|
Losing the PR war at home and abroad (Afghanistan related)
|
View this Thread in Original format
| EvilTree |
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/serv...y/National/home
| quote: | CHRISTIE BLATCHFORD
From Monday's Globe and Mail
TORONTO — If the Taliban are clobbering the Canadian Forces in the Afghan public relations war, as some fear, then bloody hell if the same thing isn't happening here at home.
Over the weekend, modestly attended and utterly banal peace marches held in cities across the country led Saturday radio and TV newscasts and print websites (including The Globe and Mail's) and Sunday newspapers, but barely a scintilla of attention was paid to the awarding of prestigious Canadian military decorations and honours.
The awards were announced midafternoon on Friday -- in plenty of time for newspaper deadlines -- but rated only a mention in some major Saturday papers, including The Globe (which ran only a brief, as we call minuscule stories, and then in only some editions) and the National Post. In Toronto, for instance, the only daily to run a proper story on Saturday was the Sun.
In a world where the word "hero" has all but lost its meaning -- attached as it is to almost anyone who endures a mild trauma without mental collapse or meets the now low threshold of nominal good citizenship -- about 40 gallant Canadian soldiers went almost entirely unrecognized by the press, and thus by their countrymen.
It is little short of disgraceful, and I have to say, when I saw my own newspaper on Saturday -- we managed to run four other Canadian Forces-related stories that day, including one which suggested that soldiers are low-achieving losers in flight from dead-end jobs -- I was ashamed.
Virtually all those honoured are members of 1st Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry or those support and reserve units attached to them; they were the Canadian Battle Group in Kandahar during what the military calls Roto 1, the period from January-February this year through the end of August.
Many of them are soldiers I got to know during my two tours as an embedded reporter in Afghanistan; a couple, including Sergeant Patrick Tower, the big dog among them all, I know well.
Two of the awards -- for Captain Nichola Goddard, a 26-year-old from the 1st Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in Shilo, Man., who was given the Meritorious Service Medal, and 22-year-old Private Kevin Dallaire, who was mentioned in dispatches -- were made posthumously. Capt. Goddard and Pte. Dallaire were both killed in action, respectively, on May 17 and Aug. 3.
Four of the decorations, including Sgt. Tower's, were awarded for the first time since 1993, when Canada created its own military honours, including a Victoria Cross, separate and distinct from the traditional British awards. So the announcement was momentous for two reasons -- first, the remarkable courage of those honoured, and second, because in four cases, the awards were historic.
Sgt. Tower won the Star of Military Valour, in prestige behind only the Victoria Cross, which has never been awarded.
The official citation reads as follows: "Sgt. Tower is recognized for valiant actions taken on Aug. 3, 2006, in the Pashmul region of Afghanistan.
"Following an enemy strike against an outlying friendly position that resulted in numerous casualties, Sgt. Tower assembled the platoon medic and a third soldier and led them across 150 metres of open terrain, under heavy enemy fire, to render assistance. On learning that the acting platoon commander had perished, Sgt. Tower assumed command and led the successful extraction of the force under continuous small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire. Sgt. Tower's courage and selfless devotion to duty contributed directly to the survival of the remaining platoon members."
Three other soldiers were awarded the Medal of Military Valour.
Sergeant Michael Denine's citation reads as follows: ". . . on May 17, while sustaining concentrated rocket-propelled grenade, machine gun and small arms fire, the main cannon and the machine gun on his light armoured vehicle malfunctioned. Under intense enemy fire, he recognized the immediate need to suppress the enemy fire and exited the air sentry hatch to man the pintle-mounted machine gun.
"Completely exposed to enemy fire, he laid down a high volume of suppressive fire, forcing the enemy to withdraw. Sgt. Denine's valiant action ensured mission success and likely saved the lives of his crew."
Master-Corporal Collin Fitzgerald, with B Company 1PPCLI out of Shilo, won his MMV for "outstanding selfless and valiant actions carried out on May 24, 2006, during an ongoing enemy ambush involving intense, accurate enemy fire.
"MC Fitzgerald repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire by entering and re-entering a burning platoon vehicle and successfully driving it off the roadway, permitting the remaining vehicles trapped in the enemy zone to break free. MC Fitzgerald's courageous and completely selfless actions were instrumental to his platoon's successful egress and undoubtedly contributed to saving the lives of his fellow platoon members."
Private Jason Lamont, a medic, earned his MMV on July 13, when "an element of the reconnaissance platoon came under heavy enemy fire from a compound located in Helmand Province, and was isolated from the rest of the platoon.
"During the firefight, another soldier was shot while attempting to withdraw back to the firing line and was unable to continue. Without regard for his personal safety, Pte. Lamont, under concentrated enemy fire and with no organized suppression by friendly forces, sprinted through open terrain to administer first aid. Pte. Lamont's actions demonstrated tremendous courage, selflessness and devotion to duty."
On the day that Sgt. Tower performed so nobly, Aug. 3, four young Canadians were killed in combat -- first, Corporal Chris Reid, and shortly afterward, Sergeant Vaughn Ingram, Corporal Bryce Jeffrey Keller and Pte. Dallaire -- a number of others were badly wounded, and still more felled by the devastating summer heat.
The scene, as it's been described for me in detail by participants from many corners of the battle, was nightmarish and horrific. Sgt. Tower was not only courageous, he remained calm enough to take care of his troops in ways great and small, and sufficiently devoted that once having led his men to safety, he was ready to go back out into the thick of the danger. As he told Commanding Officer Ian Hope and Regimental Sergeant-Major Randy Northrup, who themselves were awarded the Meritorious Service Cross, "Good to go, sir."
Oh, and Sgt. Ingram was Sgt. Tower's best friend.
The key to the SMV and MMV is a phrase I love, because it is so soldierly, so understated: The awards are given for an act of valour, self-sacrifice or devotion to duty "in the presence of the enemy."
Well, the boys are back home now, minus their friends and mates killed in action or accident, and not all of the living have their limbs or their eyes, and all are changed. There are many days when they must wonder if somehow, they aren't still in the presence of some enemy even less readily identifiable than the Taliban.
[email protected] |
I am disappointed by most of Canadian media's reporting on Afghanistan, consistently focusing on the negatives in search of controversy that'll sell paper, yet disregarding the good things Canadians are trying to do.
Last Sat's 'day of protest' drew quite a bit of media attention, yet this award ceremony hardly received any.
It is as if the media wants Afghanistan mission to fail.
I am gratified that few journalists who have the balls to go against the media trend and give voice to the soldiers and others who want Afghanistan mission to succeed.
PM Harper needs to recognize that failing to win the PR at home does little good for the soldiers in Afghanistan. |
|
|
| Jayx1 |
the problem is not with harper. Its the left wing media that is bitter that their boys arent in office. The media never put the liberals through this kind of ringer yet the afghan mission was happening on their watch and they even initiated it. (including the current mission!). The somalia mess happened under their watch as well but you dont see the media crucifying the liberals for that either do you?
Shame on the media as you said, but kudos to harper for standing up for his principals whereas many others would sway whichever way the wind were blowing.
As ive always said, you may or may not agree with what harper says and does, but you have to admire a man who stands up for what he believes in and follows through on his word.
PS: i dont agree 100% with many of harper's views either but so far he has been true to almost everything he's promised and its only been 9 months. |
|
|
| EvilTree |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jayx1
the problem is not with harper. Its the left wing media that is bitter that their boys arent in office. The media never put the liberals through this kind of ringer yet the afghan mission was happening on their watch and they even initiated it. (including the current mission!). The somalia mess happened under their watch as well but you dont see the media crucifying the liberals for that either do you?
Shame on the media as you said, but kudos to harper for standing up for his principals whereas many others would sway whichever way the wind were blowing.
As ive always said, you may or may not agree with what harper says and does, but you have to admire a man who stands up for what he believes in and follows through on his word.
PS: i dont agree 100% with many of harper's views either but so far he has been true to almost everything he's promised and its only been 9 months. |
Ref: left wing media I agree.
But Harper is not doing enough to fight against the left wing trend. I suppose he's still learning the PR ropes, esp. when one mistake means a media lynching (which he has so far avoided)) |
|
|
| Abercrombie |
| He who wins the propaganda battle, is he who wins the war. |
|
|
| Jayx1 |
| but thats supposed to apply to foreign press, not your own. Not when it comes to war anyways. |
|
|
| jazzyrj |
| I like Harper, I like the conservatives... But Afghan, is a mess. Far too much money being wasted half a world away. Its time Canada begins concentrating on fixing problems at home. This war on terrorism is a big load of bull. |
|
|
| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by jazzyrj
I like Harper, I like the conservatives... But Afghan, is a mess. Far too much money being wasted half a world away. Its time Canada begins concentrating on fixing problems at home. This war on terrorism is a big load of bull. |
remember though that its the liberals that put us in the current mission. We already committed. You dont walk away from something once that promise has been made. |
|
|
| EvilTree |
| quote: | Originally posted by jazzyrj
I like Harper, I like the conservatives... But Afghan, is a mess. Far too much money being wasted half a world away. Its time Canada begins concentrating on fixing problems at home. This war on terrorism is a big load of bull. |
That's what American isolationists though during the 30s and beginning of WW2 too. (substitute terrorism with Nazis) |
|
|
| Dj Smitty20 |
Ok listen, the typical Canadian attitude toward the Afghanistan mission bothers me big time. As a military historian in training, I don't understand why Canadians think our armed forces are all blue helmet wearing, school building peacekeepers! That is not the case and that is NOT what soldiers are trained to do. It's a recent invention that has its roots with Peason and Trudeau (who gutted our military by the way for 20 years)
The current administration did not send our boys over there; that was Chretien and I supported, and still support, the mission. When people join the army, they agree that their life is at risk. Everybody was gung ho at first and now that we have a few hundred casualties (42 dead), people start freaking out. What does everyone thinks SOLDIERS do? They fight and kill the enemy first, lend humanitarian aid second.
When you send our boys into the fray, some of them are going to get killed. That's war. I'd like to see today's media and public sentiment be transplanted to WW1 or WW2. I almost went to RMC (decided against it at the last minute) and if I had, I'd probably be over there right now. Unlike Iraq, Afghanistan needed to be fixed.
But the minute you start pulling our soldiers away from their mission because we've sustained combat deaths, you're only helping those who they fight. It just boggles my mind. |
|
|
| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Dj Smitty20
Ok listen, the typical Canadian attitude toward the Afghanistan mission bothers me big time. As a military historian in training, I don't understand why Canadians think our armed forces are all blue helmet wearing, school building peacekeepers! That is not the case and that is NOT what soldiers are trained to do. It's a recent invention that has its roots with Peason and Trudeau (who gutted our military by the way for 20 years)
The current administration did not send our boys over there; that was Chretien and I supported, and still support, the mission. When people join the army, they agree that their life is at risk. Everybody was gung ho at first and now that we have a few hundred casualties (42 dead), people start freaking out. What does everyone thinks SOLDIERS do? They fight and kill the enemy first, lend humanitarian aid second.
When you send our boys into the fray, some of them are going to get killed. That's war. I'd like to see today's media and public sentiment be transplanted to WW1 or WW2. I almost went to RMC (decided against it at the last minute) and if I had, I'd probably be over there right now. Unlike Iraq, Afghanistan needed to be fixed.
But the minute you start pulling our soldiers away from their mission because we've sustained combat deaths, you're only helping those who they fight. It just boggles my mind. |
couldnt have said it better myself. Furthermore calling soldiers "peacekeepers" is actually becoming offensive to many military families. |
|
|
| Dj Smitty20 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jayx1
couldnt have said it better myself. Furthermore calling soldiers "peacekeepers" is actually becoming offensive to many military families. |
I think, since the western world hasn't really been affected by real war (total war) since WW2, people are forgetting what combat and war is all about. If we leave Afghanistan, who's next to leave? The Brits, the dutch? The Americans can't be everywhere at once. If everyone pulls out now, that country will be a complete mess. The only way I can see improving is to stay the course.
I don't mean to be insensitive for those who have died over there. My friend is in the RCR in Pettawa, has 1 year left on his contract and is expecting to be shipped over in March for a tour. But he knows the risks and he actually wants to go. This is why we have soldiers and a military. They engage and defeatenemies, not divy out sacks of wheat and build primary schools. |
|
|
| EvilTree |
| quote: | Originally posted by Dj Smitty20
|
Bang on post.
Here's another editorial from one of my fav. blogs
http://www.ruxted.ca/index.php?/arc...sco-Juarez.html
| quote: | Francisco Juarez
In a recent Ruxted Group commentary, we pointed out that the Canadian Peace Alliance "has a right to express its views; it has no right to manufacture ‘facts’ to support them."
Now we see the NDP, the Canadian Peace Alliance, and fellow travelers touting their newest poster boy, Francisco Juarez - - Canada’s first "Afghan war resister" at various public events. Mr Juarez speaks passionately about his opposition to Canada’s present role in Afghanistan, as is the right of anyone in this country. Our problem is with casual disregard with which "facts" are being skewed to meet political agendas and the actions of an uncritical press corps in repeating these factual errors.
Following service as a seaman in the Canadian Navy, Mr Juarez transferred to the Army Reserves and applied to be commissioned as an infantry officer. Merely a week into the Common Army Phase of his training, where one learns the very basics of soldiering, he expressed doubts about his military future. Refusing a command to complete a fitness obstacle course with his mates, his request for release from the Canadian Forces was granted. But now that he has become an orator for the various anti-Afghanistan factions, it appears that facts and fact checking by journalists are not about to stand in the way of a good story.
Mr Juarez states that he left the Canadian Forces because he did not wish to serve in Afghanistan, indicating that he was to be sent there in 2007. Mr Juarez knows full well that the CF is not deploying untrained Reservist Officer Cadets to Afghanistan. Canada has NOT declared a military mobilization, and is NOT ordering part-time Reservists overseas.
He would first have to complete his army and infantry-specific training. Following service at his unit to gain practical experience, he would then have to personally volunteer to deploy, and be selected for, this mission. If he was still in the running at this point, Mr Juarez would have had to compete with his peers to be selected. He would then undergo a minimum of six months pre-deployment training with the chance of opting out throughout the process if either he or the military deemed he was not suitable for deployment.
This is not remotely the scenario being staged by Mr Juarez on behalf of the NDP and the CPA.
Journalists should have known this; they would have known this if they had done even the most rudimentary fact checking. Journalists failed; they misled the Canadian public by repeating and rebroadcasting factual errors. Journalists, editors and publishers have thrown away all pretense of reporting the news – they have decided to propagandize for a point of view.
The Ruxted Group thanks Mr. Juarez for his previous service to the country. We also sympathize with his decision to leave the military; not everyone is cut out for the profession of arms. The time has come for Mr. Juarez to come clean. As a former service member, however briefly, we are sure he is still familiar with the concepts of personal responsibility and honour. As such, he knows that we cannot quietly accept his blatant disregard for the truth. |
|
|
|
|
|
