I present to you the author, Christie Blatchford. She's no "guy", but she sure looks like one!
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| Afghanistan |
| Did he abandon his troops? |
| 2006-12-29 |
| FORWARD OPERATING BASE ZETTELMEYER, AFGHANISTAN — When Major Matthew Sprague says he is tempted to put in his whole company for awards or commendations, he isn't kidding. So many of the officers, noncommissioned officers and ordinary grunts of the 1st Battalion The Royal Canadian Regiment's Charles Company, which Major Sprague commands, have distinguished themselves under fire here in southern Afghanistan — particularly on two terrible days in September, when the company was first attacked with shocking ferocity by the Taliban, and then, still reeling from the four men lost that morning, accidentally strafed in a friendly-fire incident that killed another and injured 38 the very next day — that separating the ordinarily brave from the ridiculously courageous is difficult if not impossible. But there is one man not included in that honourable group. In several recent interviews, during which he properly sang the praises of his troops, Major Sprague didn't even mention his name. Asked directly about him yesterday, he would not discuss the soldier except to say tersely that he is now out of the army and that the alleged incident that led to his leaving is “in the past, as far as I'm concerned.” From Christie Blatchford at the G&M, one of the best Canadian journalists and worth the read. |
| Posted by:john |
| #10 Whoa! She's a blond, now. I enjoyed her work when she wrote for the National Post . The prose was at times a bit purplish, but she had a good nose for a story. |
| Posted by: mrp 2006-12-29 18:31 |
| #9 think i saw her mug as an illustration in a Dr. Seuss book Yeah, but The Grinch has green hair. |
| Posted by: gorb 2006-12-29 18:14 |
| #8 combination of Susan Estrich and Commander Straker |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-12-29 17:45 |
| #7 think i saw her mug as an illustration in a Dr. Seuss book...... |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2006-12-29 16:21 |
| #6 ...thankfully |
| Posted by: E. Brown 2006-12-29 14:50 |
| #5 I don't know many guys or gals who look like that... |
| Posted by: 3dc 2006-12-29 14:44 |
| #4 Guys like this reporter would describe the birth of Christ as Mary messing up the manger. I present to you the author, Christie Blatchford. She's no "guy", but she sure looks like one! |
| Posted by: Chuck Darwin 2006-12-29 13:58 |
| #3 This must be a technique they teach in J-school. Any mention of something good or heroic will be accompanied by its polar opposite. We *must* have 'balance', you know. Once you become aware of it, you see in in the most trivial of stories. "Today, the President frolicked on the White House lawn with the Presidential Dog for an hour. However, experts express concern that the Presidential Cat may not be receiving enough attention". |
| Posted by: SteveS 2006-12-29 11:08 |
| #2 This is a bullshit negative MSM spinning piece of crap! Let's take the story of a hundred hero's and how they valiantly fought a fortified enemy and came out with victory and then spin it into a negative press article with the premise focused on a guy who froze up in battle. Guys like this reporter would describe the birth of Christ as Mary messing up the manger. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-12-29 09:43 |
| #1 So no air, no artillery and they drop leaflets to let them know they're coming? Looks like the only ones that know how to actually fight the war are the grunts. Doesn't seem like it was just one NCO that let them down... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-12-29 08:02 |