Canadian military won't be releasing specific numbers of wounded soldiers

http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/canada/story.html?id=407ba3d3-0be4-4148-9b15-684af47a5931

Military to hold back details on clashes that injure soldiers

OTTAWA -- The Canadian Forces will not reveal the exact number of soldiers wounded in specific incidents in Afghanistan to prevent their Taliban enemies from using the information as "propaganda" against them, a military spokesperson said yesterday.

The Forces did disclose that 210 Canadian soldiers have been injured in Afghanistan since 2002, with 190 of the casualties this year.

Of the 190 wounded, 65 had to be medically evacuated back to Canada. snip


"So we're giving overall numbers, but we're no longer giving specific incident numbers."

Liberal defence critic Ujjal Dosanjh said that rationale is an insult to the intelligence of Canadians.

Canadians have a right to read about war battles.

There was some right-winger on Canadian TV a few weeks ago, complaining about how CBC coverage of the ramp ceremonies and funerals was "demoralizing" the troops. Some of the families actually told him to shut up, because they felt the rest of their country should be allowed to pay their respects to their loved ones too.

(I wouldn't be surprised if that right-winger had been complaining that Canadians "don't show enough respect" for military sacrifices, before all this happened.)

MPs, soldiers' families criticize Tory media ban on return of dead

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=686e69c6-7c59-4c7b-b217-5b57c0357a96&k=9002

OTTAWA (CP) - Prime Minister Stephen Harper dismissed accusations Tuesday that he's using the power of his office to conceal Canada's mounting military casualties from the public spotlight.

His decision to bar journalists from covering the homecoming of soldiers killed in Afghanistan has earned the scorn of military brass, the families of fallen soldiers and even some of his own MPs.
Opposition parties accused Harper of trying to avoid bad press in the face of an escalating conflict in Afghanistan that many Canadians oppose.