Canada lost the war in Afghanistan: Top diplomat Ben Rowswell speaks out

An item from the Legion Magazine that may be of interest to members.


Weekly Feature
Observation Post

Canadian Master Bombardier Clint Godsoe (right) of the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team patrols the province on Aug. 26, 2008, on the way to deliver donated school supplies to a local school. [ISAF Headquarters Public Affairs Office/Wikipedia]

Canada lost the war in Afghanistan: Top diplomat Ben Rowswell speaks out

STORY BY RICHARD FOOT​​​​​​​

Ben Rowswell remembers the sinking feeling he had flying out of Kandahar in the summer of 2010. As the brown earth of southern Afghanistan receded below him, the despair inside him grew.

Rowswell had spent the previous two years serving at the highest civilian levels of Canada’s mission in Afghanistan, first as deputy ambassador in Kabul, then as the Representative of Canada in Kandahar (known as the RoCK), overseeing a NATO Provincial Reconstruction Team, from 2009 onward.

He led a team of about 80 civilians building infrastructure, such as schools and irrigation projects, and providing other support, including training for security and governance, to the people and local authorities of Kandahar province. Their work, alongside the combat and security efforts of the Canadian battle group, was the cornerstone of Canada’s mission to “stabilize” the Kandahar region and win the counter-insurgency war there.

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The Briefing
The Briefing

Naval Commander James Campbell Clouston. [Courtesy Clouston family via Brian Jeffery Street]

Biographer Brian Jeffrey Street on the Canadian hero of Dunkirk, Part 1

STORY BY ALEX BOWERS

“He’s been with me for a long time,” said biographer Brian Jeffrey Street of the largely forgotten Canadian war hero he has chronicled for decades. Naval Commander James Campbell Clouston’s efforts during the Dunkirk evacuations were vital to its success.

From May 26 to June 4, 1940, as German forces closed in on the French port and dominated the skies above, the British Royal Navy, alongside a fleet of civilian vessels, ferried more than 338,000 beleaguered Allied troops across the English Channel. The retreat from continental Europe was an undeniable defeat that precipitated the fall of France, but the evacuation itself—code-named Operation Dynamo—would epitomize British pluck and determination to many at home, despite the debacle.

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Member Benefit Partner

IRIS

A Special Offer from VIA Rail to celebrate the Legion’s 100th anniversary

An offer that was sent out by Dominion Command that may be of interest to members who wish to travel across Canada this year.


Year-Round Learning & Patriotism

An item from the Wreaths Across America that may be of interest to members.


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Over the last 20 years, I have had many conversations with veterans from different conflicts throughout our nation’s history. One concern they all seem to share is whether the next generation truly understands the cost of freedom and the human sacrifice behind the liberties we enjoy every day. That is why patriotism must go hand in hand with stewardship, responsibility, and service to others.
As generations pass, it falls on us to carry forward the lessons they learned and the values they fought to protect. The challenge is inspiring a sense of patriotism and urgency in a generation that, thankfully, has not experienced the kind of all-encompassing national conflicts like World War II, where every man, woman, and child played a role.

Click here to read my full message, and keep scrolling to learn more about our year-round mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach.

Sincerely,

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Karen Worcester

Wreaths Across America’s Executive Director

WAA in the News

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Wreaths Across America and The American Legion Announce New Partnership

Wreaths Across America and The American Legion are proud to announce the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), formalizing a collaborative partnership focused on supporting veterans, service members and military families across the country. This partnership reflects the shared commitment of both organizations to honor service, strengthen communities and expand opportunities for American Legion posts to engage in meaningful fundraising while supporting the yearlong mission of WAA. Read more about this partnership at the button.

Download the NEW Wreaths Across America Radio App

Take WAA Radio with you anywhere — get the official app on your device.

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Summer Learning with the Teach Program

 School is coming to a close, and the WAA Teach Program has summer learning covered! Share our lesson plans with a young person in your life, including our Flag Day plans! Celebrated June 14, Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States. Access all of our curriculum at the button below.

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Remember Me Story Gallery

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Help us identify service members who deserve to be remembered. These could be family members, local heroes, or names from your local cemetery that few people know.

Please submit names, photos, and stories at the button below. You can also view the gallery of stories. Be sure to use #RememberMe on social media!

Sponsor Spotlight

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We are deeply grateful to Crowley and DARCARS for their continued support of the Wreaths Across America mission. Your commitment helps us ensure that every hero is remembered, honored, and taught to future generations.

Through your generosity and partnership, we are able to expand our reach, engage more communities, and carry forward the important work of placing wreaths on the headstones of our nation’s veterans. Thank you for standing with us and for sharing in this mission to remember, honor and teach.

Featured Merchandise

Show your support while keeping your essentials organized in the WAA wallet! Featuring weather-resistant AeroLOFT fabric to keep it lightweight, the main compartment has a zippered closure and there’s an additional stash side-pocket for smaller items. The wallet and the attached carabiner can be clipped to a keyring, backpack or belt loop.   

Click on the button to purchase the wallet, or view all of our merchandise here.

 
 

Make sure to follow Wreaths Across America official channels on social media for the most up-to-the-minute news on the mission throughout the year:

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Wreaths Across America, PO Box 249, Columbia Falls, ME 04623, United States, 877-385-9504

Salute! May 2026

A newsletter from Veterans Affairs Canada that may be of interest to members.


May 2026

The latest issue of Salute! is now available.

Read Salute! online
Let us know what you think about Salute! by emailing us.

Sincerely,

Salute! Team

Veterans Affairs Canada

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Veterans Affairs Canada

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