KANDAHAR, Afghanistan–Bruce Cockburn got his rocket launcher – briefly – in Afghanistan.

The singer-songwriter was among a group of entertainers visiting Canadian troops serving in the war-torn country.

He drew wild applause when he sang one of his hits, "If I Had a Rocket Launcher," which prompted the commander of Task Force Kandahar, Gen. Jonathan Vance, to very temporarily present him with one.

"I was kind of hoping he would let me keep it. Can you see Canada Customs? I don't think so," Cockburn said, laughing.

After 30 albums and countless hits, Cockburn is known as much for his political activism around the world as he is for his music.

He wrote "If I Had a Rocket Launcher," released in 1984, after he visited Guatemalan refugee camps in Mexico that were attacked before and after his visit by Guatemalan military helicopters.

This week, Cockburn, 64, visited Afghanistan, a conflict zone that involves a member of his own family. His brother, Capt. John Cockburn, 57, is a doctor in service at the Kandahar Airfield.

Cockburn, along with the other entertainers – including the group Finger Eleven and sports celebrities such as Guy Lafleur and Patrice Brisebois – got a rare look "outside the wire" of the main base in Kandahar when they were flown into a number of forward operating bases in the Panjwaii district.

As for the rocket launcher, it wasn't the first time Cockburn was presented with one.

Years ago, a fan opened his car trunk in a Washington state parking lot, and wanted to give him three rocket launchers – an offer he declined.

The Canadian Press

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Read more about: