Canada Weighs Options for Mali Mission
http://metronews.ca/news/canada/491962/canada-weighs-options-for-mali-mi...
"The Harper government is examining whether to dispatch Canadian troops to help train an African force whose purpose would be to take back a vast swath of Mali from an off-shoot of al-Qaeda..."
Mali's Tuareg Rebellion: What Next?
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/03/20123208133276463.html
"...It is conceivable that further attacks on the highly vulnerable, nomadic civilian population may bring the rebels to submission, as has been the case in previous Tuareg rebellions. It is also conceivable that the Malian government's undercover militias, ethnic hatred campaigns, military in civilian clothing acting in mobs shouting 'death to the Tuaregs' and internet propaganda might succeed in opening up cleavages within the complex political, ethnic and social mix that comprises the totality of the Azawad population..."
So, even as Canadians profess to support Idle No More and Indigenous sovereignty here at home, will they simultaneously permit their government and oppoition to once again send CF support to North Africa to participate in crushing the Tuareg?
Parliament Must Debate Any Military Mission in Mali
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/1308968-parliament-mus...
"...Before dispatching troops into a maelstrom that could become a full-blown war, the government should come clean about its intentions, and more specifically about how they fit into a larger credible international plan to restore democracy and stability."
media preliminaries begin preparatory to participation in next imperialist venture in N Africa...
UK to Aid France in Mali Intervention
http://rt.com/news/britain-france-mali-intervention-878/
"Britain has announced it will provide France with logistical support during its Mali intervention as French forces stepped up airstrikes against Islamist militants..."
Mali's Tuareg-Uranium Conspiracy
http://www.globalresearch.ca/mali-s-tuareg-uranium-conspiracy/30118
"...Put simply, this is about uranium to be found in the Tuareg areas of Mali, Niger and Libya. The next step will be UN/ECOWAS/NATO peacekeepers, military intervention and killing of thousands of Tuareg."
The Geopolitial Reordering of Africa - by Tony Cartalucci
http://www.globalresearch.ca/geopolitical-reordering-and-dirty-tricks-us...
"NATO funding, arming, while simultaneously fighting AQ from Mali to Syria.."
France Launches War in Northern Mali
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/01/14/mali-j14.html
"Ansar Dine spokesman Sanda Ould Boudmana told Al Jazeera, 'the terrorist French military bombed Konna. The hospitals are now filled with the injured - women, children and the elderly are the main victims. It's impossible to know how many have been killed, but the number is huge. Only 5 of those killed were our fighters. The rest are innocent civilians killed by the indiscriminate bombing of the French air forces.' Mali will be the Afghanistan of the region and France's downfall.."
France Launches Airstrikes in Northern Mali to Ease Intervention
http://rt.com/news/france-bombs-mali-intervention-954/
"French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has assured that Islamists on Mali have already been 'stopped' - and 'taking care' of terrorist groups in the country is 'a question of weeks.' He also informed that the assault on Islamist compounds on Sunday has become possible as Algeria finally opened its aerospace to French Air Force operations despite previously opposing French interferene into Mali's affairs."
Ottawa Contribuing to Fight in Mali By Training Niger Forces
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-contributing-to-figh...
"The Canadian government, which is normally quick to trmpet overseas military efforts, was surprisingly silent on its West African training plan in recent days, failing to mention thsi during a week of debate over whether Ottawa should contribute a military mission to Mali..."
Canada to Help Mali's Military - by David Pugliese
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Forces+provide+logistical+support+agai...
Mali's president Dioncounda Traore used Twitter on Sunday to announce that Canada, the United States and Britain have agreed to provode logistical support to the Malian and French military forces fighting the rebels..."
of course the ndp opposition will vigorously oppose this latest imperialist intervention by Canada?
these are the people formally requesting the military assistance:
http://news.ecowas.int/presseshow.php?nb=006&lang=en&annee=2013
The ECOWAS Commission deplores that despite the efforts made to find political solutions to the separatist crisis in Mali, the situation has seriously deteriorated over the past days with the attack perpetrated by rebel groups on Government positions, which resulted in the capture of Konna, when the ECOWAS Mediation invited the parties to a dialogue on 10th January 2013.
In these grave circumstances, the ECOWAS Commission reiterates the Community’s commitment to support the Government and People of Mali to preserve Mali’s territorial integrity and combat terrorism.
The Commission welcomes UN Security Council Press Release of 10th January 2013 authorising immediate intervention in Mali to stabilise the situation. The Commission thanks the French Government for its initiatives to support Mali.
http://news.ecowas.int/presseshow.php?nb=005&lang=en&annee=2013
The ECOWAS Authority expresses deep concern over the deteriorating situation in Mali, particularly the on-going attempt by terrorist occupation forces to capture Konna and progress southwards to positions held by the Malian Armed Forces.
Authority welcomes the UN Security Council Declaration of 10th January 2013 condemning the terrorist incursions and calling for rapid deployment of the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA), in line with Security Council Resolution 2085.
Authority thanks the Security Council Members and the French Government for their expeditious reaction aimed to stabilize the military situation in Mali.
Surprisingly, ECOWAS diplomats find no space to mention NDPP's crucial role ...
these are the people formally requesting the military assistance:
....
Yes, for the situation that western internventionism directly caused--supported by some oblivious or malignant Babble posters defending imperialism, (oh, excuse me, "freedom" and humanitarian intervention").
Owen Jones, The Independent
Sunday 13 January 2013
The war in Libya was seen as a success, now here we are engaging with the blowback in Mali
Our Government and media may often ignore the price of Western interventions, but in future conflicts and fuel for radical Islamist groups, it is still paid nonetheless."This intervention is itself the consequence of another. The Libyan war is frequently touted as a success story for liberal interventionism. Yet the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi's dictatorship had consequences that Western intelligence services probably never even bothered to imagine. Tuaregs – who traditionally hailed from northern Mali – made up a large portion of his army. When Gaddafi was ejected from power, they returned to their homeland: sometimes forcibly so as black Africans came under attack in post-Gaddafi Libya, an uncomfortable fact largely ignored by the Western media. . . . [T]he Libyan war was seen as a success . . . and here we are now engaging with its catastrophic blowback."...
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-war-in-libya-was-seen-as...
Glenn Greenwald, guardian.co.uk, Monday 14 January 2013 13.45 GMT
The bombing of Mali highlights all the lessons of western intervention
The west African nation becomes the eighth country in the last four years alone where Muslims are killed by the west....
Second,[of 6 main points Greenwald makes] the overthrow of the Malian government was enabled by US-trained-and-armed soldiers who defected. From the NYT: "commanders of this nation's elite army units, the fruit of years of careful American training, defected when they were needed most — taking troops, guns, trucks and their newfound skills to the enemy in the heat of battle, according to senior Malian military officials." And then: "an American-trained officer overthrew Mali's elected government, setting the stage for more than half of the country to fall into the hands of Islamic extremists."In other words, the west is once again at war with the very forces that it trained, funded and armed. Nobody is better at creating its own enemies, and thus ensuring a posture of endless war, than the US and its allies. Where the US cannot find enemies to fight against it, it simply empowers them....
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/14/mali-france-bombing-...
a good rhetorical tactic -- ignore the question:
Q.: Why are West African governments at the forefront in raising alarm about Mali?
Military Intervention in Mali: Special Operations to Recolonize Africa
http://www.4thmedia.org/2013/01/14/military-intervention-in-mali-special...
"The military operation in Mali launched on January 11, is another example of special activities aimed at recolonization of the AFrican continent. It is an orderly and consistent capture of new African territories by Western powers..."
a good rhetorical tactic -- ignore the question:
Q.: Why are West African governments at the forefront in raising alarm about Mali?
Hmm. That's the first time I've seen "The Question" so avoiding it was hardly difficult.
The answer is simple that neighboring regimes, whether for ill or good reasons, don't like the unstable situation.
Rather, you are avoiding the cause of the ugly situation, ongoing western intervention and its persistant supporters of imperial intervention such as yourself.
a good rhetorical tactic -- ignore the question:
Q.: Why are West African governments at the forefront in raising alarm about Mali?
Hmm. That's the first time I've seen "The Question" so avoiding it was hardly difficult.
The answer is simple that neighboring regimes, whether for ill or good reasons, don't like the unstable situation.Rather, you are avoiding the cause of the ugly situation, ongoing western intervention and its persistant supporters of imperial intervention such as yourself.
Perhaps France et al bear considerable responsibility in having created much of the problem, and are now obliged to engage a crisis that they'd sooner ignore, having abandoned it previously. Regardless of how one looks at it, there is a historical connection that demands attention, lest they appear aloof to the consequences of colonialism.
Certainly France bears responsibility.The legacy of colonialism likely continues along many avenues even though Mali gained independence more than half a century ago.
But much more important, and more immediately material, France's current bombing is a direct result of its recent actions in consort with other interventionist nations against Libya and Syria. Essentially they are fighting fires they recently started with more fire (See post #9).
There is also considerable responsibility in Canada for these endless interventionist slaughterfests and their (supposedly) unforeseen consequences. All the major Canadian Parties have blood on their hands.
Certainly France bears responsibility.The legacy of colonialism likely continues along many avenues even though Mali gained independence more than half a century ago.
But much more important, and more immediately material, France's current bombing is a direct result of its recent actions in consort with other interventionist nations against Libya and Syria. Essentially they are fighting fires they recently started with more fire (See post #9).There is also considerable responsibility in Canada for these endless interventionist slaughterfests and their (supposedly) unforeseen consequences. All the major Canadian Parties have blood on their hands.
I agree, Canada is not agnostic on this issue.
Canadian mining companies are heavily involved so of course we have to send our share of the muscle to keep the resources flowing out of the country. Of course we just send thousands of "trainers" not troops.
The security of uranium deposits in the region are of particular concern-- 'yellowcake' in Niger, for instance?
Canadian mining companies are making a name for themselves all over the globe. I don't think it does much for the image of Canadians in general.
We had just been in Falea, a community of 21 villages in the south-west of this angular West African country. Falea is threatened with the advent of uranium mining, with prospecting already being done by Rockgate, an opportunistic Canadian mining company seemingly bent on extracting Africa’s riches and getting out.
Local people, united in a strong community organisation, have raised objections about the impact of radioactivity and heavy-metal toxicity on their soil, water, crops and in their bodies.
Experts descend on Bamako
Prior to the visit to Falea, experts from all over the world had gathered in the capital, Bamako, on the banks of the majestic Niger river, in a conference together with Faleans on uranium, health and the environment.Sponsors included International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, an organisation that uses medical knowledge to lobby against all steps of the nuclear-fuel chain, with a focus on abolishing the remaining tens of thousands of nuclear weapons in the world’s armouries.
The conference highlighted the dangers of uranium mining for rural communities and included gruesome testimony from uranium-blighted communities in Niger, Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa and the Navajo nation in the south-western United States. Radiation experts added their knowledge to the meeting.
Mali’s minister of mines opened the proceedings, but his advisor later antagonised Falean community members by seeing uranium mining as a “chance for Malians”.
http://mg.co.za/article/2012-03-30-uranium-a-minefield-for-malians/
CTV reporting 'Canada to send C-17 aircraft to support French troops in Mali
Can we get a rush order on those F-35s?
The report I heard said they were supplying heavy lift support. Us peace loving Canadians are flying in the French troops and their supplies. Ain't cooperative imperialism in this century a joy to behold.
I forgot this can't be imperialism because the President of France is a social democrat.
Canada Weighs Options for Mali Mission
http://metronews.ca/news/canada/491962/canada-weighs-options-for-mali-mi...
"The Harper government is examining whether to dispatch Canadian troops to help train an African force whose purpose would be to take back a vast swath of Mali from an off-shoot of al-Qaeda..."
Some Canadian soldiers from Petawawa Ontario have been mentoring soldiers in Mali as long ago as in or around December 2011.
Well, I'm sure that we have learned from all our other military interventions and THIS TIME FOR SURE we are on the side of the good guys and there will be no blowback.
Well, I'm sure that we have learned from all our other military interventions and THIS TIME FOR SURE we are on the side of the good guys and there will be no blowback.
Just remember the Al Qaeda in Mali are evil, evil, evil and the Al Qaeda in Syria are freedom fighters.
And besides we have to defend Barrick Gold's juicy goldmine in Mali...
http://mali.virtualyp.com/barrick_gold-176126.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-08/barrick-says-nathaniel-rothschi...
and democracy of course...
Baird Envoys to Press For Restoration of Democracy in Mali
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/baird-to-press-for-restoration...
"Canada has convened envoys from countries involved in the developing war in Mali as it presses the African nation to restore democracy.."
Iran Regrets Mali Civilian Deaths in French Intervention
http://www.presstv.com/detail/2013/01/15/283725/iran-rues-mali-civilian-...
"The Islamic Republic of Iran regrets the killing of innocent human beings and the homelessness of thousands of people..."
France Launches First Ground Attack on Mali
http://www.presstv.com/detail/2013/01/16/283808/france-launches-ground-a...
"French troops have launched the first ground attack against rebel forces in Mali.."
CPA: Stop The War on Mali!
http://www.acp-cpa.ca/en/Stop-the-war-on-Mali.html
"The Tuareg people of Northern Mali have been waging a campaign for independence for decades, which has been a thorn in the side of both the Malian government and to those who wish to exploit the natural resources of the area. The real reason for NATO's involvement is to secure strategic, resource rich areas of Africa for the West..."
France's Hollande Presses PM for More Canadian Help in Mali
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/frances-hollande-presses-pm...
"With Ottawa providing more than $100 million in aid per year before the March coup, some see Canada as one of the few countries with some pull with Mali. 'It's the French, Americans and Canadians more than anyone else, one Western diplomat said.."
Hands Off Mali!
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/01/15/pers-j15.html
"The World Socialist Web Site denounces France's war in Mali as an act of imperialist piracy. After mass bombings of cities in northern Mali, that killed and wounded hundreds of civilians, French tank columns crossed into Mali yesterday from Ivory Coast..."
Burn, Burn - Africa's Afghanistan - by Pepe Escobar
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/OA19Dj02.html
"Anyone who thinks 'bomb al-Qaeda' is all there is to Mali must be living in Oz. To start with, using hardcore Islamists to suffocate an indigenous independence movement comes straight from the historic CIA/Pentagon playbook. Moreover, Mali is crucial to AFRICOM and to the Pentagon's overall MENA (Middle-East-Northern-Africa) outlook.
Mali overflows with gold, uranium, bauxite, iron, manganese, tin and copper. And - Pipelineistan beckons and there's plenty of unexplored oil in northern Mali.
As early as February, 2008, Vice Admiral Robert T Moeller was saying that AFRICOM's mission was to protect 'the free flow of natural resources from Africa to the global market,' yes he did make the crucial connection to China, pronounced guilty of 'challenging US interests'..."
Canada to Transport African Troops to Mali for Fight Against Extremists, France Says - by David Pugliese
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Canada+transport+African+troops+Mali+f...
"...Mali had been considered stable until earlier this year when tribesmen seeking an independent country combined forces with Islamic militants to take control of the northern half of the country..."
By Design: French Mali Invasion Spills into Algeria - by Tony Cartalucci
http://www.globalresearch.ca/by-design-french-mali-invasion-spills-into-...
"Exactly as predicted, the ongoing French 'intervention' in the North African nation of Mali has spilled into Algeria - the next most likely objective of Western geopolitical interests in the region since the successful destabilization of Libya in 2011.."
France Slams Media Blackout on Mali War
http://www.presstv.com/detail/2013/01/21/284689/france-slams-media-black...
"France has reportedly imposed a media blackout on its invasion of Mali amid a growing war that rages on in the West African nation. This comes as French Defense Minister Jean Yves Le Drian has said the number of French troops on the ground could top the initially planned number of 2,500.
Also on Sunday, Le Drian announced that Paris' goal in the African country is 'the total reconquest of Mali,' adding 'We will not leave any pockets' of resistance. The US, Canada, Britain, Belgium, Germany and Denmark have already said they would support the French against Mali..."
like the NDP and Libya, the French 'Socialists' have no difficulty at all making war on Africans
France Slams Media Blackout on Mali War
http://www.presstv.com/detail/2013/01/21/284689/france-slams-media-black...
"France has reportedly imposed a media blackout on its invasion of Mali amid a growing war that rages on in the West African nation. This comes as French Defense Minister Jean Yves Le Drian has said the number of French troops on the ground could top the initially planned number of 2,500.
Also on Sunday, Le Drian announced that Paris' goal in the African country is 'the total reconquest of Mali,' adding 'We will not leave any pockets' of resistance. The US, Canada, Britain, Belgium, Germany and Denmark have already said they would support the French against Mali..."
like the NDP and Libya, the French 'Socialists' have no difficulty at all making war in Africa
William Engdahl: Pentagon's Hand Behind French Intervention in Mali
http://rt.com/news/mali-intervention-pentagon-conflict-303/
"...the actions of AFRICOM over the past year and a half make clear that this is a US operation with the French as a junior partner."
Al Qaeda Gunmen Found Dead Inside Algeria Gas Plant Included 'Two Canadians and At Least One Frenchman'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2265518/Algeria-crisis-Algerian-...
"Westerners including two Canadians and possibly a Frenchman were among the Al Qaeda terrorists responsible for the bloody Algerian hostage crisis, it was claimed today. Algerian special forces discovered the bodies at the in Amanas facility where the hostage death toll rose to at least 57 today, including up to six Britons. At least 35 heavily armed Al Qaeda operatives were killed, while five were today being interrogated by officials in the North African country.
Two of the dead Islamists from Canada were found in the smouldering remains of a compound at the BP gas plant. One security source today confirmed that the Canadians are suspected of having travelled to Libya, where they joined extremists waging Jihad against the west.
A statement from the kidnappers said the assault on the gas plant was launched in retaliation for French intervention against Islamist groups in neighbouring Mali."
The Algerian Kidnappers and the Case of Dr Aafia Siddiqui
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article33662.htm
"The only thing that surprised me when I heard that the Algerian kidnappers had called for the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui was that it hadn't happened sooner. And I have an uncomfortable feeling that more and more westerners will be kidnapped as their captors demand the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, a woman I once called the most wronged in the world. So just who is Dr Aafia Siddiqui and why is a group of North Africans calling for her release?
Canada's Mali Mission - What is A Direct Military Mission Anyways? - by David Pugliese
http://blogs.ottawacitizen.com/2013/01/21/canadas-mali-mission-what-is-a...
"Logistical support to France is not a direct military mission in Mali.' That is a direct quote from the Conservative government's talking points on the Mali mission. But a number of military officers have contacted Defence Watch to voice their displeasure with what they say is 'spinning' by the Prime Minister's office and government..."
Mali and the Scramble for Africa: A New Wave of Barbarism - by Ben Schreiner
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article33622.htm
"Indeed, for once the veils of protecting 'democracy' and combatting 'terror' are lifted, the imperial face is revealed. Thus, the imperative driving the renewed Western interest in Africa, as Conn Hallinan helps explain, is the race to secure the continent's vast wealth. What's more, as Maximilian Forte contends in Slouching Towards Sirte, 'Chinese interests are seen as competing with the West for access to resources and political influence.
AFRICOM and a range of other US government influences are meant to counter this phenomenon. And this explains NATO's 2011 foray into Libya, which removed a stubborn pan-Africanist leader threatening to frustrate AFRICOM's expansion into the [US] Army's 'last frontier'. And this explains the French-led, US supported intervention into Mali, which serves to forcibly assert Western interests further into Africa."
Robert Fisk was just on P&P saying the French don't have a clue what they're doing in Mali. He said it's a 30-year-old civil war, the north fighting the dominance of the south. The French (and Canada too?) say it's a war against Islamist Al-Queda groups.
Fisk also said today's election in Israel - with Netanyahoo getting another government - means Israeli settlements on the West Bank will continue, and there will be very little land left for a Palestinian state.
The circumstances in Mali epitomize a local responsibility exercise. Why does Ottawa believe it has a dog in this fight?
Explainer: Tuareg-Led Rebellion in North Mali
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/03/201232211614369240.html
"Ethnic Tuareg fighters say they will continue their fight until Mali recognises their right to self-determination..
Mali Army Accused of 'Summary Executions' Say Rights Group
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2013/01/23/mali-us-france-forces-airl...
"A France-based human rights group on Wednesday accused Malian forces of dozens of 'summary executions' and other abuses. The International Federation for Human Rights or FIDH by its French acronym is calling for the creation of an independent commission to look into the crimes and punish those responsible. FIDH charges that Malian forces were behind about 33 killings - including of ethnic Tuaregs."
NDP Backing More Help for Mali as Harper Calls for 'Broad National Consensus'
http://winnipegfreepress.com/canada/stephen-harper-talking-to-opposition...
"The Canadian government has cobbled together a nascent political consensus with the Opposition NDP that should permit an extended deployment of Canada's heavy-lift military cargo plane, which is ferrying war equipment into Mali.
New Democrat Leader Tom Mulcair agreed Sunday to allow the air force's C-17 cargo plane to continue assisting French and American forces as they battle al-Qaeda-linked militants, said NDP Foreign Affairs critic Paul Dewar. Mulcair told Harper he supports the decision to send the transport and even favours the French intervention, Dewar said.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Wednesday the government is looking at 'whether and how' to extend its support of France, which launched an offensive January 10 to dislodge the terrorist organization from northern Mali..."
UK Supports Mali Intervention: George Galloway on Comment (and vid)
http://www.presstv.com/Program/284221.html
"French warplanes started bombing Mali last Friday and by Monday Britain had sendt two RAF aircraft to help.."
TRN Multipart: French Intervention in Mali Violates UN Resolution: Roots of Crisis Marginalization of the North (and vid)
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&I..."
RT: Desert Is Their Land: 'French Up Against Mali Guerillas Who Don't Observe Borders (and vid)
http://rt.com/news/mali-desert-france-mission-574/
"It's a rainbow nation of Muslim jihadists now in Northern Mali, but it's not only them, it's also local people. When France's Hollande says ' he wants to get those Jihadists out of Mali,' the problem is he's also talking about Malians - he wants to get Malians out of Mali, and that is his problem,'..."
Mali - One War Can Hide Another by Thierry Meyssan
http://www.voltairenet.org/article177190.html
"A long time in the making and announced by Francois Hollande six months in advance, the French intervention in Mali was portrayed as an emergency decision in response to dramatic developments. This scheme aims not only at seizing Mali's gold and uranium, but more especially at paving the way for the destabilization of Algeria..."
the 'Arab Spring' continues...
Iran Urges Immediate End to Mali War
http://www.presstv.com/detail/2013/01/23/285226/iran-urges-immediate-end...
"A senior Iranian Foreign Ministry official has called for an immediate end to the French-led war in Mali. Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahlan made the call on Wednesday, urging the maintenance of Mali's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.
'The Islamic Republic of Iran, while pursuing the developments in this country, expressed regret over the killing and displacement of thousands of innocent civilians in this country,' he said..."
The Canadian government has cobbled together a nascent political consensus with the Opposition NDP that should permit an extended deployment of Canada's heavy-lift military cargo plane, which is ferrying war equipment into Mali. New Democrat Leader Tom Mulcair agreed Sunday to allow the air force's C-17 cargo plane to continue assisting French and American forces as they battle al-Qaeda-linked militants, said NDP Foreign Affairs critic Paul Dewar. Mulcair told Harper he supports the decision to send the transport and even favours the French intervention, Dewar said.
Say NDPP, you're more up to date on events of this nature than many of us seem or want to be. Are you able to at least ballpark the number of NDP sponsored wars of late? And what do you make of the imperialist doctrine that has now solidified throughout the party as though it were a platform to stand on, both in terms of what the leadership is willing to support, and the apparent silence on these matters from the rank and file?
Hi Slumberjack,
Libya, Syria, Mali...have I forgotten any? Mr Mulcair describes himself as 'an ardent supporter of Israel' as well, so perhaps war on Gaza should be added to the list? And Iran in the future also maybe. The NDP will never seriously oppose the interests of empire. But as we are reminded here repeatedly about the Cons and Libs, - they are even worse...as for the silence of the rank on-file, let's ask them...?
ps France's President is a 'Socialist' and he's quite comfortable making war on Africa, so just imagine how easy it'll be for a mere Social Democrat...
It seems to be the sales shtick, that the bad is good by comparison with everything else. There's a Churchillian ring to it.
I'm more than willing to give the NDP a chance at governing. They have more progressives in their caucus than the other parties as far as I can see. I doubt a Mulcair cabinet would support him in useless military actions.
I doubt a Mulcair cabinet would support him in useless military actions.
Well, on this and other foreign policy issues they've either demonstrated vocal sycophancy to Mulcair's own imperialist toadyings, or they relish the 'shadow' aspect of their portfolios to such an extent that they're practically indistinguishable from their conservative and liberal surroundings. Perhaps you're working from another basis entirely to support this doubtless enthusiasm?
I doubt a Mulcair cabinet would support him in useless military actions.Well, on this and other foreign policy issues they've either demonstrated vocal sycophancy to Mulcair's own imperialist toadyings, or they relish the 'shadow' aspect of their portfolios to such an extent that they're practically indistinguishable from their conservative and liberal surroundings. Perhaps you're working from another basis entirely to support this doubtless enthusiasm?
And our corrupt stooges in Ottawa are just that - toadies to the vicious empire for now. Steve the head stooge jinxed Canada's application for membership in the UNSC club.
Apparently herr Harper is only an aspiring, wannabe vicious toadie and will have to settle for two-bit vicious toadie sans Security Council voting status. He's an incompetent as vicious toadies go.
Any toadying the NDP votes for is merely token politicking and does not count numerically against Harper's phony-baloney majority. Harper doesn't need the NDP's actual support, and so the NDP has no blood on their hands.
Since Harper has a majority, why can't the NDP take a strong principled stand on everything they believe in - instead of being Caspar Milquetoasts?
Harper doesn't need the NDP's support so why give it to him?
Either they agree with the mission or they are going against their principles for political gain. Which do you think it is Fidel?
.
Since Harper has a majority, why can't the NDP take a strong principled stand on everything they believe in - instead of being Caspar Milquetoasts?
Do you really want to know? It's because strong and principled never win phony majorities. Look at the sad excuses for PM and premiers in office now.
McGuinty strong and principled? Pfff!
Harper strong and principled? lol-worthy
Craig Scott Represents NDP at Fair Vote Canada Conference
We have consistently called for changes to our first-past-the-post electoral system by combining it with a proportional representation system that more accurately reflects the political will and decisions of the voting public.
In case no one has noticed, our obsolete electoral system does not reflect the will of the voting public. FPTP actually distorts the results and reflects poorly on the will of the public. FPTP is a total disconnect from the will of the public.
FPTP is electoral fraud. The NDP really only have [color=red]two choices:[/color]
1.) politick and cast token votes for issues they never would have before and hope to score more votes than they lose from the traditional "base" of support, or
2.) Take principled stands on votes which results in saving exactly zero lives in Libya and thereby commit political suicide courtesy of the bad electoral system. And then wind up at 10% in "the polls" as a result of cold war shanangigans part deux. No. Thank. You.
Foreign policy is safe - the NDP knows their vote affects no decisions to march the army into Afghanistan or bomb Libya etc. Anyway, no-fly over Libya had nothing to do with bombing it. Harper's bosses in Warshington, and legitimate toadies to the vicious empire in Paris and London made that decision not Harper their part-time wannabe toadie. The NDP are even further removed from the actual decision and political will to send the luftwaffe into Africa.
And Harper much less the NDP has zero say in whether or not to aid and abet "Al Qaeda" terrorists in Syria and North Africa. That is a total Gladio operation. Harper's just a stooge who they know will be out of a job by 2015. They can prop up zero personality stooges for only so long.
