NL-Outsidethebox [confederation]

Dear elected representatives

I was watching the news tonight and it occured to me to put Calcium on the more widely used dirt roads to keep the dust down.

Keeping the dust down will enable our troops to observe their surroundings better for ambushes.

Calcium roads will make it alot easier to spot land mines placed on the road because the disturbed road will stand out.

Calciumed roads will make life that much easier for the trailing vehicles so everyone will be able to observe as well they won't have to breath in that dust.

By keeping the dust down the bad guys won't be able to spot them coming miles away by their dust signature hence plan for an ambush or IED.

Lesss wear and tear on our vehichles and equipment due to dust getting into the moving parts. Probably save on air filters alone the cost of calcium.

How much is a life worth.

Locals would greatly appreciate the lower dust levels.

Dust free roads make for good landing sites for Helicopter in case medivac required.

Calcium can be spread with tankers like Urea is spread on Airfields before an ice storm. Calcium is used to load tires also. It comes like road salt but disolves with water.

Calcium isn't the only thing that could be used to keep the dust down but it is what is acceptable in Canada. Used Oil isn't. Water is but makes for very muddy roads and doesn't last. Diesel works but is enviromentally unfriendly where there is water.

Waste byproduct from Bio diesel would work as well I think.

Calcium lasts a good month depending on the use and enviroment from my experience.

Ugggh flash backs of dusty Wainright and convoys. Had to be there.

Help foil IED Improvised Explosive Devices and ambushes

Explosive sniffing dogs as trail breakers. In specific areas.

Remote controlled off road cars equiped with Explosive sniffing equipment.

Unsure here but I think Muslims have something against dogs as well. Probably smell these Talibans a mile away what with them living of the country in the hills.

Please no disrespect mean't, anyone would smell living of the land in a desert enviroment.

Emailed
TO:
Graham.B@parl.gc.ca, laytoj@parl.gc.ca, Premier@gov.nl.ca, email.senate@gmail.com, Harper.S@parl.gc.ca, dnd_mdn@forces.gc.ca

CC:
todd@toddrussell.ca, Simms.S@parl.gc.ca, Byrne.G@parl.gc.ca, Matthews.B@parl.gc.ca, bakerg@sen.parl.gc.ca, fureyg@sen.parl.gc.ca, rompkw@sen.parl.gc.ca, cookj@sen.parl.gc.ca, cochre@sen.parl.gc.ca, Doyle.N@parl.gc.ca, Hearn.L@parl.gc.ca, Manning.F@parl.gc.ca

A couple of Media outlets just because.

Afghanistan incident time line.

Update: Response from The Honourable Gordon J. O'Connor, PC, MP
Minister of National Defence to my email.


Dear Mr. ----:

Thank you for your e-mail of 19 June 2006 concerning your suggestions for the
safety of Canadian Forces personnel deployed in Afghanistan. I regret the delay
in replying.

It is very much appreciated when members of the public show their support for
the Canadian Forces personnel who put their lives daily in harm's way.
Improvised explosive device detection, safety, and the security of our forces
are all high priorities in the Department of National Defence (DND);
consequently, your ideas have been reviewed in detail.

Your idea to employ calcium to suppress the dust as well as to identify opened
routes is interesting, and the Department is investigating it further. The
working environment in the Kandahar region is harsh, with daily dust storms that
sweep through the valleys moving immense quantities of dust. However, I
understand that calcium would not combat this overriding situation, since roads
would be covered daily and the calcium would be ineffective. Nonetheless, DND is
investigating this idea to be employed on-camp as well as in limited, deliberate
use off-camp.

In response to your suggestion to employ dogs as trailbreakers, Canadian Forces
personnel already use dogs in theatre. Primarily employed in camp-force
protection, the dogs are only used in limited capacity "outside the wire" as
they must be utilised in a secure environment.

Regarding your suggestion to equip all-terrain vehicles with explosive-detection
equipment, the Canadian Forces has a system in theatre known as the Improvised
Landmine Detection System that detects surface and buried mines. It was brought
into service approximately four years ago.

Thank you once again for writing. I appreciate your support of our men and women
in uniform and trust the information I have provided is of assistance.

Sincerely,

The Honourable Gordon J. O'Connor, PC, MP
Minister of National Defence

Good response. I can totally understand the logic and thought that went into this response. I feel bad to have wasted his time. It is just so hard knowing my fellow Canadians are in harms way and there is little to nothing I can do to help.