Adrain MacNair posted a dynamite piece yesterday – There’s A Scandal Alright, But Detainee Abuse Isn’t It.
…The media feeding frenzy on this file has been nothing short of ridiculous, and the real scandal here isn’t whether suspected Taliban were tortured three years ago; no, the scandal is that the media can only find the effort to report on our ongoing war in Afghanistan when it may have political implications...
Adrian links to Brian Platt who laments:
…At the very moment when the Americans have, for the first time ever, committed themselves to a fully-resourced mission to build a functioning state in Afghanistan, and when our country needs to be debating what our commitment after 2011 will look like, we are going to be talking for MONTHS ON END about whether Afghan detainees were abused three years ago. Good grief...
Terry Glavin echoes this concern in an audio clip that Adrian has provided at the end of the post.
Why are the opposition parties and media so intent on focusing on the singular aspect of alleged ‘torture’ (with a shoe?) when there are so many other, more important issues to discuss?
As I mentioned in the comment section at Adrian’s blog, Dave Rutherford had Laurie Hawn on yesterday. Please check it out. Laurie will also be on the Jeff Allan show today around 11 am.
Become informed and then please let your MP know what you think. Feedback is crucial. This is for our troops. Thanks.
* * * *
Update – Related Links:
Keep politics away from forces – Post (H/T army.ca)
On detainees…yet again…all the time – The Torch
* * * *
Saturday Update:
Why I won’t sign the diplomats’ letter – by William Dymond who is former Canadian ambassador to Brazil, and senior fellow at the Centre for Trade Policy and Law at Carleton University (H/T NNW):
…In our system of government, it is ministers who decide and public servants who implement their decisions. If the decisions or lack of decisions taken by ministers are in the view of the public servant unethical, his or her duty is clear. It is to say so fearlessly and, if ignored, to resign.
Going to the media without resigning would be unethical conduct. This is always the wrong choice…
( . . . )
…In the meantime, I won’t be signing any letters. As to budding young diplomats in training, they should learn that their first duty is to provide the government with the best professional advice they can muster and not to let their personal agendas get in the way. If they have a beef, the cafeteria in the Pearson Building is the place to vent it, not the media.
Our soldiers could teach MPs a thing or two about duty and honour – Christie Blatchford. (H/T TJ and several others in comments.) This column is definitely ‘separate post worthy’. I hope to be able to do it justice later.
[Update - a separate post is now looking unlikely due to lack of time, but please check out Pack Journalism at the Toronto Globe and Mail? - Now the details. ]
This is a fascinating perspective here (from a comment in response to Can Democracy work in Afghanistan?):
I just got finished serving in a tour in Afghanistan. It’s should be obvious to anyone, that we are so different from them, in every aspect. It does not make us better, or them better. It should be up to them to decide what they want instead of us shoving our ideas down there throats. I’ve spoken with so many villagers, who really just don’t care about our ideas of democracy. They run everything based on village elders, tribal meetings etc. That is there government. One local put it to me this way, “we didnt draw borders, we are families and tribes, it cant be one group of people deciding for all of Afghanistan, we don’t want a government, the government, wants a government for money and power, but the people want to live there lives as they always have. to be free and left alone”, A huge eye opener.
Posted by: me95076
Sunday Update:
Afghan detainee lessons learned, Menard says – CTV:
…The prisoners are usually held in Kandahar city’s Marapoza prison, where the correctional services officers from Canada, four of whom work out of the civilian-military outreach base in the city, have access to them.
The officers, whose duties include mentoring and training the warden and guards, visit the prison almost daily, Menard said.
“We’re also in a position to see what’s happening to our (former) detainees,” he said.
“We’re the only nation that brings this to the table.”
Great post. It’s time the Conservative government takes over this latest out of hand gotcha game the opposition are playing on the backs of our troops to get at the Conservative government. Of course the media will be of no help, they’re part of the gotcha team. Just tune in to the likes of CTV’s PP with Mr Smarty Pants Tommy Clark.
I say a confidence vote in the House before Christmas break, let the silly beggars have something to think about over their Christmas turkey, like how they can explain their actions to their constituents.
Perspective?
The slaggers, have none and there seems to be nothing the we, ordinary Jane and Joe Canadian can do.
However I don’t believe that this thug hugging story has caught on as much as Climategate but unfortunately, only those that choose to inform themselves are questioning that one too.
I actually think that the HST is the story of the day and that even on these blogs, including Adrian’s, the federal government has taken far more heat than it deserved. The timing of this thing is the real issue I think and the misinformation and spin, horrendous.
The Canadian media in all these cases has not attempted to be fair and balanced. We have 1/2 hour of semi national news on CTV during the dinner hour and I am increasingly shocked and disgusted by their spin of Canadian politics. One side, all of the time and let’s just say, if I wasn’t a PJ, I’d learn more about Obama’s day than our PM’s.
Local TV can go the way of the dodo bird as far as I’m concerned. Who really needs that garbage?
Local TV can go the way of the dodo bird as far as I’m concerned.
I agree. Very little worth watching these days.
BTW, heading out for a bit. Will check comments when I get back.
Great post. I am for one to point out, the agenda by the liberal media and the opposition parties who latest attempt to derail the support of the mission.
The Liberals have been co-opted by the NDP and Bloc again in reforming their coalition to weaken the federation. Why is anyone shocked at the depths of the liberal media will cooperate?
It must have been sheer torture for Iffy to have to condemn a military and government,
over a detainee getting a bloody nose from being whacked with a shoe….
after all, this is a guy who condoned torture (some) and targeted assassinations.
Oh, and how about that on going RCMP probe into Liberal govt/officials ‘turning a blind eye to Arar torture’…
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/736990–rcmp-probes-federal-role-in-arar-torture
Speaking of ‘Obama’s day”…I listened to Eric Sorenson pontificate on how Obama’s explanation of the benefits of war was something that will go down in history as one of the great speeches (gag) and how he has made it OK for war when it is defending the demcoracy of your country….
HUH….seems to me when GWB said the same thing – he was a war monger and was derridded in the press..
Oh what a difference a day – or a political stripe – makes.
Some perspective
‘Michael Ignatieff attacks the Conservative Government of Stephen Harper for covering up the war crimes of Canadian soldiers that out of the other side of his mouth he says they didn’t commit’
..Paul MacPhail BT
For the Libs and their luvin media to be successful in proving the Harper govt was involved in a ‘coverup’,
first the charges of contravening the Geneva Convention would have to be laid,
a contravention that they supposedly covered up.
Exposing a cover up ‘follows’ proof/charges laid of wrong doing.
And that would be our brave troops on the ground because it was within their discretion (following guidelines) to handover, retain or release Afghans.
The Liberals have managed to deflect attention over some of their more embarrassing short-comings like the theft of money by their own party in Quebec through Adscam.
They’ve also managed to deflect attention away from the recent highly successful Harper visit to Asia.
And let’s not forget about how well the economy is recovering.
Or job gains.
Or the Liberal in-fighting over Ignatief.
The list could go on.
Other posters on this blog bemoan the fact that we don’t have a Canadian version of Fox News but I would suggest, once again, that perhaps the Conservative Party of Canada should produce a one hour weekly news show of their own where a balanced view of the state of Canada and Parliamentry activities could be presented to viewers.
If it was well-balanced with dissenting opinions permitted and even encouraged then it would become a show that all political junkies would want to watch and maybe even some non-junkies as well.
How much can airtime cost on a Sunday morning when the main competition is Sham Wow or Ginzu knives?
They could even provide the opposition with free time commercials (PSA’s) asking the public to donate to the “Save A Taliban Fighter” fund.
Guelph woman arrested in Harper threat case
”As a result of the investigation, a 54-year-old Guelph woman was arrested Wednesday. She faces charges of uttering deaths threats, harassment and public mischief.
Robin Gallant is to appear in court next month.”
http://news.guelphmercury.com/News/article/573685
Well ladies and gentlemen what we are getting is a Lieberal Values extravaganza, what you might ask would that include? Indeed what are Lieberal values? A Lieberal government sent our troops into Afghanistan, under equipped, green uniforms, the Lieberals left standing now have for our viewing pleasure given us with the assistance of the lame stream media, the NDP and our old friend the Bloc a dog and pony show over what? one (1) detainee that got slapped with a shoe 3 years ago in the middle of a battle? He was promptly rescued by our troops. That seems to be the story. But hey any stick to beat the government with and our troops, who are being killed by these terrorists.
This lame stream media extravaganza has been going on forever from the time the Reform party “the west wants in” troops in our streets, barney the purple dinosaur, the host , amateur hour, H1N1 non crisis, only one supplier for vaccine, whoops we did that (do over please) The Lieberals have been trying so hard to replace the NDP as the “Party of Faux outrage” I think the next election they will> I am fed up with the constant gotcha, the “Liberal Beast” lurches from day to day it has broken it’s chain and will be coming to your living room soon with the aid of CTV or CBC. I don’t bother any more with any of the “news shows” nor do I buy papers. The only place that I can find out what really happened in Beijing is online, what a great job our P M is doing exploring trade opportunities in South America, India, China. He is standing up to the world for Canada, doing us proud IMO. The only news about the China trip was that “he was scolded” sure didn’t sound like that to me. HM PM Stephen Harper brought back more agreements from that one trip than any other PM I can remember. Of course that isn’t news because he is Conservative. So what are Lieberal values? You are lookin’ at em aint pretty is it? I for one am grateful we have a competent PM who takes all this in stride and just keeps on running the show.
I’d like to see Harper sit down with a NP reporter and give the political left the public spanking it deserves. MSM or lame stream media is frothing at the mouth over alligations of a detainee getting hit with a shoe, but they rarely mention that getting hit by shoe is the torture they allude to. Harper needs to go public amd let the court of public opinion know MSM is making an inssue over detainee transfers that were legal. Our troops followed the NATO rules regarding detainees, they did nothing wrong and I’m fed up with MSM parisitical behavior to score cheap poitical points for their beloved libs.
[...] seriously people, shoes are not weapons of torture. One Taliban was hit with a shoe (and not even by us!), and the entire county screams of torture and our troops are war criminals [...]
The Taliban BobRae-JackLaytoNDPers are socialists allied with Islam’s jihad, aka war against Canada and our allies.
The TalibaNDP are using the red herring of Muslims torturing Muslims to attempt to distract us from our war against UNabomber Mao Stlong and his AGW commissars.
More here:
“Climategate: Which one blew the whistle?
Meet Tom Wigley, the Climategate insider who may finally have choked on all the deceit he witnessed.
It is almost certain that the leak of 4000 documents from the University of East Anglia was not the work of a hacker but of a whisteblower. The sheer effort of retrieving, itemising and sorting all those documents, and of weeding out any that were purely personal or irrelevant, required someone who had not just the computer skills and the access, but who knew what was important, and had the motivation to put in countless hours of work.
If the leaker was an insider, here are the candidates – named and pictured. The list also shows the extraordinary reach of the University’s Climatic Research Unit into climate science circles when judged even just by formal ties.” (more)
http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/climategate_which_one_blew_the_whistle/
Canada is not at war we are part of NATO and UN mission involved in war
Canada is obligated to assist in the help of missions that are necessary to eliminate terrorists
Canada is honoring it’s obligation on the world stage with exemplary conduct
Do you support our troops?
this blog supports our troops
the media states that Canadians do not support our troops because Canadians believe that detainees are being turned over for torture by our military
do you believe the media?
NDP are threatening to call in the international criminal court to investigate our troops conduct Michael Byers has already stated that he has written to the international criminal court asking for an investigation he ran as an NDP candidate but was not elected
we fought the coalition let’s fight this cruel defamation of our our troops and show instead our appreciation for the difficult mission we have asked of them
we need petitions showing support and rallies showing support
we ask our military to serve and protect us let us respond in kind by supporting them
the time for action is now
fh
“Guelph woman arrested in Harper threat case
GUELPH — Guelph Police and the RCMP have arrested a Guelph woman following investigation into a series of phone calls placed to the Calgary constituency office of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
The series of calls were placed between August and November this year – as were related calls placed to the RCMP office in Ottawa.
As a result of the investigation, a 54-year-old Guelph woman was arrested Wednesday. She faces charges of uttering deaths threats, harassment and public mischief.
Robin Gallant is to appear in court next month.”
http://news.guelphmercury.com/News/article/573685
Beaten by a shoe? One Taliban? Geez, this story is even more irrelevant and ridiculous than I originally thought…..I haven’t been paying attention. You see, when I hear about the opposition parties freaking out about something or other, to me that’s a signal that it’s much ado about NOTHING. And this case definitely proves it.
For your general consideration:
Geneva Convention #1 1864 / 1882
Geneva Convention #2 1906
Geneva Convention #3 1929
Geneva Convention #4 1949 Post-Nuremberg Trials
1st Protocol 1977
2nd Protocol 1977
3rd Protocol 2005 *Further* ratification of 6 [six] symbols/signs intended to protect and safe-guard non-combatants [medics, clerics, peace keepers] Omar Khadr supporters please note.
Somewhere in these historic documents are rules of participation, engagement, and the ‘Marquis of Queensbury’ rules for those, who for whatever reason, are put in harm’s way, and find themselves engaged in killing off one’s fellow human beings.
As regards the information and knowledge all troops [bak then] were required to know. I truly doubt that these requirements no longer exist today – for *ALL* ranks, all branches. From my days in boot camp in 1960, where many of my instructors were fellows who landed in Normandy at the ages of 18, 19, herewith, a few of the ‘rules’ I vaguely recall:
These ‘rules’ apply in a state of conflict which is a Declared War.’
These ‘rules’ apply only to combatants in said ‘War’ where members of the opposing forces are in clearly recognized uniforms, with appropriate insignias, flashes, flags, ranks.
These ‘rules’ are serious enough that, if allegedly contravened, carry serious repercussions for the offending parties.
Accusing high ranking National Politicians [Minister of Defense] and highest ranking military officers Generals of ‘war crimes,’ for all intents and purposes is an effective charge of ‘war crimes’ against all those who serve under this maligned leadership.
This is a heinous act of cowardice, of the highest order, when launched in a struggle of political ‘gotcha,’ by the opposition parties.
This calumny is all the more odious and reprehensible, when the charge is led by an individual, who, some time in the recent pst articulated and promulgated his thoughts, writings and teachings in support of torture. Mind, this all happened in a different time, in a different place, in a different political camp, under the aegis of a different, and today, much hated, national leader. Which really seems to prove, that enabled by many in the media, much of this fulmination on detainee torture, is, first and foremost, political ‘gotcha-sim’ at it’s worst. All of it dressed up as alleged ‘concern for human rights.’
At no time in my boot camp days of studying the conventions and protocols in force at that time, did I once, find any passage that sanctioned public beheadings of captured civilians, peaceniks and journalists. This is beheading by scimitar, televised, recorded and repeatedly re-broadcast.
I may be a little off on memory, though I doubt it.
I cannot see the imbalance of the attack on the credibility of those whose who contradict the fearless whistleblower.
tj
t.e.& o.e.
Noticed this on Politwitter.ca:
“davidakin@pmharper’s Xmas receiption for Parl Press Gallery reporters at 24 Sussex next Tuesday. He’s done this every yr and is 1st PM to do so.”
PM Harper does this for the PPG and they treat him like crap? They don’t deserve it.
I hope the Harpers give each one of them a lump of coal.
Cotlier on Rutherford now.
“Giordano Bruno, philosopher and scientist, burnt at the stake”
“Four centuries ago today, on February 16, 1600, the Roman Catholic Church executed Giordano Bruno, Italian philosopher and scientist, for the crime of heresy.”
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/feb2000/brun-f16.shtml
…-
“The EPA Silences a Climate Skeptic
The professional penalty for offering a contrary view to elites like Al Gore is a smear campaign.”
“In case anyone missed the point, Mr. Obama took another shot at his predecessors in April, vowing that “the days of science taking a backseat to ideology are over.”
Except, that is, when it comes to Mr. Carlin, a senior analyst in the EPA’s National Center for Environmental Economics and a 35-year veteran of the agency. In March, the Obama EPA prepared to engage the global-warming debate in an astounding new way, by issuing an “endangerment” finding on carbon. It establishes that carbon is a pollutant, and thereby gives the EPA the authority to regulate it — even if Congress doesn’t act.
Around this time, Mr. Carlin and a colleague presented a 98-page analysis arguing the agency should take another look, as the science behind man-made global warming is inconclusive at best. The analysis noted that global temperatures were on a downward trend. It pointed out problems with climate models. It highlighted new research that contradicts apocalyptic scenarios. “We believe our concerns and reservations are sufficiently important to warrant a serious review of the science by EPA,” the report read.
The response to Mr. Carlin was an email from his boss, Al McGartland, forbidding him from “any direct communication” with anyone outside of his office with regard to his analysis. When Mr. Carlin tried again to disseminate his analysis, Mr. McGartland decreed: “The administrator and the administration have decided to move forward on endangerment, and your comments do not help the legal or policy case for this decision. . . . I can only see one impact of your comments given where we are in the process, and that would be a very negative impact on our office.” (Emphasis added.)
Mr. McGartland blasted yet another email: “With the endangerment finding nearly final, you need to move on to other issues and subjects. I don’t want you to spend any additional EPA time on climate change. No papers, no research etc, at least until we see what EPA is going to do with Climate.” Ideology? Nope, not here. Just us science folk. Honest.
The emails were unearthed by the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Republican officials are calling for an investigation; House Energy Committee ranking member Joe Barton sent a letter with pointed questions to Mrs. Jackson, which she’s yet to answer. The EPA has issued defensive statements, claiming Mr. Carlin wasn’t ignored. But there is no getting around that the Obama administration has flouted its own promises of transparency.
The Bush administration’s great sin, for the record, was daring to issue reports that laid out the administration’s official position on global warming. That the reports did not contain the most doomsday predictions led to howls that the Bush politicals were suppressing and ignoring career scientists.” (more)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124657655235589119.html
article by Michael Byers Macleans.ca November 20 2009
Elements of a war crime seem to be present
fh
Richard Colvin’s statement was that every detainee was tortured or abused – absurd.
Are you not taking exception to that comment? And if not why not?
Why was it wrong to say Colvin’s statement in the public domain was not consistent with the truth or facts, and should not go unchallenged – that is something I don’t understand and why would 50 some civil servants be sending a letter saying he should be above criticism, challenge , correction etc. Don’t they believe we live in a democracy – I wouldn’t want any part of living in a country where civil servant’s comments or conclusions made in public are above question or scrutiny – in fact I think it is a ridiculous stance. I still haven’t concluded that Colvin had an ulterior motive, but I do think some of his publicly stated comments and conclusions, were incorrect.
If CTV had any brains, and wanted to increase their viewership, they would issue a directive to the Opposition Parties along these lines:
On any issue, we will seek out ONE representative from the Government side, and ONE representative from the Opposition side. The Opposition Parties are encouraged to sort out amongst themselves a way to provide us with that one representative. If they don’t, then we at CTV will pick one Opposition spokesman, at random, from a master list.
The end result would be much better programs. All one has to do is watch a political panel show in the U.S., with one Democrat vs one Republican, to see how that format is so much better than what ctv offers up.
o/t
Brilliant discussion between Rutherford and Majorie LeBreton
re the boondoggling in the UNELECTED Canadian Senate.
Albertans have ALOT to be ashamed about with the garbage we have representing US!
QR770 @ 10am (will be in the archives later)
Calgary Junkie @ 12:23 pm
Wow, yes I agree wholeheartedly and further, perhaps Conservatives would be more supportive of their local TV initiative if they were more objective and showed a conscientious effort to balance their reporting.
They have done this to themselves!
OT, but who is Suhana’s hairdresser. Must be JVDs.
Dave R had a long interview with LeBreton (sp) on the changes and tactics of the liberal senators re the crime bill and product safety. In Jan we will have a majority and will then have our guys leading committees.
She says that the libs will support something in the HofC, knowing their senators will defeat it.
That will soon come to an end.
Re the PMs party for the PPG, how many will go, I think it was boycotted by some of them last year.
A lump of coal, call it a fossil award, is a great gift, or perhaps a bobblehead doll of iggy.
Notice Parrish is back in the news again for throwing a tantrum. Good for the manager for going public, and she wants an apology for that.
Recalling the song “Together Again” after the Opposition Coalition passed a motion to get the “secret” documents pertaining to the Afghan mission and terrorist scumbag so-called detainees.
It could become a confidence issue if it is truly sensitive information to put out in a time of war.
Why didn’t Colvin go directly to McKay and Hillier if there was indeed torture and abuse going on?
Why in face to face meetings did Colvin not say ONE word about torture of detainees to Hiller and McKay, any General?
Was Colvin negligent in his duties by only sending out volumes of emails to 50+ people, and making only unalarming messages burried in wordy memos, instead of urgent messaging?
Did anyone see PP yesterday, where Clark called his guest, Minister Lunn, a blabbermouth?
These media personalities think they are superior to anyone sitting in the Harper government.
They are rude, name calling, idiots and fools.
Let’s see how long it takes CTV and CBC to post this article,
Day says:
”…He said the government will not release information that “could imperil our troops.” Some information “would only help the enemy,” he added, describing detainees as terrorists who plant roadside bombs, kill Canadian soldiers and Afghan people, and throw acid in girls’ faces.
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2330318
Goreacle Report: Red-Green means Gored Effect & How Gore Makes an AGW U-Turn.
“We’re getting people U-turned”.
…-
“Stranded motorists rescued”
“DUNKIRK — Troopers and sheriff’s deputies on ATVS and snowmobiles have rescued the motorists stranded all night on the New York State Thruway, still closed from Dunkirk to the Pennsylvania State Line by blowing and drifting snow.
As many as 100 people were stranded in their cars and trucks when howling winds and blowing snows closed the Thruway here at the Route 60 exit at 1:30 a.m. today.
Thruway snowplows were able to plow a path through a U-turn lane and had people drive east to the exit here.
“We’re getting people U-turned” said Capt. Michael P. Nigrelli, who is leading the rescue efforts for the State Police. “We’ve made good progress.”
http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/890789.html
…-
“High efficiency traffic lights don’t melt snow cover, creating traffic hazard
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Some Wisconsin communities that have installed high efficiency traffic lights are discovering the energy-saving bulbs are a hazard in a snow storm.
City officials say the LED lights use less electricity and don’t give off enough heat to melt ice or snow. So when the snow falls and the wind blows, the traffic lights are obscured.”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2405503/posts
Calgary Junkie:
Rather good idea but I´m afraid that would only happen when the Liberals are the government.
Thanks for the link, Joanne. I’m glad to see other people feel the same way.
Jo, I posted a couple of good links thismorning but it seems to have got caught in the filter. Maybe you could check. Thanks.
Kate on Charles Adler now 1:38 P.M. CST Friday on Global Warming
Yahoo!, Canada won first and second place fossil awards.
“The Mayor of Toronto, David Miller, in Copenhagen made a special guest appearance tonight to collect first and second place “Fossil of the Day” awards, after NGOs from around the world voted to present Canada with a double dishonour for doing the most to obstruct progress in the global climate talks today.”
http://www.fossiloftheday.com/
We are doing great! Go Canada!
Sorry about the comments taking so long to get approved. Had to run out again for a while.
Frmgrl – Awesome!! Go Canada, go!!!
Jo, I posted a couple of good links thismorning but it seems to have got caught in the filter.
Jad, I don’t know where yours went. That’s really strange. It’s like they disappeared. Sorry about that.
Couple of stories at NNW. One says no government can compel a future government with passed legislation (I think that what he is saying) so the PM can’t use the excuse of past laws to refuse to divulge secret documents.
Does that mean that the PM and his government had no obligation to enforce Kyoto or take any action on GW or co2 reductions.
Also, Keith Martin has told his party that he will not dance to their jig. How long before he comes back home (if we would take him) or joins the NDP or sits as an independant. He probably knows he is in danger of losing his seat.
And just out of curiosity, the 308 blog is still predicting a huge gain for liberals in the west. But, he never tells us where those gains are coming from. 15 libs from BC, Sask & Manitoba.
Mary T …a rebuttal from Spector
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/spector-vision/political-science-101/article1397512/?cid=art-rail-briantopp
So Canada is cleaning up on the Fossil awards! WooHoo go Canada. Better a fossil than a blood donor.IMO
Leaders of the G77 group of developing countries walk out of Cop15. This group includes China and 134 countries.
Watching Warren K on PP and he presented a reason for NOT giving up any documents. He had a couple of documents which he was giving to the media,Tommy Clark I assume. It any of thees bozos get their hands on any information they run to the media with it and bam,it’s out or all the world to see including the enemy.
There’s also another problem revealed on Tommy Clark’s nightly Liberal love-in, and a very poignant one at that, there’s a leak in his area of the parliament buildings, it was leaking on Libby Davies at one point.
I would rather go to jail than release sensitive documents that could put our soldiers’ lives in peril as well as the personnel who work on the ground and innocent women and girls.
‘Scuse the typos @ 5:57,it’s the rushing season!!
Election time?
Lots of pushback from the Harper govt,
no coalition threat, an election would surely be awarded.
No worries about this Taliban(Opps,MSM) smear job.
The CPC really need to worry about the HST in BC, and ClimateChange with the CPC base.
HST – the latest ekos poll shows the Dippers are making gains on this in BC
ClimateChange – The Base is non to happy with the government stance on this at all. And Quebec is in never never land like always..
Afghan – This issue is not affecting the polls when you dig down. The other 2 issues above are.
Just to ad to this post – I have stop watching any political show or really listening to any media hack at this point in time(I still PVR lots of stuff and skim). I am frankly spitting nails when it comes to what the MSM and the opps are doing on this issue…
PS:It is almost the end of this decade BLY. Who would have thought that in the year 2000, by the year 2009 Conservatives would be running this country, and the Liberals would be lurching from faux scandel to faux scandel. It has been one hell of a ride.
There is alot to be happy about if you are a CPC supporter. The glass is always half full in my book. And this has been a great decade to be a Canadian Conservative….
And one great thing about this decade it has really given Conservatives a place to vent with the emergence of blogs like BLY and Bloggingtories in general(lots of great blogs).
I just want to say thanks Joanne, for giving me a place to vent, and to converse with like minded Conservatives. I applaud you for your hard work on this blog. It is a gem, and so are the people that comment…
And one great thing about this decade it has really given Conservatives a place to vent with the emergence of blogs like BLY and Bloggingtories in general(lots of great blogs).
JDot, thanks so much for that!
I’ve had a lot going on this last little while and it hasn’t always been easy to focus on this blog. I really appreciate the dedication and loyalty of the readers at BLY – and especially those who take the time to comment and move the discussion forward. I’ve learned a lot. And I think we’ve all made some good friends here.
I know hey Joanne, that was a delightful post…..THAT IS A DELIGHTFUL POST, JDot…..
You really put me in the CHRISTMAS spirit, thanks!
ps I agree with the challenges too but I feel once the public in BC and Ont understand the semantics of the HST and how it all played out in a political sense, they will place blame where blame is due.
The NDP are a complete joke trying to cash in.
They have never seen a cash cow they didn’t want to milk!
ps I agree with the challenges too but I feel once the public in BC and Ont understand the semantics of the HST and how it all played out in a political sense, they will place blame where blame is due.
Yup. Nobody forced those two Liberal premiers to go for the HST. They entered it willingly. And here’s the thing: Manufacturing jobs are disappearing, especially in Ontario. So the tax base needs to be expanded. Hence the taxation of services that were previously exempt.
In the end we all pay for the ‘stimulus’. (Or we pay for the stimulus ‘in the end’.)
“Grit” is used when the MSM wants to hide the content of a negative report re Liberals.
Notice the leak: “Liberal party sources say”.
Iffy is going home for Xmas, survey says.
…-
“Senior federal Grit quits to run for T.O. mayor
OTTAWA — It’s not the Christmas present Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff was probably hoping to get from his party’s National Director.
Liberal party sources say Rocco Rossi has resigned from his job to seek the mayor’s chair in Toronto’s municipal election in October 2010.
Sources say Rossi, who has spearheaded party fundraising this year, will make the announcement Monday.
An Ignatieff spokesman would only say Rossi would comment Monday.”
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2009/12/11/12128471-cp.html
Maz2, where do you get this stuff? Amazing.
I was hoping it was Donolo. *Sigh*
Joanne – Your very welcome. With what you have had going on(becoming a granma) I am surprised you post as much as you do. You are a trooper, and a fantastic host. Your blog tho, has really been a eye opener for me, it really has. Fantastic people and great, great comments….
Bec – You Rock, love your posts. Your one of a kind, you are good people for sure.
Really no need to worry about the HST there will not be a election intill 2011 at the earliest. POll numbers will go up poll numbers will go down. But PM Harper and the CPC have consalidated the Reform and PC numbers in this decade. It really is a beautifull thing. We are watching and becoming apart of history….
Shot out to – MaryT,AlbertaGirl,ED,Calgary Junkie,Fh,frmgrl,Liz J,Bubba,WCT,Jen,Jad,Sammy,NeilD,soccermom and the amazing Wilson(anyone I forgot sorry) All of you have really given me a great perspective on Conservatives from coast to coast. We really have alot to be happy about at this time…
A great big E-Hug to all….
Joanne, Some great links on this overblown “issue”. Thanks.
Rossi is done, letter from the Ig,
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/michael-ignatieffs-letter-to-rocco-rossi/article1398061/
JDot – So it’s official. Wow. That Toronto mayoralty race should be something. Who will I cheer for the least? Mmmm…
Joanne – It is a liberal fest for mayor of the TDot right now. I really hope Mr.Tory runs. But to be frank anything will be better then the Dipper “his blondness” Mayor Miller.
What is interesting is the fed/provincial lib split running for TDot mayor.
Thank god I live in Mississauga now…
Comment made by Lowell Green quite some time ago: “the first thing the terrorists are told to do when captured is to scream prisoner abuse.” I think someone on BLY noted that as well.
Yet the opposition parties and the media jump on the issue, take it as fact, and, to carry out their agenda, attack the government relentlessly. Their agenda: to get rid of our PM Stephen Harper and his government. That’s their only goal. What a way to represent Canada!
These opposition parties and the media, in many cases, are a national disgrace!!
So who is going to raise all the money for liberals with Rossi gone. What was the lib membership, and how many donors. How many of the lib MPs have got that mandatory number of members in their constituency that make those monthly donations.
Sounds like Toronto is going to finally not have an NDP mayor. Will it make any difference.
http://sync.sympatico.ca/News/ContentPosting_CBC?newsitemid=tech-iceberg-australia&feedname=CBC-TECH-SCIENCE-V3&show=False&number=0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True
Watch how the CBC attempts to link a massive iceberg to global warming and gets shot down for its effort.
As the reporter states: it’s rather strange that this iceberg story breaks during the Copenhagen climate talks.
The reality is that this iceberg has been tracked since the year 2000. And, no, there is no link established to global warming.
2 Liberals and one wanna-be Conservative so far? Who else, guys?
It seems pretty fascinating to me that the 2 Liberals are VERY ACTIVE. One really wants to ask, are there some ‘dead bodies’(sarcastic jest) somewhere that need to be dealt with?
What would be the motivation for these 2 Liberal? I get Tory, he’s politically unemployed but the others? Interesting.
http://www.globalnational.com/video/index.html?categoryID=1050253822
IMHO, here’s another example of one-sided news reporting. Global National is every bit as bad as the CBC and CTV.
This particular newscast hypes the news regularly. I see them as aggressively going after the PM and the Conservative government on many issues. This evening was no different.
The reporting is such that an alien would consider the government to be viewed as the enemy. They seem clearly to relish their continual attacks on our government.
It appears that to say something positive about the government is tantamount to having one’s teeth pulled!! How is this possible in Canada in the year 2009. Pretty sad, huh.
Oops, forgot to add in my previous post: in the video of the newscast, Kevin Newman interviews Jim Prentice. Note the tone and line of questioning.
I thought Jim Prentice handle the interview very well even though he looked quite stressful. Not surprising when you consider our media is painting the world as being against Canada. As far as that goes, I’ve always thought Canada as being too timid in standing up for herself.
Canada needs to be true to herself, do the right thing, and to hell what other countries think about us. How’s that for being a “redneck” easterner!!
Watched the Michael Coren Show again and he apologized for his show last night being a repeat and not the four climate ‘deniers’ that he had promised. It seems that his guests were all coming in from places outside of Toronto and were unable to make it because of the snow storm.
Global warming indeed!
I had to laugh.
A leaking roof in an area of the parliament buildings could be a signal the Conservatives are on the right track not giving out documents which could get leaked by opposition to their buddies in the media.
Kinsella made a real goof by offering Clark a couple of sheets of documents he must have gotten handed to him and is willing to give them to the media. This just after MH Findlay said the government could trust the MP’s with secret documents. Clever bunch indeed. They just blew their game.
he apologized for his show last night being a repeat and not the four climate ‘deniers’ that he had promised.
Michael, I tuned in the other night and wondered about that. The repeat was really good though. Lord Monckton interview from the end of November I think. I found it on YouTube.
Did Coren say anything about rescheduling or did he have the denier show last night? I missed it. We’ll have to rely on you to keep us informed about the schedule,
MichaelNeil.Thanks.
Er, my name’s not Michael.
Deniers have been rescheduled to early January.
Sorry Neil. I was caffeine-deprived when I wrote that.
Thanks for the rescheduling info, BTW!
How do 40-50 thousand protesters get to Denmark. Massive parade of idiots marching and carrying signs.
Who paid for them to get there. Where are they staying. How much energy are they using, how much food, and did they buy carbon credits.
Proud that our PM says a big NO to extending Kyoto for another 5 years.
It will be interesting to see when a future climate conference will be held, and where. If it is later than 2 yrs from now, you know the whole thing is a lie. Gore said the world would end, in four years, and he said that 2 yrs ago.
That’s right Mary, according to Armageddon Al we have two more years and it’s all over. Wonder if it will be a bang or a whimper?
All ’round the circle:
Blatchford, Sat G&M: Excellent column!!
Sat NPost: A number of great articles and columns. The best, if memory serves, is a 2-page Climategate spread on the flip side of a news article where Davey Doosh Miller, in one of his typically pseudo christ-like poses acting out his version of “taking on the shame of all canadians” in this phonied-up CONference in hope-an-takin,’ whereDave Doosh, failing mayor of Hogtown, accepts, with great shame, the fossil award, on behalf of Canada?
Talk about delusional usurping of powers!
David — you’re on your way out. Take the rest of your Hah! vuhd! band of losers with you. You, your NoDipps, and librano funded stooges.
tj
t.e. & o.e.
.
We spend alot of time beating up on the media.
And the media some times takes on their own too, which was the case when Christie Blatchford came out in defence of ‘her’ soldiers, and criticized Colvins memos….she was viciously attacked by fellow journalists, every Harper-hater journalist.media took to the keyboard against her.
Her own paper, the Globe & Mail led the attack, it was merciless.
She tells her story today (TangoJuliette refers to above)
Christie Blatchford article:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/our-soldiers-could-teach-mps-a-thing-or-two-about-duty-and-honour/article1398233/
To thank Christie for supporting our troops.
cblatchford@globeandmail.com
Left comment, seems to have got caught in cyberspace Jo.
A little O/T, my teenage daughter was asked to vacuum yesterday and she moaned back “Oh no. That vacuum really sucks!”
Even she saw the humour in that one.
o/t but absolutely hilarious…..and be sure to put your coffee down….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGdbHW9Nlds
h/t Barrel Strength
Glad to see Blatchford (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/our-soldiers-could-teach-mps-a-thing-or-two-about-duty-and-honour/article1398233/) is not taking her colleagues criticism lying down. She also makes a great point here:
“the agreement was the result of the great wide streak of anti-Americanism that ran through the Jean Chrétien government circa 2005, when detainee policy was first fixed.
Canada should have agreed to hand over prisoners to the Americans, where they could have been ably monitored by embedded Canadian Military Police; such arrangements are common among allies.”
BTW, why is Bob Rae in Kenya for meetings on their constitution?
Bob Rae in Kenya? Geeze, was he sent by Iggy or on behalf of the Government of Canada or was he invited personally or is he just there as Bob Rae, Mo Strong’s “nephew”?
Thanks for the link Bec, good one. Wonder how Hitler would have done had he been around when Gore invented the internet?
Neil D – “..why is Bob Rae in Kenya for meetings on their constitution?”
– because it’s the only place left that will listen to the LPOC?
– because maybe this time that nosy TorStar reporter can’t find the over-throwers?
– because he’s looking at chatting up a new candidate for leader of the LPOC?
– because he’s looking for ideas to bring to the LPOC table…they’re running short?
– because in Kenyan “Bob Rae” translates to “Great White Hunter Willing To Bare Ass on Command?”
– because Kenya has never heard of “Rae Days”?
– because he’s padding his international portfolio before continuing to throw Iffy under the LPOC
bus?
Thanks for the Christie Blatchford tip, folks. I included it in an update.
I read Christie Blatchford’s article,I then sent her a e-mail thanking her for supporting our troops. Simply put they were following an agreement that Jean Chretin’s Liberals put into place.
One of the problems in this country are the “civil servants” that are anything but they are not impartial,or even neutral.
Hares Psychopathy Checklist may interest applied it to the opposition Liberals and see how you rate them, as per Mr Hares list.
1 Glibness- superficial charm
2 Grandiose sense of self worth
3 Pathological Lying
4 Cunning / manipulative
5 Lack of remorse or guilt
6 Shallow
7 Callus / lack of empathy
8 Failure to accept responsibility for own actions.
Please discuss, this dysfunctional Organisation is toxic and would cheerfully destroy this country to get at the Conservative Government. Gilles Duceppe said ” Canada is a very democratic Country, it’s not my Country. Join hands with this man? Disgraceful IMO
These are the people that are embarassed to be Canadian? They bloody well should be embarassed. Traitors is the only word that comes to my mind. We are involved in a NATO santicioned conflict against some very evil backwords people, some of which are living among us IMO.
[...] Bec) Filed under AGW, Canadian economy, Climategate, Global Warming, Global governance, [...]
A few years ago a group of liberals went and promised iffy the world if he would come back to Canada. He bought their line and dreamed big dreams.
What did the opposition/libs promise Colvin, if he would break a 3 yr silence. Did he not know that the rules he felt were broken were put in place by the liberals. Perhaps those tempting him should have done some research. Has he been promised a safe riding in Ontario, a senate seat, ambassadorship to some exotic place. He will have to wait a long time to get any of the payoff.
Cheers to the PM for saying a very strong NO to extending Kyoto.
A very good article at the Ottawa Citizen courtesy of David Warren thanks Dave.http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/myth+global+warming/2332989/story.html
Yes, that is a good article.
What is with all those bleeding hearts in Canada and the US. 3 navy seals on trial for giving a captured terrorist a fat lip.
If we can’t capture, kill, imprison these terrorists why are we there.
OT, but just saw a clip on Fox, by a woman who looks like a lizzie clone, saying black coffee will make you fat. Hasn’t had that effect on me, with at least 10 cups a day.
The Liberals and NDP have now proclaimed to the world, that they have found the smoking gun – the hard piece of evidence – that was needed as proof of Taliban torture, that our Canadian troops were complicit of, in Afghanistan. With this proof in hand , they now demand the resignation of Defense Minister Peter McKay, and want to launch a multi million dollar enquiry that will run for months, a final report for which many of us are lucky will be given in our life time, but is guaranteed to balloon bank accounts and secure a big pension for scores of lawyers and an assortment of moochers, at the expense of the downtrodden and exploited Canadian taxpayer.
The facts of this piece of evidence, as documented by a soldier’s field notes, are that in the heat of battle on the battlefield, not in a Afghan jail, a Taliban detainee in the process of being turned over to Afghan officials was attacked with an ordinary shoe. To their credit the fine brave men and women of our Armed Forces ,while under fire, immediately took him back into their custody to prevent this alleged case of torture from continuing.
The last case of a torture with a shoe attack, that I can recall, was when President George Bush was attacked with a shoe by a terrorist ( somebody said it was a member of the media, but as one kibitzer asked, is there a difference), and since the incident was recorded on TV, there was no doubt it occurred, and the proof was undeniable. However what is significant is – did President George Bush demand an enquiry for security, torture, abuse etc. Hell no – he just ducked and smiled and the world moved on, and the terrorist got his shoes back, taxpayers smiled, and everybody lived happily ever after.
Did the Liberals, NDP and the media, that now demand an enquiry for the attack, on a Taliban terrorist with a shoe, demand an enquiry or even raise a fuss, for a shoe attack on our ally the President of the United States? Did they even condemn this act of torture? You are right – not a whimper. The only question that remains is the cheers we heard from them, were they for Bush or for the terrorist – dumb question you say and I agree. What’s wrong with this picture – what am I missing? Is this the game of politics as practiced by unscrupulous and sleazy politicians?
And just a few days ago, captured on video, was an attack on the shoe thrower, with a shoe being thrown at him. I can’t remember if it hit him or not, but he was very upset.
Watch for it, coming soon, a shoe registration. After all they could contain a bomb.
I guess PM Harper and the CPC are a bunch of heels ’cause they’ve got no soles… LOL!
(that is of course according to the ‘down in the heels’ opposition parties)
Laurie Hawn on CTV QP really gives it to the panel. “Get real folks!”
The disconnect from the media and the coalition is the allegations made are very serious. Why does the coalition continue to allow this government to exist?
The sheeple at Lib blogs won’t come clean with the next logical step.
Can you imagine as an MP voting to keep such a government in power if these allegation were truthful?
I am getting pitiful excuses, no one has agreed with pulling the plug immediately leads me to believe they must not truly believe in these allegations. (OR they support the cover up, torture)
Hello all. I’ve enjoyed reading this blog for a while and decided I would put in my 2 cents.
I don’t think this issue is going to go away anytime soon.. I was absolutely sickened watching QP today. No doubt in my mind, the Liberals are getting a huge assist from the media and they will all ‘gleefully’ keep piling on ’til it gets traction.
Did anyone notice the leaked memos article In the T Star today? ‘Canada defended Afghan ‘human-rights abuser,’ memos allege’. Very poorly written piece IMO but guaranteed to get a lot of ‘outrage’. Sigh
Welcome Shrug! I hope you continue to comment here.
Ty, Joanne.