Moonlight Graham

That 1.2 billion doesn't necessarily mean 1.2 in profit or revenue for Suncor, it says in partnership with the Syrian gov. Also, according to wikipedia, Suncor "specializes in production of synthetic crude from oil sands" as well as doing other things like offshore drilling. It owns Sunoco/Petro-Canada gas stations. Also, "Suncor ranks number 159 in the Forbes Global 2000 list". In 2009, revenue was 26 billion, and assets 66 billion. Point: if they lose all Syrian business they almost certainly won't go bankrupt, though some loss of jobs would likely occur. Even if you'd be right, Baird is still lying.

Suncor, a Calgary-based Canadian oil/energy company, has been spared from recent Canadian sanctions against Syria by the Harper gov. Baird explains why: Does he expect anyone to really believe that for one second? It must take some kind of person to lie as politicians do, I wonder how these people actually do so day-in, day-out and live with themselves. Looks like Suncor has friends in high places.

But you can't just act on what political leaders say. Hitler is one case. How many bazillion times have politicians said one thing and done another? They are professional liars. Ahmadinejad could very well be making these comments for domestic political gains as much as anything. We don't know. Iran's threats should not be taken lightly by any means, nor should we blow them out of proportion (which has been done bigtime) and overreact.

Iranian leadership clearly doesn't like Israel. In fact, i'm sure they do wish they could blow them away with a nuke. But is this wishful rhetoric or a sign of intent? Iran still hasn't specifically threatened them with nukes, as you claimed. Also, even if they did threaten them it is much different to actually go through with it, considering much of Iran would be destroyed via nuke retaliations from Israel. Do the Ayatollah's and Ahmadinejad want to go down as the ones who destroyed Israel, while at the same time being the worst Iranian leaders ever (given that they would be all but destroyed in retaliation)?

I know some idiots with PhDs haha

Again, show me where Iran has said, as you claim, "that should they receive nukes, they would at first opportunity destroy Israel." This is a bold and precise statement of yours, and it is false.

I'd also like to see some kind of link showing where this occurred. It looks the you've been the victim of Western propaganda.

Ditto. Me thinks the NDP are raising this because they would most benefit from it. Not like it would even matter much. 18-24 y/o Canadians vote in such miniscule numbers already.

Couldn't have put it better Shwa.

Here's the intro of an article in The Globe And Mail from Lawrence Martin, which expressed my sentiments well: Military triumphs are now part of this new nationalism the Harper gov is trying to push. There is a lot to be proud of about Canada, but I don't think military power/equipment/operations should be what is overtly used by the state to increase Canadian nationalism. There's a lot of things to like and want to emulate about the U.S., but their level of nationalistic glorification of war isn't one of them. It's an excellent military recruitment tool though...

Hey Canada, enjoy your increasingly militarized state. It's going to be a long 5 years.

Who thought that would happen??? They are just becoming less inclusive and doing the wackjob things they always wanted to do because they don't have to worry about Commons votes or the possibility of an upcoming election. It's too bad, for every good thing they do they do another that's completely nuts. And you're right, Canada would have turned into a joke had Harper had a majority at the time of Bush's reign. We would have been head-first into Iraq. Oh, the glorious new military power of Canada!

Looks like they're enemies.

Italian & other some other European oil companies benefit most, but Italy's supply is the world's supply. Canada may or may not use Libya's oil directly, but access to more oil drives the price down for everyone. That said, oil wasn't the only reason Canada went in. They are a part of NATO, and Harper gets boners when he gets to drop bombs.

Who's the wacko?

Deranged? It's still in the midst of a massive and historic democratic uprising. I would say it is progressing, but real social progress is rarely ever a smooth or quick process.

The whole point is moot because how can anyone tell if Jean Chretien ever lied or not if nobody can understand a damned word that comes out of his mouth. It's just "aahb baa dee blah boo deh!..." etc.

great point.

I think it was both in Canada's case, but ya getting noticed was a key part of it for sure. For NATO, it certainly was about oil and regional interests. Harper is an odd duck for trying to get Canada noticed with military power, yet completely lampoons our bid to get on the UN security council.

Read that article before, great link.

I'm some many saw this yesterday: Harper pays tribute to 'great military success' in Libya from cbc's article on it: It's one thing to honour soldiers, which is fine. It's quite another thing to celebrate a military "victory" (might want to wait 10 years to declare victory, but that's another story) while having the audacity to outright lie (repeatedly) to Canadians about why we went in there. Defending human rights and democracy and preventing "genocide" was not even close to the primary reason Canada, nor just about every NATO country for that matter, went in there. It was about oil and regional power interests and people not brainwashed by this propaganda know this. Look at NATO just rushing into places like Syria, or Rwanda, Darfur, and the DRC for that matter. Are these lies of reasons of going to war much different than what Bush & co. did with Iraq? Should our government not be honest with Canadians as to why we go to war? The Harper gov also used its favorite military props for the celebration, having some jets do a flyover on Parliament Hill. I personally attended the Remembrance Day ceremonies on the Hill a couple of weeks ago and that too featured a flyover of jets and helicopters (& 21-gun salute). I guess the Harper gov got a kick out it, like a kid playing with his favorite toys. These things are not toys for 50 y/o kids to gawk over, they are killing machines used to kill other humans that unfortunately we must sometimes use to defend our country. I personally think yesterday was quite scary and ridiculous. A clear show of government political and military propaganda. I also think the Harper gov should be called to task for their war lies, put in front of a committee or something at least.

Waiting for what? When did the Cnd gov "lie"? Did the Canadian gov or military commit war crimes in Iraq? Did the Canadian gov or military order or fire one bullet/bomb/missile/torpedo in the war? So i'll just keep on criticizing Bush & Blair & co.

Also a very different situation.

I never said i was unaware of it. I know there are some private Canadian contractors in Iraq. I know there is Canadian equipment sold to US that's used in Iraq. I know there is war profiteering going on. I'm just an not an expert on all the details. A lot of what he says I just mentioned. Ships stationed in the Gulf, a few dozen Canadian military personnel on exchange missions used in the war. Yes they should have refused their participation. A few other methods of indirect aid he mentions, a couple of them ridiculous like freeing up US soldiers by participating in Afghanistan.

Comment about what? I don't know hardly anything about the contractor situation in Iraq. If you have some good articles on Canadian and US contractors, i'll read em. Fine, but to my knowledge the Canadian gov hasn't been involved in any war crimes during in Iraq since 2003.