OTTAWA — Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan says he is truly sorry after claiming in a recent speech to have been the architect of Canada's largest battle in Afghanistan.
The mea culpa follows what some saw as a half-hearted apology for the comments Sajjan made in India earlier this month.
In a Facebook post, Sajjan says he made a mistake by describing himself as the architect of Operation Medusa in 2006.
I made a mistake in describing my role. I wish to retract that description and apologize for it. I am truly sorry: https://t.co/T8LR7mDyBQ
— Harjit Sajjan (@HarjitSajjan) April 29, 2017
He goes on to retract the comments and offer his sincere apologies to all the soldiers he served with in Afghanistan.
That includes then-major general David Fraser and his team, whom Sajjan credits for the operation's success.
On a regional B.C. podcast called Conversations That Matter, he said the current chief of the defence staff, Gen. Jonathan Vance, considered him to be the central figure.
"If I could quote him, he said I was the architect of Operation Medusa, one of the biggest operations since the Korean war that Canada has led," Sajjan said in July 2015, when he was running as a Liberal candidate.
His appointment to cabinet in November 2015 was followed by a series of flattering stories about his service, including photos of him smiling in the field, clad in a flak jacket, prompting some to call him "Canada's badass defence minister."
Sajjan does not say why he made the comments about Operation Medusa, during which hundreds of Taliban were killed.
Twelve Canadian soldiers also died during the two-week battle.
WATCH ABOVE: Harjit Sajjan Caught Inflating His Role In Key Afghan Battle During India Visit
Twitter users unleashed a round of mockery at Harjit Sajjan on Friday after the defence minister expressed “regret” for inflating his role in a 2006 offensive against the Taliban in a Friday statement.
Conservative MP Erin O’Toole kicked things off by “thanking” Sajjan for his Second World War exploits.
Minister Sajjan, your planning of Operation Overlord & the D-Day landings was inspiring. #SajjanBattles
— Erin O'Toole (@ErinOTooleMP) April 28, 2017
Other twitter users quickly followed suit by jokingly placing the defence minister in various historic battles.
New documentary footage of #sajjanbattles pic.twitter.com/F3ePD8qUA6
— James Bezan (@jamesbezan) April 28, 2017
Thank heaven for #SajjanBattles
— Dean Norman (@Deannormanjones) April 28, 2017
Without his leadership and planning, the Germans would still own Vimy Ridge. 🙄
@davie_cd1 @ErinOTooleMP @HarjitSajjan I know he's too humble to talk about his role in the Boer War, but I thank him anyway. #sajjanbattles
— Catsup (@DeadMeatEater) April 28, 2017
New remastered movie to correct errors in the first movie: Who Really Saved Private Ryan: Epic Battle Plan of @HarjitSajjan #sajjanbattles pic.twitter.com/F3sg2dDYsG
— deplorable Al (@WarAgainstElite) April 28, 2017
The people of Rohan are forever in your debt, Minister Sajjan, for your efforts at Helm's Deep. #sajjanbattles #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/LltyZucAoO
— Andrew Zettel (@Andrew_Zettel) April 28, 2017
Thanks to Sajjans relationship with Ewoks and his knowledge of Endor he played a pivotal role in destroying the Death Star #sajjanbattles pic.twitter.com/hXXby0pLWv
— Mathew Clancy (@mathew_clancy) April 28, 2017
Thanks to @HarjitSajjan's foresight and musket skills Canada was able to defend against the Americans in the war of 1812 #SajjanBattles pic.twitter.com/PyDqTGWsUx
— Ben Silverman (@BenJSilverman6) April 28, 2017
Harjit Sajjan defeated the Witch-king of Angmar at the Battle of Pelennor Fields #SajjanBattles pic.twitter.com/5jmiLCQM05
— Ettore (@EttoreFiorani) April 28, 2017
