KENAZ 'S BLOG: March 16, 2008

I found this fitting song composed by MacPhee, Schram, Howe in my files simply entitled "Ode To The Canadian Soldier "and uploaded to imeem. Please give a listen. The lyrics pay tribute to the men and women who are "Fighting for freedom and staying the course.

A 22-year-old Canadian soldier was found dead in Afghanistan on Tuesday, but a top military commander said the death was not related to combat. Jérémie Ouellet was found at 2:15 p.m. local time in the sleeping quarters at Kandahar airfield, the main NATO military base in southern Afghanistan. Ouellet was from Matane, Que., and served with the 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, which is based in Shilo, Man. Ouellet is the 80th Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan since the mission began in 2002.

In related news, Canada expects its NATO allies will soon offer 1,000 more soldiers to support the Canadian contingent in Afghanistan, Defence Minister Peter MacKay said on Sunday. Troops from Canada, Britain, the Netherlands and the United States have borne the brunt of the fight against the Taliban, but MacKay has been pressuring other NATO countries to provide more support and continued his efforts at a NATO summit in Brussels on the weekend.

In addition to at least 1,000 extra troops, Canada is looking for equipment including helicopters and unmanned surveillance aircraft. Last week, the House of Commons voted to extend Canada's 2,500-troop mission in Kandahar province until 2011, as long as NATO sends more troops and equipment to help Canadian troops

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Peace

KENAZ 'S BLOG

Sunday, March 16, 2008

80th Canadian soldier dies mysteriously in Afghanistan