I saw the 'Ramp Ceremony' on the CBC 'The National' tonight.  Never a happy day for the family and friends of the slain hero, but you have to marvel at the staying power and commitment these young men and women show day in and day out.  This was the 67th soldier killed in Afghanistan since our first deployment in 2002.

 

May he rest in peace.

2 more members of R22nd lost their lives from an IED attack today.  I believe that brings our losses to 69 soldiers and 1 diplomat.  An interpreter was also killed and 2 reporters were wounded in the same attack; one reportedly has a serious leg injury.

 

 

god help the next bunch of taliban they find.  vandoos are very much not the turn the other cheek types.

At first we didn't get too many details about how the latest IED fatalaties occurred, but now it appears there was a pitched fight and as the LAV's and other vehicles went after the Taliban the LAV in question hit the IED with devastating impacts.  I note that a photographer accompanying a combat reporter lost his leg from this attack, in addition to another soldier being wounded, 2 soldiers killed and the death of their interpreter.  Obviously the Taliban with help from their outside friends are using lessons learned in Iraq and we can look to see more large sized IED's being used in the future.  They know the debate in Quebec about the war and in Canada for that matter.  Too bad the government dropped the ball on this one by not effectively explaining why we need to be there and stay there.

After the death of three vandoos in the last week, people in Quebec had expressed a big support for our troops in Afganistan. I would not be in the next band of taliban to be attacked by the vandoos!