Can anyone remember such a mass evacuation of citizens anywhere, at any time, in the history of the planet?
This will completely destabalize Lebanon. Is that the aim? Or is war with Syria and Iran imminent and this is an attempt by countries to get their citizens our without showing their hand? Israel is now much closer to Syria and Iran--the US has armed ships in the region under the guise of evacuating their citizens. Are we being played like fiddles, our focus being on the evacuation while the real war is starting up behind the scenes?

You mean before they were for it they were against it? The media flip flops? I don't know, Kate, I think the important thing to learn from the Canadian MSM is that PMSH is always wrong, even if they have to look foolish to maintain ideological consistency. Just another example of how Liberal Party of Canada incompetence is coming home to roost and affecting Canadian capability to serve our OWN citizens. Thank goodness we don't have PM Dithers in charge, that would have been disasterous. I agree with Harper, lots of Canadians are working around the clock to solve this problem, that would have been made infinitely easier if the Liberals had supported even the most modest of military investments, but rest assured the problem will be solved, Canadians evacuated (and the Australians too) and PMSH will still not get any credit from the MSM, sigh.

George: Well said! (And why are so many Cdn citizens in Lebanon- could it be because a Cdn citizenship is so easy to get?)

I find it amazing that 30,000+ Canadians are vacationing in Lebanon. One must have been listening the the CBC for the last 100 years not to be aware that Hezbola is a terrorist organization which controls southern Lebanon and that a war is raging in Iraq nearby.

I wonder how many "Canadians" have paid Canadian taxes in the last 5 years? Why should Canadian taxpayers pay to evacuate those who deliberately chose to live in Lebanon and who do not pay taxes in Canada!

If the Canadian in Lebanon is a current resident and taxpayer of Canada ... fine , everyone else to the back of the line.

Related story.
PM Harper is heading from Paris & taking refugees home aboard the gov't plane used in his travel in Europe.
Rather than say "good-stuff...a PM who cares", the howls of "publicity stunt" have already started.
If he stopped to help someone injured in an Ottawa traffic accident, I'm sure there would be similar nonsense.
I guess if one is so jaded that simple human compassion (and in this case true leadership)cannot be recognized as such then there is no hope for that person.
But they still need to be shouted down before their idiocy spreads.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/19072006/2/national-harper-heads-cyprus-taking-120-evacuees-lebanon-home-plane.html

Support has got there faster than the DART team to Thailand.
Well done Stephen Harper for taking his plane there for pick ups
Canada really does have a captain now!

Funny line from a poster over at angry, "If living in Canada for three years makes a person Canadian, then living in a garage for three years ought to make me a car."

Yahoo is reporting that PMSH has redirected his CF transport to Cyprus to evacuate as many Canadians as the plane will hold. They are shrinking the onboard crew to the bare minimum to accomodate as many as possible.

This is a decent man. I am proud of our PM.

"Officials said only Harper's wife, Laureen, and a couple of his communications staff and his official photographer, will fly to Cyprus with him. 'There is a need for air support in Cyprus,' Harper said."

Guess we couldn't charter any planes in the entire theatre so we had to send his. Not for publicity's sake at all, of course. The photographer is going to uh...spread the word to the world to let them know of this crisis the MSM is ignoring. Yeah, that's it.

Such a noble gesture...and all those planes he ordered which those evil Liberals held back from our poor stranded citizens. What an ispired leader...may I kiss your feet now, Mathatma Harper?

Anyone believe there won't be a single Hezbollah terrorist amongst that 30,000+?

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mrs. Loreen Harper (nee Teskey) are flying aboard a Canadian Forces Airbus.

After paying tribute to Canada's war dead, at Canada's Vimy Ridge Memorial (which is now being restored), the Harpers paid tribute to the memory of Mrs. Harper's great uncle, James Edward Teskey, at a military graveyard in the village of Barlin. They will fly on to Cyprus to pick up some Canadians fleeing from Hezbollah and return to Canada with them. God speed to them all. ...-

In Memoriam: Lest We Forget.

No Surname Rank Service Number Date Of Death Age Regiment/Service Nationality Grave/Memorial Ref. Cemetery/Memorial Name
1 TESKEY, JAMES EDWARD Private 808791 05/06/1917 19 Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment) Canadian II. B. 40. BARLIN COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION

commonwealth war graves commission

CNN reporter in Lebanon this morning describes Hezbollah as "the defacto government" and "they are the ones who run the schools, and the water service and the..." (whatever it was she said). Yeah, the reporter may not have been incorrect in stating that, but, of course, neglects to point out HOW they came about to be the defacto government and the ones responsible for providing those services.

Yeesh! I suppose if the Hells Angels were to over-run a small town, CNN would be out there defending them by saying "they're the defacto government and are responsible for...". I doubt, however, that if a bunch of Republicans were to storm CNN Headquarters and control what CNN was permitted to broadcast, they would support them. What utter BS!

It was reported on radio this A.M. that Hezbolla is shooting some Lebonese civilians attempting to flee - apparently they need human sheilds - they ususually use children. Dual citizenship has been around in Can. for a long time my late uncle was Can./U.S. He paid his taxes in Can. and only visited U.S. for short holidays, except for the WWII when the U.S. gov't requested him to come and manage a war materiale factory. Today, however I think we need to determine the number of dual citizens and their permanent residence.

I suggest that Mr. Harper's decision is compassionate and logical.
Why not make use of this aircraft?
And can you imagine the flack if he had not done it?
He can't get a break from the loons.

It bugs me that there is so much criticism about the amount of time the rescue has taken. France and Britian are a short flight away, and have ships in the Mediterranean at any given time. The USA simply has more resources. Canada is considerably farther away. Also, our lack of ability to respond to things of this kind is attributable in some degree to years of neglect of our military.

Also, many of the Canadian citizens in Lebanon are dual citizens, and permanently reside in Lebanon. I am not saying we should not rescue them, but a little less bitching and a little more gratitude would go a long way. They didn't seem to mind living in a country that was known to be Hezbollah's armed camp. It is amazing to me that all of these people seem utterly gobsmacked that another war has broken out. I really feel for the families whose relatives have been killed, (and let us not forget, on both sides). Perhaps people ought not to send children to vacation in a country that is overun with terrorist who use it as a base of operations. I know this sounds cold. But it is also realistic.

Funny comment over at angry, "If living in Canada for three years makes a person Canadian, then living in a garage for three years ought to make me into a car."

The MSM isn't there to report on what is happening. There purpose in life is to create contoversy so that they can sell advertising.

ergo . . all those reporters are really just pimping for the rich corporate owners or, in the csse of the CBC, the socialists who sold out for a job and pension with motherc corp rather than actually doing something "social"

Harper has changed the rules & these morons don't understand the game has changed. I used to yell at the tv "journalists" . . now I laugh at them.

How many passengers does/can a C-17 carry. Maybe the Liberals should have bought one or two so we could actaully fly people out of there directly...

The UN's Chummy Relations with Hizballah

Israel has a wholly justified suspicion of the United Nations and their bogus “peacekeeping” effort in Lebanon; this article from al-Reuters opens with an anecdote that symbolizes UNIFIL’s chummy relations with Hizballah: Israeli suspicion of UN clouds Lebanon force plan.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli commander at the Lebanese border recalls peering through binoculars one afternoon to see U.N. peacekeepers sipping tea with Hizbollah guerrillas.

Of course, it wouldn’t be al-Reuters if they didn’t immediately try to cover for the UN.

The officer’s conspiratorial take on the meeting a few months ago underscores Israel’s long-standing distrust of the United Nations force in Lebanon and its reluctance to see an expanded version as a way to end the current conflict.

Reporting an actual incident is “conspiratorial?”

There is a real conspiracy described in this article, and it’s not the IDF commander’s description of UN tools having tea time with terrorists—because in 2000, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon deliberately concealed videotapes of IDF soldiers being kidnapped by Hizballah terrorists: ...-
via LGF

...

Rich: re: The mission-of-mercy by Prime Minister and Mrs. Harper to evacuate those fleeing from Hezbollah.

This mission would not have entered the heads/brains of any one of the left liberals. They would be with those fleeing Hezbollah.

Since it is very likely the only real complainers are the Liberals, NDP and News media, I wouldn't get too upset. Most people I've spoken with in the past couple of days figure we (Canada) are doing this correctly. They also question the fact that anyone would be dumb enough to be in Lebanon when there's a bloody war going on. Gee, surprise, surprise!

Harper's going to pick up Canadians sure looks good in light of the fact that Mr. Graham (Liberal) and Mr. Layton (NDP) either don't have a viable alternative or a too bloody chicken to go and help.

Good on you, Mr. Harper. Get stuffed Graham and Layton and friends.

Canaduh--- where you can live as permanent resident in Lebanon not pay taxes and get rescued. or
you can live within the boundaries of Canada, claim you are in a different nation and not pay taxes and do subversive activities for free.

AND ANOTHER PR COUP FOR HARPER!!

According to the news Harper had his plane go to Cypress to pick up 120 Canadian evacuees from Lebanon.
And in order to make room he tossed all the media and other hangers-on to make room.

Can you say MAJORITY?

Horny Toad

Of course the media is pissed off with Harper. He gets to play 'hero' in Cyprus while they have to wait in long lines at Charles de Gaulle for a trip back to Canada. The price of a last minute first class ticket from Paris to Toronto? Editor says "sorry we only pay for coach".

George :
Or is war with Syria and Iran imminent and this is an attempt by countries to get their citizens our without showing their hand? Israel is now much closer to Syria and Iran

If only what you said was true!! Unlike you probably, I see this as an opportunity to cut the head of the tigers off completely. Their the seed bed of all this terror including Saudi Religious objectives.

To bad they tipped there hand in 9/11 or we would still be in the dark. Most moon bats still are.

G-D speed the Israeli army & protect our own coalition forces. Its time to end the mad Mullahs insanity before millions die.

This guy means to use nukes. He has said it, boasted of it , & lauds the idea of exterminating every Jew on the Planet. While denying a holocaust he is preparing the same. Time to start taking these fruitcakes at there word!!!

....good on you Mr.Prime Minister.....
While the Media & liberals bash you.
This Prime Minister is emerging on the Canadian & World stage as a compassionate & caring man, He is also showing that when it comes to making a tough stand he can do that, Bill Graham has critized you for not acting quick enough & for your comments on Israel, It's about time we had a leader that will not support a terrorist group & when it comes to making a decision at least it can be made & acted upon in a resonable time frame not Dithering around looking for a plane to rent from Russia.

I wonder how many of those who "chose" to vacation in a war zone will have their hand out expecting a refund on their unused airline ticket. The "vacationers" looking for someone to blame? Have a look in the mirror.

In a radio interview this morning, Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn affirmed that Canada is an ally of Israel. PMO has just announced that Canada is not, repeat, is not an ally of Israel...

john:

Oh the poor poor media, they have to wait in line while Canadians in Lebanon are under fire.

Heavens, the travails of the media are so onerous in comparison. My compassion for the media overflows at this distress. NOT!

PM Stephen Harper gives Lester Pearson a run for his place in history. Not a bad showing thus far.

and Air Canada's departure lounge at CDG is a frikkin dump

Hope the MSM enjoys the baggage class service all the way home . . couldn't happen to nicer people

Thank God we have a true leader. Could you see the dithering dance at this time if it was Paulie??? He would have been on his plane (with all his pals) and would have headed straight home to safety.
This is a dangerous side trip for our PM and wife to be taking. I wish them a safe trip home. Good on the man to put his fellow citizens lives first above his safety.
A note regarding travelling out side of Canada, when you leave your country you are putting yourself at the mercy of other governments. To expect that things can happen over night a continent away, dream on. 50,000 people to contact, phone lines down, highways and bridges destroyed, (not to mention bombs dropping) this will not be an easy task. Love how CTV and CBC puts all of these people on saying ever thing negative. It must be a mad house trying to make all of these contacts and arrangements. I truely believe that everything that can be done, is being done.

PMSH said it correctly. What he is doing is "the right thing to do". Of course the loony left and the MSM have no idea about what the right thing to do is. Their ideas of heroes are the Little Shyster from Shawinigan - who has no problem attacking his own people- and Mr. Dithers - who was prepared to destroy democracy to get what he wanted. Now we know why Harper was scary. Now we know who was scared of him.

How many dippers have volunteered to go to Cyprus and help out the embassy staff? Where is smiling’ Jack and his guitar. Now is the time for a group hug and some good old fashion Kumbaya. It’s hard to leave the trough for these people.

What can we say about Bill Graham that others haven’t said before about his abilities to get things done vs. talking? His arguments are so vain and his points to bitch about so insignificant. Like Harper says, we have to work with what we have.

It took over three weeks to get DART off the ground. It took a few days for Harper’s people to start evacuating Canadians (and Australians and others) out of Lebanon. A job well done sir.

So proud to have someone who knows how to get things done leading this country.

slightly o/t

But this headline made us laugh right out loud, not to mention the picture is priceless.

http://tinyurl.com/ntpl3

"Harper meets French President Chirac; gets condolence call from Israeli leader"
H/T canada.com.

Ldd:

I am convinced that the lower the IQ, the more likely it is to have a job as a headline writer.

This one in particular is priceless.

BTW, Jack! may have a guitar, but Paul Martin has an air guitar.

We will rush around the globe to rescue Lebanese citizens who have probably taken out Canadian citizenship as nothing more than a backup plan,but,most likely,contribute NOTHING in return...BUT,if you are a'true'Canadian living in Caledonia,Ontario,paying taxes,etc and also under seige,well,quite frankly,f*ck you!

I'm so worried about what's happening today in the Middle East, you know. And I'm so worried about the baggage retrieval system they've got at Heathrow.

LOL Matt, air guitar - air head, sounds 'bout right!

Ldd that made my day. (I'm still sniggering.)

Our local paper had an account from a woman from here who is in Lebanon on some sort of "Palestinian educational program" The 34-year-old "photography student" was with her Lebanese friends and trying to figure out how to get out. And of course she was bashing the Canadian government for inaction, saying "repeated calls" to Prime Minister Harper's office and to Peter MacKay went unanswered. She was able to contact home, the media, the PMO, but did she try the Canadian embassy? The arrogance of the useful idiots of the left is unfathomable.

This illustrates exactly why Canada must have
the ability to project military strength. If
we already had the heavy transports and other
equipment, then we could send in armed forces
to protect our citizens, rather than have to
rely on others (and Iran-types might be a little
more careful with our citizens as well).

I 'spose the photography student hasnt noted that Stephen Harper is heading to Cyprus.

can we leave Jack Layton and uberhomo Bill Graham as hostages in Lebanon (call them exchange citizens) till the 5000 vacationers are out.

the 45000 ,permanent residents can stay there.

So far, this episode has made several things clear:

- Israel needs to crush Hezbollah once and for all. Same for Hamas.

-Iran and Syria need to be whacked.

- The CNN/CBC/BBC/... axis of complicity is comprised of unconscionable fools and dupes.

- The "honest broker" role preached by Jack Layton and Bill Graham first requires something the left/lib elites lack entirely - "HONESTY". Good show Mr. Harper!

- the Canadian approach to 'citizenship' which resulted in 50,000 permanent residents of Lebanon holding Canadian passports of convenience needs to be corrected.

"- the Canadian approach to 'citizenship' which resulted in 50,000 permanent residents of Lebanon holding Canadian passports of convenience needs to be corrected."
Posted by: JR at July 19, 2006 03:03 PM

A big freakin'HERE,HERE!!!

Exactly right - to the posters here who are noting that there's something seriously wrong with this '40,000 - 60,000' "Canadians" in Lebanon.

It simply doesn't make sense. This is twice, thrice, four, five times as many as any other country - countries with larger populations and closer to Lebanon than Canada. So - what's going on?

Then, we find out that only about 5,000 are visitors. The rest are PERMANENT residents of Lebanon. They are NOT Canadian immigrants; they have no intention of immigrating to Canada. They do NOT pay Canadian taxes. But - in time of need, they certainly make use of that 'extra citizenship' that only Canada is dumb enough to give them..and insist that the Canadian taxpayer pay for their getting out of the country.

What are 40,000 'fake Canadians' doing, claiming dual citizenship, but having no intention of ever, ever, ever, living in Canada or contributing to Canada or paying taxes or... What are they doing with our citizenship papers? How did they get them? Why?

And why should the Canadian taxpayer rescue these fake Canadians? Is the criteria of being a Canadian simply having a passport - or is there something else required. Such as residency; such as paying taxes; even such a minor attribute of having been born here. If you have NONE, NONE of these qualities - then, why do you claim Canadian citizenship? And why do you claim that Canada should pay for you? Why not Lebanon?

And yes, Canadian Observer - a very good point - the citizens of Caledonia sure paid their taxes, they are residents, they are Canadians - but their govt (in this case, the Ontario) gov't treated them as if they were not citizens.

Oh - and as for speed of rescue - how do you arrange transport, not for the few thousand Brits that are there, or the few thousand from France and other countries - but - the 25,000 and up 'fake Canadians' who have requested that 'their' (sarcasm) country come to their assistance.

And remember the Liberal DART team during the Dec 26 tsunami crisis? The DART team that is supposed to be Ready and There in 48 hours? And didn't arrive until January 10..long after the Americans and Aussies had arrived and cleaned up the place? Remember those 48 hours (hmm..three weeks..)...and how the Liberals had to rent Russian planes to get them there? And that's only for a DART team. But the Liberals are ever-ready to criticize getting 25,000 fake Canadians out in less than a week.

The more i see of PMSH on the international stage,the more clear it becomes that Liberal policy under successive leaders was an absolute failure.They failed to promote or protect Canadian interests and really, have designed their ideas to be Canada centric and insular.

Truly it is the epitomy of hypocrisy to denigrate the conservatives for not arriving in a timely fashion,when it was through the Liberals mismanagement that we do not have the capability to act faster(due to a lack of heavy lift aircraft, and blue water surface ships..)

In watching the US evacuate a few people in helicopters yesterday I carefully weighed the options of rescue in a Sea King or taking my chances in Lebanon.

What makes it worse is socialist politicians and media morons getting upset about the perceived tardiness of the government in rescuing these so-called 'Canadians' and using it to slam Harper.

None of them are bright enough to question what the hell are 40,000 'Canadians' doing in Lebanon?

Nice points on the DART ET.

Schwartz:

Choice 1:

You can die quickly with a Hezbollah Katyusha rocket or an Israeli GBU precision munition in Lebanon.

Choice 2:

Drown slowly in the Mediterranean when the Sea King falls out of the sky.

Too bad we sold our heavy lift Chinooks to the Dutch!!

Yep, 13 years of LIEberal rule and they let NOT ONE contract to secure new equipment so the CF can respond in a timely fashion. Then the LIEberals have the hypocritical Kahones to criticize the "Conservatives" SLOOOWWWW response.

Oh LORD spare me and the civilians caught in the crossfire.

PMSH is damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. I know, here's an idea, let's ask the 120 people that he can bring home with him how they feel about being able to come home? Think they give a damn about any so-called propaganda? Or maybe they'll just be really grateful to get home...

I find it absolutely stunning that the MSM and others are bashing the rerouting - hey, maybe the reason we can't evacuate people from Lebanon fast enough is becuase the Liberals successfully destroyed the infrastructure and resources of our esteemed Armed Forces. I'd *love* to hear the CBC mention that POV...

Exactly, irwin daisy. - what the hell are 40,000 Canadians doing in Lebanon????

I wrote a key columnist of the G&M, and received the astonishing reply:
"They have dual citizenship because Canada, like most countries (but not the U.S.) permits dual citizenship, and unlike most countries, welcomes large number of Lebanese immigrants."

Got that? This is a key political correspondent of the G&M - and his answer to why there are 40,000 'Canadians' in Lebanon is that Canada 'unlike most countries, welcomes large numbers of Lebanese immigrants"

That's called a 'begging the question' reply. It doesn't answer my question, of WHY, WHY. All it does is repeat that 'Canada ...unlike most countries'...which implies of course Canada The Tolerant, Canada The Munificient, Canada the Open Arms and Apple Pie...rather than Canada The Stupid, Canada the Patsy, Canada the Idiot.

And note that he doesn't answer my question - because - these fake Canadians HAVEN'T IMMIGRATED to Canada. They are permenent residents of Lebanon. They have no intention of immigrating to Canada. Ever. Or paying taxes. Or developing Canada.

BUT - gosh, the Canadian taxpayer is indeed extremely useful in an emergency! You bring out your dusty, unused Canadian passport and insist that the Canadian taxpayer send ships, planes and whatever, to lift you out of any and all harm.

And, yes indeed, a few and maybe more than a few, Hezbollah and Al Qaeda will be kindly, airlifted to Canada, due to the idiotic generosity of the Liberal gov't that got us into this mess.

Why isn't the MSM and the gov't asking these questions? It doesn't take any brains whatsoever, to be struck by the strangeness of the sheer number of "40,000 Canadians in Lebanon".

Commenter Rich wrote at July 19, 2006 12:09 PM:

« PM Harper is heading from Paris & taking refugees home aboard the gov't plane used in his travel in Europe. Rather than say "good-stuff...a PM who cares", the howls of "publicity stunt" have already started.»

Typical.

A couple of callers to one of my local radio stations referred to PM Harper as a "media whore," whereas over at his blog, Paul Wells chides the PM for this quip:

« "Back then, the enemy had guns, not cameras."

True. Which is why Canadians are so greatful that back then, our soldiers were less likely to wallow in bottomless self-pity than, say, some of today's political leaders.»

But one of the best things I've read today is a comment by Gimbol over at PTBC:
«Gee, you don’t suppose the media is a tad upset at being ordered off the plane to make way for evacuee’s do you?

Wouldn’t that make a heck of a headline?

”Journalists become petualant after being bumped for Lebanon Evacuee’s”»

Graham is the guy in the middle with the feathers in his mouth. Garbage in; nuanced garbage out. ...-

Quote of the Campaign:

"Mr. Harper is proud of the fact he wasn't nuanced about this," Graham said. "Nuance has kept us in a position where we could help. Lose the nuance and you lose your capacity to act and help others ... .we lose our position to work with moderates."
voy forums

Does anyone know if there is a requirement to actually come to Canada to get a passport, to actually set for on Canadian soil, or do we just mail them over?

Crackerjack boxes.

maybe scratch and wins.

whatever it is it aint enough. how could the "mop and pail" say the reason is "canada welcomes Lebanase immigrants" when they havent even immigrated.

as always the social benefits of the Canadian Looney Bin exceed the minisule costs for those that want to exploit them. Immigration lawyers must cause this.

@ George:

East Prussia in 1945 was the
largest civil evacuation on record.

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

Statement by the Prime Minister on Cyprus airlift

July 19, 2006
Paris, France

Excerpt:

“As you know, I was originally scheduled to return to Ottawa from Paris tonight.

“Because of the seriousness of the situation – and our relative proximity to Cyprus – I have decided to take the Canadian forces aircraft we have been traveling on to help airlift evacuees back home.

“The aircraft will be stripped down to only a skeleton staff, including Laureen and myself, to free up the maximum number of seats for evacuees."

(The Parliamentary Press Gallery,aka PPG, Paris sub-Branch, has been convened in an extraordinary session to consider retaliatory measures. The bar closes at 5:00 AM Parisian; beware of the rush at last call.)

Skill testing question for anyone with an idea, Ok, we fly over here 30k "Canadian Citizens" that have no residence here in the great white north, what the heck do we do with them when they get here. Why do I foresee a whole lot of single military guys sleeping in tents on a sun baked parade square as their barracks are taken over by these evacuees or will these fine upstanding citizens all be claiming they "stayed in a holiday express last nite" at govt expense, second skill testing question, when this all dies time again, and it will, does the Canadian Taxpayer then fork out again to fly these "Canadian Citizens" back to the ME

I'd be interested to hear the liberal solution for the evacuation. Would it be a la tsunami: 1. stay on vacation; 2. rent a helicopter in the area and fly around with a press entourage saying "Tsk, tsk, oh my goodness"; 3. determine which ethnic demographic you most want to court favour with in Canada; 4. three weeks after the fact dispatch the "rapid response team"; 5. insult George Bush?
I find it amazing that the libs are howling about the pace of evacuating tens of thousands of people when they sneered at the "aircraft carriers" (in fact amphibious mother ships capable of accessing and egressing trouble spots) in a previous election, got rid of the heavy lift helicopters, and failed to procure a strategic aerial heavy lift capability for the CF long after the need became blatantly apparent.
Finally, once these twenty to forty thousand "Canadians" are evacuated, it is reassuring to know that they won't need any government arranged accomodation in Canada once they land up here since they'll be staying in their own permanent homes, or with the close family they left while they were temporarily in Lebanon. Or might this be the acid test of their Canadian bona fides?

...good post ET.

------------
Wonder how many MSM will be at the airport fight for position and demanding pictures and interviews with the rescued passengers?

You know, like the zeal they portray when the body bags and coffins come over from Afg.

ET: Thank you for being so eloquent. You have said it exactly how many are feeling. Great post.

Here is the scenario that will unfold when Mr. Harper goes to Cyprus to pick up evacuees.
( My prediction...I hope it does not happen but I bet it will having seen the antics of the liberal rubbish generating machine, the ndp airheads, and the MSM lampreys.)
This quote has already appeared as part of an article.
"Only Harper's wife, Laureen, a couple of his communications staff and his official photographer, will join him on the 3 1/2-hour flight to Cyprus where the first boatload of Canadian evacuees from Beirut was expected to arrive".
Pretty bland stuff right, and evidence that he is stripping the aircraft to get a load of evacuees on board.? He is to be applauded right?
Surely you jest....this is a photo-op....Mr. Harper is being a crass, heartless S.O.B. by not booting the photographer off the plane as his/her presence is clear evidence of a public relations effort, staged at the expense of an (one) evacuee....that bastard PM.
Imagine, a poor child left alone on the runway because the PM wants a photo-op. Down with the cruel despotic Busharperhitler!
Anyone want to bet it won't happen?
Any variation on this theme is subject to the whimsy of the local cretin who relates it to you.

Ahmed from Kuwait throws freshly minted camel-patties at Nasrallah (cursed be his memory),Hezbollah and its stooges in Lebanon. ...-

By Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times

THE Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora is supposed to be more frank and forthright, and talk about everything without any reservations. He should call spade a spade and declare that it is the adventurists who have destroyed his beautiful country. Siniora should have been frank from the beginning. Now the situation has become unbearable and unacceptable after Hezbollah became a state within the state of Lebanon.
With his uncalculated and reckless adventures Hassan Nasrallah has led the people of Lebanon and the Arab world into disaster. He has exposed Lebanon to unnecessary risks under the orders of outsiders, who are telling him what to do. These outsiders are instructing Nasrallah to play political games, which are not in the interest of Lebanon or people of Arab countries.

In this situation remaining silent is not an option. ...-
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/arabtimes/opinion/view.asp?msgID=1245

Right, Rich. Here is one of the cretins left behind by Chretien; Arbour, ex-Supremo is spouting nuance, also. It's Cretin's revenge.

See, PM Harper knows this and is flying scared of Arbour. Cretin's revenge is worser than Montezuma's revenge as is widely known by Paul Martin, Jr., and Warren Kinsella. ...-

UN rights head sees possible Mideast war crimes (By Israel of Course)

Reuters ^ | July 19, 2006 | Richard Waddington and Robert Evans
GENEVA (Reuters) - The scale of killing and maiming of civilians in Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territory of Gaza could constitute war crimes, the United Nations human rights chief said on Wednesday. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour said international humanitarian law was clear on the need to protect non-combatants in any conflict. ...-
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1668697/posts

Merde. Zee camel and zee chantecler/rooster are conflabbing a Paris. Watch for zee perfidy and zee back-stabbing and zee treacheree.

Who will come out on top? The camel wins, right? ...-

Saudi, France to seek common stance on conflict

AFP/Expatica ^ | July 19, 2006
RIYADH, July 19, 2006 (AFP) - Saudi Arabia's crown prince was due in Paris Wednesday for talks with French President Jacques Chirac aimed at finding a joint stance on the conflict in Lebanon, press reports said ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1668683/posts

The US appears to have about 6,000 to evacuate as opposed to our 30-40,000."
"I would like a job with your company"
Really ? Thats Great!
"O.K. We will hire you"
"Excuse me you haven't been coming to work"
"I am keeping my old job"
I thought you wanted to work for my company?"
" I might, but I am keeping my old job and i will come and work for you only if I need to"
Why did you apply to my company when you didn't want my job?"
"Because I can!"

when are we going to get on with the war on the MSM , the weapons of mass delusion??

when will the Isrealis say they captured South Lebanon---LOONEY BIN LADEN?

Just wondering, since they are 'Canadians' weren't they expected to pay for their return fare anyway?
So why should we, the taxpayers, not on six month long vacation, pay for this?

The US and Canada had better screen these evacuees very, very thoroughly, especially in light of Hezbollah stating today that they had 2000 volunteers trained and ready "take aim at" the US. In place here? On their way? What are we to infer by that comment? What a better way to insert them than in the pandemonium of a mass evacuation.

I don't know how true this is, but because I would have guessed that the majority would be Lebanese Christians:

Most of them are Shi'ite Muslims, many of whom hold dual U.S. and Lebanese citizenship. Many are anchor babies born here to Muslims in the U.S. illegally. Some are illegal aliens who became citizens through rubber-stamping Citizenship and Immigration Services (and its INS predecessor) coupled with political pressure by spineless politicians.

www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2006/07/most_americans.html

It's time to put an end to dual citizenship and anchor baby citizenship. Five years after 9/11, why haven't the gutless wonders in Congress cleaned up these loose edges?

I just booked a ticket to LebaLiberalnon. One way! Its the cheapest way to fry.

Reuters ^ | July 19, 2006 | Richard Waddington and Robert Evans
GENEVA (Reuters) - The scale of killing and maiming of civilians in Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territory of Gaza could constitute war crimes, the United Nations human rights chief said on Wednesday. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour said international humanitarian law was clear on the need to protect non-combatants in any conflict. ...-
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1668697/posts

Well in that case, Madam Arbour will be sure to indict the Hezbollah and Hamas leadership and "fighters" who deliberatly target civilians as policy, as well as the Government of Syria for providing logistical support to the Hezbollah and the Government of Iran who raised trained and sponsored the Hezbollah in the first place.

She will, no doubt, be reeling off the indictments on the front lawn of Parliament hill first thing tomorrow.......

I give 3 months till the Lebanon ?refugees get organized back here in Canuckistan and begin the Religion Of Peace, Hizbollacks terrorist campaign that is orchestrated by Irans mullah-muckers!

Date 19 July 2006.....counting...

Actually,maybe we should be approaching these'Canadians of convenience'from a completely different angle.
If we can get them to recruit their friends and neighbors who are not already Canadian,we will have a completely new province in no time!...can't recommend the neighborhood though...

Incredible howler on CTV news tonight.

Murray Oliver is doing a report.

He says "But Israel is ignoring public opinion."

Then they immediately cut to a Hamas(!) spokes-terrorist.

Is there no editorial overview of this crap?

CTV tass is just as bad as CBCpravda , same opinions but just not funded the same.

Lloyd Robertson was CBC replacing the old drunk Harvey Kirk.

Since these "poor" souls would have been flying "home" to the country they love anyways, I'm sure they wouldn't mind chipping in around 1600.00 bucks a head at tax time for their flight.
Seems fair to me.

Check Cheadle's mantra... nuanced, eh, Willy? Balanced and moderate, eh, Willy? ...-

All, repeat, all 21 Canadian MSM hacks left behind: Boag, Copps, not Cheadle, Messley, Peter Pan, Duffy from PEI,
Margolis, VD, Janey, and Addled, and Mr. Magoo/CTVOliver, and, not Zolf (too old), MacDonald, ....?

Excerpts snipped: (not in numerical order).

"All this activity on what was supposed to be the final day of Harper's overseas mission provided a counterweight to Harper's pro-Israel mantra over the past week."

"That's in part because all 21 Canadian media travelling with the prime minister were left behind in Paris".

Harper's (Canadian PM) First Major Diplomatic Foray Ends with Dramatic Flight to Cyprus
cnews.canoe.ca ^ | July 19, 2006 | Bruce Cheadle

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1668801/posts

Agreed - CTV is as bad as CBC. Both are pure Liberal hacks, which means, both are pure propaganda. Not a shred of fact, analysis, question. Just propaganda.

Saw, for the 30 seconds I could bear to watch it, a CTV 'expert' claiming that, guess what, Bush is 'behind it all'; that Israel is the toady of the US, is funded by the US and is currently, doing what the US wants it to do. AND, that if the US wanted this current war to stop, all it would have to do, is tell Israel, and zip, Israel would instantly come to a screeching stop.

So much for Israel as a sovereign nation. And so much for any understanding and analysis of Islamic fascism.

Andrew Coyne has an excellent article about Harper's 'lack of nuance', mocking the Liberal/NDP sophists who decry this 'lack', who moan for the noble sanctity of dithering and fence-sitting. Coyne is stating that Harper's position is exactly right.
andrewcoyne. dot. com..."Harper knows the game has changed". Really a very good column.

I just got this terrible picture of Stephen Harper , dressed in camp clothes with 300 refugees singing "kumbuya" and "99 bottles of beer on the wall" with refugees that dont speak english in the airplane.
the craft is stripped down.

its a CBCpravda broadcast, Kneel McDonald comes on and says, "critics say -beer is non-muslim,and kumbaya is considered dishonouring Allah yet the prime minister persists"

Kneel McDonald SEEBEESEEpravda somewhere over the north atlantic.

Part One: Points to consider in the days and weeks ahead as the issue of 'Dual Citizenship' is debated:

3w. voyage.gc.ca/main/pubs/retirement_abroad-en.asp

"Canadian citizenship can be relinquished only through a specific act of renunciation. An individual has to apply to Citizenship and Immigration Canada ....specifically for this purpose to begin the process of terminating Canadian citizenship."

" Taxation Issues & Severing Canadian Residency

You cannot terminate your Canadian citizenship or residency simply by living in another country.

To terminate your residency, you have to leave Canada on a permanent basis, sever your residential ties with Canada and establish residential ties in the country you are moving to.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) determines non-resident status on a case-by-case basis, so consult a tax advisor about the necessary steps you should take.

Retaining Canadian residency does not necessarily put you at a disadvantage.

Depending on your situation, your actual tax liability could be lower than the non-resident withholding taxes imposed on your Canadian pensions and investment income."

"A regular pattern of visits to Canada can be regarded as evidence of continued residency, especially if you have family connections in the country. If you retain ownership of your home, you should lease it on a non-revocable basis; if you have ongoing access to it, it may still be regarded as your residence."

Part Two: Points to consider re: Dual Citizenship

Pension Benefits:

"CPP/QPP benefits are paid outside Canada as long as all conditions of eligibility continue to be met. OAS is paid outside Canada if the pensioner lived in Canada for at least 20 years after age 18.

.... Canada's OAS system is intended to guarantee a minimum income to retirees, and benefits are subject to an income test. You can receive OAS benefits outside Canada, but generally you must file an annual return reporting your worldwide income."

"Canada imposes a withholding tax on "passive" income paid to nonresidents from Canadian sources. Canadian-source income subject to non-resident withholding tax includes interest, dividends, rental income, registered retirement savings plan income, registered retirement income fund income, and pension income....

The rate of non-resident withholding tax is 25 percent. This tax may be reduced according to the terms of tax treaties between Canada and other countries."

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/pubs/retirement_abroad-en.asp

"What if I lived or worked in another country?

Canada has international social security agreements with many countries. These agreements can help you get pensions or benefits from either country."

***nOTE THIS:*

If you did not live or work long enough in another country to qualify under its rules, the time you spent there may be added to your time in Canada to enable you to meet eligibility requirements."

3w. fin.gc.ca/news99/data/99-007_1e.html

"The Government of Canada and the Government of the Lebanese Republic, desiring to conclude a Convention for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, have agreed......

..."This Convention shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting States."

~~~~~
~~~~~

Health Care Guidelines:

"Provincial health care programs terminate eligibility after periods of prolonged absence from Canada, typically six months. In most cases, you must be physically present in your Canadian province of residence for 183 days of each calendar year to maintain your health care coverage. The rationale for this requirement is that, when you are out of the country, you are not paying provincial sales tax or the Goods and Services Tax, both of which help to pay for medical care."

...." In some provinces, you can avoid the requalification period by waiving your right to coverage while you are out of the country. This way, you will be covered immediately upon your return, even though you were out of the country for more than six months."

Andrew Coyne is doing a good job of keeping the looney left at bay. the nuance thing has been a good one.He was laughing at peter pansbridge two nights ago.

The left never figure out that somewhere, sometime in this eroded society someone has to draw a line in the muskeg.

I agree Cal. I've never heard such a venemous tone from old Mansbridge when he was 'grilling' Peter Mackay about the 'delays' in getting Canadians out of Lebanon. He lost any shred of journalistic objectivity that he might have had.

It was fun to hear Coyne tell Mansbridge that 'this obviously upsets you', to which Mansbridge squeeked out 'Me?' as if he's just reflecting what everybody else believes...

It's been interesting to watch CTV/CBC/Globe and Mail fall all over themselves to try to make some of this stick to Harper. They think they've finally got a stumble they can 'work with'. They'll do their best to give this story some legs, but I don't think it's gonna work - Harper just out maneuvers them with logic..Luv it!

IRAN: LEFTIST WEBSITE CLAIMS U.S. PLANES FLEW OVER TEHRAN

ADNKI ^ | 7/19/06
Tehran, 19 July (AKI) - The Farsi-language leftist website Peyknet has claimed in an unconfirmed report that US aircrafts flew over Tehran at dawn on Tuesday, citing anonymous Western sources. Edited by former members of the Iranian Communist party, the online paper alleged that the Iranian government kept the news a secret so as not to alarm the population. The website also quoted the same unnamed sources as claiming that some European embassies were studying plans to evacuate their citizens from Tehran in case of a US attack.
...- free republic

Yes, from the Canadian pespective it's bizarre to see the eagerness to try and blame Harper while ignoring why there are so many Canadians in Lebanon.

How much taxpayer money flows out to these "Canadians"?

Did they fill out their census forms???

Lebanon - 10,400 sq.km 3.8 million people

Israel - 20,770 sq. km 6.3 million.

So at half the size of Israel, Lebanon refuses to execise control over all of its territory.

You do have to wonder why so many Canadians would be in such a small country which can't even control its territory. Sounds dangerous to me.

Lebanon's territory is equivalent to 14.4 Calgarys

(and I think the number on the city website is out of date so the number would be even smaller now)

thank gawd the friggin liberals arent calling the shots right now.

One good thing can come from all the Liberal and National Socialist... opps sorry I mean the NDP, critism of the current government. How now can they object to the purchase of heavy lift aircraft and new ships for the forces? Double whammy on them seeing as the dippers oppose every military purchase and the Libs turned their back on every major purchase in the last thirteen years. As well the whole subject of dual citizen ship has been exposed to the light of day and from what I heard, today, most of the phone ins on addled, thought the forty thousand was a farce. Good on Harper. A man the msm continues to underestimate.

robert...
i'll second that.

Markpeters, there will be plenty of Hezbollah posing as evacuees leaving that country. No country could have 50,000 people vacationing at one time - in the same place. Didn't the Hez leaders say they will be in every corner of the earth and will be ready for the call. WOW! They even get a free ride back to this country. I hope our PM does not let just anyone travel with him. Canada sure is stupid if it think we aren't going to be overwhelmed with these terrorists. It's high time we get rid of dual citizenship. These guys come here and stay a few years - then go back to the good old mother country and have their CPP and OAS sent to them. Canada is the nearest thing to heaven on earth.
Oh yes- they return when they are sick and you and I are paying through the nose.

All this talk about dual citizenship has me wondering. As a Canuck living and working in the US (hence the handle), I have often thought about being a dual citizen. After all, in reality there is not that much difference between one side of the 49th and the other. It would also get rid of a heck of a lot of paperwork and red tape I have to handle every year. Canada is most likely not to invade the US so loyalties in bearing arms would not be a problem. This seems to be very different from situation in Lebanon where being a Canadian is akin to belonging to the CAA. Unless your car/country breaks down you don't realize how handy your membership/citizenship is.

Big bravo to PMSH. When will the left/MSM ever acknowledge that PM Harper's actions speak louder than Lieberal "perfectly clear" photo ops.

To the whiners who complain about the delays in getting people evacuated, stop everything right now, gather all the workers in your company/office or classroom and try to arrange to move all of them to Moose Jaw. And you can't fit them all on one bus or plane either. Oh yes, try to organize this from say Mahone Bay Nova Scotia. Too tough for you? Now try a few thousand. Do get my point?

"40,000 Canadians in Lebanon"

Canada is just a life boat for them.
Or a good place to get an education for their children.
Knew a nice Iraqi couple while living in the UAE. Bright, hard working, two very smart kids.
They got their landed immigrant status, flew to Canada got their kids set up in good universities. Drove across the border to the States, so there is no record of them leaving Canada, and flew back to the UAE. They will return in a couple of years and pick up their citizenships.
They are just playing the system set up by the government.
If they ever do reside and contribute in Canada it will only be because their options are worse elsewhere or it's time to retire and collect their benefits.
We're being played for suckers.

Absolutely nothing makes me angrier than this dual citizenship sh96 we have in this country. I can say it because I also have dual citizenship. Born in the U.S of Canadian parents. Just picture one of these immigrants becoming Prime Minister of Canada. That possibility is not that far fetched. In the States unless you are born there you cannot become the President. This has the possiblity of really weakening our country. The guy can make a mess of Canada and then run back to his homeland. It is the one thing we have to get rid of. That along with multiculturalism is destroying us.

Just when you heard it all let me tell you that there 100,000 Chinese-Canadians living permanently in China. How do we evacuate them if China attacks Taiwan?

more about dual citizenship, my parents and grandparents are British so I am eligible for a dual citizenship(my sister has one)huge amount of paperwork, but I don't have to live in England to get it or even step foot there.

I listened to the national tonight, (shower now required) and as usual their stats don't jive with my stats. It was stated that there were over five hundred thousand Lebanese Canadians and yet Stats Can can only account for 135725 in all provinces and territories. I e-mailed this.

"On your newscast tonight it was stated that there were over 500,000 Lebanese Canadians in Canada Yet a careful study of the Stats Can web site gives a total of only 135725 people who identified themselves as being of Lebanese origin.Last modified 2005-01-25. Can you please explain this huge discrepancy in figures and give me your source for your information. Thank-you."

Waiting for a reply. I have to go shower now.

This blog is unfortunately typical of what passes for discussion in the right wing echo chamber. As long as everyone who posts here agrees that KILL KILL KILL ALL THE BROWN PEOPLE ESPECIALLY THE MUSLIMS is the appropriate response for any problem, then you get to say what you want, as often as you want, and misrepresent the other side as much as you want without fear of approbation by the blog's "moderator".

However, if you try to counter the endless repetition of mythemes and hate speech presented here with the citation of facts, you are either: a.) censored by having your post "disappeared" or b.) called a "troll" and lectured about posting "unrelated facts" (according to you). If it weren't obvious to everyone by now, right-wingers are afraid of facts, because facts don't respond to sloganeering and hyperbole, which is what Small Dead Minds is really all about. Only irrational fear ensures conservative victory at the polls.

I guess I must have crossed a line by creatively misspelling your name, for which I apologize, but anybody who proudly links to the racist traitor Michelle Malkin shouldn't feign such sensitivity, either. I guess my civility lapsed as a result of watching post after post of mine be disappeared or responded to by some variation on "Unh -- Me think you DUMB LEFTIE huh, huh...". Not one of the Small Dead Minds has ever tried to honestly refute any challenge to your right-wing talking points I have brought forward in any my posts (that is, the ones that weren't censored). That's because you are typical right wingers: basically cowards, except when you can get cops or somebody else's kids to do your fighting for you.

This blog isn't about discussion OR debate. It's an exercise in rhetorical masturbation. And a waste of time.

Let the lying commence....

Flush the troll.

On evacuations I have read that the French evacuted 900,000 from Algeria in three months with others reports stating a total of 1,500,000. I am not sure of either of these stats. Can someone confirm or repudiate these numbers? Links are greatly appreciated. Ignore the troll. It is hairy and has warts as well as bad breath. Trolls are also stupid and prone to posting non-factual data.

"They are just playing the system set up by the government."
Playing??? Their rubbing it in our faces and CBC is the medium by which they get away with it.

Fat sweaty Lebanese man with Canadian passport.
Screaming insults at the Canadian Ambassador.
In Beruit.
On CBC.
I wish I was making this up.

CBC's coverage tonight was priceless. Mansbridge starts by reading the total-to-date death count as if it were the Canadian women's hockey team running up the score on Switzerland, - and does his best to downplay this country's outrage to come at having 50,000 "Canadians" in Lebanon.
In speaking with Mansbridge, the contrived sneering spite towards Harper's leadership by Boag and the blonde in Larnaca was disgusting.

Juxtapositioning Harper's leaving Paris into the footage to imply the PM is grand-standing to the cameras on his arrival to Cyprus and suggesting that somehow they thought Harper was going down to the docks to "greet" these angry "Canadians", then, leaving the viewer wondering if he was afraid? embarrassed? uncaring? to meet the accidental tourists face-to-face.

Get rid of the CBC now. It wouldn't be that hard to do considering the CTV is gunning for their spot in left field.

ET - referring to your earlier comments re fake Canadians. I heard on the radio in the last couple of days that if any "Canadians" in Lebanon had expired passports then the paperwork would be dealt with for them. Bear in mind that a passport is for 5 years so where have these "Canadians" been for the past 5+ years?

holy freholy "kill all brown people especially the muslims", when all I said was "kill 'em all and let Allah figure it out"

Look, it's just weird as hell if Canada has that many "citizens" in Lebanon. Are you sure the numbers are right? The only estimates I've seen of Americans in Lebanon is 25,000, with a population of roughly 300 million. Seriously, how many Canadian expats can there really be?

If you have that deep a proportion of Lebanese-Canadian citizens, I'd bet money you have more Canadian "citizens" living abroad than you do at home.

Are you SURE Canadian "citizens" living overseas cannot vote by absentee ballot? American citizens can.

OK, forget the photographer...can someone at least provide a solid reason why Harper and his wife needed to be on board if it wasn't simply about PR and optics?

And as an olive branch to not be painted as a troll (when I'm simply a cynic about all things politician), I'll also point out how disgusting it would be if we then pay to transport these evacauated Canadians back "home" to Lebanon once the crisis is shortly averted - and after they've had a week or two to holiday around here.

Why did Harper and his wife need to be on board? The PM is not allowed to take commercial flights due to security reasons.

"a solid reason why Harper and his wife needed to be on board if it wasn't simply about PR and optics?"

Given he was singled out to have his head lopped off by an alledged terror cell, maybe he likes his head to remain on top of his neck. Having a head on your shoulders is politically good optics and also lets one's eyes function properly.

Though he visited France he has yet to develop a fondness for the guillotine. Death and destruction apparently aren't desirable PR characteristics.

He and his wife need to be on board as he hasn't yet mastered the art of walking across the Atlantic Ocean in 24 hours or less. Passing the olive branch to Canadians of Lebanese extraction seemed sensible when all about are missiles, bombs , artillery and destroyed infrastructure.

Other than that it was "purely PR and optics."

We can't be doing so badly, when the PM of Oz, asks for help:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19848387-601,00.html

PM seeks Canada's help for Aussies
Mark Dodd and Peter Wilson
July 20, 2006
JOHN Howard rang his Canadian counterpart last night in an effort to negotiate passage for hundreds of Australians fleeing Lebanon after a vessel booked by the Australian Government was double-booked by Canada.
The Prime Minister rang Canada's Stephen Harper early yesterday evening.

"The Canadian PM has offered to try and get a berth for Australians if Canada manages to get any ships into the port tomorrow," a spokesman said.

"Given the current circumstances, there can be no guarantees."

"This is like deja vu, all over again."* ...-

U.S. Marines land in Beirut on rescue mission

Reuters ^ | July 20, 2006
BEIRUT, July 20 (Reuters) - About 40 U.S. Marines landed on a beach in Beirut on Thursday to help with the evacuation of Americans caught up a week-long Israeli bombardment of Lebanon. The Marines came ashore at dawn on a landing craft from the troop carrier USS Nashville. The Marines were returning to Lebanon nearly 23 years after Hizbollah guerrillas blew up a Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983, killing 241 Marines and other service personnel. ...-
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1668961/posts
*Yogi Berra.

Speaking of US Marines and the whole concept of positioning international troops in a "buffer zone" whether UN-led or not, I cannot credit that the G8 leaders could come up with, or entertain, such a half-baked notion.

First, because: it's been done. And what a howling success it's been!

Secondly, who would do it?

It couldn't be the UK or US - not with their involvement in Iraq.

It couldn't be countries like Nepal or Bangladesh - utterly ineffective.

France? Germany? Yikes - Canada?

Any country contributing troops to this dog-of-an-idea would be buggered royally:

If they enforce the buffer zone, they'll become a target for Hezbollah.

If they don't enforce the buffer zone, the Israeli Defence Force will engage Hezbollah despite them.

Damned if they do; damned if they don't.

Heard on the news this morning...Israel has been bombing a building in southern Beirut heavily. Israel says it is a Hezbollah bunker; Hezbollah says it is the site of a future mosque. I suspect they are BOTH right.

Speaking of Australia, when they had their beach troubles earlier this year the trouble-makers were always referred to as "Lebs."

Now I don't know if that's just a term for any Muslim Australian or if it truly is reserved for Lebanese Australians, but if it's the latter, I bet a lot of Aussies are none too pleased at the thought of having more Lebanese in their country.

The United States was always very careful about its citizenship and rarely, if ever, allowed its citizens to exercise citizenship in other countries. If one took out citizenship in another country, voted in foreign elections, served in a foreign military force, etc., one could be stripped of citizenship, even as a native-born American. The loosening of those rules was effected largely by the American Jewish community, whose children often went to live, work, and fight in Israel. Those who argued that dual loyalties were not in the best interest of the United States were dismissed as racist, anti-semitic, nativist, etc.

Asian gang problems in Calgary include Lebanese gangs.

The problems are here already. We will just be adding to them with our newfound "citizens"

Still, the MSM utterly ignores the blatant. How has a situation emerged where 40,000 and up Canadians are living in Lebanon? Permanently. Why do they have Canadian citizenship?

How many Hezbollah will the Canadian taxpayer be transporting into Canada during this airlift 'back' to a country, Canada, where they don't live?

How many new passports will be obligingly printed up by Canada, to accomodate those whose passports, they say, have expired - meaning, they haven't set foot in Canada in over five years OR, meaning that they use their Lebanese passport when they travel. The Canadian passport, dust-covered, is kept for emergency rescues by Canada. All expenses paid by the Canadian taxpayer, which you, a permanent Lebanese resident, are not.

Instead of asking these very important security questions: why are there so many people living in Lebanon, permanently, yet claiming Canadian citizenship; and why is the Canadian taxpayer paying for their removal to Canada (where they don't live or even have relatives)..and for how long? How many terrorists will be in this group?

Instead, the MSM is focusing on Evil Harper. He is evil because his decisions are the same as Bush. The fact that the decision might be based on fact and reason is irrelevant. According to the MSM, if two people think the same, it's due only to influence.
He's going to have his plane used for transport; he's in it for the photo-ops.
He's booked ships; that's too slow (ignorning that Canada has no ships or planes or...)

The MSM are having an absolute frothing Hate Harper field day - in the press, on television.

They are pure propaganda. Their duty as media is long abandoned. They aren't exploring the questions.

Radio in Ottawa is talking about people complaining about the 'conditions' on the Ferry to Larnaca, Cyprus.......now, these are individuals who voluntarily placed themselves in an area where unrest is endemic, they're getting evacuated at Canadian taxpayer's expense, and they're whining because:

- The Ferry was LATE.
- They had to, (OMG), "Sleep in chairs"
- There were few facilities
- Some got seasick
- No medical facilities.....

- And, presumably, the "In-Flight Movie" was a re-run, and there was no Valet Parking at the Pier.

I took a Ferry from Limassol, Cyprus, to Haifa, Israel, once. It was peacetime. The Ferry was delayed. We had to sleep in uncomfortable seats. There were few amenities.

And....we had to pay our OWN Freakin' FARES!!

"Buffalo Bean":

Notwithstanding my recent comments, those last two postings of yours were very helpful and informative.

However one views the "dual citizenship" question, it's useful to establish some actual facts about residency and benefits before jumping to conclusions and blaming the Liberals for all our sorrows.

Not that I don't think they aren't worthy of blame of course.

They're all too worthy of our scorn.

But it should be based on legitimate beefs rather than grumpy misperceptions.

"Does anyone know if there is a requirement to actually come to Canada to get a passport, to actually set for on Canadian soil, or do we just mail them over?"

"ward":

If you are a Canadian citizen, you can obtain a passport overseas through our embassies and high commissions.

This process is actually MORE difficult than obtaining them IN Canada simply because it is harder to find the necessary Canadian guarantors.

In any case, the only way you could ever be a Canadian citizen without setting foot in Canada is to have been born in another country (after 14 February 1977)* to a Canadian parent.

* Before that date, it gets a little more complicated.

I'm waiting for the first 'repatriated refugee'
to announce that they have nowhere to live in Canada and demand government provided accommodation.

Since when has 'fast exit' been a right?
Terence Corcoran,
National Post

...The right to a fast exit from crisis and war has now been established. The Lebanon evacuation is being described as the largest mass movement of people since more than 300,000 troops were removed from Dunkirk during the Second World War.

From now on, apparently, we must maintain a 24/7 flotilla of cruise ships and aircraft ready to pick up hundreds of thousands of people anywhere in the world and return them home, wherever they think home is as selected from the handful of passports people seem to carry these days.

Let's see. If there's war in Lebanon, then today I'm a Canadian....

tinyurl.com/rzh52

That should have read 'Repatriated Evacuee'.

"From now on, apparently, we must maintain a 24/7 flotilla of cruise ships and aircraft ready to pick up hundreds of thousands of people anywhere in the world and return them home, wherever they think home is as selected from the handful of passports people seem to carry these days."

No. There is nothing new here. Every Canadian citizen is entitled to expect consular assistance from the Canadian government if they find themselves stuck in a difficult situation overseas.

What that assistance is will depend on the circumstances.

It IS worth noting (and Canada makes this very clear for those with dual citizenship) that if you run afoul of the authorities in your other country of citizenship, Canada may well be entirely unable to assist you in any way.

"What that assistance is will depend on the circumstances."

From the same article:

"...Foreign Affairs plainly states on its travel advisory services in emergencies it can help only in limited ways. It will, for example, "assist in arranging evacuation in the event of war." Assist in arranging, not find the boat and book the flight and pay for the tickets..."

Via LGF:

Hizballah Activity in North America

Here’s a fascinating list of all the major Hizballah-related criminal cases currently under investigation and/or indictment in the United States, compiled by Brian Hecht at the Counterterrorism Blog: Hizballah Activity in North America.

http://counterterrorismblog.org/2006/07/hizballah_activity_in_north_am.php

JM:

You are disengenuousness personified - either that or extremely naive.

No Canadian government in its right mind would simply ignore thousands of its citizens stranded in a war zone.

The statement "assist in arranging evacuation in the event of war" can range from the simple (say, getting the British Embassy in Thailand to help two backpackers leave a region where there's fighting with insurgents) to the complex (arranging the evacuation of thousands of citizens from, well, Lebanon, for example).

A Canadian government that ignored the plight of Canadian citizens trapped in a war zone would be unworthy of office.

Reports via free republic ...-

Israel Hints at a Full-Scale Invasion

AP ^ | 7/20/6 | HUSSEIN DAKROUB
BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Israeli troops met fierce resistance from Hezbollah guerrillas Thursday as they crossed into Lebanon to seek tunnels and weapons for a second straight day, and Israel hinted at a full-scale invasion. Israeli warplanes also launched new airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, shortly after daybreak, followed by strikes in the guerrillas' heartland in the south and eastern Bekaa Valley. The strikes followed bombings Wednesday that killed as many as 70 people, according to Lebanese television, making it the deadliest day since the fighting began July 12. Russia sharply criticized Israel over its onslaught against Lebanon,...
....

Lebanese Army may join forces with Hizbullah
Posted by slowhand520

The masks are off. Having read comments such as:
« Is the criteria of being a Canadian simply having a passport - or is there something else required. Such as residency; such as paying taxes; even such a minor attribute of having been born here. If you have NONE, NONE of these qualities - then, why do you claim Canadian citizenship? »

Or
«Fat sweaty Lebanese man with Canadian passport.»

I wonder where Canadians got that romantic notion that we are SO tolerant and SO nice, unlike those nasty Americans. Do the authors of such categorical assertions fail to realize they are just providing proof that conservatives are bigots at heart?

To ask that immigration and citizenship laws be reviewed and tightened, especially in our post 9/11 world, is indeed reasonable. To make blanket assumptions about the status and motives of all expatriates is quite another thing - if I may say so, very UNCANADIAN.

Poster JJM has it right:
«However one views the "dual citizenship" question, it's useful to establish some actual facts about residency and benefits before jumping to conclusions ... But it should be based on legitimate beefs rather than grumpy misperceptions.»

Last nite in Windsor the Lebanese had a rally in support of ending the fighting in _their country. It was down with Bush, down with Harper and praises to Hezbollah. Kids shown on the tv had t-shirts with machine gun prints on the front. I know not all Lebanese agree with this position, but I hope our government has their names, addresses and puts a watch on these people. Easy enough to get -just go back to the tape of our newscast in Windsor. I was sick to my stomach.

Tuned in to the talk show on radio this morning and the big question of the day was "did Israel go too far". No one answered that quetion they were busy commenting on that rally the night before. By the way - all English sounding residents were mad as hell.

This morning I turn on the CBC crap and they are interviewing these so-called refugees after they got off the cruise ship. They claim they were treated horribly - had to sleep on the floor and were all sick to their stomachs. The ungrateful ------. Maybe they would feel better had they not got on the ship. Who are these people that put their own families in harms way by vactioning in a country that has terrorist in their government, and have been known for atrocities to a barracks full of US soldiers not to mention a couple of diplomats. And why should I have to pay for their passage back to my country that they don't even appreciate.
I'm just boiling.

Unfortunately, the Canadian government has no choice but to rescue these 40,000 ungrateful and false Canadians out of Lebanon, using taxpayer money of course.

The question that must be asked now that the Liberal immigration scheme has been exposed is, just what constitutes being Canadian? The devaluing of Canadian citizenship and meaning must be dealt with and stopped.

The Liberals have secretly created this system without the knowledge or consent of the citizen taxpayer.

Remember when Liberal John Manley was foreign affairs minister under the Chreature and he arbitrarily and officially offered to settle the Palestinians in Canada?

A Lebanese Ferry passenger to Larnaca was quoted on CFRA as saying that "If she had've known the ORDEAL she'd have to endure on the Ferry, she would have stayed in Lebanon".

Ordeal? What, no Diet Pepsi, just regular?

I have no problems with duel citizenship. Many have that as a right when they settled here.

If you have both American & Canadian citizenship, you have to pay taxes in both Countries. By Law.

Shoot the second biggest Canadian city in NA is LA.

This is a responsible form of duel residency.

To impugn that the whole thing is bad because of the abuse by parasites of a Socialist government bent on voting phony Canadian immigrants for a one party state.

The Marxist libs pay them to live at home to vote for them here.

Like the Janitor free holiday to Ottawa this is just another Liberal socialist plan, to undermine our Democracy.

Kudu’s to Harper for showing this in a most dramatic way possible.

I would imagine even hardened Marxists raised there eyebrows at the number. Canadians of convenience (mainly to elitist socialists here)for votes has to stop. As well the Singapore stupidity.

I would recommend a perusal of all these faux citizens. You either pay taxes here as well or come back to here, or lose the Canadian playing card.

To folks thinking this was just a photo op. Harper himself said it was symbolic. It his way of showing government can do only so much. People have to respond to this emergency themselves. Enough government idol worship. Self reliance & the public doing things is now the new order.

That means to Libs & all the compromised lefties. Put your money where your mouth is. Charter boats from family or community reserves.

Where is the Lebanese community with funds. More compassion from the "religion of peace". Stand up for your own. Don't expect us all to bow down to folks who could care less about this Nation but like the infamous Kadars. Think they have a right to force us all to there beliefs or the sword.

Time to bring in the garbage collectors. Time to take a solid hard chilling look at how far this policy has been abused.

I feel for the families & kids especially. Lets be realistic though.. What the hell is 50,000 people doing in a war zone!!!!!! Pre-porting to be Canadians while living presently in a foreign land. More leftist chicanery.

No I don't have dual citizenship. I could if I wanted. Who needs to pay the tax man twice lol. In the end I think it’s a plus but must be done responsibly. Do not forget each cabinate minister in the liberals socialist regime where able to allow 2000 people in no matter what there backgrounds. I would like to see a money trail on that as well. (O:}

Lets see , 13 years & hundreds of ministers, all meeting there quotas. No wonder you become rich. What a scam.

The invasion at Dday was 50000 troops moved on one day. A trained army, months of planning.men with names, dogtags. at the time Canada had a navy (4th largest in the world) an airforce and a moral mission.
Id be way more surprised if this went smooth.

by the way - what did our grateful citizens expect in a rescue- posh cabins, perrier, rack of lamb.and they puked after a 15hr

and CBCpravda reports they were sworn at.should make good stuff for the next CBC movie- swearing accounts for half the dialogue.

For those who wonder about the number of Canadians - "fake" or otherwise - in Lebanon, here are some interesting numbers (from BBC online):

Britain: Some 22,000 Britons were in Lebanon when the bombing began, about 10,000 with dual nationality.
US: The US had 25,000 citizens in Lebanon when the crisis erupted.
France: a total of about 20,000 citizens in the country.
Australia: 25,000 Australians in Lebanon.
Philippines: 34,000 Filipinos in Lebanon.
India: estimated 12,000 Indians in Lebanon.
Sri Lanka: estimated 80,000 Sri Lankans live in Lebanon.
Bangladesh: Up to 10,000 Bangladeshis also live in Lebanon
Denmark: 4,000 brought out.
Sweden: Some 1,300 Swedish expatriates have been driven to Syria.
Spain: more than 500 had been flown to Spain, although more than 100 Spaniards remained in Lebanon.
Italy: 400 citizens to Cyprus ... About 300 Italians have decided to stay.
Poland: has evacuated more than 200 citizens.
Germany: Up to 3,000 sought evacuation.
Austria: about 100 Austrians have left Lebanon so far, with 120 still there.
Morocco: several dozen nationals.
Russia: 357 people fleeing Lebanon have arrived in Moscow ... another 301 are en route.
The governments of 1,600 Ukrainians, 1,000 Romanians, 600 Dutch, 500 Bulgarians, 160 Finns and 90 New Zealanders are also arranging passage out of Lebanon for their citizens.

"So at half the size of Israel, Lebanon refuses to execise control over all of its territory.

You do have to wonder why so many Canadians would be in such a small country which can't even control its territory. Sounds dangerous to me."

Sounds like Ontario to me. Why would anyone visit a place where the government is unable to control armed groups that have taken de facto control of chunks of it;s territory?

Thanks for the numbers Gabby in QC. I added in the Canadians and the total comes to roughly 280,000. This doesn't include potential nationals of the two hundred other countries in the world. Given Lebanon's total population of roughly 3.5 million, this seems like a rather high proportion of foreign nationals or dual citizens. Does anyone have other countries to compare this to? Given the chronic volatility of the region, I'm wondering if dual citizenship isn't the Lebanese equivalent of "war insurance".

"I wonder where Canadians got that romantic notion that we are SO tolerant and SO nice, unlike those nasty Americans. Do the authors of such categorical assertions fail to realize they are just providing proof that conservatives are bigots at heart?"

Perhaps my description was boorish but I'd hardly call it bigoted. However, I stand politically corrected:
The scene that CBC used to hammer home the extreme frustrations of the "Canadian" refugees showed an overweight perspiring Lebanese man shouting insults at the Canadian ambassador.

BTW thanks for the figures Gabby.

my sister who lives in ottawa happily reported she finalized her dual citizenship last year.

cdn-irish.

we're 1/4 irish on my paternal grandmother's side.

I dont anticipate her standing in the midst of belfast confrontations.

what language is spoken in lebanon? can someone pls translate the following and buy an ad in beirut newspaper:

helloooo !!!! its a frigging WAR ZONE !!!! steer clear unless you got pressing business !!!!

and dont expect MY government to use MY taxes to instantly bail you out when hostilites do boil over with you stuck on the wrong side of the crater in the road.

JJM:

buffer zone schmuffer zone exactamundo

'damned if you do damned if you dont'

exactamundo.

note the glaring absence of a 3rd option called 'success'.

gentlemen, start you clocks counting down to when the liberal groundswell begins demanding a repetition of the pearson nobel prize winning canadian peacekeepers a la suez.

(hint: the terrain wont allow that success to be duplicated)

To RodF who wrote at July 20, 2006 06:29 PM:
«Perhaps my description was boorish but I'd hardly call it bigoted. However, I stand politically corrected»

Please understand my point, there can be so much animosity and anger expressed against THE OTHER (fill in whatever adversarial groups you want) that it is imperative that conservatives (like myself and others who post their comments) do not needlessly give the other side ammunition to prove their case against us.

"Why did Harper and his wife need to be on board? The PM is not allowed to take commercial flights due to security reasons."

Yeah, and it's hard out there for a pimp these days...um I mean for a PM in Paris these days [to find a Gulfstream to charter home while he sends his plane off and gives his space to a refugee - if he is actually just being noble].

"Given he was singled out to have his head lopped off by an alledged terror cell, maybe he likes his head to remain on top of his neck. Having a head on your shoulders is politically good optics and also lets one's eyes function properly."

Oh Hans, tell me you're not actually so slow/paranoid to have taken a threat by those lame Ontario crackpots more seriously than the PM, his security detail, and uh...practically the entire Canadian public? Those kids were an laughable farce of terrorism, terrible comeback my boy.

So yeah, not for a photo op say what:

"-----Original Message-----
From: PMO-CPM [mailto:pm@PM.GC.CA]
Sent: 2006-07-20 12:01 PM
To: ALLNEWS_BE@LSERV.PMO-CPM.GC.CA
Subject: Notice / Avis
------------------------------------
Public events for Prime Minister Stephen Harper for Thursday, July 20th are:

7:15 p.m. (local time) – Prime Minister Stephen Harper departs Cyprus.

Larnaca Civilian Airport
Larnaca, Cyprus

* Photo-op only of the Prime Minister and evacuees upon departure."

Ahem. Horse's mouth and all.

On another note, haven't seen much talk yet on WHY this evacuation is taking place for 200k+ foreign nationals?

Is it trendy now? Because of the numbers of foreign passports in Lebanon? Geography? Not like this is the first time we've seen some incursions and bombings that cause a few hundred deaths in the Middle East, let alone about a dozen other places around the globe in the last 20 years? Where were the transports and the global freak-out in Kuwait, the Balkans, Haiti, Afghanistan, half of Sub-Saharan Africa...

I mentioned this in another SDA thread folks.

The carping, whining, bitching and general complaining from many of the evacuees at least proves one thing:

They are indeed Canadians.