After Korea, beginning in 1956 in Gaza, “peacekeeping” became the hallmark of the Canadian army – until we joined the war against terrorism in Afghanistan. True, Somalia in 1993 was a UN Chapter 7 “fighting” mission, foisted surreptitiously on the Canadian people, but it was more peacekeeping as expected fighting never occurred.
Although the country hasn’t noticed it, our military has abandoned tradition peacekeeping and returned to more active soldiering, now fighting an unorthodox war against an able and elusive enemy in Afghanistan. Credit (or blame) for this change in direction can be attributed to General Rick Hillier, who has forced (or persuaded) the government to let the military play a more proactive role.
Many Canadians don’t realize how significant the changes are, though predictable sources fret as casualties increase. Every soldier killed gets headline treatment and creates the impression that casualties are horrendous, when in fact they are relatively modest.
The bottom line is that peacekeeping is passé. For the moment. For an idea as to the competence and effectiveness of our soldiers in the field, here’s an account by
American photojournalist Scott Kesterton, a former Oregon National Guardsman (1983-1991) who spent a year embedded with troops in Afghanistan and was attached to 2 platoon of “A” Company of the Princess Pats when they were part of a 14-day operation that included
eight attacks on - or from - Taliban and al Qaida fighters.
As reported by koreavetnews@aol.com, Kesterton wrote: “What has resulted is a bonding of US and Canadian forces never before seen. They are not just our neighbor to the North; they have proven themselves to be fighters and soldiers worthy of the highest honors that the U.S. Army offers its own.
Kesterton added: “On our first morning of being attacked, I found myself holding back tears as I
filmed Canadians fighting a fight that began on American soil on Sept. 11, 2001. In interviews that followed, I discovered the depth of commitment that these soldiers held in their hearts,as they expressed their belief in purpose and shared their emotions, at times with tears. Two countries,each proud of their roots and history, unified across the border that distinguishes each of us ....
"From patrols to attacks, and an operational tempo that pushed us all to the point of exhaustion, and even the loss of one of my cameras following a fire fight, the Canadian soldiers and I became close friends, bridging into that place that only soldiers know... a band of brothers.”
Kesterton continues: “In the last engagement working with the Canadian soldiers we were ambushed in a small village. As three of us were making our way toward the enemy, a Canadian squad leader appeared at our right flank, killing a Taliban soldier who was poised to
shoot us. The Canadian saved not only the lives of two of his fellow soldiers, but the life of this American photojournalist.”
A few days later Kesterton asked Canadian soldiers how they felt about this war that had begun with an attack on American soil. The answers were virtually unanimous: "It's time that someone else steps up. The United States shouldn't have to carry the fight alone. We may be Canadians, but the attack was an attack on our common values and beliefs. 9/11 was an attack on all
of us."
It would seem that the legacy established in WWI, continues in the Canadian army today.
