Canada finally sacks top soldier in Afghanistan

By Chris Carter

Fabrics on display at a bazaar in Kabul. [Photo courtesy CIA World Factbook.]Following a series of damaging events, Canada has sacked its top soldier in Afghanistan.

Until this week, Canada's top soldier, Brig. Gen. Daniel Ménard, commanded Task Force Kandahar, preparing for what could be NATO's most major operation since 9/11. But after a female Canadian soldier confessed to having an inappropriate relationship with Ménard, both soldiers were sent home, and sources are saying that Ménard's military career is likely over.

The misconduct is only the latest of glaring events involving Ménard. Last week, a court martial found him guilty of accidentally firing a weapon while preparing to board a military helicopter in Kandahar. Reportedly, the shots nearly missed Gen. Walt Natynczyk, Canada's Chief of Defense Staff. The two bullets fired by Ménard narrowly missed two armored vehicles, two helicopters, and about ten troops standing nearby.

Ménard was fined $3500 for the negligent discharge, but resumed his duties as commander.

Echoing remarks from the Obama administration's negligent handling of the oil spill, Ménard claimed to have taken responsibility for the incident “right from day one.” However, The US Report has learned from conversations with war correspondent Michael Yon that Ménard did not acknowledge the incident until after Yon began inquiring about the event weeks later. So since the incident occurred on March 25, and Ménard didn't publicly admit until April 17 – just hours after Yon's inquiry began – what does the general consider to be “day one?”

Although Yon's embed with a U.S. unit under Ménard's command was not to expire until that unit was relieved months later, the military prematurely ended Yon's embed, citing “embed overcrowding.” Yon believes that isn't the case at all, and states that he has “compelling evidence” of a smear campaign perpetrated by members of Gen. McChrystal's staff. He also alleges that the general's staff  have released official statements that are “defamatory and libelous.”

Also in March, a previous incident resulted in several fatalities – including U.S. soldier Spc. Ian Gelig– when a suicide car bomber hit a military convoy as it passed over a strategic bridge.

Although the bridge was the responsibility of Ménard, he did not take the blame for the incident. When Yon began investigating the attack, numerous officers informed him that Ménard was in fact responsible. But when Yon called Ménard incompetent and said he should be fired, ISAF officials met with him and an American General took the blame for the incident, although Yon knew that it wasn't true.

“I think the cover was in the interest of Coalition warfare,” Yon told The US Report when asked why the U.S. military would possibly cover for Ménard. “An American putting it to a Canadian would have had political ramifications.”

At the time, Menard commanded three battalions of U.S. troops.

“I am intensely uncomfortable with this dishonest, incompetent general leading U.S. combat troops in a hot war,” Yon wrote on his Facebook page. “That Menard happens to be Canadian complicates matters.”

I agree. A foreign commander who can't safely handle a rifle without endangering others, who covers up and lies about accidents, who allows others to take the blame for incidents that were his responsibility, and who has inappropriate relationships with members of his staff has no business commanding U.S. troops in battle.