Bomb kills 97th Canadian soldier in Afghanistan as election called in Ottawa
Published Monday September 8th, 2008
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Violence ripped through southern Afghanistan Sunday leaving a Canadian soldier dead in a bomb blast in the countryside shortly before a pair of suicide bombers blew themselves up inside police headquarters in Kandahar city.
Sgt. Scott Shipway became the 97th soldier to die on Canada's mission to Afghanistan when his armoured vehicle struck a roadside bomb in the Panjwaii district around 12:30 p.m.
The separate suicide attack at police headquarters killed at least four Afghan police officers and wounded about 31 people.
It all happened on the day Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a federal election would be held on Oct. 14 in Canada.
Harper later issued a statement offering his "deepest sympathies to the loved ones" of Shipway.
He praised Shipway and seven soldiers who were wounded in the attack "for their selfless service to this country."
Military officials in Kandahar made no remarks linking the wave of violence to the election call, but the mounting toll in Afghanistan and the future of Canada's mission are poised to become hot election topics.
In addition to the 97 military deaths, a senior Canadian diplomat also died in Afghanistan on Canada's mission to the country. Two Canadian aid workers were recently killed by insurgents while working for a New York-based humanitarian organization.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay was asked recently whether he thought the Taliban would step up attacks to influence the election outcome. He said the Tories have taken it into consideration.
"The war and the Taliban are not going to take a break if we have an election in Canada," MacKay said. "As for election issues, come what may - we'll be ready."
Shipway was airlifted by helicopter to the multinational hospital at Kandahar Airfield where he was pronounced dead Sunday. He was the 11th Canadian soldier killed this year by an improvised explosive device, or IED.
Seven other soldiers were wounded in the explosion but were all able to notify their loved ones personally.
"We are all deeply affected by the loss of our friend and colleague Scott," said Brig.-Gen. Denis Thompson, the top Canadian commander in Afghanistan.
"However, during these sad moments, we also recognize the even greater sorrow is that his family is going through."
Shipway was less than a week away from the end of his tour of duty in Afghanistan.
He was as an infantryman with the 2nd Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Shilo, Man. He previously served in Kosovo, Bosnia and Cyprus, and this was his second tour of duty in Afghanistan.
In 2006, he was cited for his quick reaction during another roadside bomb attack.
"At that time, he disregarded the danger to himself, secured the area of the blast and began treating casualties, including one who had lost both his legs," Thompson said.
"Using the radio, he got some direction from the chief surgeon and was able to stop the bleeding, thereby saving the soldier's life."
Remembered by his friends as a dedicated father and Saskatchewan Roughriders fan, he was known as "Papa Shipway" to his troops.
"He was very loyal to his friends and his motto was 'Never let a comrade down'," Thompson recounted.
"He would always give you an honest answer, whether you wanted it or not, and he didn't sugar coat things no matter whom he was talking to."
According to a letter of condolence issued Sunday by Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, Shipway leaves a wife, a six-year-old son and a four-year-old daughter to mourn.
As a young child, the premier's release says, Shipway arrived in Regina with his family from Britain. They later moved to Saskatoon, which was where he was living when he joined the Canadian Forces in 1990, the release states.
The blast that caused the Canadian casualties happened less than an hour before two suicide bombers detonated themselves inside police headquarters in Kandahar city.
Officials said two suicide attackers detonated bombs inside the police station in an attempt to assassinate Gen. Abdul Raziq, a border police commander, and provincial police chief Matiullah Achakzai.
The blasts went off within a minute of each other, one on a ground floor and one on an upper floor, officials said.
Thompson acknowledged a lot still needs to be done despite efforts last month to rid the Kandahar countryside of IEDs, and despite claims that security in Kandahar city is among the best in the restive province.
"At the end of the day, there's no defence against a suicide bomber," he said. "It's the ultimate smart weapon. You can't stop a determined person from blowing himself up."
He said the operations in August were in neighbouring Zhari district, and now it seems his troops have their "work cut out" for them in Panjwaii.
While the attack on the police station comes just three months after militants unleashed a massive assault on the city's prison, killing some nine police officers and setting free almost 900 prisoners, Thompson said it is not indicative of the overall security situation in the city.
He maintains overall security within the city's limits is improving as Afghan citizens increasingly take responsibility for their own safety.
"In Kandahar city, nine out of 10 IEDs are turned in to the local authorities," he said.
"That's a good sign. We're not there yet in the countryside because, again, the population doesn't have the confidence to pick up the phone and communicate with the Afghan National Security Force."
Zulmay Ayuobi, a spokesman for Kandahar governor Rahmatullah Raufi, said coalition and Afghan forces have managed to stop some 70 improvised explosive devices from wreaking havoc across the city over the last two months, often thanks to Kandahar citizens who call in suspected threats.
"It demonstrates that the people of Kandahar want peace and stability," he said, adding the enemy appears to be changing its tactics and targeting infrastructure and government buildings.
"Without question, the enemy wants to sabotage the peace and security process... but we are strong enough to answer their attacks."
"Every loss of a Canadian life is a tragedy and our hearts always go out to the families and friends of those who are affected," Canada's new ambassador to Afghanistan Ron Hoffmann said in a recent interview.
While he wouldn't discuss it in the context of an coming election, Hoffmann suggested Canadians both in Afghanistan and at home understand the challenges and the stakes as the military death toll climbs toward 100.
"We've already dealt with a great deal of sacrifice and hardship and I don't believe this 100 number is in any way going to change or have an impact on morale or alter the resolve that Canadians have here to do the job that we set out to do, which is to ensure Afghanistan does not fall back into failed statehood," he said.
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FREEDOM, IF YOU LOVE IT THANK A SOLDIER AND HIS FAMILY.
GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES.