The Canadian Forces participation in NATO's Training Mission in Afghanistan (NTM-A) - the international effort to assist the Afghan National Security Forces as they transition to full responsibility for security throughout Afghanistan in 2014
AFGHANISTAN
"We participated to denounce those who burn the flame of ethnic discriminations"
Pashtun, Hazara, Tajik, Uzbek NOT JUST AFGHAN which denotes u r Pashtun
AFGHANISTAN NEWS UPDATES- DECEMBER 8 2013
Canadian Embassy Hosts Roundtable on the Participation of Women in the Presidential and Provincial Elections of 2014 | L’ambassade canadienne organise une table ronde sur la participation des femmes aux élections présidentielles et provinciales de 2014
The roundtable on women and girls’ rights and empowerment around elections focused on strengthening relationships and collaboration between Afghan civil society, elections stakeholders, and government for supporting women’s participation as candidates, voters, and election monitors. The discussion also shed light on how civil society, especially women’s rights organizations, can play a leading role in election programs and enhance the participation of women over the long term.
La table ronde sur les droits et l’autonomisation des femmes et des filles dans le contexte des élections a mis l’accent sur le resserrement des relations et de la collaboration entre la société civile afghane, les intervenants électoraux et le gouvernement en vue de soutenir la participation des femmes à titre de candidates, d’électrices et d’observatrices électorales. La discussion a aussi permis de mieux comprendre comment la société civile, en particulier les organisations de défense des droits des femmes, peut jouer un rôle de premier plan dans les programmes d’élections et accroître la participation des femmes à long terme.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/camafghanistancam/11189402885/in/set-72157638315604036/
-----------------
Peace of Christ Katie Lamon-Kippel
Canadian Forces Tribute - Kandahar Fields
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u42S-ajbtNw
A tribute to all the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces, and all of the ISAF (NATO), and to Katie Lamont- Kippel, singer of Kandahar Fields by Many Waters Band. This was Katie's last performance. May she rest in peace. Please rate and comment.
If you would like to download this song, listen to more music by many waters band, or read about Katie's life, go to www.manywatersband.ca
Kandahar Fields lyrics:
A white dove in a blue sky
Sheds its feathers of crimson and gold
Laughter fades as the nights grow long
And heroes' stories are told
Summer to Autumn and Winter to Spring
There s a time under heaven for everything
Now is the time to honour
The good and the true
Protect the weak from harm
Defend the helpless too
Time to mend the bows that are broken
Forge the swords again
And lay down, lay down, lay down in the Kandahar fields
And lay down, lay down, lay down in the Kandahar fields Chorus: For we'll not let go No we'll never let go We will stand and pray until the day Laughter is heard and the children play And run on the Kandahar fields
Time to tend the ones who have fallen
Mourn with those left behind
Shelter them from the terror by night
Lead them from darkness to light
Mend the walls that are broken
Dig the wells again
Plant the fields for harvest
Sown with seeds of peace
And lay down, lay down, lay down in the Kandahar fields
COMMENT:
I have great respect for Afghanistan, and I admire the people. They have been through so much. One day they will fight for, and win the peace they deserve. God bless you too my friend!
-----------------
Study Finds Afghans Optimistic, Security Still Top Concern
TOLOnews.com By Sharif Amiry 05 December 2013
The Asia Foundation recently conducted a study of Afghans indicating 57 percent of the country thinks Afghanistan is moving in the right direction. While Afghans appeared generally optimistic, and even more so than past years, they still had many concerns and anxieties about the future.
Security, peace talks, corruption and economic infrastructure were the main focus areas of the study, which involved a sample of 9,260 men and women from 34 provinces. All the participants were 18-years or older, with 14 percent from urban areas and 86 percent from rural areas.
Here is a breakdown of the study's highlights:
National Mood
Fifty-seven percent of participants indicated Afghanistan is moving in the right direction. The same figure was only 46 percent in 2011 and 52 percent in 2012. This optimism was most prevalent in the central Hazara region, the southwest and southeastern parts of Afghanistan. The reasoning offered by participants for why they thought the country might be moving in the right direction was as follows:
32 percent "Construction"
24 percent "Improved Security"
13 percent "Reopening of Schools for Girls"
13 percent "Active Presence of Afghan forces"
Thirty-eight percent of the respondents stated that Afghanistan was moving in the wrong direction. They cited increasing insecurity, presence of corruption in government offices, unemployment, suicide bombings and Taliban activities as their primary reasons for holding that opinion. The distribution was as follows:
24 percent "Insecurity"
23 percent "Corruption"
20 percent "Unemployment"
11 percent "Suicide Bombings"
9 percent "Taliban activities"
Afghanistan's National Level Problems
This study showed insecurity, corruption, unemployment and bad economic conditions to be the biggest problems facing the country as a whole in the minds of Afghans. These numbers did not see much change from past years.
30 percent "Insecurity"
26 percent "Corruption"
25 percent "Unemployment"
10 percent "Economy"
"On a national level, security is the concern, but on a local level, security is not as important as employment, construction and roads," Asia Foundation Deputy in Afghanistan Abdullah Ahmadzai said.
According to the study, 27 percent said unemployment was the biggest problem facing the country, 24 percent said electricity supply was, 19 percent roads, another 19 percent the availability of drinking water, 14 percent said insecurity, 13 percent healthcare and 11 percent education.
Women's Issues
When asked about the most pressing problems facing Afghan women, participants identified education and illiteracy, a lack of job opportunities, women's rights, forced marriages and dowry payments and domestic violence. Although men and women reported many of these issues with equal frequency, women cited job opportunities with significantly higher frequency than men. The breakdown was as follows:
27 percent "Education and Illiteracy"
12 percent "Lack of Job Opportunities
10 percent "Women's Rights"
9 percent "Forced Marriages and Dowry Payments"
8 percent "Domestic Violence"
Although 90 percent of those interviewed said all Afghans, regardless of gender, should have equal rights under law, only 54 percent said state courts treat women and men equally and 68 percent said there should be local jirgas and shuras for women only.
Eighty-three percent said men and women should have equal opportunities in education, though women were significantly more likely to support equal education than men, as were urban respondents.
Sixty-three percent said women should be allowed to work outside the home, with the most support being shown in the central Hazara region of the country and the lowest level of support in the Southwestern region.
Security
A majority (59 percent) of Afghans surveyed said they feared for their or their family's safety always, often or sometimes this year, up from 48 percent in 2012. People in the West of Afghanistan reported feeling the most fear, with people in the central Hazara region the least.
Fifty-nine percent of the respondents said they are afraid of participating in the April elections and consider security to be a major challenge for the future of the country.
While 77 percent of respondents said they would be afraid to encounter a foreign soldier, 88 percent said they are confident in the Afghan
National Army (ANA) and 72 percent in the Afghan National Police (ANP).
According to the survey, since 2009, there has been decreasing support for armed opposition groups (AOGs). This year, only 35 percent of respondents said they have a little or a lot of sympathy for the armed opposition. Pashtuns were significantly more likely to have some sympathy for AOGs than other ethnic groups; urban Afghans were significantly more likely to have no sympathy than rural Afghans, and women are significantly more likely to have no sympathy for AOGs than men.
Economic Development and Services
Seventy-six percent of the respondents said that their household economic situation has improved from the Taliban era. But, based on the study, only 5 percent of the women are employed while 79 percent of men are.
Access to drinking water, education opportunities, health services, road conditions and electricity supply saw a wide range of satisfaction levels amongst the sample. The following figures show the distribution of satisfaction for each service or amenity.
74 percent "Access to Drinking Water"
72 percent "Education for Children"
52 percent "Clinics and Hospitals"
43 percent "Condition of Roads"
41 percent "Electricity Supply"
Governance
Seventy-five percent of respondents said they were satisfied with the government's performance in 2013, continuing a steady rise in confidence since 2008. However, when asked about the level of confidence they have in various public institutions, organizations, and officials, in virtually all cases Afghans' stated level of confidence in these various entities reached an eight-year low in 2013.
Public confidence in Parliament dropped 15 percent from 2012 to 2013.
Afghans see corruption as a major problem in all facets of life and at all levels of government. Around half said corruption is a major problem in their neighborhood and daily life, while 77 percent said corruption is a major problem in Afghanistan as a whole.
Political Participation:
Twenty-three percent of the respondents said that it was safer for them to express their opinions in their communities than it was a year ago, while only 17 percent say it is less safe and 56 percent reported no change since last year.
Sixty-eight percent of the respondents are still afraid of participating in peaceful demonstrations, while seventy-six percent said it is acceptable to
criticize government in public.
Only 48 percent of participants said they cane have some kind of influence on local governance decisions.
Although 61 percent of Afghans said they think elections are generally free and fair, 58 percent said they would be afraid in running for public office and 59 percent said they would be afraid in voting in a national or provincial election.
Access to Information
:According to the study, Afghans' use of communication and information technology is as follows
80 percent have access to radio
54 percent have access to TV
57 percent have access to a mobile phone
3 percent have access to the internet
--------------------
The most respected and best liked man in Afghanistan:
Former Afghan Foreign Minister Registers for Election
October 01, 2013
Prominent Afghan opposition leader Abdullah Abdullah has announced he will run in next year's Afghan presidential election.
Abdullah, a former foreign minister fired in 2006 by President Hamid Karzai, registered his candidacy Tuesday for next year's April 5 election. Abdullah challenged Karzai for the presidency in 2009, but withdrew ahead of a runoff vote.
Karzai is prevented by law from seeking a third term in office.
Next year's vote is seen as critical to the future of Afghanistan, as NATO combat troops complete their withdrawal from the country.
Sunday is Afghanistan's deadline for registering for next year's presidential election.
Abdullah, a former foreign minister fired in 2006 by President Hamid Karzai, registered his candidacy Tuesday for next year's April 5 election. Abdullah challenged Karzai for the presidency in 2009, but withdrew ahead of a runoff vote.
Karzai is prevented by law from seeking a third term in office.
Next year's vote is seen as critical to the future of Afghanistan, as NATO combat troops complete their withdrawal from the country.
Sunday is Afghanistan's deadline for registering for next year's presidential election.
With a little help from Canada, Afghan forces have come a long way
The 34-year-old infantryman from Consort, Alberta was in Kandahar when the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry first fought the Taliban early in 2002. He was back again in 2006 at the front end of Operation Medusa, which quickly became Canada’s bloodiest, most lethal engagement with the Taliban. And returned a third time during those difficult days in 2008 before Canada turned the Kandahar combat mission around with helicopters, drones and American reinforcements.
Now on his fourth Afghan tour, Aseltine works alongside officers of the much expanded Afghan army to ensure that it accurately counts the number of troops it has.
“The fact that we have the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police today is a big difference,” Aseltine said. “Warlords ran militias when I was first in Afghanistan. It was like the Wild West.
“Afghan forces did not see the bigger picture. Now they think about things such as personnel and having military trades and how to deal with things such as attrition.”
Several hundred of Canada’s remaining 620 troops in Afghanistan, including Aseltine, will be home for Christmas. By mid-January, only about 100 Canadians will be left in Kabul for the final eight weeks of a deployment that has lasted 12 years.
Most of the Canadians here readily admit that they preferred the kinetic life they led as warriors in Kandahar. But they also see the necessity of NATO’s training mission, as the only way to prepare the Afghans for the day soon when few or no western troops will be in this country.
Starting almost from scratch only five years ago, the Afghan security forces now number 187,000 trained soldiers and 155,000 trained police. Canada has supplied more trainers than any other country except the U.S. and has been responsible for fielding nearly 100 of the army’s 300 or so kandaks.
“I don’t think that the Afghan army is suffering from problems that are any different than any other army that would have expanded that massively, that fast,” said Col. Lee Hammond, an artillery officer who runs Canada’s training mission.
Trying to compare Canadian and Afghan soldiers was bootless, said Hammond’s sergeant-major, Chief Warrant Officer Edward Smith. “They really aren’t up to the level that our guys are at and our guys didn’t get that at first. But over time our guys have developed a good respect for what the Afghan guys can do and are trying to do.”
One of the frustrations for the Canadians has been the bureaucratic process required to get equipment out to soldiers because Afghan generals need to sign off on the release of every piece of kit. They have also witnessed continuing weaknesses in areas such as vehicle maintenance and logistics. Because of such shortcomings one of the most important duties has been to teach how to prepare maintenance rosters, organize warehouses and move food, fuel and ammunition forward.
“These are all challenges that come as an organization matures,” said Col. John Fife, deputy commander of the Afghan army’s Combat Training Centre. “You initially think about the fighting and then you think of everything else.”
Canadian combat arms soldiers have taught combat units, including mobile strike forces, everything from low-level tactics to the basics of combined operations while Canadian engineers have taught Afghans to locate and neutralize improvised explosive devices that have been the biggest killers of soldiers during the war.
Other Canadians have been part of an effort to rebuild the Afghan air force from almost nothing to the point where they are now flying a pair of C-130 Hercules as well as hardy Soviet-era transport and attack helicopter models particularly well suited to the rugged terrain. Among the arcane but vital subjects Canadian maintainers have taught Afghan air crews has been how to repair choppers that have been shot up.
Canadian doctors, nurses and medical administrators have helped the Afghan military create an Academy of Medical Science. They have also developed a combat lifesaver program and convinced the Afghans to include physiotherapy as part of the treatment of wounded soldiers.
“If companies back in Canada could see what our combat arms officers and NCOs do in this country that are often completely outside their professional expertise, they would be stunned,” said Hammond.
A Canadian navy captain, for example, advises on how to root out corruption. Others work closely with senior officers in the Afghan defense and interior ministries.
“To make any assessment of where the Afghan forces are today you have to know where they were,” John Fife said. “And they have come a long way.
“You have to look at their armed forces as being only 12 years old. At one point we couldn’t do anything with written texts because so few of them could read. Now they can.”
Why Afghan troops often do not return from leave despite have been ordered to do so is an example of the kind of cultural barriers that the Canadians have had to overcome.
“Lots of the them go AWOL at Eid,” Lee Hammond said, referring to the breaking of the fast when the Holy month of Ramadan ends. “When their dads tell them they expect them at home for Eid it doesn’t matter what the NCOs tell them. If the father says be home for Eid, they’ll be home for Eid.”
Maj. Tim Day, who ran an armoured squadron in Kandahar five years ago, is the unlikely chief of the NATO mission’s English-language training branch. He is responsible for six language schools where Afghan soldiers whose jobs require English receive classes six hours a day, six days a week.
“I feel like a high school principal,” said Day, whose own mother is a high school teacher. “I see a big thirst for knowledge and education. My two cents worth is that I have seen progress and development since I was here in 2008.”
http://www.canada.com/news/With+little+help+from+Canada+Afghan+forces+have+come+long/9237256/story.html
---------------
Canada and Canadians are known around the world 4 actually caring about the everyday poorest of the poor..... boots 2 the ground.... they live, see, feel, touch, weep, protect, honour, respect, maintain the honour and dignity of Canada's inate respect and care of each and every person- Arabs and Persians say just bomb Afghanistan - kill them all and start over.... and Canadian troops, Nato troops stood up and stand quietly and determinedly proving... F**K U... each and every Afghan innocent matters... 13 years later... the miracles ... actual miracles of the real world.... show the incredible courage and the rising up of the Afghan people- u amaze us... and Canada's troops - u are the face of our nation- Nato troops- u all honour this world... proving... how hard basic freedom can be- and yet... it tastes and feels so righteous in little baby steps.... u raise up the world- thank u.
Waging Peace: Canada in Afghanistan FULL DOCUMENTARY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMyiTRMDp_c
-------------
Truro soldier remembered for military service, family and love of life
TRURO – He couldn’t perform miracles and he may have had normal human flaws, but W.O. Michael Robert McNeil was remembered as a man who stood head and shoulders above many.
Fellow military comrades carry the coffin bearing W.O. Michael Robert McNeil to a waiting hearse following a moving funeral service at the Truro Armory on Thursday. HARRY SULLIVAN – TRURO DAILY NEWS
“I suspect he was bit of a rascal by times, thus the name of the family dog,” said Stanton, who further described McNeil as “perhaps a bit stubborn, opinionated” and as one who “certainly didn’t suffer fools lightly.”
McNeil, 39, of the 3rd Battallion, Royal Canadian Regiment, was a former Truro resident who died at the Canadian Forces Base in Petawawa, Ont. on Nov. 27, in an apparent suicide.
His service, solemn and respectful but peppered at times with humourous antidotes from his life, was attended by several hundred people – from family and friends to military comrades in arms - who packed the armoury auditorium to standing room only.
“We are here to face death. It is our time to grieve, to struggle but not to give up hope, not to be overwhelmed,” Stanton said. “But with God’s grace, with those around us to celebrate a life well lived and to seek comfort for those of us left behind and to begin our way forward.”
Occasionally, Stanton suggested, we are given a chance to pause and reflect on the mysteries of life and death and “on who we are and how we mean to live out our lives.”
“This is one such moment,” he said.
While McNeil was remembered as a man who liked to tease and have fun, he was also one who carried a great zest for life. He was a leader, a beloved family man, son, father, brother and great friend who exhibited love and who performed “wonderful acts of kindness.”
Lt. Kendra Mellish, the widow of McNeil’s cousin Frank Mellish (who died in military service in Afghanistan in 2006) described him in glowing terms and said his death has left a “huge hole” in the hearts of those he left behind.
Born March 6 in Windsor, McNeil was the son of Michael and Carolyn McNeil of Truro and father to two daughters, a son and stepson.
“Michael demonstrated very well exactly who he was as a man,” Mellish said, speaking of his “tireless dedication” to family and the Canadian Armed Forces.
“On four separate occasions this country called on his services,” she said, of his 19-years of military service that took him on four overseas tours of action to Croatia, Kosovo and Kabul and Kandahar in Afghanistan.
“Michael answered that call,” she said, adding, however, that he was much more than just a soldier.
“Warrant Officer Michael McNeil was a very stoic individual. He was a solid leader who led by example,” she said.
“He would do anything for a friend and even though he was hurting on the inside and wouldn’t show it, he was also busy looking after everybody else.”
And while those who loved him will undoubtedly experience some “long nights of many questions, pain, longing, anger, confusion,” over the depths of McNeil’s silent suffering, Mellish said, he should be remembered first and foremost as one who “loved life and loved to laugh” and as one “who certainly made a difference.”
As a concluding thought, Mellish made an impassioned appeal to any other military members in the audience who might also be dealing with the demons too often associated with post-traumatic stress disorder brought about by the experiences of war.
“I am confident, without a doubt, that there is someone here today who is suffering like Michael was suffering,” she said. “You are suffering in silence. There is no need to suffer. There is help out there. Go get help!”
hsullivan@trurodaily.com
Twitter: @tdnharry
--------------------
Heaven Was Needing A Hero- Heaven was needing a hero (Hommage Canadien 2012 Canadian Troops)
Published on Nov 6, 2012
Un montage de photos en hommage à nos Soldats Canadiens décédé en service pour défendre notre pays et notre liberté.
A photos montage tribute to our Canadian Fallen Soldiers who died while serving our country and protect our freedom.
Merci à vous.
Thanks to you.
A photos montage tribute to our Canadian Fallen Soldiers who died while serving our country and protect our freedom.
Merci à vous.
Thanks to you.
--------------
Karzai Admonishes Media, Looking to Defend 'National Unity'
TOLOnews.com By Shakeela Ibrahimkhail 05 December 2013
President Hamid Karzai on Thursday issued a stern warning to Afghan media, some of which he said was inciting ethnic strife and trying to undermine the Afghanistan's national unity.
His comments came after Afghan lawmakers had serious debates recently over putting ethnic identities in addition to the national identity on the National ID cards.
The Afghan government's plan to issue electronic ID cards for the Afghan citizens awaits the law to be passed by the parliament. After the row in between the lawmakers, a TV commentator recently on a private TV channel made controversial comments about Afghan monitories, saying they don't belong to Afghanistan.
"You can insult me as much as you want, you can criticize as much as you want, you have the right to, there are many faults in this government," Karzai said. "You say anything for the foreigners because you are afraid of them, you always speak good of them, but your wellbeing comes from this people, and the wellbeing of this people, from the national unity of this soil."
"Don't forget that you were all once immigrants and in a bad condition," he added, apparently referring to the mass migration of Afghans back to the country after the 2001 invasion. "The respect that you have today, that allows you to take part in TV programs - some with ties, some with Pakoul on and some a shawl - is from the power of this nation."
Without going into specifics, Karzai claimed that there were Afghan TV channels trying to undermine the unity of ethnicities and tribes in Afghanistan, by abusing language and inciting hostility.
"I consider it my job to take strict legal action against those who are promoting discrimination," Karzai said.
The President emphasized supporting media and freedom of speech in Afghanistan but said that those who are trying to destroy the national unity of the country are not representing the people of Afghanistan.
At the moment, 69 private TV channels, 157 radios channels and over 100 news publications are working in Afghanistan.
--------------------
Obamas Bluffing With Iran China and Afghanistan
U.S. News & World Report - Friday 6th December, 2013
You can see it in their eyes and smiles. They beam with appreciation of this new knowledge. They cannot camouflage the glint of mischievous that betrays their eagerness to try this new prowess. So, too, it seems, the Obama administration has learned these same rules and likewise embraced the power thus contained after perhaps having a bluff of its own called. The Obama administration has ...
--------------
Stop the Racism Afghanistan- please
Demonstration Calls For End to Ethnic Strife
Saturday, 07 December 2013 16:26 Written by Ahmad Ramin Ayaaz
Hundreds of Afghans gathered in Kabul on Saturday to stage a protest to raise attention to the factitious behavior of some leaders looking to profit off of historically-rooted tensions between the various ethnic groups in Afghanistan.
Hundreds of Afghans gathered in Kabul on Saturday to stage a protest to raise attention to the factitious behavior of some leaders looking to profit off of historically-rooted tensions between the various ethnic groups in Afghanistan.
The demonstration took place outside the National Assembly building, where protestors read out a resolution and supported the stance of the Senate on excluding ethnicity from future electronic identity cards for Afghan citizens.
"We should say 'no' to lawlessness, inequality and we should say "no" to those who feel superior, our movement is a civil movement and logical protestor Abdul Ali Faeq added."
"Today we came to say "no" to discriminations and supremacy, we condemn these things, the era in which we live is the era of tolerance, equit in brotherhood and not the era of hatred and negations," another protestor Shafiq Sharq added.
In the meantime, a number of participants in the gathering this week said that the main aim of the demonstration was to defend their civil liberties.
"We came to raise our voice against discrimination, dominance, and biases. Still, I worked in car repair the shot for a few time.
Announce our hatred against those elements who strive to expand ethical differences among the people, a protestor Hafizullah said."
"We participated to denounce those who burn the flame of ethnic discriminations, protestor Mohamamd Arif said."
"Our aim from this civil movement is to demand prosecution of those who have committed crimes, another protestor Ahmad Eraj added."
The protestors un NYC this week read out a resolution in which they supported stance of the national assembly on electronic ID cards and the decision of the consultative Loya Jirga on BSA. The protestors also laid emphasize on holding of free, fair and transparent elections next spring.
http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/12995-demonstration-calls-for-end-to-ethnic-strife
----------------------
Iran says Afghan president to visit Sunday
Your Middle East - Saturday 7th December, 2013
Afghan President Hamid Karzai is to visit Iran on Sunday straight after an awkward visit to Kabul by US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel, an Iranian official said. To the growing dismay of Washington, Karzai has been refusing to sign a deal allowing NATO troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond next year, a position strongly backed by Iran.
-------------
A CH-47 Chinook helicopter from 3rd Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force Phoenix, making its approach to refuel at Forward Operating Base Fenty, Afghanistan. Is the Russian-made Mi-17 the superior choice for the Afghan military?
Why is US buying Russian helicopters for Afghan military?
The Pentagon bypassed US helicopter makers, choosing to spend more than $1 billion on dozens of Russian Mi-17 helicopters. A study shows the Chinook built by Boeing is a better fit.
By Richard Lardner, Associated Press / December 7, 2013
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2013/1207/Why-is-US-buying-Russian-helicopters-for-Afghan-military
------------
VIDEO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUlAMzvBSUw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUlAMzvBSUw&feature=youtube_gdata&autoplay=1
Prince William Presents Medals To Soldiers Who Have Returned Home From Afghanistan
The troops safely returned home
http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/135006/Prince-William-Presents-Medals-To-Soldiers-Who-Have-Returned-Home-From-Afghanistan#ibBFVkhYD1Byb87d.99
-------------------
News - Afghanistan
Emirates Begins Flights to Afghanistan
Wednesday, 04 December 2013 19:55 Last Updated on Thursday, 05 December 2013 10:56 Written by Zabiullah Jahanmal
Officials of Emirates Airlines have announced that flights to and from Afghanistan have officially begun, and the route will maintain seven roundtrip flights between Dubai and Kabul a week.
After the arrival of Fly Dubai and Air Arabia flights in Afghanistan, Emirates Airlines marks another, major addition to the list of world commercial airlines operating in Afghanistan, which didn't have any commercial airline activity just 13 years ago.
"Starting Emirates Airlines flights to Afghanistan sends a strong message of encouragement for other companies," Emirates Executive Director Adel Reza said. "We say that this country is a suitable place for investment and our arrival will provide further investment opportunities in other fields as well."
Kabul is the 138th destination on the Emirates route network and its 78th country. The Airbus A340-500 is expected to be the aircraft operating the Dubai-Kabul route.
The Independent Aviation Office has welcomed Emirates Airlines and reported efforts to bring other major world aviation companies to Kabul.
They also said they would be keeping a close eye on companies as the market expands and see greater foreign involvement.
"We will try to prevent violations and legally act against domestic or foreign companies with unhealthy competition practices," Director of the Aviation Office Captain Hamed Zahir said.
At the moment, including Emirates, eight other foreign companies fly to Afghanistan.
http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/12969-emirates-begins-flights-to-afghanistan
-----------
Afghanistan to Import 500,000 Tons of Russian Oil
Wednesday, 04 December 2013 07:53 Last Updated on Wednesday, 04 December 2013 21:03 Written by Shahla Murtazaie
http://www.tolonews.com/en/business/12958-afghanistan-to-import-500000-tons-of-russian-oil
-------------
Afghanistan to expand key Salang Highway
Posted by wadsam | December 7, 2013 | 0
http://www.wadsam.com/afghanistan-to-expand-key-salang-highway-323/
-------------------
Hundreds rally in capital Kabul against racial discrimination
By Ghanizada - Sat Dec 07, 8:09 pm
Hundreds gathered in capital Kabul on Saturday to protest against the broadcast of a TV program which resulted to rhetoric racial discrimination.
The protesters condemned Zhwandoon TV for airing the remarks of an analysts regarding the non-Pashtun ethnic groups in Afghanistan, and called it an act to spread racial discrimination among the people of Afghanistan.
Gen. Wahid Taqat made the remarks regarding the non-Pashtun ethnic groups in Afghanistan, during a round table, which was organized to debate the controversial census of population law in the Afghan parliament.
Afghan lawmakers have been busy to debate the census of population law during the recent weeks, and the debate has resulted in clashes among the lawmakers in a number of cases.
The lawmakers have not reached to an agreement on whether to mention the ethnicity of the civilians in the national identity card, or the identity should be mentioned only as “Afghan.”
In the meantime, the organizers of the rally insisted that the ethnicity of citizens of Afghanistan (Pashtun, Hazara, Tajik, Uzbek) should be mentioned in the national identity cards, as the word “Afghan” reflects only the identity of the Pashtun ethnicity.
They also urged the government of Afghanistan to take control of such programs which spreads racial discrimination among the Afghan people.
This comes as Afghan president Hamid Karzai recently said that a number of medias are involved in spreading racial discrimination among the Afghan people.
http://www.khaama.com/hundreds-rally-in-capital-kabul-against-racial-discrimination-2603
-------------
Hagel Bypasses Karzai in Afghanistan Visit with Troops
By David Lerman & Eltaf Najafizada - Dec 7, 2013 3:21 PM ET
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-07/hagel-bypasses-karzai-in-afghanistan-visit-with-troops.html
------------
Afghan defense minister assures Hagel on timely signing of US security deal
By Ghanizada - Sat Dec 07, 11:07 pm
http://www.khaama.com/afghan-defense-minister-assures-hagel-on-timely-signing-of-us-security-deal-2604
------------
so proud...play brilliantly Afghanistan
Pakistan will not take Afghanistan lightly: Hafeez
Saturday, 07 December 2013 20:38
Posted by Imaduddin
SHARJAH: Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez stressed his team will not take Afghanistan lightly in the first-ever Twenty20 international between the two nations in Sharjah on Sunday.
War-ravaged Afghanistan have earned a reputation of being a dangerous team in the shortest format of the game, having last month qualified for their third successive World Twenty20 -- to be held in Bangladesh in March-April next year.
Earlier this year, Afghanistan also qualified for the 2015 World Cup (50 overs) to be held in Australia and New Zealand.
http://www.brecorder.com/sports/cricket/147708.html
-----------------
CANADA VIDEO-
Afghanistan Memorial Forest, Forêt Commémorative ,Petawawa Ontario
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNHS3rw2l2s
------------------------------
VIDEO-Military, service animals honoured at special service in Bass River, N.S- HONOUR
http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/military-service-animals-honoured-at-special-service-in-bass-river-n-s-1.1538345
and
Noah unveils his monument to the Forgotten Heroes- Bass River, Nova Scotia
Young Noah Tremblay was the driving force behind the creation of a monument dedicated to the animals that helped people in times of war, conflict and peace. The idea originated from a heritage fair school project he did. It quickly became the 12-year-old boy’s mission to raise enough money to build a monument.
He collected donations and sold beeswax lip balm and raffle tickets. He also designed the granite memorial, which was erected in 2012 “in memory of all animals and handlers who served in our military and police forces.” The names of the animals and their handlers are also inscribed on it.
The Memorial to Forgotten Heroes is located in Veterans Memorial Park in Bass River, Nova Scotia.
http://aiwdedication.ca/noah-unveils-his-monument-to-the-forgotten-heroes/
-------------
Four-legged sergeant protected Canadian lives in Afghanistan- these dogs have saved over half a million lives.
http://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/canada/four-legged-sergeant-protected-canadian-lives-in-afghanistan-1.1538689
---------------
Trace Adkins- Wounded Warriors- West Point CMAs
------------------------
Bed of Roses- UK Troops Remembered- PTSD-SUICIDE- KILLED LINE OF DUTY
----------------------
A Dedication to the Soldiers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm7sDHtm2hs
Comment: I have just as much respect for our Canadian and English brothers as I do my own US troops. Your troopers fight to defend the security of your nations just as hard as ours do. Hooyah.
-------------
Poster Girl- Aussie Tribute 2 troops
"Kandahar" A Modern Soldier's Story (Canadian Government Copyright)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tbWGGjgPiY&list=PL46F8A505B0D8CEAB
Published on 31 May 2012
OVERTURE to " Kandahar " A Modern Soldier's Story words and music by myself Robin Reid Habermehl CD A New musical written as a tribute to the Canadian British and US troops who have served or presently serving their countries in Afghanistan. This story was not meant to be political in any way and is fictional but based on some of my personal experiences when I served in the Canadian Forces from April 1980 until August 1994 when I resigned at the rank of Warrant Officer.
The story is told through the eyes of three young privates. One American, one British and one Canadian and how each one's experience while on tour is the same but different as their tour progresses,. I hope everyone enjoys the music and acting as everyone from director cast and musicians donated their talents and time.
Regards Robin Habermehl CD
------------
--------------
Pierre Elliott Trudea- JUST WATCH ME
comment:
Beloved Pierre Elliot Trudeau- after the brutal kidnapping and slaughter by the FLQ of Pierre LaPorte - and the Canada's War Measures Act was called by Trudeau. Canadians stood by Trudeau. Pierre E. Trudreau brought Canada her Charter of Rights and Freedoms. For all ... Pierre Elliot Trudeau was loved globally... much like Obama today. Pls. don't forget we had terroists back then too.... and in2day's world..... we all know what Pierre Elliott Trudeau would do with the 'traitor' Omar Khadr- who went 2 Afghanistan 2 murder our Canadian troops- and when Khadr was captured.... OMAR was still throwing grenades
---------------------
CPAC- Military Vet- now Canada Journalist- incredible special Documentary- non-political-please watch
Scott Taylor previews Homecoming: The Casualties of War
-------------------
CANADA : 11,000 Canadians buy the white Poppy- 18 million Canadians buy our Red Poppy of Respect 4 our freedoms- ok with that- but do NOT diss troops on Nov. 11- we will getcha - and it won't be the troops - u interfere with 35.5 million Canadians quietly honouring our troops- our Military, Militia, Reservists and Rangers - who have died 4 the freedoms we live on in Canada- we will hunt u down... we will find u... we will post ur names on a wall of shame 2 circulate around the world. Canadians are tired of our children wearing our Canadian flags dying, wounded, suicides over freedoms in lands that are just horrific 4 women and children.... and the troops walk that talk each and every day... don't u dare burn our flag... or diss our Canada- we would never 4give u... instead 4 peace serve at food banks... give blankets and clothes 2 the homeless.... take care of stray animals... help children of Canada who can't afford books and sneakers; give 2 the Red Cross- blood donations; clean our highways, help pack food at food banks -homeless centres, volunteer 2 read and help elderly, volunteer at youth centres, organize fund raisers 4 disadvantaged -of which there are many- in our Canada .... u want peace.... well how about earning it!
WHITE POPPIES= RED POPPIES
-------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.