Craig Read

Neal, good points. The New Europe [have to love Rummy for stating that] should never allow itself to be subsumed by the Franco-German parasitic socialist state - fully of arrogance, corruption, greed and hypocrisy. Poland and Spain have the potential to be adult nations. The EU was formed to tie down Germany and share communely, resources that can be used to wage war - iron, coal, steel and oil. Very quickly after economic integration occured amongst the original 6 nations, the French began agitating for political union - headed of course by France, buttressed by the economic strength of Germany. From about 1957 when the EU officially started as the EC [Treaty of Rome] until about 1975, it enjoyed fast economic growth, and rapidly gained international respectability. During the 80s and 90s however, growth has sputtered, politics have trumped economic integration and the myriad pronouncements from Brussels on everything from the size of Swedish strawberries to the ingredients in margarine, perplex and annoy the average citizen. The EU has strayed from its original intention. Its political-technocratic elite want a counterpoise to the US. Without significant reform it won't happen. In any event Europeans are regionalists and nationalists first, not Europeans. You can't force them to become Europeans through an insipid Constitution written by the French for their own benefit which enshrines as human rights, a whole slew of social and economic policies such as a 'right to education', ' a right to a job' and 'a right to a standard of living.' This is idiotic and should be swept away by the Poles, Brits and Spaniards. I hope Europe fractures and the tide of post modern nonsense receded and leaves the ugly naked spectacle of franco-german hegemonic aspirations visible for all to see.

Walter Robinson President of the CTF makes a good comment on the interventionist tendency of Paul Chretien - illustrated by his 27 Secretaries: Martin did not prove during the 90s that he was a Conservative fiscally responsible Minister. He played a shell game with taxes - increasing business taxes and decreasing personal income taxes - and lived off of Ontario's and Alberta's growing economy, as well as slashing transfers [ie. money taken from citizens in provinces but not returned to them], to the Provinces.

As many of us predicted the bearded despot would be found by US special forces. It was only a matter of time. I would have prefered that the US forces have shot Hussein a few thousand times, but in any event, his death cannot be long in coming. Hussein was found hiding in a hole - how fitting for such a lowlife. Some points: 1. The Civil Iraqi and US Military tribunals should find Hussein guilty of crimes against humanity and have him killed forthwith. 2. Before killing him, offer an amnesty to other insurgency leaders if the attacks on Coalition forces are halted immediately. 3. Do Not let the EU ninnies or the Cdns give Hussein a hearing at the International Court of anything. Then we will have another Milosovic fiasco. Good job Yanks. Well done.

Many threads cover the reasons for the war - they stem largely from security and military concerns - and i have posted numerous sources on the oil issue - it is a red herring. Oil will never cover the costs of reconstruction. Oil revenues won't even cover Iraq's debt for the next 5 years. This war was waged to uphold 14 UN Resolutions and end 12 years of expensive [paid by the UK and US] and fruitless [hello the French made good $ of this] sanctions. It was a reply to 9-11 - preemption is the only valid security strategy we have. When you win a war , you and your allies share the spoils. Give me one example in world history where the lovely French, the honest Germans, the moral Russians and the winsome Chinese won wars and handed over to groups that opposed the war, their just spoils and rewards ? I thought so.

RB, you stated, Right on. This kills me. The Minister of Defence has ZERO military knowledge. The Minister of Finance, for all his political skills, is not a trained financial man. Ditto for the extremely ugly Anne McLellan. Sorry but is being ugly a requirement for politics - what does Anne know about health or security? Galahad your point is great. The US manages with 40 % LESS departments. I am not one to defend the size of the US gov't since i believe it is too big, but why does Canada need a Secretary of State for Asia or the Middle East or someone running 'Children's affairs'? Patronage, rewarding friends and paying off allies must have a limit surely ? Or will the # of Ministers only rise with time ?

The Socialist Paradise. Oh we how we love and admire you, let's see: The EU economy is shrinking, employment rate is only @ 62 % [vs. 75 % in USA], pensions scam, health care scam and corruption [try doing business in Belgium or France, bring your own grease], and now the Constitution. Love your culture though [er sans Hitler, Napoleon, Stalin, 2 World Wars, Communism, the 30 years war and so on...] The Constitution might stop the EU in its tracks - and it would be a damn good thing. The draft text supported by France and Germany would allow EU decisions to be made by a simple majority of EU nations if they represent 60 percent of the EU's population of 450 million. The constitution must be approved unanimously by all 25 governments. Backers of the proposed new voting system, led by Germany and France - - and we all know how moral and democratic they are -- say the changes will make the voting system simpler and more democratic. Sure it will. It also means that France and Germany will effectively control all EU legislation since together they represent 33 % of the EU's population. Let's hope the Poles and Spaniards fracture the EU beyond repair.

Yes Lost Paul Chretien learnt his master's arts well. Leak conflicting stories to the media -'We support the war on Iraq' - 'No we don't go to war until the UN supports it'. Jean Martin is the same - he promises all things to all people and will in effect do little. He is the master of the media spin - and when he shows a little leg, the liberal media swoon and salivate. To be effective within 4 years you can only fight 2 or 3 major battles and win them - so pick 3: Military reformation; tax and debt cuts and spending cuts; and democratic reforms [how about eliminating 20 ministeries !!]. These fall within the purview of the Federal Parliament. Health reforms [ok axe the Stupid Canada Health Council that is another good idea] and energy reforms are provincial mandates. Stop wasting air time on them. How about the midget Cabinet ? Where is the quality ? Bill Graham is an embarassment - the Cdn apologist for PLA terrorism and anti-US foreign policy. McLellan - totally inept and as unsavoury as Sheila Copps. I don't see a roadmap, plan or vision from Jean Martin. His website is now bare of policy plans. Maybe the Cdn media can start asking the tough questions instead of kissing Paul Chretien's royal butt.

American taxpayers should not fund countries that were against the war, and especially France-Germany and Russia which made money duirng the embargo program as thousands of Iraqi's starved to death or were murdered. Nescient, hypocritical and condemnatory were the actions of the EU and Russia during the 1990s and during Gulf War II. They did everything in their power to perpetuate a brutal regime while they and the UNO make profit. It makes internationalism a laughingstock.

Some questions for Jean Martin: 1)Why do we need 39 Ministers + 26 Parliamentary Secretaries ?? To do what exactly ? And why does the media report that Liberal hacks are now 'Right Wing' ?? Huh. Did we miss something? Anne McLellan [now in charge of Security? come on, she is an incompetent], David Anderson, Sheila Copps, Bill Graham are right wing ?? Duh okay. Here are some winning Minstries: -Minister for 'Multiculturalism and Women's Rights' [now headed by the rotund Jean Augustine]. What is her job description and who is Augustine? - Minister Western Diversification ? Huh. What the hell is this ? -Minister of State for Children and Youth -Canadian Heritage -Fisheries and Oceans -Secretary of State for Asia Pacific -Secretary of State for Crown Corps -HRDC .......... how about getting rid of half ? Oh sorry, most of these 39 + 26 are Martin Loyalists. Oh i see that explains their maintenance. Oops. So much for gov't reform and spending reform [wouldn't want to hurt a friend's feelings now by cutting spending]. 2) Martin leaks to the US press Thursday that he loves America and will increase military spending. Yesterday he states to the Cdn Media that there will be no increased military spending and that Health care [with no reforms of course] is a priority. Thanks for being clear Jean Martin. 3)Martin's website was a litany of policy babble and conflicting claims designed to please [like his Cabinet] the entire country. Like the class fat boy who needs friends, and becomes the class clown, it appears that Martin wants to be loved by all. Now behold the list from his website www.paulmartin.ca has Magically disappeared ! So where is the plan for the next King ? Martin gave a speech last week in which he laid out his summary: No details, and the claims conflict and compete - higher social spending with debt and tax reductions. Sorry mate, but you don't cut taxes and increase spend. But the media Loves our overweight man Paul gushing that he is pro American, right of centre and a man to clean up Parliament and Democracy. Maybe. But I think Jean Martin or Paul Chretien is another Liberal and will carry on Trudeau Liberalism, regardless of media adoration.

Hugo good point. Chretien also opposed NAFTA which is the only reason our economy is still alive and our living standards not worsened. He is the worst leader imaginable, a corrupt clown who operates the gov't like a mafia don. Kok, you mentioned, Right on. So why don't i hear this on the CBC - or RDI ? Why does the CBC and the Cdn media have such short memories ? And you are right since when does the UN Security Council over-ride national security and alliance configurations ? Using the UN as a fig leaf to free ride off the US military is sickening. You can criticise aspects of US policy in Iraq, but hell, we should BE there, helping and aiding at a level concomittant with 1. Our economic size and 2. Our egotistical appraisal of our superiority. A 'superior' civilisation defends its allies, attends to its security and takes the moral lead in rebuilding failed states in the Middle East.

Canada sits on the sidelines, throws a few token troops to herd the goats in Kabul and a few million at Iraqi reconstruction and now pouts it wants contracts ! Ah poor little dear. Boo hoo hoo. This is the payback for France and Canada who immorally opposed the war and now - hypocritically - want to make MONEY from it !!! Good one - nice consistency in Cdn foreign policy. There are 2 aspects to the US decision to exclude the socialist countries from Iraqi reconstruction: 1. It is a bargaining position designed to force France and Russia to forgive Iraqi debt obligations in return for contracts. 2. Subcontracts - which encompass the majority of reconstruction efforts - are still open to socialist nations to bid on [with some constraints]. Only 25-30 Major contracts are closed to the EU ninnies and Canada. The rest are 'open' at least in theory. Again this is a bargaining position - give the US more $ and troops - and you get more contract opps. I like it. The U.S. and real allies, sans les Canadiens, have spent blood and treasure to liberate Iraq and will spend a lot more to put Iraq back on its feet economically and politically. $18.6 billion was pledged by the U.S. -- this amount has nothing to do with money offered by the World Bank, IMF or the Useless N.O. US taxpayers have an interest in seeing it spent on those countries that were there when the U.S. needed them. This is in recognition of those nations that -- some at great political risk -- made the sacrifice. Britain and Poland sent fighting troops, for example, and Italy, Spain and others have provided security forces. They've all taken casualties. Canada, Germany and France not only opposed the war but actually tried to obstruct the waging of it. The EU - that great bastion of morality - did not pledge any money at the donors' conference in Madrid this fall. And they, along with Russia, have not sent any troops to postwar Iraq. Worse, the EU, which took what they implied was the high moral ground against the war, are now complaining that they cannot make private profit from its aftermath. It's not a pretty sight. Maybe Canada and the EU can grow up and get busy with helping out.

Eco-Fascism - is enforced socialisation, gov't control and regulatory hell - all to conform to the UNO/Canada - France vision of society as an equal sharing of misery. Kyoto and Eco-Fascist nonsense tyrannises populations, raises taxes, regulates and achieves nothing. Even if Kyoto were enacted by 2100 it would only decrease by 2-5 % GHG emissions. This will cost Canada 2 % of its GDP and in the GTA about 300.000 jobs between 2008-2012. Politicians love Kyoto - not because it is valid - but because it allows them to tax and regulate everything under the guise of 'saving the world.' It would also lead to trade protectionism - 'sorry your Chinese textiles contravene section 2.1 of Kyoto'. It is pure garbage.

Sharia law is under Ont. Arbitration law and its rulings are binding. You can only appeal to a higher court and - gurantee it - you will lose. Sharia is based wholly on the Koran - this type of arbitration is out of place in a secular Western society. This is just another step in CoR process of minority rights and discirmination. Soon each group will have their own laws - currently Indians and Muslims [in Ont.] have recourse to their own regulations. You don't create a strong coherent nation on various levels of jurisprudence and conflicting philosophies. I did not realise that the Majority of Toronto's voters had accepted Sharia Law.........just more dumb politicians and liberal leftists appealing to the emotional inner child in us all I suppose.

Conventional wisdom - ie. manipulated left liberal media opionion which always backs up the hacks and flacks in society, in this case protectionists and union members - states that China's currency is unfairly valued, that China is the US' enemy and that protectionism and anti-Chinese posturing is needed. Hooey on all acounts. On the currency issue, China needs a stable currency. It really needs banking and capital control reforms not a floating [ie. descending] currency. Greenspan says it best, Right on. Let other reforms go ahead first before you free float the currency. On the political level - China is not an enemy - not if you approach China maturely. They are certainly needed to defang North Korea and act as a 'buffer' with an unstable and undemocratic Russia. Watch for Bush to renounce the longstanding US policy of unbridled support for Taiwan. Let China grow and let it mature.

And the mindless midgets at the UNO are doing it again - using their scaremongering techniques to enforce compliance. Since Kyoto is largely dead without the EU buying off Russia and paying Putin to sign [regardless of what the Economist and others state, no nation will follow any of Kyoto if Russia does not ratify it], the UN is preparing its usual media doom and gloom blitzkrieg - today announcing that 150.000 people died in 2003 due to Global Warming. Good god, don't these idiots ever stop ??: Sure in 1975 the liberal media were publishing hysterical accounts of Global Cooling. The UNO maintained that we had until 1980 to solve it. How about we announce Global Warring and declare a war against any and all useless international groups ?

Kok,good to have you on board - a BCer i take it ? Canadian military personnel are top notch apparently and well trained. The monkeys running our country are not top notch nor well trained - unless you believe that overbilling clients as a lawyer and crying 'this case is much more difficult than our original quote suggested' is good training to be an effective leader. Legal training is effective training to be a mealy mouthed say-nothing-vital or clearly politician, an admirer of media spin, a disburser of other people's money, and a claimant for higher taxes ['these social programs are so vital and more expensive than originally quoted']. Canada's political elite are not trained in; -Economics -Political theory [Graham is a current exception] -Business and 'making things happen' -Private sector capital accumulation outside of law -Military -Foreign experiences They are: -Academics -Lawyers -Swivelling/Snivelling Servants Such a population admires: -Centralised control -Left Liberal rhetoric -Using the efforts of others to build programs and ideas -Rewriting history -Media spin to enforce social cohesion I have yet to meet an Academic or Lawyer that I would trust to run a fruit stand, let alone a country. Given the miserably thin talent in Cdn politics is it any wonder that we don't sit at the big boys table internationally ? We have a reservation at the mental dwarf table, along with France and the UNO and other associated cowardly groups that deal in immoral janus faced processes and believe that at the end of the dinner someone else should pick up the bill.

Bit of a clown you are. You quote out of context historical data and then rant from the misrepresentation. In any event you have one major flawed premise - you focus on the PAST actions of Canadians in fighting for freedom. Pray tell what is Canada doing NOW ? -No military -- in fact in a recent report the military will cease to exist within 15 years. It will literally just rot into ruin; -Trudeau liberalism where Cuba and Communism are elevated as sacred theologies and feel good socialism with massive redistribution and lowered living standards are enshrined as public goods; -An immigraiton policy that caters to politicians and immigrant lawyers supported by the CoR and media nonsense on 'diversity'. As if having separate minority groups agitating for their rights and special privileges is an intelligent way to build a country; -Free riding off the US drug firms and military while making sure the Americans are told daily how stupid, fat and incompetent they are; -CBC and media anti-US vitriol [all in the name of nation state building - nice one - as if negative aspersions creates a confident nation]; -Nothing being done on the war on terror - Nothing. 1900 Cdn soldiers in Kabul - big deal. The US has 150.000 troops deployed world wide; -Political morons like Chretien blaming the US for 9-11 The payback ? Trade tensions, no seat at the big boys table and an alliance with France. Whoopee.

Boyd, you are missing the main aspect of this new development. I posted this before; The intention of the Sharia arbitration council is to solve disputes involving Muslims. Yes if a Muslim demands the use of the IICJ to solve a dispute he is now entitled to that process. This process is based on the Koran and has not one single link to Canadian jurisprudence. If the Sharia council renders a verdict both parties MUST abide by it. It therefore DOES trump Canadian law. As i already said, you would have to sue to a higher court to overturn a Sharia council decision - and you would certainly lose - an enormous waste of time and money. Canada is NOT a muslim country last time i checked. Sharia arbitration is unconstitutional and should be struck down the by Supreme Court.

And now the little minds of the EU are busy whining and discussing 'extra legal' processes. Apparently the EU whiners want the WTO to step in and tell the Americans that the EU deserves contracts under international law - as compensation for their 10 years of milking Iraq of money as 300.000 people were murdered, and of course as compensation for their 'moral' objections to the war - ie. 'we make money now dealing with Hussein and please don't change that' argument. The fact that the EU can even suggest that Iraqi reconstruction has international legal applicability tells me that these people are so far removed from reality that any lie - no matter how large - is acceptable. Good grief. The EU and Canada - weak, immoral, with no values - are now seeking recourse in the UNO. That tells you the depth of depravity of their leadership.

Sharia arbitration clearly triumphs secular Canadian law unless the aggrieved party appeals to the court system to overturn the Sharia arbitration. This is costly, time consuming and entirely unnecessary. Using Sharia arbitration is as KK stated the thin edge of the wedge. Once enshrined and used it will cascade into minority legal rights being represented by various cultures' laws and codes and eventually being on par with existing Constitutional codes. Canada is NOT a muslim country. The fact that Sharia is even tolerated is a travesty and an example of self loathing.

Morgan this is excellent. Some other good sources on the media bias would include books by Ann Coulter www.anncoulter.org, B. Goldberg 'Bias : A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distort the News' and research by the MRC http://www.mediaresearch.org/ Liberal bias includes massive distortions on US foreign policy - on every single issue the rapacity, corruption and illogic of American intention is covered in depth - never the rationales, morales, or good intentions of US policy makers. The CBC fires up Canadian jingoism through smug self assuredness and elitist pronouncements on superiority. Free riding, having no beliefs, appeasement, caving in to every liberal whim and fancy and now appeasing Muslims through Sharia adjudication does not a great country make.

"Chirac warmly congratulates Chretien on France-Canada relations" Chretien blames 9-11 on the US calling the Americans "self satisfied and greedy." Various Canadian politicians engage in adolescent name calling of Bush and the US. Canada does little in the war on terror - 1900 troops in Kabul handing out parking tickets and feeding goats, and a whopping $250 million US for Iraqi reconstruction out of the total of $100 billion that is needed. Wow. Canada supports the UN's continued harassment and anti-Jewish posturing and refuses to aid Israel in defending itself allowing its 20 something airheads at various Universities and its elitist snot nosed press to publish and demonstrate against a democratic nation state that has turned a desert into a hive of economic and social activity. Canada does little to reform its porous immigration and security systems threatening its neighbour. There are many Good things about Canada - but foreign policy is not one of them. Chretien has destroyed the most vital relationship we have. He is a disgrace. His mealy mouthed anti-war position has now brought Canada its justified return. >>No monies for Cdn firms in Iraqi reconstruction. The Aussies, Brits, Poles, Ukrainians [for god's sake the Ukraine !?!?!?!?!?] and Spain are the preferred allies of choice. Canada chose France - and chose poorly.

Good man to read it I meant to post it on another site, but since Canada is officially bilingual ..... people should practice leur francais. You are right about the posting - i was reading the Quebecois news reports on the pressures being put on Charest to 'guarantee' education and health funding. I was watching RDI where the host [10 pm] who has some brains was arguing with a socialist that given Quebec's lower output per person, and lower productivity that Charest HAD to enact far changing reforms and that the Quebec model had failed. Two interesting points from the RDI program: 1. Quebec per capita GDP is at C$ 30.400 or so, vs. $37.000+ in Ontario. 2. Quebec's standard of living is 15 %+ lower than Ontario's which is 25 % + lower than the US'. With only 2 have provinces what does this tell us about the 'Canadian Model' ?? Even in Quebec as expectations rise and returns diminish there is now debate - instigated by Charest god bless him - on fundamental reforms. Where else in Canada is there a leader who recognises that change is necessary ? Even the IMF [i am no fan of that club] stated in a release yesterday that Canada must reform its health system and allow private care [like in every other country including the EU nations]. Plus ca change, plus ca reste le meme......

En quebec en ontario personne n'ecoute rien sur les deux grand themes d'economie: restructurations civile/publique et productivite. En fait en Quebec les pressions des syndicats et le media exige Jean Charest a commettre en loi les garanties investissements pour l'education. Malheuresement, en Ontario nous avons Howdy Doody - assez dit. C'est evident que des restructurations majeures de l'économie canadienne qui ont suivi la mise en oeuvre de l'accord de libre-échange entre le Canada et les États-Unis, etaient le seul raison qui empeche un declin dans le niveau de vie en Canada. La productivite en Canada tombe en comparaison avec les autres pays. En Australie, la productivité du travail a augmenté au taux annuel moyen de 2,5 pour cent au cours de ces cinq années, comparativement à seulement 1,5 pour cent au Canada. En les Etats Unis - nous avons deja vu un taux plus de 9 % - en moyenne les americains ont un taux entre 3-5 % par an. Malgré le retard du Canada à ce chapitre, l'augmentation du niveau de vie a été similaire à celle de l'Australie, car le Canada a retiré relativement plus de temps de travail par habitant. Ca veut dire - plus des heures pour le meme resultat. Les restructurations sont necessaire - mais ou en Canada peut-on trouver quelqu'un qui croit ca ?

Verc, good point, and i can add that the Bible itself has adapted to changing circumstance. To state that it is the book of truth strikes me as the height of ignorance. The fact that species adapt to nature and competition obviates the need for a guiding intelligence. To state that the harmony witnessed in nature is dependent on some god like figure, is to make the same claim taht market supply and demand should depend on god like bureaucrats who can determine and manage supply and demand and market pricing. Christianity itself has evolved. The stories, the parables, the sayings and the purpose of the religion has changed over time due to socio-economic and political circumstance. Christ is no more a real figure than is Moses or other figures from the Bible which is itself an oftentimes incoherent and contradictory collection of stories written by many hands. This is not to belittle the Christian faith [far from it], but one needs to dissociate the underlying themes from God, a mythical man called Jesus and supernaturalia. Gods persist for most people to simplify life and explain phenomena that they either can't or don't want to understand. Gods are a useful means to subjugate people into society - 'do this or be damned'. It works for agrarian, ill educated and superstitious, and predominantly poor societies. Religion does itself no favors in a world of science, communications and capital, by adhering to road maps and God centric philosophies built for backwards civilisations 2000 years old. For religion as for species - adapt or die.