To the Editor,
Not a minute too soon, the Canadian Forces Base in southern Afghanistan closed down last year, signaling the end of 10 years of active participation in George Bush’s “War On Terror”.
Millions of dollars’ worth of military equipment is now being returned home from the land-locked country in shipping containers passing through ports in neighbouring Pakistan.
During the past decade news coverage often used the catch-phrase “Sands Of Kandahar”, but these words took on a whole new meaning according to a CBC report on Jan. 10.
When opening some containers arriving at Montreal, presumably secured with Department Of National Defence seals, personnel discover the military equipment has mysteriously disappeared, and the weight made up by substituting rocks and sand.
Much disturbing of dandruff will occur in high places in Ottawa, where the term “military intelligence” has always been something of an oxymoron.
Sadly, this reads like an updated version from a Rudyard Kipling novel, documenting Britain’s equally futile attempts to occupy and outsmart Afghanis back in the 19th century.
Bernie Smith,
Parksville
