weaponeer

My bad that was a typo. I meant Iggy. I definitely agree that Rae is a leftie, but think he could be a good leader. Don't think he would be able to win. Far too much baggage to ovrcome. I don't think Rae could overcome Ontario. As for him as leader, that would confirm my previous point about the Libs big left turn towards the NDP. I actually met PM Harper a few weeks ago in Ottawa, I do like him. He comes across to me as the boss, in charge, a leader. I just don't see that in Dion or Rae. I am a soldier, so I like decisive, no BS leaders. I like Iggy as well, he seems to be more on the ball than the other two. We do need a change in Canada, enough with the French Libs, I would like to see a westerner, or maritimer run Canada. There is more to Canada that Quebec....

I have to admit I was a big GWB fan, but that has all changed. I like the USA, lived there for 4 awesome years. No different that Canada in most respects.....

Iggy is probably sticking around to see what the deal is with the coming election. If the Conservatives pull off a majority Dion is toast. The next leadership would be in 2008 at the latest. It would come down to Iggy vs. Rae. With Rae having the advantage as the party would probably see the need to swing to the centre. Rae, center, your kidding. Rae would go down in flames in Ontario (I hope). I doubt the folks there will forget him. I see Rae no different that Dion, nice guy I am sure, but comes across as a wimp. He looks and acts weak. I like Iggy, I think he would be a good PM. You can be Liberal and a strong leader, but I do not see that in either Dion or Rae. Just my humble opinion.....

Ah, empty bluster ... the sign of really subtle and clever diplomacy. not. The time for diplomacy with Iran is over. These fools have been the largest source of terrorism in the world. They should have been the target, not Iraq. I would give Iran exacally 12 hours (need time to position assets) to release all the sailors, if they are not released...... I would launch a sea and air attack aginst them the likes of which has never been seen. The time for dickless pussy footing is over. Iraq was never a threat, these twits were, and we are seeing it now. Thanks GWB....... I wouldn't launch an attack per se, I would have a very large portion of the British Navy anchored in Iranian ports. (this is where a WW2 battleship would especially come in handy, those big guns are intimidating) Let Iran fire the first shot... I understand your logic, however Iran has fired the first shots already. Hezbolah, Islamic Jihad, the Beruit bombings in 1983, Hijacking US airlines in the 1980's etc.... Iran invented terrorism some what. They are the main problem that nobody wants to deal with. Iraq, Saddam, he was under control. As for the battleship, those big guns would be no match for the Irainian Silkworm missiles. The Irainian Revolutionary Guard Navy also likes to use small boat swarming attacks, very difficut to defend against. Take out their gov't, cut off the head, the arms have no C2.........

http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=20132&sc=79 Good read.......

Ah, empty bluster ... the sign of really subtle and clever diplomacy. not. The time for diplomacy with Iran is over. These fools have been the largest source of terrorism in the world. They should have been the target, not Iraq. I would give Iran exacally 12 hours (need time to position assets) to release all the sailors, if they are not released...... I would launch a sea and air attack aginst them the likes of which has never been seen. The time for dickless pussy footing is over. Iraq was never a threat, these twits were, and we are seeing it now. Thanks GWB.......

Libs really blew it with Dion, they would have had a chance with Iggy I think. I may have taken a good hard look at him. I like Harper because he is a strong leader, Dion is not. I am sure Dion is a nice man, but he comes across to me as a wimp. He reminds me of the kid who would run home crying when he fell and scrapped his knee, instead of sticking around to keep playing. He is not the man I want to see runnin this or any country. Iggy is stronger, he would be a much better leader. The prob here is that the Libs have moved from the political center to the left, they are becoming the NDP. As well, we have had French Canadian Libs running this country long enough, it is someone elses turn. We need another perspective.....

Topaz, Are you drunk??? Canada is NOT under US command in Afghanistan, we are under NATO command, of which the US is a part. The commander of Canadian troops in Afghanistan right now is a Dutch general. So they torture some shithat who blows up kids, kills people for wanting to listen to music or play soccar. Who cares.......

As I stated before all Canada could contribute is moral support. Our army is stretched with Afghanistan, although it is slowly getting healtier, our air force is ill equipped to conduct airstrikes into Irainian IADS, and our navy has no land attack capability. The USA is the only country that can handle Iran, with some help from Britian if it wanted. The American Army is heavily tied down in Iraq & Afghanistan, however US Air Force and US Navy combat units are not heavily tasked at all. If the US launched an all out airstrike, they could reduce the nuke threat from Iran to zero, and reduce the Iraininan military to an "also ran".

The military has the responsibility to protect Canadians. The main threat these days is asymetrical. The enemy could be a conventional attack from Russians, China or Iran, it could be the Mosuqe in your neighbourhood, it could be radical indians or a Chistian right wing militia. The military has to adjust, that's all we are seeing here. There is nobody here trying to put down legitimate protests. Car bombs in Oshawa, suicide attacks in Saskatoon or indian "warriors" carrying out insurgent attacks are not legitimate protest.....

I agree, but you have to take out the nukes...

Get a new girl. Join up, you will love it. Most Canadians would if they had the first clue about what the military is, what we do, and so on. Fact is they have no idea about us, don't want to know. Scared of the unknown....

Iran is the world biggest terrorist supporter, perhaps it is about time they were dealt with. As for Canada in a war with Iran, not likely. We have nothing to contribute, and would only be in the way. The US & UK have the required equip to deal with them. If the US decided to attack Iran, and I hope they do, it will be very quick. They will not INVADE & occupy, they will send in an airstrike the likes this world has never seen. UAV strikes, cruise missile strikes, stealth bombers, sub launched missiles, perhaps even a few conventional armed ICBMs from the Montana prairie. Iran has to be dealt sooner or later. Should be sooner.....

Who exactly do you mean by "we"? If you are asking for a government subsidy, the answer is NO. We, I mean western countries/companies. GM, Ford etc...... Why can't they build better SUV's, all the enviro requirnments, plus the power and fun. SUVs are not the prob, just make them better. As for subsidy, no way, they should sell themselves.

There is a lot of ignorance about the Canadian military out there. Fortunately, there is also a lot pride in what they do. I don't know that O'Connor has corrected the problem yet. He will be judged on how well he handles the situation now that he has seen it first hand. Hope you are doing well, W. Doing very well thanks.. Been away doing some training, leaving next month. Looking forward to it. There is A LOT of ignorance about the CF and Afghanistan. My whole point is, I do not think as many people watch the news as we all think. I could be wrong, but for what I have seen and heard, I does apear to be the case.....

The U.S. military thought that no one cared how the U.S. treated prisoners. They were wrong about the feeling back home. The Canadian military does great work apprehending suspected Taliban. O'Connor rightfully said that Canada had to know where the suspects were being kept and what their treatment was. One of the main reasons for this is because it is important to know where people who represent potential hard to Canadian soldiers are at all times. O'Connor was incorrect on his knowledge of where prisoners were and how they are being treated. Unlike other NATO nations, he doesn't seem have any system in place to check. I do not think the average American cared until they did stupid things as in Abu Grav (not sure how to spell it) prison. I think we over estimate how much people really care. The average Johnny six pack out there does not even know we are in Afghanistan. There are people here in North Bay that don't even know there's a base here. That's what truley scares me. We do treat prisoners well, much better that they would treat one of ours. The good thing here is a deficency was discovered and corrected. Nice to hear form you again jdob....

Here's an idea... Instead of banning and taxing SUVs, why don't we build a better SUV. Why can't we build a Chev Trailblazer, Ford Excursion, Hummer that can tow 8000 ilb, has 300 hp, has torque and power but gets 1500 km's to a tank. Why can't we build a Corvette, Ford Mustang, BMW 700 series that can go fast, is fun to drive, yet gets 2000 kms a tank. We build ships that do not have to be refuelled for 15 years, battery powered submarines can stay underwater for weeks. Why can't we build these vehicles. SUV's are great, why can't we build better ones.

Yes. Actually I would have to say a resounding NO jdob. Sorry, but most folks I have talked too don't even know we are in Afghanistan, let along care about Canadian troops or Afghan prisoners. I do not think average people, soccer moms or hockey dads care about Tony Taliban. It is not on there list of concerns. We catch them, we hand them over, those are the rules. In WW2 we caught French or Dutch colaborator we handed them over. It's up to the Afghan Gov't to handle them. We cannot impose our will on the Gov't, we are there to help them, not scold them about how to run a country. We can however, make suggestions as to what they should do, but ultimatley it is up to the Afghan Gov't. remember here, they are still learning too.

http://www.canadaka.net/link.php?id=19889 Link....

Gutless little SOB. Had to sneak up behind, real brave. Should send the little SOBs to Afghanistan, see how tough they really are...

A Canadian Recruit did NOT shot the recent casualty, as there are NO recruits over there, just trained soldiers. Accidents happen, that's the nature of our business. It is a dangerous business....

Hero beaten Andrew Seymour, The Ottawa Citizen Published: Monday, March 12, 2007 A Canadian soldier awarded a Medal of Military Valour for braving enemy fire in Afghanistan is angry after he says was jumped from behind and taunted by four men who beat him up in a Morrisburg bar on the weekend. Master Cpl. Collin Fitzgerald, who was awarded a Medal of Valour for heroic actions in Afghanistan by Governor-General Michalle Jean on Feb. 19, had his foot broken in three places and needed 10 stitches to close a cut above his right eye. The 27-year-old soldier also suffered a broken nose and two black eyes in the attack, which occurred after midnight Saturday morning. Master Cpl. Fitzgerald said Monday he had only been in the bar about 20 minutes when he was struck from behind. "I don't even remember getting hit," he said. "I went and sat down at one of the tables, and next thing I knew I woke up and a hole in my head and I couldn't walk on my foot," said Master Cpl. Fitzgerald, adding that witnesses told him one of the men said, 'What kind of f--king hero are you now?' as they were being pulled off of him. "I was just covered in blood. I didn't know what happened to me," he said. Prior to the assault, Master Cpl. Fitzgerald said he had been at the bar visiting with his fiance's brother Shawn Hitsman and some other childhood friends when he moved to the table. After coming to, Master Cpl. Fitzgerald said Mr. Hitsman and another friend, Bobby Paradis, helped him up and drove him to the hospital. OPP Const. Paul Murphy said a 21-year-old Morrisburg man has been charged with aggravated assault. The man has since been released from custody on a promise to appear in court. Since he has yet to appear in court, his name was not released, police said. Const. Murphy said more charges are expected to be laid against the 21-year-old. Police also expect to lay charges against several other suspects, he said. After serving eight months in Afghanistan, Master Cpl. Fitzgerald said, "not in a million years" did he expect to be jumped in a Morrisburg bar. He also never expected to be shown such disrespect. "Ignorance is bliss. They obviously have no idea or any clue what the hell is going on over there," he said. "We weren't just sitting in a camp. We're getting shot at. People are dying. Buddies of mine I've seen get blown up. They really don't have any clue, and they don't know how lucky they have it here in Canada." Master Cpl. Fitzgerald's mother, Arlene Fitzgerald, said the attack has left her shaken and upset. "He came home in one piece from Afghanistan, and he gets beaten up like this in his own home town," she said. "He just came back from hell." Master Cpl. Fitzgerald, who is a weapons instructor at CFB Trenton, was one of the first recipients of the Canadian Medal of Military Valour. According to the Canadian Forces, Master Cpl. Fitzgerald was recognized "for outstanding selfless and valiant actions" carried out on May 24, 2006, during an ongoing enemy ambush "involving intense, accurate enemy fire." Master Cpl. Fitzgerald "repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire by entering and re-entering a burning platoon vehicle and successfully driving it off the roadway, permitting the remaining vehicles trapped in the enemy zone to break free." According to the military, Master Cpl. Fitzgerald's "courageous and completely selfless actions were instrumental to his platoon's successful egress and undoubtedly contributed to saving the lives of his fellow platoon members." © The Ottawa Citizen 2007

Interseting way too look at things, I like it. thank you. Anyhow, time for bed, good night all......

I am not sure where I fit in, I believe in a strong military, a very tough criminal justice system, abolish welfare for healthy able bodied people & close ties with the USA. However I am not against abortion, don't encourage it, believe in stem cell research, good education, top notch medical care, gay marriage really doesn't bother me and we need to fix the enviornment. I have no idea where I fit in te spectrum.... http://www.politicalcompass.org/ Well I took the tests, turns out I am a Liberal:) On the middle line, slightly left of center.. You learn something every day.... Not quiet Stalin, not quiet Ghandi:).....

http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/newsroom/...cat=114&id=2494 Here's a good link to a "human" story about a Canadian coming home...