jdobbin

I think that it definitely started out as an insurgency. I also think that many Iraqis voted enthusiastically. But there were a lot of people in that country who also wanted to settle olf scores. A few recently retired generals have been saying this week that is the kettle blows off, it won't be a gradual withdrawal, it will be by the seat of your pants, everyone run like hell withdrawal. The big thing is that some people predicted these problems from the start but were shouted down in the hue and cry to go to war in Iraq.

Sounds like you are setting him up for a trick question. <heh>

It was only a matter of time before he started threatening violence. The personal threats are likely to come soon. Best to just let him blow off some steam and not respond.

Jerry, River and What, It is doubtful that you will get anywhere with the activists that you're talking to. You won't convince them and they won't convince you. All you'll likely do is provoke violence in their responses. It is probably best to ignore them because then they would have nothing to respond to.

Canada held opposing views to Israel over the Suez Canal. In fact, we went against the grain there and actually won a Nobel Peace prize for it. You don't have to oppose some Isreali policies and be labelled anti-Semitic.

I don't know that Quebec is anti-American. In some ways, the are more pro-American compared to other Canadians. Several polls seem to bear that out. It is an interesting contrast. And while Robert Lantos, Heather Reisman and David Asper have left the party to go with the Conservative particularly on the Israel issue, they are still more socially liberal and might rub against some of the Conservative brass.

What sort of influence do you want? And what sort of influence do you think Harper's present policy has with whom?

Canadian killed in Afghanstan in Accident http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/200...n-fatality.html

It is still too early to tell what direction the Liberals will take until the new leader is in place. If the gun registry is eliminated, the Liberals are unlikely to revive it. I think on gay marriage that it more an issue that will hurt Conservatives than Liberals. And as far as Afghanistan goes, I think what you are going to get from the Liberals is a promise to assess our worth there to the people and whether we are hurting their efforts or helping. If Reagan could leave Lebanon in the 1980s and survive, I think the Liberals could do the same with Afghanistan. There isn't anything that says we have to be there a decade or more.

Harper might broaden his majority in Alberta but it is Quebec where he needs to win seats. If he does offer them something, it is going to hurt him support in the west.

Whatever happens, it is likely not going to be as peaceful as some people seem to think it will be.

Martin didn't have to have an investigation. He went ahead anyway. Anyway, the next election will likely be focused on the issues now which are Afghanstan, gun registration, gay marriage, etc. Some of the Conservative stands on those issues are such that they will be hard to sell in places they need to win seats.

I think you're right about that. There a few experts on infrastructure in Alberta who say that the surpluses should be used for upgrading roads, hospitals and the like in the province rather than on Klein's second gift of cash to the citizens.

Even Bush has not condemned Lebanon itself. He warned Israel's government to not bring down the government there. The leader who might have been integeral to asserting Lebanon's authority in southern Lebanon was assassinated by the Syrians. Fortunately, in death, he brought about the withdrawal of the Syrians but that left Hezbollah to the south. Hezbollah should be condemned for provoking this.

Will they actually eclipse the North American economy? I don't what the stats on that are. I am more worried about rising U.S. debt levels being a problem.

Universities have been cancelling controversial speakers from a few places due to security problems on campus. I don't think it is has been anti-Muslim or anti-Jewish for the most part but then I'm not behind closed doors when these decisions are made. As far as showing what is happening in Israel, I don't have a stopwatch but CBC and CTV were both showing the rain of rockets falling on Israel. Canadians are split on what is going on because it seems that neither side will be in the right once this over if it is ever over.

It's true that the poll on election day is the one that count. However, even Harper's own caucus this weekend is getting flooded with people's emails, letters and calls. Canadians are split on this issue. Harper even felt compelled to acknowledge that split. He is probably hoping that a ceasefire will happen soon or it will continue to be a long hot summer.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/200...mideast-un.html France and the U.S. draft Israel/Hezbollah resolution. It doesn't appear to end the fighting anytime soon though.

I can't comment entirely on Ontario's healthcare system since there are variations in all provinces but I think we might see some more services like MRIs, CTs and other diagnostic tests that can be covered by private insurance. We might see more private surgical clinics but the surgeries will still be covered by the public plan. I think hospitals are more expensive to maintain that a clinic that say only does knee and hip replacements are done. I think we'll more 24 hour clinics set up at major hospitals to handle the emergency room overloads. I think basically they'll be walk-in clinics that handle cases that defitely shouldn't be clogging the E.R.s

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories Bernard Lord is having trouble holding onto his people. One more to go and he is in a minority and says he'll call an election. I don't know that I've heard the latest on what is happening in New Brunswick? What do you think his election prospects are?

There will certainly be many people fighting the next election on the previous Liberal government's time in office. There will be others who will look at Harper's overall performance. I still think the long term prospects of Afghanistan will play a part on how people vote this election. Unlike Bush and Blair, I don't think that Canadian will be as swayed on the "war on terrorism" argument. They will be looking at hard facts about how Canada is improving the situation in Afghainstan and our prospects for getting out.

Sorry about your troubles. I don't know any way cheaper than having a lawyer. Kind of ironic that you can win your case but lose all your money. Also, ironic that I know when driving in some areas near my house known for having lots of RCMP and other police, you can see lots of DirectTV satellte dishes.

It looks like the U.S. is as equally split on this as Canada. Latest poll results... http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/08/04/bush.poll/index.html

I was talking about councils in general. I think there are a lot of Aboriginal people who believe in the councils if elections are anything to guage it by. I have no idea about Six Nations although to an outsider, it looks like a lot of disagreement when you see a lot of firings and mixed messages from the leadersip.

Sorry, what exactly do you want Canada to do?