110:
51:
67:
85:
452:, who had served as the primary liaison between Canadian commanders and local Afghan leaders during the conflict, claimed that he had been the architect of the operation. Later that year, Sajjan issued a formal apology for embellishing his role in the battle after he was criticized by fellow military personnel. His apology included reference to David Fraser, hailing Fraser’s leadership as elemental to Operation Medusa’s success.
493:
Reception of the book was generally positive. Brett
Boudreau extolled its clear and accessible account of the battle, while Murray Brewster commented that it spoke volumes with its dignified omission of Harjit Sajjan and the ensuing controversy. The greatest acclaim was from J. Paul de B. Taillon.
489:
Canadian Non-Fiction
Bestsellers List for a number of weeks. The book offers the senior commander’s view of the political, strategic and tactical complexities of the bloodiest battle in NATO’s history. It has been described by Murray Brewster as a cautionary tale of political hubris that offered
420:
complicated the international community’s ability to complete its mission. According to Fraser, this change in strategy left a vacuum of leadership in its wake. The
Taliban consequently took root and flourished at a local level. Afghan leaders have since resumed negotiations with the Taliban in
251:
Fraser joined the
Canadian Armed Forces after graduating from Carleton University in 1980. His responsibilities and positions over the next 19 years were varied, including acting as chief of staff for the Alberta District, working as a Canadian officer responsible for domestic and international
260:
from 2003 to 2005. He deployed to
Afghanistan in January 2006, where, as a brigadier-general, he commanded thousands of NATO troops. One of his main responsibilities there was to lead Operation Medusa in southern Afghanistan that September. Fraser subsequently acted as
498:
stated that
Operation Medusa should be "compulsory reading for junior and senior officers, politicians, bureaucrats, and academics." Taillon also deemed the book a "corrective for those who believe that fighting or reading about the ‘last war’ is of little value."
415:
In 2016, Operation Medusa was once again brought into public discussion after Fraser admitted that he believed one of the results of the battle had been counterproductive. He commented that the coalition’s attempts to remove the
Taliban while attacking
340:
amassed on the north side as NATO forces pushed forward from the southern bank. The operation was generally considered successful as it maintained NATO’s credibility within the region and overwhelmed the
Taliban forces, which suffered heavy losses.
799:
293:. Intended to secure the authority of the democratic government of Afghanistan in the south of the country, the Canada-led offensive was the largest battle fought by Canadian troops since the country’s involvement in the
363:
ground attack aircraft mistakenly strafed the company as it was preparing to attack a
Taliban position, resulting in one death and thirty injuries. Despite this and other unforeseen difficulties such as running out of
649:
206:
Since retiring from the
Canadian Armed Forces in 2011 after 32 years of service, Fraser has worked in the private sector, currently serving as president of AEGIS Six Corporation. In May 2018, he released
468:, until June 2016. Fraser has since worked professionally as a public speaker. In 2016, he delivered the keynote address at the FABTECH Canada conference, focusing his remarks on the nature of effective
460:
Fraser’s first appointment in the private sector was as chief operating officer of Blue Goose Pure Foods, a retailer of organic meats headquartered in Toronto. He took up the same position at
211:, which he co-authored with Brian Hanington. The book recounts his experience as commander of NATO forces in this battle, detailing the preparation, execution and aftermath of the conflict.
993:
886:
408:
sent to Afghanistan had been taken from Canadian monuments. Fraser had requested tanks for the operation to make advances into Taliban controlled settlements while minimizing
558:
1081:
610:
412:. According to the Canadian Forces, however, such reports were exaggerated since it retained sufficient numbers of functioning tanks in its inventory at the time.
256:. Fraser then worked as director of the Land Force Command Reserve Restructure in Ottawa from 2001 to 2003 and as co-director of the Bi-National Planning Group in
1071:
726:
372:, Fraser assessed the effect of the operation, calling it a costly yet necessary fight that enabled Afghanistan to continue as a western installed
270:
404:
Despite its success, the operation and its aftermath were not without controversy. In 2007 and 2008, newspaper reports revealed that the Leopard
937:
832:
360:
290:
123:
1005:
449:
433:. He urged in 2018 that the whole-of-government, multicultural approach used by Canada during Operation Medusa be applied in the upcoming
349:
532:
163:
36:
858:
430:
236:
143:
232:
155:
139:
28:
355:
commented afterward on the toll of the first two days of the operation, underscoring the loss of life. Charles Company of the
528:
167:
40:
376:. The efforts of the Canadians and their allies were instrumental in enabling western back Afghan leaders to develop a new
755:
227:, graduating in 1980 with a bachelor of arts. He graduated from the Canadian Armed Forces Command and Staff College in
109:
1066:
188:
520:
465:
159:
32:
682:
584:
269:
in Toronto from 2007 to 2009 and led the Joint Headquarters Renewal Project in 2009 and 2010. He directed the
356:
266:
1076:
309:
113:
50:
495:
274:
172:
994:"Fighting the Last War: 'Operation Medusa: The Furious Battle that Saved Afghanistan from the Taliban'"
483:, a book about his experience as the commander of this operation. It was published in 2018 and sat on
650:"From missing ammo to friendly fire: retired major-general recalls dire challenges of Afghan mission"
240:
344:
These successes of Operation Medusa came at the cost of six Canadian and twelve British lives. Then
519:. He was also awarded several Canadian honours, such as the Commander of Military Merit award, the
220:
135:
485:
286:
180:
409:
257:
192:
184:
512:
333:
368:, the Canadians prevented further advance of the Taliban within Afghanistan. In his book
585:"Reality check: What Harjit Sajjan said about Operation Medusa vs. what really happened"
425:, attesting to Fraser’s analysis. According to Fraser, Canada made a similar mistake in
312:, he controlled thousands of NATO troops in the southern Afghan provinces of Kandahar,
887:"Defence Minister Sajjan apologizes for claiming he was architect of Operation Medusa"
1060:
508:
445:
183:. The country’s first general officer to command American troops in combat since the
176:
90:
913:"Major-General David Fraser (Ret'). Commander of the Largest Battle in NATO History"
507:
Fraser received numerous awards during his tenure in the Canadian Armed Forces. The
434:
377:
352:
285:
Operation Medusa, which took place from September 1 to 17, 2006 during the second
1027:
516:
384:, to make it possible for more girls to go to school, and to initiate reform in
196:
611:"Dave Fraser, Retired Canadian Commander: West Should Have Left Taliban Alone"
524:
473:
365:
294:
262:
130:
1051:
Operation Medusa: The Furious Battle That Saved Afghanistan from the Taliban.
912:
964:
481:
Operation Medusa: The Furious Battle That Saved Afghanistan from the Taliban
381:
373:
370:
Operation Medusa: The Furious Battle That Saved Afghanistan from the Taliban
305:
209:
Operation Medusa: The Furious Battle That Saved Afghanistan from the Taliban
833:"David Fraser: Ousting Taliban left Afghanistan with leadership 'vacuum'"
727:"What really happened when Canadians died in 2006 firefight with Taliban"
469:
422:
417:
385:
325:
301:
393:
389:
345:
337:
321:
313:
239:
in 2001. He completed the American Capstone program and trained at the
228:
987:
985:
329:
253:
224:
72:
859:"Diplomacy must drive peacekeeping mission in Mali, committee hears"
756:"Operation Medusa: the quest to wrest Afghanistan from the Taliban"
683:"'Failure strategy': How NATO won the battle but lost Afghanistan"
461:
426:
317:
438:
405:
200:
231:
in 1990 and earned a Master of Management and Policy from the
800:"The myth surrounding Canadian Leopard tanks in Afghanistan"
479:
In collaboration with Brian Hanington, David Fraser wrote
252:
planning, and commanding Infantry Battalion in Canada and
359:
was hit particularly hard. On September 4, an American
289:, was a seminal moment in Canada’s involvement in the
277:
until 2011, retiring from military service that year.
881:
879:
490:
lessons for Canada’s current peacekeeping missions.
464:, a national manufacturing company specializing in
300:Fraser was sent to the southern Afghan province of
219:Fraser studied political science and psychology at
129:
119:
104:
96:
78:
60:
21:
1026:General, Office of the Secretary to the Governor.
938:"Bestsellers: Canadian Non-Fiction, May 26, 2018"
559:"Lessons from the battlefield for the boardroom"
8:
965:"Reviewing David Fraser's book on Op Medusa"
826:
824:
822:
820:
749:
747:
643:
641:
639:
637:
635:
633:
631:
676:
674:
672:
670:
18:
336:valley west of the city of Kandahar. The
1049:Fraser, David; Hanington, Brian (2018).
544:
271:Land Force Doctrine and Training System
243:, where he currently acts as a mentor.
187:, Fraser's most noteworthy role was as
361:Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II
332:. The battle spanned a stretch of the
1082:Queen's University at Kingston alumni
831:Shulman, Michael (24 February 2016).
609:Brewster, Murray (24 February 2016).
199:from September 1–17, 2006 as part of
7:
1028:"Major-General David Allison Fraser"
552:
550:
548:
203:’s coalition efforts in the region.
1072:Canadian people of Scottish descent
788:Fraser & Hanington (2018) p195
779:Fraser & Hanington (2018) p208
715:Fraser & Hanington (2018) p166
706:Fraser & Hanington (2018) p194
511:government presented him with the
14:
969:Canadian Global Affairs Institute
963:Boudreau, Brett (22 April 2018).
380:, to ensure free and democratic
140:Royal Military College of Canada
108:
83:
65:
49:
992:de B. Taillon, J. Paul (2018).
798:Pugliese, David (27 May 2018).
754:Ackermann, John (20 May 2018).
681:Brewster, Murray (1 May 2018).
583:Vomiero, Jessica (1 May 2017).
557:Fraser, David (18 March 2016).
396:structures within the country.
1032:The Governor General of Canada
725:Potter, Mitch (28 July 2010).
529:the Atlantic Council of Canada
144:Queen's University at Kingston
1:
1004:(1): 106–107. Archived from
857:Johnson, Lisa (1 May 2018).
648:Turner, Geoff (7 May 2018).
450:Minister of National Defence
429:, which has since suffered
55:Fraser second from the left
1098:
533:Meritorious Service Medal
521:Meritorious Service Cross
48:
917:National Speakers Bureau
175:officer who served as a
357:Royal Canadian Regiment
291:Invasion of Afghanistan
267:Canadian Forces College
16:Canadian Forces officer
350:Chief of Defence Staff
310:Regional Command South
233:Royal Military College
195:, which took place in
998:The Dorchester Review
496:The Dorchester Review
275:1st Canadian Division
97:Years of service
241:Ivey Business School
152:David Allison Fraser
615:The Huffington Post
221:Carleton University
136:Carleton University
942:The Globe and Mail
891:The Globe and Mail
804:The Ottawa Citizen
563:The Globe and Mail
486:The Globe and Mail
287:Battle of Panjwaii
237:Queen's University
181:Land Force Command
124:War in Afghanistan
1067:Canadian generals
1053:McLelland Steward
466:armoured vehicles
410:collateral damage
189:brigadier-general
149:
148:
1089:
1042:
1041:
1039:
1038:
1023:
1017:
1016:
1014:
1013:
989:
980:
979:
977:
975:
960:
954:
953:
951:
949:
934:
928:
927:
925:
923:
909:
903:
902:
900:
898:
883:
874:
873:
871:
869:
854:
848:
847:
845:
843:
828:
815:
814:
812:
810:
795:
789:
786:
780:
777:
771:
770:
768:
766:
751:
742:
741:
739:
737:
722:
716:
713:
707:
704:
698:
697:
695:
693:
678:
665:
664:
662:
660:
645:
626:
625:
623:
621:
606:
600:
599:
597:
595:
580:
574:
573:
571:
569:
554:
281:Operation Medusa
258:Colorado Springs
193:Operation Medusa
185:Second World War
170:
112:
89:
87:
86:
71:
69:
68:
53:
43:
19:
1097:
1096:
1092:
1091:
1090:
1088:
1087:
1086:
1057:
1056:
1046:
1045:
1036:
1034:
1025:
1024:
1020:
1011:
1009:
991:
990:
983:
973:
971:
962:
961:
957:
947:
945:
936:
935:
931:
921:
919:
911:
910:
906:
896:
894:
893:. 29 April 2017
885:
884:
877:
867:
865:
856:
855:
851:
841:
839:
830:
829:
818:
808:
806:
797:
796:
792:
787:
783:
778:
774:
764:
762:
753:
752:
745:
735:
733:
724:
723:
719:
714:
710:
705:
701:
691:
689:
680:
679:
668:
658:
656:
647:
646:
629:
619:
617:
608:
607:
603:
593:
591:
582:
581:
577:
567:
565:
556:
555:
546:
541:
513:Legion of Merit
505:
494:His article in
458:
402:
334:Arghandab River
283:
249:
247:Military career
217:
173:Canadian Forces
154:
142:
138:
84:
82:
66:
64:
56:
44:
27:
25:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1095:
1093:
1085:
1084:
1079:
1074:
1069:
1059:
1058:
1055:
1054:
1044:
1043:
1018:
981:
955:
929:
904:
875:
849:
816:
790:
781:
772:
743:
717:
708:
699:
666:
627:
601:
575:
543:
542:
540:
537:
531:Award and the
504:
501:
457:
454:
431:two civil wars
401:
398:
282:
279:
248:
245:
216:
213:
147:
146:
133:
127:
126:
121:
117:
116:
106:
102:
101:
98:
94:
93:
80:
76:
75:
62:
58:
57:
54:
46:
45:
26:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1094:
1083:
1080:
1078:
1077:Living people
1075:
1073:
1070:
1068:
1065:
1064:
1062:
1052:
1048:
1047:
1033:
1029:
1022:
1019:
1008:on 2018-10-27
1007:
1003:
999:
995:
988:
986:
982:
970:
966:
959:
956:
944:. 26 May 2018
943:
939:
933:
930:
918:
914:
908:
905:
892:
888:
882:
880:
876:
864:
860:
853:
850:
838:
834:
827:
825:
823:
821:
817:
805:
801:
794:
791:
785:
782:
776:
773:
761:
757:
750:
748:
744:
732:
728:
721:
718:
712:
709:
703:
700:
688:
684:
677:
675:
673:
671:
667:
655:
651:
644:
642:
640:
638:
636:
634:
632:
628:
616:
612:
605:
602:
590:
586:
579:
576:
564:
560:
553:
551:
549:
545:
538:
536:
534:
530:
526:
522:
518:
514:
510:
509:United States
502:
500:
497:
491:
488:
487:
482:
477:
475:
471:
467:
463:
455:
453:
451:
447:
446:Harjit Sajjan
442:
440:
436:
432:
428:
424:
419:
413:
411:
407:
399:
397:
395:
391:
387:
383:
379:
375:
371:
367:
362:
358:
354:
351:
347:
342:
339:
335:
331:
327:
323:
319:
315:
311:
307:
303:
298:
296:
292:
288:
280:
278:
276:
272:
268:
264:
259:
255:
246:
244:
242:
238:
234:
230:
226:
222:
214:
212:
210:
204:
202:
198:
194:
190:
186:
182:
178:
177:major-general
174:
171:is a retired
169:
165:
161:
157:
153:
145:
141:
137:
134:
132:
128:
125:
122:
118:
115:
114:Major-general
111:
107:
103:
99:
95:
92:
91:Canadian Army
81:
77:
74:
63:
59:
52:
47:
42:
38:
34:
30:
20:
1050:
1035:. Retrieved
1031:
1021:
1010:. Retrieved
1006:the original
1001:
997:
972:. Retrieved
968:
958:
946:. Retrieved
941:
932:
920:. Retrieved
916:
907:
895:. Retrieved
890:
866:. Retrieved
862:
852:
840:. Retrieved
836:
807:. Retrieved
803:
793:
784:
775:
763:. Retrieved
759:
734:. Retrieved
730:
720:
711:
702:
690:. Retrieved
686:
657:. Retrieved
653:
618:. Retrieved
614:
604:
592:. Retrieved
588:
578:
566:. Retrieved
562:
506:
492:
484:
480:
478:
459:
443:
435:peacekeeping
414:
403:
378:constitution
369:
353:Rick Hillier
343:
304:, where, as
299:
284:
250:
218:
208:
205:
151:
150:
120:Battles/wars
23:David Fraser
589:Global News
517:Bronze Star
437:efforts in
400:Controversy
197:Afghanistan
1061:Categories
1037:2021-04-15
1012:2018-06-21
539:References
525:Vimy Award
474:leadership
456:Retirement
366:ammunition
295:Korean War
273:, and the
263:commandant
131:Alma mater
61:Allegiance
863:iPolitics
760:NEWS 1130
654:CBC Radio
444:In 2017,
382:elections
374:democracy
306:Commander
215:Education
100:1980–2011
837:CTV News
731:The Star
687:CBC News
515:and the
470:teamwork
423:Pakistan
418:al-Qaeda
326:Daikundi
302:Kandahar
974:14 June
922:14 June
897:14 June
868:14 June
842:14 June
809:14 June
765:14 June
736:14 June
692:14 June
659:14 June
620:14 June
594:14 June
568:14 June
394:finance
390:justice
386:defence
346:general
338:Taliban
322:Uruzgan
314:Helmand
265:of the
229:Toronto
191:during
79:Element
948:26 May
523:, the
503:Awards
448:, the
330:Nimroz
254:Bosnia
225:Ottawa
88:
73:Canada
70:
462:INKAS
427:Libya
406:tanks
318:Zabul
166:
162:
158:
39:
35:
31:
976:2018
950:2018
924:2018
899:2018
870:2018
844:2018
811:2018
767:2018
738:2018
694:2018
661:2018
622:2018
596:2018
570:2018
472:and
439:Mali
392:and
348:and
328:and
235:and
201:NATO
105:Rank
308:of
223:in
179:in
164:MSM
160:MSC
156:CMM
37:MSM
33:MSC
29:CMM
1063::
1030:.
1000:.
996:.
984:^
967:.
940:.
915:.
889:.
878:^
861:.
835:.
819:^
802:.
758:.
746:^
729:.
685:.
669:^
652:.
630:^
613:.
587:.
561:.
547:^
535:.
527:,
476:.
441:.
388:,
324:,
320:,
316:,
297:.
168:CD
41:CD
1040:.
1015:.
1002:8
978:.
952:.
926:.
901:.
872:.
846:.
813:.
769:.
740:.
696:.
663:.
624:.
598:.
572:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
