Christie Blatchford: Reinventing the Canadian Soldier

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Christie Blatchford, is a Canadian journalist who has spent a lot of time nosing about Afghanistan in the company of Canadian warriors. After hours in the heat and dust with the sweaty and cursing soldiers who call themselves the PPCLI (Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry), Christie wrote a book called Fifteen Days.
“What’s the big deal ?”, you may think; well, it is a big deal.
It’s been a long time, decades in fact, since Canadians have been involved in what are called offensive military operations … that’s the hunting down and killing or capturing of bad guy by the way. An entire generation, or two, of Canadians have no idea what it’s like to send men to war and have some return in caskets. An entire generation, or two, of Canadians have grown up thinking that only Americans go to war, and that Canadians by and large aren’t a warrior people. An entire generation, or two, of Canadians can’t comprehend Canadians hunting down and killing enemies.
Christie Blatchford sets the record straight in what can best be described as a blunt, in your face, description of Canadians at War in Afghanistan. And, she’s done it only as a woman could. Let me explain.
Were a man to write the story, he would be sure to lay out in geographic and technical terms a global view of the stratagems involved. Then, he’d describe, once again in geographical and technical terms, the battles, peppered with firsthand accounts in what we call “anecdotal” tales. It’s the way military history is written … it’s the way most writers do it … it’s the rule.
Christie doesn’t do that … she just lays out what she’s been told … often with spotty technical detail, often with crude or hardly comprehendible geographic detail, but with exquisite human substance. She tells it like she heard it … she tells it like they’ve told it to her … and she does it without deleting the “fucks” or tears or ugliness. What you end up with is an accurate, yet sometimes schizophrenic account of what our people have gone through and accomplished.
Christie’s book sets out what soldiers are like … and what it’s like to love soldiers.
Warriors aren’t pretty, they aren’t boy scouts … in fact, they are more like rig-pigs with a brutal job to do and supported by a cast of often nervous handwringing loved ones. Christie delivers a wonderfully unfiltered version of 15 days in the Afghan heat with some of the toughest Canucks walking the earth.
Fifteen Days will become a key contribution to Canadian history. It will become a key work in revealing to Canadians how extraordinary … yet ordinary … our warriors are. It will become a key work in revealing how un-heroic … yet heroic, military families are.
As a supporter of Canadian involvement in Afghanistan I’ve got to get my shot in, so here it is.
I dare anyone to read Fifteen Days, then stand before Canadian warriors who have been there, or stand before their families, and tell them that Canada is wrong-headed in its involvement with Afghanistan … tell them that their services would best be served on the Golan, or in Cypress, or garrisoned here at home. I dare you.
Fifteen Days, by Christie Blatchford, read it.
crossposted @ Canadian Heroes

46 Replies to “Christie Blatchford: Reinventing the Canadian Soldier”

  2. “Warriors aren’t pretty, they aren’t boy scouts …”
    As Churchill later said of the Battle of Britain RAF heroes, “I didn’t say they were saints, I said they were heroes.”

  3. My cousin Jim Sinclair is one of the soldiers in this book. Jim truly believes in what he is doing. He also knows far more about world politics then the majority of Canadians.

  4. My cousin Jim Sinclair is one of the soldiers in this book. Jim truly believes in what he is doing. He also knows far more about world politics then the majority of Canadians.

  5. Books on Canadian military history, let alone good ones, are hard to come by. So this one from Blatch is welcome and one that I will add to my collection.
    I can recommend some others:
    In Enemy Hands – Dan Dancocks
    This book is done Barry Broadfoot-style: put a tape recorder in front of someone and type what they said. This book is all about the Canadian prisoner of war experience in WW2, including accounts from Hong Kong vets. It’s a fascinating read, and the only place I’ve seen mention of the Kelowna Kid, a Japanese-Canadian who fought for the Japs and either tortured or tormented Canadian POWs.
    Six War Years – Barry Broadfoot
    Personal accounts of Canadians during WW2, mostly from the home front. But two war-side stories stick in my mind:
    One is of a Canadian soldier, who along with a Pole came upon a couple of Germans who they started to take into custody. One of the Germans said something derogatory in Polish with a big grin, and the Pole un-slung his sub-machine gun and with one burp sawed the Germans in half at the waist.
    The other was of a Canadian company that hated its sergeant/captain/can’t quite remember the rank. Someone in the regiment shot him from behind and every single one in the company put a slug in the corpse as they walked by.
    Our Bravest And Our Best – Arthur Bishop
    Billy’s son recounts the stories of all of Canada’s Victoria Cross winners.
    Speaking of Billy Bishop, I have a little paperback on the man that I stumbled upon years ago. I don’t understand why there aren’t more books on the Allies top ace during the WW1.

  7. I heard doing an interview plugging the book…some great anecdotes….like the green Newfie corporal who was standing beside a weaker IED that blew him back a couple feet and filled his eyes with dust…first thing out of his mouth was; “are dey still dare byes?”…his mates tell him his feet and legs are still attached…he says “no no no are “the boys” still dere boys?”” …meaning did he lose his testicles…the company medic had to reassure him that the “boys” were OK before he got back on his feet.

  8. One of my favorites is the Canadian habit of yelling out smart ass comments when the shit flies … an American soldier working with the ANA spoke of this and said it’s strange yet hilarious.
    For example, he recalls Canucks yelling out … “Is that where you wanted that well!”, just after artilery rounds wiped out a Taliban nest.

  10. “…An entire generation, or two, of Canadians have no idea what it’s like to send men to war and have some return in caskets.”
    That bs is turning up more and more frequently, esp. on the ‘net. It’s a stinging insult to those Canadians, 27 I believe, who were killed fighting in the former Yugoslavia in the ’90s. Hopefully the well received ‘Ghosts of the Medak Pocket’ http://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Medak-Pocket-Canadas-Secret/dp/0679312943
    will (proudly) find it’s way onto high school library shelves…
    For a historical perspective: http://www.cda-cdai.ca/library/medakpocket2.htm

  11. I have a number of friends and acquaintances in the mil, from navy to air to army. And I love them all. They are the greatest people to live and work with, even as a civi. God bless the mil today.

  12. Paul2, funny that you mention it, because my wife and I were just talking about that distinctly Canadian habit. The Brits have their stiff upper lip, the Americans have their ferocious patriotism, and we have our black humour. Ours is by far the most fun.

  13. DaninVan: I think you overreact. We’ve lost far more than 27 in a short couple of years in Afghanistan; but that’s not the point.
    PeaceKeeping cost soldiers their lives, but the media and Canadian government virtually ignored the fact … this has nothing to do with whether or not Canadians died before, it has everything to do with perception, and as such, Canadians don’t know what it’s like to send men into combat … except for the old among us.
    Take for instance the case of the Canadian killed during the latest Israel/Hezbolah war … there was no weeping and gnashing of teeth in the media like we see in Afghanistan, because he was a UN peacekeeper. If you have a bone to pick … go after the media! The Liberal Governments and media did not want us to know that Peacekeeping was dangerous … so they downplayed the deaths and as a result Canadians don’t know …
    For a list of Canucks who died since Korea on all missions go here:
    http://members.shaw.ca/kcic1/peacekeepers.html

  14. I just got my copy of Fifteen Days in the mail today from Amazon – it’s turning out to be an amazing read. Christie Blatchford is one of the few writers at the Globe that I actually respect and will read.

  16. But guys, Blatchford wrote (writes?) for the Globe and Mail! Anything coming out of our left-leaning Canadian media is liberal and biased and not worthy of our time, remember? Or maybe I should reassess my visceral, kneejerk hatred for all things MSM. What do you think?

  18. I own a childcare centre that is located close to a base.
    Numerous staff and families have spouses/parents in or on the way to Afstan. The children miss their parent(s) terribly while they are away; the spouses sometimes share their fears (but rarely); and all are very matter of fact about a family job that most of us would run screaming from. And it is a family job; they’re all in the military.
    EVERY ONE of them has been unequivocal in their belief in the value of Canada’s work over there.
    It’s too bad that more Canadians don’t have the opportunity to observe our soldiers like Christy did, nor to talk with them like we do.

  19. Rosie: Blatchford and MSM don’t belong in the same sentence, paragraph, article…. They should have courses about her at every journalism school. Oh for an MSM filled with the likes of Christie…
    We are so fortunate in Canada to have her.

  20. This is really good.
    Perhaps Christie’s book will help pave the way for the Leftist MSM to find their way back to what is right and real.
    Perhaps they will now start to get on board with the purpose of our war on terror.
    The USA could use someone like Christie (Michael Yon notwithstanding) to write a similar book that would help them save face as they are forced back to reality and sanity where they will finally admit that our enemies are truly out to kill us and our soldiers won’t let them.
    Is there anyone left at the New York Times who stand up and take the challenge. If not, then by the time the election comes around the
    Democrats will have nothing.

  21. I deleted some of the comments because they were in response to a vulgar comment. Rosie, please post again as I deleted yours by accident.

  22. Blatchford was a National Post columnist who went with the Globe and Mail. I think she’s on the level, although most likely Liberal. Columnists thrive on “going against the grain.” I think she calls a spade a spade. I would trust her pen.

  23. Weather I agree or disagree with what Ms. Blatchford says is not the issue. Ms. Blatchford has worked for several major rags in Toronto – both right and left (actually most often right.) I don’t believe she is at all representative of the MSM. What separates her from the mainstream within the press is her consistent intellectual honesty, complete independence and incredible prose.
    JohnnyRingo – conservatives are accustomed to regular mistreatment by leftists who disagree with them. I prefer to deal with ideas and opinions and usually ignore personal attacks.

  24. Slightly off topic but I recently watched an episode of Future Weapons and the moderator showed a new type of body armour called Dragon Scales I believe. He shot just about every type of weapon at this armour and nothing penetrated it. They finally placed a dummy with the armour on top of a grenage and detonated it. It shredded the outside fabric of the armour but again never penetrated to the inside.
    This armour should be worn by all our troops if it does as well as it appears. Do any of you military types like Kingstonlad know anything about this armour?

  26. Re: Dragons Scales body armour
    I seem to recall some American officer responding to a question about that product in a press conference not too long ago. The US army doesn’t use it because their own testing was lest than satisfactory. I don’t remember the details, but it was something about the individual armour plates falling out of place, especially if the armour is already damaged.

  28. Yea, from what I remember, dragon scale was deemed unfit by the DOD due to issues of durability. The last thing you want is your armour degrading over time and leaving weak or unprotected spots.
    And as impressive as I’m sure those videos were, nobody’s going to survive having a grenade go off under them, regardless of whether the shrapnel penetrates or not. Dragon scale does seem to offer some advantages, however I’m inclined to side with the DOD on this one, at least until the CF runs it’s own trials.

  30. I do wish the small a$$hole, Denis Coderre would read Christie’s book. Not much chance of that!
    He took a trip to Afghanistan after creating much publicity and all he came back with was a gut full of Tim Hortons fare.
    Christie would make one helluva soldier herself.

  31. I’ll have to read the book.
    This seems out of character for Blatchford …. could it be a form of Stockholm Syndrome?
    Ok ….. I’m sure she deserves the benefit of the doubt.
    But I can’t help thinking that this Elitist Torontonian progressive must have felt like a victim trapped in the presence of the military. At least at first!
    Need to go back and read some more of her columns too.

  32. Used to enjoy reading Christie when I was trapped in Toronto,but I have not read a word from her since she went to the globe,I just could not bring myself to open one.

  33. OMMAG
    Christie’s support, and admiration, for the Army goes back 30 years or more. To the extent that she probably never buys a drink in the Messes.
    Cheers

  34. “Elitist Torontonian progressive must have felt like a victim trapped in the presence of the military”
    Completely false and unfounded. She could probably kick your ass.

  35. Apologies for not reading the piece yet. Too busy today so far. Will do though.
    Batchford an “elite Toronto progressive”? you’ve got to be kidding.
    She’s a great writer and the owner of a great soul. And an independent thinker who you can’t really charterize as left or right, just correct nearly all the time.
    However, agreed with poster above, impossible to compare her to the great and inimitable Mark Steyn.
    OTOH, notwithstanding the heroism of our soldiers and the nobility of the mission, was quite pi**ed today to read that Afghanistan sided with Iran against Canada’s resolution censuring Iran for its human rights record. We won it, but came within only two votes of losing it. Recall the reason for this resolution: That Iranian-Canadian photog who was tortured and murdered in an Iranian jail.
    This sucks, to put it mildly. That’s a kick in the face!
    Now that I’ve gotten over Karzai’s fabulous threads, I’m as doubtful of him as I am of Musharaff. I think he’s a smoothie bullshi**er and I’m afraid we’re being taken as suckers by the ummah. Earnestly hope I’m wrong.
    Sorry if I come across as a spoil-sport on this and hope that no one misconstrues this as saying anything negative about our honourable and brave soldiers.

  36. Perhaps Christie’s book will help pave the way for the Leftist MSM to find their way back to what is right and real.
    John West
    err dream maybe if we have a 100 yr war, I think they need to be sent to the deserts of Saskatchewan to wander for a generation or 12.
    Mississauga Matt I hate to narrow down my books but any by Dancocks are a good read.
    I also loved George Blackburn’s books the guns of Normandy, guns of victory and where are the guns.
    And what I have read about Canadian Military Heritage by Rene Chartrand 3 part set.
    Matt if you look they are there I have scores of em.
    Kate’s trying to confuse me about what to buy, putting 2 on her blog the same day.
    : )

  37. I have read alot of her work and this book is quite in line with her previous writing. Just because she is now writing for the Globe and Mail does not mean that this leopard has changed her spots. I would recommend her article on the firemen that died on 9/11 in the World Trade Center as a good starting point.

  38. Saw Christine being interviewed awhile back re this book. Seems she kept a diary of her time in Afghan. The more she tried to write the story, the more frustrated she became as it didn’t get the message out. Finally, she just took her diary and wrote each day as it happened. And that is how the title came about. I hope to get it for Christmas.

  41. Last Saturday night I had a friend over to watch UFC and we got to talking about the Afghan mission and Christie’s book. He is early fourties, runs a Karate School and said “he thought our military were all peacekeepers” and couldn’t understand why we were involved in a war.
    It just goes to show how successful the leftoids, the Education System and the MSM have been at propagating the myth that all our military are capable of is so called peacekeeping, fighting forest fires, sandbagging during Manitoba floods, helping out during ice storms and shovelling a six inch snowfall “disaster” in Toronto!
    I am reading Christie’s excellent book and have shed a few tears so far. She is one of the few reporters that tell it like it is and takes the time to find out the facts instead of spouting the usual MSM drivel!
    As for that fat useless waste of space, Coderre, he sure hasn’t talked about his Afghan experience has he? Maybe he spent all of his time in Kandehar cowering in his tent knowing that if the troops got ahold of him he might not have made it back and that would have been “a good thing”.

  42. I have never met Christie personally, but her father Ross,(she called him Rancid) and I have lifted many a tonic together. I think at different times we have both Edited that internationally noted weekly, The Rouyn Noranda Press. At least a friend of mine in Los Angeles has heard of it and that makes it international. I have followed her through all four Toronto Dailies, I think the G&M twice. I wouldnt call her left or right, she marches by her own drummer and will straighten out any member of the MSM that is obviously on a party line. I am looking foreward to her book.

  45. Posted by: dean spencer – fox …
    “Completely false and unfounded. She could probably kick your ass.” at November 22, 2007 8:03 PM
    Now what makes you say something like that?

  46. I’m a Yank and a reader of history. Canada produced a first rate military that served admirably in both world wars. Thousands of Canadians fought with the US in Vietnam and Canadians served on both sides in the American Civil War. It’s a pity that this history of such valor could slip so quickly away. If you asked Canadian school children “Who was Billy Bishop?”
    I wonder how many would know the accomplishments of that brave and admirable man.

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