Not a minute too soon, the Canadian Forces Base in southern Afghanistan closed down last year, signaling the end of 10 years of active participation in George Bush’s so-called War On Terror.
Far too many precious young Canadian lives were lost or maimed in the mission that ate a huge hole in our country’s coffers.
Millions of dollars-worth of military equipment is now being returned home from the land-locked country in shipping containers passing through ports in neighbouring Pakistan. During the past decade news coverage often used the catch-phrase Sands Of Kandahar, but these words took on a whole new meaning according to a report on Jan. 10.
When opening some containers arriving at Montreal, presumably secured with Department Of National Defence seals, personnel discover the military equipment has mysteriously disappeared, and the weight made up by substituting rocks and sand.
Much disturbing of dandruff will occur in high places in Ottawa, where the term “military intelligence” has always been something of an oxymoron.
It will be interesting to hear the silver-tongued spinmeisters in our Ministry Of Defence attempt to downplay this latest fiasco. Sadly, it reads like an updated version from a Rudyard Kipling novel, documenting Britain’s equally futile attempts to occupy and outsmart Afghanis back in the 19th century.
Bernie Smith
Parksville