KANDAHAR - As insurgents in Afghanistan adapt their tactics, powerful roadside bombs have become the greatest threat to Canadian soldiers working in and around the Kandahar area.
Roadside bombs have been responsible for more than half of all Canadian military deaths since 2002, and have claimed 25 of the 29 lost lives in Afghanistan over the past six months.
Brig.-Gen. Guy Laroche led a group of investigators and reporters on a helicopter trip outside Kandahar to look at some of the massive bombs that Canadian soldiers have uncovered in recent months.
Up until last year, most of the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) found in Afghanistan were small and made from old shells.
Lately, Canadians are uncovering bombs made in secret labs and equipped with specialized remote-controlled devices. One of them was a powerful device made out of a cooking pot, and found buried on a road often travelled by Canadian convoys.
Maj. Maxime Messier, director of the anti-IED team, says all devices are inspected and every bombing investigated. The goal is to learn how to provide better protection for soldiers.
Canada began its mission in Afghanistan with the Iltus jeep, but moved on to more heavily armoured vehicles -- which are still not providing enough protection.
Canadian Forces will soon get more protection from 16 specialized vehicles, purchased from the U.S. Army, which will help to detect, unearth and neutralize IEDs. The vehicles, to start arriving in October, include:
- Six Husky vehicles that can detect mines buried under or at the side of roads
- Five Buffalo vehicles to dig up bombs using extended arms and cameras.
- Five Cougar vehicles that can neutralize bombs.
All these vehicles are currently being used in Iraq, and while they can't guarantee 100 per cent protection, they will help.
Canadian soldiers are also getting extra training on detecting bomb threats, and altering their routes and patterns to keep attackers guessing.
"We've got to change our routine," said Laroche. "If we always use the same roads at the same time, day and night, the enemy .... will be able to aim at us easily."
Laroche would prefer to get troops off the roads and into helicopters, but Canada has none -- the chopper used to take Laroche on a survey of the region was owned by another NATO ally.
The military has earmarked $4.7 billion to purchase Chinook transport helicopters, and Canada is still in negotiations with America's Boeing. However, the aircraft may not be available until 2011.
