Sunday, November 15, 2015

Justin Trudeau and the Day the Cons Came Back From the Dead



It seems only too tragic that just ten days after being sworn in as Prime Minister after promising to restore our Canadian values, and bring back sunnier days, that Justin Trudeau should be hit by the darkness of the Paris massacre.

Only too ironic that the son of Pierre should have to choose so soon between emotion and reason. 

The deadly terror attacks in Paris will not lead Canada to change course on its two main policies in relation to Syria: welcoming 25,000 refugees this year and ending Canada’s bombing campaign in Iraq and Syria.

And of course only too ghastly that the horrible tragedy in the City of Light should bring the Cons back from the dead.




With Rona Ambrose, suitably dressed in black, calling on him not to end our bombing mission.

On the heels of the deadly attacks in Paris, interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose has called on the Liberal government to "immediately" reverse its decision to pull fighter jets from the U.S.-led bombing mission against ISIS in Iraq.

And Jason Kenney going even further and calling for total war.



As only that bloated chicken hawk could...



Even though, as Paul Wells points out, Kenney's claim that NATO's Article 5 which declares that an attack on one member state is an attack on all, requires a military response from Canada, couldn't be more shaky. 

To call Kenney’s reasoning shaky would be to insult Jell-O. First, as NATO’s own website explains, you don’t invoke Article 5 with incantations. You do so at a meeting of the alliance’s North Atlantic Council, and Article 5 has been invoked precisely once in the alliance’s 70 years: after 9/11.

Second, again using NATO’s own language, “Allies can provide any form of assistance they deem necessary to respond to the situation. This assistance is not necessarily military and depends on the material resources of each country. Each individual member determines how it will contribute.”


It does not compel us to join in any bombing campaign. And Trudeau's plan to refocus our efforts in that region on training local forces, the so-called boots on the ground, would still be a valuable contribution to the fight to defeat ISIS.

Jim Stavridis, the former US navy admiral who served as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, dashed off an oped calling for NATO to attack IS. But even Stavridis called troop training — Trudeau’s avowed goal in the region — the “most important” project NATO could undertake if it gets involved.

But then of course that's reason and this is emotion...



And when I hear the shots and the screams, and I see the young people lying dead, or dragging their friends away, it makes me so angry that if I could I would gladly bomb the hell out of those genocidal bullies myself.

Until I cool down and remember that those ISIS crazies didn't come from nowhere. They are the creations of the Great War on Terror, where one war creates a problem that another war must try to solve. Only to spawn another one, and so on and so forth.

And I am reminded by writers like Charles Pierce, that all the angry words and all the bombs in the world will not win this war.

A 242-ship Navy will not stop one motivated murderous fanatic from emptying the clip of an AK-47 into the windows of a crowded restaurant. The F-35 fighter plane will not stop a group of motivated murderous fanatics from detonating bombs at a soccer match. A missile-defense shield in Poland will not stop a platoon of motivated murderous fanatics from opening up in a jammed concert hall, or taking hostages, or taking themselves out with suicide belts when the police break down the doors.

Tough talk in the context of what happened in Paris is as empty as a bell rung at the bottom of a well.


And that if we are serious about reducing the ISIS threat, we need to go after countries like Saudi Arabia who have been funding and arming the terrorist hordes from the day the planes hit the Twin Towers. ..



And make them pay for what they have done.

It's time for this to stop. It's time to be pitiless against the bankers and against the people who invest in murder to assure their own survival in power. Assets from these states should be frozen, all over the west. Money trails should be followed, wherever they lead. People should go to jail, in every country in the world. It should be done state-to-state. Stop funding the murder of our citizens and you can have your money back. Maybe. If we're satisfied that you'll stop doing it. 

And, it goes without saying, but we'll say it anyway – not another bullet will be sold to you, let alone advanced warplanes, until this act gets cleaned up to our satisfaction. If that endangers your political position back home, that's your problem, not ours. You are no longer trusted allies. Complain, and your diplomats will be going home. Complain more loudly, and your diplomats will be investigated and, if necessary, detained. Retaliate, and you do not want to know what will happen, but it will done with cold, reasoned and, yes, pitiless calculation,

Instead of doing what Stephen Harper and his Cons did, and cuddling those Saudi barbarians like teddy bears...



So if Justin Trudeau can do that, and can keep up the fight against ISIS in a manner that is effective, and still preserves our precious Canadian values. 

Then I am with him all the way.

And will do my best to defend him from those who would destroy him...



I like this new sunnier Canada, I'm not prepared to go back to the darkness of the Harper years, and neither am I prepared to let a bunch of murderous religious fanatics steal my new found hope and optimism.

So I will also do my very best to help send the ghastly new Cons, who like the old ones would use war and tragedy as a political weapon.

Back to their monstrous darkness.

Or the place they rightfully belong...



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21 comments:

rumleyfips said...

News this morning is that one shooter has been identified. A Frenchborn citizen with an Algerian background. No ties with ISIL or Syria announced. There is speculation that the Syrian passport is a forgery. In other words; we have no idea if ISIL or Syrians are nvolved.

Roots of terrorism run deep. The murder and torture by France in Algeria was 50 years ago, but France is still reaping the rewards of its bad behaviour.

I hope Canada is not paying for its support of the House of Saud 50 years from now.

Anonymous said...

As Paul Wells had admitted, the new Lib government had not yet withdrawn our jets which were still bombing in Syria and Iraq. Thus these attacks in Paris had occurred despite our still carrying out Harper's policies in attacking ISIS. Clearly, if Harper's policies had been effective, then these attacks would not have occurred and ISIS would have been running for its life, no?

Very interesting to hear the new Cons leader asking for the new Lib government to continue the Harper ISIS policy which our country had just voted against but then also pointing out that they would support the withdrawal of the jets and the ending of our ISIS bombing mission. Must be their new softer tone policy except that we did not know they also meant talking out of both sides of their mouths and hoping the voters do not notice. :)

Anonymous said...

How can Rona appear to care for victims of violence and call for continued bombing in the Middle East at the same time???..Where was she when the US bombed the Doctors Without Borders hospital?..Why her and Kenney's deafening silence for the murder of Palestinians?Where are the flowers for them Rona??
If she were even remotely serious,perhaps she could,at the very least,suggest Canada and the other western allies join Syria,Russia and anyone else who is serious about taking out these Isis maniacs.
Kenney is just as crazy..Seems he thinks Russia,Iran,Iraq,and maybe China are gonna sit around and watch all these countries bomb Syria an maybe even Iran.
Perhaps Kenney and Rona could enlighten us a little as to owns the Apache helicopter herding the Isis Toyota truck convoy available on YouTube and other media sources..and why that helicopter isn't firing on the trucks..Could be US or Saudi Arabia..

Simon,I ran across this interesting item yesterday.It's a little long,with lots of additional links.Certainly worth reading though and adds a little perspective.

http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2015/11/the-first-question-to-ask-after-any-terror-attack-was-it-a-false-flag.html

Also Major General Smedley Butler USMC...War is a Racket...

http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warisaracket.html









Marmalade said...

I'm with you on this one, Simon. Playing my John Lennon CD today........so many great songs!
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE>>>>Humanity!

Anonymous said...

I recall a news clip of a high ranking officer involved in the bombing campaign stating that they have way more fighter jets available than they have targets and that Canada withdrawing its six cf-18's would have no effect on their continued missions. Given that and our PM's pledge to help in training and in a humanitarian way, withdrawing our fighter jets shouldn't be a big deal to those who know the situation unless you're the likes of the Buffoon Jason Kenney quoting NATO's Article 5. What an idiot. The old ReformaCons way of twisting the context to suit their needs didn't take long to rear its ugly head. That's why we flushed the toilet on them Oct. 19 and that is why they will remain alone with their Neanderthal base for I hope many years.
Our new PM has a difficult choice to make, he can either honour the current commitment to March 2016 for our jets then pull them out and in the interim, devise a plan to train the local fighters as they are the ones who will ultimately win this fight. If he pulls our jets now, the Reformacons will be frothing at the mouth along with their faithful Postmedia puppets and the ensuing damnation of JT will be relentless.
Difficult choices, either way I will support our new Prime Minister.
JD

Filcher said...

The terrorists are created by hate, and we spread the hate through killing innocents, mass destruction against the civilians and support of dictators that will advance policies desired by our corporate and government leaders. That they claim religious affiliation is only coincidental- Christian extremists in Africa- Sikh extremists in Canada- KKK in US- NeoNazi's in Sweden- all advance government and corporate aims through fear. I also find it interesting that many of these attacks have reported to take place around the time of excercises slated to respond to such occurrences
.

David said...

As was mentioned this morning on either CBC News Network or CTV's Question Period, if Canada re-committed to continue with bombing ISIS targets, then it's only a matter of time when Canada would be pressured to provide boots on the ground eg. a fighting mission, not just a training mission.

Journalist Susan Riley said on CBC News Network this morning that Canada's participation in bombing ISIS targets only amounts to 0.03 % of all bombing missions of the coalition.

David said...

Joining Empire: Canadian Foreign Policy under Harper
https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/joining-empire-canadian-foreign-policy-under-harper

The Harper Demolition Volume 49, Issue 4: September/October 2015
https://canadiandimension.com/magazine/issue/september-october-2015

Malice in Harperland
https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/malice-in-harperland

e.a.f. said...

If Canada wishes to avoid a. Paris type incident we are best to bring home the jets

Of course Rona and Jason like war. Their friends like money and arms cpanies make it when wars are going

Canada ought not to make foreign policy on the basis of one bombing. It is like banning all cars in BC because 186 people were killed in drunk driving last year. People need to get a grip. What did they expect in a war,that ISIS wouldn't come calling?look at how many civilians the. French have killed
All ISIS has done is returned the favour

Anonymous said...

Good article about trying to understand the forces at play and choices. Primitive thinking on both sides has led us here and will continue to escalate the conflict for their own benefit at the expense of humanity. http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/go-ahead-blame-islam/ar-BBn1MEr?li=AAadgLE
RT

Steve said...

Just watched the New James Bond. So precient. Harper is Spectre and Justin is Bond.

Simon said...

hi rumleyfips...yes the roots of terrorism run deep, and in the case of the French all the way back to their colonizer days. People think they can leave the past behind, but where there has been injustice, it always comes back to haunt them...

Simon said...

hi anon...yes you're right. The bombing has been continuing and at a greater rate than usual, so they can't blame an interruption for the attacks in Paris. My feeling has always been that the more you bomb people in foreign countries the more you risk some kind of blowback....

Simon said...

hi anon...I am very leery of bombing campaigns without some kind of fixed objective, or without troops on the ground. They can lead to large numbers of civilian casualties and terrorize people already frightened by having to live under ISIS. I will never forget watching the so-called shock and awe offensive on Baghdad. Nor can I forget how many Americans were cheering. If only they could have seen where that murderous fireworks show would lead them...

Simon said...

hi Kathleen ....good choice. In this world we need to play that song a lot and IMAGINE better things...

Simon said...

hi JD....yes, by my calculation we have the Americans, the Russians, the French, the British, and a couple of Gulf States bombing that region, all of whom have massive air forces much bigger than ours. So it seems we can be more effective doing other things, like training and helping refugees. I'm sure our planes have hit some worthy targets, but as you point out most of the time they are just sitting on the ground in Kuwait. ISIS is more like large motorcycle gangs, with a central command, than a regular army. They live among the people of the places they occupy, so unless you can catch them in the open, you won't get anywhere. And yes, Trudeau can expect the ReformCons and their allies to attack him like rabid animals...

Simon said...

hi Filcher...yes you're right too. The western nations have created this mess with their relentless aggression against countries in their attempt to control the sources of oil. For that is really what this is all about. Iraq, Libya, Syria, if they didn't have oil they wouldn't have been reduced to ruins, or schools for terrorists...

Simon said...

hi David...our mission there is basically a feel good mission, or for the Harper regime a look good mission. We can be more useful and more Canadian doing other things. As it is because we are part of the bombing campaign we will be blamed for the civilian casualties committed by others....

Simon said...

hi e.a.f....yes, our bombing mission isn't making us safer, its exposing us to a greater risk of being attacked by terrorists. And yes as I said above, the more you bomb others the more likely it is they they will strike back...

Simon said...

hi RT...I am an atheist for good reason. I firmly believe that this planet is our heaven and our hell. And for every decent religious person, and I do know a few, there are hordes of others who believe than only they know the truth. All religions claim to be religions of peace, but as Mencken said, religion is the greatest fomenter of hatred the world has ever known...

Simon said...

hi Steve...is that so? In that case I might have to go and see that movie after all... ;)