No Lack of Courage: Operation Medusa, Afghanistan

Bernd Horn

oct 2010 · Dundurn

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No Lack of Courage is the story of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's first battle. It is a revealing account of Operation Medusa, the largely Canadian action from 1 to 17 September 2006, to dislodge a heavily entrenched Taliban force in the Pashmul district of Afghanistan's Kandahar Province. At stake, according to senior Afghan politicians and NATO military commanders, was nothing less than the very existence of the reconstituted state of Afghanistan, as well as the NATO alliance itself. In a bitterly fought conflict that lasted more than two weeks, Canadian, Afghan, and Coalition troops defeated the dug-in enemy forces and chased them from the Pashmul area.

In the end, the brunt of the fighting fell on the Canadians, and the operation that saved Afghanistan exacted a great cost. However, the battle also demonstrated that Canada had shed its peacekeeping mythology and was once more ready to commit troops deliberately to combat. Moreover, it revealed yet again that Canadian soldiers have no lack of courage.

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Colonel Bernd Horn is an experienced Canadian Forces infantry officer. He is currently chief of staff of Strategic Training Education Programs at the Canadian Defence Academy. Dr. Horn is also an adjunct professor of history at the Royal Military College of Canada and has authored, co-authored, or edited 30 books. Some of his recent publications include Establishing a Legacy and The Military Leadership Handbook. He lives in Kingston, Ontario.