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Saturday, December 29, 2007
Stay in Afghanistan, US Ambassador urges Canada
US ambassador to Canada David Wilkins urges Canada to stay the course in Afghanistan beyond 2009:
"As ambassador, he's encouraging Canadian officials to extend that country's military operations in Afghanistan beyond its current commitment that ends in February 2009. "But we fully understand and appreciate it's up to Canadian elected officials to make that decision," Wilkins said."
I think Canada is the best friend and ally that the Americans have got in Afghanistan since no body else (except the British) is doing what we're doing there and here comes the word of praise for Canadian troops:
"I wanted to take the opportunity to thank Canadian troops on behalf of my country for their service"
It's the English speaking world that is taking care of the business again.
Posted by Winston on December 29, 2007 in International Affairs | Permalink
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Comments
"It's the English speaking world that is taking care of the business again."
Actually, it is french Quebecers taking care of things right now, Winston. It's funny you point out the fact that Canadians are their best allies in Afghanistan. We're doing their jobs, we're fighting the ones who haboured the guy who've attack them. While we're dying in the name of that, our friends are after other spheres of interests. That's what I would have like to say to that David Wilkins. This and the fact that they could use their friendship with Pakistan in ways that we would stop dying in Afghanistan.
Posted by: Marc | 2007-12-29 3:32:23 PM
Marc,
Your point is well taken. I think it was a generalization since Canada is largely an English speaking country and as a member of the British Commonwealth it is taken as such.
Thanks to the Quebecers who are doing the heavy lifting in Afghanistan at this time.
I have noted lately that there is a lot of praise being heaped on the Canadians, Brits and Aussies at this time. But that that doesn't make the rest of the Chicken-shit Euro-weenies who refuse to help in a meaningful way any less disgusting. They enjoy the cake, but don't want to do any of the baking. A curse on them all.
Posted by: John West | 2007-12-29 3:54:31 PM
Who cares about the "Euro-weenies" ?
If the American administration would care about fighting THOSE who've attacked them instead of robbing a region from their natural resources, we wouldnt have a US ambassador giving us lessons on how long we should stay there. If even the Americans dont care about the Talibans in Afghanistan n' Pakistan, how long do you think it would take before Canadians wake up. We will not stay after 2009 and what a funny set of russian dolls those Wilkins, Bush and the bunch makes.
Posted by: Marc | 2007-12-29 4:05:22 PM
marc: I understand your frustration (your Habs are sucking and all), but what region is the US robbing resources from? Surely you don't mean Iraq and its oil? If so, please give your sources regarding how this is happening? Oh, and sorry about calling you Shirley! :)
Posted by: Markalta | 2007-12-29 4:18:07 PM
Markalta ~
Mark won't give you those sources because they don't exist outside the Leftoid universe.
But you already knew that, didn't you. :)
Posted by: obc | 2007-12-29 4:28:37 PM
"your Habs are sucking and all"
5-2 against Tempa Bay, 5-1 against the Panthers, 4th in the East...Where do YOU get your sources ?
As for my "sources", you seem to already agree with me. I didnt have to put words on paper you did it youself. Sounds like everybody see the same shit so why bothering wasting time on proving you what the entire planet knows. If you refuse to see it it's your choice and I cannot force it on you my neo-con friend.
One thing only: our presence in Afghanistan stop in 2009. Try to remember it.
Posted by: Marc | 2007-12-29 4:47:11 PM
"...robbing a region from their natural resources"
I'm waiting for one credible story on this to surface. I can't find one single instance.
Can anyone else? Name one case, just one. Bare facts only please.
Posted by: Sounder | 2007-12-29 4:51:22 PM
Sounder ~
Don't hold your breath! :)
Posted by: obc | 2007-12-29 4:54:51 PM
"I'm waiting for one credible story on this to surface. I can't find one single instance."
Sounder, ur funny !
Posted by: Marc | 2007-12-29 5:10:37 PM
"Euro-weenies" Europeans know how to fight. Don't give up on them. It's the leftoids that need to be challenged. ~:)
Posted by: dewp | 2007-12-29 5:31:07 PM
"Euro-weenies". Europeans know how to fight. Don't give up on them. It's the leftoids that need to be challenged. ~:)
Posted by: dewp | 2007-12-29 5:32:18 PM
Marc,I agree with John West above. No one with even a functioning brain stem will denigrate the boys from Quebec. Canada is still considered an English country in the global world,outside of your province of course. Negotiation is the desirable course,but who in their right mind trust the murderous bastards. There was talk about negotiating with the taliban a few months ago but that didn't work out because the taliban wanted the removal of all foreign troops before they would come to the table. That would mean we would have to give in to their utmost desire before they would even talk. That is not negotiation. ..... BTW,go HABS go.bleu, blanc et rouge,toute le monde.
Posted by: wallyj | 2007-12-29 6:47:24 PM
marc: come on...4 points ahead of the Bruins and you're bragging? :)
And about the Iraq, oil thing. Only those of you with BDS believe that the U.S. is taking Iraqi oil. It's another 9/11 truther thingy.
Posted by: Markalta | 2007-12-29 8:29:17 PM
In December 2002, before the US and friends invaded Iraq, the US imported 11.3 million barrels of oil from Iraq, just under 5% of their total imports for that month.
In October 2007 the US imported 15.2 million barrels of oil from Iraq, just under 6% of their total imports for that month.
The war has not changed US access to oil to any significant degree.
(Incidentally, in the same two periods imports of oil to the US from Canada went from 46.2 million barrels to 58.6 million barrels.)
One more thing: Montreal is one point behind second place New Jersey and have a game in hand on them. The Habs might not win the cup, but they are not sucking!
Posted by: fact Check | 2007-12-29 9:08:15 PM
Marc,
If the USA wanted to rob a region of it's natural resources, it need look no further than the 49 parallel next door. We have everything they could want or need and more .. including fresh water.
You may note that they regularly come up here to get them ... with boat loads of cash.
They are Yankee traders, not Yankee imperialists. They have gone into many countries and help them. None of those counties were subjugated and forced to pay tax to their US masters. On the contrary, the US continually pours billions into those nations helping them up off their knees. They did that long ago for Europe and Japan. They are doing to for China right now buy purchasing billions of tons of their useless shit. They have been solely responsible to Canada great prosperity through the entire 20th century. We would be like an Eastern European country without them. We would also be a lot less free.
The USA is the most benevolent and powerful country that there ever was and until you can find me one that it is better, shut the f**k about the USA stealing anything from anyone.
Posted by: John West | 2007-12-29 9:28:59 PM
Thank you John West.
Although the naked truth may hurt some.
Posted by: Sounder | 2007-12-29 10:17:40 PM
"They have been solely responsible to Canada great prosperity through the entire 20th century."
That's the United-States, not the present neo-con administration witch have the worst record on almost everything.
The funny part is that everybody care more about the oil thing and nothing concerning their poor participation in Afghanistan.
Posted by: Marc | 2007-12-29 11:39:29 PM
JOHN,I COULD NOT PICK A BETTER NEIGHBOUR.Someone like me,someone that talks before lobbing rocks,someone that winks and nudges when I am bad,and expects the same back. I travel in the States often,I basically grew up there,and they are the most helpingpeople,helping nation ,that I have ever been in. Go Habs Go.
Posted by: wallyj | 2007-12-30 12:07:37 AM
Please ignore Fact Check's comments as he is in the habit of impersonating other's names. He is not to be trusted and has no credibility.
Epsi
Posted by: epsilon | 2007-12-30 12:10:40 AM
Note to the "ed" who made false accusations (in this thread: http://westernstandard.blogs.com/shotgun/2007/12/all-holy-things.html ):
You can either correct the record and post that I did not post as obc or you can deal with trolls like obc and epsilon shitting on comment threads and sidetracking discussions for the forseeable future. Your blog. Your call.
Posted by: Fact Check | 2007-12-30 6:34:06 AM
LOL! The true troll among us calls others by that appellation. How typically LEFTOID!
Posted by: obc | 2007-12-30 9:17:49 AM
...so there I was in Afghanistan and a hockey game broke out...
Posted by: tomax7 | 2007-12-30 9:54:31 AM
Fact Check;
What I wrote on the day was true. At the time, still in the period of transition, the old policy of not moderating comments continued. However, looking into it further I will allow that someone--Pattern Recognition/Steve/Observer etc.--on a Telus server in Burnaby may have hijacked your nic as well on this thread
http://westernstandard.blogs.com/shotgun/2007/12/a-limit-on-gove.html#comments
on the same day and neither you or I or anyone else noticed it. As a quick fix to obc's complaint of the nic abuse I merely looked at the IPs for that day. You didn't complain about nic hijacking like obc did, but merely denied you hijacked obc, and I didn't want to do a huge investigation of IPs and proxies etc. As I see it now, you (or I should say the person who posts as Fact Check more consistently) appear to be on the other side of the country.
So I will go back and correct the record.
Until we re-built the site and set up registration and a debate forum (and we have announced our approximate target date for getting that up) look at it this way: if others don't want to tackle your arguments on their merit, or don't have the time, then presumably you will win by default. I personally have found most of the points you make worthy of consideration even when I disagree with you.
Posted by: Kevin Steel | 2007-12-30 11:29:56 AM
Hope that puts an end to it Kevin. Thanks. We would all be better to look at what is written rather than at the name of the writer. A very happy and healthy New Year to all Shotgun Bloggers.
Posted by: DML | 2007-12-30 5:23:45 PM
Statement
Date: December 30, 2007
For release: Immediate
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA ON THE DEATH OF A CANADIAN SOLDIER IN AFGHANISTAN
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued the following statement today on the death of a Canadian soldier and the wounding of four others in Afghanistan:
"I am deeply saddened by the loss of Gunner Jonathan Dion, who was killed today in Afghanistan. I would like to extend my deepest condolences to his family and friends during this very difficult time. I also wish a speedy recovery to the four other soldiers injured in this incident.
These brave Canadian soldiers were helping bring hope to a population that has seen much hardship. We will not forget the sacrifice made by Gunner Dion while working to make life better for others.
Canada is in Afghanistan as part of a UN-sanctioned mission to help build a stable, democratic, and self-sufficient society. Reconstruction and development in Afghanistan cannot occur in an unstable environment. These Canadian soldiers were working to provide security and help create the conditions needed to improve the lives of the people of Afghanistan."
Gunner Jonathan Dion was a member of the 5th Régiment d'artillerie légère du Canada, based in Valcartier, Québec.
-30-
PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555
This document is also available at http://pm.gc.ca
Posted by: Matthew Johnston | 2007-12-30 5:47:02 PM
The "Religion of Peace" is at it again in Thailand:
"Suspected Muslim insurgents wound 27 in southern Thailand bomb blasts"
Suspected Muslim insurgents set off five bombs early Monday in a Thai-Malaysian border tourist town, wounding 27 people, many of them New Year's revelers, an army spokesman said.
The bombs exploded in the hotel and nightlife area of Sungai Kolok, including two inside a hotel discotheque and one hidden in the carrying basket of a motorcycle outside a hotel, said spokesman Col. Akara Thiprote.
"Sungai Kolok is a tourist town and people were here to celebrate the New Year. I think this is why they targeted the town," Akara said.
Sungai Kolok in Narathiwat province attracts many tourists from neighboring Malaysia and has been attacked several times in recent years.
STARTING OFF THE NEW YEAR with a bang! Islamofascists will NEVER cease until they are annihilated.
What has Thailand done to deserve this? The answer is: They are not Muslim - but Bhuddists.
Not Westerners, not Jews, not Christians but infidels nevertheless.
Posted by: obc | 2007-12-31 9:18:21 AM
Mohammad is the AntiChrist.
Posted by: Epsilon | 2007-12-31 9:39:49 AM
epsi ~
He certainly was a pedophile and mass murderer.
Posted by: obc | 2007-12-31 9:42:09 AM
He is undoubtedly the most evil beast that has ever lived in the last two thousand years. In his name, more have died violently than in any other whether that be Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot or any other despotic death obsessed maniac.
Epsi
Posted by: Epsilon | 2007-12-31 9:46:05 AM
epsi ~
One has to question the morals of his present-day followers who will not reform that "religion".
Posted by: obc | 2007-12-31 9:48:48 AM
Chances of Canada staying in Afghanistan are pretty slim. Dionski, Laydown and Gilles Doodoo will vote it down forcing an election. They'll run on it and Kyoto.
We can't really laugh it off either, the Province of Ontario proved how many are out of the loop on important issues when they voted in a Majority on one issue, faith based schools.
When the electorate only focuses on one issue we know we're living in dangerous times. They sure wouldn't have the capacity to realize what's at stake if we leave Afghanistan when the job is not finished. The dangers it will create for the world if NATO allies don't stay the course and get the country stable will affect us eventually. It also means our soldiers who have already paid the ultimate price there did it for naught.
Posted by: Liz J | 2007-12-31 9:52:04 AM
Agreed. And all of us have an obligation to learn and understand and show others the real Islam. Not the faux Islam masquerading under the protection of a "religion".
Just because a belief is a "religion" does not grant it any exception or protection. Nor does the peaceful behaviour of most of its followers somehow confer it protection from questioning or condemnation.
Neither do the sins committed by other religions in ancient times excuse this religion from the millions of sins committed in its name today in the mistaken "belief" that this is a path to know God. These sins are committed not by a few but by thousands upon thousands of fanatics. And these sins are not condemned by the so-called peaceful majority.
Nor are the peaceful majority calling for the Reformation of Islam. They are not addressing and rejecting the brutal and unbeliveably sinful behaviours of Mohammad.
Their inaction and silence implies consent.
I believe in 2008 that we will witness the growing awareness, abhorrence and rejection of Islam by the common man and woman in the western world.
Epsi
Posted by: Epsilon | 2007-12-31 9:58:43 AM
And then there's this from the UK:
"Barclaycard chief forced to quit after making 'joke' about Muslims"
A Barclaycard executive has been forced to quit after making an insulting remark about Muslims. Marc Howells, one of the company's leading figures, left his £200,000-a-year job following the tasteless quip during a staff meeting as he discussed quarterly figures. Colleagues were stunned when he said: "The results were like Muslims - some were good, some were Shi'ite." Offended members of staff complained to senior bosses about the "wholly inappropriate" comment.
THIS IS HOW Britain is dying, one small incident at a time. These executives can steal company money, have illicit affairs, etc., and that's OK. But heaven forbid, they make a comment that hurts the muzzies' feelings, and Katie bar the door!
I thinks it's now a major crime, right up there with murder. But if he had made a joke about Christianity, he would have gotten a bonus!
Posted by: obc | 2007-12-31 10:03:07 AM
The British are now trembling and fearful little children.
What shameful cowards.
Thank God the Scots are still free of this nonsense.
Epsi
Posted by: Epsilon | 2007-12-31 10:08:14 AM
And then there's this from Holland:
"Dutch arrest 3 men suspected of attack plan"
al-Reuters
Dutch police arrested three men on Monday suspected of planning an imminent attack. Prosecutors said in a statement police made the arrests in Rotterdam after the Dutch intelligence service said it was possible the suspects -- aged 31, 32 and 39 -- were about to carry out an unspecified act of violence. ANP said two of the men were Dutch-Moroccans and the third was from Sudan. The Dutch government has classed the risk of a terrorist attack as "substantial", the second highest in a four-stage warning system
HMMMM. Dutch-Morrocans and Sudanese; could they be........Muslims? Reuters doesn't seem to know.
Militant Calvinists, no doubt.
Posted by: obc | 2007-12-31 12:22:36 PM
Islam = Terror = Violence
And the naive cowards still don't get it. They still refuse to see it. Reminds me of 1930's Europe and Churchill's lonely and unpopular stand against the Nazis.
Epsi
Posted by: Epsilon | 2007-12-31 12:27:29 PM
Kevin,
Thanks for the reply above. The thread you linked to was one I didn't even read prior to just a few minutes ago, so I can confirm for you that those posts made in my name were not made by me. And yes, your log check of my location is accurate - far far from Burnaby!
Thanks for the clarification.
Posted by: Fact Check | 2007-12-31 12:28:07 PM
OK. I am good with that, FC.
Epsi
Posted by: Epsilon | 2007-12-31 12:30:30 PM
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