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2006-12-21 Afghanistan

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Posted by .com 2006-12-21 07:37|| || Front Page|| [5 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 two troops of Canadian Leopard tanks, a company of light armoured vehicles

That's what 10 tanks? That's a fair piece of logistic effort for Canada's stepchildren. I guess than came in through the Northen 'stan? Or maybe the Paks let them use Karachi?

Posted by Shipman 2006-12-21 08:10|| 2006-12-21 08:10|| Front Page Top

#2 S: That's what 10 tanks? That's a fair piece of logistic effort for Canada's stepchildren. I guess than came in through the Northen 'stan? Or maybe the Paks let them use Karachi?

Flown in on Antonovs, then C-17's.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2006-12-21 09:06|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2006-12-21 09:06|| Front Page Top

#3 2 troops (companies) is most likely 20 tanks plus gear. You sure the Canadians flew them all the way? The airfreight bill would be more than the tanks cost.

Posted by ed 2006-12-21 09:22|| 2006-12-21 09:22|| Front Page Top

#4 2Troops in Canadian speak = 2 platoons. That might be 6 tanks. I haven't kept up with the latest reorgs in the Canadian Army.

I suspect Charlie Company can take on all the Taliban by itself - and win.

Al

Posted by Frozen Al 2006-12-21 09:39|| 2006-12-21 09:39|| Front Page Top

#5 You sure the Canadians flew them all the way?

With the price of fuel and the poor fuel economy of modern main battle tanks, it would be a long, expensive drive from Winnepeg to Afghanistan. Probably sent them Parcel Post.

Posted by SteveS 2006-12-21 09:44|| 2006-12-21 09:44|| Front Page Top

#6 Definitely a bunch of guys who aren't going to be intimidated by a dreaded or brutal Afghan winter. They come from a land where the coldest theoretical temperature--too cold to go to the mall--has never been reached.
(from Will & Ian Ferguson, "How to Be A Canadian")

Posted by eLarson 2006-12-21 10:01|| http://larsonian.blogspot.com]">[http://larsonian.blogspot.com] 2006-12-21 10:01|| Front Page Top

#7 You can tell a lot about the climate when the outdoor parking lot at the Mall has power hook ups for your block heater...

Happy Hunting lads.

Posted by Classical_Liberal 2006-12-21 11:16|| 2006-12-21 11:16|| Front Page Top

#8 The amount of firepower on hand was an impressive sight even to Dube. We like to see this. We like to see all the tanks together and just roll out in a big metal mass.

Right on.

The Leopards were air-lifted in by the USAF:

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123028739

Posted by Excalibur 2006-12-21 11:45|| 2006-12-21 11:45|| Front Page Top

#9 Just for the record, even though we may tease our Canadian brothers mercilessly, we *do* appreciate the role they are playing in Afghanistan. Give 'em hell and come back safe.

Posted by SteveS 2006-12-21 17:50|| 2006-12-21 17:50|| Front Page Top

#10 Since they began to engage in Afghanistan, I haven't had anything but praise for them. Their military rocks - and their officers don't seem to have the inclination to piss from a great height every time a reporter shows up. A bonus, lol.

Posted by .com 2006-12-21 17:52|| 2006-12-21 17:52|| Front Page Top

#11 I'm just relishing that headline - "Canadians Launch Major Offensive" - a way-cool, retro, sort of warm feeling inside. I had extensive contact with the Canadian Forces just as they pitched over into decline (that is, neglect and starvation and disrespect at the hands of their national political class, at that time entering an extreme phase of its dementia) - I recall some of the senior people being very glum, as they could see the writing on the wall. I don't suppose the new regime there has had time to have an impact on materiel matters, but it's clear from Medusa and these ops that the spirit has endured.

The cheap-shots, self-righteousness, and free-loading from most of the Canadian leadership and all of their media elites in recent years have really stung, even amidst a world full of similar pathetic behavior, as I've always considered Canada almost a second home country (OK, I've played hockey - or at least a mediocre American version of it - since I was a kid). My knowledge of Canada's outsized and outstanding contributions in the two World Wars also added to the dismay at the post-9/11 nonsense from up north.

Even as much of NATO - unsurprisingly - finally demonstrates in Afghanistan the lack of political will and maturity we have suspected for ages, perhaps Canada will be among those lesser powers that rediscovers its adult self on the battlefields of Central Asia. Perhaps ....

Meanwhile, another thing I love are the cool regimental names they still have. In addition the name of the armored unit in this story, there are the Royal Canadian Regiment, the Vandoos (the 22nd, French-speaking unit from Quebec), and my favorite, the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry ......

Posted by Verlaine 2006-12-21 20:50|| 2006-12-21 20:50|| Front Page Top

#12 Go, Canada!

Posted by Whiskey Mike 2006-12-21 21:27|| 2006-12-21 21:27|| Front Page Top

#13 Whiskey Mike - big dittos! Our previously wayward neighbors have assumed their rightful responsibility and kicked big-time ass. Time to compliment and reward, not chirp. Go Canucks!

another sign that the problem was top-down, not at the military personnel level

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2006-12-21 22:25|| 2006-12-21 22:25|| Front Page Top

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