Canada's Seventh December Death in Afghanistan

by C. L. Cook

Canada's state broadcaster, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC) reports today a seventh Canadian killed by a road-side bomb, along with three injured in Afghanistan. According to the CBC, the bomb detonated shortly after noon in the Zhari district, just outside of Kandahar City, the restive area the Canadians redeployed to in 2005. 

 

Pte. Michael Freeman, 28, was from 3rd Battalion, the Royal Canadian Regiment based at CFB Petawawa. (DND)

 

Canadian Forces spokesman, Brigadier-General Denis Thompson said the soldiers were conducting "security operations" when the blast occurred. Three Canadians wounded in the same attack are reported in "good condition."

 

 

 

The name of the soldier killed had not at first been released at the request of family members, the military says, but now acknowledge, Private Michael Freeman of the 3rd Battalion, the Royal Canadian Regiment died in the attack.

 

The seventh Canadian to die this month in Afghanistan, the soldier's death today marks the 104th killed in-country since Canada first deployed to Afghanistan in 2001, and the 100th killed since the redeployment of the Canadian Forces from Camp Julien, near the capital Kabul in 2005.

 

The alteration of Canada's original mission, and the increased use of American air-power to deal with the growing insurgency in Afghanistan has combined to make Canadians a more highly visible target of resistance to the seven year old occupation there.