Twenty years ago, they thought they were making history.
“It happened on September 11th, and like four months later, we’re in Afghanistan, and it mattered a lot and people were very worried,” said Alex Watson, captain of Canada’s first deployment, now retired. works as a lawyer in Calgary. “But in terms of long-term victories … a place like Afghanistan will break your heart.”
Canadian soldiers serving in Afghanistan recently held a meeting in Edmonton to rekindle deep war ties and reflect on what has happened since the US-led mission ended and the Taliban took control of the country. . A big question in the air: was it worth it?
“I would never kill soldiers for the result we had,” said retired Colonel Pat Stogran, who commanded Princess Patricia’s 3rd Light Infantry Battalion.
During the 12 years that Canada fought in Afghanistan, 158 Canadian soldiers were killed and thousands more were physically and psychologically injured. There were also deaths from suicide after soldiers returned from their deployments.
CBC’s David Common went to Afghanistan eight times to report on the war, so when he received an invitation to the meeting in his inbox, he knew he had many questions for veterans.
TARGET | 20 years after Afghanistan, soldiers wonder: was it worth it ?:
20 years after Afghanistan, soldiers wonder: was it worth it?
After years of reporting on the war in Afghanistan, CBC’s David Common travels to Edmonton to attend a meeting with Canadian soldiers as they reflect on whether it was worthwhile.
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