[BRIEF NOTE] Doubleplusgood

[rfmcdonald]

The front page of all of the Toronto newspapers is full of news of the latest Canadian offensive in Afghanistan. As described by (among other sources) this CBC report, this offensive may yet win the war against the Taliban.

In this military mission, the Canadian Forces have arranged better co-operation with both the government of Afghanistan and Afghan security forces to reduce the risk of harm to Canadian troops, including friendly fire attacks, Mike Kampman, chief of staff for the Regional Command Southern Headquarters in Afghanistan, told CBC News.

"We do everything in our power to reduce the risk of this operation, but at the end of the day we can never reduce the risk to zero," Kampman said.

"Canadians should feel confident that everything is being done to reduce the risk as much as possible," he said, adding that "we would love to have this mission over by Christmas."

Canada has more than 2,000 troops in Afghanistan, the majority stationed in the south at Kandahar airfield. Forty-four Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have died in Afghanistan since Canada first sent troops there in early 2002.

In May 2006, members of Parliament voted to keep Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan for two years longer than previously planned.

All this coverage reminds me of the description of another conflict.

The voice from the telescreen paused. A trumpet call, clear and beautiful, floated into the stagnant air. The voice continued raspingly:

‘Attention! Your attention, please! A newsflash has this moment arrived from the Malabar front. Our forces in South India have won a glorious victory. I am authorized to say that the action we are now reporting may well bring the war within measurable distance of its end. Here is the newsflash -’

Bad news coming, thought Winston. And sure enough, following on a gory description of the annihilation of a Eurasian army, with stupendous figures of killed and prisoners, came the announcement that, as from next week, the chocolate ration would be reduced from thirty grammes to twenty.

Winston belched again. The gin was wearing off, leaving a deflated feeling.