When it comes to religion, I am not a believer nor am I a student of theology. I am but a mere observer, much more inclined to fact than faith. I don’t have a high regard for any religion but there are things about most that I appreciate. Buddhism, for
Continue readingTag: Islamic State
Alberta Politics: Trudeau in India, Part II: Canadian governments, and not just Liberals, have a history of playing footsie with bad actors
PHOTOS: A screenshot of what looks like a video of the controversial snapshot of Jaspal Atwal and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, grabbed from Twitter. The ownership of the photo is attributed variously, usually to the last place someone saw it. What does seem clear is that Mr. Atwal was almost as
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Dmitry Medvedev on US airstrikes on Syria: “On the verge of a military clash with Russia”
Responding to the US airstrikes on Syria, Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev declared in a Facebook post: “On the verge of a military clash with Russia”. Justifying the airstrikes, PM Justin Trudeau said Assad’s “use of chemical weapons and the crimes the Syrian regime has committed against its own people cannot
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: With Syria missile strikes, Trump turns from non-intervention to waging war
The US’ cruise missile strikes against Syria’ Shayrat airforce base mark President Donald Trump’s first big foreign policy test. For foreign policy realists, Trump’s swift turn from non-intervention to waging war raises fears about his administration’s inconsistent and chaotic approach to world affairs. The post With Syria missile strikes, Trump
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Trudeau announces end of Islamic State bombing mission by Feb 22
PM Justin Trudeau has kept his promise to end Canada’s bombing mission in Syria. Conservative opposition leader Rona Ambrose and her caucus have been very critical suggesting that we will not be pulling our weight Read more…
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Reassessing NATO: Canada shouldn’t let itself be ‘Article Fived’ into a war by Turkey’s Islamist president
PHOTOS: A bunch of NATO political bureaucrats try to look busy in this file photo. Recognize anyone? Below: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Russian President Vladimir Putin and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Does it benefit Canada in …
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Brad Wall’s call to block refugees from Syria is just more of the same old conservative wedge politics
PHOTOS: Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall (CBC Photo). Below: Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott and B.C. Premier Christy Clark. Bottom: Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is either demonized or ignored by Western mainstream media. In light of the inevitably angry and emotional response to the Paris terror attacks
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: John Oliver Rants Against Paris Attackers: “Fuck These Assholes”
Comedian John Oliver has the perfect response to the Islamic State-linked terrorists who carried out last Friday’s barbaric attack in Paris, France, killing 129 people. The post John Oliver Rants Against Paris Attackers: “Fuck These Assholes” appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingGoing to jail for words
One morning in early June, Aaron Driver was walking to his bus stop in Winnipeg’s Charleswood neighbourhood when a white, unmarked van pulled up, armed men got out, forced him into the van and drove away. This is Canada, so of course the men were police officers and they were
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: How Harper Turned Canada into a Rogue State
Richard Hughes-Political Blogger How Harper Turned Canada into a Rogue State It was not easy for those who went before us to build Canada into the remarkable and much respected country that it has been until now, until the reckless and unbalanced power hungry Prime Minister Steve Harper has grabbed
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Trudeau To Support Harper’ Imminent Iraq War Extension
Liberal leader open to supporting Stephen Harper’s imminent extension of Canada’s combat mission against Islamic State terrorist group in Iraq. The post Trudeau To Support Harper’ Imminent Iraq War Extension appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Six things we all need to think about when Canadians volunteer to fight for the Kurds
The Kurds: They should have had a country of their own, but since they don’t, and since Canada is allied by treaty to one of their principal enemies, letting Canadians join their fight isn’t a simple matter. We need clarity on just what Canada’s position is from the Canadian government.
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Time for a New Approach to ISIS?
When the Islamic State overran most of Sunni Iraq, the West invoked the default option – air strikes. We decided that a good course of therapy with precision-guided, thousand pound bombs was just what the doctor ordered. Like loyal gang members we lined up for the chance to turn rubble
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Alberta’s big problem is the same as Russia’s – so what’s Stephen Harper doing about it?
Keep those wells a-pumpin! Keep those oil prices low! Squeeze those Russkies! Uh … just a minute. … isn’t that bad for Alberta’s many varieties of Conservative? Below: Russian President Vladimir Putin, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and Mr. Harper’s hero, Margaret Thatcher. The Globe and Mail, tireless cheerleader for
Continue readingSaudi Arabia—beheading capital of the world
Of all the atrocities committed by the Islamic State, the ones that got the most attention were the very public beheadings of two American journalists and a British aid worker. Beheading is indeed a sordid act. And yet we remain on excellent terms with the beheading champion of the world.
Continue readingWill we have to bomb the Shias now?
We are all familiar with the depravity of the Islamic State. Tragically, some of their foes are also descending into the moral depths. According to a report by Amnesty International, Shia militias, often armed and supported by the Iraqi government, “have been abducting and killing Sunni civilian men in Baghdad
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Ten Questions about the Harper Government’s embrace of war with ISIS-ISIL-IS
Ready, Aye, Ready! Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird whips up the War Party in the House of Commons. Below: Stephen Harper, the prime minister, and Edmonton Centre MP Laurie Hawn. Stephen Harper, John Baird, Laurie Hawn and the rest of the boys yesterday finally got the war in Iraq they’ve
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Elizabeth May Responds To Harper’s Iraq War Motion
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May agrees with Harper that “Canada cannot stand on the sidelines,” but warns that “bombings have never ended an Islamic or any religious extremist terrorist threat.” The post Elizabeth May Responds To Harper’s Iraq War Motion appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingCuriosityCat: Iraq, Syria & the Islamic State: Obama’s new & revised Queensbury Rules
For many years, a code has governed the manly art of boxing: the Queensbury Rules, endorsed by John Douglas, the Marquess of Queensbury. These rules set out what you can and cannot do to your opponent in the boxing ring, and are equated with a sense of fair play and
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Harper Lied About U.S. Requesting Canada’s Military Help In Iraq
American officials say Canada offered further military help to fight the Islamic State in Iraq – not the other way around as Harper told the Wall Street Journal earlier this week. The post Harper Lied About U.S. Requesting Canada’s Military Help In Iraq appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
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