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Canadians' War Effort 'Outstanding'

Commitment to war still strong, despite withdrawal: commander

Monday, July 1, 2002
By Vickie Chachere
The Ottawa Citizen

Canada will keep a force of about 1,300 in the Middle East, participating in naval operations and aircraft detachments.

On the eve of Canada Day and just weeks before Canada intends to withdraw its ground troops from Afghanistan, the commander of the Canadian Joint Task Force in southwest Asia said yesterday his country remains committed to the war on terror and its bonds with U.S. forces are strong.

Brig.-Gen. Michel Gauthier said Canadian special forces would remain in Afghanistan where Canadian troops have "stood shoulder to shoulder to the American brothers in arms."

"It's been an outstanding success," Brig.-Gen. Gauthier said. "In addition to the obvious challenges of being at war, they have performed brilliantly."

Canadian government officials say there is no connection between their decision to withdraw ground troops and the accidental bombing of Canadian soldiers by a U.S. fighter pilot in April. Four Canadian soldiers were killed in the incident.
(More: Canada.com News Source)
2002 © The Ottawa Citizen.

Dan