Durgan

How does the above quote/metaphor connect with Canada in any way considering the current crisis? 'Arms economy'? What arms economy? 'Psychosis of war hysteria'? The way I see it the "psychosis of war hysteria" or the "propaganda of fear" isn't coming from people who support the mission. Quite the opposite.. Really? We must be reading different material. Durgan.

It is a pretty sad state of affairs when status of a country is determined by the size of its military. All the money spend to the military is money that could be used for useful purposes. Military spending is a bottomless pit, and those that attempt to fill it are wrong-headed and creates misery for its citizens. No nation ever had an army large enough to guarantee it against attack in time of peace or insure it victory in time of war. - President Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933) May I remind the readers that NATO was the organization that was supposed to take on the Russian Juggernaut for about 40 years. If a few Taliban has NATO at a standstill in little Afghanistan, it is a dammed good thing the Russians didn't attack, or we would all be learning their funny alphabet by now. If the US unilaterally withdrew from the conflict in Afghanistan, the NATO Groups left would be mince-meat in short order. The US air umbrella protecst NATO's ass. I suggest this is a NATO mission on paper only, and countries of the much touted NATO alliance has no stomach for this mission. If you doubt this look up the numbers. The leitmotif of this being a NATO sponsored mission is used to add some mysterious legitimacy to this mission. Our country is now geared to an arms economy, bred in an artifically induced psychosis of war hysteria, and an incessant propaganda of fear. General Douglas MacArthur 1952 I suggest Harper and many other unthinking Canadian's are falling into the actions of the above quote. Lets hope this psychosis due to unrelenting propaganda doesn't encompass Canada. Afghanistan is the wrong war in the wrong place and the wrong motive, whatever that is. Durgan.

Revenge? Well, if you say so. As for talk - well, there is light banter in the back room perhaps. Talk will potentially occur - but in the end talk will return to bullets and bombs. Islamics do not negotiate in good faith. Their victim society mentality and their drive to convert all or kill them has pre-determined our fateunless we stand strong. Remember - they are taiught from birth - There is no sin in taking a non-believer and using this person as one would a cow - then killing that non-believer. The thing is - this is what will bring the west down. Western civilizations cannot understand the fact that we are non-believers and thought of as nothing more than cockroaches. Western societies actually believe there is a chance for peace through negotiation. Kill them there or kill them here. In the end if we do not do it there we will have to do it here. Those who have prescribed to the Liberal social re-engineering of this country will lead the way to our downfall. Borg Ridiculous babble. Non-sensical and stupid. Has the ridiculous bent of the radical Muslims. Better delivered in Al Jazeera than in a Western medium. Amost the rambling of a deranged mind. The Taliban did not attack on 9/11. They harboured Ben Laden and would not turn him over. The US justifiably attacked and destroyed them, and most of the built up country, that which was left standing by the Russian assault. It was an act of revenge and punishment. The British, when they ruled the world, used to call this sort of action a punitive expedition. That said and done: The Taliban finances are fueled by the upper middle class in Europe plus other places, who have an insatiable appetite for illegal drugs . It takes money to fight. Where do you think it comes from? Ninety percent of the abundant opium crop is sold in Western Europe. I suggest we buy the 4200 tons and it will give aid to the local farmers and we can control the supply. Cost about $600 million. Cheap compared to our military cost in material and body bags. It is time to Exit, and offer and give aid, so the country can re-build under a regime of their choice. The Afghan Army is 35,000 strong now. It is time they took over the security of the country. It is now their war and their country. Durgan.

I suggest the West and the US in particular has waved the big stick and has got revenge for 9/11. It is time to start talking, which will have to be started sooner or later. All that will happen unless talks are started is the circle of war will get larger. There are rumbling against Pakistan about hot pursuit, and lack of will in Pakistan in stopping infiltration of fighters into Afghanistan. I suggest a breach with Pakistan is not in the West's interest. The incessant killing and destruction on both sides has to stop. Afganistan has been reduced to rubble for all intents an purposes. This war is now a war of atrtrition, and the numbers are on the side of insurgents, Taliban, Afghans, Pakistan sympathizers, Jihad fighters,or whatever name one wishes to give them. Durgan.

In all Muslim countries, I believe. What we're doing there is trying to stablize the place so that it doesn't fall into the hands of religious wackos again, and so it doesn't become a lawless place which can be the base for international terrorist training camps and bases, as it was before. It's in our own interest to be there. I suggest it was a engineered democratically elected government conveniently sympathetic to the West. Hamas in the Gaza Strip was a democratically elected government also, not particularly sympathetic to the West as food for thought. That our troops are propping a regime that executes its citizens for apostacy is simply not acceptable, amongst other reasons. I am suggesting it is the same church only a different pew. Many of the government's present members ascribe to the draconian religious views of the Talaban. Maybe the West's interests will be served in the short term, but little will change in Afghanistan. Socially engineering a country the size of Texas, 30 million people about he same as Canada, 50% illiterate, and deeply religious is simply not possible, even if it was desirable. Pakistan of 160 million people with many sympathetic to the Taliban cause makes the task of pacification by NATO problematic to say the least. Durgan.

I suggest this is a particularly damaging reason why the Commissioner, Giuliano Zaccardelli, should be removed. The previous commissioner of the RCMP gave a resounding defence of Giuliano Zaccardelli on the CBC, particularly emphasizing that Zaccardelli has about 60,000 members and trusted subordinates to do the right thing, and that he couldn't be supervising all. I suggest this is reasonable in normal circumstances. Clearly after Arar was released, Giuliano Zaccardelli must have been in the loop due to the possible ramifications of the event. This implies that he was complicit in the smear campaign. If he wasn't in the loop he certainly should have been. Therefore his removal by resignation or request is mandatory. It is a case of accountability. Durgan.

Sorry posted twice

The illegal drugs is about a five billion dollar industry. To chase these illegal drugs the governmnet is spending about seven billion dollars per year. The figures are subject ot correction, since there are many available and they do vary. Economics alone suggest this is a losing battle, and is similar to the NATO Mission in Afghanistan. Do we fight on or withdraw? I suggest we withdraw. Simply remove marajuana from the illegal list. Those who want it can partake. I cannot see how it can affect those who desist. The police could concentrate on other more important issues, like auto theft. Smoking in a public place could be subject to the current anti-smoking laws. Clearly our current marajuana laws don't work, so it is time for a change. A stupid person does the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. I am sure the same arguments, pro and con, presented on this thread are applicable to the consumption of alcohol. We as a society accept one, why not the other? I suggest the benefits of legalizing marajuana use far outweigh the downside. Personally, not partaking of alcohol or marajuana, I feel it should be a personal choice. It should be a non-issue. Durgan.

Oh hell yeah. Lets just use our imagination instead of reading and looking at the situation for what it is. Lets not deal with reality...oh no! Lets all just sit here and use our imagination to divine reality. Who needs facts and education when you've got your imagination? Lets just finger-paint us a solution to this instead. If we do we'll be back there in ten years or less killing more of them and us. . You are frothing at the mouth. Your babble is irrational. Stick to the subject matter. I am annoyed at the incessant killing of young men on both sides, and the misery of the bystanders caught in the middle, often with religion as a justification. Durgan.

Good point. He could have been anywhere. He may not have left North America. Before crooks drive you to their "meeting place", they usually put a hood over your head. You may be driven around the block endlessly to create the illusion that you are going far away. Surely you aren't serious. Arar was visited in prison in Syria by Canadian Foreign Affairs officials. Durgan.

The propaganda the last two days has been unrelenting 22 and 23 September 2006. Harper will separate support for the troops from support for the mission. He is pandering to the lowest denominator of the Canadian public. I suspect the CBC got the message also the Globe and Mail. Mansbridge, the bugle caller, automatically falls in line. Manbridge interviewed Kazai from a prepared list of questions prepared by the PMO. It is time this lap dog retired. I muse about who is going to get the CBC Chairman position. Goebbels is dead but Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, Iraqi Minister of Information (currently on administrative leave) is available. He was the Minister in charge of the Iraqi propaganda during the Bush Families second war in Iraq. I hope the appointment isn't a lap dog. Everyone in Canada supports the troops that is a given. Most people do not support the NATO Mission, in fact, most of NATO does not support this mission. The proof is the limited contribution of troops from NATO countries. It is sparce to say the least. Harper is leading Canadians down the garden path to disaster, fortunately he has a minority government and hopefully will fail soon. Durgan

[quote name='Argus' date='Sep 23 2006, In the first, I'm speaking about the need, in a democracy, for compromise. But the world is not a democracy of any kind. It's a free-for-all filled with violent, corrupt, illegitimate leaders and backward, medieval goat-herders, none of whom recognize anything but force. The Sauds know what they're doing. I don't think it would surprise anyone that the US and other western powers have made their displeasure at Saudi funding for religious extremism known. The Saudis continue to fund religious extremism. And that extremism is the basis for most Muslim terrorism and the increasing radicalism in the Muslim world. If Sadaam were a US tool, and he could be relied on to safeguard and continue oil shipments, then there really isn't any reason why the US shouldn't have allowed him to conquer the gulf, esp the Sauds. It's not like this would unleash a reign of terror on the people, for there is no freedom there to begin with, and torture is commonplace in Saudi prisons anyway. Niccolò di Bernado dei Machiavelli at his best. He couldn't have written it better. I suggest during the cold war the essence of the practice mentioned was used particularly in South Amrica. CIA sponsored dictators to achieve stability. I suggest the result is more misery, of which South America is slowly coming out of. The third world is awakening and going through growing pains, not unlike Britain's effort to achieve the level of Democracy they have today. It took 1000 years, and is an ongoing process. Rather than work on Afghanistan, we could be closer to home in South America. Afghanistan is no threat to Canada of which I am aware. The root of terrorism is the financing and arms. Trace the money to the source and you will find the true terorists. The Taliban at best are foot soldiers, not unlike our own troops in the area. Durgan.

[quote name='Higgly' date='Sep 23 2006, 12:41 PM' OK. So I think you are talking about Voodoo. Actually Voodoo is based in ritual and the interpretation of spirits. It descends from the animistic religions of Africa. The Moslem religion is based on principle and thought and descends from the monotheistic religions of the Middle East. No, I was talking about the Hudood bit, but feel it is about a non-sensical as Hoodoo, so chose the Hoodoo bit intentionally. Any law based on religion that has consequences as severe at the Hudood Ordinance should be ridiculed. That was my intent, but you missed it. So this is the clarification. This is the 21st century and it is time to move on and remove some of the misery in trhe world, often casued by religion. Durgan. Our New Prime Minister Durgan

Well all right then. Just what did you mean? And why do you have to put everything in a bigger font than everyone else? Are you having trouble with your eyesight? Shiah Law or Hoodoo Law is the same bullshit, why separate them. Actually they have the same practices in Haiti, but it is harmless except for the participients. Yep to you second question. Durgan