4. Operation Medusa (2006)

This episode includes accounts of grievous injury. The Taliban increases in strength and takes a more aggressive stance in the spring and summer of 2006. Hundreds of Taliban fighters prepare to directly challenge NATO forces near Kandahar City. Operation Medusa is launched to counter this new threat.  Operation Medusa is the largest battle Canadian forces fight in Afghanistan. Twelve soldiers die. Dozens more are injured. Canadian maneuvers get off to a difficult start, with disagreement over an accelerated advance. Much of the early fighting centres on the White School, a key Taliban stronghold in Panjwaii. Canadian soldiers are killed and injured in two unsuccessful attacks on the site before it is taken.  Ultimately, Canada regroups and Operation Medusa succeeds, despite deaths by accident, suicide bombing, and friendly fire.  The Taliban suffers a tactical setback on the battlefield. But now the character of the war is about to change. And in some ways, it becomes even more dangerous. Read more Canadian War Museum: “The White School and Operation Medusa: Canada in Afghanistan, 2006” Oral histories In Their Own Voices John Barnes – Transcript / Video Mark Gasparotto – Transcript  Bruce Moncur –– Transcript / Video Credits The Long War: Canada in Afghanistan is a podcast by the Canadian War Museum.  Narrator: Anna Maria Tremonti  Historian: Andrew Burtch Producers: Lisa Gabriele and Neil Morrison Associate Producer: Hailey Choi Mixing: Cameron McIver Executive Producers: Jenny Ellison and Steve McCullough Text editors: Shannon Moore and Pascal Scallon-Chouinard  The podcast cover image shows private Michael Kubis of The Royal Canadian Regiment standing in a cloud of dust moments after the detonation of an improvised explosive device (IED) in Panjwaii District, Kandahar, in 2010. Photo: Louie Palu. Many voices heard in The Long War come from the Canadian War Museum’s oral history project, In Their Own Voices: Stories from Canadian Veterans and Their Loved Ones. Both of these projects have been generously funded by donors including the A. Britton Smith Family; the Azrieli Foundation; Arthur B.C. Drache, C.M., K.C., and Judy Young Drache; The Royal Canadian Legion; The Legion National Foundation; Friends of the Canadian War Museum; the Crabtree Foundation; Robert Stollery, in honour of his service in the Second World War; Colonel (Ret’d) Stanley A. Milner, O.C., A.O.E., M.S.M., C.D., LL.D.; and individuals from across Canada.