CAN AFG Task Force Senior Bureaucrat: "Afghanistan aid projects a Taliban target; Enemy will strike in regions previously considered safe" (.pdf permalink)

ISAF Soldier Killed by IED in South

ANOTHER Vehicle Fails to Stop in Helmand - More Bad Boys Nailed in Sangin

Associated Press Reporter Says Security Worse Lately in K'Har

How USA Rescue Pilots Helping Get the Wounded Outta Harm's Way - FRA May Send SF Troops Back to AFG - Some Brits Back from Tour

Opinion: "Who should govern: Communists, Mujaheddin or Westerners?" - "I don't understand why so many people feel compelled to get on (news web pages) and make ridiculous, ill-informed, or outright stupid comments about the situation in Afghanistan." - "Will the Afghanistan Surge Doom Pakistan?" - More - "Vikings or Talibans… Can You Spot the Difference?"

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "1 tank of Canadian destroyed near Kandahar city" - "In explosion 6 Canadian Killed in Kandahar" - "Taliban Plan Massive Attack On Kabul; Nine Canadian Soldiers Killed" - "2 vehicles of puppet police destroyed in Helmand" - "1 tank of British occupation blew up in Helmand" - "1 vehicle of puppet police blew up in Helmand" - "2 military vehicles of puppet army destroyed in Kandahar" - "Why did I take arms against the United States? - Former Northern Alliance Commander" - "These are pictures of the Islaamic youth in Afghanistan .... these Mujaahideen are from Uzbekistan"

UN: AFG Opium Cultivation Down 20% Overall... - ...But Tripled in Helmand - More - more - more - UN Office on Drugs and Crime Report, August 2008 (.pdf) - UNODC Statement - Senlis: "UNODC Report gives false hope in fight against Afghan drug trade"

Now, RUS Says "You Can Come Through, But At Your Own Risk"

Close Call for USA Diplomat in PAK

26 Aug 08

Shawn Eades, Stephan Stock, Dustin Wasden, R.I.P.: Hometown Burials for All Three

"Canadians 'clear out' bomb-making Taliban strongholds after fatal blast" - More - CF Says They're Winning - More - CF Busy Juggling Three Block War in AFG - Coalition Ready to Push Harder

One Embed's View of IED Blast He Was In - Another's View - More - more

Most Escapees from Big K'Har Jail Break High Tailed it to PAK

CAN Army Commander: "I need a heavy-infantry assault vehicle, not in large numbers, in limited numbers with a better ability to protect the young folk when they’re rumbling around in a scenario where there are all sorts of IEDs, mines and other unpleasantries .... After that, we need an armoured patrol vehicle, which is more heavily protected then the G-Wagon, but is not as large as the Coyote."

On Decapitation of the Taliban/AQ: "While the terrorists can replace leaders and technical specialists, they cannot replace them with people of equal experience. And as they move into the shallow end of the talent pool, more mistakes are made."

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "1 tank of Canadian destroyed near Kandahar city"

USA Media: "Canadians honor war dead on 'Highway of Heroes' "

Honkin' Huge Drug Bust in South - More

Why One Woman Studying Online With CAN's Help Wants to be a Project Manager - Bad Guys Host Good Ol' Fashioned Book Burning in K'Har School

DNK Soldier Killed in Helmand IED Blast - Google Translation of DNK Statement - DNK Statement in Danish - BBC Scotland Embeds News Team to Do the News from Helmand - POL Troops Tell POL PM They Need Better Equipment - FRA General: NATO underestimated Taliban - More - more

Opinion/Commentary: "There are multiple ways in which Canada's limited resources may be used, including helping the Afghans .... Which of those is most appropriate is a policy question which does not fall within the sphere of expertise of military personnel. They should no more lecture the public on these issues than civilians should lecture them on tactics." - Tabbernor Article - Petrolekas Article - "Rather than downplaying the threat by prioritizing moral outrage over sound policy, (CAN DefMin Peter) MacKay would do well to realize that the Taliban is easily capable of targeting aid workers again" - "In Afghanistan money is not a solution for many problems. Mismanagement, corruption, abuse of power are the main problems and can be solved without it."

Cost of Coal, Wood Expected to Rise for Winter

RUS Says They're Not Blocking "Civilian Cargoes" Transiting for NATO Forces in AFG

PAK Bans Taliban - PAK Gunmen Torch Hardware Destined for USA Forces in AFG - More - PAK Gunmen Shoot @ USA Vehicle

25 Aug 08

CF Troop Injured, Embed Reporters Shaken by IED - More - more - more - more - more

FC ont complété la sécurisation d'une autoroute à Kandahar - "Coalition puts on a show of force to disrupt insurgent activity in volatile Zhari district"

"The Canadian viewpoint may influence the French government's next moves" in AFG

IRQ-Style Surge Coming After USA Takes Over in January?

AFG Southern Governors Meet in K'har

BBC Reporter: Media Shouldn't Present Taliban as Monolithic

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "9 Canadian soldiers killed, 5 oil tankers of invaders destroyed in Kandahar" - "1 tank of Canadian destroyed in Kandahar" - More - "3 military vehicles of puppet army destroyed in Kandahar" - "1 vehicle of puppet police blew up in Helmand" - "4 military vehicles of puppet army destroyed in Kandahar"

Four Bad Boys Nailed When They Attacked Musa Qala ANA Base - "Helmand's fields yield a bumper opium harvest" - "Farmers in Afghanistan are to be given millions of pounds of British taxpayers' money to persuade them to stop growing poppy crops for heroin." - "Wheat price incentive for farmers"

Opinion: "So far the Canadian government hasn't taken any steps to press Islamists to tolerate the values of a free society. Rather, Islamists are pushing Canadians to tolerate their extreme hateful ideologies." - "Taliban are getting stronger because people are joining them and once it stop, Taliban will loose the war. But people will only stop joining Taliban if the government works for their welfare and provide them justice."

24 Aug 08

Shawn Eades, Stephan Stock, Dustin Wasden, R.I.P.: They're Home - More - more - more - more

CAN Troops Wrap Up Big Push Before Next ROTO - More - Families Happy to See Returning Troops

Security a Priority for New K'Har Boss - "Kandahar police and civilians fear odds are against them"

Veterinarians Help Out in Qalat

Problems in AFG=Problems with NATO

USA Embed "On the tip of the spear in Afghanistan's Helmand Province" - BBC Embed Setting Up Shop with Scots - "Helmand's fields yield a bumper opium harvest"

"Sergeant Met on Plane Escorting Fallen Home" E-Mail an Urban Legend - The USMC Version - The CF Version (Which Made It as a Letter to the Editor)

Judge, Son Shot to Death in K'Har - Smugglers Arrested in Helmand - Ambush on Police Patrol in Helmand Leads to Two Dead Bad Guys - Cop Shot Dead in Zabul

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "2 checkpoints of puppet army demolished in Helmand" - "13 landmines detonated killing many British invader terrorists in Helmand" - "A large number of British invaders soldier killed in Helmand" - "1 vehicle of puppet army demolished in Kandahar" - "A vehicles of puppet police commander blew up in Uruzgan"

Opinion: "Trudeau, not mission, is wrong" - "The women of Kabul would tell us why British troops really are heroes"

UN's Uber-Envoy: "Partnerships with provincial and district authorities are key to improving aid effectiveness in the south" (.pdf version of statement)

FRA Taking Hard Look at Mission After Ten Killed

"Osama Wanted" Billboards, Posters Up

PAK Says AFG Sent 6K Troops into PAK - AFG Denies Claim

23 Aug 08

Shawn Eades, Stephan Stock, Dustin Wasden, R.I.P.: On Their Way Home - More - Expected Home Tonight - Edmonton Colleagues Remember - More - more - "Are we not doing it for the kids?" - They Were Doing a Risky Job - More - Media Eyeing the Magic 100 Number Already

CIMIC Soldier Prepares to Leave - Next ROTO: "The People of Afghanistan Need Us" - More - more

CAN PRT Officer Comments on "Cries of a nation"

Mission 1000 for CAN UAV Team

Bad Boys Nailed in Helmand - More - Ten Civvies Killed in K'Har Roadside Bomb - More

Analysis: "In the race between firepower and armour, firepower always wins. It is far easier to double the power of a bomb than it is to double the protection of a tank." - "Taliban are now maneuvering for a Vietnam-style Tet Offensive, this time against Kabul." - "Rockets, guile and the lessons of history: the Taleban besiege Kabul"

Senlis: "We need a new Afghan strategy" - Pressure Climbing for Review of NATO Strategy in AFG

Opinion: "Alexandre Trudeau should stick to filmmaking .... (his) claims are mistaken on every level of analysis" - "I don't think anyone should assume we're out of Afghanistan until we're out of Afghanistan. And until that time the death of every soldier should make us question and reflect on why we're there." - "New Afghan crisis may be real (Canadian) election issue" - "Politicians still hope to skid through the coming election without dealing with those confounding realities. Voters owe it to the troops, and to themselves, to make that as difficult as possible." - "No Time to Waver - Nato must respond more coherently and robustly to the Taleban threat" - World Bank Pres: "(A) key determinant is the Afghan government's ability to extend and deepen governance -- and development -- in areas with improved security. Afghanistan's partners need to connect forces, aid and capacity to build this national ownership." - "It is stupid to compare soldiers to athletes"

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "A vehicles of puppet police commander blew up in Uruzgan" - "1 tanks of American, 2 vehicles of puppet army destroyed in Zabul" - "1 vehicle of puppet army demolished in Kandahar" - "3 vehicles of enemy destroyed in Helmand" - "Martyrdom Operation kills 10 police in Nemroz"

22 Aug 08

Shawn Eades, Stephan Stock, Dustin Wasden, R.I.P.: CF Statement (1) - CF Statement (2) - ISAF Statement - CF Army News - Governor General/Commander in Chief's Statement - Prime Minister's Statement - Minister of Defence's Statement - Army.ca Condolences - Updated List of Canada's Fallen (Wikipedia) - Vancouver Sun - Saskatoon-Star Phoenix - Canadian Press - Toronto Star - CanWest/National Post - More - Globe & Mail - CBC.ca - CTV.ca - BBC News - Bloomberg

Erin Doyle, R.I.P.: Hundreds Mourned @ Funeral - More

CF Officer Writes His OWN Letter to the Taliban - Blogger Kudos for Letter - Letters to the Editor

Lew-Mac: "Canadians soldiers are dying in Afghanistan while many NATO members are refusing to show up for the fight"

Son of Former CAN PM: "Our aggressive military activities in Afghanistan are foolish and wrong .... it's better we leave now."

CAN Rejecting AFG Refugee Claimants

"The Desparation Line: Hundreds overwhelm aid mission in Kandahar" - Development Projects Done & Under Way in Zabul - USA Embed Trainers in Zabul Helping Root Out Bad Boys

Brit PM Drops By - More - Shows His Support - Promises Continued (and More) Support - Compares Brit Troops to Olympic Heroes - Says Taliban Not a Strategic Threat to Kabul - "Another day, another VIP visit" - All is Not Well Among Brit Troops, Though - UK Commander in Helmand Says Mo' Troops Needed - "Growth Trajectory" - US Command Sgt Major Injured in Blast that Killed Brit - US Spec Force Survivor of Vehicle Accident in RC-South Credits Commander for Saving Him - 30 Jun 08 Announcement of SF Accident - POL Troops Seek More Control to Cut Casualties - FRA Honour Ten Fallen

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "In explosion 15 soldiers of enemy Killed in Kandahar" - "1 checkpoint,vehicle of puppet army demolished in Kandahar" - "1 miltry truck of American occupation blew up in Helmand"

Bad Boys More Aggressive, Not Stronger - Media Savvy, Too

Opinion: "The West has a duty to complete what it began in Afghanistan"

21 Aug 08

Three CAN Troops Killed, One Injured by Zharei IED - CF Statement - More - more

Erin Doyle, R.I.P.: Funeral Today - More

Senlis: Situation Deteriorating? - Released CAN Reports: Taliban Fighting in Larger Groups?

CAN Strategic Advisory Team-AFG Replacement: Costs More, Fewer People (.pdf permalink)

CF Pilot Training to Fly UAVs - RCR Turret Gunner Prepares to Deploy

Editorial: "If the Afghan people decide Canada's presence is more trouble than it is worth, they are free to say so, through their leaders or opinion surveys. We will not stay a day longer than we are wanted. But Canadians would betray the UN, the Afghan people, and our own principles, by being cowed by murderers, or seduced by their Big Lie."

"US general warns of security gap when Marines leave Afghanistan"

Karzai: Not Enough Focus on Terrorist Facilities, Sanctuaries or Financial Networks=More Violence - Meanwhile, UN Uber-Envoy Says More Should be Done About Corruption

Reuters Embed Travels K'Har by Humvee

Taliban Propaganda Watch: "7 Canadian terrorists killed in Kandahar" - "In explosion 13 soldiers of enemy killed in Zabul" - "1 vehicle of puppet police blew up in Kandahar"

FRA Deaths Possibly Friendly Fire? - Brit PM Visits Troops in Helmand - More - UK "Soldier's miracle recovery from Afghan blast" - Good Guys "Hinder" Bad Guys' IED Team - Bad Boys Nailed in Uruzgan

More on AFG-PAK-NATO Tri-Lateral Meeting

Report: 1998 Missiles into AFG Training Camps Helped Bin Laden, Taliban Get Closer

20 Aug 08

Joshua Brian Roberts, R.I.P.: Hundreds Remember Fallen 'Good Soldier' at Funeral - More

Letter Back to the Taliban in Response to Open Letter Threatening CAN Civvies - Meanwhile, rabble.ca Forum Posters Suggest Aid Workers Killed Working for CIA-Linked Agency - "Open letter to Canadians reveals just how desperate these bullies are" - AFG Envoy to CAN: "I am not surprised that the Taliban would use this opportunity -- after the tragic killing of aid workers and daily attacks on civilians and non-civilians, both Afghans and non-Afghans -- to try to create fear."

Counterpoint to "CAN Strategic Advisory Team a Failure" Piece - More