*shakes head*
31 Canadians killed in Afghanistan
By The Canadian Press
Since 2002, 31 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have been killed in Afghanistan. Here is a list of the deaths:
2006
Sept. 3 -- Warrant officers Frank Robert Mellish and Richard Francis Nolan, and two others whose names were withheld at their families’ request, killed in battle in Panjwaii district.
Aug. 22 -- Cpl. David Braun killed in a suicide attack.
Aug. 11 -- Cpl. Andrew Eykelenboom killed in suicide attack.
Aug. 9 -- Master Cpl. Jeffrey Walsh killed by apparent accidental discharge of rifle.
Aug. 5 -- Master Cpl. Raymond Arndt killed when his G-Wagon patrol vehicle collided with truck.
Aug. 3 -- Cpl. Christopher Reid killed by roadside bomb. Sgt. Vaughan Ingram, Cpl. Bryce Keller and Pte. Kevin Dallaire killed in rocket-propelled grenade attack.
July 22 -- Cpl. Francisco Gomez and Cpl. Jason Warren killed when car packed with explosives rammed their armoured vehicle.
July 9 -- Cpl. Anthony Boneca killed in firefight.
May 17 -- Capt. Nichola Goddard, an artillery officer, killed in Taliban ambush. She was first Canadian woman to be killed in action while serving in combat role.
April 22 -- Cpl. Matthew Dinning, Bombardier Myles Mansell, Lieut. William Turner and Cpl. Randy Payne killed when their G-Wagon destroyed by roadside bomb.
March 29 -- Pte. Robert Costall killed in firefight with Taliban.
March 2 -- Cpl. Paul Davis and Master Cpl. Timothy Wilson killed when their armoured vehicle ran off road.
Jan. 15 -- Glyn Berry, British-born Canadian diplomat, killed in suicide bombing.
2005
Nov. 24 -- Pte. Braun Woodfield killed when his armoured vehicle rolled over.
2004
Jan. 27 -- Cpl. Jamie Murphy killed in suicide bombing while on patrol.
2003
Oct. 2 -- Sgt. Robert Short and Cpl. Robbie Beerenfenger killed in roadside bombing.
2002
April 17 -- Sgt. Marc Leger, Cpl. Ainsworth Dyer, Pte. Richard Green and Pte. Nathan Smith killed when U.S. F-16 fighter mistakenly bombed Canadians.
Like I have said before.....these soldiers plus the phenomenal number of American soldiers, plus all the innocent people from other countries who are being killed needlessly every freaking day makes me pose, yet again, the following question...
"Why in the holy hell are we sending people there to die?!"
PANJWAII, Afghanistan (CP) - Canadian troops launched a ground assault on an insurgent position Sunday and met fierce resistance that killed four Canadians and injured six others in one of the deadliest battles since Ottawa sent soldiers to Afghanistan in 2002.
The Canadians moved in with light armoured vehicles in the early morning after NATO forces had pounded enemy positions for more than 24 hours with helicopter gunships, artillery and bombs.
Taliban insurgents put up a stiff fight, using small arms and rocket propelled grenades to hit back at the Canadians, who later returned to their own stronghold.
Some soldiers expressed surprise at how stubbornly Taliban fighters had defended their ground, near a river valley that cuts a green ribbon through this desert area west of Kandahar city. Others noted NATO commanders had given everyone including the enemy a few days of advance notice before starting Operation Medusa in Panjwaii district.
NATO officials maintained the operation was a success, taking out key Taliban command and control facilities. The alliance estimates it has killed 200 Taliban militants and captured 80, and says local residents reported that about 180 insurgents had fled the scene.
It came at a cost to the Canadian Forces.