Afstan: Putting Canadian casualties in perspective
This letter to the Ottawa Citizen outlines non-combat (Royal) Canadian Air Force fatalities during the Cold War (full text not online).
Re: The price we've paid, March 27.
While it is worth reporting that 10 soldiers have died in Afghanistan since 2002, Canadians would be remiss to forget the exceedingly greater loss of Canadian pilots during the Cold War.
For instance, between 1951 and 1963, 92 pilots and navigators were killed while flying the CF-100s in Canada, France and Germany.
Between 1952 and 1967, 107 Canadian pilots were killed flying F-86 Sabres while stationed overseas in England, France or Germany or at home in Canada.
Between 1962 and 1983, 37 Canadian pilots were killed flying CF-104 Starfighters in Germany and Canada.
These 236 pilots gave their lives defending Canada and the free world during a time of real crisis. Their sacrifices must never be forgotten.
Stephen Lowry,
Ottawa
Update: A post at small dead animals that highlights the Canadian media's obsession with our casualties and their comparative neglect of the effect of our troops' operations. For that one needs CNN.
Cross-posted to Daimnation.
Re: The price we've paid, March 27.
While it is worth reporting that 10 soldiers have died in Afghanistan since 2002, Canadians would be remiss to forget the exceedingly greater loss of Canadian pilots during the Cold War.
For instance, between 1951 and 1963, 92 pilots and navigators were killed while flying the CF-100s in Canada, France and Germany.
Between 1952 and 1967, 107 Canadian pilots were killed flying F-86 Sabres while stationed overseas in England, France or Germany or at home in Canada.
Between 1962 and 1983, 37 Canadian pilots were killed flying CF-104 Starfighters in Germany and Canada.
These 236 pilots gave their lives defending Canada and the free world during a time of real crisis. Their sacrifices must never be forgotten.
Stephen Lowry,
Ottawa
Update: A post at small dead animals that highlights the Canadian media's obsession with our casualties and their comparative neglect of the effect of our troops' operations. For that one needs CNN.
Cross-posted to Daimnation.
posted by Mark, Ottawa at 11:11 a.m.
4 Comments:
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Kate's SDA bullshit on this topic is a specious and cynical attempt to exploit the death of a soldier for her own rhetorical purpose, which is (as usual) to bash the media in general and the CBC in particular.
Frankly, anyone who makes hay off an incident like this deserves nothing but contempt. It's in bad taste.
OK, Dog, let's take Kate's slant on this out of the equation, since no one on this blog is interested in "making hay" out of anything.
As a shaper of public opinion, the media's treatment of casualties is undoubtedly relevant to support for the Canadian mission in Afghanistan. In that context, does it focus too much on casualties at the expense of accoumplishments, and if so, how does this affect popular support for the mission?
Good news vs bad news is never an easy call for a journalist, and if their understanding of what constitutes progress or success in a military operation is limited, isn't it easier to home in on the cost than the benefit?
It's simply not true that the media is focusing on casualties at the expense of accomplishments, Damian.
A quick review of recent articles shows that the media has, in fact, published positive stories re accomplishments in Afghanistan.
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