War Is Peace-keeping

To misquote Orwell.

When is WAR not WAR?

When it is part of a convoluted argument by Progressives For War, (PFW) in order to justify their mistaken allegiance to the Canadian State and its military actions. In this case in both Afghanistan and Haiti. These are NOT WAR's according to the PFW.

This is the argument posed by Skippy the Amazing Wonderdog, and cross posted at the Torch . Skippy sez, and pardon me while I quote him extensively in order to address his argument;

This is not really the case in Afghanistan. The enemy Canadian soldiers face -- or do not face, in fact -- is not organized in any military sense, does not occupy terrain, and cannot be defeated through firepower alone. Calling this a "war" is an attempt to manipulate perception by emphasizing combat operations.

The Taliban certainly are an organized military as they were also the Government and State of Afghanistan and as such can be considered the Government in exile. There are also Warlords, gee that title might hint at their involvement with 'war', who rule a variety of provinces. There is Al-Qaida which was an army in Afghanistan, and of course there are various armed tribal groups spread through out the Tribal districts between the Afghanistan and Pakistan border. All of these are organized Mujahadin armies. Even if they use Guerrilla tactics.

Does it matter what we call it? Yes, it matters a great deal, at least as far as public opinion is concerned. Canadians seem happy to support "peacekeeping," but they aren't so keen on seeing Canadian troops deployed in a "combat role." But what does that really mean?

Peacekeeping which is currently being trashed by the Right and the PFW,is also being dismissed as an outmoded idea by the Conservative government and its spokespersons. Peacekeeping by definition is:

• Deploy to prevent the outbreak of conflict or the spill-over of conflict across borders;
• Stabilize conflict situations after a cease fire, to create an environment for the parties to reach a lasting peace agreement;
• Assist in implementing comprehensive peace agreements;
• Lead states or territories through a transition to stable government, based on democratic principles, good governance and economic development.

What we are not doing in Kandahar is peacekeeping. We are in combat to pacify the province of Kandahar and its surrounding region in order to create the conditions for peacekeeping.

There was plenty of support for a "combat role" in the Balkans, where one side of the civil war had been demonized.

True, especially when the war against Serbia was declared the first Humanitarian War by Clinton. However there were many of us opposed to that war, including some who now support the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Jingoism and nationalism in this case was replaced with bleeding heart liberalism, the poor suffering Albanians in Kosovo vs. the nasty demonic Serbs. However as that war was conducted and Serb civilians were targeted, the humanitarian gave way to the usual conduct of war. And suddenly it was clear that this was an Imperialist War as all wars are.

Nobody seemed to notice at first that our operation in Somalia was not "peacekeeping," and Canadians initially supported that ill-fated deployment. There would have been little objection to sending troops into Rwanda to stop the genocide by force.

In fact Somalia was a peace keeping mission from the beginning . The failure which led to scandal and national shame, a national inquiry found that the mission was ill conceived from the begining, was that Canadian military leadership failed to define it as a Peacekeeping mission rather than a combat mission. Canadians were led to believe that Somalia was a peacekeeping mission, but with the American involvement it quickly degenerated into another oil war, with the consequences of being a failure for the UN and a disaster for Canadian Forces.

Rwanda on the other had was the result of Imperialist disdain and interference. In this case the interference of France and Belgium, the former colonial masters in that region of Africa, it was their refusal to allow the UN in, and their support of the Hutu subaltern leadership that led to the disaster. The failure of American Imperialism in Somalia, their first defeat in battle since Viet Nam, led them to abandon Rwanda.

There would be, on the other hand, a strong objection to deploying Canadian troops in a "combat role" to overthrow a government -- in other words, to "war" as we usually understand it

Really then what was the coup that Canada supported militarily in Haiti two years ago? Canada led the joint American, French, UN troops in a combat operation to overthrow a duly elected government? And we are still there. Despite the most recent election. These are combat operations, war by any other name.

And in Haiti's case we led those operations, because of Quebec's close relationship with Haiti. In fact as I have written here, it is because both Canada and Quebec view Haiti as our 'neo-colony'. See Gildan Sweat Shop Success Story


So let's ask an expert on War, Carl Phillip Gottfriedvon Clausewitz as to his definition of it;

War therefore is an act of violence to compel our opponent to fulfil our will.

Violence arms itself with the inventions of Art and Science in order to contend against violence. Self-imposed restrictions, almost imperceptible and hardly worth mentioning, termed usages of International Law, accompany it without essentially impairing its power. Violence, that is to say physical force (for there is no moral force without the conception of states and law), is therefore the means; the compulsory submission of the enemy to our will is the ultimate object. In order to attain this object fully, the enemy must be disarmed; and this is, correctly speaking, the real aim of hostilities in theory. It takes the place of the final object, and puts it aside in a manner as something not properly belonging to war.

So yes folks this is a war we are in. And yes we should be opposed to this war.

Those PFW who say this is not war are merely deluding themselves, or like Skippy the Wonderdog barking at the moon.



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Stephen Chretien

Stageleft makes some interesting observations on Chantel Herberts latest column in the Toronto Star comparing, gasp, Stephen Harper to Jean Chretien. Similarities: Harper and Chretien

I personally think a picture tells the story. It's all about the finger.

For two years, Martin navigated with his finger stuck on the pulse of public opinion.

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Price Fixing Booze

This is happening in Alberta home of Free Enterprize.

Drink prices rising?
Alberta is eyeing a minimum price for booze in bars and restaurants in a bid to stop customers from pounding back drinks and pounding on each other.The province is considering the floor price following concerns raised by bar owners, police and municipalities, Gaming Minister Gordon Graydon said Monday."Once upon a time, long ago, Alberta did have minimum drink prices. It would be going back to that policy," he said. He said the issue will be explored at a round-table discussion in Calgary later this month.

So much for the "Free market" in booze. Once upon a time we also had unionized liquor stores run by the province.

It is of course alright to privatize the liquor stores , despite the loss of monies it created, but now the business folks want the State to regulate per shot prices.

Once again proving that the capitalist state exists to do what business wants, not what the supposedly sacred "market " wants. Guaranteed prices means a guaranteed profit, and lessens competition between bars and lounges. Hey isn't that price fixing by any other name? Why of course it is.

Next time you hear the refrain about the need for government to get out of business or how the free market creates competition, remember this. Business hates a free market, it wants an assured market, it wants the state to guarantee its business. Protectionism is ok to these guys until they become a monopoly and then they want markets to open up to them.

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The King is Dead Long Live the King

King Ralph has announced, finally, that he is retiring October 2007, as he said he would during the last election.

This allows him to stop being made a fool of on April 1 when the Party of Calgary (PC's) gathers for its annual meeting and leadership review.

The knives are out and ever the populist Klein thwarted the embarassment of not having the parties support, which he demanded earlier this year when he challenged them to support him or else.

Alberta is now being governed by the Retirement Party, after Premier Ralph Klein confirmed he plans to step down as head of the Conservative dynasty -- but not for 19 long and aimless months.

And while his announcement not means that the leadership race which has been occuring in the back rooms will not become official till November of 2007, the infighting and backstabbing will make the Chretien and Martin struggles in the Liberals look like a fight in a sandbox.

Jim Dinning, who some consider the front-runner among six leadership hopefuls, said "there's still some confusion" about when the official leadership race will begin."If the date is October 2007, does the race start now or does the race start then?" Dinning said in an interview.

As I have noted before this is a struggle between the Calgary Capitalist Class which are classic liberals and the right wing social conservative rump in the party.

Ah there is no joy in mudville with this announcement, it merely delays the inevitable. The King is in his counting house, mad as a hatter. He is following his own agenda despite his party, his caucus or his MLA's. He is saving his own ass at the expense of his party.

More articles on King Ralph.

Tories risk taking same trip over a cliff as Socreds

That means the Conservatives won't have a new leader in place until February 2008 -- which gives the party little time to rebuild before the next provincial election is held, likely the same year.

Disaffected Tories are afraid Klein is giving himself too much time to say goodbye and the new leader too little time to say hello.

For them, 19 months is more than enough time for Klein's distracted, at times grumpy, leadership style to drive more supporters away from the party, and to drive the party over the same cliff that claimed the Alberta Social Credit Party and the federal Progressive Conservative Party under Brian Mulroney.

The grumblers are a paranoid lot and they're overstating their worst-case scenario. But they'll be voting at the party's convention and the only way they'd give Klein a ringing endorsement to stay is if he announces he's leaving -- soon.

Klein might still win the leadership vote by a comfortable margin, but then what?

How can he govern for the next 19 months?

He is such a lame duck he'll need crutches to get around for the next year.

Klein to step down next year
Globe and Mail - 4 hours ago
EDMONTON -- Ralph Klein, the country's most colourful and longest-serving Premier, ended years of speculation yesterday by finally announcing his official retirement date: October of 2007.
Klein says he'll quit in October 2007 Toronto Star
Klein locks in retirement date CBC.ca
Canada.com - CTV.ca - Calgary Sun - Edmonton Journal (subscription) - all 47 related »

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Democracy is Ok Abroad

King Stephen the Harpocrite assured the puppet regime in Afghanistan that Canada is behind our Military Mission there, for now. Because he will NOT allow any debate on the issue. Of course when it comes to extending the deployment next year well that's another story.


So while the cheerleaders on the right and the PFW (Progressives for War) applaud our troops fighting for democracy in Afghanistan, at home it is being denied to us.

New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton said it would not look good for Canada's Prime Minister to deny MPs a vote on a military mission aimed at encouraging democracy. "We think it would be ironic that we're defending democracy in another country but not permitting a fundamental democratic process in our own," he said.

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Doctors Pass on Third Way

File this under the Government forgot to consult.....delegates to an Alberta Medical Association policy meeting voted unanimously Saturday not to back his Third Way plan to allow for more private medical treatment.


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P&O

Pennisular & Oriental Steamships is the company that is being taken over by the UAE Kingdom of Dubai.

DP World, a ports company owned by the Maktoum family that rules Dubai, one of the seven sheikdoms in the United Arab Emirates, was forced to sell the U.S. port operations of Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation in the face of congressional opposition.

The irony behind all the sturm and drang in the USSA over this is that this is simply a transfer of a royal charter between royality. Who said the aritstocracy was dead. It simply has been transformed into Ruling Class Families.Clintons are on both sides of Dubai deal

P&O Royal Charter

P&O - The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company - is one of the world's foremost developers and operators of container ports. We are also the leading ferry operator in the UK and have property interests in the US and Europe. P&O was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1840. The Charters and Regulations of the Company are set out below.

P&O Royal Charter (PDF format, 242 KB)

The other irony is that P&O replaces the B&O line in the international version of the game of Monopoly!

What few people have pointed out is that in the international edition of Monopoly, when you buy P&O, you get India for free



And while folks in the USSA are all upset about Arabs owning P&O it got its start under British Imperialism as the Royal Steamship line in charge of transportation in Egypt.

It was consulted on the extension of similar mail services into the Mediterranean. In 1840, it received a contract for a monthly run to Alexandria, and to raise the 1 million pounds needed it became a limited liability company: The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company was incorporated by a Royal Charter on 31 December 1840, and remains to this day one of the few British companies not operating under the Companies Act.

Oriental Extension
Larger ships were acquired for the Egyptian run, still larger ones - all of 2,000 tons - built to brave monsoon weather on the Calcutta/Suez line opened in 1843. By 1845 P&O services reached Singapore and Hong Kong and in 1852 extended to Sydney. The company's three great imperial mail routes - India, the Far East and Australia - had been established in less than a decade.

Evolving from being the monopoly steamship line for British Imperialism, in the 21st Century P&O transformed itself into a Global Monopoly, it is the foremost and leading promoter of privatization of Ports and container transportation.

The completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 brought with it a variety of competitors for P&O's virtual monopoly on long distance steamer service to the Far East. To remain competitive the company cut overhead including "abolishing free liquor at meals." In the early 20th century the firm acquired more than a dozen shipping companies; during the World Wars its ships transported troops and supplies in support of the war efforts.

The company reorganized in 1971, and during the 80s converted nearly all its dry cargo operations to container shipping. It was during this period that it turned its attention to "the necessary on-shore infrastructure of container ports, inland depots, and road, rail and inland waterway transport links." P & O also briefly expanded into oil exploration in the North Sea and US, and into housing construction and industrial services. By 1999 "[t]hese interests, no longer needed to support the Group's core businesses, had largely been sold."

P&O Ports, the P&O Group company responsible for port development, investment, operating and stevedoring activities, began as an Australian terminal operating entity, and expanded internationally in 1986 with the privatization of the Port Kelang container terminal in Malaysia. The P&O Ports web site notes "This was one of the first privatizations of public port assets undertaken worldwide and its great success resulted in it becoming an international model. "

Monopoly, the old Mercantilist power relationship between the aritsocracy and its capitalists is again being played out on the global stage, with America playing the role of protectionist Empire as Britain once did. Another irony.
Is globalisation facing threat of a collapse?

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Harper's Chef, Nanny, and Car Washer Fired

King Stephen the Harpocrite continues his purges, not unlike that other famous autarch.

It has been revealed that Mr. Secrecy has recalled five diplomats prior to their completing their terms.

Now he has fired his Chef.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is being sued by a man who claims his dismissal as a Stornoway chef was "insulting, high-handed, spiteful, malicious and oppressive."

Yep that sounds like the Harpocrite. Even worse the poor man was subjected to being demoted in his job by Mrs. PM and relegated to the duties of a nanny.

He alleges he took on other duties for which he was not paid, including babysitting the couple's two children, washing the family car and burying one of Harper's pet cats after it died.

Lundsgaard alleges that about one month before Harper won the Jan. 23 election, Laureen Harper led him to believe he would become the head chef at 24 Sussex Drive. Both the prime minister and his wife are named in the suit.

Lundsgaard says he received a letter on election day telling him that his services were no longer needed.

The rich and powerful you see have nannies to take care of their needs and their children. Which is why the Harpocrites see no need for daycare for working mothers and working class families.

Why every family should have a nanny, Chef, car washer and cat mortician. If not then what are wives for?



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Harpers Real Reason For Kandahar Visit

Here is the real reason that King Stephen the Harpocrite has run away to join the Troops in Kandahar....Harper avoiding showdown over Alberta's Third Way health plan




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Harper In Kandahar for Timmies

Apparently King Stephen the Harpocrite is over in Kandahar now, this very minute in his personal war on Terrorism. Defending Canada, with the troops cause well we all know that the phony war on Terrorism has always been his pet project.

Harper tells troops that despite dissent, Canada's staying in ...
Canada.com, Canada - 1 hour ago
Prime Minister Stephen Harper chats with Canadian troops in Kandahar, Afghanistan, Sunday. (CP/Tom Hanson). KANDAHAR, Afghanistan ...
Harper goes to war zone Canada.com
HARPER'S SURPRISE AFGHAN VISIT Globe and Mail
Harper visits troops in Afghanistan Toronto Star
Calgary Sun - CBC News - all 115 related »Harper vows Canada will not ‘run away at the first sign of ...
Globe and Mail, Canada - 3 hours ago
Kandahar, Afghanistan — Prime Minister Stephen Harper served up a healthy portion of praise and support for Canadian soldiers serving in Afghanistan on Monday ...
Harper admits jitters Ottawa Sun
Barely out of warm-ups, PM heads to a hot zone Globe and Mail
all 3 related »

Or perhaps he is site seeing for the new P3 Tim Hortons that will bring the joys of Canadian democracy and culture to Kandahar.

And his trip was like all his actions since being elected PM, super secret.
In this he is imitating his mentor George Bush. Almost word for word.

Harper told reporters accompanying him that the Canadian force in the country serves the national interest because:

• International terrorism is rooted in the country. "It was in Afghanistan that Sept. 11 started."
• The country is a major source of narcotics, which have a terrible impact on Canada.
• It shows Canada providing international leadership and humanitarian aid.

Gee I thought International Terrorism was rooted in Iraq, the reason the Americans gave for going to war, after WMD and Saddam is a dictator. Since the invasion the Bushies have been saying the exact same thing about Iraq, better to fight Terrorism there than in America. They already have to fight armed gangs suffering from poverty and inequality in East LA.

Yes the country is a source of opium which has increased over 200% since the American led invasion. Is there a correlation here?

Leadership? What leadership its a quizziling puppy dog reaction to the orginial American call for NATO to avenge them when they were attacked on Sept. 11. Since then the War on Terror has expanded to Iraq and now it appears even possibly Iran. So which front is this? And if it is a War why has parliament not declared it as such?

Humanitarian Aid? To who? American corporate interests like Halliburton? Or to the Warlords that still oppress women and other citizens? There is no democracy in Afghanistan, there are no liberated territories. There is the failed city state of Kabul and the rest is tribal territories. This is not the Spanish Civil War.

Perhaps if the Americans had not opposed the Russians who were helping the pre- Taliban government fight off the religious fruitcakes and warlords we would not have such a mess there now. Unfortunately human rights is only an issue of convenience for countries like the U.S., to use when it fits their bigger purpose, or to ignore when it does not.

Afghanistan today is certainly no shining example of human rights. To claim protecting human rights as a policy of the occupation of Afghanistan is certainly a joke. Sources report that for women outside of Kabul things may be worse now than under the Taliban. Religious laws still receive official sanction in some areas, and blasphemy is still a crime.

As for democracy, kinda hard to claim to be promoting democracy when King Stephen the Harpocrite refuses to debate this issue in Parliament.

Harper said "the debate over deployment is over," no matter what surveys of public opinion may suggest.

That's it Harper has Declared War and there is no debate. War always the time for serious debate He is being a muscular and masculine politician, something he always wanted to be to get over his policy wonk nerdishness. Harper Will Make Canada Masculine Again Beware of the nerd who gains power.


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