Charles Skelton: “I want to express condolences to the families of the four Canadian soldiers who were killed and the eight soldiers who…”

“I want to express condolences to the families of the four Canadian soldiers who were killed and the eight soldiers who were injured during training exercises in Afghanistan. News reports say that these are the first Canadians to be killed in a combat zone in half a century. Canada is a valued member of our coalition in the fight against terrorism and has been a valued friend of the United States for decades. I fear we do not express our gratitude enough to the Canadian people for their support and their friendship. In the face of this tragedy, it is important to thank Canada for its commitment to the fight against terrorism. Our men and women in uniform, U.S. forces, as well as members of our coalition forces, take risks every day in support of our freedoms. Unfortunately, some of our best and brightest young people lose their lives in this cause. Canadian forces are fighting alongside U.S. and European troops, seeking to hunt down remnants of Osama bin Laden's terrorist organization. We extend our condolences to our Canadian allies.”