Fallen soldiers mourned as Afghan debate continues in Commons
Mike Blanchfield and Archie McLean, Canwest News Service Published: Wednesday, March 04, 2009
OTTAWA/KANDAHAR -- As three more soldiers were killed in Afghanistan, the government drew criticism Wednesday for claiming progress in training Afghan troops, and for not appointing a senior envoy to the war-torn region as its major allies have done.
Canada's death toll in Afghanistan rose to 111 with the deaths Tuesday of Warrant Officer Dennis Raymond Brown, Cpl. Dany Olivier Fortin and Cpl. Kenneth Chad O'Quinn, who were killed by a roadside bomb that exploded near their armoured vehicle northwest of Kandahar City. Two other soldiers were wounded in the blast.
Warrant Officer Brown, a 38-year-old reservist from the Lincoln and Welland Regiment, based in St. Catharines, Ont., leaves behind a wife and four children. Brig.-Gen. Jon Vance, Canada's top commander in Afghanistan, said Warrant Officer Brown's civilian background as a police special constable was an asset in Kandahar.
"He was an extremely dedicated and hard-working soldier, who always wore an infectious smile on his face, no matter what the challenge," Brig.-Gen. Vance said.
Cpl. Fortin, or "Dany-O" to his friends, was from the 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron at 3 Wing, based in Bagotville, Que. The 29-year-old from the Saguenay region of Quebec was described as an intelligent, sincere and morally upright soldier. He was an avid Montreal Canadiens fan and, with his comic timing, was always good for a laugh for his fellow soldiers. He leaves behind his fiancee, mother and sister.
Brig.-Gen. Vance said Cpl. O'Quinn was constantly challenging himself mentally and physically, and had a bright future with the Canadian Forces. He was part of the 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signals Squadron, in Petawawa, Ont.
"Chad took every opportunity to challenge others, which set him apart as a consummate professional," Brig.-Gen. Vance said. "He believed he could accomplish anything, and everyone in his life had the same faith in him."
O'Quinn, born in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, N.L., was also a man of deep faith and was unafraid to share it with others.
The provincial reconstruction team, in Kandahar City, where the soldiers were based, is a much smaller base than Kandahar Airfield, and soldiers there felt the loss Wednesday.
"We all took the news very hard and we waited for the return of the survivors and the rest of my platoon today," said Lt. Gary Boudreau.
While soldiers in Afghanistan mourned their fallen colleagues, back at home the political debate continued.
After the visiting French Defence Minister Herve Morin touted his country's appointment this week of a senior envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Liberals accused the Conservatives of dropping the ball on that initiative.
"The government of the United States has done it, the government of Great Britain has done it, the government of Germany has done it," Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae charged in the House of Commons. "Why does the government still continue to reject an approach that was put forward by John Manley that will make sure that our political efforts are equal to the sacrifice of our troops?"
Mr. Manley, a former Liberal cabinet minister, headed an independent panel reviewing Canada's mission in Afghanistan.
The Conservatives pointed out that Canada has an ambassador to Kabul. Trade Minister Stockwell Day, who chairs the federal cabinet committee on Afghanistan, appeared to take a veiled swipe at Mr. Morin for raising the issue.
Mr. Morin told Canwest News Service that France, as all "great nations," had appointed a super envoy to the region, which would give them extra clout in plotting the way forward in Afghanistan.
"Some countries may have a special envoy. We've asked other countries to consider having more troops," Mr. Day said, in an apparent reference to past criticism by Canada and other NATO frontline fighting countries in Afghanistan that some Western European countries are not sharing the burden of heavy combat in the volatile south.
"We clearly have position of significance in Afghanistan, most notably, because of our contribution. That contribution will continue, and that will continue to make sure that a strong voice is there," Mr. Day said.
Despite what it called a "grim" increase in violence, the Conservative government's third quarterly report on Afghanistan concluded Wednesday that important gains were made in improving the Afghan National Army.
But it also stated the time period from October to December, 2008, was the most violent autumn quarter since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.
The Afghan army brigade headquarters in Kandahar has reached its first capability milestone, "meaning it was fully capable of near-autonomous operations," with some help from international forces, including Canada's, said the report.
The training of Afghan security forces to protect their country without the help of NATO-led soldiers is seen as the key goal of the international exit strategy for the war-torn country, which continues to face escalating violence from the Taliban insurgency.
"Despite the grim and worsening realities of the war in Afghanistan, Canadians have been able to contribute to a better future for Afghans," the report concluded.
The report also cited the tendering of the contract for Canada's signature aid project, the Dahla Dam rehabilitation, as well as the construction of new schools, as signs of progress.
"Even so, nine Canadians were killed [all in December], and more wounded, in [improvised explosive device] explosions during the quarter," the report noted.
The latest Canadian soldiers to die were returning to the base after helping to defuse an IED in Arghandab District when their vehicle was hit. The area is normally quieter than the more anarchic Zhari and Panjwaii districts west of the city, but Canadians say they are seeing more insurgent activity in the area as the weather warms.
This week's deaths bring the total of Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan to 111. The two injured soldiers were taken by helicopter to the hospital at Kandahar Airfield and are said to be in good condition.
Maj. Robert Dunn, a Canadian operations officer, said the area has been getting more dangerous over the past few weeks.
"The Arghandab may be increasing in insurgent activity. Specifically, we've had four IED finds and one strike in the last two weeks," Maj. Dunn said. "What is telling about this is we're moving from a winter campaign to a summer campaign or spring offensive."
Mr. Day and International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda said Canada would continue to consult with its Afghan and international partners on security matters, as the Dahla Dam project in Arghandab continues.
"We have regular updates, almost daily, on the security situation throughout Kandahar province," said Ms. Oda.
NDP defence critic Dawn Black questioned the progress cited, in light of the rising violence.
"On every measure, the security situation in Afghanistan has worsened; IEDs are up, civilian deaths are up. It's clear, despite the sacrifices of the Canadian Forces and billions of dollars spent, the counter-insurgency mission the Conservative government has pushed has not brought the improvements we all want to see in Afghanistan," Ms. Black said.
The soldiers killed Tuesday were members of the quick-reaction force based out of the provincial reconstruction team's base in Kandahar City. According to their platoon commander, being first on scene carries danger.
"It is definitely a high-risk job," said Lt. Boudreau.
Don't give up on Afghan mission, slain soldier's wife urges
CAROLINE ALPHONSO AND LES PERREAUX
From Thursday's Globe and Mail
March 4, 2009 at 9:15 PM EST
TORONTO AND MONTREAL — The wife of a Canadian soldier killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan called on the government Wednesday not to give up on the mission.
“We may not be able to beat the Taliban. There's lots of things in our life we can't beat. … But do you give up? Do you stop? Absolutely not,” Mishelle Brown said. “One person can't make a difference. But if we band together, we can.”
Ms. Brown was responding to Prime Minister Stephen Harper's recent comments on CNN that Canadian and other foreign armies can't beat the Taliban.
Her husband, Warrant Officer Dennis Brown, a reservist with the Lincoln and Welland Regiment in Southern Ontario, was killed along with Corporal Chad O'Quinn, based in Petawawa, Ont., and Corporal Dany-Olivier Fortin, an air force member based in Bagotville, Que., when an explosive detonated near their vehicle late Tuesday. They had just finished defusing another roadside bomb and were returning to the base.
Their deaths bring the number of Canadians killed in Afghanistan to 111.
Ms. Brown said she understands there are those who don't support the mission. “But you can support what they're doing. They're trying and they're working hard,” she told reporters in St. Catharines, Ont.
W.O. Brown, a father of four, was a special constable with the Niagara Regional Police, and fought to get time off from his job to serve in Afghanistan.
“When I asked him why he wanted to go on this tour, Dennis said, ‘If we don't get them in their backyard, they're sure to get us in ours,'” Ms. Brown said.
The couple spoke often about the possibility he might die in the line of duty. All Ms. Brown could do was hope it wouldn't happen.
“I expected my husband to die. I didn't want it to happen. I didn't feel like it was going to happen. I honestly felt like he would come home,” she said, her voice unwavering. “But Dennis was a realist and he made me prepare for that. He made me prepare for his death.”
In Centreville, Nfld., the family of Cpl. O'Quinn requested privacy. Cpl. O'Quinn was born in Goose Bay, Labrador. He was the eldest of two sons, and was described as a soldier who challenged himself physically and mentally. He was from 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signals Squadron in Petawawa, Ont.
“Throughout his two tours in Afghanistan, he telephoned, e-mailed and messaged his family each and every day. He highly valued his faith, his health and loved ones. He challenged life and encouraged others to do the same,” the family said in a statement.
In Quebec, dozens of friends of Cpl. Fortin posted online tributes to the young man who was engaged to his girlfriend, Manon Gaudreault.
Ms. Gaudreault said the family has decided against making any public statement.
Cpl. Fortin's friends described him as a huge Montreal Canadiens fan who was quick to share insight, advice or just a laugh.
“He's the funniest man I know. He's surely already made friends up there,” said friend Dominique Simard.
Cpl. Fortin was a member of the 425th Tactical Fighter Squadron at 3 Wing Bagotville in Quebec's Saguenay region but was working with a team tasked with defusing the bombs that pepper the roads in Kandahar province.
“He was a proud and responsible young man, appreciated by everyone, and generous,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Provost, commander of the 425th Squadron.
“Dany-Olivier was very involved in the local community. He gave his heart and soul for those he loved.”
"Dany was a fantastic soldier, he was always uplifting to everyone around him, he was always ready to help others," said another friend Bernard Lachapelle.
"We need more like him."
