Well some of us banded together for a donation of some $$ to the legion. We were thanked for our offer, but told it would only keep the Legion afloat for about a month, and thus our offered was refused.
I was hoping that the loss of $$ caused the closure but just a lack of money in was the real culprit.
Please visit your local Legion and buy a pop to support the Legion. As I said before, you may even leave the Legion with a few stories from the Veterans that may be there. Want to ensure a good story, buy them a pop also.
Chris.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Taliban protection payoffs denied by contractor
Kabul-based Watan Risk Management was among the private companies fingered in recent media reports alleging that the firms are paying off insurgents to protect supply routes, essentially funnelling international funds to the very groups troops are fighting against.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2010/04/27/private-security-afghanistan-lang.html#ixzz0mP6klaOf
Read the story and watch the video accompanying it.
Most who have been to Afghanistan will admit that bribery is an everyday event in the lives of Afghanis. I saw it all too often.
It was also common in Bosnia, for folks to get through the various' factions check points.
This is the type of shit facing our troops in Afghanistan. And the US, UK, French and German Troops and others. Here is a convicted drug dealer that can go back to Afghanistan and still have enought family ties to build up a private security business. This guy denies any bribes, but he is after all a drug dealer and a Afhghani, so lying comes natural for him and his ilk...
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2010/04/27/private-security-afghanistan-lang.html#ixzz0mP6klaOf
Read the story and watch the video accompanying it.
Most who have been to Afghanistan will admit that bribery is an everyday event in the lives of Afghanis. I saw it all too often.
It was also common in Bosnia, for folks to get through the various' factions check points.
This is the type of shit facing our troops in Afghanistan. And the US, UK, French and German Troops and others. Here is a convicted drug dealer that can go back to Afghanistan and still have enought family ties to build up a private security business. This guy denies any bribes, but he is after all a drug dealer and a Afhghani, so lying comes natural for him and his ilk...
Monday, April 26, 2010
Afghan mission needs credible partner: former envoy
"Former deputy UN envoy to Afghanistan Peter Galbraith said the recent U.S. surge of 30,000 troops into the country to bolster the counter-insurgency strategy also requires reliable local partners, such as a competent army and police force. Galbraith said the Afghan army is not yet ready to function on its own and he outright dismissed Afghan police as "an utter disaster," while pointing out that President Hamid Karzai's government lacks legitimacy because of fraudulent elections and ongoing corruption allegations."
Yes the police are a bunch of idiots! He says the Afghan Army is not yet ready to function on its own! We have been in this arsehole of a country for 9 years and they are not capable of leading a section attack because half the section is high on hash or whatever...
I really try to like our involvement in this country, but deep down and not so much I could really not miss if this country disolved into the red hot magma.
Yes the police are a bunch of idiots! He says the Afghan Army is not yet ready to function on its own! We have been in this arsehole of a country for 9 years and they are not capable of leading a section attack because half the section is high on hash or whatever...
I really try to like our involvement in this country, but deep down and not so much I could really not miss if this country disolved into the red hot magma.
Bosnia gets Nato membership plan
"Nato foreign ministers have agreed to launch a Membership Action Plan (MAP) for Bosnia-Hercegovina - a penultimate step to joining the military alliance. MAP has been granted to Bosnia today, but with clear conditions," alliance spokesman James Appathurai said at a Nato summit in Tallinn, Estonia."
Do you need anymore proof that NATO won the war for Croatia and Bosnia?
This is the kind of news and plus the facts that I know that will make me forever a Serb follower and Yugoslav Loyalist fan..
I can't help it ...
Do you need anymore proof that NATO won the war for Croatia and Bosnia?
This is the kind of news and plus the facts that I know that will make me forever a Serb follower and Yugoslav Loyalist fan..
I can't help it ...
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Torpedo likely sank S. Korean ship
"Investigators say they have new information regarding last month's sinking of a South Korean naval ship that indicates the force of a passing torpedo may have caused the disaster."
Well this is interesting. And one can only presume that it came from a North Korean vessel. And the South and North are still at war, it was only a truce that stopped the fighting in 1953. Is the next great battle to be initiated from this region of the world?
And I have very little knowledge of why the Korean war started besides watching the movie The Brotherhood of War - Tae Guk Gi; an infinite sad story.
The country was divided before the war into North and South... could this be a result of WW11? North was Communist and supported by the Chinese. How could a common folk fight each other? The movie tells a story of brothers, and not how or why the country was divided.
The wars in Yugoslavia were divided by the various religions in the region, but Korea was one country with one religion I think. The reason can only be political, the treacherous attempts by the few to aquire power. I refer back to my explanation of why small villages in Afghanistan don't know or care about the world outside their mud villages..
Well this is interesting. And one can only presume that it came from a North Korean vessel. And the South and North are still at war, it was only a truce that stopped the fighting in 1953. Is the next great battle to be initiated from this region of the world?
And I have very little knowledge of why the Korean war started besides watching the movie The Brotherhood of War - Tae Guk Gi; an infinite sad story.
The country was divided before the war into North and South... could this be a result of WW11? North was Communist and supported by the Chinese. How could a common folk fight each other? The movie tells a story of brothers, and not how or why the country was divided.
The wars in Yugoslavia were divided by the various religions in the region, but Korea was one country with one religion I think. The reason can only be political, the treacherous attempts by the few to aquire power. I refer back to my explanation of why small villages in Afghanistan don't know or care about the world outside their mud villages..
80 Afghan schoolgirls fall ill; poison feared - From FOXNews
" Dozens of Afghan schoolgirls have fallen ill in recent days after reporting a strange odor in their classrooms in northern Afghanistan, prompting an investigation into whether they were targeted by militants who oppose education for girls or victims of mass hysteria. In the capital of Kabul, President Hamid Karzai's spokesman, Waheed Omar, said any attempt to keep girls out of school is a "terrorist act."
The Taliban said they didn't do it. The whole thing probably has a simple explanation or is else an attempt by the Karzai government to garner the West's support. He has been in the doghouse lately for his suggestion that negotiations with the Taliban may be better than continuing NATO civilian deaths.
And included in this story:
"Elsewhere in Afghanistan on Sunday, hundreds of people blocked a main road in Logar province, west of Kabul, and burned several trucks to protest what they said were civilian deaths in NATO operations. They gathered hours after NATO said coalition troops killed several insurgents and captured a Taliban sub-commander.
"The man they killed was a schoolteacher and a mullah," said businessman Jan Mohammed. "They killed him inside his house and because of that the people came and burned my gas station, my car and my house."
He complained that if NATO thought the mullah was with the Taliban, "they should have arrested him at his school not gone to his house at midnight."
"The people are very angry. They are saying these people killed are innocent civilians," provincial spokesman Din Mohammad Darwesh said.
The villages in Afghanistan are very tribal in nature. You hear this in the news often, but do you know what it means? Even though they may be only 20 or so kms from a big city (ie, Khandahar or Kabul) 99% of them have never been outside their local area. They live in houses made of rocks and mud and manure and have no running water or electricity. Their whole universe is within the village and surrounding pasture area for their sheep and goats and if lucky cows. They have little care for what is going on in Kabul or Khandahar. They raise their children and their sheep and goats and their crops. And they practise a hashish society or even an opium one. So their decision to grow opium poppies instead of wheat or even grapes is very logical to them.
They have no concept of far away lands such as Europe and North America; they mean nothing to them.
They are a friendly people for the most part, but being so poor they always have an alternate goal in mind.
For them a central government means nothing. There is always an armed warlord to deal with, to sell their drugs to. When the government in far away Kabul vowes to cut back drug production it means nothing to the small village economy. This is the best way that they have to support for their family and themselves.
I'm searching my little brain for another example of this,, maybe when the southern states were producing cotton and other crops with slaves may be similiar. Who cares if Washington bans slaves? The farmers are producing a valuable crop at great profit to the farmers because they only have to feed and house the workers. Did they only sell cotton to fellow southerners? Or to notherners (yankees) also? And even to Canada?
When does a Nation's profit overwhelm it's ethics? And is that so simple a question at all? Our ethics can't be compared to those of other countries.
Also in this story Fox reports on a homicide bomber attack that targeted the guards at a bazaar in Sahjoy district of Zabul province. This is the first time I have heard the phrase "homicide bomber" instead of Suicide bomber, although they refer to him as a suicide bomber in the text of the story.
The Taliban said they didn't do it. The whole thing probably has a simple explanation or is else an attempt by the Karzai government to garner the West's support. He has been in the doghouse lately for his suggestion that negotiations with the Taliban may be better than continuing NATO civilian deaths.
And included in this story:
"Elsewhere in Afghanistan on Sunday, hundreds of people blocked a main road in Logar province, west of Kabul, and burned several trucks to protest what they said were civilian deaths in NATO operations. They gathered hours after NATO said coalition troops killed several insurgents and captured a Taliban sub-commander.
"The man they killed was a schoolteacher and a mullah," said businessman Jan Mohammed. "They killed him inside his house and because of that the people came and burned my gas station, my car and my house."
He complained that if NATO thought the mullah was with the Taliban, "they should have arrested him at his school not gone to his house at midnight."
"The people are very angry. They are saying these people killed are innocent civilians," provincial spokesman Din Mohammad Darwesh said.
The villages in Afghanistan are very tribal in nature. You hear this in the news often, but do you know what it means? Even though they may be only 20 or so kms from a big city (ie, Khandahar or Kabul) 99% of them have never been outside their local area. They live in houses made of rocks and mud and manure and have no running water or electricity. Their whole universe is within the village and surrounding pasture area for their sheep and goats and if lucky cows. They have little care for what is going on in Kabul or Khandahar. They raise their children and their sheep and goats and their crops. And they practise a hashish society or even an opium one. So their decision to grow opium poppies instead of wheat or even grapes is very logical to them.
They have no concept of far away lands such as Europe and North America; they mean nothing to them.
They are a friendly people for the most part, but being so poor they always have an alternate goal in mind.
For them a central government means nothing. There is always an armed warlord to deal with, to sell their drugs to. When the government in far away Kabul vowes to cut back drug production it means nothing to the small village economy. This is the best way that they have to support for their family and themselves.
I'm searching my little brain for another example of this,, maybe when the southern states were producing cotton and other crops with slaves may be similiar. Who cares if Washington bans slaves? The farmers are producing a valuable crop at great profit to the farmers because they only have to feed and house the workers. Did they only sell cotton to fellow southerners? Or to notherners (yankees) also? And even to Canada?
When does a Nation's profit overwhelm it's ethics? And is that so simple a question at all? Our ethics can't be compared to those of other countries.
Also in this story Fox reports on a homicide bomber attack that targeted the guards at a bazaar in Sahjoy district of Zabul province. This is the first time I have heard the phrase "homicide bomber" instead of Suicide bomber, although they refer to him as a suicide bomber in the text of the story.
Special medals presented to three Calgary soldiers
The Canadian military created the Sacrifice medal in 2009 to replace the Wound Stripe. It is awarded out to members of the military killed or injured in the line of duty since Oct. 7, 2001.
Linda Loree accepted the award on behalf of her son Cpl. Nathan Hornburg, who was killed by a shell explosion in Afghanistan in 2007. Loree said she doesn't want her son's legacy squandered after the Canadian military's planned withdrawal in 2011. She said she'd like to see the Canadian Forces maintain some presence there.
"The word 'sacrifice' will take on an entirely different meaning to me if I don't feel good (about) what is going to be done post-2011 to validate and use those sacrifices in a way that helped Afghanistan move forward," she said.
My Regiment also awarded this medal to several soldiers in March, and to two of my good friends, members of my Troop in Afghanistan whose luck run out on their third or fourth tour in Afghanistan..
She has a good point. Unfortunately it will cost more Moms to recieve the Sacrifice Medal. Hey, I don't want all our deaths and injuries to be in vain, but to just add to these statistics is akin to WW1 over the top and walk into death strategies. Hopefully the big US surge will make a difference and kill or repulse the Taliban from Afghanistan. But they may just melt away from them and lay low for as much as a decade and strike again.
Linda Loree accepted the award on behalf of her son Cpl. Nathan Hornburg, who was killed by a shell explosion in Afghanistan in 2007. Loree said she doesn't want her son's legacy squandered after the Canadian military's planned withdrawal in 2011. She said she'd like to see the Canadian Forces maintain some presence there.
"The word 'sacrifice' will take on an entirely different meaning to me if I don't feel good (about) what is going to be done post-2011 to validate and use those sacrifices in a way that helped Afghanistan move forward," she said.
My Regiment also awarded this medal to several soldiers in March, and to two of my good friends, members of my Troop in Afghanistan whose luck run out on their third or fourth tour in Afghanistan..
She has a good point. Unfortunately it will cost more Moms to recieve the Sacrifice Medal. Hey, I don't want all our deaths and injuries to be in vain, but to just add to these statistics is akin to WW1 over the top and walk into death strategies. Hopefully the big US surge will make a difference and kill or repulse the Taliban from Afghanistan. But they may just melt away from them and lay low for as much as a decade and strike again.
Iran's Ahmadinejad: proposed sanctions not legal
"Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad flouted any more United Nations sanctions on his nuclear program as illegal Saturday, insisting he will not submit to any such pressure based on the United States and Britain "lying" about the evidence."
Well what do you think?
Is Iran enriching uranium for nuclear reactors to produce energy or for use in nuclear weapons? Of course the US, UK, and French would have us believe it is for nuclear weapons. And I should think that Iran has all the oil it requires to produce energy for a long time.
But to think for a moment on the Iranian point of view - why shouldn't they possess nuclear weapons? Aside from the total devastation of the planet earth aside that is. The US, and through them Isreal, holds so much power over the middle east because they have the bomb. Immediately after WW2, the US had the upperhand over the Soviet Union because they didn't have the bomb. As an aside - that is when we should have re-armed the Wehrmacht and pushed onward to Moscow, but I digress. When the Reds got the bomb, that changed everything. No more could the west end every arguement with the phrase "do as we say or we will atomic bomb all your cities"!
So of course the west doesn't want this all powerful trump card to be turned into a joker. But this argument could be wearing as thin as a goat herder's sandal after the WMD claims about Iraq. And have you ever read independant reports of what the sanctions did to average citizens and children of Iraq? It seems criminal to impose sanctions that will ultimitely prohibit the medical treatment of folks and children, especially after your army littered the countryside with depleted uranium (DU) ammunition.
Ahmadinejad states the Iranian Nuclear program is only for energy and for the production of medical isotopes. Surely the CIA can infiltrate and buy enough information to prove or disprove this.
I'm no fan of Iran or any of those middle east countries, but I like to view the world through their eyes now and then instead of FoxNews and CNN.
OVER,,
Well what do you think?
Is Iran enriching uranium for nuclear reactors to produce energy or for use in nuclear weapons? Of course the US, UK, and French would have us believe it is for nuclear weapons. And I should think that Iran has all the oil it requires to produce energy for a long time.
But to think for a moment on the Iranian point of view - why shouldn't they possess nuclear weapons? Aside from the total devastation of the planet earth aside that is. The US, and through them Isreal, holds so much power over the middle east because they have the bomb. Immediately after WW2, the US had the upperhand over the Soviet Union because they didn't have the bomb. As an aside - that is when we should have re-armed the Wehrmacht and pushed onward to Moscow, but I digress. When the Reds got the bomb, that changed everything. No more could the west end every arguement with the phrase "do as we say or we will atomic bomb all your cities"!
So of course the west doesn't want this all powerful trump card to be turned into a joker. But this argument could be wearing as thin as a goat herder's sandal after the WMD claims about Iraq. And have you ever read independant reports of what the sanctions did to average citizens and children of Iraq? It seems criminal to impose sanctions that will ultimitely prohibit the medical treatment of folks and children, especially after your army littered the countryside with depleted uranium (DU) ammunition.
Ahmadinejad states the Iranian Nuclear program is only for energy and for the production of medical isotopes. Surely the CIA can infiltrate and buy enough information to prove or disprove this.
I'm no fan of Iran or any of those middle east countries, but I like to view the world through their eyes now and then instead of FoxNews and CNN.
OVER,,
Toronto Sikhs enjoy peaceful Khalsa parade
"After weeks of news about violent clashes at their places of worship, Sikhs in Greater Toronto enjoyed a peaceful day of celebration on Sunday. Despite intermittent drizzle throughout the day, an estimated 80,000 people took part in the Khalsa Day parade. The annual event celebrates the founding of the Khalsa order of Sikhism. The event followed two weeks of bad news for Sikhs. On April 18, an armed brawl broke out at the Sri Guru Nanak Sikh Centre in Brampton, northwest of Toronto. Combatants wielded hammers, knives and small axes in the brawl, which ended in assault charges. On April 2, well-known Sikh lawyer Manjit Mangat was stabbed with a kirpan at the Sikh Lehar Centre in Brampton. Mangat survived the attack."
Well this is fabulous news for the Toronto Sikh community. This is more like it - folks coming together to peacefully celebrate their religion without violence. And 80,000 of them, wow! Although I suppose that is not very much of Toronto's millions of inhabitants. I admit I have no idea what the Khalsa order of Sikhism is, much less the whole Sikh religion, but that is good because for the most part the more I learn about religions, the dimmer view I get of them.
Now if we can only get those catholic priests to keep their hands off of children. Is the catholic religion the only one that doesn't allow their preachers to marry? What about orthodox catholics, Hmmm I will have to look that up I suppose. It seems pretty daft to me to not allow them to have natural physical contact with a partner. And what is the deal with nuns, are they only catholic? Yes some research is in order I think?
Well this post has probably left you with more questions than answers, but I can't always be perfect.
Well this is fabulous news for the Toronto Sikh community. This is more like it - folks coming together to peacefully celebrate their religion without violence. And 80,000 of them, wow! Although I suppose that is not very much of Toronto's millions of inhabitants. I admit I have no idea what the Khalsa order of Sikhism is, much less the whole Sikh religion, but that is good because for the most part the more I learn about religions, the dimmer view I get of them.
Now if we can only get those catholic priests to keep their hands off of children. Is the catholic religion the only one that doesn't allow their preachers to marry? What about orthodox catholics, Hmmm I will have to look that up I suppose. It seems pretty daft to me to not allow them to have natural physical contact with a partner. And what is the deal with nuns, are they only catholic? Yes some research is in order I think?
Well this post has probably left you with more questions than answers, but I can't always be perfect.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Utah killer chooses death by firing squad
A convicted killer in Utah has chosen to be executed by firing squad instead of lethal injection, renewing a debate over what critics see as an antiquated, Old West-style of justice.
State court Judge Robin Reese signed the warrant Friday morning for Ronnie Lee Gardner, who killed an attorney during a failed attempt to escape from a Salt Lake City courthouse 25 years ago.
Gardner, 49, is scheduled for execution on June 18.
Under state law, Gardner was given the choice of being killed by lethal injection or shot by a five-man team of executioners firing from a set of matched rifles, a rarely used form of execution that harkens back to the 19th century when Utah was its own territory
After Reese said Gardner's avenues for appeal are exhausted and that he would sign the warrant, Gardner told the judge: "I would like the firing squad, please."
Heck, he has been in jail for 25 years and they are going to kill him too! He was at the courthouse because he killed another man, and was subsequently convicted of that, and was in cuffs surrounded by guards but somehow got slipped an .22 revolver and shot someone else before being shot and subdued himself. Talk about the wild-wild west!
I think that here in Canada murderers who get life basically end up doing 20 years or so before getting paroled (why do they call it a life sentence??). So they kept this double murderer behind bars for 25 years and then get to kill him! Woo-Hoo!
If I were the murderer I would also opt for death by firing squad, as long as they use 19th century rifles and, more importantly, 19th century ammunition!
Only in America - - The best goddamn country in the universe!!!
State court Judge Robin Reese signed the warrant Friday morning for Ronnie Lee Gardner, who killed an attorney during a failed attempt to escape from a Salt Lake City courthouse 25 years ago.
Gardner, 49, is scheduled for execution on June 18.
Under state law, Gardner was given the choice of being killed by lethal injection or shot by a five-man team of executioners firing from a set of matched rifles, a rarely used form of execution that harkens back to the 19th century when Utah was its own territory
After Reese said Gardner's avenues for appeal are exhausted and that he would sign the warrant, Gardner told the judge: "I would like the firing squad, please."
Heck, he has been in jail for 25 years and they are going to kill him too! He was at the courthouse because he killed another man, and was subsequently convicted of that, and was in cuffs surrounded by guards but somehow got slipped an .22 revolver and shot someone else before being shot and subdued himself. Talk about the wild-wild west!
I think that here in Canada murderers who get life basically end up doing 20 years or so before getting paroled (why do they call it a life sentence??). So they kept this double murderer behind bars for 25 years and then get to kill him! Woo-Hoo!
If I were the murderer I would also opt for death by firing squad, as long as they use 19th century rifles and, more importantly, 19th century ammunition!
Only in America - - The best goddamn country in the universe!!!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Air Transat
And now on to Air Transat, the company that almost got me off track and I should create another post just to smite them. And so I did.
They were the company that flew us to Bosnia in 1994 and also handled our flights home on leave. Now as you may know, I stayed in Europe for a perversion excursion for my leave, but I was one of the few. All the married folk headed home (there was no reverse LTA program in effect where instead of flying home you could fly your spouse to Europe) and a lot of the single folks also choose to head home. Not only did Air Transat charge the troops to fly home, but they also collected their frequent flier miles from them also. Now, I can't absolutely say this is true, because I stayed in Europe and paid my own way around Europe with a Euro-rail pass. In fact a year later I did the same exact thing. But sometime after that they started to pay single guys travel expenses, and that is good.
To get back to Air Transat, I have heard lots of stories of soldiers getting fucked around on thier flights back to Canada. Well actually most of the bitching was about the fact they had to pay for the flights. I fear some under the table bargaining took place. They actually had a lot of work to do to get us out of Bosnia. On my leave we were supposed to fly out of Sarajevo, but when we got there there was too much shooting going on, so plan B came into effect and they took us back to the bottom of route Pacman by MLVW (army truck) and loaded us into waiting buses. Thinking back it must have involved some good planning to have those buses there waiting for us. The buses drove us to Dubrovnik, on of the greatest cities on the Adriatic in Croatia. We got to the airport and had time for a bunch of beer before our flight to Rome, Italy.
Uhmmm, I seem to be arguing against myself.
I guess the biggest thing against them was that they kept the airmiles thing (or the RCD did, and now that I think of it the Regt did) and the ones that flew back to Canada payed for the flights.
The Regiment made a small fortune out of this tour and put it into a 20 year bond or something, which as it turns out should be great for our Afghan vets,,, maybe...
Heck I should review this whole post but what the heckness...
They were the company that flew us to Bosnia in 1994 and also handled our flights home on leave. Now as you may know, I stayed in Europe for a perversion excursion for my leave, but I was one of the few. All the married folk headed home (there was no reverse LTA program in effect where instead of flying home you could fly your spouse to Europe) and a lot of the single folks also choose to head home. Not only did Air Transat charge the troops to fly home, but they also collected their frequent flier miles from them also. Now, I can't absolutely say this is true, because I stayed in Europe and paid my own way around Europe with a Euro-rail pass. In fact a year later I did the same exact thing. But sometime after that they started to pay single guys travel expenses, and that is good.
To get back to Air Transat, I have heard lots of stories of soldiers getting fucked around on thier flights back to Canada. Well actually most of the bitching was about the fact they had to pay for the flights. I fear some under the table bargaining took place. They actually had a lot of work to do to get us out of Bosnia. On my leave we were supposed to fly out of Sarajevo, but when we got there there was too much shooting going on, so plan B came into effect and they took us back to the bottom of route Pacman by MLVW (army truck) and loaded us into waiting buses. Thinking back it must have involved some good planning to have those buses there waiting for us. The buses drove us to Dubrovnik, on of the greatest cities on the Adriatic in Croatia. We got to the airport and had time for a bunch of beer before our flight to Rome, Italy.
Uhmmm, I seem to be arguing against myself.
I guess the biggest thing against them was that they kept the airmiles thing (or the RCD did, and now that I think of it the Regt did) and the ones that flew back to Canada payed for the flights.
The Regiment made a small fortune out of this tour and put it into a 20 year bond or something, which as it turns out should be great for our Afghan vets,,, maybe...
Heck I should review this whole post but what the heckness...
Volcano ash fallout costing airlines $1B - Flight industry seeks bailout for worst crisis since 9/11
"Airlines demanded compensation from the EU Monday for the more than $1 billion US in losses they've incurred so far as a result of the volcanic ash that has disrupted airspace in Europe. At the same time, they criticized European governments for relying too much on scientific theory — not fact — in their decisions to ground flights across the continent. Canada's air travel industry is being affected, with up to $4 million Cdn. being lost daily. Airline analyst Robert Kokonis has calculated that Air Canada could be losing about $3 million per day and tour operator Air Transat close to $750,000."
Well I was about to launch into a rant against the airline companies for demanding a bailout... and I think I will for a bit. It this what the world has come to for big business? Fail and get magically bailed out by government? Let's see now...er flights have been cancelled for about 5 days = 1 billion $, then extrapolate (whatever that means) that into 365 days = 73 billion the airlines make in a year. And they are saying they can't absorb this loss. If they get bailed out I hope Luftansa has the common courtesy to give the government a reach-around.
Well - my argument goes equal for Air Canada.
Well I was about to launch into a rant against the airline companies for demanding a bailout... and I think I will for a bit. It this what the world has come to for big business? Fail and get magically bailed out by government? Let's see now...er flights have been cancelled for about 5 days = 1 billion $, then extrapolate (whatever that means) that into 365 days = 73 billion the airlines make in a year. And they are saying they can't absorb this loss. If they get bailed out I hope Luftansa has the common courtesy to give the government a reach-around.
Well - my argument goes equal for Air Canada.
Monday, April 19, 2010
New Poem "When the End Came"
I wrote this tonight after reading the comments of some knuckle head on the closing of the North Rustico Royal Canadian Legion and from the memory of last night's night terror.
Missing funds close P.E.I. legion hall
The North Rustico Legion has had to close in due to a theft of several thousand dollars last fall... You may have heard of this on my Facebook page... By the fuck if I ever meet bluelou it had better be officiated or else...
Article on new Veteran's charter
A very true article on why the new charter fails Veterans.
http://www.dominionpaper.ca/articles/3300
http://www.dominionpaper.ca/articles/3300
Town of Souris proceeds with trailer eviction
"After losing a legal battle against the Town of Souris, P.E.I., Henry Jarvis has to be out of the Souris Trailer Park by the end of this month. The town is enforcing a bylaw that prohibits older-style mobile homes from moving into the park, and a judge has issued an order evicting Jarvis. He must be out by May 1, but he has nowhere to go. He has had the support of Souris Trailer Park owner Anne McPhee, who wanted to keep him as a tenant."
Now this I don't get at all. From the picture of his trailer I can't really see any major difference than all the others. And the trailer park owner wants him to stay. Maybe the trailer has outdated wiring or plumbing or something?
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Surrey Sikh parade's martyrs float angers mayor
"Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts says the city will review the status of the annual Sikh Vaisakhi parade after a controversial float was included in the event Saturday. The float featured the flag of Khalistan, the independent Sikh state that separatists want to carve out of India's Punjab state. There were also posters of men who founded what are considered terrorist groups and who played a role in assassinating Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi, along with the slogan "They gave their today for our tomorrow.In 2007 and 2008, controversial floats — one with a photo of alleged Air India bombing mastermind Talwinder Singh Parmar — drew criticism."
Where do I start?
How could they sneak this float in? Who organizes this parade? Who let these people into Canada? Who let's them all live in one riding where they can elect an MP? They all should be settled in rural areas. They should learn to live the Canadian way. They should leave their past histories in their god forsaken homelands.
And if these terrorist supporting elements are the minority, as some claim, why doesn't the Sikh community put a stop to it themselves? It can only be for the better of their life here in Canada.
Where do I start?
How could they sneak this float in? Who organizes this parade? Who let these people into Canada? Who let's them all live in one riding where they can elect an MP? They all should be settled in rural areas. They should learn to live the Canadian way. They should leave their past histories in their god forsaken homelands.
And if these terrorist supporting elements are the minority, as some claim, why doesn't the Sikh community put a stop to it themselves? It can only be for the better of their life here in Canada.
P.E.I. wife killer released again
"A Prince Edward Island man, Fred Sheppard, who beat his common-law wife to death in 2000 will be released next month under strict conditions; stay away from alcohol and report all relationships with women.
In 2001, Sheppard pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The charge was reduced from second-degree murder because the court ruled Sheppard was too drunk to know what he was doing.
Sheppard was first granted parole in 2004, but was returned to prison the next year after violating his release conditions by drinking.
In August 2008, the National Parole Board revoked Sheppard's day parole after he was found intoxicated and harassing a woman.
Sheppard was returned to an Alberta prison after police found him harassing a woman in downtown Edmonton in May 2008. Sheppard swore at police and tried to punch one of the officers."
What a story. Only sentenced to 10 years, got paroled after only 4, and continuously violates his parole conditions. Now I suspect that his original 10 year sentence is up and they have to release him, but you got to believe this guy will end up in jail again. He gets released May 20 and it is unknown whether he will return to PEI.
In 2001, Sheppard pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The charge was reduced from second-degree murder because the court ruled Sheppard was too drunk to know what he was doing.
Sheppard was first granted parole in 2004, but was returned to prison the next year after violating his release conditions by drinking.
In August 2008, the National Parole Board revoked Sheppard's day parole after he was found intoxicated and harassing a woman.
Sheppard was returned to an Alberta prison after police found him harassing a woman in downtown Edmonton in May 2008. Sheppard swore at police and tried to punch one of the officers."
What a story. Only sentenced to 10 years, got paroled after only 4, and continuously violates his parole conditions. Now I suspect that his original 10 year sentence is up and they have to release him, but you got to believe this guy will end up in jail again. He gets released May 20 and it is unknown whether he will return to PEI.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Forces never shot innocent Afghan: top general
"Gen. Walter Natynczyk, the chief of defence staff, said Friday that the Canadian Forces have reviewed the interpreter's testimony to a parliamentary committee and are convinced that their soldiers acted appropriately at all times."
Pure and simple, this man is setting us up for another pay-off. Malargai wants us to take him and his family into Canada and end up paying through the nose again for illiterate, untrained people who should be left where they are. We need that liar like we need a hole in the head.
Pure and simple, this man is setting us up for another pay-off. Malargai wants us to take him and his family into Canada and end up paying through the nose again for illiterate, untrained people who should be left where they are. We need that liar like we need a hole in the head.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Private eye in Guergis case $13M in debt
"Court records reveal that Derrick Snowdy has filed for bankruptcy, with total liabilities of $13,313,976 and total assets of $11,379 as of Aug. 21, 2009. A decision by the court has not yet been made."
How the hell does a PI run up that kind of bill? And who kept lending him the money?
Maybe HE's the one with the cocaine problem?
How the hell does a PI run up that kind of bill? And who kept lending him the money?
Maybe HE's the one with the cocaine problem?
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Afghan translator actions...
The man received death threats from the Taliban for him and his family. Yest he is brave enough and believes enough in democracy to tell the truth.
-------
And yet he left his family in Afghanistan and then returned to Canada where he can be safe. Why did he not move his family to say Kabul and ask the embassy for protection for his family. I would not leave my family in danger and fly across the world to Canada. Yet now he said that his Family has to be brought immediately to Canada for protection.
Motive to tell anything, I do not know?
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/04/15/afghan-translator-allegations-detainees.html#socialcomments#ixzz0lD07Ori8
-------
And yet he left his family in Afghanistan and then returned to Canada where he can be safe. Why did he not move his family to say Kabul and ask the embassy for protection for his family. I would not leave my family in danger and fly across the world to Canada. Yet now he said that his Family has to be brought immediately to Canada for protection.
Motive to tell anything, I do not know?
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/04/15/afghan-translator-allegations-detainees.html#socialcomments#ixzz0lD07Ori8
CNN's Larry King and wife file for divorce
"Larry King filed for divorce on Wednesday shortly before his seventh wife also sought to end the couple's nearly 13-year marriage. The 76-year-old host of CNN's Larry King Live filed hours before Shawn King filed her own petition. Both cited "irreconcilable differences." The couple married in a hospital room in 1997 three days before Larry King underwent surgery to clear a clogged blood vessel. They have two sons, ages 11 and 9. The petitions differ in that Larry King is seeking joint custody, while his 50-year-old wife wants physical custody.
As soon as I read the headline I thought that he probably has a younger wife and was not wrong. Imagine have a 9 year old son when you are 76! Let's see,,, he married her when he was 63 and she was 37 - good score old man!
The whole wedding in a hospital room thing is crazy.
Chris
As soon as I read the headline I thought that he probably has a younger wife and was not wrong. Imagine have a 9 year old son when you are 76! Let's see,,, he married her when he was 63 and she was 37 - good score old man!
The whole wedding in a hospital room thing is crazy.
Chris
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Afghan translator alleges shooting coverup
A parliamentary committee has heard stunning allegations from a former translator who claims the Canadian military tried to cover up the fatal shooting of an Afghan man in October 2007.
Malgarai Ahmadshah alleged to MPs in Ottawa that the Canadian military "panicked" and rounded up a half a dozen Afghans between the age of 10 and 90 after the shooting of a man sleeping on the roof of a compound in southern Afghanistan.
Ahmadshah, a Canadian citizen born in Afghanistan, admitted inside the committee room that he did not witness the alleged shooting, but said he was present for the interrogation of detained men afterward.
He said the soldier who allegedly shot the man in the back of the head mistakenly thought he had a pistol.
Ahmadshah also described how one of the detainees put his head on the ground and "begged to have a bullet put in his head" rather than be handed over to the Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS).
Ahmadshah testified he was not at the compound during the alleged incident, although he was allowed to see the intelligence report and took part in the interrogation of the detained men. He alleged a member of the military personally described it to him as "murder."
An unfortunate accident, and unfortunately accidents of this manner happen far too regularly in Afghanistan; as in any war. Why the Military would try to cover it up is puzzling. They have not covered it up before. Maybe this Ahmadshah is just stirring up false accusations. I hope we get more info on this subject.
Chris.
Malgarai Ahmadshah alleged to MPs in Ottawa that the Canadian military "panicked" and rounded up a half a dozen Afghans between the age of 10 and 90 after the shooting of a man sleeping on the roof of a compound in southern Afghanistan.
Ahmadshah, a Canadian citizen born in Afghanistan, admitted inside the committee room that he did not witness the alleged shooting, but said he was present for the interrogation of detained men afterward.
He said the soldier who allegedly shot the man in the back of the head mistakenly thought he had a pistol.
Ahmadshah also described how one of the detainees put his head on the ground and "begged to have a bullet put in his head" rather than be handed over to the Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS).
Ahmadshah testified he was not at the compound during the alleged incident, although he was allowed to see the intelligence report and took part in the interrogation of the detained men. He alleged a member of the military personally described it to him as "murder."
An unfortunate accident, and unfortunately accidents of this manner happen far too regularly in Afghanistan; as in any war. Why the Military would try to cover it up is puzzling. They have not covered it up before. Maybe this Ahmadshah is just stirring up false accusations. I hope we get more info on this subject.
Chris.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Nuclear attack threat rising: Obama
The risk of nuclear attacks is rising, U.S. President Barack Obama warned Tuesday as he opened the nuclear safety summit in Washington, D.C.
"Two decades after the end of the Cold War, we face a cruel irony of history. The risk of a nuclear confrontation between nations has gone down, but the risk of nuclear attack has gone up," Obama said in his opening remarks.
"Nuclear materials that could be sold or stolen and fashioned into a nuclear weapon exist in dozens of nations," he said.
Obama said terrorist networks such as al-Qaeda have tried to acquire the material for a nuclear weapon "and if they ever succeeded they would surely use it."
Well I believe that you can't make a nuclear bomb in some one's garage. Getting the materials is one thing, setting up the device is another. Take, for example, Iran. Apparently they have been trying to build a bomb for a very long time. If a whole country can't do it, what chance does some of these terrorist group of succeeding?
More fear mongering by the Americans.
"Two decades after the end of the Cold War, we face a cruel irony of history. The risk of a nuclear confrontation between nations has gone down, but the risk of nuclear attack has gone up," Obama said in his opening remarks.
"Nuclear materials that could be sold or stolen and fashioned into a nuclear weapon exist in dozens of nations," he said.
Obama said terrorist networks such as al-Qaeda have tried to acquire the material for a nuclear weapon "and if they ever succeeded they would surely use it."
Well I believe that you can't make a nuclear bomb in some one's garage. Getting the materials is one thing, setting up the device is another. Take, for example, Iran. Apparently they have been trying to build a bomb for a very long time. If a whole country can't do it, what chance does some of these terrorist group of succeeding?
More fear mongering by the Americans.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Spanked children more aggressive
"Children who are spanked when they are three years old are more likely to have screaming tantrums, get into fights, hurt animals and refuse to share by the time they are five, a new study in the medical journal Pediatrics suggests.
This finding seems to support a social learning approach to understanding the cycle of violence, whereby the child learns to be aggressive by being treated directly with aggression," the article says.."
Well as I have no children I guess I don't have an opinion on this subject, but I have observed other parents. The validity of a "time out" as a punishement seems to be pretty fragile. Yes, go to your room for a time out until you learn it is not right to take toys from your sister. And in their rooms are a bunch of toys and video games that can make them forget the whole reason for their punishment.
But what do I know??
This finding seems to support a social learning approach to understanding the cycle of violence, whereby the child learns to be aggressive by being treated directly with aggression," the article says.."
Well as I have no children I guess I don't have an opinion on this subject, but I have observed other parents. The validity of a "time out" as a punishement seems to be pretty fragile. Yes, go to your room for a time out until you learn it is not right to take toys from your sister. And in their rooms are a bunch of toys and video games that can make them forget the whole reason for their punishment.
But what do I know??
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Natynczyk 'shocked' by Karzai rhetoric
"General Walt Natynczyk says he is "shocked" by recent anti-Western rhetoric from Afghan President Hamid Karzai -- including a threat to join the Taliban -- but maintains Canadian soldiers are more concerned with improving the lives of Afghan civilians. Our men and women in the Canadian Forces are focused on enabling the peace and security of Afghans where they live," Natynczyk told CTV's Question Period on Sunday.
Natynczyk said one of the biggest challenges in Afghanistan today is governance, from the local level right up to Karzai and his cabinet, "and the sooner we have a strong government right from the district level all the way through, the sooner we'll achieve a faster pace of progress in Afghanistan."
Well it surprises me that Walt is "shocked" by this. Hasn't he done some reading and research on Afghanistan? During the Russian occupation and afterwards, it was a normal occurence when various private armies switched sides. They either would be payed off or realize they were on the losing side and switch over to the winning side. And I've said it many times, that when the US invaded; air power and bags of US greenbacks won the initial fight for them and the overthrow of the Taliban Governement.
Of course our soldiers over there are concerned with improving the lives of the Afghans in their areas. We can't change Governement actions in Afghanistan (or Ottawa) so we do our best to try to help the locals we have contact with. After all, if we can't help someone one on these tours, just what the heck are we doing there?
Walt's comments on the state of governance in Afghanistan are comical. He states that "the sooner we have a strong government from the district all the way to the top the sooner we'll see progress in Afghanistan. Walt will never see a strong government in Afghanistan unless the US take over completely, which I doubt they will. The last strong Afghan government were the Taliban. I wonder if things would have turned out better if we had negotiated with them 9 years ago. Let's see, run your country in Sharia law, which most of the country accepts anyway, but stop supporting extremist Islamic groups.
Now that seems like a good deal. 142 less Canadian deaths, the stop of Afghanistan heroin flooding the market, a stabilized Afghan Goverment to deal with for the pipeline of oil and gas from the Ex Soviet Union Stans in exchange for the odd civilian put to death for breaking the rules. There is much uproar here and in the US to bring back the death penalty, so why should we get carried away with how that government meters out punishment?
Natynczyk said one of the biggest challenges in Afghanistan today is governance, from the local level right up to Karzai and his cabinet, "and the sooner we have a strong government right from the district level all the way through, the sooner we'll achieve a faster pace of progress in Afghanistan."
Well it surprises me that Walt is "shocked" by this. Hasn't he done some reading and research on Afghanistan? During the Russian occupation and afterwards, it was a normal occurence when various private armies switched sides. They either would be payed off or realize they were on the losing side and switch over to the winning side. And I've said it many times, that when the US invaded; air power and bags of US greenbacks won the initial fight for them and the overthrow of the Taliban Governement.
Of course our soldiers over there are concerned with improving the lives of the Afghans in their areas. We can't change Governement actions in Afghanistan (or Ottawa) so we do our best to try to help the locals we have contact with. After all, if we can't help someone one on these tours, just what the heck are we doing there?
Walt's comments on the state of governance in Afghanistan are comical. He states that "the sooner we have a strong government from the district all the way to the top the sooner we'll see progress in Afghanistan. Walt will never see a strong government in Afghanistan unless the US take over completely, which I doubt they will. The last strong Afghan government were the Taliban. I wonder if things would have turned out better if we had negotiated with them 9 years ago. Let's see, run your country in Sharia law, which most of the country accepts anyway, but stop supporting extremist Islamic groups.
Now that seems like a good deal. 142 less Canadian deaths, the stop of Afghanistan heroin flooding the market, a stabilized Afghan Goverment to deal with for the pipeline of oil and gas from the Ex Soviet Union Stans in exchange for the odd civilian put to death for breaking the rules. There is much uproar here and in the US to bring back the death penalty, so why should we get carried away with how that government meters out punishment?
Poem release
I've just added another poem to my blog site - "WHO TO HELP".
This is one of my later poems, eventually I hope to be able to add the dozen or more poems I've made up.. but all in good time.
This is one of my later poems, eventually I hope to be able to add the dozen or more poems I've made up.. but all in good time.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
A jury of his peers? Hardly. by Peter Worthington.
A concern about the court martial of Capt. Robert Semrau, charged with killing a mortally wounded Taliban insurgent on the battlefield, is that he gets a fair trial.
What makes people like me uneasy, is that the none of the five-member panel comes from the combat arms, or has ever had to make decisions on a battlefield while under fire, as Semrau had to make.
"The court martial panel will decide guilt or innocence by majority decision, unlike civilian trials where the jury must reach a unanimous verdict.
Semrau’s panel consists of a commodore, a lieutenant-colonel, two majors and a captain — one navy, two air force, two army — all from logistic or administrative services.
From their individual and service backgrounds, none has understanding or experience with what a patrol or platoon commander requires outside the wire.
Why no one from combat arms was appointed on the panel is puzzling. It causes some to wonder if we are undergoing our own version of a Breaker Morant case, where an Australian soldier in the Boer war was court-martialed and found guilty for political considerations.
Semrau is the first Canadian soldier in any war, to be charged with murdering a wounded enemy on the battlefield.
When his patrol of mostly Afghan National Army (ANC) soldiers was ambushed in 2008, one Talib was killed and another mortally wounded.
Semrau’s options were to abort the patrol to get medical help to an enemy who was likely to die anyway.
Or to continue the patrol and leave the wounded insurgent to the mercies of ANA soldiers who had already spat on and kicked the guy.
While it may be news to Prime Minister Harper and politicians that Afghanis are prone to torture, it was a prescient Rudyard Kipling who in the 1890s penned the verse:
“When you’re wounded and left on Afghanistan’s plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains,
An’ go to your Gawd like a soldier.”
This, in effect, is the grace that was accorded the wounded Talib fighter when he was spared the mercies of his Afghan enemies."
I agree 100 % with Mr. Worthington.
What makes people like me uneasy, is that the none of the five-member panel comes from the combat arms, or has ever had to make decisions on a battlefield while under fire, as Semrau had to make.
"The court martial panel will decide guilt or innocence by majority decision, unlike civilian trials where the jury must reach a unanimous verdict.
Semrau’s panel consists of a commodore, a lieutenant-colonel, two majors and a captain — one navy, two air force, two army — all from logistic or administrative services.
From their individual and service backgrounds, none has understanding or experience with what a patrol or platoon commander requires outside the wire.
Why no one from combat arms was appointed on the panel is puzzling. It causes some to wonder if we are undergoing our own version of a Breaker Morant case, where an Australian soldier in the Boer war was court-martialed and found guilty for political considerations.
Semrau is the first Canadian soldier in any war, to be charged with murdering a wounded enemy on the battlefield.
When his patrol of mostly Afghan National Army (ANC) soldiers was ambushed in 2008, one Talib was killed and another mortally wounded.
Semrau’s options were to abort the patrol to get medical help to an enemy who was likely to die anyway.
Or to continue the patrol and leave the wounded insurgent to the mercies of ANA soldiers who had already spat on and kicked the guy.
While it may be news to Prime Minister Harper and politicians that Afghanis are prone to torture, it was a prescient Rudyard Kipling who in the 1890s penned the verse:
“When you’re wounded and left on Afghanistan’s plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains,
An’ go to your Gawd like a soldier.”
This, in effect, is the grace that was accorded the wounded Talib fighter when he was spared the mercies of his Afghan enemies."
I agree 100 % with Mr. Worthington.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Vimy ceremonies salute last WW I vet
"Canadians have paid a special tribute to the country's last World War I veteran and his generation at a ceremony in Ottawa that officially marked the end of an era. John Babcock, 109, who died in February, was honoured at the National End of Era commemorative ceremony on Vimy Ridge Day at the National War Memorial in the capital on Friday morning."
We shall remember and honour them forever.
We shall remember and honour them forever.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
A majority of Canadians oppose prolonging the country's military mission in Afghanistan,
Half of Canadians do not support the country's military being deployed to Afghanistan, and 60 per cent oppose extending the mission past its current end date of July 2011, a new poll suggests.
The poll, conducted by research firm EKOS and released Thursday exclusively to the CBC, found 36 per cent of respondents supported the mission, though only 28 per cent would be amenable to prolonging it.
The survey, which also inquired about federal voter intentions, asked two questions on the Afghan deployment: "Do you support or oppose Canadian military participation in Afghanistan?" and "Do you oppose or support Canada extending its mission in Afghanistan?"
This is good to hear.
The poll, conducted by research firm EKOS and released Thursday exclusively to the CBC, found 36 per cent of respondents supported the mission, though only 28 per cent would be amenable to prolonging it.
The survey, which also inquired about federal voter intentions, asked two questions on the Afghan deployment: "Do you support or oppose Canadian military participation in Afghanistan?" and "Do you oppose or support Canada extending its mission in Afghanistan?"
This is good to hear.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Canadian Tire
Canadian Tire employs more than 58,000 people at 273 gas stations and 479 retail stores across the country.
And we love every single one of them..!!!!
And we love every single one of them..!!!!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Tiger
Today at 15:00hrs Tiger Woods will hold another press conference. I hope this whole affair news worthiness loses momentum fast. Yes he had some family troubles, but so has the majority of family in North America. I'm glad he is getting back into the game, especially at a Major event. Hopefully the press won't dwell on it too much longer and not ask stupid questions to him.
If he goes on to win this weekend, so much the better.
If he goes on to win this weekend, so much the better.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Rantness
Hey my friends,
Is it only me that is getting sick with the oppositions tirade about Afghan prisoner abuse??? Do the citizens of Canada really care about Afghan Taliban fighters? If there is wrong doing found in this case, will they go for wrongdoing in WW1 and WW2?? And don't forget Korea, a UN sanctioned war that resulted in a cease fire that is ongoing to this day.
If the Governement decided to build a detention center for the Taliban prisoners that we captured, some pencil necked liberal or ndp would have been up in arms on this cost when we should just have handed them over to the Afghanistan police.
This whole affair smacks of a high school scandal where one side thinks the other has done something wrong.
The opposition should concentrate on coming up with better ideas than the government and not just complaining about minor problems...
Really who cares how the Afghans treat each other? Sure there were a few episodes of female execution for not following Muslims rules, but I think that that was fairly rare, because women are smart enough to not do something that would get them killed. Did the Taliban execute women on a daily basis in the Olympic stadium? Or just a few to set the example?
Yes women are better off now, I guess.. they are still covered with burquas and such. The odd female news reporter suddenly disappears, but that is now under NATO's rule..
My thoughts are to leave that back ward ass country and maybe focus on some country close to home - perhaps Haiti? Perhaps Newfoundland?
I'm glad to hear the gov't has verified that 2011 will be the end date for Canadian combat action.
I'm troubled to hear that they may send Canadian troop to the Congo. The news reports that it will be a more traditional peace keeping operation. Sure take a young man from the Maritimes or from the prairies and plonk him into Africa. He will soon learn that these savages are only out for themselves. Well I think that the tradition peace keeping mission is no more. Us western force have tried to keep the peace in too many places with no success. Unprofor in Bosnia where we sat between forces and watched the fight. Rwanda where we had no teeth. Afghanistan where we helped prop up Karzai, just one of the many warlords. Hamid was probably chosen by the US before 911, and afterwards seemed the best choice to lead a pro US Afghanistan. Hamid has shown some balls lately when he complains about civilian casualties caused by NATO artillery or air.
Just saying....
From Joe White: All I can say to that is.....well said, I agree with you 100% You should have that published in a newspaper somewhere, make Canadians open their eyes. Its amazing how ignorant Canadians are as to whats really going on in this world. Well said buddy!!
Is it only me that is getting sick with the oppositions tirade about Afghan prisoner abuse??? Do the citizens of Canada really care about Afghan Taliban fighters? If there is wrong doing found in this case, will they go for wrongdoing in WW1 and WW2?? And don't forget Korea, a UN sanctioned war that resulted in a cease fire that is ongoing to this day.
If the Governement decided to build a detention center for the Taliban prisoners that we captured, some pencil necked liberal or ndp would have been up in arms on this cost when we should just have handed them over to the Afghanistan police.
This whole affair smacks of a high school scandal where one side thinks the other has done something wrong.
The opposition should concentrate on coming up with better ideas than the government and not just complaining about minor problems...
Really who cares how the Afghans treat each other? Sure there were a few episodes of female execution for not following Muslims rules, but I think that that was fairly rare, because women are smart enough to not do something that would get them killed. Did the Taliban execute women on a daily basis in the Olympic stadium? Or just a few to set the example?
Yes women are better off now, I guess.. they are still covered with burquas and such. The odd female news reporter suddenly disappears, but that is now under NATO's rule..
My thoughts are to leave that back ward ass country and maybe focus on some country close to home - perhaps Haiti? Perhaps Newfoundland?
I'm glad to hear the gov't has verified that 2011 will be the end date for Canadian combat action.
I'm troubled to hear that they may send Canadian troop to the Congo. The news reports that it will be a more traditional peace keeping operation. Sure take a young man from the Maritimes or from the prairies and plonk him into Africa. He will soon learn that these savages are only out for themselves. Well I think that the tradition peace keeping mission is no more. Us western force have tried to keep the peace in too many places with no success. Unprofor in Bosnia where we sat between forces and watched the fight. Rwanda where we had no teeth. Afghanistan where we helped prop up Karzai, just one of the many warlords. Hamid was probably chosen by the US before 911, and afterwards seemed the best choice to lead a pro US Afghanistan. Hamid has shown some balls lately when he complains about civilian casualties caused by NATO artillery or air.
Just saying....
From Joe White: All I can say to that is.....well said, I agree with you 100% You should have that published in a newspaper somewhere, make Canadians open their eyes. Its amazing how ignorant Canadians are as to whats really going on in this world. Well said buddy!!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
The "Ruhr Express"
We found this patch at Ron's place after he passed away. I asked Mickey if I could have it. I looked it up on the internet afterwards. Lancaster bombers were built by Victory Aircraft Limited utilizing the Malton, Ontario factory (near today's Toronto Pearson International Airport).Initially, all components were built at Malton except for the bomb doors, flaps, ailerons and elevators, that were produced by Ottawa Car & Aircraft Ltd. I think that Ron probably worked for this company.
KB-700 - THE RUHR EXPRESS
August 1, 1943 was a proud day for the workers of Victory Aircraft
and indeed for all Canadians as the first Canadian-built Lancaster rolled off the assembly line.
The "Ruhr Express" flew two operations with No. 405 Squadron before completing its service with No. 419 "Moose" Squadron. On January 2, 1945 KB-700, the first Canadian built Lancaster, experienced hydraulic problems while attempting to land following a raid to Nuremberg, its 49th operation. The flaps would not deploy properly and, after overshooting the runway, the aircraft ended up in a farmer's field where it collided with a trench digger. Amid exploding ammunition the crew escaped but fire destroyed the aircraft. The loss was particularly sad, especially when viewed over fifty-five years later, because the plans were to fly the "Ruhr Express" back to Canada following its fiftieth operation, for a triumphant return and to become a memorial to the Canadians who built and flew Lancasters. So ended the first plans for a Lancaster to be placed on display in a Canadian museum.
I contacted the The Nanton Lancaster Society Air Museum in Nanton, Alberta (south of Calgary) to see if they were interested in the patch. They were very interested and I'm going to mail it to them.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
More Afghan detainee documents released
"Conservative MP Tom Lukiwski, the parliamentary secretary to the government House leader, tabled more than 6,000 pages of additional documents in the House of Commons Thursday.
Conservative MP Tom Lukiwski, the parliamentary secretary to the government House leader, tabled another 6,000 pages of documents relating to the transfer of Afghan detainees in the House of Commons Thursday. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
One opposition MP said the latest release does not provide any new information.
"Our initial assessment is that these documents are not new," NDP MP Jack Harris said. "We still have a lot of pages to go through but many of these documents are online and have been publicly available for years.
"Trying to bury us in documents is not going to work. The government must stop delaying the truth and abide by the order of the House."
Fucking Bunko. The opposition should just shut the fuck up. What do you want, an inquisition on every prisoner the Canadian Army has taken?
Why this issue is tying up Parliment is one reason that I think we need a strong majority governement. This is a nothing debate, but the opposition have built it into a major thing...
Conservative MP Tom Lukiwski, the parliamentary secretary to the government House leader, tabled another 6,000 pages of documents relating to the transfer of Afghan detainees in the House of Commons Thursday. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
One opposition MP said the latest release does not provide any new information.
"Our initial assessment is that these documents are not new," NDP MP Jack Harris said. "We still have a lot of pages to go through but many of these documents are online and have been publicly available for years.
"Trying to bury us in documents is not going to work. The government must stop delaying the truth and abide by the order of the House."
Fucking Bunko. The opposition should just shut the fuck up. What do you want, an inquisition on every prisoner the Canadian Army has taken?
Why this issue is tying up Parliment is one reason that I think we need a strong majority governement. This is a nothing debate, but the opposition have built it into a major thing...
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