Thursday Morning Links from Maggie's Farm
Sick Building Syndrome exists only in the minds of trial lawyers. Doctors say the "mold" thing is a joke, too, because mold is everywhere. Just look in my fridge.Women: About cooking for hubbie, and plastic surgery. Ten NapelIs there a War on Ch [Read More]

Tracked on March 29, 2006 6:06 PM

QotD: War Reporting from Quotulatiousness
[P]erhaps the time has come to send sports reporters to war zones. It seems to be one of the last refuges of journalism in which a) reporters have basic knowledge of the subject matter they're assigned to, and b)... [Read More]

Tracked on March 30, 2006 8:39 AM

Attitude from Muck and Mystery
Small Dead Animals perhaps the time has come to send sports reporters to war zones. It seems to be one of the last refuges of journalism in which a) reporters have basic knowledge of the subject matter they're assigned to, and b) they're expected to r... [Read More]

Tracked on March 31, 2006 4:23 PM

Pte Costall IS a 22 year old man with a young family: this is true courage and self-sacrifice and service to Canada and the Afgan people; how can a CBC reporter possibly understand these concepts? The CBC should stick to covering politicians (especially Liberal) because the CBC knows all about smug and vapid posturing, about priviledge and self-interest, about doing nothing and claiming all the credit...

Can we imagine how the current ideologists running the CBC would report after Vimy Ridge, Dunkirk, Dieppe...or D-Day?

Does this sound like how today's CBC would report the day after D-Day:

"A day after the "Allied" invasion of France, we know that the "Allied" forces, employing American-like invasion tactics, have suffered over 2,000 dead, and many thousands of injured. Losses of equipment in this apparently ill-planned endeavour are also reputed to be great.

Reports of the number of French civilian casualties at the hands of seemingly careless "Allied" forces are expected to be huge.

German troops defending France are believed by CBC military experts to have suffered significantly fewer casualties and are in a good position to repel the "Allied" attack on France and inflict a catastrophe of global proportions on the "Allied" forces.

The American President has said nothing about these great reversals and costs, instead making a radio statement merely calling on patriotism and requesting divine assistance for the "Allied" forces.

It will take more than that. Polls indicate support for the war has dropped considerably."

Kate, that is the biggest load of horseshit I've read on this or any other blog. If you want to salute our soldiers properly, learn to write better.

Dave:

You forgot to add that they would then proceed to make a 5 day story out of each casualty, making sure to corner a family member or two within days of the funeral, to amplify the human suffering caused by the war. The story would run until the outset of the Korean War.

Good one, Dave!

Of course, if the CBC had reported that way on June 7th, 1944, they would have promptly found themselves in jail for "aiding and abetting the enemy". And justifiably so.
A lot of the MSM can't seem to separate themselves from their biases and spin.
A question for the MSM lefties:
Think about "Lord Haw Haw" and "Tokyo Rose" of that era, and look in the mirror. See any similarities? Is it possible your credibility is suffering the same fate?
As Kate points out, you didn't tell us if we won the battle. Obviously a small detail that doesn't fit the "spin".

Kate:...amen...nothing further required.

BCL - The truth hurts!

It's always served a left-wing media to show body bags instead of the people left alive, and the people they help.

Body bags make for better headlines unfortunately... It's how the press won the war in Vietnam, and it's how they intend to win the war in Iraq. I've no doubt that CBC will focus more and more on the number of dead and injured as the months move forward in their effort to win a leftwing victory in Afghanistan.

My condolences to the family and friends of the young man, and while it's no doubt small comfort to them, at least they know he died as a result of doing his duty to his nation and his comrades.

My wife's grandfather lived in a trench in France for a number of years during WWI before he was blown up by a shell and evac'd to England. He had shrapnel in his leg & lower torso for the rest of his life. My guess is they lost dozens of guys every weeks to ratbite infections and other diseases... never mind hundreds or thousands during each offensive action. He never bitched or whined about once in his life. He was a soldier.

It's the Army folks. They didn't enlist to study invertebrates, or folk dance. Their function is to break stuff and kill people.

And there will be casualties.

P.S. Keep an eye on the newspapers. I guarantee there will be more Canadians killed in traffic accidents this Victoria Day weekend than soldiers (in all these years) in Afghanistan.

Let the CBC and the rest of the leftwing loonies mourn them.

To PTe Robert Costall family; My thought and prayers are with your family. I just want you to know that Canada appreciates very much the job that he was doing. My deepest sympathy.

Judging from the story being carried on CNN, it appears that the coalition forces acquitted themselves extremely well. A significant number of Taliban killed, arms caches discovered and destroyed, and Taliban command structures captured.

CNN) -- Coalition forces and militants battled on Wednesday in southern Afghanistan, a long stretch of fighting that claimed the lives of a U.S. and a Canadian soldier and more than 30 militants, according to coalition authorities.

A statement from the coalition command in Kabul and a Canadian National Defense official confirmed the coalition deaths and injuries, the wounding of three Canadians, an American and an Afghan National Army soldier.

They were transported to Kandahar province for treatment.

The coalition issued a statement describing the fighting, which it said occurred "during an enemy attack on a forward operating base" in Helmand province.

The U.S. and Canadian casualities were caused during early-morning fighting, which also left 12 insurgents dead.

Fighting continued through the daylight hours and claimed the lives of 20 more insurgents.

The engagement was called a defeat for "a large enemy element that was attempting to retreat into sanctuaries," according to the coalition statement.

Coalition forces destroyed two Taliban headquarters buildings and found "large caches of munitions as they overran the Taliban compound and the enemy fled."

The forces "destroyed the munitions, which included weapons and improvised explosive device materials, causing multiple secondary explosions and destroying the compound and all enemy military equipment inside."

This brings the number of U.S. dead in Operation Enduring Freedom to 280, including 141 in combat.

Eleven Canadians also have died in the Enduring Freedom, the war on terror campaign that started after U.S.-led forces invaded Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban government, which harbored the al Qaeda terrorists who attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.

The incident followed other hostilities on Tuesday, including a roadside bombing in southern Afghanistan that killed four people employed by a U.S. security firm. One was South African and the other three were Afghan.

The U.S. Central Command Air Forces Forward Public Affairs issued a statement on Wednesday saying that coalition aircraft flew 26 close air support missions on Tuesday in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

These include "support to coalition and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities, and route patrols."

"A United States Air Force B-52, Predator, A-10s and Royal Air Force GR-7s provided close air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces in the vicinity of Gereshk," the statement said.

bigcitylib @ 10:06 AM: "...that is the biggest load of horseshit I've read..." +

MSM reports no casualties,nor deaths, taken by the so-called "insurgents". The MSM roots for the enemy, the Islamist jihad terrorists.

Down with the MSM. The MSM are "useful idiots", betrayers of Canada. +

Canadian Soldier Killed in Afghan Firefight
Josh Pringle and Norman Jack
Wednesday, March 29, 2006

A 22-year-old Canadian soldier is dead after a five-hour gun battle with Taliban insurgents in southern Afghanistan.

Private Robert Costall died when militants tried to overrun his position. Canadian military officials say he died defending his comrades.

The battle began late last night when the Taliban attacked an Afghan Army supply convoy.

Coalition commanders dispatched a quick reaction force of Canadian troops by helicopter some 110 kilometers from Kandahar to help defend the convoy. That's when massed Taliban forces attacked in strength. Coalition officers called in attack helicopters, ground-attack jets, and a B-52 bomber to help stave off the attack.

Three other Canadian soldiers were wounded. One US soldier and at least eight Afghan Army troops were also killed.

Costall, a native of Thunder Bay, Ontario, was a member of the 1st Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry based in Edmonton.

Twelve Canadians have died in Afghanistan since 2002. +
cfra.com

Where can I get one of those "I support the troops" decals to put on my car? I'd like to make some sort of personal statement to counter the spin the media put out.

sooz - I picked mine up in the US. They're available everywhere there, and a high percentage of vehicles are displaying them. In Canada you're hard pressed to find one.

Excellent point, Kate. First and foremost is our sadness regarding the loss, but I wanted to know more, and, frankly, how many of the enemy they killed.

Difficult words to add to the CBC vocabulary: kill, enemy.

How ideological blinkers do simplify the view!

Before lambasting the disagreeable (and that seems to be their perpetual offence - they disagree with the "right")leftist MSM over a reporting job once again, perhaps the circumstances should be considered.

There was a firefight with casualties. The military(ies) involved know exactly what happened to whom, when and where. Did they provide those facts to the accredited media? Did they say that an attack by so many fighters on so many coalition troops was beaten off with so many casualties to each side? Did they specify whether the attack was testing, harassing, designed to inflict casualties, or that the enemy attacked in sufficient strength to indicate an objective of capturing and/or destroying the coalition base? (If you do want to measure success, you should know the objective attained or defeated.)

Don't complain about spin until military authorities provide clear facts that can be distorted by left, right or centre media. In the absence of such facts, suspicions tempered by ideology, faith, commitment or wishful thinking, serve as substitutes - for all sides of the political spectrum.

The Costall family is in my thoughts and prayers. Thanks kate for the realistic report.

agitfact:...good points all round...I believe the question revolves around what template is used until those facts are known. Since reporters are notorious for speculating (they need copy) when the facts aren't there, the 'company'colours tend to shine through.

Dave . good one, but you left out "quagmire", repeated every third word :)

This has been the problem with the media all along -- we get only a body count. There are no stories of campaigns, no reporting of battle actions as they progress, no articles describing the goals and the outcomes. For that, you have to do your own web mining, and relatively few people are willing to spend the time or even know that the information is available.

Listen to a Pentagon press briefing, then see what the reporters choose to report -- I guarantee you'll be shocked and apalled.

Whatever shred of respect I had for journalists 3 years ago has been eradicated by the shoddy work they've done telling us about the war-- their only interest is in promoting their own anti-war agenda. Despicable.

Putting Canadian casualties in perspective: This letter to the Ottawa Citizen, March 29, outlines non-combat (Royal) Canadian Air Force fatalities during the Cold War (full text not online).

"Re: The price we've paid, March 27.

While it is worth reporting that 10 soldiers have died in Afghanistan since 2002, Canadians would be remiss to forget the exceedingly greater loss of Canadian pilots during the Cold War.

For instance, between 1951 and 1963, 92 pilots and navigators were killed while flying the CF-100s in Canada, France and Germany.

Between 1952 and 1967, 107 Canadian pilots were killed flying F-86 Sabres while stationed overseas in England, France or Germany or at home in Canada.

Between 1962 and 1983, 37 Canadian pilots were killed flying CF-104 Starfighters in Germany and Canada.

These 236 pilots gave their lives defending Canada and the free world during a time of real crisis. Their sacrifices must never be forgotten.

Stephen Lowry,
Ottawa"

Mark
Ottawa

The media is all about "breaking" the story - being the first to "break" the news gets you points on the popularity scale. Therefore by "breaking" the news first - even though you don't research, get backup facts, report the other side - is the name of the game.

In these days of 24 hour news, instant "breaking" news, there is a rush to get the story out before the other guy to enhance your position.

What often gets lost in this rush is the truth!

A Conservative government created the CBC. Liberal governments have contaminated it. A Conservative government has to kill it. It's beyond salvage.

Prime Minister Harper: When are you going to pull the trigger?

The BBC.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4855634.stm

BBC NEWS
Afghan fighting leaves '34 dead'
US-led coalition forces say they have killed 32 "enemy fighters", assumed to be the Taleban and their allies in clashes in southern Helmand province.

One US and one Canadian soldier were killed, the US says after a coalition base came under attack.

Five other soldiers, including one American and three Canadians, were wounded in Wednesday's fighting.

The Taleban are reported as saying that they have begun a new spring offensive against foreign and government forces.

Helmand province has been at the centre of a recent upsurge in fighting.

Compound 'overrun'

The US military said on Wednesday that coalition forces had "defeated a large enemy element that was attempting to retreat into sanctuaries".

It said 12 militants were killed earlier in the day and another 20 in subsequent fighting.

A US military statement said: "Coalition forces also discovered large caches of munitions as they overran the Taleban compound and the enemy fled. Coalition forces destroyed the munitions."

"With our coalition partners and the government of Afghanistan we are committed to continuing offensive operations against the Taleban and other terrorists that are attempting to disrupt the considerable progress of reconstruction and governance in Afghanistan," Brig Gen Anthony Tata said.

The Reuters news agency quoted a man who identified himself as a Taleban spokesman saying they had begun a spring offensive against foreign forces.

"The weather is warming and Taleban attacks on coalition and Afghan forces have begun," a man who called himself Mullah Mohammad Hanif said by telephone from an undisclosed location.

Over 220 US military personnel have been killed in Afghanistan there since the ousting of the Taleban in 2001, according to reports.

More than 3,000 British troops are to be deployed in the province in the coming months.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/4855634.stm

Published: 2006/03/29 12:27:35 GMT

© BBC MMVI

BCL, thank you for making Kate's argument. You know, the one where, if a point doesn't fit your worldview (I actually mean mean-spiritness and arrogance), it is "horse****." You've got a lot of nerve criticizing others' writing skills. Maybe you ought to write "better;" profanity is a sign of a poor vocabulary.

32-2.

See Yahoo.

I'd LOVE to see an MSM writer put out an article saying "Tragically we lost one of our own, but combined with the Afghanis and Americans we kicked 32 Taliban a$$es in the meantime."

SOOZ-- try your local royal canadian legion branch, most branches were issued the magnetic support ribbons a few months back.. & to our resident lefties, maybe you should try attending the next remembrance in your community. You will see the true spirit of supporting our troops... SOOZ.. if you have trouble finding one contact me, Iam sure we have some still at our branch..
thanks for supporting our troops.

You know, I'm getting sick and tired of the media "reports" on the news that tell us only what THEY want us to know rather than the whole story of what actually happened! What happened to our "news" reporters? Were they up in the Artic and got their pointy little heads frozen?!! In another article {I think yesterday or the day before} someone said that seeing how we, the tax payers, fund CBC and given the "quality" of their reporting, we should just pull the plug on them. I agree 100%!!
We have troops fighting in Afghanistan and I certainly want to know about their well-being and their accomplishments. I want to know the WHOLE story, not the "politically correct" one!! MSM have let us down BIG TIME and we need to voice our concern with those bozos, those censors! War is hell and people die, I'd like to know why. Give us the facts on what's happening or stay the hell out of the way! Can anyone sense that I'm frustrated?????!!

Mark Collins:...the history lesson is appreciated...I was aware of deaths but not in those numbers. In talking with a supervisor who flew the F86 Super Sabre, his comment was (I paraphrase)..."You had better be ready once you light it up or it will get you". I understand there was a tendency to want to over-rotate on t/o if you weren't careful. As well, the CF-104 Starfighter became known as the "Widow Maker"...as described to me..."It's nothing more than a rocket with a seat attached" and a difficult a/c to fly. It's also my understanding that the German version had an ejection seat that exited the a/c in a downward direction, as opposed to the conventional model. This required rolling the a/c prior to ejecting or becoming a lawn dart, if evacuating the a/c was attempted at low level (at which a lot of the practice NATO missions were flown in Germany).

The Canadian soldier, airman and sailor have an honourable tradition surrounding them and continue to live up to it. Our history, including what we are watching now, is there to be learned from. Whether there is 100% agreement for being there or not, we are there! Our troops need our support and their sacrifices remembered, IMHO!!

Aunty-American Riley & clone-crow of C. Parrish, adds

her self-loathing to the frog/crow chorus:

CROAK CAW CROAK CAW... +

Susan Riley: Liberals need to defeat Harper before he gets Majority

Harper's rhetoric on Afghanistan is sounding increasingly Bush-like, and his version of open and accountable government seems to stop at the door of the Prime Minister's Office. But who knows what he might do if he gets his majority? +
via nealenews.com

God Bless Pte. Costall and his family. Robert Costall was a warrior and a patriot.

maz2, almost every single one of Susan's articles consist of hysterical ranting against PM Harper, she is completely off her rocker.

Watching her unravel the past few weeks has been rather amusing. I'm sure she hasn't slept a full night since January 23rd, she must be a real treat to live with!

My thanks to Pte. Robert Costall and his family for their sacrifice.

"" Kate, that is the biggest load of horseshit I've read on this or any other blog. If you want to salute our soldiers properly, learn to write better.

Posted by bigcitylib at March 29, 2006 10:21 AM ""

Say, bigcityturd, obviously no one visits your pathetic blog, so you have to come here to broadcast your tripe. There aren't too many like you left now, you must be feeling a little lonely??

Kate what is this hate you have on for the CBC??
It is irrational and unfounded.
I flipped on the TV over lunch just in time to see an officer thoroughly explain the entire incident up to and including the fact that the base was kept secure. This officer went on for several minutes in his explanation. Is there any other media source that would give so much time to a single incident involving Canadian troops? I don't think so.
Did it ever occur to you that maybe they didn't have all the details of the operation when you heard about it.

Maz2:

That fits the LIEberal spin of PM Stephen Harper as a scary war mongering demagogue.

Of course this completely negates the fact that the LIEberals were quite willing to portray the military as a bunch of marauding goons willing to ravage the civilian population of Canada "With Guns, In Your Cities". The only thing missing from that ad was the "double S runes" on the lapels and mustache on Harper.

What the LIEberals have yet to explain or account for is this:

Is there ever a legitimate reason to be at war? If yes, when and under what circumstances?

So if one is a Conservative supporter, according to Lieberal lights, one is unCanadian, a warmonger, and of course "unfit to hold office".

But pointing out that the Lieberals themselves approved the Afghanistan mission is supposed to fall on deaf ears. So according to Riley then Pte Costall died in vain?

What we would like to know from the Lieberal version of unreality is there ever a construct known as good and evil, and are human beings moral agents?

If they answer in the negative, then we can invite the terrorists to take over our planes and fly them into the CN tower or the next well attended sporting event or the Parliament Buildings themselves.

Perhaps we should revise the proactive plan of fighting terrorism in Afghanistan and go on a defensive footing. We will just react when some terrorists go up to Uranium City, Saskatchewan build a device, float it across the Great Lakes and let them take Chicago off the map. But I gather Riley missed the news story of uranium being transported across the border in full view of customs officers on the US side. What a great plan, I'm sure our largest trading partner would be pleased.

Perhaps Riley can accompany Chief of Defense Gen. Hillier as he delivers his condolences to the Costall family and explain that his sacrifice was all a giant ruse and in vain.

Better yet invite Riley to Aghanistan's fire fight on the front line and experience "real shit". Then perhaps Riley will better appreciate the difference between "real shit" and "bullshit".

bcl, you putrid little piece of shit.

Why don't you tell us your real name and where you live if you're such a big brave man.

Thought so.

what for doug?

look at it this way. . . whack 32 Talibans and you deflower 2304 muslim virgins in their heaven.

Its a make-work project for the Relion of Peace.

If CBCpravda were covering the second world war using their current mental state they would be more interested in getting Lorne Greene an award than the outcome or the reason for being there.

They lost their way years ago and should lose the mandate and the funding now.

"look at it this way. . . whack 32 Talibans and you deflower 2304 muslim virgins in their heaven."

Good one Fred...

At the same time, Kate, this socialist mindset isn't lost in the sports world either. Imagine if one of our ski racing team were to be killed in a skiing accident. There would be a huge uproar from the left who would demand sweeping changes to or even the outright abolishing of the sport. It always comes down to whether citizens can be allowed to make decisions for themselves or if that process needs to be left to the nanny state.

I find this whole thing frightening. Some very nasty people in this world are learning to use our own citizens against us.

Watch for CBC, aka Communist Broadcasting Corp., go all Hamassed in regard to this from the Harper gov't.

Notice how SSM worded the item: "... cuts aid to Palestinians after Hamas..." Implication is that the poor, benighted "Palestinians" will suffer by the scary Conservative gov't's cut of the "aid".

The "aid" goes to Hamas directly which then doles out a pittance to their people; the greatest portion stays with Hamas to finance its terrorism.

Next, the good fellas of the Tamil Tiger terrorists; Paul Who?'s supporters/donors. +

More, please, and faster. +

Canada cuts aid to Palestinians after Hamas refused to renounce violence
OTTAWA (CP) - Canada is cutting ties - and aid - to the Palestinian Authority... +
via cnews

maz2:

What a concept, harmonizing foreign policy with the war on terror.

MY GOD, that is, oh horror of LIEberal horrors, LOGICAL!!

Bigcitylib, Do you actually know any soldiers? And would you admit it in public if you did?

Bigcitylib is nothing more than a left wing zealot who is merely espousing his ilk's mindset: smear, reductionism, and hysteria. No arguments, reason, or facts, just plain nonsense.

Thank God our great country is now run by Conservatives, and we have a real leader in the South in George W. Bush--a gracious gentleman if there ever was one, not like the morons and buffoons who ran our country into the ground, i.e., Paul Martin and Jean Chretien (two men with a inferiority complex with their frequent pot shots at President Bush).

You're entitled to an opinion BCL, but only when it is an informed one.

Your suggestion to send sports reporters to war zones is apt, because, as you say, they are used to reporting on the outcome of events and not just on casualties.

Perhaps Nahla Ayad could fill in for them: "The Oilers played the Rangers last night. Here are the results: Jason Smith took a puck off the ankle and limped to the bench, but returned for the third period. Steve Staios pulled a groin, and Jaromir Jagr received a small cut below his left eye, in an American-style act of aggression. More highlights at eleven."

Hans: Jawohl. Lookee at the video? Give us your thoughts later? Danke. +

The Real Reason Italy is an Ally in the War on Terror
Faith Freedom ^

Posted on 03/29/2006 11:37:21 AM PST by elfman2

This short video clip is worth 1000 word regarding the threat of Radical Islam to Italian culture and values. +
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1605579/posts
http://www.nobsys.net/images/muslimeatinghabits.wmv

I am in the US Military and I don't like to see allied soliders killed, however I was wondering what happened in Canada during WWI, WWII, and Korea? I am always told about the enormous sacrifices of CDNS during those conflicts. What has happened? CDNs have become soft from socialist living?

Hans R., have you taken leave of the common sense you have shown in some pretty cogent posts?

Instead of frothing at the mouth impugning an unwillingness to face war to the Liberal Party, you might check to see who was in power when this country did go to war:

Boer War - Libs (Laurier)
WWI - Cons(Borden)
WWII - Libs (Mackenzie King)
Korea - Libs (St. Laurent)
Iraq I - Cons (Mulroney)
Afghanistan - Libs (Chretien)

The decision to fight in 1900 and 1914 was made for us by the Mothercountry, since Canada was a dominion without autonomy in foreign affairs. Which leaves one war in Canada's history freely entered into by a conservative government - Iraq I.

Whatever you want to beat the Liberal Party with, an unwillingness to face war should not be it.

Richard Romano, why do I see the very things you are flailing BCL with in your very own post?

This is so interesting: One can learn more in terms of details, about the situation surrounding the death of Costall by reading the comments here, than one can by reading the Canadian Socialist Media. Even CNN and the great Euro-snob BBC have more info.

Kate is 300% correct in her assessment of how the CBC, and most of Canada's MSM will report, focus, and run this story. It will be a self-centered singular look at a soldier's death; with no context given, no background to why he was a soldier in the first place, and no counter balance to what was achieved in the battles that are still going on as we write, and of what Canadians are doing in Afghanistan beside getting killed and injured. The Canadian MSM, as witnessed by the recent tantrums on the hill, are likely the most elite-minded socialist whiners going.

Every millimeter that the Canadian MSM can be knocked down, either through reduction in sales or outright condemnation, is a millimeter in the right direction. The Canadian MSM needs to be collectively brow-beaten until it regains at least an ounce of humility and begins reporting the facts, not op-ed Masquerading as fact.

OIF 2003.

Chretien/Martin: No.

Liberano$.

agitfact: The liberal party of old is no more. The liberals that fought wars, and won, in the past are no more. Liberals today are banner bearers for modern "progressivism" which is pacifist and anti-military.

Johnny-Cretan got us into Afghanistan, then promplty ignored the needs of the troops; they stumbled around chasing Taliban while depending completely on American "free" aid. Our famed snipers had to get ammo from their American friends... because Liberals wouldn't supply them properly. Not until this last year, have budgets finally been opened up to begin to bring our forces into the new era. The Afghan force just received its first state of the art battle field intel and communications equipment; what a joke. Your pretty list is worthless, because it is devoid of context, and devoid of the surrounding realities during those conflicts. The modern Liberal Party of Canada is a pacifist, appeasing, hodge-podge of socialists and limpid centrists. The modern Liberal Party has killed the military, and abandoned those serving by putting them years behind in equipment and support. Agitfact: you insult the armed forces by even suggesting that the modern lib. party could fight a war when it is that party that has almost single-handedly (mulroney included) degraded our forces, yet sent them into harms way. Liberal equates with coward. Liberal equates with sending our people into harms way, without the tools to do the deed.
Liberal, equates with anti-Canadian Forces behavior. Liberal equates with running a war based on MSM spin. Liberal means cutting and running if the MSM turns against it.

Liberal means coward!

agitator: you assume that a liberal in 1936 is the same as a liberal in 2006.

What planet did you say you're from?

i just watched ctv showing a video of private costalls family . less than 24 hours after his death . what happened to a sense of decency ? of respect? i think all of canada knows that his wife and family are experiencing a deep and very real sense of loss and hurt. i don't think we need to be invading their privacy at this time when they are in a state of shock and sorrow. they interviewed his aunt twice and his brother . i think they are hoping one of them is going to say we shoud not be in afghanistan. this is crass and insulting and does nothing but diminish the sacrifice this brave canadian soldier and his family have made . i have never been so disgusted in my life. there is a line . i believe they have crossed it .

EBD, your comment on Nahla Ayad reporting a hockey game was not only hilarious but also very accurate. Well done!

CJunk and Doug,

and I trust that Harper's Conservative Party is different from Mulroney's in more than initials.

Yes, I know that circumstances always differ, but I also know that when push comes to shove, partisan ideology disappears. The big boys, the realists, take over, and the party peanut gallery is reduced to applauding from the sidelines.

The visceral brickbats that are serve here as facts are pretty depressing.

Agitfact: And you are judging Harper on what? ... his extensive record of how many weeks?

He's made specific dollar value promises regarding the forces; and he's breathed more life into the forces by his "attitude" so far than 20 years of liberals and Mulroney defeatism and slash and burn military budgets.

Harper is the first true conservative to take office in the past 20 years ... and by all appearances the people of this country are very pleased.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=40bc8a42-eb4c-488d-bcec-c576a99eb49d&k=86831

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&pubid=968163964505&cid=1143633248516&col=968705899037&call_page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News

Time though will tell what he's made of.

CDN by Birth: Oprah has been very influential here.

Doug: When we entered WW II WLMK was desperate to avoid casualties. He hoped the Canadian war effort would concentrate on the Air Force (mass Bomber Command casualties were not envisaged) and Navy. It was only with great reluctance (because of Quebec) and under strong pressure from English Canada (which then still existed and had not transmogrified into RoC) that a substantial Army commitment was made to the UK in 1939/40 even before the fall of France.

Mark
Ottawa

Agitfact:

You know thats funny, my wife is constantly reminding me, I have taken leave of my senses.

As for frothing at the mouth, this usually happens when my beer stein is too full.

Your point is taken. However, my irritation is with the recent calls to debate Canada's place in Afghanistan are quite frankly, misplaced and betray a lack of reality by those holding such opinions.

If I inadvertently gave the impression that Canada was spineless when called to arms; this would be a misrepresentation of my comments above. As my father recalls in WWII the "Tommies", as the Krauts used to refer to them, were always pretty decent chaps to fight against, the Soviets at the time less so. If I could clarify, I would suggest that the recent calls for a second attempt at debate is misplaced, as the facts at hand in the war on terror are pretty clear given Massoui's recent confession and PM Stephen Harpers 'cut and run' commentary.

Its pretty plain after 9/11, Madrid, and London that the "life is cheap gang" of terrorists really don't give a tinker's damn about anybody but themselves. How many repetitions does one need before it dawns on the extreme left side of the debate before they stop "Monday morning quarterbacking" on the need to be in Afghanistan.

All the moral relativists in the world pious discussions will not stop the terror organizations. Quite simply, the terror organizations are not interested in discussions but in achieving their objectives by means of violence; which is to bring death and destruction to your doorstep. Hamas has made no secret of its intentions, nor has Al-Quaeda in fact they are quite proud of it. Moreover, Iran's president is quite content to call the Holocaust into question and secondly to call for its implementation by "wiping Israel off the map" preferrably by means of nuclear weapons.

How many "heads up" messages does one need before the terrorists merely lop your head off?
Perhaps it is time for the left libs to wake from their somnolent slumber. It looks like parts of the Middle East haven't changed since the time of Herod serving St. John the Baptist's head on a platter. Oh yeah, Easter is coming up I forgot to get the timber and nails ready.

Alternatively, lets just get Osama Bin Laden to sign nice piece of paper, a la Chamberlain, and "we will have peace in our time."

Perhaps it is just me, but I haven't heard any announcements that various organizations long associated with violence calling for sit down negotiations. When I hear the rhetoric from these organizations change please let me know.

But then both my parents families survived a regime which also lasted approximately 12 years.
I think we have a pretty good handle on the viper's club.

Lastly, Karen Redman's statement on May 25th, 2005 that the Liberals were "considering not observing confidence votes, between now and the end of the spring session." earned them a lenghty stay in the political penalty box, for suggestions unbecoming a democracy.

Truly, who the hell do they think they are when they get up in the town square and make provocative statements like that?

In short, the left lib "Weltanschaung" (world view) is simply not believed and doesn't match the facts at hand. But then why listen to facts when one can instead merely appear to be sincere.
Well one can be sincere in one's effort and still be dead wrong. Of course if one is merely sincere in dealing with terror, it will likely get you very dead. I have no doubt that Chamberlain was very sincere, history has shown however, that he was in error.

For those still wanting to have a sit down chat, I would recommend wearing a helmet, as recent events have proved once again.

Cjunk, I'm not judging Harper at all. It's too early to judge him. I merely expressed the hope that this PM and this CPC would be different from Mulroney and his PC.

Like almost every Canadian in 1993, I voted Liberal to get rid of Mulroney and his party, and, like quite a few Canadians, I voted Conservative in 2006 to get rid of Martin and his party. It's too early to tell how I'll vote the next time.

Yes, time will tell, but I see no justification to rant either way now, except to rant against unwarranted ranting.

Mark, you could say that same reluctance existed in the US. But look back at history now and what do we remember?

Fifty years from now will not give is that same view. They will definitely be talking about the fifth column: people like bigcityturd and agitator, what Oriana Fallaci calls "rainbow flaggers."

I think that the biggest problem with Mulroney is that he was really a Liberal trying to pose as a Conservative; or alternatively, a Conservative trying to look like a Liberal.

In short, he didn't appear to have any fundamental values...deep down he was shallow...

People may not have agreed with Trudeau's views, but there was no question that he had them, and adhered to them more often than not.

Stephen Harper certainly appears to be someone with strongly-held beliefs and values; attributes that he can measure policy decisions against as a kind of litmus test. He is coming across as an actual leader, rather than someone who will let himself be led by poll results.

Thank you Pte. Costall

Agitfact: I think Harper made the most obviously "different" move today so far ... he cut funding to the Palestinian Government because it did not renounce violence. That move alone, is so "un-liberal", "un-UN", and "un-Euro-snob", it makes me smile. Bravo Stephen.

Doug,

and precisely what do you suggest I am a fifth column for? Sweet reason?

My condolences to Pte. Robert Costall's family, friends and fellow soldiers. I did not know him but know many like him who risk their lives every day in defense of this great nation. I can tell you they are some of the finest Canada has to offer and it has been an honour to serve with them.

I believe it is up to all of us as Canadians to ensure his sacrifices never become in vain!

Never forget!

Rest in peace Private Costall!

I frequently watch the Jim Lehr News Report on the Detroit PBS station (if I'm home, that is), or at least listen to it in the background if I'm working on something. Are fairly well balanced news report.

Anyway, today, Canada was mentioned, not once but twice. Once as a coalition partner in Afghanistan and once for cutting off support to the Palestinians. Not often that Canada rates a mention on the U.S. newscasts at the best of times.

Just hought I'd toss that in.

Mike in White Rock, where it's warm and sunny.

32 Taliban Killed; Afghan Movement Agency Makes First Delivery
American Forces Press Service ^

Posted on 03/29/2006 3:23:03 PM PST by SandRat

WASHINGTON, March 29, 2006 – Coalition forces killed 32 insurgents and destroyed two Taliban headquarters buildings in Afghanistan's Helmand province today, officials at Bagram Air Base said. The early-morning engagement continued into daylight hours as coalition forces defeated a large enemy element that was attempting to retreat into sanctuaries.

Coalition forces also discovered large caches of munitions as they overran the Taliban compound and the enemy fled. Coalition forces destroyed the munitions, which included weapons and bomb-making materials, causing multiple secondary explosions and destroying the compound and all enemy military equipment inside.

"The capturing of these two compounds with boots on the ground produced significant intelligence and allows us to continue to put pressure on the enemy," Army Brig. Gen. Anthony J. Tata, deputy commander of Combined Joint Task Force 76, said. "With our coalition partners and the government of Afghanistan, we are committed to continuing offensive operations against the Taliban and other terrorists that are attempting to disrupt the considerable progress of reconstruction and governance in Afghanistan." + more
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Mar2006/20060329_4644.html
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1605720/posts

Susan Riley went from a reporter, to a spin doctor for a Lib MP, to a backroom person on Politics,for the libs to very unhappy human on Jan 23. Each step in her career has exposed her mental problems. Isn't she the one who swore on the program. She should be one of the first fired from the cbc. She is just upset she will never be our GG. Cheers for cutting off aid to Hammas, much to the chagrin of all the opposition for making such a hasty decision. Should have waited and debated in the HofC. Other countries are doing the same thing. This message was sent prior to the elections but no one reported it, so the palestinians voted for hammas, not knowing what would happen. I would also cut aid for education until we can control the things that are taught. Why pay for these kids to be brainwashed that the west is bad and to kill all jews. And, to BCL, you are a coward, hidding your name, just like that cpt cdn was a coward by not admitting his homosexuality to his captors, to save his life. So much for the cpt crap of putting their life on the line to help the terrorists. To our soldiers family, my sympathy, but at least he died a hero, doing what he signed up to do. Too bad the cpt doesn't do the same.

Hans Rupprecht: Thank you for your comment.

Mark
Ottawa

"English Canada(which then still existed and had not transmogrified into RoC)..."

Mark Collins:...I've seen this term (RoC) used a lot...I live in Ontario, Canada...not RoC...As I see it, the major portion of the country (outside Quebec) is Canada and Quebec is the RoC until their politics determines something different. Thank you.

Kate

This is one of your best of many excellent posts. Those who have criticized your post, whether in the language employed by decent people or the language used by bcl, are wrong and - in the case of bcl -detached from the reality.

Garry P: I don't think we really differ. It is simply that non-Quebec Canada no longer has a national identity, as least according to our betters and the chattering classes. We are identified as multicultural, post-national, insanely inclusive and Charter-ridden. And pizza may soon be declared a health threat.

Thank goodness for Timbits; they may soon be all we have left.

And Red River cereal. I may be the last Canadian left who really likes it.

Mark
Ottawa

Mark Collins:...I only make the point that "the rest of" usually denotes the smaller piece...the rest of the issue would take an extremely long post...Quebec is a beautiful province and the people are great...I simply dislike the politics that has played out over the years (the us vs. them variety) which usually had a LPC bend to it. As for any "Charter of Rights"...rights are indigenous. When they are defined and hung out for arbitration they cease to exist (ie. who has the most rights on a particular issue becomes the determining factor, thereby leaving one side with no rights). Once again, too long a post to get into. It suffices to say that Canada was always multi-cultural in nature. It was only when that concept was politicized, to mine votes, that the malise became apparent.

As you said at the beginning of your last post, "I don't think we really differ"...you are correct...but I would beg to differ on the one point re: the definition of the RoC. Take care.

Foremost, To Pte Costall's wife, son and family from a serving member of the CF my deepest sympathy. To the blogger who wondered where to buy a Support the Troops magnet for their vehicle any CANEX outlet, ( retail outlet on any base)if your near a base and or as mentioned the Legion should be able to acquire one for you. As for the boys in Afgan I know without a doubt they will grieve, then suck it up and go out perform to a standard that will continue to make us proud, God Bless the Forces, God Bless Canada

The Liberation of Kuwait Medal +

Cdn soldiers receive Kuwait medal
OTTAWA (CP) - Canadian soldiers and veterans have been awarded the Liberation of Kuwait medal by the Kuwaiti government, 15 years after they helped liberate the country from Iraqi occupation in the first Gulf War. +
via canoenews

Description and Symbolism

Obverse

A bronze medallion with enamel, one and nine-sixteenths inches in diameter suspended from a bar by a wreath. The obverse bears the Coat of Arms of the State of Kuwait. The Coat of Arms consists of the shield of the flag design in color superimposed on a falcon with wings displayed. The falcon supports a disk containing a sailing ship with full name of the State written at the top of the disk. At the top of the medal is the inscription 1991 with Arabic letters.

Reverse

The reverse of the medal displays the map of Kuwait on a rayed background. +
http://foxfall.com/fm-klk.htm

Only one thing can be said for the CBC and their news reporting talents........THEY SUCK

Mark Collins,
Tim Hortons was purchased by an American firm (although Tim's just went public last week) therefore we don't even have Timbits as a Cdn icon anymore.
And I eat Red River cereal 2-3 times per week! Sunny Boy is comparable and is truly Canadian though!

Love that pc incorrect language. & it's Canadian.

Mommy? What's an Emerson? +

NOT EMERSON HARD-ONS
Author Host ...
03/29/06 Wed
THIS is the way government is supposed to work. Actual announcements, actual accountability, actual work being done for all to see.

THE CANADA WE ALL LOVED AND LEARNED ABOUT IN THE HISTORY BOOKS IS BACK, FOLKS. YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!! +
http://www.voy.com/178771/8777.html

I just caught a glimpse on some network (not CBC... outlawed in my house) of a family member of Private Costall (I thought maybe his mom?). Anyways, she said that Private Costall believed strongly in the mission in Afghanistan and was proud to serve there. To the Costall family and friends and our soldiers serving, a humble thank you and my deepest respect.

another suicide attack, no candians injured
7 afghanis injured, attacker toast ctv.ca

Great Post Kate. The MSM is wallowing with barely disguised glee in the nightmare of grief that the Costall family is trying to get through after hearing the news about the death of their brave soldier. My thoughts and prayers to the Costall family. My thanks to this brave man. My disgust to the MSM. The latter have no manners and know no shame.

Jema54:

I couldn't believe what I was seeing either.
My God, the man isn't even cold yet and they are sticking the camera in the family's face.

"How do you feel?"

You could almost hear the reply: "Well considering we just lost a family member, we're not exactly on the top of our game."

Pretty poor form on the part of the MSM. A brand new widow and child with no dad. A little common sense and compassion, its not even 24 hours for the family.

I would hate to think this valliant idealistic young defender of freedom died defending a regime which was prepared to execute a man for his conversion to Christian faith. Hopefully responsible politicians can guide the Afghan government into constitutional civility other wise democracy is just mob rule and in this case the mob is socially and religiously intolerant.

I would hate to think our boys were dying to defend a slightly less despotic government than the one they deposed.

I was mentioning this in a conversation with my father as well that why do they mention our deaths but not the enemies. If we lost 1 soldier and killed off 100 it would still be sad but I would feel much better about it! However, my father reminded me of Vietnamese media in 70s where the South Vietnamese news report would be something like "Today there was a battle at Field A, our military claimed 200 lives and 100 POWs and suffered NO casualties. Biased reporting on the other extreme can be dangerous at well.

Mary T, think that it is Susan Murray who is now working for Scott Brison, but easy to confuse them since they appeared together on CBC so often.

Thank you for your sacrifice for our freedom.

Right wingers, fuck off and die. You don't deserve what this man did for us.