OTTAWA - Gordon O'Connor, Minister of National Defence, issued the following
statement today:
"I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families and friends
of Corporal Matthew David James Dinning, Bombardier Myles Stanley John Mansell,
Lieutenant William Turner and the grieving family of a fourth soldier that has
requested that his name be withheld.
These four brave Canadian soldiers were killed when their armoured G-Wagon
was struck by a roadside bomb near Gumbad at about 7:30 a.m. Kandahar time this
morning.
The thoughts and prayers of all Canadians are with their families and their
comrades who must carry on the important work they were performing in Afghanistan.
They will be sorely missed, and while we mourn their loss, we can take comfort
in the fact that their ultimate sacrifice was made for a noble and worthy cause.
Our mission in Afghanistan is not without its risks, but the brave men and
women of the Canadian Forces should be proud of the fact that they are bringing
hope to a country that has known only despair, destruction, fear and oppression.
Today, Canada's foremost objective remains to prevent Afghanistan from reverting
to a safe haven for terrorists and their destructive networks. This is in our
national interest. By preventing Afghanistan from becoming, once again, a base
for the spread of terrorism, our troops on the ground are protecting Canada.
Our troops are putting themselves on the line for all of us.
We will not abandon the Afghan people, and terrorists will not thrive. More
than ever before, we must stay the course so that the sacrifices made by the
members of the Canadian Forces are not made in vain.
On behalf of the Government of Canada and as Minister of National Defence,
I am proud to know that people of their character and courage exist and extend
to their families and friends the sympathy and humble thanks of an appreciative
nation. Their courage, commitment and selflessness will not be forgotten."
-30-
