Aust Troops
 

I think that the 5000 is the total NATO figure, not Australia.
Australia has 1100, with a commitment of a further 250 trainers for a grand total of 1350.

Don't count on many Canadians being around in a combat role post-2011. Public opinion here in Canuckistan is well hacked off, and not just the leftie-quitter element either. The Kabul government's giving the nod towards laws treating their women as chattels isn't helping, and neither is Peter McKay et al bungling the acquisition of assets like Leopard2, which couldn't be bought fast enough but is now stored in a Montreal barn and if we aren't heading back to Afstan in force it's difficult to know what future good they will be short of saying we've got them.

CLS has already said that an operational break is needed to repair strains in men, materiel and the training/promotion system, a statement something those fools on Fox News Red Eye thought was good fodder for a "humor (sic) segment".

Also - according to this morning's paper PTSD is apparently high in returning armed forces and police personnel, with one difficulty being securing mental health professionals to work at Canadian Forces Bases, many of whom are located in quite remote areas, given the CF's dual role as warfighter and regional jobs programme.