| God love the Canucks! |
A few days ago, the Canadians were convinced that this warren of buildings, code-named Objective Cricket, harboured at least 100 determined insurgents. Some locals estimated as many as 1,000 Taliban were lurking in the region after the rebels overran a strategic belt of farmland southwest of Kandahar city this spring.
But the Canadians gained new intelligence during the weekend, suggesting they would find only scattered groups of two or three fighters opposing them. The likelihood of so few fighters, perhaps with booby traps or suicide bombs, represents a significant reversal as the rebels had appeared to be prepared for an all-out fight.
NATO forces hammered the buildings with a barrage of artillery and air strikes, then the Canadians threw themselves into the maze of mud walls and farmers' fields.
"It's Sept. 11," said Major Geoff Abthorpe, commander of Bravo Company, speaking to his troops as they prepared for the attack. "Is that symbolic? Damn right, it's symbolic. It's the reason why we're here."