ਕੀ ਹਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੱਜਣ ਨੇ ਝੂਠ ਬੋਲ ਕੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਰਾਜਨੀਤਕ ਭਵਿੱਖ ਧੁੰਦਲਾ ਕਰ ਲਿਆ ਹੈ?
ਸ਼ੁੱਕਰਵਾਰ 28 ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ 2017 ਨੂੰ
ਸ਼ਾਮ ਵੇਲੇ ਦੀਆਂ ਨੈਸ਼ਨਲ ਖ਼ਬਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲੀ ਅਤੇ ਫਲੈਸ਼ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੋਈ ਖ਼ਬਰ ਇਹ ਨਸ਼ਰ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ
ਸੀ ਕਿ ਕਨੇਡਾ ਦੇ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਹਰਜੀਤ ਸੱਜਣ ਨੇ ਝੂਠ ਬੋਲ ਕੇ ਗੁਮਰਾਹ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ। ਇੱਕ ਵਾਰੀ
ਨਹੀਂ ਦੋ ਵਾਰੀ ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ। ਇੱਕ ਤਾਂ ਹੁਣੇ ਹੀ ਤਾਜਾ ਹੀ ਜਦੋਂ ਇੰਡੀਆ ਵਿੱਚ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ
ਤਾਂ ਦਿੱਲੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਣ ਦੇਣ ਸਮੇਂ ਇਹ ਝੂਠ ਬੋਲਿਆ ਸੀ ਅਤੇ ਇੱਕ ਦੋ ਕੁ ਸਾਲ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਵੀ ਇਹੀ ਬੋਲਿਆ
ਸੀ। ਇਹ ਦੋਵੇਂ ਵੀਡੀਓ ਰੀਕੌਰਡ ਹੋਣ ਕਰਕੇ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਮੁਨਕਰ ਹੋਣਾ ਮੁਸ਼ਕਲ ਸੀ। ਇਸ ਦੀ ਸਾਰੇ ਨੈਸ਼ਨਲ
ਮੀਡੀਏ ਵਿੱਚ ਖੂਬ ਚਰਚਾ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਲੋਕ ਗੁੱਸੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਆ ਕੇ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਅਸਤੀਫੇ ਦੀ ਮੰਗ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ
ਹਨ। ਹਾਲ ਦੀ ਘੜੀ ਇਸ ਨੇ ਅਸਤੀਫਾ ਤਾਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਪਰ ਕੱਲ 29 ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ ਨੂੰ ਮੁਆਫੀ ਜਰੂਰ ਮੰਗ
ਲਈ ਸੀ। ਪਰ ਕਨੇਡੀਅਨ ਲੋਕ ਇਸ ਦੀ ਮੁਆਫੀ ਤੇ ਖੁਸ਼ ਨਹੀਂ ਲਗਦੇ। ਕੱਲ ਸੋਮਵਾਰ ਪਹਿਲੀ ਮਈ ਨੂੰ
ਪਾਰਲੀਮੈਂਟ ਦਾ ਸ਼ੈਸ਼ਨ ਛੁੱਟੀਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਦੁਬਾਰਾ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਹੋ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਵਿਰੋਧੀ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਵਾਲੇ ਇਸ
ਨੂੰ ਖੂਬ ਉਛਾਲਣਗੇ ਅਤੇ ਅਸਤੀਫੇ ਦੀ ਮੰਗ ਵੀ ਕਰਨਗੇ। ਇਹ ਸਾਰਾ ਕੁੱਝ ਆਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਕੁੱਝ ਦਿਨਾ ਵਿੱਚ
ਸਪਸ਼ਟ ਹੋ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ ਕਿ ਕੀ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ।
ਜਿਵੇਂ ਕਿ ਸਭ ਨੂੰ ਪਤਾ ਹੀ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਅਸੀਂ ਨਾ ਤਾਂ ਰਾਜਨੀਤਕ ਹਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਨਾ ਹੀ ਕਿਸੇ ਰਾਜਨੀਤੀ ਵਿੱਚ
ਸਾਡੀ ਕੋਈ ਦਿਲਚਸਪੀ ਹੈ। ਇਸੇ ਕਰਕੇ ਅਸੀਂ ਰਾਜਨੀਤਕ ਲਿਖਤਾਂ ਛਾਪਣ ਤੋਂ ਗੁਰੇਜ਼ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਾਂ। ਪਰ
ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਹਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੱਜਣ ਦਾ ਕਨੇਡਾ ਵਰਗੇ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦਾ ਡੀਫੈਂਸ ਮਨਿਸਟਰ ਬਣਨਾ ਸਾਰੀ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਦੇ
ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਲਈ ਇੱਕ ਮਾਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਗੱਲ ਸੀ। ਕੁੱਝ ਹਫਤੇ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਜਦੋਂ ਇਹ ਇੰਡੀਆ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ ਤਾਂ ਸਾਰੀ
ਦੁਨੀਆ ਦੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਮੀਡੀਏ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਸ ਦੀ ਖੂਬ ਚਰਚਾ ਹੋਈ ਸੀ। ਰਾਜਨੀਤਕ ਤਜਰਬੇ ਤੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ ਹੀ
ਅੱਧੀਆਂ ਬੀਬੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਸੱਜਣ ਵਰਗੇ ਸੱਜਣਾ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੀ ਕੈਬਨਿਟ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੈਣਾ ਜਸਟਨ ਟਰੂਡੋ ਦੀ ਸਭ ਨੂੰ
ਨੂਮਾਂਇਦਗੀ ਦੇ ਕੇ ਨਾਲ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਚੱਲਣਾ, ਖੁੱਲ ਦਿਲੀ ਵਾਲੀ ਪਾਲਿਸੀ ਸੀ।
ਅਸੀਂ ਆਪਣੇ ਵਲੋਂ ਬਹੁਤਾ ਕੁੱਝ ਨਹੀਂ ਲਿਖ ਰਹੇ ਅਤੇ ਨਾ ਹੀ ਸੱਜਣ ਦੇ ਹੱਕ ਵਿੱਚ ਜਾਂ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਵਿੱਚ
ਲਿਖਣਾ ਸਾਡੀ ਕੋਈ ਮਨਸ਼ਾ ਹੈ। ਅਸੀਂ ਤਾਂ ਸ਼ਾਇਦ ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਕਦੀ ਮਿਲੇ ਵੀ ਨਾ ਹੋਈਏ। ਪਰ ਇਸ ਦੇ ਪਿਤਾ
ਕੁੰਦਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ ਅਨੇਕਾਂ ਵਾਰੀ ਮਿਲੇ ਹਾਂ। ਇਸ ਦੇ ਸਹੁਰੇ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਕਈ ਵਾਰੀ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਹਾਂ ਅਤੇ
ਅਸੀਂ ਇਕੱਠੇ ਹੀ ਕਨੇਡੀਅਨ ਸਿੱਖ ਸਟੱਡੀ ਐਂਡ ਟੀਚਿੰਗ ਸੁਸਾਇਟੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੰਮ ਵੀ ਕਰਦੇ ਰਹੇ ਹਾਂ।
ਕਿਸੇ ਸਮੇ ਕਨੇਡਾ ਦੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਸੰਗਰਮ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਦਾ ਕੇਂਦਰ, ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਦੀਵਾਨ ਸੁਸਾਇਟੀ ਵੈਨਕੂਵਰ (ਰੌਸ
ਸਟਰੀਟ) ਹੁੰਦਾ ਸੀ ਅਤੇ ਸਾਰਿਆਂ ਦਾ ਮੇਲ-ਜੋਲ ਵੀ ਉਥੇ ਹੀ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਸੀ। ਭਾਵੇਂ ਕਿ ਅਸੀਂ ਵੈਨਕੂਵਰ
ਤੋਂ ਲਗ ਭਗ 650 ਕਿ: ਮੀ: ਦੂਰ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਾਂ ਪਰ ਸਾਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਈ ਵਾਰੀ ਉਥੇ ਜਾ ਆਉਂਦੇ ਸੀ। ਹੁਣ ਉਹ
ਗੱਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਰਹੀ, ਇਸ ਦੇ ਅਨੇਕਾਂ ਕਾਰਨ ਹਨ ਜਿਸ ਦਾ ਜ਼ਿਕਰ ਕਰਨਾ ਵਿਸ਼ੇ ਨਾਲ ਸੰਬੰਧਿਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ।
ਇਹ ਸਾਰੀ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਦੇਣ ਦਾ ਮਤਲਬ ਕਨੇਡਾ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਹਰ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਅਸਲੀਅਤ ਤੋਂ
ਜਾਣੂ ਕਰਵਾਉਣਾ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਸਮਝ ਸਕਣ ਕਿ ਕਨੇਡਾ ਦੇ ਆਮ ਨਾਗਰਿਕ ਇਸ ਸਾਰੇ ਘਟਨਾ ਕਰਮ ਨੂੰ ਕਿਸ
ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇਖਦੇ ਹਨ। ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਅਸੀਂ ਇੱਕ ਖ਼ਬਰ ਅਜੀਤ ਅਖਬਾਰ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਹੇਠਾਂ ਪਾ ਰਹੇ
ਹਾਂ ਜੋ ਕਿ ਕੱਲ ਹੀ ਛਪੀ ਸੀ। ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਕਨੇਡਾ ਦੇ ਅਗ੍ਰੇਜ਼ੀ ਅਖਬਾਰਾਂ/ਸਾਈਟਾਂ ਤੇ ਜੋ ਛਪਿਆ
ਹੈ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਸਾਂਝਾ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਾਂ। ਇਹਨਾ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਮੁੱਖ ਤੌਰ ਤੇ, ਸੀ. ਬੀ. ਸੀ. , ਗਲੋਬ ਐਂਡ ਮੇਲ
ਅਤੇ ਵੈਨਕੂਵਰ ਸਨ ਹਨ। ਅਖੀਰ ਤੇ ਦੋ ਪੀ. ਡੀ. ਐੱਫ. ਫਾਈਲਾਂ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਵਲੋਂ ਕੀਤੇ ਕੁਮਿੰਟਸ ਦੀਆਂ
ਹਨ। ਇਹ ਕੁਮਿੰਟਸ ਹੁਣ ਤੱਕ ਸੀ. ਬੀ. ਸੀ. ਤੇ 1871 ਹੋ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਹਨ। ਪਰ ਅਸੀਂ ਸਾਰੇ ਕਾਪੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰ ਸਕੇ
ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਸਮਾਂ ਕਾਫੀ ਲਗਦਾ ਸੀ। ਫਿਰ ਵੀ 69 ਕੁ ਪੰਨੇ ਕਰ ਲਏ ਹਨ। ਇਹ ਕਈ ਸੌ ਦੇ ਲੱਗ-ਭੱਗ ਹੋਣਗੇ।
ਗਲੋਬ ਐਂਡ ਮੇਲ ਦੇ 87 ਹਨ। ਕੁੱਝ ਵੈਨਕੂਵਰ ਸਨ ਦੇ ਕੁਮਿੰਟਸ ਇਸ ਪੰਨੇ ਉਪਰ ਖ਼ਬਰ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਪਾ ਰਹੇ ਹਾਂ। ਲਓ ਪੜ੍ਹ ਲਓ ਸਾਰਾ ਕੁੱਝ
ਅਤੇ ਜਾਣ ਲਓ ਅਸਲੀਅਤ:
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ਕੈਨੇਡਾ ਦੇ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਨੇ ਭਾਰਤ 'ਚ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਬਿਆਨ ਕਾਰਨ ਮੁਆਫ਼ੀ
ਮੰਗੀ
ਟੋਰਾਂਟੋ, 29 ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ (ਸਤਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੌਹਲ)-ਕੈਨੇਡਾ ਦੇ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਹਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ
ਸੱਜਣ ਬੀਤੇ ਹਫਤੇ ਭਾਰਤ ਫੇਰੀ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਨਵੀਂ ਦਿੱਲੀ ਵਿਖੇ 18 ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ ਨੂੰ ਇਕ ਸਮਾਗਮ 'ਚ ਸੰਬੋਧਨ
ਕਰਨ ਮੌਕੇ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਗਏ ਆਪਣੇ ਭਾਸ਼ਣ ਦੇ ਕੁਝ ਅੰਸ਼ਾਂ ਕਾਰਨ ਵਿਵਾਦ 'ਚ ਘਿਰੇ ਹਨ ਜਿਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ
ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੀ ਆਖੀ ਗੱਲ ਤੋਂ ਪਿੱਛੇ ਹਟਣਾ ਪਿਆ ਅਤੇ ਖੇਦ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਸਪੱਸ਼ਟੀਕਰਨ ਦਿੱਤਾ
ਹੈ | ਇਕ ਖਬਰ ਮੁਤਾਬਿਕ ਮਡੀਸਾ ਫੌਜੀ ਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਬਾਰੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਗਲਤ ਬਿਆਨੀ ਬਦਲੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ
ਕੈਨੇਡੀਅਨ, ਅਫਗਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਫੌਜਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਮੁਆਫੀ ਮੰਗੀ ਹੈ | ਸ. ਸੱਜਣ ਨੇ 2006 'ਚ (26 ਅਗਸਤ
ਤੋਂ 17 ਸਤੰਬਰ ਤੱਕ) ਅਫਗਾਨਿਸਤਾਨ ਅੰਦਰ ਕੰਧਾਰ ਏਰੀਆ 'ਚ ਤਾਲਿਬਾਨਾਂ ਖਿਲਾਫ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਇਕ ਵੱਡੇ
ਜ਼ਮੀਨੀ ਫੌਜੀ ਅਪ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਨ (ਮਡੀਸਾ) ਦਾ ਆਪਣੇ ਆਪ ਨੂੰ 'ਆਰਕੀਟੈਕਟ' ਦੱਸਿਆ ਸੀ ਅਤੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਸੀ ਕਿ
ਅਫਗਾਸਿਨਤਾਨ 'ਚ ਅੱਤਵਾਦੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਟੱਕਰ ਲੈਣ ਕਰਕੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਅਤੇ ਕੈਨੇਡਾ 'ਚ ਫੌਜੀ
ਸਨਮਾਨ ਮਿਲ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਹਨ | ਸ. ਸੱਜਣ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਆਪਣੀ ਤਾਰੀਫ 'ਚ ਫੌਜੀ ਮਿਸ਼ਨ ਦਾ ਆਰਕੀਟੈਕਟ ਦੱਸਣ ਦੀ
ਗੱਲ ਦਾ ਕੁਝ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਕੈਨੇਡੀਅਨ ਅਫਸਰਾਂ ਨੇ ਬੁਰਾ ਮਨਾਇਆ ਅਤੇ ਰਾਜਨੀਤਕ ਵਿਰੋਧੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ
ਖਿਲਾਫ ਟਿੱਪਣੀਆਂ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ | ਸ. ਸੱਜਣ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ ਕਿ ਸੰਬੋਧਨ 'ਚ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਮਕਸਦ ਅਪ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਨ
ਮਡੀਸਾ ਅਤੇ ਹੋਰ ਫੌਜੀ ਅਪ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਨਾਂ 'ਚ ਸ਼ਾਮਿਲ ਰਹੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਅਫਸਰਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਸਾਥੀ ਫੌਜੀ
ਜਵਾਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਨੀਵਾਂ ਦਿਖਾਉਣਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਸੀ |
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What Harjit Sajjan
really did while serving in Afghanistan
At 'no time was he in on the planning' of Operation Medusa, soldiers tell CBC
News
By Murray Brewster, CBC News Posted: Apr 29, 2017 9:00 AM ET Last Updated: Apr
29, 2017 1:16 PM ET
Truth being the first casualty of war has taken a decidedly different
turn with growing outrage in both the political and military communities about
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan's characterization of himself as the architect of
Operation Medusa in Afghanistan.
The bloody, protracted battle in the scorched grape fields west of Kandahar city
in September 2006 was a significant milestone in Canada's five-year combat
mission in the country and an emotional touchstone for many soldiers involved.
Sajjan's claim, made earlier this month during a visit to India, is not the
first time the former lieutenant-colonel has referred to his role in the battle
in this way.
On a regional B.C. podcast called Conversations That Matter, he said the current
chief of the defence staff, Gen. Jonathan Vance, considered him to be the
central figure.
"If I could quote him, he said I was the architect of Operation Medusa, one of
the biggest operations since the Korean war that Canada has led," Sajjan said in
July 2015, when he was running as a Liberal candidate.
Sajjan regrets claim he's architect of battle against Taliban
Tories accuse Sajjan of lying about CF-18 withdrawal
Billions in defence purchases postponed until 2030s
The political and social media firestorm that followed the India speech, made
April 18, prompted a pinched apology from the minister, who regularly references
his three tours of Afghanistan as a reserve officer to burnish his credibility
in the defence portfolio. He followed up with an apology on Facebook Saturday.
His appointment to cabinet in November 2015 was followed by a series of
flattering stories about his service, including photos of him smiling in the
field, clad in a flak jacket, prompting some to call him "Canada's badass
defence minister."
Harjit Sajjan
This photo of Sajjan in the field, serving as a combat officer in Afghanistan,
prompted several people to call him 'Canada’s badass defence minister.'
(Twitter)
There has, however, never been a critical examination of his role beyond vague
suggestions that he did some intelligence work.
In fairness, Sajjan has tried on occasion to downplay the notion he was an
intelligence officer, but that has only muddied the perception.
He has declined to discuss his work in Kandahar in detail.
Soldiers who were there in 2006 tell CBC News that Sajjan did have a key role,
but at "no time was he in on the planning of the operation."
Soon after arriving he was "bolted to the hip" of the battle group commanders.
First it was Lt.-Col. Ian Hope and then, in September 2006, Lt.-Col. Omar
Lavoie, who led the fight in Zhari district against Taliban militants who had
chosen to stand and fight a conventional battle rather a hit-and-run guerilla
campaign.
Intelligence gathering
Sajjan was the liaison between Canadian commanders and two local Afghan leaders,
the notorious governor Asadullah Khalid and Ahmed Wali Karzai, the half-brother
of the former Afghan president and head of the Kandahar provincial council.
"My responsibilities were vague at first," Sajjan told military historian Sean
Maloney in the book Fighting for Afghanistan: A Rogue Historian at War. "I
discovered there was a gold mine of information flowing into the [governor's]
palace."
Eventually, "Harj was able to send two pages of solid intelligence intelligence
to [Task Force] Orion per week," said the book, which provides the most detailed
public accounting of Sajjan's time in the field.
In the run-up to Operation Medusa, the Afghan leadership was putting pressure on
the Canadians to stop the Taliban buildup west of the city.
Taliban stronghold
Remains of the Little White Schoolhouse, a former Taliban stronghold that was a
focal point of in the fighting during Operation Medusa. (Murray Brewster/CBC)
"At meetings in Kandahar and Kabul, senior Kandahari leaders — including
Governor Asadullah Khalid and presidential brother/provincial kingpin Ahmed Wali
Karzai — have suggested that NATO's ISAF [International Security Assistance
Force] is 'unwilling to take the fight to the Taliban,'" said a Canadian
diplomatic cable, written on Aug. 28, 2006, and quoted in the book The Savage
War: The Untold Battles of Afghanistan.
How much of a role Sajjan's assessments played in convincing Canadian commanders
that an offensive was necessary is not clear.
Politically, the exaggeration is likely to hurt Sajjan's standing among the
troops more than anything else.
Conservatives have for weeks been eager to point out other misleading statements
Sajjan has made, including references to the Iraqis being satisfied with
Canada's withdrawal of CF-18s from combat against ISIS.
No architect of Medusa
A diplomatic readout of the December 2015 meeting with the Iraqi defence
minister, dug up by Conservative researchers and shared with CBC News, flatly
contradicted the minister.
Canadian soldiers often like to describe themselves as "quiet professionals" and
take a dim view of bragging, which they consider to be an American quality.
"There was no one hero of Medusa, no one architect," said one senior officer
with direct knowledge of Sajjan's role in Afghanistan.
He asked not be named because he didn't want to get dragged into the unfolding
political battle over the minister's credibility.
It spoke volumes on Friday when Vance was asked about the controversy and
declined to answer, choosing instead to go on answering questions about the
politically toxic issue of sexual misconduct in the military.
*********************************************************
Defence Minister
Sajjan apologizes for claiming he was architect of Operation Medusa
OTTAWA — The Canadian Press
Published Saturday, Apr. 29, 2017 2:16PM EDT
Last updated Saturday, Apr. 29, 2017 3:52PM EDT
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan offered a full apology to his former
comrades-in-arms on Saturday for claiming to have been the “architect” of
Canada’s largest battle in Afghanistan.
The mea culpa followed what some had seen as a half-hearted apology by Sajjan
for comments he made during a speech in India earlier this month.
“On my first deployment to Kandahar in 2006, I was kind of thrown in an
unforeseen situation and became the architect of an operation called Operation
Medusa, where we removed about 1,500 fighters, Taliban fighters, off the
battlefield,” Sajjan said during his April 18 speech in Delhi.
Those comments, which were not improvised but planned, according to a copy of
Sajjan’s prepared remarks for the event, sparked grumblings among some Afghan
veterans.
They noted that Operation Medusa was actually planned and executed by
then-major-general David Fraser, who at the time was responsible for all NATO
forces in southern Afghanistan — a fact Sajjan has since been acknowledged.
Sajjan was a major with the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan during Operation
Medusa, which is a much lower rank.
The minister expressed “regret” for overstating his role after video of his
speech emerged this week, but went farther in a Facebook post on Saturday.
“I made a mistake in describing my role. I wish to retract that description and
apologize for it. I am truly sorry,” he wrote.
“While I am proud of the role I played during my deployments to Afghanistan, my
comments were in no way intended to diminish the roles of my former superiors
and fellow soldiers. To them I offer my sincere apologies.”
Sajjan is nonetheless expected to face pointed questions about his comments when
members of Parliament return from a two-week break on Monday.
The opposition Conservatives have latched onto the issue, saying they plan to
raise questions about Sajjan’s credibility and character.
********************************************
Harjit Sajjan the
soldier wouldn’t have claimed credit for being ‘architect’ of operation, top
NATO officer says
MATTHEW FISHER 04.29.2017
Defense minister Harjit Sajjan was not “the architect” of Canada’s
biggest battle since the Korean War as he claimed in a speech in India last
week, according to the chief of operations for NATO in southern Afghanistan
during Operation Medusa in 2006.
Lt.-Col. Shane Schreiber (ret.) said, “Harj the soldier probably would not have
said that. Harj the politician did, thinking that he could get away with it.
When you are careless with words as a politician that can haunt you.”
Sajjan apologized Thursday to those who served with him in Afghanistan after his
claim to have been the mastermind of Medusa was criticized “as a bald-faced lie”
by an officer deeply familiar with the battle plan and other officers who knew
about or were part of its genesis.
“What I should have said was that our military successes are the result of the
leadership, service and sacrifice of the many dedicated women and men in the
Canadian Forces,” Sajjan said in a statement. “I regret that I didn’t say this
then, but I want to do so now.”
Schreiber, who served on Canada’s first combat tour in Kandahar only months
after the 9/11 attacks on the U.S., said Medusa had “many architects. He was not
one of them.”
“Harj probably realized it was wrong to take total credit,” said Schreiber, who
left the Canadian Forces in 2012 and now lives in northern Alberta. “I would say
that he lives in a different world now. Any good soldier would not try to steal
another soldier’s honour. But it is different when you are a politician.”
Paraphrasing an old expression, he said: “Success has a million fathers. but
failure is an orphan.”
Repeating what other soldiers on Medusa have said since word of Sajjan’s taking
credit for designing the Medusa battle plan began causing intense controversy in
military circles this week, Schreiber said that the minister had been a well
liked and respected soldier.
“Harj did a great job on tribal tactics and what the enemy was up to,” he said.
“He was one of a couple of officers who told us we had a bigger problem with the
Taliban than we thought we had and helped define that problem.”
Sajjan was a liaison officer and a reservist major from the British Columbia
Regiment at the time of Medusa. He worked in intelligence and was not directly
involved in battle planning, Schreiber said. This work was done by Schreiber, an
Australian colonel and a Canadian major. They worked on the staff of then
Brig.-Gen. Dave Fraser, the Canadian who ran Regional Command South for the
International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF). Fraser’s battle plans were
sent to a British general in Kabul for approval, Schreiber said.
Medusa was a particularly complex operation, Schreiber said. It involved a Dutch
reconnaissance company and artillery, most of a U.S. battalion and U.S. Special
Forces as well as Afghan and British forces and U.S. attack helicopters and
fighter jets.
“The Canadian media always play up the Canadian part but it was a multi-national
effort that really tested NATO because so many nations had unwritten caveats and
refused to come and play a combat role,” Schreiber said. “A lot of time was
spent figuring out who could come and play on the friendly side.
“Medusa was a huge team effort.”
Comments
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Jancis Andrews • U.B.C.
Disgusting! He acted very dishonourably. Who can respect him after this? And his
apology is only half-hearted, "What I shouild have said......." indeed! He
hasn't even got the guts to admit he lied and is sorry. (Jancis M. Andrews)
Like • Reply • 2 • 21 hrs
Tommy Vu • Vancouver, British Columbia
This is what politicians do ...... lie
Like • Reply • 16 hrs
Balraj Deol
Harjit Singh Sajjan became Canada's defense minister due to reverse
discrimination which is so prevalent in Canadian politics today as it defines
political correctness of liberal left. It was also based on ‘you scratch my
back, I scratch your back’. JT was supported by those who nursed Sajjan from
childhood. It was not solely based on qualification and experience. Otherwise ex
Canadian army chief Lieutenant-General Andrew Brooke Leslie (now Liberal MP) was
a lot more qualified then Sajjan who was only a Lieutenant-Colonel and that too
in reserve force. This is pure reverse discrimination. While race based
discrimination still exists in Canadian society at large, reverse discrimination
has taken roots in Canadian politics specially to benefit politically organized
ethnic groups. Islamists are also moving in the same direction to exploit the
weakness of Canadian system.
Like • Reply • 8 hrs
Doreen Mellard • Vancouver, British Columbia
This clown should resign. He cannot be trusted . It's not the first lie he has
told.
Like • Reply • 2 • 28 April 2017 21:59
Gary Brooke
Now I know why he went into politics. He has all the right qualifications. He's
a big fat lier.
Like • Reply • 1 • 19 hrs
Ted Taylor • Vancouver, British Columbia
If he had any honour, he would resign. If not Trudeau should urge him to. But
neither will happen.
Like • Reply • 11 hrs
********************
‘I am truly sorry’: Harjit Sajjan apologizes for
claiming he was ‘architect’ of Operation Medusa
THE CANADIAN PRESS 04.29.2017
OTTAWA — Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan says he is truly sorry after claiming in
a recent speech to have been the architect of Canada’s largest battle in
Afghanistan.
The mea culpa follows what some saw as a half-hearted apology for the comments
Sajjan made in India earlier this month.
In a Facebook post, Sajjan says he made a mistake by describing himself as the
architect of Operation Medusa in 2006.
He goes on to retract the comments and offer his sincere apologies to all the
soldiers he served with in Afghanistan.
That includes then-major general David Fraser and his team, whom Sajjan credits
for the operation’s success.
Sajjan does not say why he made the comments about Operation Medusa, during
which hundreds of Taliban were killed.
Twelve Canadian soldiers also died during the two-week battle.
3 Comments
Steve Brown
NBC’s Brian Williams Admits He Told False Story About Iraq Expedition, LOST HIS
JOB! hmm guess if your a low life Canadian politicians it's all part of your job
to falsify and exaggerate truths facts and data to Canadian citizens, hanging
with Trudeau has rubbed off on him obviously. Mr. two faced himself!
Like • Reply • 9 hrs
Peter Makes
CHRONIC LIAR. If he was half a man/soldier he would have already resigned.
Like • Reply • 9 hrs
Peter Mason
Should be resigning not apologizing.
ਸੀ. ਬੀ. ਸੀ. ਸਾਈਟ ਤੇ ਕੀਤੇ
ਗਏ ਕੁਮਿੰਟ ਪੜ੍ਹਨ ਲਈ ਇੱਥੇ ਕਲਿਕ ਕਰੋ ਜੀ।
ਗਲੋਬ ਐਂਡ ਮੇਲ ਦੇ ਕੁਮਿੰਟ
ਪੜ੍ਹਨ ਲਈ ਇੱਥੇ ਕਲਿਕ ਕਰੋ ਜੀ।
