[AFSOC]
08-25-2003, 02:05 AM
Kabul—Canada's crack commando unit of Joint Task Force 2 has been deployed to bolster Canada's peace support mission in Afghanistan, military officials have confirmed.
While the defence department is loath to provide information about the elite unit, it acknowledged an unspecified number of its soldiers are now on the ground, part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) patrolling Kabul.
"We are confirming that they are here but for security and safety reasons we are not giving out any more information," said Maj. Roland Lavoie in Kabul, echoing earlier statements by defence aides.
Their exact operations are shrouded in secrecy, but the mere presence of JTF-2 underscores the danger Canada's 1,900 troops face as potential targets of terrorist attacks.
Commandos of JTF-2 are trained to search out ****y traps and mines. They are also trained in explosive ordinance demolition. In military circles, they are known as the toughest troops around.
They have served on missions in Bosnia, Rwanda, and Haiti, among other countries, training local security forces and operating as snipers.
During the U.S.-led war against terrorism, they were engaged in fierce fighting in the snow-capped mountains of eastern Afghanistan.
The unit was founded in 1993 when the Canadian Forces took over counter-terrorism duties from the RCMP. The identity of its 350 soldiers is kept secret.
The unit is divided into two sections — "Black Ops," trained in dealing with hostage incidents, hijackings and bodyguard duty, and the "Green Ops," who specialize in guerrilla tactics, protecting against snipers and disarming explosives.
In Kabul, military experts say they could be used to root out remnants of the Al Qaeda terror group, on reconnaissance missions, or to act as bodyguards for military commanders.
"If things around here get messy, they're the kinds of guys you'd want to have around," said one Canadian commander.
The United Nations counted 30 major violent incidents in Kabul over a three-month period earlier this year, including four rocket attacks and 11 other events involving "bombings, mine and grenade explosions."
So far, Canadian troops haven't met any resistance, but their 12-month mission, dubbed Operation Athena, only began last week.
SOURCE: http://torontostar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1061676608628&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154
While the defence department is loath to provide information about the elite unit, it acknowledged an unspecified number of its soldiers are now on the ground, part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) patrolling Kabul.
"We are confirming that they are here but for security and safety reasons we are not giving out any more information," said Maj. Roland Lavoie in Kabul, echoing earlier statements by defence aides.
Their exact operations are shrouded in secrecy, but the mere presence of JTF-2 underscores the danger Canada's 1,900 troops face as potential targets of terrorist attacks.
Commandos of JTF-2 are trained to search out ****y traps and mines. They are also trained in explosive ordinance demolition. In military circles, they are known as the toughest troops around.
They have served on missions in Bosnia, Rwanda, and Haiti, among other countries, training local security forces and operating as snipers.
During the U.S.-led war against terrorism, they were engaged in fierce fighting in the snow-capped mountains of eastern Afghanistan.
The unit was founded in 1993 when the Canadian Forces took over counter-terrorism duties from the RCMP. The identity of its 350 soldiers is kept secret.
The unit is divided into two sections — "Black Ops," trained in dealing with hostage incidents, hijackings and bodyguard duty, and the "Green Ops," who specialize in guerrilla tactics, protecting against snipers and disarming explosives.
In Kabul, military experts say they could be used to root out remnants of the Al Qaeda terror group, on reconnaissance missions, or to act as bodyguards for military commanders.
"If things around here get messy, they're the kinds of guys you'd want to have around," said one Canadian commander.
The United Nations counted 30 major violent incidents in Kabul over a three-month period earlier this year, including four rocket attacks and 11 other events involving "bombings, mine and grenade explosions."
So far, Canadian troops haven't met any resistance, but their 12-month mission, dubbed Operation Athena, only began last week.
SOURCE: http://torontostar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1061676608628&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154