Now that Sharia law seems to be influencing what our "free" press can and can't say about Islam, this is something future Ezra Levants and Mark Steyns can look forward to:

Afghan journalist sentenced to death

An Afghan court on Tuesday sentenced a 23-year-old journalism student to death for distributing a paper he printed off the Internet that three judges said violated the tenets of Islam, an official said.

The three-judge panel sentenced Sayad Parwez Kambaksh to death for distributing a paper that humiliated Islam

Don't think it could happen in Canada?

What if I'd asked you twenty years ago whether you thought journalists in the country my grandfathers went to war for would ever have to sit in front of "human rights" interrogators? What would you have said then?

Labels: Afghanistan, Ezra Levant, Freedom of Speech, Human Rights, Kangaroo Court, Mark Steyn

Here are but a few stories from Afghanistan that you won't have read in the past couple of months:

New bridge built over the Kokcha River, connecting the only major road in Badakshan.

Dozens of injured civilians transferred by NATO helicopters to military hospitals after a massive suicide bombing in Spin Boldak.

Senior Taliban commander captured in Gereshk.

An orphanage for 200 children, boasting the luxury of running water, opened in Farah province.

Ribbons cut on three skills development centres in Khak-e Jabbar and Bagrami.

Raid of a massive weapons and drugs cache in Uruzgan.

Insurgent mortar position destroyed in Kunar province.

New hospital and separate health clinic completed in Tarin Kowt.

Village medical outreach services provided to civilians by the provincial reconstruction team (PRT) in Qalat.

Press releases of this nature, from the International Security Assistance Force, drop into my email basket every few days. They never make it into print. But accounts of Western soldiers killed, and most especially our own, are given elegiac cover, understandably so.

Labels: Afghanistan

A demonstration has been held in south- east Afghanistan accusing US troops of insulting Islam after they distributed footballs bearing the name of Allah.

The balls showed the Saudi Arabian flag which features the Koranic declaration of faith.

Methinks the Mullahs are little testy because this hearts & minds stuff actually works. These Afghan kids, living the closest to normal as they ever have, going to school, getting candy bars and soccer balls from the Americans, are less likely to sit around listening to Uncle Ahmed tell the story (for the zillionth) of how he lost his eye fighting the Infidel swine in the mountains. No, they will be outside playing like kids are supposed to, instead of learning how to wire themselves with explosives and hate Jews just because they're Jews. And that, ladies, gentlemen and Jihadis, is how America is going to win the war.

I'll bet you ten Yankee greenbacks that they'll even manage to win over old Uncle Ahmed, by giving him a new eye...

Labels: Afghanistan, Mad Mullahs

She has had the rare honour of serving her country at the same time as serving those who serve.

And Julie Brown, amongst many other brave civilians who have done a tour in Afghanistan, is a special kind of war veteran.

"It was life changing," said Brown, who has been back from Kandahar just one week after six months of working in the famous Tim Hortons franchise at the Kandahar Airfield. "I was so proud to be able to do my part to help these fine men and women who sacrifice so much."

The 34-year-old Cookstown mother of two sacrificed as well.

For six months she put herself in harm's way to take the job at the Tim's in a war zone.

I would love to do something like this. This heavy, broken body of mine would be virtually useless in the army, but I'd gladly serve up double-doubles for the men and women doing the hard work. I would consider it an honor.

Labels: Afghanistan, Military, Tim Hortons

Every Canadian fatality in Afghanistan has an addendum, a pro forma epitaph:

"We mourn the loss ...''

"The deaths of these brave men will not be in vain ...''

"They died doing what they believed in ...''

Rosie Dimmano has a fine column today.

Labels: Afghanistan, Taliban Jack

[Padre] Varga told the mourners. "A war took Patrick; evil in the world took Patrick. God caught him when he fell and now God carries him safely into eternal life."

Pentland died when the light-armoured vehicle he was driving hit a roadside bomb near Kandahar.

What a lovely way to eulogize someone.

Labels: Afghanistan, Canadiana, Military, War on Terror

Ok, I know I'm going to get into trouble on all sides with this, but thankfully I'm used to that. I'll try to be delicate, given my own grave feelings on the subject.

Canada should not be televising the Repatriation Ceremonies of our brave dead. It's gruesome, and it's bad for the group morale of the country. Perhaps more Canadians would back our troops if they didn't have to see the parade of flag-draped coffins go by on our official Death TV station, WDED. Oops, I mean CTV.

Every Canadian has the right (almost the obligation) to mourn for those who gave their lives. But there is something truly unsettling about watching the caskets come off the planes. The Americans don't do this. Do the British? I'm not sure, but I don't think so (someone step up if I'm wrong). There is a certain anti-war "I told you so" feeling to these ceremonies, and I think it's inappropriate.

Please, if there are any families of lost soldiers out there who agree or disagree, I would love to hear from you. Maybe it's just me. Or maybe you feel it too. Let me know.

Labels: Afghanistan, Military, War on Terror

What an awesome idea, with hat tip to Halls of Macadamia.

The Royal Canadian Legion has initiated a support program called The RCL Troop Morale Fund.

They hope to raise funds to treat our troops regularly to a coffee and doughnut from the Tim Hortons in Afghanistan. A donation container is set up in the lounge here at Branch 99; loonies, toonies and the folding paper stuff would be most welcome.

...

To get things started, Dominion Command has donated $6,000 to buy the first round of coffee and doughnut certificates and, with the help of legion branches across Canada, they are hoping to be able to do this on a weekly basis.

It is not so much the coffee and doughnut, but the message behind it to the troops, to show them we care. Please help make this program a success by coming in and making your donation at Branch 99. You don't have to be a legion member to donate everyone's money is appreciated.

Branch 99 details are here.

Labels: Afghanistan, Canadiana, Military

Canada lost six today.

Six Canadian soldiers died Easter Sunday in southern Afghanistan in the worst attack on Canadian soldiers since Canada joined the conflict there.

The soldiers died and four others were wounded when the vehicle they were riding in came into contact with an explosive device.

Names have not yet been released, but that doesn't stop us from keeping them and their families in our thoughts and prayers.

Labels: Afghanistan, Military, War on Terror

I haven't read LaShawn in a few weeks, so I missed this when she posted it last week. It is the story of Phyllis Chesler, a former professor of (what else?) Women's Studies who married a Muslim and moved to Afghanistan. What she found there challenged her liberal thinking, to say the least.

Long before the rise of the Taleban, I learnt not to romanticise Third World countries or to confuse their hideous tyrants with liberators. I also learnt that sexual and religious apartheid in Muslim countries is indigenous and not the result of Western crimes — and that such "colourful tribal customs" are absolutely, not relatively, evil.

Indeed.

Labels: Afghanistan, Islam, Middle East, Religion

From CENTCOM, news that the United States is extending its mission in Afghanistan by 3200 troops for 120 extra days. Every little bit helps, and I'm sure the Canadian military, currently leading the NATO mission over there, appreciates it.

Some 3,200 soldiers of the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, will have their tour in Afghanistan extended for up to 120 additional days, Defense Department officials announced today.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates approved the extension was based on the recommendations of commanders on the ground, whom Gates visited last week, Bryan Whitman, a DoD spokesman, said. The extension will provide military capability for NATO to build on the success achieved in promoting stability and security in Afghanistan while denying safe haven for the Taliban, he said.

"What is certain is that Secretary Gates is very interested in ensuring that the successes that we've achieved in Afghanistan are not lost, and that commanders on the ground have sufficient forces to build upon the successes that we've achieved so far in Afghanistan," Whitman said.

Labels: Afghanistan, War on Terror