Free Republic

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (CP) - The end of summer often brings more calm to Afghanistan, but the weekend start of a Muslim holy month combined with a Taliban intent on revenge may bring a spike in violence for Canadian soldiers. Canadian troops are still days away from the end of September, already their deadliest month in Afghanistan since their presence in the country began in 2002. Last spring, military officials predicted an upsurge in violence as temperatures rose into the traditional Afghan summer season for battle. Twenty of Canada's 37 deaths in Afghanistan took place in the summer of 2006, including...

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (CP) - Bibi Sagima took a humiliating seat on a busy downtown street Friday, putting out her hand to beg for food with her eight-year-old son while clinging to faded hopes that her husband is still alive. Sagima and her boy, Ghami, are two of the thousands of refugees who poured from the Panjwaii district after the Canadian army led an offensive there to root out Taliban insurgents. Local officials estimate some 1,500 families left Panjwaii and surrounding areas to avoid fighting and intense bombardment by Canadian and NATO forces backing the assault. Sagima took refuge with a...

PANJWAII, Afghanistan (CP) - Canadian troops collected Taliban weapons and nuggets of intelligence Tuesday as the battle to enforce NATO control over the restive Panjwaii district entered a final phase. Afghan and Canadian soldiers have a last push and weeks of mop-up ahead, but the major battle they expected against hardcore Taliban fighters has dissolved for the moment. For the third straight day, soldiers encountered little resistance as they approached the southern front in this fight. As the sun set, a trio of Taliban fighters put up a brief skirmish against a combined force of U.S., Canadian and Afghan troops....

PANJWAII, Afghanistan (CP) - Warrant Officer Jim Murnaghan's quick wisecracks and reassuring smile disappear with the distant pop of the Taliban rocket ignition. When the rocket-propelled grenade roars in from an insurgent fighter, Murnaghan's eyes become two gaping saucers. His soft laugh switches to a growl, but he doesn't have to yell twice to get attention from his boys or the reporter who has been his shadow for several days on the frontlines of Operation Medusa. "Get down!" he yells, and we get down instantly. The hiss becomes a whistle and then a scream just a few feet overhead. "Under...