20 years after they deployed to Afghanistan, Canadian soldiers ask: Was it worth it?
Twenty years in the past, they believed they have been making historical past.
“Sep 11 occurred, and like 4 months later we’re there in Afghanistan, and it actually mattered and folks actually cared,” stated Alex Watson, a captain on Canada’s first deployment, now retired and dealing as a lawyer in Calgary. “However by way of wins over the long run … a spot like Afghanistan will break your coronary heart.”
Canadian troopers who served in Afghanistan held a reunion lately in Edmonton to rekindle the deep bonds of warfare, and mirror on what’s occurred because the U.S.-led mission ended and the Taliban took management of the nation. One massive query within the air: Was it price it?
“I might by no means butcher troopers for the end result that we had,” stated retired colonel Pat Stogran, who commanded the third Battalion of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Gentle Infantry.
Over the 12 years that Canada fought in Afghanistan, 158 Canadian troopers died, and 1000’s extra suffered bodily and psychological accidents. There have been additionally deaths by suicide after troopers returned from their deployments.
CBC’s David Widespread went to Afghanistan eight occasions to report on the warfare, so when an invite to the reunion landed in his inbox, he knew he had quite a lot of questions for the veterans.
WATCH | 20 years after Afghanistan, troopers ask — was it price it?:
After years of reporting on the warfare in Afghanistan, CBC’s David Widespread travels to Edmonton to attend a reunion with Canadian troopers as they mirror on whether or not it was all price it.
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