Cobourg Veteran Provides Thoughts On Afghanistan Interpreters

Pete Fisher
3 years ago
• Categories: Editor Choice, Local

(Photo credit The CAV)

Today’s Northumberland reached out to a Cobourg native and a highly respect veteran about his thoughts concerning the response by the Canadian government regarding Afghanistan interpreters.

Paul (Trapper) Cane CD, enlisted in 1970’s in the ‘Canadian Armed Forces’, soldiered with Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry and the Canadian Airborne Regiment on numerous United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Operations, world wide.

Cane was paralyzed after a 180 ft free descent after a parachute collapse on operations. Retired medically in the 1990’s after 18 surgeries and 2 years in hospital, motorcycling was the only physical remainder of his old life.

Cane co-founder The CAV which stands for The Canadian Army Veterans motorcycle organization which has been in existence for over 15 years with over 4,000 members and supporters of the military in every province and territory.

Cane is very well connected and established with members of the military now and during the Afghanistan war.
Today’s Northumberland reached out to Cane and simply asked, what his thoughts were regarding the situation in Afghanistan with the interpreter who helped Canadian soldiers?

Below is his response.

“It’s a terrible time for the Afghan vets that made connections with folks now in theatre, stuck in Kabul’s hell today..

Many who were on the ground knew full well that without Air Support and Coalition lives the Afghan Army/Police and politicians would fold, it was only a matter of time.

But it’s the grey areas that cut the deepest, bonds made by warriors in battle, respect earned under fire by complete strangers that leads to personal bonds, quiet dinners with your ‘terps’ family and now listening to thier pleas for help on phone or email.

Spoke to a buddy this morning, he’s been struggling to track down his Allies for weeks now, using the same computer and phone his kids have up till now been communicating with his ‘terps’ kids overseas as pen/internet pals for years now, usually finishing talks with ‘until your whole family finally gets to Canada’…

Now it’s pure terror for everyone and useless words like ‘hang on’…

Dreams on hold now, if not forever….

I hope the glacial government response doesn’t result in as many torture deaths as it will, but people have been hunted for years. It’s open season now….

I’ve heard that all are banking on the US forces now building up and securing Kabul’s airfield perimeter only, assuming command of the ground then coordinating any evacuees of any Allie to a safe airfield out of country for sorting out..

That’s sadly the ‘best’ scenario…

Sad days…

Trapper…