Afghanistan

[noahbody]

It seems Jack Layton is by far the most in tune, honest and aware politician in Ottawa.

Stop it, you're killing me.

[jbg]

Race baiting JBG?

Because it has been pointed out to you that your broad brushing of all Arabs is a non-starter. Israel has all kinds of treaties with Arab nations.

Those treaties are a good start, and show that where Israel is recognized, Israel honors its obligations. To respond to another post elsewhere (link), Lebanon's harboring of Arafat's group definitely qualified it for attack. Israel did not have to wait for a bloodbath of their choosing.

The reality is Palestine, and they had not a thing to do with 911. Nor did Afghanistan or Iraq.

Who did, some stateless group? Are you saying we have only fantasms to strike at? After all, if you're going to say "Saudi Arabia" the only connection 911 had with Saudi Arabia, officially, was being the place where their umbilical cords were cut.

[Black Dog]

Why not just flat out call me a liar? Afraid it would offend Greg?

But you're not a liar. A coward, perhaps.

I am not a military man, and frankly I'm not sure what "taking the gloves off" would entail.

So, basically, you're just running your mouth on this. If you admit your ignorance in that regard, why should anyone take your claims that the west is fighting "with one or two hands tied behind its back" seriously?

All that I know is that the choice of "us or them" is not a false choice. And the choice is obvious.

Obviously you're fond of that little dichotomy. But it's nothing more than rhetoric, empty words. Terror can be fought successfully without abandoning western ideals and standards of behaviour.

If they want to butcher each other in the desert of some fine distinction of what Mohamed really meant, fine with me. It's not OK with me if that dispute hits the skyscrapers of New York City or the discoteques of Tel Aviv, or the night clubs of Bali.

But, by your own admission, you haven't the faintest idea what to do about it. Your reactions are knee-jerk emotionalism, little else.

[jdobbin]

After all, if you're going to say "Saudi Arabia" the only connection 911 had with Saudi Arabia, officially, was being the place where their umbilical cords were cut.

That's not exactly true. If the umbilical cords were cut, they would not have been receiving gobs of money from Saudi sources.

[jbg]

After all, if you're going to say "Saudi Arabia" the only connection 911 had with Saudi Arabia, officially, was being the place where their umbilical cords were cut.

That's not exactly true. If the umbilical cords were cut, they would not have been receiving gobs of money from Saudi sources.

I meant that their major connection to Saudi Arabia was being born there.

[jdobbin]

I meant that their major connection to Saudi Arabia was being born there.

And they were paid to make trouble elsewhere.

[Catchme]

I meant that their major connection to Saudi Arabia was being born there.

And they were paid to make trouble elsewhere.

And their families were/are in Saudia Arabia, one really has to take such departures from facts and such clearly false depictions of Muslims, in a more critically thinking manner. When JBG says 'arabs' and "muslims" he actually means Palistinians.

Also, I see the Cons are trying to block the investigative committees into the human rights abuses. And here they were all for transparency, eh?

[jbg]

I meant that their major connection to Saudi Arabia was being born there.

And they were paid to make trouble elsewhere.

And their families were/are in Saudia Arabia, one really has to take such departures from facts and such clearly false depictions of Muslims, in a more critically thinking manner. When JBG says 'arabs' and "muslims" he actually means Palistinians.

Also, I see the Cons are trying to block the investigative committees into the human rights abuses. And here they were all for transparency, eh?

If you want to investigate Israeli human rights abuses, how about some investigations for Syria? Pakistan? Saudi Arabia?

Less interested now?

[jdobbin]

A few weeks ago I mentioned how the north was increasingly becoming a source of problems for Afghanistan. That idea was called ridiculous by some of the supporters of the war. The Taliban first drove out the unprotected engineers and construction workers. A Canadian who had worked for a few years there and was killed early this spring signaled the change. Next came the attacks of Afghan police with several killed. Now, German troops are the target.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/070519/...afghan_blast_dc

A suicide bomber killed three German soldiers and six civilians in a crowded street market in northern Afghanistan on Saturday in the latest violence blamed on the Taliban, security officials said.

[jdobbin]

Looks like Harper is trying to shore up support for the Afghan mission.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Canada/200...22/4199321.html

KABUL, Afghanistan — Prime Minister Stephen Harper has responded to criticism of his government’s handling of the mission in Afghanistan by making an unannounced visit to the war-ravaged country.

The surprise two-day trip comes after weeks of opposition attacks on his government’s handling of the Afghan detainee controversy.

At a joint news conference with Harper in Kabul, Afghan President Hamid Karzai denied detainees handed from Canadian to Afghan custody had been tortured and personally vowed that such abuses wouldn’t take place on his watch.

I wonder if anyone is paying attention. And some observers here have noted, not much is happening politically over the next week. The story is probably going to be buried in hockey play-offs.

[M.Dancer]

The story is probably going to be buried in hockey play-offs.

Front and Centre on the Globe and Mail website.....

Harper drops in on Afghanistan213

Prime Minister makes surprise visit, meets with Afghan President Hamid Karzai at start of two-day trip 7:23 AM 213

Top Story on CBC.ca

PM makes surprise visit to Afghanistan

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has responded to criticism of his government's handling of the mission in Afghanistan by making an unannounced visit to the war-ravaged country. more »

Second Story on thestar.com

PM goes to Afghanistan

Bruce Campion-Smith May 22, 2007 Prime Minister Stephen Harper came to Afghanistan today to give a high-profile boost to Canadian diplomats and troops and to reaffirm Canada’s commitment to redevelopment.

.........

[jdobbin]

Front and Centre on the Globe and Mail website.....

As I said, I don't know that it will be all the important to people if they are turning to sports first and foremost this week.

I certainly don't know if it will raise the popularity of the mission any across Canada. It might have helped more if he went when Parliament was in session.

[M.Dancer]

I certainly don't know if it will raise the popularity of the mission any across Canada. It might have helped more if he went when Parliament was in session.

Morale of the troops is more important than whether the hippies of the Guelph like the mission or not.

[jdobbin]

Morale of the troops is more important than whether the hippies of the Guelph like the mission or not.

Must be that a large majority of Canadians are hippies then.

[jdobbin]

More attacks in what was quiet northern Afghanistan.

http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1798290.ece

The incident occurred on Monday, when the soldiers were on routine patrol in the city of Meymaneh in northern Afghanistan.

Norway has about 100 soldiers placed in the city, and the patrol group was about to pass the bale of hay set out along the road when it suddenly caught fire.

[Michael Bluth]

As I said, I don't know that it will be all the important to people if they are turning to sports first and foremost this week.

That's not even close to what you said. Here is your post.

I wonder if anyone is paying attention. And some observers here have noted, not much is happening politically over the next week. The story is probably going to be buried in hockey play-offs.

Buried standardly means not prominently placed, not front page---top of the fold. Then when it turned out what you said would happen was wrong proven to be. Instead of admitting your error you tried to misrepresent what you said retroactively.

You didn't say anything about where people would turn to. Can you ever be upfront and honest?

[capricorn]

Looks like Harper is trying to shore up support for the Afghan mission.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Canada/200...22/4199321.html

KABUL, Afghanistan — Prime Minister Stephen Harper has responded to criticism of his government’s handling of the mission in Afghanistan by making an unannounced visit to the war-ravaged country.

The surprise two-day trip comes after weeks of opposition attacks on his government’s handling of the Afghan detainee controversy.

At a joint news conference with Harper in Kabul, Afghan President Hamid Karzai denied detainees handed from Canadian to Afghan custody had been tortured and personally vowed that such abuses wouldn’t take place on his watch.

I wonder if anyone is paying attention. And some observers here have noted, not much is happening politically over the next week. The story is probably going to be buried in hockey play-offs.

Harper went to Afghanistan to present a Senators sleeper pyjama to Karzai for his newborn. There's the hockey connection. I mean, Harper is writing a book on hockey, is he not?

[M.Dancer]

Harper went to Afghanistan to present a Senators sleeper pyjama to Karzai for his newborn. There's the hockey connection. I mean, Harper is writing a book on hockey, is he not?

I have a friend who is a prolific hockey author. Half the citations at the HHF are fromhim...I have to ask him about Harper's Hockey literature cred.......

[jdobbin]

Harper went to Afghanistan to present a Senators sleeper pyjama to Karzai for his newborn. There's the hockey connection. I mean, Harper is writing a book on hockey, is he not?

Perhaps an election defeat will give him the time needed to write a hockey book.

I'm sure Harper's visit to Afghanistan will have all of Canada's attention. Not.

[capricorn]

Maybe he's using his frequent flyer miles?

Frankly, if he thinks this trip will change the mindset of Canadians, I don't think so.

[White Doors]

Maybe he's using his frequent flyer miles?

Frankly, if he thinks this trip will change the mindset of Canadians, I don't think so.

maybe he is more concerned with soldier morale than the un-educated knee-jerk populace for once.

Good on him.

[M.Dancer]

Harper went to Afghanistan to present a Senators sleeper pyjama to Karzai for his newborn. There's the hockey connection. I mean, Harper is writing a book on hockey, is he not?

Perhaps an election defeat will give him the time needed to write a hockey book.

I'm sure Harper's visit to Afghanistan will have all of Canada's attention. Not.

Top news story this morning, front page of the G&M......

I can gaurentee this.....the next election won't be over Afghanistan...well, maybe for Taliban Jack.....but that will be his loss....

[capricorn]

This morning, a CTV poll shows 88% (3051) say Harper's visit with the troops on the front lines is a good show of support. 12% (415) say it is too dangerous and Harper should not have gone.

If the vast majority of Canadians do not think southern Afghanistan is dangerous, why do the majority of Canadians want us out of there?

It amazes me that so many Canadians cannot understand the simple fact that it's a dangerous place. Is it any wonder a proper debate is not in the offing?

[Black Dog]

maybe he is more concerned with soldier morale than the un-educated knee-jerk populace for once.

Boy it never ceases to amuse me to see just how shallow the Canadian right wing's populism runs. I mean, conservatives constantly justify policy based on notions like "individuals know better than the government how to run their lives," but the instant a plurality of the population disagrees with conservative doctrine, wellsir, those fucking jerkwater rubes don't know shit from shinola. Oh, but it's "Teh Left" who are the elitists.

But I digress.

[runningdog]

Maybe he's using his frequent flyer miles?

Frankly, if he thinks this trip will change the mindset of Canadians, I don't think so.

maybe he is more concerned with soldier morale than the un-educated knee-jerk populace for once.

Good on him.

or maybe he is more concerned with how it looks to the Canadian people. moot point either way, but judging from his past actions, I'd say this recent trip has everything to do with politics and very little with boosting troop moral. But I could be wrong. Maybe he'll pick up a twig and play some ball hockey with the Boys. Actually, that might mess his hair some. Is his stylist travelling with him?