Archive for: October 2006

Yeah, it’s the weekend again, which means that I don’t have the time to shoot my mouth off. Well, okay, I do have time to shoot my mouth off; I just don’t have time to put it all on the net. So, as usual, instead of sitting here banging away at my keyboard when there’s beer to be drunk, meat to be barbequeued, games to be watched, etc, etc, ad nauseum, here’s some interesting stuff to read:

Jim Brown
Crime agenda grist for next federal election

OTTAWA — Stephen Harper’s law-and-order agenda may be in trouble in Parliament, but he’s betting that even if he can’t get all the legislation passed, he can win on appeal to a higher court — voters.

Licia Corbella
Judging people at face value

Over the past two weeks, following the comments of high ranking European politicians, the debate about whether or not Muslim women living in western societies should cover their faces has erupted.

Michael Coren
I sympathize, but Fox is still wrong

It is impossible not to be moved by television ads showing a shaking, obviously profoundly ill Michael J. Fox asking American voters to elect politicians sympathetic to stem-cell research. The actor has Parkinson’s disease and he is convinced that he and others could be helped by such medical efforts.

He might be right.

Ted Byfield
‘New’ Quebec abandons its own heritage

The cry of the Quebec separatists, who now sizably outnumber federalists, is they must leave Canada to preserve their heritage and culture. This is simply a lie.

Paul Jackson
Liberal record tells the story

As the Second World War loomed, when Jewish men, women and children were fleeing Nazi-occupied Europe and trying to enter Canada, Prime Minister William Lyon MacKenzie King’s regime had that infamous policy: “None is one too many.” Jewish refugees were denied entry, sent back to Europe and ended up in the death camps.

Ian Robinson
Posties have no business sorting the ‘truth’

As regular readers know, I have a dislike that borders on insane hatred for: Small-l liberals, big-L Liberals, 90% of environmentalists, brussels sprouts, Miracle Whip, the doggedly irrelevant Belinda Stronach, young women and men with facial piercings that make them look as though they lost a fight with a nail gun, Saskatchewan drivers (I got your angry e-mails last week, lighten up) and the U.S traitor whom Lenin would’ve called a “useful idiot,” Hanoi Jane Fonda, who spoke here Thursday.

Earl McRae
Misconceptions abound

The minimum recruitment age is 16. There’s no age ceiling. Their only weapon is a cellphone. They must pass a police background check. They can’t be druggies or alcoholics. They must provide character references. They can’t approve of, or be affiliated with, any group that supports sexism, homophobia, hate crimes or prejudice in any form. They can’t be profane. Or excessively absent. Or disrespectful to fellow Angels or the public.

Lorrie Goldstein
Hey Rick, what about Bob?

Still, I suppose there wasn’t much from Rae’s five great years as Ontario premier you could have satirized. After all, he only taxed dirt, had one cabinet minister who took a lie detector test to prove she was telling the truth when she said she lied, and another who was caught in a sex scandal where there was apparently no sex … I think it’s a socialist thing.

Michele Mandel
Ask soldiers about Afghanistan, not protesters

There is nothing wrong with a debate about our role in Afghanistan — that is a democratic right our armed forces have waged battle to protect. Let it be fought in Parliament or on the election stump. But in the meantime, our soldiers deserve more than to be accused, as they were by Layton yesterday, of taking part in a mission that is only making matters worse for Afghans.

Linda Williamson
This ain’t the ’80s

A report circulated online by the group “Homes Not Bombs” goes even further: “On one hand, kids are told to stay away from guns in their communities… However, if you do like guns and want to learn how to kill people in communities half a world away, you can actually earn not only high school credits, you can also get paid for it.”

Ah, where have I heard this kind of nonsense before? Oh yes. I once propagated it — to my everlasting shame.

Peter Worthington
Bring back Soldier Apprentice Plan

The need for more soldiers has provoked some who know — like retired Lt.Col. David Geary of the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME) — to urge the Defence Minister to reinstate the Soldier Apprentice Plan (SAP) of 1952-68 that was the most successful training plan ever implemented by the Canadian army.

Tom Brodbeck
Boot ’em into camps & Boot camps best option

The first thing the pointy-headed social-worker types tell me when I propose correctional boot camps for hard-core young offenders is that they don’t work.

Bon apetit 😀

And here we go again. It now looks like we have a full slate in the London North Centre riding except, of course, for the Grits, who still haven’t been able to find anybody that wants the job (what’s that old adage about rats and ships, again?). I have to admit, I was damned surprised to see Stephen Maynard fall on his sword like he did, especially after the showing that he managed to pull off in the general election back in January. Getting some orders from above, were ya, Steve?

He denied top party brass, including NDP Leader Jack Layton, pressured him to step aside for the more experienced Walker.

No, of course you weren’t. 😉 Okay, folks; here we go with all the byelection ‘bojumbo you can find here:

The Freeps
Walker handed NDP banner
Grits pick hopeful Sunday
Megan Walker launches byelection campaign

The TO Star
Gay priest seeks Bloc nomination
Bloc acclaims priest as candidate

Canada.com
Gerard Kennedy not running in byelection
Bloc Quebecois acclaims controversial priest as byelection candidate

LifeSite
Pro-abortion/Pro-gay Marriage Quebec Catholic Priest Running for Office

CTV
Elizabeth May formally chosen to run for Greens

I usually like to put my own opinion on just about everything, but sometimes, it’s better to shut up and let something speak for itself. The following is a press release found at newswire.ca detailing the deeds of four of our soldiers serving in the Afghan theatre and the honours that they have earned. I believe no further embelishment is required.

Attention News Editors:
Governor General announces the first-ever awarding of Military Valour Decorations

OTTAWA, Oct. 27 /CNW Telbec/ – Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaelle Jean, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, announced today the awarding of the first four Military Valour Decorations to members of the Canadian Forces who have displayed gallantry and devotion to duty in combat.

The recipients will be invited to receive their decoration from the Governor General at a presentation ceremony to be held at a later date.

Military Valour Decorations are national honours awarded to recognize acts of valour, self-sacrifice or devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy. They consist of the Victoria Cross, the Star of Military Valour and the Medal of Military Valour. This marks the first time that these decorations, which were created in 1993, have been awarded.

Note that the rank used in this document reflects the substantive rank held by the member at the time of the incident.

<< Star of Military Valour ----------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- Name Current posting and hometown ---------------------------------------------------------- Sergeant Patrick Tower, S.M.V, C.D. Edmonton, Alta., and Victoria, B.C. ---------------------------------------------------------- Medal of Military Valour ------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- Name Current posting and hometown ---------------------------------------------------------- Sergeant Michael Thomas Victor Edmonton, Alta. Denine, M.M.V., C.D. ---------------------------------------------------------- Master Corporal Collin Ryan Shilo, Man., and Morrisburg, Ont. Fitzgerald, M.M.V. ---------------------------------------------------------- Private Jason Lamont, M.M.V. Edmonton, Alta., and Greenwood, N.S. ---------------------------------------------------------- The citations for the recipients (Annex A), as well as additional information on the Military Valour Decorations (Annex B) are attached. Annex A ------- Sergeant Patrick Tower, S.M.V., C.D. Edmonton, Alberta, and Victoria, British Columbia Star of Military Valour Sergeant Tower is recognized for valiant actions taken on August 3, 2006, in the Pashmul region of Afghanistan. Following an enemy strike against an outlying friendly position that resulted in numerous casualties, Sergeant Tower assembled the platoon medic and a third soldier and led them across 150 metres of open terrain, under heavy enemy fire, to render assistance. On learning that the acting platoon commander had perished, Sergeant Tower assumed command and led the successful extraction of the force under continuous small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire. Sergeant Tower's courage and selfless devotion to duty contributed directly to the survival of the remaining platoon members. Sergeant Michael Thomas Victor Denine, M.M.V., C.D. Edmonton, Alberta Medal of Military Valour Sergeant Denine deployed with 8 Platoon, C Company, 1 PPCLI during Operation ARCHER in Afghanistan. On May 17, 2006, while sustaining concentrated rocket-propelled grenade, machine gun and small arms fire, the main cannon and the machine gun on his light armoured vehicle malfunctioned. Under intense enemy fire, he recognized the immediate need to suppress the enemy fire and exited the air sentry hatch to man the pintle-mounted machine gun. Completely exposed to enemy fire, he laid down a high volume of suppressive fire, forcing the enemy to withdraw. Sergeant Denine's valiant action ensured mission success and likely saved the lives of his crew. Master Corporal Collin Ryan Fitzgerald, M.M.V. Shilo, Manitoba, and Morrisburg, Ontario Medal of Military Valour Master Corporal Fitzgerald deployed with 5 Platoon, B Company, 1 PPCLI Battle Group in Afghanistan. He is recognized for outstanding selfless and valiant actions carried out on May 24, 2006, during an ongoing enemy ambush involving intense, accurate enemy fire. Master Corporal Fitzgerald repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire by entering and re-entering a burning platoon vehicle and successfully driving it off the roadway, permitting the remaining vehicles trapped in the enemy zone to break free. Master Corporal Fitzgerald's courageous and completely selfless actions were instrumental to his platoon's successful egress and undoubtedly contributed to saving the lives of his fellow platoon members. Private Jason Lamont, M.M.V. Edmonton, Alberta, and Greenwood, Nova Scotia Medal of Military Valour Private Lamont deployed with the Health Support Services Company, 1 PPCLI Battle Group during Operation ARCHER. On July 13, 2006, an element of the reconnaissance platoon came under heavy enemy fire from a compound located in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, and was isolated from the rest of the platoon. During the firefight, another soldier was shot while attempting to withdraw back to the firing line and was unable to continue. Without regard for his personal safety, Private Lamont, under concentrated enemy fire and with no organized suppression by friendly forces, sprinted through open terrain to administer first aid. Private Lamont's actions demonstrated tremendous courage, selflessness and devotion to duty. >>

Annex B
——-

The three Military Valour Decorations, namely the Victoria Cross, the Star of Military Valour and the Medal of Military Valour, were created by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, on January 1, 1993. The Decorations may be awarded posthumously.

The Victoria Cross is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery, a daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty, in the presence of the enemy.

The Star of Military Valour is awarded for distinguished and valiant service in the presence of the enemy.

The Medal of Military Valour is awarded for an act of valour or devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy.

Anyone can propose a nomination for the Military Valour Decorations. If a member of our Canadian Forces meets the criteria, submission will be made through the member’s chain of command for consideration by the Military Valour Decorations Advisory Committee, and the Governor General. For all three Military Valour Decorations, recipients must be a member of the Canadian Forces or a member of an allied armed force that is serving with, or in conjunction with, the Canadian Forces, on or after January 1, 1993.

Shortly after the beginning of Canadian involvement in Afghanistan, it was established that the basic conditions for the awarding of the Decorations were met. The gallant actions of Canadian Forces members in the face of increased hostilities in recent months have provided the occasion to award them.

For further information: Media information: Lucie Brosseau, Rideau Hall Press Office, (613) 998-0287; Media Liaison Office: Department of National Defence, (613) 996-2353 or (613) 996-2354; Public information: Chancellery of Honours, 1-800-465-6890

Reality is starting to sink in. Okay, maybe that’s not the right way to put it. The Dippers are still banging away on the “bring ’em home at any cost” drum (why fight the enemy when you can embolden them with apparent gutlessness on the part of their foe?), so they clearly haven’t pulled their heads out of their backsides. Our soldiers, on the other hand, have always had it not too far in the backs of their minds that they may well one day be called upon to perform the three functions for which soldiers ultimately exist: killing, dying and doing as they’re told.

No, that doesn’t sound very nice, does it? Too bad. It may not be palatable to the “peace in our time” crowd, but every ground-pounder on the planet knows that when you strip away all the niceties and platitudes that are handed to those with weak stomachs and you find yourself in that Godforsaken place where the blade meets the bone, the truest and most honest purpose of a soldier is as an instrument of war. They are warriors first; the rest is good for parades.

It’s a disquieting truth, but a truth just the same. Soldiers often say that when they die, they’re sure to get into Heaven because they’ve already done their time in Hell. While half a joke, there is also a raw and visceral truth at its core. Soldiers spend years peeking through the cracks of the gates of Hell. And when those gates are flung wide from time to time, they walk in of their own accord, so that others will not have to.

“A soldier fights, not because he hates what is in front of him, but in his love for what is behind him.”

In that, we are in debt to them for each and every freedom that we enjoy and take for granted today. And we God damned well owe them our respect. Bleating, as Dipper Megan Walker did in London last night, that “we need to bring our troops home, and not in caskets,” is not respect and it is not support. It’s the gutless bawling of someone scared shitless that something or someone that matters to them may one day have to be placed in harm’s way for the greater good.

Don’t fool yourselves. This is a war and we are in it, whether we want to be or not. The only question is: where do we want to fight it, there or here? So my message to the “bring them home” crowd is simple: either fight, follow or get the hell out of the way but whatever chioce you make, shut the hell up!

Stop disparaging our soldiers’ motivations and judgement by saying no one knows why they’re there. Quit trying to undermine their morale by holding up every gutless whiner or, even worse, a soldier’s grieving loved one caught in a moment of weakness, as some sort of representation of the state of our national resolve. And above all else, knock off the “I support the troops but not the mission” hypocrisy; the two are morally conjoined, whether you like it, or even want to admit it, or not.

How can you support our soldiers? Show your support for what they do. Demand that the government give them the tools that they need; NOW, not decades down the road. Be there for them when they come home and pray for the ones who don’t.

It really is the least you can do.

Well, what can I say? Another day, another bunch o links. And oh, lookie here! Why it didn’t take the MSM any time at all to start subtly wafting out the Christian Boogeyman angle. Seriously. Click the link that says “Tory byelection candidate tied to U.S. faith-based diplomacy group” and see for yourself. The Vancouver Sun and Ottawa Citizen carried it too. While they don’t come right out and say it (big surprise), the implication is obvious: vote for Haskett and the big, bad Tory party that’s been “taken over by Evangelical Christians” will turn Canada into a theocracy. Talaban a la Canuckistan. Gimme a break. 🙄

The Freeps
Candidates do parachute in and win
Grits still seek candidate

Canada.com
Tory byelection candidate tied to U.S. faith-based diplomacy group

Vancouver Sun
Byelections show it’s bare-knuckled politics as usual in Ottawa

canoe.ca
May wants to colour London riding green

Well now, I don’t know about the rest of you, but I was about due for some good news. So here it is: Hamilton’s CH News (along with a bunch of other outlets) are reporting that Malcolm Watson has been arrested at an Ontario – New York border crossing while trying to enter Canada.

Watson, you might remember, is the perv teacher from south of the border who was “exiled to Canada” for being caught having sex with one of his students. Some bozo judge in Buffalo thought it would be a good idea for him to run around free up here instead of locking his sorry ass up in a US jail.

Well, guess what, buddy? We aren’t taking him! Keep your trash in your own backyard.