Fuck Haiti, let the Canadians and the French handle it this time

they are happy
an emotion you know? oOo:

Canadian troops to protect embassy

Stephen Thorne
Canadian Press


Wednesday, February 25, 2004


A small force of Canadian troops, likely members of the special operations unit Joint Task Force 2, is on its way to Haiti to protect embassy staff.
They will join a few Canadian Forces planners already in the war-ravaged country preparing the potential evacuation of over 1,000 Canadians, Maj. Mike Audette said Wednesday.

He would not say when the troops would arrive in the capital of Port-au-Prince, or if they had already arrived.

"We have dispatched CF members to assist the embassy in Haiti with security measures," Audette said. "We are not in a position to discuss the composition or numbers of security staff who have been dispatched."

The soldiers were sent after the Department of Foreign Affairs ``asked for the provision of personnel to assist with security measures for the embassy and its staff.''

A larger contingent of Canadian soldiers, but smaller than a 120-member company, has been put on alert and could depart to further secure the safety of embassy staff and other Canadian citizens in a matter of hours, said Audette.

Members of 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, in Gagetown, N.B., along with elements of the Joint Operations Group out of Kingston, Ont., and a Hercules aircraft in Trenton, Ont., have been put on standby, he said.

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin on Wednesday issued a statement calling for an "immediate" international civilian force to restore order in Haiti, where a rebellion threatens to topple President Jean-Baptiste Aristide.

France also said it wants human rights observers to be sent to the Caribbean country and a "long term" engagement of international aid aimed at reconstructing Haiti's dismal social and economic situation.

U.S. Marines were escorting foreigners trying to flee Haiti's capital Wednesday as looting broke out and opposition leaders urged a "timely and orderly" departure of the beleaguered president.

Aristide loyalists built dozens of flaming barricades, blocking roads all over the city and some leading to the airport.

Washington was encouraging the international community to provide a strong security presence in Haiti as America and its allies continued to try to achieve a political solution to the island nation's escalating violence.

On Tuesday, five Canadian Forces members arrived in Port-au-Prince to assist the Canadian embassy with planning the evacuation of Canadians should the situation worsen.

Ottawa has authorized the departure of non-essential staff from the embassy and all dependants of Canadian government personnel. Overall, there are about 30,000 foreigners in Haiti, some 20,000 of them Americans.

JTF2 are the best. no question

They have yet to prove themselves in a major operation that attracts international attention.

[quote="con Brio":a28c1]They have yet to prove themselves in a major operation that attracts international attention.[/quote:a28c1]

thats because Canada won't get so involved in something, that they will be needed on a large scale

Just because it doesn't attract attention doesn't mean their not proven.

Those guys are some of the best in the world.

When you get accepted, you disappear for 2 years. You have no contact with family, friends and records are wiped to conseal your identity.

JTF2 took prsioners in Afghanistan in 2001, and are dispached to pretty much every single international crisis involving Canadians.

The government doesn't even release the number of troops in the unit, so how are we to know what they have and haven't done? We don't.

http://www.forces.gc.ca/dcds/units/jtf2/default_e.asp
http://www.forces.gc.ca/dcds/units/jtf2 ... cast_e.asp

One day, for sure, I am going to try out for JTF2.

I can't remember the exact source, but the JTF2 are the most highly trained and intensely trained special forces in the world

[quote="con Brio":150c7]One day, for sure, I am going to try out for JTF2.[/quote:150c7]

Don't quote me on this but I believe 3 years in any branch of the military is required before you can apply, but after that it's open to anyone.

Just checked and its 2 years reg force, 3 years reserve before you can apply.

I know a guy out in winnipeg whose an MP. I was on course with him last summer.

[url="http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/community/mapleleaf/vol_7/vol7_01/701-02.pdf"]http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/community/ ... 701-02.pdf[/url]

http://www.forces.gc.ca/dcds/units/jtf2 ... tion_e.pdf