Free Republic

OTTAWA — The Liberal government is intent on buying Super Hornet fighter jets, according to multiple sources. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet reportedly discussed the issue last week, and while no formal decision was taken, one top-level official said: “They have made up their minds and are working on the right narrative to support it.” Rather than a full replacement of the air force’s aging CF-18 fighter fleet, it’s believed the purchase will be labelled an interim measure to fill what Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has warned is a pending “gap” in Canada’s military capabilities. The Liberals promised during the...

WASHINGTON (RTRS): Nato’s southern Afghanistan offensive this month killed 1,000 to 1,500 Taleban fighters, a large chunk of the entire force, passing a major test on the battlefield, its top operational commander said on Wednesday. Gen. James Jones, Nato’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, also said alliance allies have committed to provide at least 2,000 of the roughly 2,000-2,500 extra troops he sought to bolster the 20,000-strong Nato force in Afghanistan. “There are some countries that I’m not free to announce that are going to make some contributions in the near future,” the US Marine Corps general told a Pentagon briefing....

Canadian-led offensive may have killed 1,500 Taliban fighters CBC News Last Updated Wed, 20 Sep 2006 13:07:40 EDT The U.S. general who heads all NATO military forces says a two-week campaign that cost five Canadian lives in southern Afghanistan may have wiped out half of the "hard-core" Taliban fighters in the country. Gen. James Jones, NATO's supreme alliedcommander, says Canadian forces did 'anabsolutely superb job' in the latest offensive. (CBC) The Canadian-led push, Operation Medusa, ended on Sept. 15 when Taliban forces stopped fighting and slipped away, Gen. James L. Jones said on Wednesday. The Taliban "suffered a tactical...

NATO Forces Kill 94 Taliban Militants; Homicide Bomber Kills Governor September 10, 2006 KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — NATO and Afghan forces killed 94 Taliban fighters in airstrikes and ground attacks in southern Afghanistan, while a homicide bomber on Sunday killed a provincial governor in the east, amid deepening violence across the insurgency-wracked country. NATO said the 94 militants were killed in Kandahar province's Panjwayi and neighboring Zhari districts late Saturday and early Sunday, pushing the toll from a nine-day counterinsurgency operation there past 420. Six NATO soldiers and 14 British crew of a reconnaissance plane have also died. Operation Medusa began...

Canadian troops stay the course on Operation Medusa CanWest News Service Tuesday, September 05, 2006 As Canadian soldiers pressed on Tuesday to engage the Taliban in fierce fighting in Afghanistan, federal politicians debated the merits of the mission that has so far claimed the lives of 32 soldiers. But the insurgents are paying a heavy price too. Between 50 and 60 Taliban were killed as Canadian troops contained insurgents and continued hitting their positions with heavy Howitzer guns and called in bomb strikes from coalition aircraft, NATO officials said. Canadian troops detain suspected Taliban insurgents in the combat zone...