Trump's threats leave Canadian Afghan war veterans feeling angry and betrayed

Murray Brewster · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 13, 2025 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 10 minutes ago

Canadian and American troops fought unneurotic and bled unneurotic successful the scorched hinterlands of Afghanistan.

And for that crushed determination is simply a palpable consciousness of dismay — adjacent betrayal — among Canadian veterans toward the Trump medication implicit its threats and attraction of not conscionable Canada, but different allies specified Ukraine.

A meme circulating online — a photograph of troops successful beforehand of the maple leafage stone monument astatine Ma'sum Ghar, the Canadian guardant operating basal successful occidental Kandahar — was precocious captioned: "We went due to the fact that you were attacked. We didn't inquire for your thanks. Neither did 158 of america who died for you."

The conception that Canadians fought and died successful Afghanistan to assistance support the United States — due to the fact that of the violent attacks connected Sept. 11, 2001 — runs heavy among Canadian veterans of that warfare and their families.

They're irked by the threats of President Donald Trump to annex Canada done economical unit and the trade war. But it was the bullying of the Ukrainian president successful the Oval Office and Vice-President JD Vance's insistence that Volodymyr Zelenskyy show gratitude that set off galore veterans.

The choler was possibly felt much keenly connected Wednesday, the 11th day of Canada's subject withdrawal from Afghanistan.

"I deliberation if 9/11 were to hap again, I honestly don't deliberation I would beryllium arsenic consenting — oregon acceptable — to assistance the Americans arsenic I did successful 2001," said retired corporal Bruce Moncur, who was gravely wounded erstwhile an American crushed onslaught pitchy accidentally strafed Canadian troops astatine the commencement of the milestone 2006 conflict known arsenic Operation Medusa.

Down the years Moncur has tried to travel to bid with the horrific affable occurrence incidental that took the beingness of 1 Canadian worker — Trooper Mark Anthony Graham — and wounded 36 others.

But the present outspoken veterans advocator said helium can't assistance but wonderment astir the state and the radical helium willingly defended. 

"I conscionable deliberation astir the idiocy of it," Moncur said astir caller events.

In the second stages of Canada's warfare successful Kandahar, American troops fought and died nether Canadian command. At the National Defence Carling field headquarters, embedded successful the memorial to fallen Canadians are plaques honouring U.S. soldiers who paid the eventual sacrifice.

Retired major-general Denis Thompson had an American battalion nether his bid successful 2008. Twelve U.S. soldiers were killed connected that rotation.

Thompson said it's important for aggravated Canadian veterans to marque the favoritism betwixt the existent medication successful Washington and American troops with whom they shared trenches.  

"I wholly recognize that Canadian soldiers consciousness betrayed, but I tin besides accidental that I deliberation determination are akin sentiments being expressed crossed the border. Because we've ever been stalwart allies," said Thompson, who said helium inactive keeps successful interaction with erstwhile American soldiers and commanders with whom helium served.

"In immoderate cases, they're ashamed. They cannot judge what their president is saying, but you know, they are bound by the oath that they took to obey their commandant successful chief. I would suggest nary of them tin judge that Russia is the United States' friend. It conscionable gobsmacks them that helium speaks this way."

In each of his conversations since Trump's instrumentality to the White House successful January, Thompson said helium ne'er erstwhile got the consciousness that U.S. soldiers shared the sentiment that Canada should go the 51st authorities successful the union.

"It's not astir the United States Army oregon the United States Armed Forces. It's astir the president of the United States," Thompson said.

Canadian peculiar forces troops, whom Thompson besides commanded, were among the archetypal connected the crushed successful Afghanistan successful October 2001 on with their U.S. counterparts successful the aftermath of the panic attacks connected New York and Washington. 

Thompson said the ties betwixt the 2 militaries tally truthful heavy that a U.S. Navy Seal — Senior Chief Petty Officer Thomas Ratzlaff — was awarded successful 2010 Canada's second-highest subject decoration for bravery portion serving alongside Canadians. 

Over much than a twelve years successful Afghanistan, 158 Canadian soldiers were killed, on with 7 civilians. An further 2,000 troops were wounded.

It is 1 of the reasons Trump's annexation threats are pugnacious for veterans to swallow, adjacent though they cognize a full-blown penetration is unlikely.

"I don't deliberation it's a possibility, militarily," said Thompson. "He tin surely marque an effort to vessel our economy. And I'm not an economist, but I would suggest that Canadians volition instrumentality an atrocious batch of symptom earlier they acquiesce to his demands."

He said helium besides doesn't judge that Trump has the enactment of the American nationalist for his annexation docket — beyond talking heads successful the right-wing punditry.

The hazard of civilian disobedience successful the U.S. is increasing, said Thompson.

"I deliberation the United States volition person interior problems agelong earlier they commencement turning their attention, earlier helium tin commencement to crook his attraction towards really annexing Canada," helium said.