[inverted]

This from Gen Hillier:

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JTF2 to hunt al-Qaeda
Canada's top soldier announces mission to root out 'murderers and scumbags' in Afghanistan
By DANIEL LEBLANC

Friday, July 15, 2005
Updated at 5:09 AM EDT

From Friday's Globe and Mail

Ottawa — Canada's elite JTF2 soldiers are heading to Afghanistan as part of a 2,000-troop deployment that will target the "detestable murderers and scumbags" behind the rise in international terrorism, General Rick Hillier said yesterday.

In a blunt briefing that signalled a new aggressiveness at the top of the Canadian Forces, the Chief of the Defence Staff said the impending operations are risky but necessary in light of last week's bombings in the British public-transit system.

"The London attack actually tells us once more: We can't let up," Gen. Hillier told reporters.

He said terrorists are ready to target Canada as much as any other Western country and that Canadians have to be aware that their soldiers are in for some "risky business" as they head out to Afghanistan.

It was the first time Gen. Hillier has confirmed that members of the Joint Task Force 2 -- the country's secretive commando team -- will be involved in combat missions against the remnants of the former Taliban regime and supporters of al-Qaeda.

"These are detestable murderers and scumbags, I'll tell you that right up front. They detest our freedoms, they detest our society, they detest our liberties," Gen. Hillier said.

He stressed the new face of the Canadian Forces, which he said are now focused on the first job at hand: protecting Canadian interests at home and abroad.

"We're not the public service of Canada, we're not just another department. We are the Canadian Forces, and our job is to be able to kill people."

Previous Canadian missions in Afghanistan have provided security in Kabul, the capital. But the next three missions, involving 2,000 troops, will be heavily centred in the southern mountains, where soldiers will be called upon to hunt down and fight the insurgents.

Gen. Hillier said Canada is already in the crosshairs of the terrorists, and he does not believe it becomes a bigger target by participating in military operations that give hope to the Afghans.

"We're not going to let those radical murderers and killers rob from others and certainly we're not going to let them rob from Canada," he said.

He pointed out that during the Second World War, Canadian soldiers did not shy away from fighting the Nazis.

"Did they say, 'No we might be attacked over here if we actually stand up against those despicable murderers and bastards?' No, they did not," Gen. Hillier said.

The native of Newfoundland has been the top soldier in Canada for five months. Bolstered by a growing budget, he is promising a "radical transformation" of the forces to make them more effective in their daily operations.

With his straight-talking style, Gen. Hillier has already effected a major change at the top of the military hierarchy in comparison with his blander predecessor, General Ray Henault.

Gen. Hillier is a popular figure among the troops, and he has impressed his political bosses with his vision for the forces.

His goal now is to rally Canadians behind the military and convince young talent to join the expanding forces.

He would not speak about the number of potential casualties among Canadian troops in Afghanistan, while stating there is no such thing as a safe mission.

"You can't reduce the risk to zero," he said.

The recent Canadian rotations in Afghanistan have been centred at Camp Julien in Kabul.

Gen. Hillier said that the coming missions will "shift the centre of gravity to Kandahar," the area of southern Afghanistan that saw the rise of the Taliban.

The goal is to bring stability and democracy to the area, he said, adding that this is "the exact opposite of what people like Osama bin Laden, Mullah Omar and those others want."
Later this month, 250 Edmonton-based soldiers will head out to southern Afghanistan to form what is known as a Provincial Reconstruction Team.

The soldiers will be accompanied by officials from the RCMP and the Canadian International Development Agency, the federal aid agency, to develop ties with local officials and help with the reconstruction of the war-torn area.

In addition, 700 soldiers from Petawawa, Ont., are heading to Kabul to help the Afghan authority conduct a general election, planned for September.

After the vote, a large portion of the forces will move down south to join the PRT and prepare for the arrival of the biggest deployment in Kandahar.

In February of next year, about 1,100 soldiers will set up a new camp in the area, heading up a new multinational brigade that will eventually operate under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, alongside American troops already in the area.

Gen. Hillier also said the army is sending at least 100 armoured vehicles to Sudan.

The Grizzlys are military surplus and several will be sent later this month, with the remainder to follow, he said.

Canada's role in Afghanistan

The Canadian Forces are entering a new stage in their operations as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan in coming months, with a renewed focus on the more volatile southern region of the country.

Three distinct deployments involving more than 2,000 soldiers are in the works, culminating with the presence early next year of a combat force in Kandahar, the birthplace of the terrorist-supporting Taliban regime.

WHAT'S COMING UP

Late July and early August:

250 soldiers leave Edmonton to join a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Kandahar. The goal is to patrol the area in armoured G-Wagons and forge ties with local officials during the six-month mission.

Late July and early August:

700 soldiers from Petawawa, Ont., head out for Kabul to provide security for the general election, scheduled for September.

Late 2005: After the vote, a number of them will join the PRT and prepare for the arrival of a Canadian-led multinational brigade in Kandahar.

January-February, 2006:

1,100 soldiers from Edmonton head out to Kandahar, which will be the home-base for the Canadian-led multinational brigade. Canada will ensure leadership of the brigade for nine months, but the Canadian Forces will provide troops for a full year. In addition to patrolling streets in G-Wagons, the Canadian Forces will use larger armoured vehicles to hunt terrorists and Taliban supporters.

WHAT THEY ARE GETTING INTO

May 5: Attempted kidnapping of 3 foreign World Bank employees in Kabul is foiled.

May 2-6: 10 Afghan soldiers and scores of Taliban militants are killed in fighting.

May 7: 2 Afghan civilians and a UN engineer killed by suicide bomber in a Kabul Internet café.

May 9-13: 16 people killed in violent demonstrations prompted by a Newsweek article on the desecration of a copy of the Koran in Guantanamo Bay.

May 11: A parliamentary candidate and his driver are killed in Ghanzni province.

May 15-16: 5 people are wounded and 1 killed in violence between supporters of rival warlords in Faryab province.

May 18-19: 11 Afghan employees of Washington-based Chemonics company are murdered in 2 separate incidents.

May 18: Afghan television presenter, Shaima Rezayee is shot in the head at her home in Kabul.

May 29: Rocket hits an ISAF compound, slightly injuring a soldier.

June 28: 16 U.S. special forces troops die when their helicopter is shot down during a mission to rescue a 4-man Navy SEAL team. 3 members of the SEAL team are killed and 1 rescued.

July 1-17: Afghan civilians are killed by a U.S. Air Force strike on a suspected militant compound.

July 11-4: Arab al Qaeda militants escape from a U.S. military detention centre at Bagram.

WHAT THEY'LL BE PATROLLING IN

Coyote

Highly mobile, well-armed and well-protected reconnaissance surveillance vehicle, designed to detect hostile forces using a combination of day camera, radar, thermal imaging, and laser range-finding equipment.

Ballistic-steel hull protects against small-arms fire, mines and high-explosive airbursts.

GOING

ILTIS JEEP

Currently being phased out, the ILTIS is a 4 x 4 light utility vehicle. In service since 1948 the ILTIS were poorly armoured and difficult to maintain.

LAV III (Light Armoured Vehicle)

Fast, well-armed troop carrier. The vehicle is well protected and can be used day and night, in all weather conditions, in battlefield smoke and on most types of terrain. Capable of speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour on roads. Good anti-mine performance and an automatic fire and explosion suppression system provide additional safety for the crew and soldiers.

NEW IN 2004

G-WAGON JEEP

Replacing the ILTIS, the new G-Wagon will be used to provide tactical transport in the fields of command and control, liaison, reconnaissance and military police.

Compiled by: The Globe and Mail Editorial Library

Globe and Mail

Finally someone willing to call it like it is. But to prove that the world has gone completely mad. I heard on the radio yesterday that the PM actually backed him up on the comments!! Even though I can't take anything the PM says seriously it's still nice to have some token recognition.

If he was serious we would have Chinooks sitting here in Edmonton right now!!

[Scarecrow]

At least he's honest, admitting there will be casualties.

[canadian1971]

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Hillier has been noted for his public calls for increased resources for the Canadian Forces. "Any commander who would stand up here and say that we didn't need more soldiers," he said at the time of his appointment as Chief of Land Staff in 2003, "should be tarred and feathered and [ridden] out of town on a rail."

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"In this country, we could probably not give enough resources to the men and women to do all the things that we ask them to do," he said, with Prime Minister Paul Martin and Defence Minister Bill Graham looking on. "But we can give them too little, and that is what we are now doing. Remember them in your budgets." Hillier's outspokenness has been unusual for a senior Canadian military leader.

How do you military guys/gals feel about the man? Is he capable/competent? I don't know shit about the man myself, other than he's a Newfie.

[Blue_Nose]

(My civy opinion)

He sounds like a hardass, but not crazy... seems like a good guy for the job.

[GunPlumber]

canadian1971 canadian1971:

How do you military guys/gals feel about the man? Is he capable/competent? I don't know shit about the man myself, other than he's a Newfie.

That he is the second-worst case of "small" man syndrome I've seen in the last six months. Give this man a penile implant, a bottle of viagra and a couple of back issues of Hustler and he should be fine.

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"These are detestable murderers and scumbags, I'll tell you that right up front. They detest our freedoms, they detest our society, they detest our liberties," Gen. Hillier said.

But what they really love is meddling Western nations forcing their social, economic and political structures down their throats. So let's just bomb them into the stoneage to foster their admiration. And hey, you know what, I think they really like that we can murder their citizens with impunity and that's why they're returning the favour.

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"We're not the public service of Canada, we're not just another department. We are the Canadian Forces, and our job is to be able to kill people."

Ok, let me help you out here. See those big block letters at the top of your paycheque? They spell "Treasury Board Of Canada". See thoe teeny-weeny letters below them? They spell Department of National Defence". And when the assistant-to-the-assistant-to-the-Assistant Deputy Minister of National Defence hands you a letter that begins:

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Dear Bozo,
Your services are no longer required.

you can explain to her, your theory about how you are not a civil servant.

Oh, and by the way your mission is to save lives. If on occassion that involves shooting back at someone, so be it. See, it's called the Department Of National DEFENCE

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"We're not going to let those radical murderers and killers rob from others and certainly we're not going to let them rob from Canada," he said.

And what, pray tell, is it they plan to rob Canada of? The international legitimacy that will only come from having them kill OUR citizens on OUR streets. Gosh, I'm sure Canadians await the moment we can take our rightful place on the world's stage. You'll make sure that happens,... won't you Paul!

[Giselle]

Ahh the arrogance and conceit of western man. Thinking that he can just apply, or shall we say inflict democracy anywhere in the world is quite the joke, well it would be it hundreds of people weren't dying because of it.

It's pretty ridiculous that we are spending money on something as useless and blowing up the middle east when our own country is falling apart, litteraly.

[Zipperfish]

"arroagnT' is an excellent word selection, Giselle. Thta, above all, is what I divined from teh inspired speeches of General Hillier. A mislpalced arroagance. With him in charge, we will not reach our objectives in this war.

[SprCForr]

Getting past the jingoism (ugh!), this is all stuff field troopies have been saying for years. It just goes to show you how behind the "wheels" are. Leaders, like Lew McKenzie, have said stuff like this before, but this time the politicians haven't marginalized Hillier... yet.

I don't think our politicians have the courage to follow this through to the end. Do our citizens have it? I dunno.

GunPlumber: would the worst case of smallman-itis be J-J-J Jimmy?

[figfarmer]

that idiots use to make themselves feel better about killing people they have no business killing; calling them names like "detestable murderers and scumbags" when in actuality they mean ladies and babes in arms. It's called 'dehumanisation'. The plain truth is that Candian forces should stay out of this. Canada has not been attacked by terrorists or otherwise, but will be if we unleash these murderers on Afghanistan.

[SprCForr]

murdering scumbags = women and children
Quite the leap in logic.

Our soldiers = murderers.
Can't quite grasp that one neither, sorry.

BTW it's too late, we're already in it and have been for a couple years now.

[Zipperfish]

Paul Bernardo was a murderous scumbag. The world did not deem it necessary to dedicate the resources of dozens of countries, thousands of men and billions of dollars to eliminate his threat. Relegating Osama bin Laden merely to a murderous scumbag vastly underestimates him. Underestimating the enemy lost America the war in VietNam and will likely lose them the war against the insurgents in Iraq.

I expect a little better from the top soldier, but on the other hand maybe he's just a talking head who's supposed to fire up the troops. Hiopefully he's not the brains in the operation.

[SprCForr]

He's no talking head, he is a capable commander. (BTW, He doesn't come up with the plan. The Ops staff do.) That speech was full of "tough talk" that just doesn't come across, does it?. The troops don't fall for it and never will. That was strictly for the benefit of the politicians and media and he ended up sounding like a dork. Stick with plain language. Posturing is for pimps and politicians.

[Zipperfish]

I agree SprCForr. I think his talk was intended for the media and politicians. I sincerely hopes that he does not underestimate the enemy because Al Qeada is very capable.

[figfarmer]

Then when they hear the reports of the atrocities on the radio, like in Somalia, like in My Lai, like in a million other places in history where killers are revved up to waste a few scumbags and kill of a bunch of civilians they say. "I don't know how that can happen?" It happens. It wouldn't happen if they stayed home.

[PENATRATOR]

Gen Hillier has his shit together, and has the respect that no other CDS in recent memory has commanded from his trrops.