well done PM Harper

I have to say I was soooooo proud of our Prime Minister when I watched the news tonight!!!

I say BRAVO!!!!!

Jean Chretien wearing the blue helmet backwards is the last visit that comes to mind.
Ted

Great news! Finally, maybe the rest of the world will stop viewing Canada as a bunch of weenies

Indeed, I just posted on the same subject.

Good stuff.

I have already left my happy sentiments everywhere but again: HURRAY HARPER!!

I guess Layton is starting to emulate Martin even more. The rhetoric of "american" everywhere smells like the same stuff that the other clown kept spouting during the election. Where was all this screaming when Martin originally signed off on this mission? Oh, that's right, he was in bed with the guy while seeing Buzz on the side, too preoccupied with keeping two men happy at the same time.

"Oh, that's right, he was in bed with the guy while seeing Buzz on the side, too preoccupied with keeping two men happy at the same time."

Zing!

OOOWWW - Anne - Touche, Touche!!!

Speaking of Mr. Dithers - he has sort of disappeared - haven't heard his dithering over anything lately!

I could not agree more . Jack and company have claimed that they are the caring party of the impoverished and the rights violated crowd. In truth , if we where to apply their policy , Afgan women could not be educated , or vote because we would not be their to lend support and ensure that a civil democracy emmerges.

If Jack had his way , Saddam would be in power ,to murder and rape . The US would be our enemy instead of our allie , ans Osamam could have a permanent home in Canada . Their feel good just does not cut it in a post 911 era.

Well, Well, Well - we know what Jack is smiling about anyway - just check out his picture with his two "friends" below. What a joke that man is!

http://dustmybroom.com/?p=3171

right on mr. harper its good to see a prime minister that actually acts like one . too bad so many of the soldiers are away from the base but thats the way it goes.
damn, that pic of boytoy layton sure puts that one of duceppe in the plastic hairbonnet to shame don't it ? even beats the one of martin playin the guitar .

Forgot who mentioned it the first time around. (I'd give you credit)

But the debate will end with the uttering of these words:

"Mr. Jack, the thrust of the mission in Afghanistan is to secure freedom, democracy and human rights. This may include the 'human right' of same sex marriage."

How can Jack come back to that?

How long is Harper staying there? I've heard several days, at least. If that's true, it means that Harper is taking quite a significant risk here. I applaud him.

Wow, posted that last comment before I even saw that picture of Jack with the ladies, I mean men, I mean whatever, who knows!

Anyone catch the CBC Sunday Report? Love Eric Sorenson with "Prime Ministers frequently make foreign trips as a respite from politics at home" and right after Patrick Brown with "although no one will say it they are thinking that the timing for this trip could have been planned better with so many of the troops out in the field". The fact that PM Harper will be giving a speech to approximately 1000 soldiers is a pretty good number, nearly half of them. Patrick saying that Harper must have noticed the empty tents is just silly. I am sure that PM Harper is fully aware that they are actually out working and doing the job that they are there for and he doesn't need to have this explained to him, unlike the CBC.

Well. Done. Harper.

I am so proud to be Canadian right now, and I am SO proud of our PM!!

THANK GOD STEPHEN HARPER IS IN CHARGE!!! CAPTAIN CANADA A-L-L T-H-E W-A-A-A-A-Y!!!

Man, as a friend of Canadians, I'm overjoyed right now. You guys finally got a leader you deserve.

Yeah, and if the idiot media hadn't been talking about him going there 10 days ago, he'd have actually gone then & spoken to them ALL. Those twits.

Suddenly I have this strange, but familiar feeling welling up in my chest. I can't quite put my finger on it though, its been a long time since i felt this way. You know what......I think its pride!

Isn't it great to actually have Prime Minister who actually displays leadership?

I hope that PM Harper gets the credit he deserves for this. I'd like to believe that even our media outlets won't try and dilute the importance of the PM's trip.

Latley, polling indicates that Canadian's are unsure of our role in Afghanistan. However, instead of educating Canadians about Canada's role in Afghanistan the media has been trying to turn it into "Canada's Iraq".

I know that most of the people who read this blog know this but.....the rest of Canada it seems does not:

1. Afghanistan is widely accepted as a legitimate war by most of the world. Unlike Iraq, Afghanistan was not a pre-emptive strike, an aggressive faction (Al-Qeada)was largely based in and supported by Afghanistan and its Taliban leaders.

2. The US was attacked by this faction. Therefore the US had a right to make war against it's enemy. As one of our longest and most important allies, Canada is duty bound to support the US in its military actions in Afghanistan. Canada is almost completely dependant on the US for its own domestic security (on of the privilages of living next to a giant) If Canada ever needed the US for military help, we know they would honour their allied duties, however, this means that Canada must also support our ally when they need us.

3. Canada's latest role in Afghanistan was a commitment of the formal Liberal gov't. Who previously said that military decisions should not be open for debate in parliment, but who now are petitioning for this privilage. Any debate about Canada's role in Afghanistan would undermine the support for our troops and should not even be considered until our current commitment is completed. Not to mention to pull out before the job is done would cause us to loose all credibility with the UN security council.

4. Canadians are used to seeing our troops wearing blue helmets on "peace keeping" missions. The job of a soldier should not be peace keeping, it should be peace making. Our soldiers understand the dangers involved in what they are doing, and unlike the pacifist left, they are willing to fight and risk death for what they believe.

5. Before the US entered Afghanistan the country was stuck in the middle ages with no sign that things would change any time soon. Now, Afghans enjoy numerous freedoms they didn't have before. However, if the military presence in Afghanistan was removed before the job was done, all this would be lost. The Taliban would move back in, women would loose the freedoms they have gained, terrorists would once again have their haven to plot destruction, and all hope for the Afghan people would be lost.

6. Canada cannot afford to stick its head in the sand. There is a tough, dangerous, violent world beyond our shores. Pretending this is not the case, will not help anyone. Canadians say they want to have a more important voice in the world, this is impossible unless Canada takes on a more important military role in conflicts such as this.

7. Bill Clinton, the darling of the left, has openly supported the war in Afghanistan and Canada's role in it.

Also, for Jack Layton to try and demonize the role of Canadian soldiers by attaching them to GWB's policies is disgraceful. Canadians soldiers are putting their lives on the line for CANADA, and the so-called "Canadian Values" the Jack and Paul like to talk about so much. Why not stick up for all the Afghans who now have human rights, in part becuase Canadians cared enough to send our soldiers to their country to help liberate them from their oppressive rulers? We all know that if it was up to Jack, Canada would have no military role in anything.

2 men happy at the same time? ouch Anne.. haha

I watched msm ctv tonight... cool to see the insight into women, Ms Leblanc? and how they are filling one in seven positions in the armed forces...

As for Jack, the real problem he seems to have is that there is a chance that Canadian troops may have the same values as American troops? go figure...
They're still calling it the "so called" war on terror. When their own reporters are killed, what will they call it?

I believe that the PM is elected to lead, and to "show leadership" like for example, by showing up where some other chicken shit PM has sent troops?
is that not what PMSH is doing? does Jack know what leadership is?

The G&M has this story with many negative comments, but also many positive ones. Way to go Harper. Also on the news was the story of a 56 yr old man from lotus land, arrested on his way to visit Reno. Reason, deserter from Viet Nam. 3rd soldier caught this week. Way to go US army. Seems those deserters had an arrest warrant issued at time of desertion and they are still in effect. Maybe if enough of them try to go home to visit, we will finally get rid of all the lefties in BC and other parts of Canada. He could face court martial and 5 yrs in prison. Thats an army prison, not a pleasant place. The US is sending a message to all past and present deserters, WE WILL NEVER FORGET. What happened to those deserters in Toronto. Did they get refugee status-bet not with Harper in charge.
Of course the cbc will put a bad spin on this. Wonder why the didn't accuse him of lying when he said there had been rumors of his going and he denied it. Some posters wanted to know why it was kept secret. Canada really does have stupid people supporting toyboy. Anne, don't forget Martins romp with BS. When there is a debate in the HofC, Harper can just ask the speaker to ask Martin to explain the mission and why we are there. It was his and Grahams decision to send them. Just proves they didn't know what they were doing the past 18 months, if they have to ask Harper why the troops are there.

A hockey dad in Afghanistan, you gotta love it. It's nice to have an honest Prime Minister out in the field, instead of an obsequious dissembler in front of a backdrop of Canadian flags.

OT, but check out the hair in the hand-shake photo at the first link. A long flight, and perhaps sweat and nausea left him with sort of a modified Jack Dempsey/Stanley Ketchel "do" -- I find it really suits him. Ladies, am I wrong?

Finally Canada has a PM whose got a pair. Perhaps Jack the Weasal would tell us how he would have us respond should Canada get its own September 11. Perhaps he thinks we can appease Osama bin Laden with some hugs, making nice, and sweet talk. Perhaps he also believes in the tooth fairy.

24 Canadians were murdered on Sept 11 2001 and we have since been openly threatened, not by militants or insurgents ala MSM, but by terrorist thugs, hoodlums, cowards, and butchers. Like it or not, this is our fight as much as the USA's (God Bless em). Whether you want our troops in Afghanistan or not, it is totally necessary for our own security that they be there.

Wingnuts like Jack Layton will kill morale amongst our troops. He, and those like him, should keep their traps shut unless they want to offer positive support to our armed service men and women.

Mary, that's a great idea about asking Martin in parliament. I could just see the questions being posed to Harper and him saying "why don't we ask MP Paul Martin to explain what it is he was trying to accomplish?" Never happen but a nice thought!

Exactly right you are Candace. Prime Minister Harper planned to go earlier but the media blew it at the time. I believe he always wanted to go despite that some think of it as escaping and a photo op now, this visit was important to him. Making it his first foreign visit as PM demonstrates how important this is to him and, hopefully, to Canadians.

My thoughts exactly Kate. I can't remember when I was last proud to be Canadian.

Harper is making a statement here about who he thinks are the most important people he could visit on his first trip as PM outside of Canada.

Harper, over there. Very nice of him, but the real war is right here in Canada. The national debt, the dollar that looses all its value over forty years, the failures in health care. Overburdened taxpayers and bloated (mis)management in the public sector. The promissed government clean up that hasn't happened yet and may never take place leaves me wary of Harper's true agenda. Facts and actions, actions and facts will guide my decision of Harper's rule.
Liberals have lost my vote forever, but Harper only has a day pass.

Darwin, most of your legitimate concerns are ones that will be dealt with in parliament which has not sat yet. To make the changes that you mention they must happen inside the HoC which resumes on April 3rd. I am sure that a very busy agenda is planned for this first sitting, should be interesting, hope you're watching.

Yes, it is nice of Harper, isn't it? Instead of him considering this down time and watching hockey, playing with the kids, he has been very busy working and doing things for Canada. This extremely important trip demonstrates that he is a man of action instead of a guy of hot air, like Martin.

I glad he fired his cook...harper looks 6 months pregnant.

Chill, Darwin - maybe wait until Parliament sits before bailing?

Jack's apparent sin: he wants a debate in Parliament on what looks very much like mission creep in Afghanistan. A debate. Imagine that. What an asshole, eh?

I'll ignore the inevitable homophobia that slithers and oozes into SDA threads. But be aware that the DMB picture is already yellow with age. Its relevance? I have no idea. Perhaps someone can explain.

way to go SHPH. great move. i only wish you would have invited the AH's layton and martin to join you.

that should have been SHPM, sorry for the error.

Dr.D - the DMB picture is as relevant as Harper at the Stampede & Duceppe in a hairnet IMHO. It isn't.

Jack needed to ask for a debate around this mission when it was decided, not now, but as Anne pointed out earlier, he was too busy trying to get "his" budget passed to make too much of a fuss - oh, that & "making Parliament work for Canadians." He will likely GET his debate on redeployment or renewal which is an appropriate time for a debate.

Does Jack think we should withdraw from a mission that is run by NATO with UN sanction? Maybe we should just withdraw from NATO & the Commonwealth while we are at it?

For the record, Jack lost ALL my respect when he stated that he would let his wife or family suffer rather than pay to have a serious medical condition dealt with. He is an ideological zealot (when it suits him, see "integrity" and "making parliament work" and "budget written on a cocktail napkin" and you don't want me to get going on "investigate Emerson" (because the NDP might get that seat) but sweet F all on Belinda (because the NDP didn't have a hope in hell - who was it that Buzz campaigned for? Certainly not Jack!s candidate) and a danger to his own family.

I guess, if I were Jack! I wouldn't take my daughter to the optometrist more often than once every 2 years, since that's all that's covered under AHC? He's an ass.

Exactly, Dawg -- what an asshole. We finally agree -- what a relief. Jack is pandering to his base, pure and simple. At a time when courageous Canmadians who exemplify the best in Canadian character are using their values to negotiate peace in a critical and troubled region, Jack Layton decides that's just the right time to quetion their motives for being there. Good thinkin'. Man.

"Base" -- two conflicting, opposite interpretations of the word "base".

And "Mission creep"? Well,....

Leave it to Jack to reverse thrust the engines just as the plane lifts off the runway.

WAY TO GO JACK!!!!

:( :( :(

PM Stephen Harper "Man of Moxy" goes to Afghanistan.

Democracy with the JAM!!

Svelte, smooth and ON TARGET.

How do you spell political BULLSEYE!

So what's all this s..t about us being sooooo proud of Harper? To read some of these posts, you'd think that he had single-handedly stormed an enemy machine gun nest.

It's a good photo op and it no doubt raises the morale of the troops, but lets get real. The chance of him hearing a shot fired in anger in what is a fairly low level insurgency are pretty remote.

And since someone will undoubtedly ask the irrelevant question if I've ever been in an area of guerilla warfare myself, the answer is, "Yes, just doin' a job, and I wasn't on a military base surrounded by hundreds of soldiers."

And we have photo opps of Chretien & Martin in flak jackets with the troops WHERE?

I like the way Hans says it! Steven, it was risk taking and I thought you should have put it off till we had more control in Afghanistan.

However, if you are going to take risks for our guys who have the job of pushing down the jackals who Russia backed off from, then I suspect you will do what is best for Canada as well.

Pay no attention to Jack headache and Broadbent toothache. 73s TG

Candace, Martin always had a flak-jacket: his dissembling, ceramic grin. He wore it everywhere, and at all times.

Zog: Were you the elected leader of the country that was heading up the mission in the "area of guerilla warfare" that you were in?

As far as being on a "military base surrounded by hundreds of soldiers" I guess those soldiers must have magical mortar and rocket umbrellas that prevent anyone from getting hurt. (To be fair, most of the mortar and rocket attacks haven't done much more than damage structures, but there is always the risk of the enemy getting in a lucky shot.)

I agree the PM isn't "single-handedly stormed an enemy machine gun nest", but he is definately taking a risk in being over there, and I think most posters on here are happy to finally have a PM who is willing to take that risk to show the troops first-hand: "Yes, Canada supports you and your mission."

As a member of the Forces, I find it refreshing to have a PM that is willing to do that.

Regardless of what you might think, the Prime Minister is a prime target for the enemy over there, so kudos to him making the trip. (And we have had a foreign affairs officer killed over there...)

Zog:

I don't think anyone was expecting PM Stephen Harper to go and lob a few grenades at the enemy from his slit trench.

Since we, as Canadians just elected him, we might want to keep him around topside of the cemetary for a while. Looking at the wrong side of the lawn has some decided drawbacks.

When contrasted with the fateful and tortured past like Rwanda in which about a million souls perished because the world was too lazy to give a tinker's damn; it is perhaps a refreshing change of pace. The United Nations couldn't for the life of themselves,or even worse those they were supposed to protect, get their act together; perhaps this NATO mission potential success will shame them into tightening up their protocols.

Given the recent "oil for food" schtick and corruption at the UN; maybe a nice NATO success will put some welcome political heat under Kofi Annan's administration of the UN. Humanitarian progress is supposed to be their stock in trade, but they have come up woefully short on far too many occasions.

When you look at places like the Sudan and Darfur which is just now emerging from a 21 year civil war the lame response from the so called 'civilised world' urgently needs some refining.

The alternative is to continue to call on Divine Providence in one's throne speeches soliciting guidance; only to have the governing authorities suggest to Divine Providence that not a few in creation will be marked "RETURN TO SENDER".

After Bosnia, Cambodia, Rwanda, Sudan maybe the world deserves a long overdue humanitarian and democratic success. If that isn't a good enough reason to go to Afghanistan then we can leave the them all hanging like the world did in 1992.

The lesson in Afghanistan should be clear; you can't turn a nation into a pile of rubble then leave and expect that there will not be any fallout.

The Russians and US used the place as a geopolitical 'playground' and didn't bother cleaning up the mess they left behind.

If you were a local Afghani whose family is mostly eating the "big dirt sandwich" one certainly wouldn't have a big love for outsiders.

It goes without saying that no one wants to bring their soldiers home in a box. Regrettably, that is the price one pays in respect of democratic freedoms. What I do get exercised about is having one's troops fielded with substandard equipment such as the Iltis jeep now withdrawn. I'm sure General Hillier had a jolly time penning letters to families of soldiers who died in the line of duty; due to the fact that they were driving, as General Lewis Mackenzie (ret.) would have it, "a piece of shit". If the lefties in the press and media have a hard time with this; let me know when they catch up.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, carry on.

Finally, Canada gets a REAL leader!

CBC Sunday Night...anybody else thinking what a noxious little scumbag Patrick Brown is? How does he know what the troops are thinking about the timing of Harper's visit? The Prime Minister is showing some real leadership in this whole matter of deployment and the support he is demonstrating on behalf of all of us. Brown wouldn't know leadership if it jumped up and bit him in the ass. But we still pay for him and the rest of the poisonous crowd at CBC.

Jack is just his usual backstabbing lefty.

THEY CANNOT BE TRUSTED IN ANY SITUATION!!!

Harper for Canada = Aslan(Chronicles of Narnia)

Dr. Dawq mentioned "mission creep": (Sneer?).

"Jack's [Layton?] apparent sin: he wants a debate in Parliament on what looks very much like mission creep in Afghanistan."

Here is the "mission creep", Dr. Dawg.

The creeps, AdScam Chretien/Martin, are gone & forgotten.

Here is the mission. +

Revised operational plan for
NATO ’s expanding mission in Afghanistan

What does this mean in practice?

* ISAF will have a larger footprint across the country;

* ISAF will establish additional PRTs;

* ISAF will establish Regional Area Commands;

* There will be enhanced operational training support provided to the Afghan National Army;

* There will be additional forces and supporting elements provided to ISAF as it expands into the more operationally challenging environments in the south, and then subsequently the east of the country.

When will this happen?

The next stage of ISAF expansion is planned for 2006 and is known as Stage 3 Expansion, which will result in the following:

* ISAF's area of operations will be expanded to include six additional provinces: Day Kundi, Helmand , Kandahar , Nimroz, Uruzgan and Zabul (see attached map);

* Four Regional Commands will be established at: Mazar-e Sharif, Herat and Kandahar for ISAF Regions North, West and South respectively and one for the capital, Kabul;

* Four additional ISAF Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) will be created in the Helmand, Kandahar, Uruzgan and Zabul provinces, subject to national approval (see attached map);

* An additional Forward Support Base will be established in Kandahar (see attached map);

* Deployment of ISAF operational mentoring and liaison teams to Afghan National Army units at various levels of command. These are small groups of experienced officers and NCOs that will coach and mentor the Afghan National Army units to which they are attached;

* ISAF will be increased by up to 6,000 personnel potentially bringing the total number to approximately 15,000;

(Currently 26 Allies and 10 non-NATO countries contribute some 9,000 personnel to the operation).

ISAF and Operation Enduring Freedom relationship

ISAF and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), the ongoing US-led military operation in Afghanistan, will continue to have separate mandates and missions. ISAF will conduct to focus on its stabilisation and security mission whilst OEF will continue to carry out its Counter-terrorism mission. + more...
http://www.nato.int/issues/afghanistan_stage3/

As soon as I think I can type an email that will be both coherent & civil enough, I will tell that little weasel what I think of him.

Been there --- done that.

The NDP doesn't care of course, being clueless, self-absorbed ,and smug as they always have been,but I felt good .

I heartily suggest eveyone else does likewise in a civil but pointed manner. At the very least it will annoy them just a little. That is always a 'good thing'.

It should be noted that our troops in Afstan are now under US Operation Enduring Freedom (which bothers me not at all); they are scheduled to come under NATO ISAF sometime this summer.

See this post at "The Torch":

"Afstan: Canadian officers take command at Kandahar and of Regional Command (South)"
http://toyoufromfailinghands.blogspot.com/2006/02/afstan-canadian-officers-t_114115588468095379.html

Mark
Ottawa

The last recorded visit by a Canadian PM of Canadian troops was Mackenzie King...who the troops refered to as "casper" and disliked because of exempting Quebec from the draft. I recall that he was booed and cat-called the one time he did review the troops. King did not visit troops in a war zone but inspected them in Britain well behind the front.

Of all the wars and police actions our troops have been sent into after WWII there has never been a PM who visited troops in an active war zone for morale... just to thank them for their service.

Tells me pretty much all I need to know about the testicular fortitude of the craven windbags we elect to run this frozen wasteland.

KUDOS to Harper for breaking the status quo bunker mentality of Canadian PMs at war/conflict.

The accounts of the brave actions of the PPCLI and reserves were suppressed/deliberately withheld from Canadians by the creeps, AdScam Chretien/Martin and their socialist lackeys, including the NDP.

Read the story of The Medak Pocket.

Veritas Odit Moras: Truth Hates Delay. (Seneca)

"General Cot was sure that the Canadians would not back down in the face of any intimidation in the Medak Pocket. Events later proved him right.So it was that Canadian troops..."

The Medak Pocket

Excerpt:

When Canadian troops first moved into the Medak area to implement the cease fire, Croatian special police had not finished ethnically cleansing three Serb villages seized during the initial assault. If they were discovered, Croatia's image as a victim of Serbian aggression would receive a crippling blow. Their solution was to engage the Canadians in hope that a few well placed rounds and a UN casualty or two would scare them off, just as it had the previous January.

Unknown to the Croatians at Medak was that the new UN Force Commander, French Lieutenant-General Jean Cot planned to turn up the pressure on the warring parties to cease hostilities. His decision to insert the well armed Canadian battlegroup into the Medak Pocket as a formed manoeuvre force, instead of stringing them out in isolated observation posts, was part of his overall policy of enforcing international agreements and restoring UN credibility.

The Princess Patricia's were the best choice for the job being fully mechanized in M-113 Armoured Personal Carriers and possessing a platoon of mobile armoured TOW anti-tank missile systems. In addition to being well trained and combat ready, the Patricia's had already developed a reputation in Croatia for taking a tough line against cease fire violators. General Cot was sure that the Canadians would not back down in the face of any intimidation in the Medak Pocket. Events later proved him right.So it was that Canadian troops found themselves engaged in action with units of the Croatian Army and special police.

Preparations for Deployment

Of the 875 Canadian soldiers who served in the battlegroup sent to Croatia for Rotation 3 of Operation Harmony, based on 2nd Battalion of Princess Patricia=s Canadian Light Infantry, only 375 actually came from that unit. 165 came from other regular force units and assignments. The remainder of the battlegroup consisted of 385 reserve soldiers who had volunteered from militia units across the Canada.

Due to the requirement for highly skilled regular soldiers in support and technical trades in the battlegroup and the overall shortage of combat infantry soldiers in the Canadian Army the majority of those reservists served in the rifle companies. In fact, reserve soldiers made up 70% of rifle company strength during the mission. This includes 7 out of the 12 platoon commanders who came from militia battalions.

This sort of reserve augmentation was not new in the Canadian Army. For decades, under-strength regular battalions would have their ranks filled out with reservists before deploying to Cyprus. Indeed, after much debate in the Canadian defence community, regular unit augmentation with individual soldiers has become a primary role for reserve regiments. Post-Cold War conflict proliferation and the resulting spike in the number and intensity of peacekeeping missions, combined with a shrinking defence budget and regular army, meant that in the 1990's militia augmentation became vital. This was especially true in 1993 when the Canadian Army was stretched nearly beyond its means, providing two battlegroups to the Foremer Yugoslavia (the other in Bosnia), one to Somalia and a number of other units, detachments and individual soldiers to a myriad of missions around the world. Nevertheless the 2 PPCLI Battlegroup in Croatia contained the highest concentration of reserve soldiers on an operational mission to date. Militia performance, especially in a tense and demanding theatre like Croatia, remained to be seen.

The mixed bag force spent the first three months of 1993 conducting preparation training first in Winnipeg, and later in Fort Ord, California. Much of this time was spent working the large reserve compliment up to basic regular force standards for section and platoon battle-drills. There was no time to properly exercise the companies, let alone the whole battalion. Besides, section and platoon skills were generally all that is required of soldiers manning observation posts on UN peacekeeping duty. Who could know that the 2 PPCLI platoons would be called upon to gel together and go into action as a full battalion. + more...
http://www.cda-cdai.ca/library/medakpocket.htm

I continue to be baffled by Mr Harper's communication team. This debate is so easy to win and yet he continues to allow Jack Layton to take pot shots without responding.

"Mr Layton, for the record what you're contending is that you are against the Canadian deployment which provides security to allow our Provincial Reconstructions Teams to rebuild schools and hospitals, guarantees the rights of women to be educated and to work without fear of Taliban remnants coming to their homes and beheading them and their families? In short, you are calling on Canada to abandon this effort, allow the Taliban-forces to return to power, close the female schools, ban all women in the workplace and turn them into second-class citizens once again? Yes or No? Because that's the serious question that serious people need to answer Mr Layton."

maybe now that he went for a ride in a 43 year old Herc - thank god it worked on the hour flight - and he will get to spend some time with the great Canadians at the pointy end of the stick, he will get an earful about the lack of equipment our troops have. Where are the medium and heavy lift choppers ?? Why no heavy lift aircraft ?? Why 43 year old Hercs ?? Why does our navy have second hand subs ? If the Aussies can make a decision and get delivery of C17s in less that two years, why can't the tall foreheads in Ottawa get off their fat assess, cut through the red tape and get us some equipment ?? Is the home front willing to make any sacrifices for the troops in the filed, so we can get the equipment, or do we have to die first ??

Good move PMSH . . the dialogue can now be recalibrated so we can have a debate in Parliament, a debate about supporting the troops with proper equipment.

oh ya and while I'm here - Jack Laydon is a complete fucking asshole.

Pride, that is what I'm feeling right now. I am so proud to have Prime Minister Harper as our leader. I have read the above comments, this seems to be the one thing that this country has sadly been missing. A leader that everyone in this country can be proud of. There has just been too many years that this country has not had a qualified classy leader. You go PM Harper! Love the picture in the plane.
Jack, take a pill, you only have 16% support. The rate that you are beaking off, you will be lucky to hold on to the leadership of this party.
PRIDE!It is just wonderful!

We have a leader!

PM Harper has shown his committment to the troops. The first time I have felt so much pride in Canada in ages.

Was watching the CBC and CTV waiting for the weasel words and I was not disappointed. It obviously has been in the works for awhile, the tip off should have been General Hillier in Afghanistan. Another one that we should be proud of, General Hillier is not the usual Liberal appointment.

Saw an item about 5 Liberal ambassadorial appointees having to be asked to resign. Do ambassadors not serve at the pleasure of the PM? Shows more of the greedy Liberal philosophy.
enough

The other thing I forgot to mention. Everytime JC or P Martin left this country, I felt sick. I was embarrassed before they even left. JC making a speach in Africa, most of it in French. The African's sat there looking at each other not understanding a word that he said. P. Martin goes to a foreign country and they show him dancing around like an idiot. Sorry, I forgot he is an idiot.Canada will be respected again on the international front.

CBC's Tom Parry at Loserville

"After meeting with a few troops, Harper disappeared. Reporters later found out later that he had toured an operations centre, but were told the big day would be Monday. Harper is to tour the base, speak to troops and do other things which – for security reasons – no one is supposed to know about. It's supposed to be a big day.

But we'll have to wait to find out the details. What choice do we have?"

What a whiner.

Another thought of mine.
People, especially at the Globe Comment site, are saying things about photo ops and Mr. Harper is not taking a risk.

Last time I checked the media were reporting how dangerous the trip between the airport and the base is. Gwyn was killed making that trip and many have been injured. Did Mr. Harper stay at the airport? How did he get to the base?

Prime Minister Stephen Harper:

"There could be some who want to cut and run. But cutting and running is not my way."

"You can't lead from the bleachers. I want Canada to be a leader," he told about 1,000 Canadian soldiers at the base of the multinational mission led by a Canadian general."

Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor, MP for Carleton-Mississipi Mills, Ontario, Eastern Ontario, near Ottawa, is in Afghanistan also. +

"There could be some who want to cut and run. But cutting and running is not my way. And it's not the Canadian way," he said in a speech that drew warm applause.

"We don't make a commitment and then run away at the first sign of trouble. We don't, and we will not, as long as I'm leading this country."

Harper's trip to Afghanistan is his first official foreign visit since he and the Conservatives were elected in January.

Other world leaders such as U.S.
President George W. Bush have visited the turbulent country, but the length of Harper's visit and his willingness to stay overnight were touted as unprecedented. The prime minister is being accompanied by Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor, a retired general.

Harper spent the early part of the day on the base Monday, visiting the troops in their quarters and inspecting the armoured vehicles they use when they venture into hostile territory at the risk of being targeted by suicide bombers and roadside explosives.

"Your work is about more than just defending Canada's interests," he told the troops. "It's also about demonstrating an international leadership role for our country." +
yahoonews

Harper's 'got their backs'. Haven't been able to say that about a Canadian PM for decades. Makes me want to re-enlist. And even though I disagree with all the decades of 'spin' that resulted in North American's troops becoming involved in the heart of this mess in the middle east in the first place, I would sign up for a tour in Afghanastin in a heartbeat, because our soldiers need our support.

I believe that Harper would join the front lines with our soldiers if he was called to do so. These are the things that define a great leader, whether you agree with his policies or not. I'm also pleased that our new Minister of Defence actually once served in the military.

TonyGuitar said:
"our guys who have the job of pushing down the jackals who Russia backed off from"

Don't forget it's actually the jackals who the United States supported to fight the Russians for them.

Canadians are witnessing historic events with the election of a conservative government. Albeit a minority.
My greatest wish is that the layer of bureaucrats who were at the level which aided the corruption that existed (and that core may well still exist) is cleaned out of the bureaucracy, as well as the enabling Canadain mainstream media, the conservatives are in for a hard time. The media of course is strictly in the private domain and incumbent on the corporate-heads to change direction.
I despair in that regard, unless Murdoch decides to engage Fox news fully in Canadian affairs.
Yes, this unhyphenated Canadian is proud of Stephen Harper
but I hope he cleans out the boars nest that has governed Canada for the past decade.
Jack Layton appearser, ***hole

Hans, RE: The Russians and US used the place as a geopolitical 'playground'.

The USA did not invade Afghanistan. The USSR did. The USA played defense (again) with Pres. Carter in command.

I am very, very satisfied with PM Harper but I am not convinced being under UN command in Afghanistan is such a great thing as the UN has a deplorable record and I would not put it past them to set this up for failure. Watch your back PM Harper!

steveinbc

I agree with your comment about the chef. (!!) I like Mr. Harpers' style, but we demand our soldiers be fit and ready and well groomed at all times and IMHO a leader who also strives to maintain those qualities shows an added dicipline and respect toward the men and women in the Canadian Armed Forces.

PlanetX, were you drinking when you wrote that?
I mean, come on now, give us some substance! You're starting to post like a lib! ;)

Although, Good on Harper. Awesome.

Don't forget it's actually the jackals who the United States supported to fight the Russians for them.

Leftists often make this statement, leaving the rest of us to wonder about the relevance.

Those who fought against the Russians didn't all, later, take up terrorism.

Leftist babbling, such as this, is the reason leftists have become irrelevant.

Makes me proud too and yes Kate, I'm sure his son is pissed that he couldn't go. I know I would have been.

Regards all,
Pat

Harper's got the mettle and the resolve to get this country back to where we were proud to be Canadian, unlike the Lie-beral's and the dipper's ineffectual attitudes.

I just read this on Cnews. I felt that it needed to be posted here, so that everyone realizes how important it is for our country (and its other so called other opposition leaders) to stand strong behind our military.

"However, some soldiers seemed stunned that Canadians might not support their work in the turbulent country.

“That’s … I’ll hold my tongue — but that burns me. Really,” said Cpl. Pascal Johanny

“Usually, the Canadian public has always approved of Canada’s missions, like Bosnia, Kosovo, always giving their support. Now, we’re here, in one of the worst places that needs the most help, and now they don’t want to support us? It’s kind of odd.”"

With Prime Minister Harper's visit, I hope that this erases any doubt that the men and women overseas might have regarding Canada's support. Jackie needs to read this!

Was I drinking? Yeah, decaff. What's your point?

Right on topic:

They're begining to notice south of the border

MaryM said:
"JC making a speach in Africa, most of it in French. The African's sat there looking at each other not understanding a word that he said."

What makes you think the Africans would have understood a word he said had he used his version of English? Seems that that embarrasing asshole only spoke Shawinigese.

Second, and more to the point, yes we finally have a PM with big enough stones to endanger his life to show some support & encouragement. He is not there for a photo-op, unlike EVERY leader of every other political party in Canada. Take this for a fact: my son, who's training Afghans in Kabul for the National Police Forces, tells me he and his men are immensely proud of PMSH. Dave says that it doesn't even matter if his group gets to meet with him, or even see him at their compound, his men are walking proud today.

AdScam Chretien/Martin down the memory hole(s)? +

http://www.voy.com/178771/4945.html

Liberal blood-letting begins ..... Martin's "values" no longer Liberal "values" ..... let us sit back and watch The Rocky Horror Liberal Show .... popcorn and beer optional.... LOL ...!!!!

Excerpt:
The Hill Times, March 13th, 2006

Some Grits expect Martin to resign as party leader: Liberals

There are many Liberals who want to make sure former prime minister Paul Martin is long gone before the next election.
Some members of the Liberals' national executive expect former prime minister Paul Martin to offer his resignation as party leader in an effort to end speculation that he would lead the party in the next election if the government is defeated early, say Liberal sources.

"Some of the members of the national executive are saying enough is enough. He should resign and put to rest all the speculations that he could return in case of a snap election," said one senior Liberal source." +

Alienated: That was my point exactly. I have a family member that was on military/security detail during that visit. How embarrassing for our troops, can you imagine having to put your life on the line to protect him???? JC (asshole) didn't make sense in either language. I believe that he tried to use it to his full advantage too....

I was posted to CFB.Petawawa in 94' when I was tagged to do my part in a dog n' pony for Cretien and a visiting dignitary in Ottawa.
We spent days shining, marching, shining, etc and were at attention a full 30min before the plane doors opened. Cretien gets out, waves at a gopher to get him a chair then plops his ass in it!
He didn't even come over to see us, instead letting a foreign national inspect his troops while he looked on from 100m away from a fold-up chair.
Incredibly sad, not to mention a major lapse in protocol.

Thanks for caring, Stephen......when you get back, take care of Jack, would you?

Arte et Marte

Jason

Matthew asks why our prime minister doesn't debate Smiling Jack - my take - why lower yourself to his level - let him just spout his retoric about how he "cares" for people and how the NDP "work" for people from his cushy office in Toronto. Most Canadians just turn him off after a while - it sounds phoney!!

You would NEVER see smiling Jack take the kind of leadership Stephen Harper has taken ( he is more the take sign in hand - walk around in front of Emerson's office - complain that Emerson won't talk to him - kind of guy

- Oh - I should have said PRIME MINSTER Stephen Harper - we FINALLY have one!!!!!!! I feel this funny feeling inside the pit of my stomach - why, I think it's PRIDE!

Wow... I can't tell how you proud and pleasantly shocked I am.

Yes of course of Stephan, but mostly of you guys commenting here, even the typical dissenters are getting behind our boys and girls abroad.

It's about fucking time we all had something to be proud of again. Something we can share as a nation.

It's about time the people in our Armed Services had something to be proud of as well. They deserve to know we give a damn about what happens to them.

Hear that, that's the sound of the Maple Leaf flying crisply in the air.

A symbol of what we all collectively feel the strongest about... Freedom.

It makes me feel damn good to know that Canada is actually doing something for a change... instead of just talking. Something we've done too much of the last 20 years.

It would be nice if Jack could just "SHUT THE FUCK UP" for a day, and let our troops get to enjoy the light for themselves for a change, without someone trying to make political milage out of it. I didn't hear him beaking off when the commitment to send troops was made.

BRAVO PRIME MINISTER HARPER
A moral boost if I have ever seen one, being active for over 30yrs in an organization that supports our military this is the best I have ever seen. Our military has been kicked about for far too many years by the liberals, who were oh so proud to say that they supported the men & women of our proud forces. As for Wacky Jackie all I can say is typical, you do not send troops into an active zone and expect them not to be engaged, if you were so G.D. concerned why did you not bring it to parliment in the last session, no no you were too busy propping up a corrupt gov't then. & the media get off the rhetoric comparing Harper to Bush, at least this PM has the balls to show he is 150% behind our forces, not you media grunts who are too busy demoralizing our troops.
Once again BRAVO MR. PRIME MINISTER

Although the PM was not there to take risks, just getting there was a risk, did he really have to fly in a 43 year old Herc?Think about that for a moment.
Canadians Values?
We have been sliding into mush for so long that "Canadian Values" had become an oxymoron, not any more!
Thank You Prime Minister Harper from a prouder Canadian

A visit that boosts the morale of the troops and ends up boosting the morale of Canadians back home. Underscores the funk this country has been in for the last thirteen years.

Well done, PMSH!

.... and then a stop over in Australia to shore up our Commonwealth relations and show our solidarity with the Aussies......a perfect trip.

How about sending over a division of adscammers and their lawyers- ('officially' for tasks like mine-clearing and ied defusing?)

Our PM is making history in Afganistan and what is the main topic on the Bill Good Show in Vancouver?
The Emerson thingy.

Anyone who believes this is nothing but an NDP plot to discredit Harper and Emerson is just stupid or drunk.

Jack 'pot' Layton and his people are behaving like enemies of the state.

Well...it's finally happened. Canada has a real leader, instead of some bloated stuffed shirt from Quebec who believes power is his birthright.

As for Jack Layton.......if Canadian soldiers had to follow Jack's recipe for world peace, the only flag our soldiers would be marching under would be white.

James Lane
victoria, BC

This is truly a screwed up country

I recommend everyone send an e-mail to PMSH to say thank you. It might do wonders for his morale, too. Try: pm@pm.gc.ca

And, while you're at it, send one to Spineless Jack and Mr. Dithers (sounds like a great name for a rock-group)and tell them what you think, too.

Mathew Baldwin. 9am: Your words for Jack and your understanding of heading off the return of bondage to Afstan is my understanding. It's correct and essential.

Dave. That's a good idea. TG

Mike, Sending a rave Email is a great idea.

We Canadians are so slow to DO STUFF! My public commitment here, to fire off a couple to two or three CP MPs.

They dumped manure and green sprayed messages on Emerson's ofice in Vancouver this morning.

I do not recall anything similar happening to Belinda*s office when she crossed to save Mr. Dithers and collect a cabinet post prize.

Are we conservatives too polite? Too civilized?

Oh, I forgot for a second. Liberals = dirty tricks! TG

Watch and listen closely to all the media reports of this visit, regardless of your position. I heard one cbc guy say, this visit was supported by SOME of the troops. Watch for the spin, and you will learn something about how biased they are. Isn't Peter M reporting from there, haven't seen him with Harper, or Kevin Newman. How these reporters spin this will determine who will go with Harper on his next trip-Mexico- and who will get to ask ?s during press conferences. Seems a lot of former cbc people are being asked to resign their patronage jobs. Pamela Wallin among them. In the near future I hope some in the media will get the message-if you want trips, perks, inside info-be supportive in how you report these things. Why should Harper be surrounded by types that are out to get him.

Dr. Dawg, saw your comment this morning regarding homophobia being oozed in here, wanted to respond right away but decided to consult an "expert", aka gay friend of mine first.

I already knew that there was no homophobia in that post (as did you) but having him laugh his a$$ off and confirm it was worth the call. As he commented, you are obviously the one with the hang up and phobia to bring this up. The sexual reference in the joke was more than you could wrap your mind around and it offended your puritanical senses.

I also noticed that you put no such post on Andrew's blog (Bound By Gravity) regarding the cartoon he put up yesterday - BROKEBACK FEDERALISM. That was damned funny but I suppose it sent you screaming to a corner?

God, if it had been Scott Brison instead of Jack Layton you would have become unglued. Get over yourself and have a laugh once in a while, sounds like you need it.

Stephen Harper showed his true colors... That he is an honorable dedicated man, that cares more for his country and his troops than any other prime minister Canada has ever had!

Who sabatoged Emersons office. Hope they are proud of themselves and get the jail time they deserve. If they keep up this crap they will turn Emerson into a victim, and then watch out as his and Harpers support will skyrocket. Send e-mails to jackpots site condemning this. Also find out Waddells e-mail and send to him. Emerson just might win an election there if this keeps up. Time to pull all money out of BC for the 2010 games, and support from the govt. Maybe we should have this debated in the HofC.

OT:

But I just can't resist the brilliant Styenmeister.

Mark Steyn Nails Michael Adams to the Wall and Dissects the Ignorant Troll.

MaryT: Great minds (or names) think alike. I just sent a email to Emerson. I think today he need's his email flooded with support. Who ever did this should been severly punished by their party and the law. Protesting is one thing, I think things are getting carried away!

Posted his email
Emerson.D@parl.gc.ca

Re; sabotage at Emersons office.

Alright!- sarc

The bozos on the left just cannot help but show their true rainbow colours.

I hope there are lots of pictures of professionally unemployed dippers defacing a building. ;0)

Have to say I woke up this AM,thought I'd put on weight overnight.Then realized I was just swelling with pride and forgot what it felt like.

Have sent a supportive e-mail to Mr.Harper,if anyone else here feels as inspired his address is.... pm@pm.gc.ca

good to see the PM supporting the troops!!!a vote well cast!

Small Dead Animals the best Canadian political blog

http://www.virtualdave.ca/blog/

Yes, the second coming of R.B Bennett is much to cheer about !

Big thumbs up for our Prime Minister!!!

The looks on the faces of our soldiers says it all!

But wait, it doesn't...

CBC had an image consultant type on Newsworld this morning, and what do you suppose was the image problem?

None other than PM Harper being photographed WITH soldiers, OUR soldiers, is just too much like having the US president photographed with his troops.

Yes, that is right....our PM should NOT be seen with our military...unfreaking believable....

Are there still soldiers in our streets, in Canada!

Or it could be the CBC panelist, Rick Bell from the Calgary Sun, on Sun morning, calling PM Harper, "Stevie".

Disrespect abounds in some of the media, but all the more reason to contact Emerson and the PM's office and give them a positive note.

BTW, Bill Good from CKNW in Vancouver is extrememly touchy about any reference to the media being liberal...it is *his* hot button, and some hit it today during the discussion on what else...Emerson.

I liked this footnote in a CBC Radio report:

"With a few minutes to kill, some people chatted with the captain of the Herc that would be taking everyone into Afghanistan. Turns out the plane was 43 years old and had about 43,000 hours of flying time. These are the planes that are often in the media for breakdowns. The trip now seemed to have an added element of danger."

Churchill in Afghanistan.

"The world is
presented with that grim spectacle, "the strength of civilisation
without its mercy." +

Sir Winston Churchill:

The Story of the Malakand Field Force
An Episode of Frontier War

CHAPTER I: THE THEATRE OF WAR

The Ghilzaie chief wrote answer: "Our paths are narrow and
steep.
The sun burns fierce in the valleys, and the snow-fed streams run
deep;
. . . . . . . . . .

So a stranger needs safe escort, and the oath of a valiant friend."

"The Amir's Message," SIR A. LYALL.

All along the north and north-west frontiers of India lie the Himalayas,
the greatest disturbance of the earth's surface that the convulsions of
chaotic periods have produced. Nearly four hundred miles in breadth and
more than sixteen hundred in length, this mountainous region divides the
great plains of the south from those of Central Asia, and parts as a
channel separates opposing shores, the Eastern Empire of Great Britain
from that of Russia. The western end of this tumult of ground is formed
by the peaks of the Hindu Kush, to the south of which is the scene of
the story these pages contain. The Himalayas are not a line, but a great
country of mountains. By one who stands on some lofty pass or commanding
point in Dir, Swat or Bajaur, range after range is seen as the long
surges of an Atlantic swell, and in the distance some glittering snow
peak suggests a white-crested roller, higher than the rest. The
drenching rains which fall each year have washed the soil from the sides
of the hills until they have become strangely grooved by numberless
water-courses, and the black primeval rock is everywhere exposed. The
silt and sediment have filled the valleys which lie between, and made
their surface sandy, level and broad. Again the rain has cut wide, deep
and constantly-changing channels through this soft deposit; great
gutters, which are sometimes seventy feet deep and two or three hundred
yards across. These are the nullahs. Usually the smaller ones are dry,
and the larger occupied only by streams; but in the season of the rains,
abundant water pours down all, and in a few hours the brook has become
an impassable torrent, and the river swelled into a rolling flood which
caves the banks round which it swirls, and cuts the channel deeper year
by year.

From the level plain of the valleys the hills rise abruptly. Their steep
and rugged slopes are thickly strewn with great rocks, and covered with
coarse, rank grass. Scattered pines grow on the higher ridges. In the
water-courses the chenar, the beautiful eastern variety of the plane
tree of the London squares and Paris boulevards, is occasionally found,
and when found, is, for its pleasant shade, regarded with grateful
respect. Reaching far up the sides of the hills are tiers of narrow
terraces, chiefly the work of long-forgotten peoples, which catch the
soil that the rain brings down, and support crops of barley and maize.
The rice fields along both banks of the stream display a broad, winding
strip of vivid green, which gives the eye its only relief from the
sombre colours of the mountains.

In the spring, indeed, the valleys are brightened by many flowers--wild
tulips, peonies, crocuses and several kinds of polyanthus; and among the
fruits the water melon, some small grapes and mulberries are excellent,
although in their production, nature is unaided by culture. But during
the campaign, which these pages describe, the hot sun of the summer had
burnt up all the flowers, and only a few splendid butterflies, whose
wings of blue and green change colour in the light, like shot silk,
contrasted with the sternness of the landscape.

The valleys are nevertheless by no means barren. The soil is fertile,
the rains plentiful, and a considerable proportion of ground is occupied
by cultivation, and amply supplies the wants of the inhabitants.

The streams are full of fish, both trout and mahseer. By the banks teal,
widgeon and wild duck, and in some places, snipe, are plentiful. Chikor,
a variety of partridge, and several sorts of pheasants, are to be
obtained on the hills.

Among the wild animals of the region the hunter may pursue the black or
brown mountain bear, an occasional leopard, markhor, and several
varieties of wild goat, sheep and antelope. The smaller quadrupeds
include hares and red foxes, not unlike the British breed, only with
much brighter coats, and several kinds of rats, some of which are very
curious and rare. Destitute of beauty but not without use, the scaly
ant-eater is frequently seen; but the most common of all the beasts is
an odious species of large lizard, nearly three feet long, which
resembles a flabby-skinned crocodile and feeds on carrion. Domestic
fowls, goats, sheep and oxen, with the inevitable vulture, and an
occasional eagle, complete the fauna.

Over all is a bright blue sky and powerful sun. Such is the scenery of
the theatre of war.

The inhabitants of these wild but wealthy valleys are of many tribes,
but of similar character and condition. The abundant crops which a warm
sun and copious rains raise from a fertile soil, support a numerous
population in a state of warlike leisure. Except at the times of sowing
and of harvest, a continual state of feud and strife prevails throughout
the land. Tribe wars with tribe. The people of one valley fight with
those of the next. To the quarrels of communities are added the combats
of individuals. Khan assails khan, each supported by his retainers.
Every tribesman has a blood feud with his neighbor. Every man's hand is
against the other, and all against the stranger.

Nor are these struggles conducted with the weapons which usually belong
to the races of such development. To the ferocity of the Zulu are added
the craft of the Redskin and the marksmanship of the Boer. The world is
presented with that grim spectacle, "the strength of civilisation
without its mercy." At a thousand yards the traveller falls wounded by
the well-aimed bullet of a breech-loading rifle. His assailant,
approaching, hacks him to death with the ferocity of a South-Sea
Islander. The weapons of the nineteenth century are in the hands of the
savages of the Stone Age. +
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/9404

OK, enough of this "Jack" stuff.

My name is Jack
and I don't live in the back
of the Tommy Douglas
home for wayward boys and girls.

I can, however, again feel proud of being Canadian.

Way to go PMSH

MaryT: hey mary Ive been away what's this about Emerson's Office

To all liberal leftist whiners about Harper's trip to Afghanistan...

SHUT THE * UP!

Dang these guys are like an old creaking door swinging in the wind - sorry no more grease, fix it yourself!

A NOTE TO CANADA'S OPPOSITION PARTIES:

The election is over!
For once,put your COUNTRY ahead of your PARTY!!!!

I'm glad everyone here has found some mutual support and is able to give a big "hurrah" for the PM that cmapigned on accountability and cleaning up government, but went on to give Emerson a cabinet post only 2 weeks after he was elected as a Liberal. Harper also campaigned on an elected senate, but appointed a new member to the senate and to cabinet. I'm glad that you can all support his visit to Afghanistan and forget his lack of ethics and acountability in all other aspects of his so-called leadership. It's easy to say "go Harper" when you know everyone that reads this blog, and posts comments is as equally blindsided by one positive action that doesn't even come close to making up for all of the broken campaign promises, and the session hasn't even started yet. Bask in the *glory* of Stephen Harper's trip to Afghanistan, because it won't last long.

For those that have missed the Emerson thing...

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/03/13/emerson-vandalism-060313.html

Kind of a crappy deal if you asked me.

tlh

What a way to have to go through life.

I sincerely feel sorry for you,man!

You don't even make a respectable troll.

tomax,

Do you actually have anything to say?

Johan...obviously you don't read well...

Email to Paul Bourque today:

"Subject: Harper's afgan trip

Mr. Bourque:

Your headline "Harper sneaks into Afghanistan" was a gross misrepresentation of the story and the facts; it was demeaning to you and to those who read it. You ought to be ashamed of yourself."

Email reply FROM Bourque:

Sent: Monday, March 13, 2006 12:55 PM
Subject: Re: Harper's afgan trip

"Bruce, what nonsense, get a grip. What were you expecting, that he be piped in with a marching band and pom-pom cheerleaders ? He was snuck into the country. Period. Next time, hit the delete button before you fire off such foolish emails to people. Nitwit. - p"

Email reply TO Bourque:

"Well of course he went there unannounced, that's basic common sense.

Apparently you were unable to grasp the point of my email, which is in writing the "headline", you placed a negative and incorrect spin on the news story, which is not only immature, it is intellectually dishonest.

Got it now? Or should I use simpler language?"

Hmmmm, now I know why he cancelled the comments section on his website.

I'd like to extend my sympathy to the MSM in Canada. They really have their work cut out for them. I mean they have the really difficult task of making everything PM Harper and the Conservatives are doing into something negative that should be feared by all Canadians, and he goes out and does something like this!

I mean how do you spin this bad? How can they waste there time talking about the PM's visit to Afghanistan when they have an important story like the Emerson floor-crossing to drag out, for what the fifth week?

Yeah, I think we should all stay up tonight and think of ideas to help them with their quest, poor guys, if they don't have something bad to say about PM Harper the only thing left is something good, we just can't let that happen!

everybody e-mail, Mansbridge and the boys with your ideas. Thanks.

Bush Admin. releases 48K boxes of Saddam Documents (FOX NEWS ALERT!)
Fox News ^ | 03/13/2006

Posted on 03/13/2006 2:10:20 PM PST by tsmith130

Just heard of Fox News Alert...no other details

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1595752/posts

The answer is 2003, Cretien visited Troops in Kabul.

It doesn't really matter though. He wasn't anywhere near as forthright in his support of the CF. Did you know Cretien didn't step into National Defence Headquarters once in 10 years, and it's only 1000 meters Southwest of Parliament Hill.

Liberals, can't live with them... Not allowed to shoot 'em

Harper could debate this in Ottawa and win the debate by simply making it a motion of confidence. If it looses, the Government dissolves and we're into another election. The Liberals would vote with the Tories to avoid another election and the troops would have a clear committment from the Government. Boom!

Bruce,
A whole bunch of us have stopped visiting Bourques site as all he does now is put a slanted headline to someone else's work and then beg for money.
Believe he stopped the comments section because he was getting absolutely hammered with negative feedback(it was quite amazing to witness actually).
I will not even"pop by"his site anymore and give him the satisfaction of a"hit".
His reply to you speaks loudly of the total lack of class he has.

Should there ever be a debate in parliment I hope it involves a stint of at least ten years or more as a committment. This shows whole hearted unwavering support. These piddly nine month stints simply gives the Taliban an incentive to create enough havock in the interim to try to discourage further involvement. If I were in the Talibans shoes, with a ten year committment by the various nations, I'd be inclined to move on and find somewhere else to settle.

It would be nice to see some ''support the troops' banners on Canadian blogs.if a dumbass like me can make one i'm sure other wiser folks can come up with something that doesn't look to bad.c.j.g.of eroticalee

http://images.google.ca/images?q=chretien+helmet&btnG=Search&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=

Da Canadian values helmet de Chretien: Duceppe slipped in in the netdehair, la.

For the idiots posting here applauding the trashing of Emerson's office, or condemning Harper for putting aside politics to use the talents of this guy, let me just say that Vancouver's Olympics is well on the way to being as bad as Montreal for the debt about to be incurred. David Emerson, prior to being an MP, was a highly regarded businessman and his skill and expertise in bringing the Olympics to BC with a modicum of debt will be greatly appreciated. I'm in Vancouver and this guy is quite simply a situational Tory - he'll be used and discarded when the time comes. He could have simply said he crossed the floor in disgust at the Dingwall deal, and that would have been legit. THose who continue to see his appointment as a problem are the same people who believe people living in tents in front of city hall, giving free heroin to junkies and nice clean crack pipes to crackheads is perfectly legit and indeed commendable. Glad Harper realized Emerson's talent and Emerson flipped the bird to those idiots who can't see how he'd rather actually work for his MP pension that adorn the backbenches of the opposition party until the next election. He really is too decent to be a Liberal anyway.

First off: A job well done today Candace! over the 100 hit!(I have been here a couple times today....)
Maz2: After the day of watching the media spin in every direction re: Prime Minister Harper, thank you for the link with JC and his helmet on backwards! That was exactly what I needed! Something to laugh at.

I agree with y'all on Bourque, did he really say that Harper "snuck into Afghanistan"?...his headlines were pathetically anti-Harper during the election, I quit visiting, and I found NealeNews instead, a much more professional layout, and simply a topnotch news gatherer....not a front to sell poor art and beg for donations.

Oh yes and to stay on topic....way to go Mr. Harper and all the best to our brave troops in Afghanistan...no one is more deserving of the recognition by a great Canadian leader!!

Bourque lost me because of those headlines as well. No hits from my computer. HAHAHAHA!
As for all the lefties the idea of sending them out to find landmines is a GREAT IDEA!!!

CBCpravda has already dropped the story as the headline.It has gone to the sidebar but really they are just little snippets of complaints that the journalists cant accompany him on tour.

when are they going to toast this f'd up crown corportation???

Canadian Observer?

A whole bunch of us have stopped visiting Bourques site as all he does now is put a slanted headline to someone else's work and then beg for money.
Believe he stopped the comments section because he was getting absolutely hammered with negative feedback(it was quite amazing to witness actually).
I will not even"pop by"his site anymore and give him the satisfaction of a"hit".
His reply to you speaks loudly of the total lack of class he has.

I noticed a while back that Bourque seemed to morph from "aggregator" to "aggravator" and have quit linking to him or even visiting... glad I'm not the only one.

Back on-topic, I'm pleased my Canadian neighbors seem to have chosen a good man for their leader. Way to go.

Laytons behind the back activity reminds me of Trudeau in the 1980 Iran Hostage crisis. whilst American diplomats were being hidden in the Canadian embassy Pierre Elliot Trudeau kept hammering away at Joe Clark about policy in Iran while Clark was trying to evade the subject to make good on an escape plan. Clark took him aside and explained the situation, after which Trudeau cooled the questions but didnt change the subject making for an exasperating question period for Clark. Anyway , Layton is just as big of a backstabbing traitor.

Cant figure why Clark still supported the Liberals and they him when it came to his final top up year on his pension??It was the unholy alliance of the rainbow coolition and the Liberals stepping out of Calgary Centre that assured his victory. the type of victory that hot cross hedy would be proud of.

Bourque has also dropped the biggest story of the year from his webpage.

I can't believe how there are those who will try and tear down our Prime Minister at every turn.

"Mr. Jack, the thrust of the mission in Afghanistan is to secure freedom, democracy and human rights. This may include the 'human right' of same sex marriage."

Nevermind the right to marriage, how about just the right to not be stoned to death for being gay...

tlh, re: "doesn't even come close to making up for all of the broken campaign promises, and the session hasn't even started yet."

Like you said, the session hasn't even started yet, so WTF does your little mind expect???
That Harper would single-handedly, without Parliaments' involvement, start cramming everything down your throat?????

The backdrops in the CTV reports says it all. Harper with the troops in the wind-blown desert making a difference. Meanwhile, Jack comfortably surrounded by his lovely books back home bitching for a debate and pandering to his base.

The imagery speaks volumes.

Re: Pierre Bourque Newswatch

So, he cancelled the comments section all together - hmmm. Last couple of times I logged into his comments page, I was notified that I was "Banned from making comments". I guess he didn't like my comment where I blasted him over his silly slanted headlines.

I have slanted and biased headlines on my site, but then I run a partisan website, not one masquerading as a general news site.

Re: Smile'n Jack and Canadian troop deployment.

Jack, grow up and be a leader!

If you hadn't been so busy last year sucking Paul Martin's tit, you might have had time to debate the troop deployment to Afghanistan when the decision was made by the Liberal government. Your actions now are dispicable. Suck it up and support the troops.

it was pretty to watch . on cbc politics jason kenny stole alexa mcdonoughs vaaleeews line . then he explained what canadian valeeews really were . damn she was speechless for almost four minutes . it was awesome . i loved it . fine work jason , mighty fine

The media dropped the story, when they realized that the country doesn't want to be there and this was just a cpc publicity stunt using troops. Too bad it cost all that $ to fly the fat guy.

Get osama and the drug lords and cut out. We're not there to build schools. The original thing wasn't to get rid of the Taliban...they were warned to hand over osama. They didn't so the people got bombed for 3 weeks. All kinds of deals were made with warlords to carve up the country, while they stopped at tora bora and 1600 days later osama's still there and the mission reasons keep getting added to.

The difference between a (near) one-day story and not...
if it shows the PM in a positive light, it is a one-day story
if it shows the PM in a negative light, it is the Energizer-Bunny story.

Liberal$/Librano$ and their "manure". +

VANCOUVER - Two men are under arrest in Vancouver in connection with an attack on the constituency office of Conservative cabinet minister – and ex-Liberal MP – David Emerson. In the overnight attack, manure was smeared on the front door and the outside wall of the office in Vancouver. It was also left along the sidewalk outside the office. (CBC) +

OTTAWA - Taxpayers are picking up the tab for more than $1.3 million in legal fees to help Jean Chrétien and two top aides, Jean Pelletier and Jean Carle, defend their actions in the sponsorship affair, government documents show. (Ottawa Citizen) +
primetimecrime.com

The bullshit protestors are finally using real bullshit. Yay! The metaphor is the message.

Now all we need is the protestors to start hanging banners from hot air balloons. Or to protest from chairs since they don't have a leg to stand on...

So, I'm sitting here...watching the "The National" and their "coverage" of PMSH's visit to Afghanistan. Right after they have Jack the Weasel's comment about the need for debate, they show Ujjal Dosanjh (how the hell did he get the position of "Defence Critic"?) pretty much echoing the Weasel's comments. Have I got this right? The Liberano's are now saying there's a need for debate on our soldiers being there? Sure, I would expect them to try to jump on the Conservatives at any reasonable chance...but this level of hypocrisy seems extreme even for them.

On another line of thought. Has it occurred to anyone else that we seem to have become a nation of over-sensitive woosies when it comes to war and casualties? Back when those four soldiers were killed by the American F-15, I remember the constant coverage (for about 2-3 weeks straight, it seemed like it was the top news story). And even with the recent coverage surrounding Cpl Wilson. It just seems excessive.

Now don't get me wrong. I have the highest respect for the men and women of our services who put themselves in harms way. The fact that they do this...and that they sometimes pay the ultimate price makes it so that they deserve the highest level of honor and respect from us.

What bugs me about it is the way that the MSM does its coverage. Everytime a soldier is killed, the MSM seems to go to great lengths to get "statements" from grieving relatives. Then, there are all of those "new polls" assessing whether or not Canadians soldiers should still be in Afghanistan. Are they reporting the issues or trying to create them?

If the death of soldiers in a war zone is reason enough to abandon the war effort, then what the hell is the point of having a military? This all makes me think that the modern-day Canada wouldn't have lasted two days in either world war.

steve in bc

This is what's really bugging you LibDippers:
This columnist for CBC thinks PMHarper won big with the Afgan trip'

http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_zolf/20060313.html

And that's why I voted for him. At last we have a P.M.who has the guts to make us feel proud to be a Canadian.
Canada from sea to sea to sea.

Nice to see Jack Layton playing to the children of the nanny state. Pass the pablum, please.
Stephen Harper on the other hand talks to adults like they actually are adults. No wonder the lefties are all in a tizzy.

I can't believe how there are those who will try and tear down our Prime Minister at every turn.

Well, Platty, we are a few years ahead of you south of the border....Harper is is going to suffer Bush Derangement Syndrome. The MSM wienies and lefties pander it.

Any male with a spine or whiff of testosterone will be nailed by the sniveling Burqa clad cross-dressers in the press and the elite moonbats in academia.

The little lefty weasels recently kicked Mark Steyn off the British Telegraph and the Spectator - too much testosterone for the elitist girlie boys. Playing both ends into the middle - censoring the cartoons and it's critics both - the idiots have positioned themselves into oblivion. Good for humanity.

There were many little elitist creeps in France that accommodated Hitler. History repeats.

Zolf: "Suddenly,to the surprise of myself and all Canadians..."

Were you asleep, Zolf? Not out of the blue. Oh, wait... blue is the colour of the Conservative Party, right? Look here:

Advance teams on the ground in Afghanistan planning Harper visit with troops
ALEXANDER PANETTA

OTTAWA (CP) - Security teams are in Afghanistan and Pakistan laying the groundwork for a visit by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to one of the world's most dangerous spots, The Canadian Press has learned.
http://www.recorder.ca/cp/National/060224/n022423A.html +

Zolf:

Stephen Harper's out-of-the-blue visit to Afghanistan is the Conservative leader playing politics in his most brilliant stroke as prime minister since January's federal election win.

Suddenly, to the surprise of myself and all Canadians, Harper is in Afghanistan to witness the situation in the war-torn country first hand.
...

Harper's visit to Afghanistan is his way of telling the Americans that Canada will not run and hide, and chicken out as Jean Chretien did in the war in Iraq. Harper does not have to put Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan; Canadian troops are already there, and that's where they will stay.

His visit is also his guarantee to American allies that Canada supports their efforts in the war in Iraq. It's attracting enormous media attention, sending all the right signals to Bush about Canada's attitude about the war against terror.

Harper is definitely part of the American alliance and is overwhelmingly eager to say so openly.

By supporting the fight in Afghanistan, Harper is also taking the sting out of Canada's disagreements with the Americans over softwood lumber and Arctic sovereignty, and telling Bush and the Americans that Canada is their closest ally.

On the home front, the Afghanistan visit is so dramatic that it makes the ethics commissioner's investigation into former Liberal David Emerson's leap to the Conservatives, to join Harper's cabinet after January's federal election, look infantile and silly.

Harper is a pro-Quebec, pro-U.S., pro-military leader the likes of which Canada has never seen before. His Afghanistan move is great theatre and great politics, and will make it hard for the opposition parties to stop Harper from getting his agenda through Parliament.

Undoubtedly, victory at the polls will be the ultimate result of Harper's mission to the war-torn country. +
http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_zolf/20060313.html

hey steve in bc:

congrats on contributing the stupidest comment to this thread (so far)

you said

"Get osama and the drug lords and cut out. We're not there to build schools. The original thing wasn't to get rid of the Taliban..."

You want us to get out of Afghanistan? Well can we at least finish the things that you yourself claim we were there to do in the firt place? As you said Osamas still out there, the drug lords are still there, and if we left now then guess what, the Taliban will be back in a heart beat.

The "original thing" was to eliminate a radical faction in a country that had become a safe haven, breeding ground, training, and financing facility for jihadist terrorists! Thats why the US went to war in Afghanistan, thats why most of the world and the UN agree that it is a legitimate war!

And yeah we were there to build schools, one of our main reasons for being there has been to support rebuilding infrastructure. I get the feeling that you don't care too much for this war, well how about the people of Afghanistan? Do you care about them? Or should we pack our bags and let the country decend into chaos for another 2 decades?

You say the media dropped the story "when they realized that the country doesn't want to be there and this was just a cpc publicity stunt using troops" I don't think the MSM polling reveals that Canadians don't want to be there. I think it shows that Canadians don't know enough about why we're there. We're there for good and noble reasons. The media should be doing its job to educate the public as to those reasons, instead of trying to turn this into "Canada's Iraq"

As for this being a publicity stunt, I'm truly sorry, although not surprised, that after years of mediocre leadership in this country, you don't know what to think of a real leader. It must be some kind of trick, or stunt, PM harper couldn't possibly be there to show support for our troops right? Man how cynical your worldview must be. Ask the troops how used they feel! I gaurenty they are all genuinely excited to have a PM that actually cares about the important job they are risking their lives to achieve.

give yer head a shake man!

ryan...this is recent history or the same war that began ages ago...
The demands read:
1. Deliver to United States authorities all of the leaders of Al Qaeda who hide in your land.

2. Release all foreign nationals, including American citizens you have unjustly imprisoned.

3. Protect foreign journalists, diplomats and aid workers in your country.

4. Close immediately and permanently every terrorist training camp in Afghanistan. And hand over every terrorist and every person and their support structure to appropriate authorities.

5. Give the United States full access to terrorist training camps, so we can make sure they are no longer operating.

These demands relate exclusively to shutting down terrorist training camps and protecting foreigners in Afghanistan. There was posturing before these demands about how awful the situation in Afghanistan is, how oppressed the people are, and how everybody respects the people of Afghanistan, but when the demands are actually listed, the rights and liberties of those people are absent. None of the demands even mentions the ordinary people in Afghanistan. Neither is 'regime change' mentioned, nor for that matter is democracy.

This supports the argument that overthrowing the Taliban was not the major pupose of the invasion.

The ultimatum to the Taliban, their refusal to comply in handing over bin Laden, the previous collapse of the Northern Alliance as they were pushed hundreds of miles northward and then their leader Massoud assassinated by al Qa'ida two days before 9/11 - this led to the bombing, ground war, flimsy government of warlord/tribal cheifs, poppy crops again, and the instability that we seem to have no plan for what the hell is the victory.

clean streets, good schools...they're closing schools here in Canada.

I have just spent the most enlightening two hours of my life,(which is going to be 73 years this month), when I logged on today. First I went to a blog a friend suggested, called rabblerousers or something to that effect. I was sickened to realize that these were mostly Canadian. Then I returned to my favorite blog: I have never been more hopeful for the future of Canada, at least since PET was negotiating to socialize us to the point where we would all live the pact of Orwell. As a ten year serviceman 1950-1960, I was totally disgusted in the direction Canada has followed since then. Maybe now we can have some sort of chance at a future.

clean streets, good schools...they're closing schools here in Canada

When demographics change as in lower birthrates, schools close. No brainer. No problem.

"clean streets"

Duh?? Channeling Mary Poppins?? Hello!!! No cleaning up after themselves by the death-to-you-and-yours local Islamofascist cartoon protestors? How wretched. (It's not a very tidy world right now. Last thought on my mind.) Or perpetuating some Canadian stereotype?

What's with the "clean streets" mandate?

I've always been proud to be a Canadian, but unfortunately, until now had always been ashamed of our federal government. Today, for the first time in my life (41 years), I am also proud of my government.

BRAVO PMSH !

As for Jack Layton, his comments this past weekend were disgusting.

once again steve in bc:

you said among the list of demands

"Close immediately and permanently every terrorist training camp in Afghanistan."

Exactly how "permanent" would the closure of every terrorist camp in Afghanistan be, if the Taliban was to remain in control of the country? Not very. Even if every single terrorist in Afghanistan had been dealt with, but the Taliban was allowed to remain in control, Afghanistan would soon be over run with terrorist once again. Therefore overthrowing the Taliban was part of the original plan.

Also, you propose that the rights and liberties of Afghans were not important considerations because they were not mentioned in the list of demands. Would you really insist that your enemy treat its own people better as part of your stipulations to prevent war? Furthermore, there is and has always been a goal in this war to reduce the environmental breeding grounds for terrorist. This is done specifically through regime change, promoting democracy, increasing individual freedoms, and raising qaulity of life.

Also, any good strategy needs to be flexible, theres nothing wrong with amending the original plan if it helps you accomplish your goals. And a plan is really just a best guess anyway, there are bound to be situations that arrise and need to be dealt with along the way. Thats just the reality of war. Anyway its called the "big picture" steve.

That's all I'm going to say, I don't want to contribute to anymore nonsense.

Well, to be honest, Chretien did visit the troops in Kabul on October 18, 2003. But he only stayed for four hours. Which was in keeping with what the previous regime's policy on the military was: as little involvement and support as necessary.

"A meee-la-tareee? Dat is not 'ow ceevilized peee-poles deal with terror-eests!"

I would like to add my YAY HARPER to the comments. Like so many others I am hopefull and optomistic for the first time in a long time. Harper is right to tell troops, and the world, not to believe polls/media, they are definately skewed. We are the silent majority no longer!

Posted by bryceman:
"Then, there are all of those "new polls" assessing whether or not Canadians soldiers should still be in Afghanistan. Are they reporting the issues or trying to create them?"

Nailed that one.
If a story doesn't sizzle, cook it longer.

Bryceman; you seem to have a lot of conflicting emotions and that's fine. Once upon a time, pre-9-11 and kids, I had the same doubts. What we all need is to get real, support our troops, (even though they were committed by a cheap, selfish bastard) and have less negativity and more education. They are playing an important role and they deserve our respect and gratitude for their sacrifices.

How about debating the need for a military LATER and instead questioning the bias and our funding of it, namely CBC, NOW?

PM Harper stands up for Canada, the jack only stands at some parades.

My main point was the west has been there since 2002 and it's going to get worse. Do the original job and get out.

mr fish

Foreign fighters flood into Afghanistan

We finally have a LEADER who the Canadian public doesn't have to be ashamed of. After the last couple of governments there were many of us beginning to despair and wonder if we would ever have another leader in Canada with the moral fortitude to make us proud to be Canadians.
Toward the end of the last campaign I was getting so sick of seeing Paul Martin ranting about the "scary Conservatives". The contrast couldn't have been starker as Stephen Harper calmly laid out his platform and promises.
Now we have Prime Minister Stephen Harper leading by example contrasted against the former prime minister...what's his name. A previous post titled "Paul Martin -- best forgotten?" says it well.
As Prime Minister Stephen Harper has a chance to enter into his role as "Prime Minister" the other guys are going to fade away.
I can hardly wait for parliament to open! It is exciting. To watch the MSM whine and cry about their "entitlements" as the new government buries them in a blizzard of new policy direction and announcements! The opposition will be in such a tizzy that it should make for great theater. It will be interesting to see who is sitting on the government side and perhaps who is NOT sitting in opposition!
The change in style that we are already witnessing is like a breath of fresh air. I hope that renewal, like a spring breeze blows through the halls of Parliament very soon bringing change and hope wherever it blows.
Daniel
God keep our land, glorious and free,
O Canada we stand on guard for thee!

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!

Sorry, couldn't resist adding that. :-) Proud to be Canadian.

In spite of the negative spin by Canadian Press, aka MSM; in spite of the ankle-biting by the reporter; the message cannot be filtered out.

Prime Minister Harper's first foreign tour was/is a resounding success.

President Karzai of Afghanistan agrees.

Hail to the Chief: Prime Minister Harper.

The words: "O Canada, we stand on guard for thee" after decades of abuse again have real, sincere meaning for Canadians.

The blood of Canada's sons, as stated by President Karzai, attest to our sacrifices.

Thank you, Prime Minister Harper & Defence Minister O'Connor.

To the Canadian Armed Forces, Army, Navy, Air Force: Canadians Salute You. Bravo.

Hail To The Chief. +

Afghan president thanks Canada for 'giving the lives of your sons'
By ALEXANDER PANETTA

Prime Minister Stephen Harper chats with Brig-Gen. David Fraser. (CP PHOTO/Tom Hanson)

KABUL, Afghanistan (CP) - With military helicopters swirling overhead, Afghanistan's president told Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Tuesday that he is willing to visit Canada to convince Canadians their help is essential to building his country's burgeoning democracy.

"I've said to the president I hope to see him in Canada," Harper said at a joint news conference with President Hamid Karzai, the first head of state the prime minister has met face-to-face since coming to power in January.

"I'll be there," Karzai interrupted. +
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2006/03/13/1485745-cp.html

Lest We Forget

Canadians killed in Afghanistan

Ten soldiers and one Canadian diplomat have been killed since the military deployed to Afghanistan in 2002.

March 5, 2006: Master Cpl. Timothy Wilson died at a hospital in Germany after he was injured in the March 2 Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV III) rollover that killed Cpl. Paul Davis.

March 2, 2006: During a routine patrol, Cpl. Paul Davis was killed and six others injured when their LAV III collided with a civilian taxi west of Kandahar.

Jan. 15, 2006: While patrolling in a G Wagon, Canadian diplomat Glyn Berry was killed and three soldiers wounded by a suicide bomber in Kandahar.

Nov. 24, 2005: Pte. Braun Scott Woodfield, of the Royal Canadian Regiment, was killed in a traffic accident in a LAV III northeast of Kandahar. Three others soldiers suffered serious injuries.

Jan. 27, 2004: While patrolling near Camp Julien in an Iltis jeep, Cpl. Jamie Murphy was killed and three soldiers wounded by a suicide bomber.

Oct. 2, 2003: Sgt. Robert Alan Short and Cpl. Robbie Christopher Beerenfenger were killed and three more wounded when their Iltis jeep struck a roadside bomb outside Camp Julien near Kabul.

April 17, 2002: Sgt. Marc D. Leger, Cpl. Ainsworth Dyer, Pte. Richard A. Green, and Pte. Nathan Smith, were killed by friendly fire when an American fighter jet dropped a laser-guided 225-kilogram bomb on the soldiers during training near Kandahar. +
http://thehilltimes.ca/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=/2006/march/13/afghanistan/&c=1

PMSH cancelled the child care deal but insists on buiilding infrastructure in Afghanistan? You Yoodles really believe in this man's seemingly unlimited bravery when he can't even face women protesters wanting to question him regarding his broken promise to Canadian families and children? Expansion of military will require wellfed Canadian youth added to the immigrants who will be required to join up. If there are three contending factions in Iraq, there are dozens in Afghanistan. We are dillusional if we think the "friendly" Afghans don't know about the roadside bombs as Hillier has found out. As well the 16 year old Afghan youth acted out the Taliban/Al qaeda thing when he axed Lt. Green. War is a sober business and it is a business so you might ask what will it achieve and for whom.
Pride in warmongering is not intelligent for one. Are Canadians thinking of follow up plans in Afghanistan regarding oil pipeline put in place to service europe's needs. North America running interference in middle east to manipulate the fledgling new democrats (the natives) is foolhardy and will destroy what's left of this country after the lieberals reign of terror. It is pathetic to see a minority government 'acting out' a premature majority government. We will in all likelihood see a leadership deficit in all parties when parliament resumes. It will be the same old same old and the taxpayers will pay the ticket. But keep in mind you can't get blood from a stone.

You can always tell a TROLL (Liberal/Dipper) - thy name is ANONYMOUS!!!

Let's see - Soldiers fighting the war on terror so women in Afganistan can have the same rights as we women in Canada take for granted - and you are quibbling about daycare - do a little research Anony - check out exactly what the Conservative daycare plan is to create spaces - you could be surprised - although I don't think so - you've got your head so far up in some dark place you wouldn't know a good thing if you saw it.

Now back to the IMPORTANT stuff - how great is it so see the MSM that were just reporting a couple of days ago how PMSH isn't in the REAL danger zone, eat their words when he spends a night out on the front lines! Something to think about Anony!!

small dead animals? small narrow minds. this pm you're so fond of, who is supposedly committed to establishing democracy in afghanistan crapped all over democracy in vancouver-kingsway.

Is there something about the basic democratic rights of those voters you feel less enthusiatic about. hypocrites!

John - Get a life - that "s**t" is really getting old - When the people of Afganistan walk for miles to vote at the risk of being shot, you people in Vancouver take it for granted that it is OK to throw s**t at an office because you are upset.

You bet we are proud - the democracy that PMSH is supporting is so far above your liberal/dipper view of democracy if you even think of equating these two issues.

In Canada - s**t thrown against a privately owned wall is prosecuted by a slap on the wrist - in Afganistan you would be shot - Think about it before you make your next idiotic post.

Emerson is the man they elected, as a Liberal.

Liberals are known to lie.

They got the man they elected.

What's undemocratic about that?

One wonders if these two journalists received the same PMO briefing:

Lorrie Goldstein, "Man with a vision"
http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Goldstein_Lorrie/2006/03/14/1487165-sun.html

John Ibbitson, "How Kandahar fits into PM's view of Canada" (full text not online)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v4/sub/MarketingPage?user_URL=http://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2Fstory%2FRTGAM.20060314.wxibbitson14%2FBNStory%2FAfghanistan%2Fhome&ord=6170666&brand=theglobeandmail&redirect_reason=2&denial_reasons=none&force_login=false

The amazing idea that the federal government should actually effectively do that for which it is constitutionally responsible--including defence.

Good grief! Who'd a thunk it?

Mark
Ottawa

CTV showed the recent public opinion & in depth visit. CBC all they showed was great lack of respect for our troops & PM, Have you noticed how they Refer to the PM as just Harper, Not PMSH. I can't recall them ever just saying Martin my solution is Iam not even watching anymore had enough, boycott them RATINGS SPEAK LOUDER THAN YOU THINK (unfortantly TSN has not got full curling coverage yet). As for WACKY JACKY I will say it again, you were too busy last year PROPPING UP CORRUPPTION when there could have been a debate, GET OVER IT FOR F-SAKES try supporting something for once Jack, then again Socialist have never supported OUR FORCES,can you just imagine if that type of attitude existed with the opposition 60yrs ago, Where would we be today?, Start speaking louder with your support for David Emerson, this has just sunk to the lowest of lowest. Then again at Laytons election nite speach when he congratulated Stephen Harper they booed, Tommy Douglas would be real Proud of what his party has become? final note why do you people bother looking at Bourque, The Biggest Cut & Paste job out there, how do you call yourself a news site when you steal from everyone, & put your twist to it, WHAT A JOKE.

You can always tell a TROLL (Liberal/Dipper) - thy name is ANONYMOUS

There is also another type of troll - the kind that gets shot down with a rebuttal comment and soon returns posting under another name.

Anyone else see the pattern?

John Daly
You know, Prime Minister Stephen Harper could have invited you to join his cabinet. Who is in his cabinet is up to him to choose. He will pick those who he feels can best fit the role for that time.
Get over it already. You want to create a lot of fluff about this issue, go ahead. It is going to blow up in your faces as soon as the soft wood lumber deal is inked. This will all be forgotten and Minister Emmerson will be re-elected in his riding. Now get off your high horse and lets get this nation back on track! There is work to do and this government is doing it.
By the way, I wouldn't be sitting by the phone waiting for the Prime Ministers call. The position has been filled.
Daniel

ANONY EQUALS YOODLES/TROLLS/HISTORICALLY CHALLENGED, UNTHINKING, BEHIND THE SCENES PERSONS OF QUESTIONABLE LOYALTY TO GOD, COUNTRY AND ERRANT PM.

Jean Chretien is the last PM to visit the troops onsite. Did it several times.

geezuz i just read antonia zerbisias' column . i don't know why , i never expected anything reasonable or insightful. twisted curiousity maybe . i wasn,t surprised . just the usual george bush north shit .
i've spent the last half an hour trying to figure out what it takes to get her head that far up her own ass.i think i've got it narrowed down to six very strong men , four crowbars , a winch truck , three eight pound sledgehammers , a vacuum truck and thirty five feet of three quarter inch nylon rope.

Well, anyone who's seen the "Zerb" understands that she has no right to comment on Harper's "election trail belly" of all things....when she herself is hardly the stuff of schoolboy fantasies. The "Zerb" is a wee bit on the "puffy" side herself.

As for the rest of the drivel she wrote.....that's hardly a surprise. Why change her style just because there is a new PM? Hell...even Warren Kinsella mentioned the Zerb's latest failings.

I know it*s wrong to laugh out loud about the above.. but I just can*t help it.

Must give credit when it*s due.

Prime Minister Harper and Team,

Congratulations. There appears to be a very dangerous risk to your actions, but I suppose your choosing to take that risk is exactly what gives so much weight to your support for our military.

Your solidarity for our troops is admired in the US opinion webnet and is drawing rave response through the Canadian blogosphere.

While I am uneasy about the risk level, [ there is so much important fixing of things on your plate], there is no denying that inspiring Canadian troops makes them and myself proud to be Canadian again. Especially after the fraudulent liberal misdirection we have suffered recently.

73s TG [Tony Robinson]

TonyGuitar.blogspot.com

It's a breath of fresh air to have a prime minister that supports the Canadian military and all that it stands for. I'm proud to be Canadian again.

Paddy: When and where did teflon Jean visit the troops? The sandbag thing in Winnipeg does NOT count. Facts do.

As for PMSH, Way to go. It might have been better if he didn't have the press but then again CBC would be whining about that. Wait, they are whining already about not being told everything when they demand it.

I too would like Paddy to enlighten us as to his statement

"Jean Chretien is the last PM to visit the troops onsite. Did it several times".

Did he sleep in their camps? Did he eat in their canteen's (is that what it is called?)? Did he visit the front lines and actually talk to soldiers?

Please, all knowing paddy - enlighten us?

Prime Minister Harper in Pak?

Did he not advise the MSM in Canada of his plan to stop-over in Pak?

Did he not take bottled water to flog/sell in Pak?

Ex-PM PM did not leave home without water:
Martin in Colombo to support tsunami relief
http://www.tamilnet.com/img/publish/2005/01/canadian_pm_35390_140.jpg

Canadian PM arrives in Islamabad
www.chinaview.cn 2006-03-14 20:13:36

ISLAMABAD, March 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrived in Islamabad for a one-day visit on Tuesday for talks on bilateral and regional matters, officials said.

The Canadian prime minister was on a surprise visit to neighboring Afghanistan, where he visited Canadian troops in southern Afghanistan.

Pakistan's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khusro Bakhtiar welcomed Harper on his arrival at the Chaklala air base.

Harper is likely to meet Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf and will hold formal talks with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and discuss with him issues of bilateral, regional and international importance.

They will also discuss cooperation in war against terrorism, trade, investment and other walks of life, local reports said.

Aziz and his Canadian counterpart will address a joint press conference after their meeting. +
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-03/14/content_4303854.htm

Late in commenting on this thread but, in answer to the question has a Canadian PM ever done this: Chretien already went to Afghanistan.

Ted
Cerberus

Err, didn't Jeanie Cretien visit the troops in Afganistan?

Did someone mention AdScam Chretien? Caddy was the Khadrs? +

While Jean Chretien golfs...
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien is vacationing in the Dominican Republic this weekend, where he will tee off with former U.S. President Bill Clinton for the newly inaugurated Soft-on-Terror Masters Tournament

Apr 18, 2003
by Michelle Malkin

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien is vacationing in the Dominican Republic this weekend, where he will tee off with former U.S. President Bill Clinton for the newly inaugurated Soft-on-Terror Masters Tournament.

While Chretien golfs, his fellow countryman and favorite accused terrorist Ahmad Said Khadr is still on the loose.

Khadr, an Egyptian-born Canadian citizen, is considered by intelligence officials to be the highest-ranking Canadian within Osama bin Laden's inner circle. He studied computer science at the University of Ottawa and worked for an Ottawa-based Islamic charity, Human Concern International, which was generously subsidized by Chretien's government.

Khadr is suspected of siphoning charity funds to bin Laden and other jihadists, and of serving as a chief terrorist recruiter. Known as "al-Kanadi" (Arabic for "The Canadian"), Khadr had previously been in custody in Pakistan for the 1995 bombing of the Egyptian Embassy in Islamabad that killed 17 people.

As I've noted before (and it is especially worth repeating in light of attempts by some high-ranking American diplomats to make amends with Canada), our so-called friend and supposed War on Terror partner Chretien was instrumental in securing Khadr's freedom.

Chretien personally intervened on behalf of Khadr during a 1996 state visit to Pakistan. He aggressively sought guarantees from Benazir Bhutto, then the country's prime minister, that Khadr would receive due process and fair treatment. The suspected Egyptian Islamic Jihad terrorist was released shortly after Chretien's diplomatic lobbying campaign.

The United Nations, U.S. and Canada (last, of course) have since frozen the fugitive Khadr's assets due to his suspected ties to bin Laden. One of his sons, an al Qaeda operative and former terror training camp commander, is on the run with Khadr.

Another of Khadr's sons, 16-year-old Omar, is in U.S. custody at Guantanamo Bay for his alleged role in an ambush of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan last summer. Omar is accused of lobbing the hand grenade that killed Sergeant First Class Christopher Speer, a 28-year-old medic with the U.S. Special Forces.

"That wasn't a panicky teenager we encountered that day," Sergeant First Class Layne Morris of South Jordan, Utah, who lost his right eye in the ambush, told the Boston Globe last month. "That was a trained Al Qaeda who wanted to make his last act on earth the killing of an American."

Speer left behind a wife and two children, ages 3 and 11 months. Just days before his murder, Speer had selflessly walked into a minefield to rescue two wounded Afghan children.

Chretien's government, naturally, is pleading for leniency in Omar Khadr's case.

While Chretien golfs, another fellow countryman and suspected terrorist, Al Rauf Bin Al Habib Bin Yousef Al-Jiddi, also remains on the loose. Al-Jiddi is a Tunisian-born Canadian citizen from Montreal who vowed to become a martyr in the "war against the infidels." The suicide threats were recorded on a videotape found at an al Qaeda safehouse in Afghanistan owned by bin Laden's military chief, Mohammed Atef.

Al-Jiddi has been linked to a Canadian-based al Qaeda cell that included Ahmed Ressam, the Algerian terrorist plotter nabbed by U.S. Customs officials at the Canadian border in Washington state with a car full of explosives intended for use in a bombing attack at Los Angeles International Airport during the millennium celebration. Tunisian-Canadian Faker Boussora, an associate of Al-Jiddi's, also remains a fugitive.

While Chretien golfs, counterterrorism officials estimate that al Qaeda has roughly 75 operatives still on the loose in Canada and that the country remains an operations base for at least 50 different international terrorist organizations -- many of whose members have gained Canadian citizenship thanks to Chretien's chronically lax refugee and asylum policies.

While Chretien golfs, Canada remains a magnet for jihadists and a breeding ground for anti-American terrorism. Yet, the Bush administration is now planning to exempt Canadian citizens from our federal law requiring a system to track all entries to and exists from the U.S. by 2005. The Globe and Mail reports that "The Chretien government has lobbied hard for such an exemption, saying it is needed to keep people and commerce flowing freely across the border."

Chretien has undermined America's national security efforts every step of the way. Why do we continue to serve as caddies for his terror-friendly agenda? +
http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/michellemalkin/2003/04/18/169545.html

Cerebrus & Zorph - Chretien landed on an airstrip, shook hands, took pictures & left again. A bit different IMHO & if you'd plowed through the whole thread, you'd see that someone somewhere did mention that.

But he never camped out with JTF2! I'm jealous. *smirk*

General Who Ordered Attacks on Canadian Troops Becomes Prime Minister of Kosovo
CNW ^ | March 13, 2006

Posted on 03/14/2006 4:57:28 PM PST by Jane_N

TORONTO, March 13 /CNW/ - Agim Ceku, who is alleged to have led an unprovoked 1993 military attack on Canadian Peacekeepers in the Medak Pocket region of Croatia, has been chosen by Albanians to replace the outgoing prime minister of the U.N.-administered southern Serbian province of Kosovo.

The Medak offensive, allegedly planned by Ceku, is also known as the "Medak massacre". This name is entrenched in the minds of many Canadian Armed Forces personnel as Canada's largest military battle since the Korean War. Four Canadians were wounded in the clash that left nearly 30 Croatian soldiers dead.

According to reputable sources, Agim Ceku was instrumental in the 1993 Croatian military offensive at Medak, and was one of the key planners of the 1995 ethnic cleansing operation 'Storm'. Both of these operations involved the deliberate shelling of civilians, rape, torture, systematic arson, and the permanent expulsion of Serbs from the Krajina region of Croatia.

It is an insult to Canada, and in particular the honourable and respected personnel of the Canadian Armed Forces, that Agim Ceku is not behind bars. This recent appointment raises concern that a man who helped plan and execute two campaigns of ethnic cleansing has become the Prime Minister of Kosovo, a province where intolerance towards non-Albanians continues unchecked and unabated. +
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1596402/posts

19 Wing Comox Medak Pocket Commendation Presentation
CFB Comox
03/07/30

Wing Commander, Colonel Price, Medal Honourees, comrades, families and friends:

Last December in Winnipeg, Her Excellency the Governor General presented Lt. Colonel Mike Day Commanding Officer of the Second Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian light infantry (2 PPCLI) with the Royal Pennant depicting gold bar with vice regal lion that today flies perpetually underneath the Canadian flag at all the unit lines.

The 2 PPCLI battle group was awarded this exceptional commendation for courageous and professional execution of duty during the Medak Pocket Operation in the former Yugoslavia in September 1993. Facing enemy artillery, small arms and heavy machine gun fire as well as anti tank and anti personnel mines, the members of the battalion group held their ground and drove the Croatian forces back from their ongoing 'ethnic cleansing', which was also being carried out by Serb forces in other theatres of this tragic war. There is no doubt that the exemplary actions undertaken at the Medak Pocket by Canadians at this time saved the lives of uncounted innocent civilians.

Today we honour:

Master Corporal Kilback joined the Canadian Forces in Kamloops in 1990. Following training in Ontario, Master Corporal Kilback was posted to Calgary from 1991 to 1995 during which he completed a tour in Operation Palladium. Then was back to Kingston for TQ5 unit 1996 with a posting 79 Communication Regiment where he travelled steadily from Greenwood through many postings including Trenton, Gagetown, Camp Zouani (Elgorah), Yellowknife and Esquimalt as well as a tour with Operation Harmony.

Posted to 19 Wing Comox in 1999, Master Corporal Kilback is recently returned from Operation Apollo, we commend Master Corporal Kilback and his fiancée Ruth who are anticipating a summer wedding.

Corporal T. D. Young was born at the Canadian Forces Base in Warstein, West Germany and also joined the Forces in 1990. With Training in Cornwallis, Corporal Young was posted to Wainright, Alberta to the PPCLI Battle School to become an Infanteer. On his graduation, Corporal Young was posted to 2nd Battalion in Winnipeg.

With two tours as a Peacekeeper in the Former Yugoslavia, the first for the UN and the second for NATO, Corporal Young was awarded the CDS Commendation for his actions at a motor vehicle accident in Alberta in which he assisted in saving a life. He was posted to CFSME, as an LOTP to the Engineers as a Construction Technician at Gagetown before being posted with his family of wife Lia and daughter Morgan to 19 Wing Comox in 2002.

Each of the 875 Canadians who served as Medak Soldiers and that number includes some 400 Reserve Force Soldiers are honoured with a Unit Commendation, created a year ago to recognize this outstanding service to Canada and to the world's peoples of forcing a halt to 'ethnic cleansing' at a critical juncture in the Balkan hostilities in which they were engaged.

It is my honour as representative of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen of Canada in British Columbia to present Master Corporal Kilback and Corporal Young with this commendation for exceptional service to Canada and to the World. +
http://www.ltgov.bc.ca/whatsnew/sp/sp_jul30_2003.htm

God bless the soldiers,pray for there safety they need all the help we can give them.The idiots over there are going to pick them off 3or4 at a time

Yes absolutely phenominal PMSH visiting his our troops boys and girls in uniform.

But what can we do to support our troops win the hearts and minds of the Afgan people so they can accomplish this mission?

If you live near a base they will send any care packages free of charge to Afghanistan. Leave the package open for inspection.

Legions and cadets should also be include with free postage from Canada post for any package maked with support for our troops yellow ribbon.

Some of the things that would go over well are pens, pencils, paper, coloring books, crayons, Tupperware containers to keep dust out, Hand held radios for men, pots and pans for women, solar lights for rural areas, plant seeds for base beautification, Memorial flowers for locations of Canadian soldiers deaths like you see along the side of the road. Help remnd Afgans of our resolve to help them.

If you can think of anything else or how to get support to our troops please post and email your MP to demand a ways and means to show your support. Actions speak louder than words as Prime Minister Stephen Harper has shown us.

We also need a way to help the Afgan people turn from poppy growth to other means of income. I was thinking Ginseng good cash value and they couold grow the Ying while we grow the Yang in canada for cold FX.

God bless all the Canadian Forces in Afganistan, this American thanks you for your service.

In his first trip out side of Canada his going to see those who make your freedom possible shows what kind of man P.M. Harper is.

All gave some
SOME GAVE ALL.

And after all the patriotic speeches our guys gun down an innocent Afghan taxi driver this morning. One less to liberate, I guess.

More on my blog, at:

http://bigcitylib.blogspot.com/

Something for you rednecked yobos to think about.

bigcitylib what part of "too close" don't you understand? Or would you rather another LAVIII crew got it's ass kicked?

The rules of approach have been in place since the military arrived in Kandahar. They've been made very clear to the locals with the previous taxi incident and if they want to pay the price then so be it. I can assure the bastard was probably screaming 'allah akbar' when they shot him. He probably gave his life hoping that the Canadians will change thier rules of engagement. I doubt he's as innocent as you hope him to be.

What part of 'too close' don't you understand?

Dear Bear,

I don't think our guys could have done anything differently. But I think the afghan was just a poor sap who couldn't drive very well (which is what the first reports seem to indicate). The guy has kids, and now his kids probably think that the people who said they were there to protect like their father, just murdered him. A couple of little Jihadis created by accident. How does that help the Canadian Mission?

Alberta Girl

Let's see you turn that fine female intellect toward this then: post, in as many words as you like (Albertans are usually loud mouths, so you won't have trouble) exactly how democracy is taking hold in Afghanistan.

Leave out the jingoistic stuff, girl. Just some facts. We know about the capital city. How about the rest of the country. Are you really Albertan (read dumb) enough to think Canada is going to turn the tide of history in this part of the world.

You've heard of the Soviet Union? The news made it to Alberta, did it? Ra ra is fine at an Oilers game. Not so fine when the contest involves the lives of young men and women.

You're on, Alberta Girl. I'll be reading you, carefully. Some substance, please.

Daniel

The Emerson matter is just getting started. Listen, I am a life long NDP supporter provincially and a Liberal, federally, who voted Conservative in the last election.

This move by Harper was remarkable in its stupidity. Such an uneccessary distraction. Such an obvious crapping on the democratice process.

Alberta Girl, and others of her ilk, will churn out the entirely predictable "get over it mantra" unless and until it's their riding where this happens.

Here is a simple fact: the voters in Vancouver-Kingsway were disenfranchised. Now if Alberta Girl, or anyone else would like to debate that fact, bring it please.

It's ironic in the extreme that conservatives comment about the childishness of the liberal POV and then attach to ideas like "Emerson is going to solve the softwood lumber file".

Really? That's all it takes, eh? George and the boys in Montana were just waiting for David Emerson to arrive on the scene? Good grief!

Johnny, from a different loud-mouthed Albertan, here is but one example for you: Link from GOOGLE - - Politics of Afghanistan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This was the first parliamentary election in Afghanistan since 1969. 2707 candidates, including 328 women, competed for 249 seats. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Afghanistan - 54k -

RE; "the voters in Vancouver-Kingsway were disenfranchised"

Lie. Floor crossing is part and parcel of our parliamentary system of government.

The libs and dippers in BC want "proportional" representation that will take BC down the road to a parliament that more resembles Italys (with hookers having their own union and more of city state status for Vancouver, like they need it).

"Proportional" representation was defeated in the last election in BC but libs and dippers always blame the rules when they cannot possibly win otherwise so ANOTHER push for a change to "proportional" representation is THE big issue for lefties in BC.

THIS IS TO ALL OF YOU LEFTIES, WHINERS & DO GOODER'S THAT DISAGREE WITH OUR TROOP'S BEING OVER IN AFGHANISTAN. Where would you be today if 60yrs ago we had ignored the Nazis, Mussolini & Japan. You would not for one thing be writing or publicy demonstrating, you have freedoms today thanks to the men & women of the allied forces of the past. Men & women that some gave the extreme sacrifice so that you can live in freedom, remember that the next time you complain. These men & women are sent to these zones to stop dictatorship's eliminating innocent peoples from existance, for free & democratic societies. The people of afghanistan were living under a society of dictators, a society where innocent women & children were looked upon as pigs in a trough, where husbands, brothers, sisters etc... disappeared off the streets or in the middle of the nite never to be seen again. These events were no different than what happened in China in the 30's & 40's when Japan invaded them, When Nazi Germany invaded countries & the final solution. DO YOU REMEMBER these events, for our father's said never again, if we sit idle History will repeat itself. Our Men & Women in our forces well trained & know what they are in for, We must support our leader's & forces for these decision's or again History will repeat iself. SO IN CLOSING THE NEXT TIME YOU ARE GOING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR LEADER'S & PROUD FORCES look out your window, do you see that little old man or lady walking with a cane, do you see these people on November 11th with tear's in there eyes they are the reason that you are here. WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

bigcitylib still trolling this blog in hopes of elevating his obscure profile. Small wonder. Over at his blog, almost nary a comment on any of the librano-slanted articles he posts, because, well, who the hell could be bothered?

You say when did a Canadian PM last visit Canadian troops in Afganistan? October 2003, that's when. You can hardly tell the difference, words and pictures of Jean The Great are now followed by those of Stephen the Unready.

What can explain the burst of unreasoning passion among the knuckle draggers of Calgary upon hearing the "surprizing news" that has been a feature of many media forecasts for weeks. Can it be relief that finally Harper has done something that is not a case of digging the hole he is in deeper yet?

Alas, he did, he did. You do not visit the neigbours and carry on big and bold then announce that you are a leader of your country that is not in control. It is true and it is modest, two virtues that the new PM exhibits; but it ain't smart.

Beyond that, enough of the bs about bravery. All the soldiers on every side in every war were brave. It is still the daily obligation of those who send the young and trusting into bad places, to figure out whether they should be there and plan the event that will be used to get them out. We have a place, the House of Commons, where such issues are supposed to be fought out. Let us have that debate NOW!

Johnny Maudlin
"This move by Harper was remarkable in its stupidity. Such an uneccessary distraction. Such an obvious crapping on the democratice process."
Johnny...Welcome to the Coservative tent!
I hope that when you thoughtfully cast your vote that you did it with a thought process that included the realization for the need for change in Canada.
On the face of it and the optics of it, it I didn't like the Emmerson move either. After careful reflection, I decided that we were only two weeks into what amounts to a very slim mandate. As I see it now, PMSH did what needed to be done. If you consider the vote count in Parliament, one less for the Liberals and one more for the Tories may make the difference between appeasing one party or two. That is the reality of a minority government. There was nothing illegal about the crossing. It is the PM who decides who he will invite into his cabinet. I, for one am glad Emmerson is there. He is far more a Conservative than he was a Liberal anyway, he has said so himself. Have a look at his business history and resume. He stayed in because of a loyalty and promise to the former PM... what's his name, I forgot. I believe that when "what's his name" resigned, Mr Emmerson felt betrayed as he had kept his word. He ran and won the seat- witness the election night speech. At that point he was still a Liberal. When "what's his name" quit, I think that was the turning point for Mr. Emmerson and when the offer came he decided that he could do more for B.C. and his riding from the government side than the opposition benches.
I believe that, perticularly after this visit to the troops, Canada has finally built up a little good will south of the border. I also believe that because of that, there will be a deal inked soon on SWL. There was a lot of work done on this file before the election and it made perfect sense to send the man who has done much of the grunt work and knows the players back in to finish the work. Good for Mr. Emmerson. Good for PMSH. Good for B.C. and Vancouver. Obviously the proof will be in the pudding!
What people like yourself need to decide is am I going to make my vote count for change and get behind the new government? We are working towards the next election where there will be a majority Conservative government. Which side do you want to be working for. It sounds like you have been all over the map electorially. I think every individual like yourself who voted for the Conservative party this time, many for the first time are welcome to roll up your sleeves and work together for change. We need to be focused on the task at hand, not second guessing every move the P.M. makes. I think part of his promise to the people of Canada was that the Conservatives, himself included would make some mistakes. I don't think this was one of them. I think it was a calculated move because it is good in the long run for Canada and short term it gave the MSM something to focus on instead of all the new cabinet ministers and PMSH as they get down to business. I believe it was calculated as a necessary distraction!
Disenfranchised, I don't think so. They have a cabinet minister representing them, Vancouver and B.C. at the table. What more could they want. If they don't like it, they will have opportunity for another vote within a year or so in all likelihood. I believe he will win again in that riding!
As for crapping on the democratic process, I think the Fortier appointment comes closer but then again, the P.M. can invite whomever he chooses. Like I said before, it could have been you or I! Isn't Canada wonderful!
There's work to do Johnny, are you for us or against us. I hope that you decide to put your vote for change to work and support our P.M. and the new government. Canada voted for a "little" change. Until we get a mojority, that is what they are going to get. I look forward to working with you.
Daniel

garhane
"We have a place, the House of Commons, where such issues are supposed to be fought out. Let us have that debate NOW!"
For one thing Parliament isn't in session. Secondly it makes NO sense to demoralize the troops that are "in theater" by second guessing their role back home. There was a time and a place for that debate but it is certainly not now.
Like the government, the troops are doing their job with dignity and honor, representing what is best about Canada by contrasting it against what it the worst in the world.
Debate all you want before they are sent and dissect policy and do the second guessing once they are safely home but while they are in harms way they deserve our support, not our doubts and fears.
Shame on any leader (Jack are you listening) who feels the debate should rage while the troops are in harms way. The exception that I would make to this is if the General in command of field operations were to request a debate back home so that they could have that political direction, then so be it. At the moment, the troops have the support of the government and of the people.
Daniel

I love how all the left-wing weenies pile on at the end of threads. Really effective attacking other peoples comments after they've already moved on. Its hard to move on though sometimes, isn't it, just can't get the Emerson thing out of your mind, gee thats really too bad.

Always got to have the last word eh? Sorry to spoil it for ya.

Yay Harper. haha

Address by the Prime Minister To the Canadian Armed forces in Afghanistan

I want to begin by telling you how proud I am of the work you’re doing.

You have put yourself on the line to:

Defend our national interests;

Protect Canada and the world from terror;

Help the people of Afghanistan rebuild their country.

I thank you.

Canadians thank you.

And I know that the Afghan people thank you.

Canada’s National Interest

Your work is important because it is in our national interest to see Afghanistan become a free, democratic, and peaceful country.

Before its liberation, under the Taliban regime, Afghanistan often served as an incubator for Al Qaeda and other terror organizations.

This reality hit home with brutal force on 9-11, when two dozen Canadians lost their lives suddenly and senselessly in the destruction of the World Trade Centre.

Those were ordinary Canadians. People with families, partners, children and dreams for a better future. Just like all of our citizens, people who died suddenly and for no reason at the hands of fanatics.

Since that time, Al Qaeda has singled out Canada as one of the countries targeted for terror.

And beyond the threat of terror there’s the threat of drugs.

An unstable Afghanistan represents easy pickings for drug lords who would use the country as a safe haven for the production of heroin, which wreaks its own destruction on the streets of our country.

Our Canada is a great place, but Canada is not an island.

And what happens in places like Afghanistan threatens and affects all of us back home in our own country.

Canadian Leadership Tradition

Your work is about more than just defending Canada’s interest. It’s also about demonstrating an international leadership role for our country. Not carping from the sidelines, but taking a stand on the big issues that matter.

You can’t lead from the bleachers. I want Canada to be a leader. And I know you want to serve your country. A country that really leads, not a country that just follows. That’s what you are doing. Serving in a UN-mandated, Canadian-led security operation that is in the very best of the Canadian tradition:

Providing leadership on global issues;

Stepping up to the plate;

Doing good when good is required.

Humanitarian Mission

Finally, but no less important, is the great humanitarian work you’re doing. Working with the Afghan government and Afghan people to enhance their security helps them. It helps them rebuild their country to make a better life for themselves and their children.

Already a great deal has been accomplished. Reconstruction is reducing poverty; millions of people are now able to vote; women are enjoying greater rights and economic opportunities that could have been imagined under the Taliban regime; and of Afghan children who are now in school studying the same things Canadian kids are learning back home.

These are important victories for the people of Afghanistan, and the represent things worth standing up for.

Standing up for Canadian Values

Of course, standing up for these core Canadian values may not always be easy at times. It’s never easy for the men and women on the front lines. And there may be some who want to cut and run.

But cutting and running is not your way.

It’s not my way.

And it’s not the Canadian way.

We don’t make a commitment and then run away at the first sign of trouble.

We don’t and we won’t.

Conclusion

Friends, we have made real progress here. You’re work is vital to Canada.

To the free world.

To the Afghan people.

As you get ready to go back to work, know that I am behind you.

Your government is behind you.

And, most importantly, the Canadian people are behind you.

Thank you. God bless Canada.+

http://www.andrewcoyne.com/

I would like to thank all of those who are so bigoted as to believe that since I live in Alberta I'm stupid.

Thanks I always like to know how much we are appreciated in own country.

Calgree Alburda or Emmunton Alburda?

just asking for them from Trona!!!

from the drivers seat of the turnip wagon.

Johnny Maudlin - you are either a hypocrite or naive. The NDP claim they are "pure" (or imply it) yet the BC NDP gov't 'enticed' an opposition member. Sauce for the goose.

And by the way, the NDP is the only national party that considers their provincial counterparts as equal (for example, when Ontario punted Buzz the national party had to go along with it).

Turn the page already.

Well, posted a quick takedown re. Coyne's Wednesday National Post column entitled "Harper's Mission Statement" at the old blog,

http://bigcitylib.blogspot.com/

..entitled "What They Really Meant".

Bit disappointing really. The origonal column is almost too gaseous to get a grip on. I have, I believe, managed to extract its rational core however, and have appended my own comments.

Who cares, bigcitytroll??? Newsflash: feeble/sheeple-minded Librano goosestepping has gone by the wayside. You can relax now, and start to learn how our country should really be governed.

How many MLA's or MP's childreen are over there fighting? Not many. I say children because most are between 19 and 25 years of age. Too young to see such violence.