Sir Bandelot

I don't see it that way. Cheney is not a soft target, though certainly pudgy. But more to the point, the big boys have no problem doing business with countries that have strong human rights violations, and when leaders go to visit places like China the words "human rights" scarcely depart from their lips. They wouldn't want such criticism to sour a good business deal. Hypocrisy is, when our leader points to one country and condemns them or even justifies invasion because of their record of human rights violations, and then does business with another that is even worse. And China is perhaps the worst in terms of number of State ordered executions, in the rights of workers, in environmental regulations and pollution. That does not prevent Harper et al from genuflecting in front of their leaders.

Well there can be social conservatives. Jesus would certainly not be a Liberal, after all...

That's a good question, as one of these pirate groups calls themselves the "Somali Volunteer Coast Guard". A good reason to show some restraint, I think. But it does not justify demanding for/ paying huge ransoms, whether that be by a company or a government. Odd that some would think company payouts are more acceptable than when done by governments. Not singling out anyone here specifically, but these ransom payouts by companies don't make for a big debate in the news. Why is it ok for a company that has vested self interest and the capital available to rescue their cargo and crew, but for a private citizen that doesn't have that kind of backing, we feel it's not ok to pay their ransom, and risk letting them be killed? But it's ok for a private person to pay the ultimate price (death), for the sake of counter-piracy ideology? In some cases, there are companies being created to help come up with the money to pay for individual hostages. They do it by fund raising. They may even get government assistance. When hostages are freed using these methods, government officials praise it as a great achievement, as in the case of two UK hostages. Apparently it's ok for someone else to pay.

Germany accused of paying large ransom to free hostages Release of French journalists Huge ransom ‘paid to Taliban in Pakistan’ Ransom paid as Somali pirates free Spanish trawler South Korean hostage crisis in Afghanistan Italy 'paid $1m to free hostages' There's more, such as from Australia, Austria and Great Britain, but there are many denials. There are other methods of paying these ransoms indirectly, by proxy such as asking another country to pay the ransom in exchange for deals on business and aid.

I don't think there is a big difference in terms of the outcome, encouraging piracy and kidnapping. I would think that governments would be somewhat involved in any case when a company pays a ransom of 7 million dollars to pirates. If that creates a threat to security, pirates using money to arm themselves with high-tech equipment, governments should still be concerned about that.

If you say so. As I posted, some reports indicate that vessels dumped toxic waste into important fishing areas. Other reports show illegal fishing by foreign ships.

Many other allies have also paid such ransoms. Germany, Australia, Italy, the UK. In some cases it is paid by governments, in others by private companies. Such as happened with US owned ship 'MV Panama', 7 million dollar US ransom paid. There has to be a better solution than paying the ransom, but until then, if it's not paid, people could be killed. If a task force tries to rescue them, people might be killed too, including hostages and members of the task force. So the question remains, do they take the chance that people will die, or pay the money. My opinion is, pay the money to free the hostages, THEN once lives are not at stake send in a task force, or provide some other substantial security option. They may have some legitimate claims about certain vessels passing through their territorial waters. If they are being short-changed for what would normally be considered legitimate claim for a toll, that should be addressed. Just because there is no central government shouldn't justify a free ride for shipping and fishing vessels passing through of making money off of Somalian waters.

Thanks, but I'll stick with what I've already got. I prefer to make a living with the production of my own two hands and brain. Money changers, be damned...

Yes, these sunshiny stories must mean it's good news for investors in the economy. Double-plus good

Can we watch?

Ok, I guess that makes you feel all good about it then.

That's right, just needs a few predator drones, flown by those courageous heroes sitting in the pentagon. "LOL"

This year, 26 mothers from B.C. have been sent to three hospitals in Washington State. In Ontario, 10 women with high-risk pregnancies were transferred to U.S. hospitals from April to the end of June, according to Kris Bailey, executive director of CritiCall, an emergency-referral service for physicians in that province. That is one patient more than the entire number Ontario transferred to the United States in fiscal 2006-07. In Alberta, four pregnant women were transferred to Montana this year. Canadians sent to U.S. for neonatal care Any idea how many neonatal patients get treated in a year in BC, Ontario and Alberta? London Health Sciences Centre in London, ON alone does 2600 births per year. And London is a small city in Ontario with a population of about 400,000 people. The London Health Sciences Centre, only one of many located in small cities across Canada, recently opened a new Neonatal care facility, replacing the existing one that operated at another nearby hospital. The press release announcing its opening is posted here: Transfer of perinatal and NICU services in London is complete Just showing a sample of some numbers regarding patient loads, transfers, and the kind of facilities that are in place in Canada.

Ok. Just checked on it, and it has to do with making it a convenient twitter/ facebook share. Presumebly this is the link you get if you click on 'Share this' on Youtube. So you're right, and this software doesn't 'get' it. Better to just copy/paste the real URL from the navigation bar of your browser.

Reductio ad Nazium. Now 19 terrorists equates to the same threat as the whole nazi apparatus, and communism.

There is a mistake in the hyperlink. it shows "youtu.be" It could be that if the hyperlink is invalid, it won't show it as media. When I hit "Reply" to your post, the quote shows the media tags are still there. But the link is bad.

So what. Some Americans come here to buy their prescription meds because they're cheaper. At least they did, until their government shut that down by making it illegal, and saying that Canadian meds are not of the same quality standards. Just complete lies. It's the same companies and technology, and conforms to the same level of quality set by international standards. But since American big pahrma wasn't getting their cut, the government steps in. I don't think Canada would ever bother. The statistical evidence shows that the number of Canadians using the US system is small. About 0.25% of people who use the health care system. Yeah, it's a sure sign that we're falling apart.

Totally corrupt. Good luck with that. Hey man, who made you the in charge of the world? Let these people reform their own society, if they want. I'm not against taking the fight to them if they do things that threaten us. So clean that up, and move on. The whole nation building idea is just a farce, proven to fail, proven to be a money sucking black hole for corrupt elements that want to take the billions pouring in, including our own people. Contractors and the like. Let these people help each other. What you think places like Saudi Arabia can't afford to help them? But they don't. Why, because they're just as corrupt, and even worse in their laws and observance of human rights. So let's see you try and go clean that up, if you want to be the world savior.

As stated in his post, "While most major causes of preventable death are declining, drugs are an exception. The death toll has doubled in the last decade..."

They're entitled to compensation and they're entitled to go to court if they don't like the compensation, or to a government appointed arbitrator. But they're not entitled to say no. We own nothing

I kinda doubt he really has presidential aspirations. If he does, he'll never get anywhere with the party he's in. Or the other party for that matter. He's too radical a departure from the direction both parties are moving in, that is, militarization and corporatization. Amongst other izations. Ron Paul is the fly in your cornflakes.

Emminent Domain also dictates that the government can decide if they want to take your land for their own purposes. You cannot refuse.

I heard he can dance good though.

Ouch!

I dunno about you boys, but "Tania" was looking pretty hot in that promo poster. I wanna join her club...