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 readingTag: war
Saskboy's Abandoned Stuff: Wrong Side Of History
I found it ironic today that there are people viewing staying out of Iraq as being on the “wrong side of history”. I couldn’t think of a more perfect example of a battle fought in folly, than Canadian troops going to fight ISIS in Iraq with bombers. Eleven years ago
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 readingAccidental Deliberations: On consensus-breaking
Having earlier dealt with Stephen Harper’s attempt to justify war by building up hatred and hype toward ISIS, I’ll note the other main rationale on offer from the Cons – which can generally be described as government by wrong answer to a rhetorical question: If Canada wants to keep its
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: #GlobalNoDrones: First global day of action against surveillance and killer drones
On Saturday, October 4, 2014, thousands of people around the world are expected to protest the burgeoning use of drones for surveillance and extrajudicial killings. The post #GlobalNoDrones: First global day of action against surveillance and killer drones appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: A friendly reminder from your military-industrial overlords
Money to extend and improve the lives of Canadian citizens is never available, and the need for funding precludes any discussion of the benefits of investing in people. But money for war is free and unlimited, and the need for funding is not to be discussed as part of any
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 readingThe Disaffected Lib: Funny How We Choose Who We’ll Fight and Who We’ll Ignore
ISIS is known for atrocity. They’re murderous swine, real butchers. But, as CBC’s Neil Macdonald reminds us there’s a world full of their type, real pros, and we don’t give a damn. Back in July, Barack Obama signed an executive order punishing anyone responsible for some of the hideous excesses of the
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week. – Following up on yesterday’s column, Michael Harris offers his take on how Stephen Harper refuses to accept anything short of war as an option: Stephen Harper talks as if this is yet another of those good-versus-evil fables he is always passing off to
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, on how leaders who stand up to hysterical calls to abandon peace and human rights in the name of fleeting threats tend to be vindicated by history – and how Thomas Mulcair is carrying on the NDP’s legacy on that front even in the face of criticism from Very
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: This Is Not The Time For Absolutism
In the absolutist world of Stephen Harper, there are those who wear white hats and those who wear black. No berets (especially berets!) of middling colours are recognized. So when he declares that Canada will not stand on the sidelines on this possibly endless battle against ISIS, King Stephen is
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material to start your week. – Aaron Wherry reviews what the last week has told us about the functioning (or absence thereof) of our House of Commons – and points out that the most important problem is one which hasn’t yet surfaced in headlines or memes: (T)he most important
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: On choosing sides
Shorter L. Ian MacDonald: Anybody doubting whether it’s worth going to war in Iraq based on minimal information and questionable reasoning had best take a cold, hard look at the dangers of being on the wrong side of history. But of course, anybody demanding a war in in Iraq based
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your weekend reading. – Lana Payne examines the Cons’ economic record and finds it very much wanting: Inequality has deepened under Mr. Harper’s watch, job quality has declined, wages have stagnated, economic growth has been anemic, social protections have been reduced while corporate profits and CEO pay
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Scotland, Crimea and the Right To Self-Determination
Do the people of Scotland have the right to vote in a referendum to determine their own future? Of course they do. Just as the people of Greece had, and have, the right to vote in a referendum as to whether or not to stay in the EU. And do
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Israeli spy veterans refuse to “harm innocent Palestinians”
34 Israeli intelligence veterans who have served in Unit 8200 write to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explaining why they refuse to serve and “harm innocent Palestinians.” The post Israeli spy veterans refuse to “harm innocent Palestinians” appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Israel committed war crimes in Gaza: Human Rights Watch
Human rights groups says Israel committed war crimes during Gaza conflict, urges the International Criminal Court to facilitate the “prosecution of serious international crimes by both sides.” The post Israel committed war crimes in Gaza: Human Rights Watch appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: Charlie’s War
Saw “Charlie Wilson’s War” [8/10] which explains the background behind the Soviet’s failure in Afghanistan, and paved the way for the Taliban to later take over. Today I saw “Cars 2″ [6/10] which explains why we have people focused on fossil fuel vehicles. Each somewhat ties into the 10 year
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: Wasteful Destruction in Gaza
The destruction of this apartment tower is ridiculous. How is it in any way acceptable for a state to destroy an obvious civilian complex with weapons of war? We’re supposed to believe that the hundreds of occupants were all enemy combatants, and Israel is safer having made them homeless?
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