Gov. Gen. moved by children during Afghan hospital visit (Governor General of Canada)

Canwest News Service and Ottawa Citizen via National Post ^ | 2009-09-14 | Bruce Ward

[Clive]

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Governor General Michaelle Jean was moved to tears Wednesday as she toured the multinational NATO hospital here and heard stories of children who have lost limbs to improvised explosive devices.

Amina, nine, was heading to the bazaar with her sister to buy something for the religious holiday of Eid when a blast tore away her leg. Malik, seven, was walking through a field when an explosion took his leg.

Ms. Jean, with her extraordinary ability to connect with children everywhere, was able to coax a smile from Malik, who was shy with her at first.

"You smiled," she told the child at one point, leaning over this hospital bed, "This is good."

And when she stretched out her hand to Amina, the girl placed her fingers in Ms. Jean's hand for a moment.

"I have a little girl who is 10," she told the child. "I will tell her I met you," she added, her voice filled with emotion.

Ms. Jean came to Kandahar on Tuesday, but because of intensive security measures, reporters were not permitted to file their stories until she wrapped up her visit. She first visited the country in 2007.

Speaking with reporters later, Ms. Jean said she was not the only one to tear up at the children's plight.

"Some majors had tears in their eyes, too," she said. "Doctors and medical teams are doing incredible work. But it's especially painful when children are the victims of war.

"Being able even to smile because they are getting the best assistance you can imagine -- and we're all moved by that," Ms. Jean said, in reference to Malik. "The doctors and medical teams are doing incredible work.

. . .

[Clive]

Please read the whole of the hyperlinked article before commenting

[Clive]

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[Clive]

From the article:

Ms. Jean stressed that Canada is having a positive impact in the country, although that message is not being heard by some.

"Some people are pessimistic and not able to measure the progress we are making here. I'm seeing something different because I was here in 2007."

During her first visit, work at the provincial reconstruction team was "all projections and strategies to support peace-building and development in Afghanistan."

Two years later, she said, "we can measure some of the results. We have made an impact, and it's good for me to be able to measure that. So it's complex, it's not easy. It's dangerous, but I think it's very important to see that our efforts are not in vain."

Canadian soldiers are taking "many risks," she said, "but they are also doing something that is absolutely exceptional.

[mkjessup]

Good Morning Clive, this is a good article although as much as I hate to say it, someone ought to get the word to the good Governor-General to be prepared for the need to get all of your fine CF troops out of there, because all indicators point to our Dear Leader Comrade 0bama bugging out of Afghanistan, and nobody should be surprised when SecState Clinton orders that measurements be made of the roof of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, to determine if it can handle one or TWO helicopters at once:

[Clive]

From teh article:

On Tuesday Ms. Jean paid her respects to fallen Canadian soldiers in front of the cenotaph located at the Kandahar base.

"I was born in a country where for many years, the uniform had come to symbolize brutality, horror and tyranny," she said of her native Haiti. "You have forever changed my perception of the men and women who don the uniform, and for that, I thank you, from the bottom of my heart."

[Clive]

That has been a worry of mine.

Who are going to be the rear guard?

[mkjessup]

There’s no telling Clive. Ask yourselves if you trust a Communist in the White House and the answer pretty much writes itself.

Of course you guys had a similar experience when Trudeau was stinkin’ up the joint at 24 Sussex, guess it’s our turn now.

[fanfan]