overthere

It seems very clear that you are a firm believer that might is right. Fair enough. In regard to the OP question, you're a solid 'no'. You don't think Israel has any right to exist, and if it should happen they were exterminated it would be fair play given their record as you see it. But isn't that just part of the natural order of things in your world? As you say "They exist because they did things to make sure they keep existing.". So if a states existence depends on 'doing things', you must support Israels perception of a threat and their reaction to that threat? Your posts read like a madndatory, forced march to mutual destruction.

several events led to the blowup in 1979, and the 73 coup was certainly part of it. And without question the Soviets were integral. But until 78 and particularly 1979 Afghanistan was a relatively calm backwater with little violence. eta: oh, and very poor countries like Afghainstan barely notice a coup, it has little impact on their daily lives. The power elites are small and often the death count is low whern they toss power around. Outrage is an expensive Western emotion, the extremely poor cannot afford it. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. That changed with the advent of the Taliban of course. Perhaps you could list them so we can better assess them. Take your time. I'm quite certain he does not have "8 years and counting experience as Prime Minister of a large economy " on his resume, but feel free to correct me.

You're wrong and hitops is correct. The politicial careers of both men is over, period. The truth of what happened is not relevant. That is the way it works. There are several here and many more elsewhere who already think at least one of these guys is a violent rapist. There is nothing he or anybody can do to change that perception. Even if the woman said she was wrong and recanted, many would still believe he is a violent rapist.

I did not say their identity is up for grabs. I don't care what they call themselves. And I don't accept your premise that " Israel have a right to exist as a Jewish state". The 'Jewish State" is a red herring and a favorite strawman of the haters. Israel and anyody else can call themselves what they wish, why would anybody care? Your adjective is entirely secondary to the real question. Your assortment of states are also welcome to naming themselves, and also subject to the same question of legitimacy as is Israel. That is for another thread, innit?

So you favour the Arab street on this question, that if neighbouring states can muster enough firepower, Israel should be exterminated? Would you then apply your same logic to the existence of the neighbours? If Israel could exterminate Syria, Jordan, Gaza etc they would be in the right because they can do it?

So Israel would not have a right to exist as a not-specifically-any-religion state?

No, it does not matter to any of those groups what Israel calls itself. They'd hate it and continue to try to destroy it under any name.

Which in political terms means a complete failure by Wildrose. They lost -and lost badly- an election that was theirs to win. They have not moved to the center, which they had to do to gain seats. Smith has gamely tried everyhting to do that, and has failed. I think the moderates in Wildrose have left her, and what remains are the hard right and the church groups. They are not at all close to expanding their seat count if that is all they can bring. They lost all four bye-elections and have had defections of MLAS. Worst of all they have lost a perfect whipping boy with the departure of Redford. Her replacement has been formidable. Prentice just pulled back the gay-straight alliance bill. he recognizes now that there was no need to moderate the bill, and I expect it back looking a lot like the private members bill that Blakeman promoted. That won't cost any votes and will help him keep a bunch of the disaffected Liberals that Redford nabbed last time. Wildrose will struggle to keep their remaining seats. The Liberals have five and will have trouble keeping those. The NDP will gain seats. And the PCs should get a huge majority. Meanwhile, Jim Prentice is bilingual and a PC. His hair is not nearly to national standards.

Oh, but it does matter. The 'Jewish State' is not material, but recognition of Israels right to exist at all is central. Egypt and Jordan have done that. The 'State of Palestine' has in theory, in practice they are owned by Hamas who wish to Kill Them All. Syria and Lebanon of course do not recognize the right to exist, nor do nearly all the Muslim nations on the planet.

We had a major blizzard a week ago. I saw many trucks struggling in the conditions. I wonder how a self driving rig would manage?. Actually, I don't wonder- it would be a forty tonne bomb. Loads of demand for truck drivers here.

Supplies from accessible and known reserves are actually about 90 years, and your comment presumes that there is no other uranium in existence. When there is an adequate supply, and 90 years is certainly that, exploration slows down. If demand jumps or supply dwindles, they will find more, since uranium is actually a fairly common mineral. What happens is that exploration and exploitation will follow demand, as we have just seen happen with tight gas supplies. Nuclear has and will be slow to expand in the near future because it is capital-intensive. Coal and gas are much cheaper and fuel is plentiful. When that changes.....nuclear will fill the gap unless somehting cheaper comes along.

I confess that getting other peoples money is something of a priority to me too. I rationalize it by thinking that, unlike socialist, I give something in return.

The most important thing will be the quality of the photos taken of Trudeau for ad campaigns, posters and press releases.

You're wrong about govts employing temps being recent, that has been an issue for decades. It has little to do with our times though, and a lot to do with the arcane rituals and ridiculous timeframes of hiring anybody for the public service. Perhaps it is your generation that is surprised about structural changes to employment practices, but it is scarcely recent news. The era of highly paid, limited skilled jobs-for-life is long gone. Making $80k per year + benefits + fat pension for bolting things together on an assembly line are over. It will never happen again anywhere. Adapt or not, it is up to each of us to provide for ourself and family. We can mope and weep for an era that our fathers enjoyed, but it is a totally unsustainable business model. It is a bit astonishing that the millenials fail to recognize this while pursuing worthless degrees. I have no intention of weeping with or for them, I'm too busy earning a living.

Thank you. I think the question is valid, if only because the answer will determine if there is ever to be any chance for peace in the region.

Well, notwithsatnding the gibberish about islands and provinces, I'm putting you down as a 'yes'.

Dave Suzuki lost me for good when I heard him on CBC a couple years ago. He was on one of those 15 cities-in-10-days tours, promoting his latest book via jetting around the country in business class and appearing on CBC radio and TV at taxpayer expense. Was his book an environmental critique? An exposition of the evil corporations? Nope. It was his autobiography. More accurately, Volume Two of his autobio.

You missed my point. Truck drivers were just one example of the many full time, decently paid jobs available. My sympathy level is near zero for the supposedly intelligent grad who voluntarily wastes their time makings lattes when there are options. It hits zero when they blubber about it, as if it anything to do with anybody but themselves.

because in the post you made right before the one I quoted, you said: Did you forget you'd just written that? Or perhaps you were unaware that Israel is in a region called the Middle East. In that region, there is one democracy, and it is is pretty much surrounded by people who wish the people in Israel to be dead and gone. So you can recast your vote, since I guess you missed the intent of the question. Yes, or no? Let's not worry about what Israels neighbours want or think, what do you think? I'm asking you about Israel. Feel free to start a thread about America. Yes or no?

You'd have to speak to the OP about vapid generalizations about millenials, it's her topic. No, truck driving will not be automated in 10 years, Mr Jetson. And why would you oppose a millenial grad eaving the part time work at Starbucks, which is the scenario proposed in the OP, when there is an immediate job for good bucks available right now? Or is it the requirement to give up the real career, which is being a whiny urban hipster living in the parents basement?

I don't see that here. LOans and grants are readily available for students from low income families for post secondary education. The same funds are not found for people who wish to enter the trades, or for young entrepreneurs

<20% of Alberta GDP comes from resource extraction. There are still many jobs here. And elsewhere, if a person if willing to work. Part of the problem with millenials is that jobs that require sweat or getting your hands dirty, at any pay level, are not of interest. You can easily earn $70k driving a big truck. There is a shortage of drivers now, and it will get much worse. However, that anthropology degree will not command the respect you imagined it would when you were partying your way through four years at university.

Alberta, Saskatchewan, BC all have jobs for the motivated. Where did you get the idea that Alberta has suddenly shut down? Every generation faces work challenges, and the response is or should be the same: Help yourself. Society is not to blame for a poor career choice or an unwillingness to adapt.

I met Mr. Beliveau once. He opened a new community arena, cut the ribbon with the mayor in a small northern town. He came as advertised: a class act from start to finish. RIP.

They also are closing their nuclear plants, while at the same time importing electricity on the Euro grid from ...nuclear sources.