As I indicated in yesterday’s post, the Harper Conservatives seem very selective in ‘standing up for the vulnerable’; they just don’t seem to have what it takes to do the real heavy lifting that is required in our troubled world, preferring instead to utter bellicose rhetoric and put our young
Continue readingTag: Terrorism
The Canadian Progressive: Trudeau “cannot and will not” support Harper’s Iraq war motion
Responding to Harper’s Iraq war motion, introduced Friday, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said his party “cannot and will not support this Prime Minister’s motion.” The post Trudeau “cannot and will not” support Harper’s Iraq war motion appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Elizabeth May Responds To Harper’s Iraq War Motion
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May agrees with Harper that “Canada cannot stand on the sidelines,” but warns that “bombings have never ended an Islamic or any religious extremist terrorist threat.” The post Elizabeth May Responds To Harper’s Iraq War Motion appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: The Closer You Look …
The closer one looks at the ISIS thing, the more it starts looking like a sectarian war in the Middle East. Yesterday in the Globe and Mail, Robert Fowler very nicely articulated the problem with short term solutions to the mess in Iraq, and today I spotted a really interesting
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Critical thinkers, Take Heart
Dispelling misconceptions is never well-received in the media: Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Penetrating The Fog Of War
Yesterday, in response to a picture I posted quoting Herman Goering on the ease with which people can be manipulated into war, Scotian, a frequent commentator, responded to the picture, offering his analysis of the Canadian reaction to ISIS. I offer you his comments, always insightful, for your consideration: Sadly,
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Harper Speech Announces Canada’s Air Strikes Against ISIS
Here’s an unedited text of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s speech in the House of Commons on Friday, announcing Canada’s air strikes against ISIS in Iraq. The post Harper Speech Announces Canada’s Air Strikes Against ISIS appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: ISIS Threat: Let’s Refuse to Be Scared
I recommend that you read this timely analysis from Crawford Kilian as published in the Tyee Canada’s response in Iraq will be ‘noble,’ Harper says. What should that mean? By Crawford Kilian Yesterday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper warned of a “terrorist caliphate” threatening Iraqi minorities with genocide, and said that
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Cheap Rhetoric Versus Practical Questions
With regard to the ISIS threat, here is what Prime Minister Harper had to say in the House: “These are necessary actions, they are noble actions” …. “When we think that something is necessary and noble, we don’t sit back and say that only other people should do it. The
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: RCMP’s War On Canadian Environmentalists Escalates
A newly-released RCMP report wants Canadians to believe that “environmental extremists” pose a “clear and present criminal threat” to Canada’s tar sands-dominated energy sector. The post RCMP’s War On Canadian Environmentalists Escalates appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Pope Warns We May Already Be In "Piecemeal WWIII"
Has the world already stumbled into a third world war? Pope Francis thinks that could well be the case. Denouncing war as “madness”, the Pope made his remarks while visiting Italy’s largest military cemetery. In Saturday’s homily, standing at the altar beneath Italy’s fascist-era Redipuglia memorial – where 100,000 Italian
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Perspective That Age Bestows
Unlike some, I do not bemoan the passage of time. True, I am of that generation known as ‘the baby boomers,’ but while I am at times mildly bemused about certain things (‘How can it be 50 years since the Beatles first played in Toronto?’), I was never beguiled by
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Shadowy Con Conspiracy to Destroy Justin Trudeau
I have no idea who broke into Justin Trudeau's home the other night while he was away, in a creepy attempt to terrorize him and his young family.I can't imagine what kind of foul creature, or creatures, would leave a sinister message in a circle of butcher knives.But I am glad Justin is
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Sinister Terror Attack on Justin Trudeau and his Family
When I first heard that somebody had broken into Justin Trudeau's home, while his wife and his children slept, and he was not there, I felt a chill go down my back.Especially when I heard that the intruder hadn't taken anything. Something just didn't seem right. And sure enough it turns out
Continue readingScripturient: Blog & Commentary: My Grandfathers’ War
One hundred years ago World War I began, a war that started as a clash in a tiny, almost unknown Balkan state and blossomed into a violent, gruesome war that spread across Europe, the Middle East and reached into Africa and Asia. Within a few years, tens of millions would
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Harper, Trudeau and Mulcair – Soft on Terrorism
Let’s begin with the definition of “terrorism.” Merriam-Webster offers up a fairly standard definition: “the use of violent acts to frighten the people in an area as a way of trying to achieve a political goal.” That sounds exactly like what is going on in Gaza right now. That is
Continue readingHamas is not a terrorist organization
It seems that the media and politicians can hardly mention Hamas, much in the news these days, without referring to it as a terrorist organization. And indeed a number of governments, including our own, have officially labelled it as such. But we might keep in mind that our government at
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Justin Trudeau lauds Israel’s “commitment to peace”
In official statement that reiterates the Liberal Party’ of Canada’s position on the Middle East, leader Justin Trudeau lauds Israel’s “commitment to peace.” The post Justin Trudeau lauds Israel’s “commitment to peace” appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingTrashy's World: I’m increasingly concerned….
…about what we are going to see as an end game of the Ukraine crisis. The States is upping the rhetoric, as is the UK. But other European leaders are remaining fairly quiet for fear of Russian repercussions – economic or otherwise. Putin is in the regional expansion game for
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Holding Our ‘Leaders’ To Account
It is almost impossible, I think, to feel anything but a dark impotence when it comes to world events today. Wherever we look, be it the Ukraine, Africa, the Middle East or our own backyards, death, despoliation and injustice prevail. At times, it seems assuming the fetal position is the
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