for this. I’d like to believe that even our media outlets won’t try and dilute the importance of the PM’s trip.
Latley, polling indicates that Canadian’s are unsure of our role in Afghanistan. However, instead of educating Canadians about Canada’s role in Afghanistan the media has been trying to turn it into “Canada’s Iraq”.
I know that most of the people who read this blog know this but…..the rest of Canada it seems does not:
1. Afghanistan is widely accepted as a legitimate war by most of the world. Unlike Iraq, Afghanistan was not a pre-emptive strike, an aggressive faction (Al-Qeada)was largely based in and supported by Afghanistan and its Taliban leaders.
2. The US was attacked by this faction. Therefore the US had a right to make war against it’s enemy. As one of our longest and most important allies, Canada is duty bound to support the US in its military actions in Afghanistan. Canada is almost completely dependant on the US for its own domestic security (on of the privilages of living next to a giant) If Canada ever needed the US for military help, we know they would honour their allied duties, however, this means that Canada must also support our ally when they need us.
3. Canada’s latest role in Afghanistan was a commitment of the formal Liberal gov’t. Who previously said that military decisions should not be open for debate in parliment, but who now are petitioning for this privilage. Any debate about Canada’s role in Afghanistan would undermine the support for our troops and should not even be considered until our current commitment is completed. Not to mention to pull out before the job is done would cause us to loose all credibility with the UN security council.
4. Canadians are used to seeing our troops wearing blue helmets on “peace keeping” missions. The job of a soldier should not be peace keeping, it should be peace making. Our soldiers understand the dangers involved in what they are doing, and unlike the pacifist left, they are willing to fight and risk death for what they believe.
5. Before the US entered Afghanistan the country was stuck in the middle ages with no sign that things would change any time soon. Now, Afghans enjoy numerous freedoms they didn’t have before. However, if the military presence in Afghanistan was removed before the job was done, all this would be lost. The Taliban would move back in, women would loose the freedoms they have gained, terrorists would once again have their haven to plot destruction, and all hope for the Afghan people would be lost.
6. Canada cannot afford to stick its head in the sand. There is a tough, dangerous, violent world beyond our shores. Pretending this is not the case, will not help anyone. Canadians say they want to have a more important voice in the world, this is impossible unless Canada takes on a more important military role in conflicts such as this.
7. Bill Clinton, the darling of the left, has openly supported the war in Afghanistan and Canada’s role in it.
Also, for Jack Layton to try and demonize the role of Canadian soldiers by attaching them to GWB’s policies is disgraceful. Canadians soldiers are putting their lives on the line for CANADA, and the so-called “Canadian Values” the Jack and Paul like to talk about so much. Why not stick up for all the Afghans who now have human rights, in part becuase Canadians cared enough to send our soldiers to their country to help liberate them from their oppressive rulers? We all know that if it was up to Jack, Canada would have no military role in anything.
2 men happy at the same time? ouch Anne.. haha
I watched msm ctv tonight… cool to see the insight into women, Ms Leblanc? and how they are filling one in seven positions in the armed forces…
As for Jack, the real problem he seems to have is that there is a chance that Canadian troops may have the same values as American troops? go figure…
They’re still calling it the “so called” war on terror. When their own reporters are killed, what will they call it?
I believe that the PM is elected to lead, and to “show leadership” like for example, by showing up where some other chicken shit PM has sent troops?
is that not what PMSH is doing? does Jack know what leadership is?
The G&M has this story with many negative comments, but also many positive ones. Way to go Harper. Also on the news was the story of a 56 yr old man from lotus land, arrested on his way to visit Reno. Reason, deserter from Viet Nam. 3rd soldier caught this week. Way to go US army. Seems those deserters had an arrest warrant issued at time of desertion and they are still in effect. Maybe if enough of them try to go home to visit, we will finally get rid of all the lefties in BC and other parts of Canada. He could face court martial and 5 yrs in prison. Thats an army prison, not a pleasant place. The US is sending a message to all past and present deserters, WE WILL NEVER FORGET. What happened to those deserters in Toronto. Did they get refugee status-bet not with Harper in charge.
Of course the cbc will put a bad spin on this. Wonder why the didn’t accuse him of lying when he said there had been rumors of his going and he denied it. Some posters wanted to know why it was kept secret. Canada really does have stupid people supporting toyboy. Anne, don’t forget Martins romp with BS. When there is a debate in the HofC, Harper can just ask the speaker to ask Martin to explain the mission and why we are there. It was his and Grahams decision to send them. Just proves they didn’t know what they were doing the past 18 months, if they have to ask Harper why the troops are there.
A hockey dad in Afghanistan, you gotta love it. It’s nice to have an honest Prime Minister out in the field, instead of an obsequious dissembler in front of a backdrop of Canadian flags.
OT, but check out the hair in the hand-shake photo at the first link. A long flight, and perhaps sweat and nausea left him with sort of a modified Jack Dempsey/Stanley Ketchel “do” — I find it really suits him. Ladies, am I wrong?
Finally Canada has a PM whose got a pair. Perhaps Jack the Weasal would tell us how he would have us respond should Canada get its own September 11. Perhaps he thinks we can appease Osama bin Laden with some hugs, making nice, and sweet talk. Perhaps he also believes in the tooth fairy.
24 Canadians were murdered on Sept 11 2001 and we have since been openly threatened, not by militants or insurgents ala MSM, but by terrorist thugs, hoodlums, cowards, and butchers. Like it or not, this is our fight as much as the USA’s (God Bless em). Whether you want our troops in Afghanistan or not, it is totally necessary for our own security that they be there.
Wingnuts like Jack Layton will kill morale amongst our troops. He, and those like him, should keep their traps shut unless they want to offer positive support to our armed service men and women.
Mary, that’s a great idea about asking Martin in parliament. I could just see the questions being posed to Harper and him saying “why don’t we ask MP Paul Martin to explain what it is he was trying to accomplish?” Never happen but a nice thought!
Exactly right you are Candace. Prime Minister Harper planned to go earlier but the media blew it at the time. I believe he always wanted to go despite that some think of it as escaping and a photo op now, this visit was important to him. Making it his first foreign visit as PM demonstrates how important this is to him and, hopefully, to Canadians.
My thoughts exactly Kate. I can’t remember when I was last proud to be Canadian.
Harper is making a statement here about who he thinks are the most important people he could visit on his first trip as PM outside of Canada.
Harper, over there. Very nice of him, but the real war is right here in Canada. The national debt, the dollar that looses all its value over forty years, the failures in health care. Overburdened taxpayers and bloated (mis)management in the public sector. The promissed government clean up that hasn’t happened yet and may never take place leaves me wary of Harper’s true agenda. Facts and actions, actions and facts will guide my decision of Harper’s rule.
Liberals have lost my vote forever, but Harper only has a day pass.
Darwin, most of your legitimate concerns are ones that will be dealt with in parliament which has not sat yet. To make the changes that you mention they must happen inside the HoC which resumes on April 3rd. I am sure that a very busy agenda is planned for this first sitting, should be interesting, hope you’re watching.
Yes, it is nice of Harper, isn’t it? Instead of him considering this down time and watching hockey, playing with the kids, he has been very busy working and doing things for Canada. This extremely important trip demonstrates that he is a man of action instead of a guy of hot air, like Martin.
I glad he fired his cook…harper looks 6 months pregnant.
Chill, Darwin – maybe wait until Parliament sits before bailing?
Jack’s apparent sin: he wants a debate in Parliament on what looks very much like mission creep in Afghanistan. A debate. Imagine that. What an asshole, eh?
I’ll ignore the inevitable homophobia that slithers and oozes into SDA threads. But be aware that the DMB picture is already yellow with age. Its relevance? I have no idea. Perhaps someone can explain.
way to go SHPH. great move. i only wish you would have invited the AH’s layton and martin to join you.
that should have been SHPM, sorry for the error.
Dr.D – the DMB picture is as relevant as Harper at the Stampede & Duceppe in a hairnet IMHO. It isn’t.
Jack needed to ask for a debate around this mission when it was decided, not now, but as Anne pointed out earlier, he was too busy trying to get “his” budget passed to make too much of a fuss – oh, that & “making Parliament work for Canadians.” He will likely GET his debate on redeployment or renewal which is an appropriate time for a debate.
Does Jack think we should withdraw from a mission that is run by NATO with UN sanction? Maybe we should just withdraw from NATO & the Commonwealth while we are at it?
For the record, Jack lost ALL my respect when he stated that he would let his wife or family suffer rather than pay to have a serious medical condition dealt with. He is an ideological zealot (when it suits him, see “integrity” and “making parliament work” and “budget written on a cocktail napkin” and you don’t want me to get going on “investigate Emerson” (because the NDP might get that seat) but sweet F all on Belinda (because the NDP didn’t have a hope in hell – who was it that Buzz campaigned for? Certainly not Jack!s candidate) and a danger to his own family.
I guess, if I were Jack! I wouldn’t take my daughter to the optometrist more often than once every 2 years, since that’s all that’s covered under AHC? He’s an ass.
Exactly, Dawg — what an asshole. We finally agree — what a relief. Jack is pandering to his base, pure and simple. At a time when courageous Canmadians who exemplify the best in Canadian character are using their values to negotiate peace in a critical and troubled region, Jack Layton decides that’s just the right time to quetion their motives for being there. Good thinkin’. Man.
“Base” — two conflicting, opposite interpretations of the word “base”.
And “Mission creep”? Well,….
Leave it to Jack to reverse thrust the engines just as the plane lifts off the runway.
WAY TO GO JACK!!!!
🙁 🙁 🙁
PM Stephen Harper “Man of Moxy” goes to Afghanistan.
Democracy with the JAM!!
Svelte, smooth and ON TARGET.
How do you spell political BULLSEYE!
So what’s all this s..t about us being sooooo proud of Harper? To read some of these posts, you’d think that he had single-handedly stormed an enemy machine gun nest.
It’s a good photo op and it no doubt raises the morale of the troops, but lets get real. The chance of him hearing a shot fired in anger in what is a fairly low level insurgency are pretty remote.
And since someone will undoubtedly ask the irrelevant question if I’ve ever been in an area of guerilla warfare myself, the answer is, “Yes, just doin’ a job, and I wasn’t on a military base surrounded by hundreds of soldiers.”
And we have photo opps of Chretien & Martin in flak jackets with the troops WHERE?
I like the way Hans says it! Steven, it was risk taking and I thought you should have put it off till we had more control in Afghanistan.
However, if you are going to take risks for our guys who have the job of pushing down the jackals who Russia backed off from, then I suspect you will do what is best for Canada as well.
Pay no attention to Jack headache and Broadbent toothache. 73s TG
Candace, Martin always had a flak-jacket: his dissembling, ceramic grin. He wore it everywhere, and at all times.
Zog: Were you the elected leader of the country that was heading up the mission in the “area of guerilla warfare” that you were in?
As far as being on a “military base surrounded by hundreds of soldiers” I guess those soldiers must have magical mortar and rocket umbrellas that prevent anyone from getting hurt. (To be fair, most of the mortar and rocket attacks haven’t done much more than damage structures, but there is always the risk of the enemy getting in a lucky shot.)
I agree the PM isn’t “single-handedly stormed an enemy machine gun nest”, but he is definately taking a risk in being over there, and I think most posters on here are happy to finally have a PM who is willing to take that risk to show the troops first-hand: “Yes, Canada supports you and your mission.”
As a member of the Forces, I find it refreshing to have a PM that is willing to do that.
Regardless of what you might think, the Prime Minister is a prime target for the enemy over there, so kudos to him making the trip. (And we have had a foreign affairs officer killed over there…)
Zog:
I don’t think anyone was expecting PM Stephen Harper to go and lob a few grenades at the enemy from his slit trench.
Since we, as Canadians just elected him, we might want to keep him around topside of the cemetary for a while. Looking at the wrong side of the lawn has some decided drawbacks.
When contrasted with the fateful and tortured past like Rwanda in which about a million souls perished because the world was too lazy to give a tinker’s damn; it is perhaps a refreshing change of pace. The United Nations couldn’t for the life of themselves,or even worse those they were supposed to protect, get their act together; perhaps this NATO mission potential success will shame them into tightening up their protocols.
Given the recent “oil for food” schtick and corruption at the UN; maybe a nice NATO success will put some welcome political heat under Kofi Annan’s administration of the UN. Humanitarian progress is supposed to be their stock in trade, but they have come up woefully short on far too many occasions.
When you look at places like the Sudan and Darfur which is just now emerging from a 21 year civil war the lame response from the so called ‘civilised world’ urgently needs some refining.
The alternative is to continue to call on Divine Providence in one’s throne speeches soliciting guidance; only to have the governing authorities suggest to Divine Providence that not a few in creation will be marked “RETURN TO SENDER”.
After Bosnia, Cambodia, Rwanda, Sudan maybe the world deserves a long overdue humanitarian and democratic success. If that isn’t a good enough reason to go to Afghanistan then we can leave the them all hanging like the world did in 1992.
The lesson in Afghanistan should be clear; you can’t turn a nation into a pile of rubble then leave and expect that there will not be any fallout.
The Russians and US used the place as a geopolitical ‘playground’ and didn’t bother cleaning up the mess they left behind.
If you were a local Afghani whose family is mostly eating the “big dirt sandwich” one certainly wouldn’t have a big love for outsiders.
It goes without saying that no one wants to bring their soldiers home in a box. Regrettably, that is the price one pays in respect of democratic freedoms. What I do get exercised about is having one’s troops fielded with substandard equipment such as the Iltis jeep now withdrawn. I’m sure General Hillier had a jolly time penning letters to families of soldiers who died in the line of duty; due to the fact that they were driving, as General Lewis Mackenzie (ret.) would have it, “a piece of shit”. If the lefties in the press and media have a hard time with this; let me know when they catch up.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, carry on.
Finally, Canada gets a REAL leader!
CBC Sunday Night…anybody else thinking what a noxious little scumbag Patrick Brown is? How does he know what the troops are thinking about the timing of Harper’s visit? The Prime Minister is showing some real leadership in this whole matter of deployment and the support he is demonstrating on behalf of all of us. Brown wouldn’t know leadership if it jumped up and bit him in the ass. But we still pay for him and the rest of the poisonous crowd at CBC.
Jack is just his usual backstabbing lefty.
THEY CANNOT BE TRUSTED IN ANY SITUATION!!!
Harper for Canada = Aslan(Chronicles of Narnia)
Dr. Dawq mentioned “mission creep”: (Sneer?).
“Jack’s [Layton?] apparent sin: he wants a debate in Parliament on what looks very much like mission creep in Afghanistan.”
Here is the “mission creep”, Dr. Dawg.
The creeps, AdScam Chretien/Martin, are gone & forgotten.
Here is the mission. +
Revised operational plan for
NATO �s expanding mission in Afghanistan
What does this mean in practice?
* ISAF will have a larger footprint across the country;
* ISAF will establish additional PRTs;
* ISAF will establish Regional Area Commands;
* There will be enhanced operational training support provided to the Afghan National Army;
* There will be additional forces and supporting elements provided to ISAF as it expands into the more operationally challenging environments in the south, and then subsequently the east of the country.
When will this happen?
The next stage of ISAF expansion is planned for 2006 and is known as Stage 3 Expansion, which will result in the following:
* ISAF’s area of operations will be expanded to include six additional provinces: Day Kundi, Helmand , Kandahar , Nimroz, Uruzgan and Zabul (see attached map);
* Four Regional Commands will be established at: Mazar-e Sharif, Herat and Kandahar for ISAF Regions North, West and South respectively and one for the capital, Kabul;
* Four additional ISAF Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) will be created in the Helmand, Kandahar, Uruzgan and Zabul provinces, subject to national approval (see attached map);
* An additional Forward Support Base will be established in Kandahar (see attached map);
* Deployment of ISAF operational mentoring and liaison teams to Afghan National Army units at various levels of command. These are small groups of experienced officers and NCOs that will coach and mentor the Afghan National Army units to which they are attached;
* ISAF will be increased by up to 6,000 personnel potentially bringing the total number to approximately 15,000;
(Currently 26 Allies and 10 non-NATO countries contribute some 9,000 personnel to the operation).
ISAF and Operation Enduring Freedom relationship
ISAF and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), the ongoing US-led military operation in Afghanistan, will continue to have separate mandates and missions. ISAF will conduct to focus on its stabilisation and security mission whilst OEF will continue to carry out its Counter-terrorism mission. + more…
http://www.nato.int/issues/afghanistan_stage3/
As soon as I think I can type an email that will be both coherent & civil enough, I will tell that little weasel what I think of him.
Been there — done that.
The NDP doesn’t care of course, being clueless, self-absorbed ,and smug as they always have been,but I felt good .
I heartily suggest eveyone else does likewise in a civil but pointed manner. At the very least it will annoy them just a little. That is always a ‘good thing’.
It should be noted that our troops in Afstan are now under US Operation Enduring Freedom (which bothers me not at all); they are scheduled to come under NATO ISAF sometime this summer.
See this post at “The Torch”:
“Afstan: Canadian officers take command at Kandahar and of Regional Command (South)”
http://toyoufromfailinghands.blogspot.com/2006/02/afstan-canadian-officers-t_114115588468095379.html
Mark
Ottawa
The last recorded visit by a Canadian PM of Canadian troops was Mackenzie King…who the troops refered to as “casper” and disliked because of exempting Quebec from the draft. I recall that he was booed and cat-called the one time he did review the troops. King did not visit troops in a war zone but inspected them in Britain well behind the front.
Of all the wars and police actions our troops have been sent into after WWII there has never been a PM who visited troops in an active war zone for morale… just to thank them for their service.
Tells me pretty much all I need to know about the testicular fortitude of the craven windbags we elect to run this frozen wasteland.
KUDOS to Harper for breaking the status quo bunker mentality of Canadian PMs at war/conflict.
The accounts of the brave actions of the PPCLI and reserves were suppressed/deliberately withheld from Canadians by the creeps, AdScam Chretien/Martin and their socialist lackeys, including the NDP.
Read the story of The Medak Pocket.
Veritas Odit Moras: Truth Hates Delay. (Seneca)
“General Cot was sure that the Canadians would not back down in the face of any intimidation in the Medak Pocket. Events later proved him right.So it was that Canadian troops…”
The Medak Pocket
Excerpt:
When Canadian troops first moved into the Medak area to implement the cease fire, Croatian special police had not finished ethnically cleansing three Serb villages seized during the initial assault. If they were discovered, Croatia’s image as a victim of Serbian aggression would receive a crippling blow. Their solution was to engage the Canadians in hope that a few well placed rounds and a UN casualty or two would scare them off, just as it had the previous January.
Unknown to the Croatians at Medak was that the new UN Force Commander, French Lieutenant-General Jean Cot planned to turn up the pressure on the warring parties to cease hostilities. His decision to insert the well armed Canadian battlegroup into the Medak Pocket as a formed manoeuvre force, instead of stringing them out in isolated observation posts, was part of his overall policy of enforcing international agreements and restoring UN credibility.
The Princess Patricia’s were the best choice for the job being fully mechanized in M-113 Armoured Personal Carriers and possessing a platoon of mobile armoured TOW anti-tank missile systems. In addition to being well trained and combat ready, the Patricia’s had already developed a reputation in Croatia for taking a tough line against cease fire violators. General Cot was sure that the Canadians would not back down in the face of any intimidation in the Medak Pocket. Events later proved him right.So it was that Canadian troops found themselves engaged in action with units of the Croatian Army and special police.
Preparations for Deployment
Of the 875 Canadian soldiers who served in the battlegroup sent to Croatia for Rotation 3 of Operation Harmony, based on 2nd Battalion of Princess Patricia=s Canadian Light Infantry, only 375 actually came from that unit. 165 came from other regular force units and assignments. The remainder of the battlegroup consisted of 385 reserve soldiers who had volunteered from militia units across the Canada.
Due to the requirement for highly skilled regular soldiers in support and technical trades in the battlegroup and the overall shortage of combat infantry soldiers in the Canadian Army the majority of those reservists served in the rifle companies. In fact, reserve soldiers made up 70% of rifle company strength during the mission. This includes 7 out of the 12 platoon commanders who came from militia battalions.
This sort of reserve augmentation was not new in the Canadian Army. For decades, under-strength regular battalions would have their ranks filled out with reservists before deploying to Cyprus. Indeed, after much debate in the Canadian defence community, regular unit augmentation with individual soldiers has become a primary role for reserve regiments. Post-Cold War conflict proliferation and the resulting spike in the number and intensity of peacekeeping missions, combined with a shrinking defence budget and regular army, meant that in the 1990’s militia augmentation became vital. This was especially true in 1993 when the Canadian Army was stretched nearly beyond its means, providing two battlegroups to the Foremer Yugoslavia (the other in Bosnia), one to Somalia and a number of other units, detachments and individual soldiers to a myriad of missions around the world. Nevertheless the 2 PPCLI Battlegroup in Croatia contained the highest concentration of reserve soldiers on an operational mission to date. Militia performance, especially in a tense and demanding theatre like Croatia, remained to be seen.
The mixed bag force spent the first three months of 1993 conducting preparation training first in Winnipeg, and later in Fort Ord, California. Much of this time was spent working the large reserve compliment up to basic regular force standards for section and platoon battle-drills. There was no time to properly exercise the companies, let alone the whole battalion. Besides, section and platoon skills were generally all that is required of soldiers manning observation posts on UN peacekeeping duty. Who could know that the 2 PPCLI platoons would be called upon to gel together and go into action as a full battalion. + more…
http://www.cda-cdai.ca/library/medakpocket.htm