Canadian Troops in Afghanistan
The Psychological Trauma of Life on the Front Line
More soldiers from Canada have died in NATO-lead operations than from any other country. Living and working with Canadian troops in war-torn Kandahar, we experience life behind the headlines.
'I've never really been outside Canada', 24 year old Private Sean Davis explains. 'I wanted to see what's going on over here, try to help, do my part instead of being a guy sitting at home watching'. It is the first Foot Patrol the soldiers have experienced since arriving in Afghanistan. Despite the heat and dust they wear full body armour. This is a perilous operation, as Taliban fighters and suicide bombers operate in the area. 'We are facing a faceless enemy', explains one soldier. 'They have no uniforms, one minute they're shooting at us, the next minute they're raking their fields. We don't know the difference'. Many of the soldiers call home the night before this type of operation. One young soldier's voice cracks as he asks whether it is snowing in Toronto. Fighting an invisible enemy brings problems. 'Their mentality is the hardest thing', says Private Davis. 'Why they are fighting, what do they believe in so strongly they want to do this? It's hard to know'. A poignant snapshot of life on the frontline.
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