Well, I wasn't idle while this forum was inaccessible. LOL.

Had dinner with [ just retired ] Chief of Defence Staff, General Rick Hillier. Hell of a soldier. Got to see firsthand why every Canadian Force personnel would fall on a grenade for him. Quite the rack of medals he sported, too.. Couple of US gongs on his chest as he served for a time as the DCO of the US
III Army..not the first time I've met with him, but this time he was gracious enough to autograph a phottie of him with the Good Padre so that she has some ' bragging rights' on her new posting.

Second dinner was with the Commanding Officer of CSOF, Colonel Michael Day. He's the man in charge of the Canuck version of the SAS - JTF2- and other versions of ' them '... I could tell you some great stories, but then I'd have to kill you. I wanted to get a piccie but he'd forgotten his black tape mask that goes over the eyes in all the shots. hehehehe. Actually got some 'dirt' from him on one of his buddies who happens to be my daughter's boss, [ she's Admin Asst. to a Colonel ] which she may be able to use to secure a raise/promotion -snicker - not that I'm advocating blackmail or anything like that..but, one shouldn't waste good intel...

Both gave me some insight into the Afghan situation that doesn't make it onto the 11 o'clock news.. Let's just say they don't have a lot of kindness for the way the media 'covers' the stories in the region [ Afghan or Iraq ]...

feel privileged to be able to share bread with these guys and to hear their take on matters of import....

After I've collected my thoughts and vetted stuff for OPSEC, I'll post some commentary..

Nice

You do know you only left a few tidbits here when you came back from Israel, so paste up those fireside chats.

It is nice to see a post about Canadian Soldiers, as a former Canuck myself (had to give up my citizenship to get TS clearance), I have met many fine Canadian Soldiers. 3 of whom are my dad, brother in law (Navy) and former fiancee of my sister. As I grew up they all set the standard for me as to what a Soldier should be like.