Afghanistan and the myth of ‘national insecurity’
“If pressure is ever going to develop to get U.S. troops out of Afghanistan, progressives will have to offer a new option that actually speaks to Americans.” – To myth…
afghanistan
Afghanistan: War, Power and Illusion
Canadian LAVs, Afghanistan, by isafmedia This week, Project Censored has released its annual list of top 25 censored news stories in a volume entitled Censored 2011: The Top Censored Stories…
Drones, Torture, Rendition: Democratic Values?
A Huffington Post column by Johann Hari summarizes certain revelations stemming from the leaked USG diplomatic cables by Wikileaks. The piece posits that Julian Assange’s efforts have made the world…
Wikileaks: Misanthropy and the Spectre of Scrutiny
Amid the bluster surrounding the public release of 278 of 251,287 secret and confidential USG diplomatic cables by Wikileaks as of Monday November 29th; more telling as to the behaviour…
Child Soldiers: The Other Taliban and Al-Qaeda Militants
“A poignant reality of contemporary conflicts is that increasingly children are being used as cheap and readily available weapons of war. From Colombia to Sri Lanka, from Sierra Leone to…
TVO’s The Agenda: Truth, Casualties, and War – Akaash Maharaj Videocast
Videocast of my televised essay for TVOntario’s The Agenda with Steve Paikin, on Canada’s role in Afghanistan: Our ability to successfully conclude the mission and effect an honourable departure is…
TVO’s The Agenda: Truth, Casualties, and War – Akaash Maharaj Videocast
Videocast of my televised essay for TVOntario’s The Agenda with Steve Paikin, on Canada’s role in Afghanistan: Our ability to successfully conclude the mission and effect an honourable departure is…
Dear Afghanistan, we’re not going anywhere yet!
The Conservative Government has finally unveiled the plan for our troops in Afghanistan, and surprise, surprise... we aren't going anywhere. Canadian troops will no longer be used in active combat…
Shortest Post Ever
I don't believe a single thing Stephen Harper says about Afghanistan.
Cannon fodder
Quite an uproar over the “cannon fodder” video. It involves a fictional mother of a Canadian soldier lamenting that she might not have had children if she had known that…
Cannon fodder
Quite an uproar over the "cannon fodder" video.It involves a fictional mother of a Canadian soldier lamenting that she might not have had children if she had known that they…
Cannon fodder
Quite an uproar over the “cannon fodder” video. It involves a fictional mother of a Canadian soldier lamenting that she might not have had children if she had known that…
A Landmark Decision, A Democratic Victory
In a historic decision regarding the battle for access to documents on Afghan detainees, Speaker of the House Peter Milliken ruled in favour of the opposition, reaffirming the notion that…
Behind The Redactions
The detainee document game of hide-and-seek the Conservatives are engaging in is an affront to members of Parliament and a subversion of the Military Police Complaints Commission. It cannot be…
Denial And Deceit: The Harper Government And Torture In Afghanistan
Canada has long been known as a peacekeeping nation; lauded for our humanitarian missions and respected for our international contributions. The unassuming nature of Canadian soldiers garners an admiration few…
Afghanistan Beyond 2011 – It’s A Done Deal
It’s official: Canada will remain in Afghanistan beyond the mission’s scheduled conclusion in 2011. The confirmation came Saturday; Defence minister Peter MacKay acknowledging that Canada will play a ‘non-combat’ role…
Debating Afghanistan: The Case For Withdrawal
Yesterday, I discussed the need for an open discussion about Canada’s future in Afghanistan, focusing primarily on recent requests from our NATO partners to extend our commitment to the Afghan…
It’s Time For An Open, Honest Debate On Afghanistan
As the date for withdrawal from Afghanistan by the Canadian forces approaches, pressure to remain in the battle mounts amid two high profile requests for Prime Minister Stephen Harper to…
Bombshell! Forces Downplaying Canadian Afghan War Casualties
Whooee! Well, friends an' foes, there's an old saying that the first casualty of war is the truth. Sadly, that adage is proving to be accurate with regard to the…