Posted on 11/16/2001 1:15:10 PM PST by Clive
OTTAWA -- Canada's on the move.
About 1,000 soldiers at CFB Edmonton were told yesterday to be ready to head for Afghanistan on 48 hours' notice.
Warning orders went out to members of the 3rd battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry around dinner time.
It was not clear how soon the soldiers might set out. One source said they could be on the ground as early as the middle of next week, but little is certain because events in Afghanistan are unfolding with dizzying speed.
The force consists of three infantry rifle companies, a small engineer squadron, a headquarters detachment, a combat support company, and an administrative company.
The Canadians will likely be assigned to help stabilize the war-torn country and escort aid convoys, Defence Minister Art Eggleton said last night.
But their exact duties are still being worked out because the situation is changing rapidly since Taliban forces were unexpectedly routed in the past three days.
Plans are being worked out with the U.S. army central command in Tampa, Fla., which is coordinating the war on terrorism in response to the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington.
Earlier yesterday, British soldiers were put on similar notice. Canadian troops will work with U.S. and British units.
It was not clear whether the Canadians would fly to the region in C-130 Hercules transports or being carried there in U.S. air force planes.
This latest commitment brings to 3,000 the number of Canadian sailors, soldiers and air personnel earmarked for the anti-terror war.
Canada earlier dispatched five warships to the region, with another to fill in with a NATO naval squadron.
There was no immediate indication of how long the Canadians will be needed in Afghanistan.
And, probably, your cowardice.
Love to meet you at a border bar!
Although I s'pose I could track you down at your boyfriend's doublewide!
This is, no doubt, so that Britain can continue to romance the notion that they head up an EMPIRE.
As an American, with Canadian cousins, I think history shows rarely have two nations shared so much common history, and families. When we say "cousins to the north" we mean REAL cousins, in my family (and great-great grandparents).
Canadian forces train with that as a given.
Canada is expert in Blue Beret jobs (we started them at Suez) so a Canadian brigidier is likely to command a Blue Beret job.
OTOH, in peace restoration work or stabilization work, our units are more likely to be attached to Brit or US units.
The Blue Beret jobs, if properly constituted, consist of only forces from small countries with no dog in the fight between the parties that have invited them in.
The other jobs usually require Brit or US presence, which would be inappropriate in a Blue Beret job, so in those cases it makes no sense for our units to operate independently.
Our units are able to integrate seamlessly with US or Brit forces.
For example, Canadian frigates customarily participate as part of the escort screens for US CVNs.
At Kosovo, our Coyote recce squadron of the Lord Strathcona Horse (Royal Canadians) was part of the Brit sector where the Brits made good use of the capabilities of the Coyotes and their crews.
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Hey dude, I wouldn't be crowing too loud. America didn't get into WW1 until 1917 (it started in August of 1914), and didn't get into WW2 until Dec 8th, 1941 and the war started on 30 Sept. 1939. So you might want to rethink your position on that.
From an American Serviceman.
I read your post and have one question for you ... do you know when the US entered WW1 and WW2, and when did both wars actually start?
Also are you a diehard conservative and American Constitutionalist?
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