Nov. 29 - Trusty Peter

Nov. 29 - Trusty Peter Worthington. I know that if I get a certain huh feeling, Peter will often address that particular issue. Today's column addresses the way Canadian soldiers are honoured: Only the victims need apply for medals of bravery and valor.

He starts with the soldiers deployed in Afghanistan:

It's hard to escape the conclusion that soldiers the Canadian government chooses to honour are those who are killed or who are officers. It's not always been this way, but since Afghanistan that seems the case.

Prior to the four members of the Princess Pats being killed by an American "friendly-fire" bomb in Afghanistan, soldiers killed on various UN "peace" missions drew minimum reaction from Ottawa and small mention in the media.

It's different now, but for how long?

Indications are, for those who want to see it, that nasty times are ahead for Canadians on what started out as constabulary duties in Afghanistan.

Sad, true, and unaddressed. There's a freaking bounty on their heads, and plans to expand outside of Kabul will involve greater risks.

Ottawa's decision to allow the four soldiers killed by the American bomb to be awarded the U.S. Bronze Star -- the U.S.' fourth-highest valour award, which is given for meritorious service-- is a bit odd. And very political.

It's America's way of atoning for the tragedy.

It also degrades the Bronze Star, because these soldiers were merely victims.

Brave, simply by being soldiers, but hardly "heroes."

I agree with the charge that the awarding of the Bronze Star by the US government is politically motivated, and is an attempt to remove some of the sting Canadians still feel about the "friendly fire" incident (not death quotes there, but I feel the phrasing should never be part of the common venacular. Yes, it happens. No, it's never acceptable, as Gen. Pace pointed out some time ago in a DoD briefing.)

Snark time: the way the Canadian government treats the military, it is tempting to say that any Canadian who volunteers to serve is already performing above and beyond the call of duty. After all, doesn't it seem that the government actively discourages enlistment by their failure to appropriate the funds and equipment and thus respect for those who chose to serve? And if you're not bi-lingual, you won't be an officer.

Sgt. Robert Short, killed by a mine that blew up his Iltis jeep in Kabul, is to be posthumously awarded the Vance Award.

It's fair to say that all civilians and most soldiers haven't a clue what the Vance Award is.

Ouch.

(It's named after former army commander Lt. Gen. Jon Vance and goes to the sergeant who exhibits the greatest leadership qualities.)

Double-ouch. I've never heard of Lt. Gen. Jon Vance either. A quick poll reveals that neither Mark nor my college educated kids ever heard of him either. I've got a feeble excuse as I wasn't educated here, but the 4 men in this household were.

Peter then analyzes the recipients of the 26 Bronze Star, which leans heavily to non-combat soldiers, and notes that:

The five lowest honourees are the snipers who actually did feats that deserve medals.

One of the snipers --a guy from Newfoundland -- set a world sniping record when he knocked off an enemy attacking Americans at a range of some 2,400 metres -- roughly 1 1/2 miles -- with his .50- calibre rifle.

The snipers were attached to the U.S. Rakkasan brigade, in combat with the enemy.

When the American commander wanted to give these extraordinary snipers Bronze Stars in a battlefield ceremony, Ottawa balked -- too bellicose.

So someone who kills a sniper trying to kill fellow soldiers is too bellicose. Got it.

Canada gives awards for service and bravery, but few for combat, except a Mention in Dispatches.

When Ottawa put the medal to the snipers on hold, David Bercuson, director of the Centre of Military and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary, wryly remarked: "Canadians don't kill ... the military is not sure that the government is prepared to accept -- let alone celebrate -- the fact that Canadian soldiers do sometimes end up killing people."

And that too is politically motivated.

Read the whole thing. I already excerpted more than I intended, but the attitude of the Canadian government towards awarding medals is puzzling and Peter goes into greater history and detail than I quoted.


Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, the Canadian troops are heavily involved in tightening security measures for the upcoming constitutional meeting. Thousands of people will be registering in the stadium for the loya jirga which will discuss the proposed constitution beginning Dec. 10.

Commanding officer of the Canadian contingent, Lt.-Col. Don Denne, said "It's been awfully quiet, almost too quiet."

"There have been threats of vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and remote-controlled improvised explosive devices," Denne said.

"Every now and then we get a threat from a reliable source that we take very seriously."

Remember and honour those who serve.

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