During the Cold War, the West made allies out of some brutal dictatorial regimes. A challenge on this often met with the cynical answer, “they may be bastards, but they’re our bastards.” The Cold War is over, but the sentiment and the policy that generated it live on. Western countries
Continue readingTag: Terrorism
Trashy's World: Great show of strength and unity by Parisians, but….
… the participation in it by some of the world leaders takes the shine a way somewhat. If indeed the march was also in defence of freedom of speech. For example: – Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, who had several journalists jailed for insulting him in 2013. – Saudi ambassador to
Continue readingHarper’s histrionics
Terrorist attacks are theatre. And what theatre they have been presenting lately. The 9/11 spectacle of planes flying into tall buildings was the most spectacular event ever seen on television. The shooting spree by Michael Zehaf-Bibeau on Parliament Hill put Canada in the global spotlight for days, and the recent
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: The DWR Sunday Religious Disservice – Charlie Hebdo
Oh, those wacky religious Muslim terrorists are at it again going all murder happy on people who dare to make fun of their religion. This event is completely ludicrous and, in 2015, should not be happening, some reasons off the top of my head: 1. Mohammad, Jebus, Krishna, Sif –
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: About That Islamic Terrorism, Who Are We Kidding?
Well those damned Muslims have us in hysterics now. Rupert Murdoch says this is on all Muslims. Bill Maher says ditto. But wait. There are two strains of Muslims – Sunni and Shia. Our Muslims of choice, those we consider our allies, are Sunni – Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: About That Fear-Mongering, Mr. Harper
Thanks to Inse for this. He writes: Maybe to try and counteract the obviously upcoming increase in security measures and fear mongering by the usual suspects (and don’t forget to donate to the party funds!) Recommend this Post
Continue readingPostArctica: Je Suis Charlie
I had never heard of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo prior to the assault on it’s staff. From what I have come to understand it produces cartoons that normally would be considered quite offensive to anyone associated with whatever it is currently satirizing. That’s what satirists do, they mock
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Free Speech Isn’t Always Free
Twelve dead, as many again wounded, after a terror attack on the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo. Paris police have launched a manhunt for the gunmen who escaped after attacking the magazine’s offices. Nobody has come right out and said Muslim terrorists were behind the attack but Charlie Hebdo has been intensely
Continue readingdrive-by planet: RCMP backtracking on release of video by Ottawa shooter Zehaf-Bibeau reeks of political influence
After we were told the video made by Ottawa shooter Michael Zehaf-Bibeau would be made available to the public, the RCMP has changed its mind, or had it changed for them. RCMP commissioner Bob Paulson wasn’t exactly clear on the specifics. He said there may be a release of “some aspects of a transcript of the video”… whatever that means.
Given the terrorist narrative favored by the government and also by the police, how can the public be sure that ‘aspects of the transcript’ aren’t cherry picked to reenforce the preferred narrative. Surely the honest and transparent thing to do would be to release the video for the public to make its own judgment or alternatively release the entire transcript, rather than “aspects” of it. If as some claim, there are concerns about the video being exploited in some way for jihadi propaganda, the odds of that happening would be diminished considerably if a transcript was involved – cop out though that would still be – because there is no compelling reason to sit on the video.
There are any number of jihad-inspired videos in circulation that glorify jihad and attack the West… lots of audio-visual incentive out there for anyone influenced by such material. The release of Zehaf-Bibeau’s video – assuming it contains any such content – would not likely make a substantial difference one way or another.
In giving reasons for withholding the video, Paulson also made vague allusions to “some sort of court process.” But given what we know this doesn’t add up. Zehaf-Bibeau is dead and there were no known accomplices.
The decision to withhold the video seems to be more about political calculations. Perhaps Harper is concerned that the video’s contents might in some way influence public opinion about Canada’s involvement in the US-led war in the Middle East… part of the government’s deeply misguided foreign policy agenda.
There has been some debate in parliament about whether or not the term “terrorism” should be used in describing Zehaf-Bibeau’s actions. But from the outset it was clear that the government was dead set on labeling it a “terrorist attack” despite information about Zehaf-Bibeau’s past that indicate mental and emotional problems were a likely trigger.
Zehaf-Bibeau’s mother, Susan Bibeau, who presumably knew her son better than most, denied that he was a terrorist acting “on behalf of some grand ideology or for a political motive.” She said he felt “cornered” and “acted in despair.” She is also skeptical of the radicalization theory and said she believes “mental illness is at the center of this tragedy.”
According to a recent poll Susan Bibeau’s view is shared by a high percentage of Canadians … while 36% describe the shooting as a “terrorist attack” 38% believe mental illness played a part in it.
Although the Harper government has been careful not to appear to be chaffing at the bit to beef up enforcement powers in the wake of the attack… given the reactionary right-wing nature of this government you can be sure it wants to extract as much mileage as possible from the incident. The wheels are apparently in motion. On Monday a Commons committee passed Bill C-44 that hands additional powers to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). According to Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney, another bill is in the works that will boost law enforcement powers in the areas of surveillance, detention and arrest.
In the course of conjecturing out loud when and if the Zehaf-Bibeau video might see the light of day, RCMP chief Paulson wasn’t big on specifics… “I don’t know when it’s going to be released. It will certainly be released some day, but I would be a fool to say when it will be released.”
Continue readingdrive-by planet: RCMP backtracking on release of video by Ottawa shooter Zehaf-Bibeau reeks of political influence
After we were told the video made by Ottawa shooter Michael Zehaf-Bibeau would be made available to the public, the RCMP has changed its mind, or had it changed for them. RCMP commissioner Bob Paulson wasn’t exactly clear on the specifics. He said there may be a release of “some
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: French Parliament Votes to Recognize Palestinian State
France’s Socialist-led parliament has passed a symbolic vote to recognize Palestinian statehood, despite staunch objections from Israel. MPs in Britain and Spain have already passed similar motions. The proposal was passed with 339 votes in favor and 151 against, meaning that it was supported by more than two-thirds of French
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: I Feel Better Already
….knowing that Mr. Harper’s fight against ISIS hasn’t distracted him from an even greater threat to all that is holy and good: Recommend this Post
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: So, Just Who Is The Terrorist Here?
In 2014 in Canada, we have had several incidents involving people attacking various institutions and symbols of government. Consider the following list: January: “GG” Plans an attack on a Veteran’s Affairs office in Calgary June: Justin Bourque shoots 3 RCMP Officers in New Brunswick October: Martin Rouleau hits and kills
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Susan Bibeau: Ottawa shooter’s mother speaks
Susan Bibeau, the mother of Ottawa shooter Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, says her son was not a terrorist but “felt cornered” and “acted in despair.” The post Susan Bibeau: Ottawa shooter’s mother speaks appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingMacKay makes the right noises
With all the feverish reaction from politicians and a good part of the media to the two recent “terrorist” incidents, it is encouraging to hear Justice Minister Peter McKay say some of the right things, specifically that the law already has the tools it needs to deal with these kind
Continue readingAbout those Canadian values
The shooting spree by Michael Zehaf-Bibeau on Parliament Hill that resulted in the death of soldier Nathan Cirillo has resulted in a rush of rhetoric about a threat to Canadian values. As I commented in a previous post, Zehaf-Bibeau’s rampage was no such thing. The idea that an irrational act
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: As a Canadian, You Can’t help But Feel Proud Here
Let’s hope this kind of integrity and decency is enough to combat the fears that the Harper regime is trying to stoke after last week’s tragic events. Recommend this Post
Continue readingdrive-by planet: ‘Terrorism threat’ hyped to fuel Harper government’s reactionary right-wing agenda
Following the Ottawa shooting both the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star ran headlines that signaled the nation was under assault. The Globe went with the single word “Attacked” superimposed on a silhouette of parliament, with a solitary red-and-white Canadian flag fluttering against the background gloom. The Star went
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