Today at MediaRight.ca we give the opinion space over to UK editorialists. After reading scores of UK editorials I am amazed that Blair has been able to commit any troops to Afghanistan at all… or Iraq for that matter. It’s as if most every journalist and writer were cast in the image of Jack Layton or a member of Rabble.ca. From expressions of utter horror that British troops are involved in combat to an almost blind focus on only those facts that support America hate and socialist utopianism, I see nothing in the UK of 2006 that defeated the Nazis in 1945. The British Bulldog is dead.
Add to this the possibility that Blair has duped his public by completely misrepresenting the Afghan conflict and cutting funding to the UK military while deploying it to two fronts, and the mess between British ears seems somewhat justified. In the end I conclude that the balance of UK public opinion has dissolved into hand-wringing; based on what I read of course. (and you can never trust all that you read)
The one thing that sneaks out often, no matter how hard the UK press tries, and no matter how many disgruntled soldiers it dredges up, is the fact that morale among UK troops is said to be incredibly high. ( a contradiction indeed )
In one editorial we feature, you’ll find evidence that a UK unit just about destroyed one of our Canadian LAV 3’s… now that would’ve been carnage.
CLICK
cross posted at Celestial Junk

Australian SAS units have made a chilling discovery; Euro -trained mercenaries are popping up in Afghanistan… and they’re not on our side. The presence of Europeans fighting for the bad guys should force us to examine one factor in this war that has been, perhaps, disregarded:
Suddenly the significance of the emaciated drug addict in Saskatoon’s west end has changed. The poison she injects or swallows, usually in the form of heroin or morphine, now has a 92% chance of originating in Afghanistan, and the cash she pays for the drug finds its way indirectly into the bullets, mortars, and IED devices that are killing Canadian troops.
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Baghdad is in lock down with gun battles in the streets and military aircraft overhead. BBC gives us what it can, and Iraq the Model hints at what it all could be. I’m personally curious if this might be the anticipated showdown between Muqtada Al-Sadr and the Iraqi Government. Sadr did threaten to bring down the government during Friday prayers.
Iraq the Model
BBC
Update: CLICK

Any pretence of Canada being the world’s smiley little cousin just got dropped, as Harper takes a stand and puts the world on notice that Canada has shed its limpid mealy-mouthed persona of the liberal era. CLICK
More at Cjunk
Update: Harper forces NEW Resolution
Canada was the only country that opposed the original resolution.
Harper said Canada deplored the war but couldn’t accept a resolution that didn’t acknowledge that Israelis had also suffered.
“I hope we can all recognize the suffering of humans — men and women — and not just suffering based on people’s nationality,” Harper said.

So, what do you do if you own a Kazoo company and want to support the troops? You send case loads of Kazoos to Kandahar of course.
Both retired General Dallaire and current military chief Hillier speak out, one telling us that Peace Keeping has been dead for 15 years, the other tells us to brace ourselves for a long struggle.
NATO steps up big time, taking over command of most of the Afghan theatre. What most people don’t realize, is that an unprecedented number of American troops will now be under NATO command. If you have insight into this, say so!
Sam Ser tells us that terrorism in Afghanistan is connected to terrorism in Israel, while Philippe Gohier tells us that Afghanistan is becoming Iraq, and that it’s time to get out.
Details and much more @ MediaRight.ca
cross posted at Celestial Junk

This Friday is Toronto’s turn to show support for the troops; let’s do it! CLICK
Meanwhile, your daily Afghanistan reading is up at MediaRight.ca
Today we’ve got a load of news from our Allies, including a report on the incredibly violent action that Aussie special forces faced during their tour. Canada’s new Nyala truck proves itself as perhaps the most survivable truck ever built and Clinton calls for more troops.
In the opinion section a piece by Deroy Murdock says of “water boarding”… DO IT!
For starters, consider this: The opposition to the Bush initiative to detail out coercive methods is disingenuous in this… the current Geneva rules are so vague that determining their application to torture often becomes a matter of cultural choice. For instance, what is “degrading” conduct in the west may just be the normal course of events in Somalia… so who’s to be the judge? One countries torture is another countries routine. Torture is standard in the Middle East… yet the outcry over the Abu Ghraib bum piles was as strident as it gets… the anti-specification folks want things kept vague not for humanitarian reasons, but because they actually get more leeway to torture when things are vague…and their troops are harder to prosecute by foreign nations. The Bush camp want it specified with no leeway; which does make it easier for foreign nations to prosecute.
How far should the western democracies go in extracting information? And, how would these extraction techniques be governed? What do you think?
Add to the mess the fact that terrorists are only accorded the Geneva rights as a courtesy, because they aren’t soldiers by the Geneva definitions, nor do they comply with any of the standards set out in the Geneva conventions.

Musharraf lashes out at Canadian lack of grit!
Meanwhile, Harper hits hard at Martin!
… and Layton calls Canadian troops home… form Euorpe?
all at MediaRight.ca
Update: Rant of the Day from the Comments… thanks to Wild William
I watched the interview. It was sad.
I was elated when Musharraf had to gravitate the simpering, mewling lefy fembot doing the interview…he had to literally slap the cow across the face with realities to get her off her myopic peacenick jag…I was also ashamed as a Canadian…I deeply hope the simpering fossilized flower children the CBC puts forward to the world as a face of the Canadian people, is an image that is not taken seriously. I’d rather they laugh at CBC’s naivity than laugh at Canada’s.
Listening to the insipid pablum being spewed by the squat-to-pee leftoid doing the Musharraf interview, the world’s terrorists will think Canadians are excessively self-indulgent cowardly utopians in the last stages of national decay who will pee thier undies if anyone threatens them or asks them to fight for what they believe in.
I was truely embarassed by the odoriferous politically correct spew coming from this idiot who presumed (to) scold this Foreign political leader for all Canadians..openly bemoaning our small casualty rate as a “horror” as our enemies watched….questioning his “value system” for allowing this to happen to “Canadians” and interjecting the Canadian Lib-left mantras as being “proper” global ethics in a war zone…..I was so elated when this guy shoved that pissy-pants self-righteous preaching right back up her saintly wazoo…it was a fine CBC moment.

Making out in the Back Seat
I need a Beer to Wash down that Abdomen
Do the Test if you Dare
And You Thought Liberal Governments were Corrupt
God, Gravity, and the “push down” Theory

First Slick Willy popped a cork on FOX, and now the ladies are getting into it with Condi on Mr. William Clinton’s Remarks: CLICK
… Bill-ary defends her man: CLICK
… and MS. Boxer takes a shot at the “fair and balanced” FOX.
… meanwhile back at the ranch, Belinda is named as “the” woman. Let’s see, in little over a year she’s dumped the man who loved her; dumped the party that embraced her; and tied one on with Tie. I’ll likely get flak for this, but “predator” comes to mind… or in least “mercenary”. CLICK

Following Afghan news is enough to make one schizoid. Depending on the source, Afghanistan is either on the verge of collapse with Taliban running rampant, or it is largely a peaceful society where only the southern provinces are in flux and where the main complaint is that not enough billions are pouring in to build irrigation systems. One on one interviews with Afghans amount to the same, depending on who is interviewed.
In virtually every single piece of news and op-ed though, context is omitted or disingenuously presented. In other words, you’ve got to read a cross section of news and op-ed to even begin to form an informed opinion. Taking it all at face value will leave you twitching, drive you to drink, and in bad need of a trip to Dr. Phil.
At MediaRight.ca we try to give a broad cross section of Afghanistan related reading; especially on opinion and offshore news. Today we offer up a largely critical look at the Afghan mission in the opinion section. CLICK
cross posted @ Celestial Junk

Most Canadians don’t realize that Governor General Jean attends the funerals for Canadian soldiers killed in combat. Most Canadians don’t realize that Governor General Jean has expressed unflagging support for the mission. Now, she’s under attack for expressing an opinion:
CLICK

Vietnam – Cambodia
Iraq – Iran/Syria
Afghanistan – Pakistan
Echoes of “neutral” nations which give aid and comfort to our enemies abound. Insurgencies seldom succeed without donor nations close by. In Iraq the donors are Syria and Iran, whose aid makes the strength of the insurgency and opposing sectarian sides more effective.
In Afghanistan, it is Pakistan which allows the Taliban and Al Quada to rearm, recruit, and plan, safe in the knowledge that only occasional and inept Pakistani army raids pose a threat. Opinion on Musharraf is mixed. Is he playing both sides of the fence?
Today at MediaRight.ca the topic of du jour is Pakistan: CLICK
cross posted @ Celestial Junk

John discusses the Afghan conflict with a panel whose family members are serving in Afghanistan:
11:00 Sask Time…. panel coming right up!
Listen Live

Before you go to the meat of the post (below), you may want to take a refresher course on how well… and convincingly, some people can lie.
Q. Have you ever met with Monica Lewinsky in the White House between the hours of midnight and six a.m.?
A. I certainly don’t think so.
Q: You said in a statement today that you had no improper relationship with this intern. What exactly was the nature of your relationship with her?
A: Well, let me say, the relationship was not improper, and I think that’s important enough to say.
Now that your bull-dung-o-meter is finely tuned, you may proceed:
Click
crossposted @ Celestial Junk

It’s instructive to watch our allies in Afghanistan.
While support for Canadian troops seems to be hardening within Canada, the UK is adrift. Anti-war protests are once again bringing out thousands while the UK military itself bickers. Adding insult to injury Blair eloquently supports his soldiers with words while slashing military budgets.
Poland offers more troops while the Taliban warn Poland to stay out… and Poland’s fragile coalition government squabbles the whole time.
Keeping track of the Afghan conflict: MediaRight.ca
… also see “The War on Schools” and “Lollipop Jack”
cross posted @ Celestial Junk

For those who missed it, Officially Screwed has the rest of the Support the Troops Rally video up.
Parts 4 to 7: CLICK

Something Kinky in Texas
Another Iranian Teen Needs our Help
Rally Coming to Toronto
Clinton Unhinged
For the Brave @ Heart
And for those guys out there considering marriage… you’d better look at THIS.
Leave your links in the comments… but beware the filter from hell.

The Politics of Tanks: Why Canada is sending tanks that were scheduled for mothballs.
Rabble.ca defends Layton: Why Canada’s Afghan mission is hypocracy.
Coulter: Mocks the Geneva Section 3 Crowd
A British Officer on the RAF: Useless in Afghanistan
The Department of Defense: Turning Soldiers into Journalists
CLICK

Thanks to Steve for taking tons of video at the Support the Troops Rally today, it’s now online for everyone to enjoy.
He’s got it up at Officially Screwed in three installments because there’s so much of it.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
cross posted @ Celestial Junk
Update:
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Update: Great story at the Ottawa Sun (including a description of the “punching”) CLICK
“He was shouting our troops were war mongers,” said the woman. She said her name was Gail Latourelle, 20 years old. “I dared him to say it to my face.
“He did, so I punched him in the mouth. I actually decked him. I won’t have anyone talking about Canadians that way. His mouth was bleeding. He jumped up and ran. The coward just took off.”
Personally I don’t condone the act but what amazes me is seeing Canadians from the “support” side getting this emotional. Usually it’s the neo-hippie bunch doing the chanting and ranting. Considering this was a “support” rally, not a “protest” rally makes all the difference.

The first reports from the Support the Troops Rally are coming in.
Mark Collins has a post up @ The Torch.
Add links and post info in the comments. If your links get caught in the filter from hell, I’ll be by occasionally to free them….