KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - The abrupt dismissal of Canada's military commander in Afghanistan over what the military described as alleged inappropriate conduct with a subordinate left troops in disbelief Sunday, wondering what became of their leader tasked with leading them at a critical juncture in the war.
The stunning accusation that Brig.-Gen. Daniel Menard engaged in an intimate relationship with a female member of his staff while in theatre provided a momentary distraction amid the grisly realities of the conflict.
One young Canadian soldier widened his eyes when told of the news before quickly saying he didn't want to discuss the matter.
Another summed it up in blunt terms.
"It's just sad," said the troop, who declined to give his name. "I'd rather not talk about it."
Menard, whose once-sparkling career with the Canadian Forces dates back 26 years, was relieved of his command in Afghanistan after military brass became aware of allegations he was involved in a personal relationship with a woman.
Menard joined the Canadian Forces in 1984. After finishing basic officer training, he was posted to the 3rd Battalion of the Royal 22nd Regiment as a platoon commander.
He swiftly ascended the ranks, serving in Britain, Germany, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Haiti before deploying to Afghanistan last November. He was scheduled to remain in command of Canadian Forces in the war-torn country until the fall.
Military historian Jack Granatstein, a senior research fellow with the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute, said the allegations have delivered a damning blow against someone who was a young, rising star in Canada's military.
"He was a pretty high flyer," Granatstein said in an interview from Toronto. "What we probably got now is effectively the end of his career."
Granatstein said the accusation against Menard does not reflect a wider problem within the higher ranks of the military.
The allegation delivers a black eye to Menard, rather than the military, Granatstein said.
Menard, who was not available Sunday to discuss the allegation, is now the subject of a probe by the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service.
The military said Sunday that Menard was ordered to report to National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa.
The military has rigid rules forbidding its personnel from engaging in personal relationships while in theatre. They include relationships of an emotional, romantic or sexual nature. Civilians stationed at Kandahar Airfield are also subject to those rules.
Menard's dismissal comes at a time when the Canadian Forces are preparing for a summer operation aimed at flushing the Taliban out of insurgent strongholds in southern Afghanistan.
Brig.-Gen. Jon Vance, who has served as Canada's top soldier in Afghanistan before, will assume command within a week.
"In effect, they get an experienced, tested officer to run this mission at a critical time," Granatstein said. "A no-nonsense general just might be what we need."
Just last week in an unrelated matter, a court martial fined Menard $3,500 for negligently firing two rounds from his assault rifle in an incident two months ago. The incident occurred as Menard and Gen. Walt Natynczyk, the chief of defence staff, were about to board a Blackhawk helicopter at Kandahar Airfield.
Menard struggled to load a magazine into his C8 assault rifle. His gun was at waist level, pointing at the runway, when it fired a two-round burst.
The bullets whizzed between two armoured vehicles, missing two Blackhawk helicopters and about 10 soldiers also within range. No one was hurt and no property was damaged.
Menard is the second senior Canadian military officer to be relieved of his command this year.
Col. Russell Williams, the former commander of CFB Trenton, Ont., was relieved after criminal charges were laid in connection with the deaths of two women, the sexual assault of two others and dozens of break-ins.
