What follows is a letter from our dear friend Ehsanullah Ehsan, director of the Afghan-Canadian Community Centre
in Kandahar, "a school that owes its existence to the sacrifices of the
Canadian people." I've passed on the letter directly to Canadian Forces
officials in Ottawa and to the editor of the Calgary Herald, so that it
might makes its way to the bereaved families.

To
the Highest Esteemed Families of Ms. Michelle Lang, Sgts. George Miok,
Kirk Taylor, Cpl. Zachery McCormack, and Pte. Garrett Chidley,

I am writing to extend my deepest sympathies to you, the families of
Ms. Michelle Lang, Sgts. George Miok, Kirk Taylor, Cpl. Zachery
McCormack, and Pte. Garrett Chidley, and the government and the great
people of Canada, on behalf of the Afghan men, women children who have
been given the chance to live a peaceful and prosperous life by virtue
of the ultimate sacrifices paid by the Canadian men and women in
uniform serving in Afghanistan. As an Afghan who has had the privilege
of aiding in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, I was deeply saddened
and outraged to hear that the soul of such heroic figures had departed
this world, but deeply believe that their spirit will live on forever
in the legacy of honor, dignity and integrity that they left for the
Afghan people, the Canadians and the world at large. May you know that
your grief is deeply shared by all of us. With every such tragic loss,
we bleed in our hearts.

We have the greatest respect and appreciation for the ultimate
sacrifices made by these heroes, and will always remember their brave
and noble efforts. We admire their sincere and caring services for the
love of humanity, the love of children and the love of the Afghan
people, as well as for the noble purpose of ending the scourge of
terrorism, oppression, extremism and human rights violations in
Afghanistan and around the world. As the Director of the
Afghan-Canadian Community Center in Kandahar, a school that owes its
existence to the sacrifices of the Canadian people, the Canadian
heroes, I will do my utmost to ensure that our students honour Ms.
Michelle Lang, Sgts. George Miok, Kirk Taylor, Cpl. Zachery McCormack,
and Pte. Garrett Chidley's legacy and that our teachers and students
dedicate themselves to a more peaceful and prosperous future for us all.

Please let me know whether there is anything I can do to help during
this difficult time. You are in our thoughts and prayers. We will
continue to pray for their eternal soul, and that you receive the
strength and courage you require in your time of need. God is with you
and may you receive His blessings of peace, solace and prosperity.

Sincerely, Ehsanullah Ehsan, Director, Afghan-Canadian Community Center.

Read more »

The issue of Afghan detainees has been blown all out of proportion, often with the collusion of some reporters who seem to be missing the big picture while investigating emails, notes CASC co-founder Terry Glavin, in his latest broadside.

Quotes from reporter Matthew Fisher, a rare Canadian reporter with extensive experience in Afghanistan and an enthusiasm to help bring some rationality to this story: Read more »

At this time of year that is normally filled with joy, we take time to remember those latest casualties of Taliban cruelty in Afghanistan. Their deaths are not in vain. Their sacrifices are remembered and their courage and dedication is an inspiration to those who continue to work, fight and report in this troubled part of the world. Four soldiers and a journalist died in an explosion this week south of Kandahar City..

In Macleans, a heartfelt tribute to Canwest journalist Michelle Lang: Read more »

Dear Friends,

Let
me wish you all Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and would like to
take the opportunity to thank you very much for your very noble
services, sacrifices, bringing us, the Afghans and the world peace,
security and development.
  
I know 2009 was not an easy year for some of us, the families who lost
their love ones in fight against terrorism, extremism, warlordism,
druglordism, backwardness and human rights violations.
  
We also understand that challenges in Afghanistan have caused some of
you to celebrate this great occasion of Christmas and New Year away
from your homes and love ones. We thank you and wish you all a joyous
and peaceful Christmas commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, may
peace be upon him. . . Read more »

Afghan women are taking to the streets to protest corruption, the Taliban, the drug lords and those associated with the warlords. This is an encouraging sign of a true flowering of democracy. Still fragile, and the women will have to be very brave in the coming days. But their acts are an inspiration.

A full article by Tony Perry on this can be found in the LA Times, Afghan Women Lead Protest Against Government Corruption

An excerpt is below: Read more »

"If western feminists who have staked out a "troops out" position
remembered to ask Afghan women their views, they would find that rather
than bristling at "masculine militarization," "cultural imperialism,"
or any other in-vogue sin found on the placards waved at rallies, many
Afghan women are haunted by the memory of the Taliban's public stoning
to death of women. They recall what life was like when you couldn't
leave your home alone, when you could not speak aloud in the streets
because your voice was deemed inhuman, subservient, inherently impure. Read more »