Canada: Can Military Suicides Soar

As reported by the CBC suicides in the Canadian Military have soared over the past year, literally doubling from the year before.

Year Suicides Regular force & reserves Rate per 100,000
2003 14 86,937 16.1
2004 17 90,772 18.7
2005 17 91,285 18.6
2006 20 96,318 20.7
2007 36 87,000 41.4

This is very much connected to the ongoing Afghanistan mission where soldiers are becoming overextended. These were listed as "sudden deaths" by the military in 2007 and are only the ones that are officially stated. It is possible that there are veterans who commit suicide after they have left the services. However, these numbers report the saddening increase in suicide rates among active duty personnel.

Ottawa: Hundreds Protest War, Thousands More around the World

Approximately 700-1000 people took over the streets of Ottawa yesterday in opposition to the continuing occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. The protest was part of a national and international series of protests against these continuing wars. March 19th is the 5th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq which has killed over 29000 officially and some estimates go as high as one million dead as a result of the invasion. Protests in Canada and the UK were called for the Saturday before though many protests in the United States are happening actually on the 19th.

The Ottawa protest which joined Canadians coast to coast in over 20 reported cities was mainly focused on Canadian direct involvement in Afghanistan. The occupation has become increasingly unpopular throughout the country as according to the latest Angus Reid Poll [1] 61% of Canadians oppose the extension of the mission beyond February 2009 and 53% saying they would like to see a withdrawal even before February 2009. Despite the widespread opposition this past thursday a motion was past in Parliament to extend the occupation until 2011. It was opposed by the NDP, Bloc, and a few lone Liberals, but it was passed mainly out of desire by the Liberals not to go into an election, not what the electorate wanted.

Students started the rally here in Ottawa starting from the University of Ottawa and mainly comprising Carleton University and University of Ottawa students who were members of the Student Coalition Against War. They blocked off Rideau and Sussex with a mockuppation a reccuring theme for Ottawa students. With people in orange jump suits and many people with red paint representing blood on their hands they denounced the war and shouted about war profiteers including companies like SNC Lavalin and Boeing. The protest was marched down Sussex to meet the main demonstration starting at the National Art Gallery.

At the National Art Gallery there were a number of speakers organized by the Ottawa Peace Congress. Some of the speakers included Francios Picard of the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa, the assistant to the President of the Canadian Labour Congress, members of various local peace groups, Qais Ghanem a poet and Green Party candidate for Ottawa South, NDP Member of Parliament Libby Davies as well as her colleagues from the Gatineau NDP coalition, a representative from the Association of Arab Professionals and, performances by the Just Voices Choir and the Raging Grannies.

As demonstrators started to get cold due to the snowy weather the protest was moved going through part of the market leading to the United States Embassy. Outside the Embassy a large die in was enacted using a giant tarp and about a third of the demonstrators. Chants were shout out such as "Bush and Harper are the Same the Only Difference is the name" and "Bush Bush We know you, your daddy was a killer too" as well as the death tolls in Iraq and Afghanistan being read out. It has been estimated around 40,000 people have been killed so far in Afghanistan. Afterwards the protest moved up to a brief stop off at Parliament Hill. After that the demonstration split up many people going home and some going to the Anti-War teach-in that happened at the Ottawa Public Library including a recent CBC documentary on how Drug Lords rule Afghanistan's parliament, a live video feed from Winter Soldier the testimonies of US soldiers testifying of the atrocities they've seen and done in Iraq and Afghanistan, finishing with some speeches from Afghanistani community members.

All Images are my own property. Unfortunately my camera battery died before the actual march started images are of the Student Protest and pre-march presentation

In Memory: Of all those who Died

I would like everyone who reads this today or in the coming weeks to take one minute. Just one minute out of their lives to have a moment of silence for those who have died in the occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq, not to mention in all other wars. Below is a list of Canadian soldiers who have died in Afghanistan, let us remember them and outcry against the death of any more. I wish I could say more about each person who has died, but as wars rage on people become faces, faces become names, names become numbers and, numbers are faceless and nameless.

2002
Sergeant Marc D. Léger Lancaster, Ontario
Corporal Ainsworth Dyer Montreal, Quebec
Private Richard Green Mill Cove, Nova Scotia
Private Nathan Smith Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia

2003
Sergeant Robert Alan Short Fredericton, New Brunswick
Corporal Robbie Christopher Beerenfenger Ottawa, Ontario

2004
Corporal Jamie Brendan Murphy Conception Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador

2005
Private Braun Scott Woodfield Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia

2006
Diplomat Glyn Berry United Kingdom
Master Corporal Timothy Wilson Grande Prairie, Alberta
Corporal Paul Davis Bridgewater, Nova Scotia
Private Robert Costall Gibsons, British Columbia
Corporal Matthew Dinning Richmond Hill, Ontario
Lieutenant William Turner Toronto, Ontario
Myles Mansell Victoria, British Columbia
Corporal Randy Payne Gananoque, Ontario
Captain Nichola Goddard Calgary, Alberta
Corporal Anthony Boneca Thunder Bay, Ontario
Corporal Francisco Gomez Edmonton, Alberta
Corporal Jason Patrick Warren Quebec City, Quebec
Corporal Christopher Jonathan Reid Truro, Nova Scotia
Sergeant Vaughn Ingram Burgeo, Newfoundland and Labrador
Corporal Bryce Jeffrey Keller Regina, Saskatchewan
Private Kevin Dallaire Calgary, Alberta
Master Corporal Raymond Arndt Edson, Alberta
Master Corporal Jeffrey Scott Walsh Regina, Saskatchewan
Corporal Andrew James Eykelenboom Comox, British Columbia
Corporal David Braun Raymore, Saskatchewan
Warrant Officer Frank Robert Mellish Truro, Nova Scotia
Warrant Officer Richard Francis Nolan Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador
Private William Jonathon James Cushley Port Lambton, Ontario
Sergeant Shane Stachnik Waskatenau, Alberta
Private Mark Anthony Graham Hamilton, Ontario
Private David Byers Espanola, Ontario
Corporal Shane Keating Dalmeny, Saskatchewan
Corporal Keith Morley Winnipeg, Manitoba
Corporal Glen Arnold McKerrow, Ontario
Private Josh Klukie Thunder Bay, Ontario
Sergeant Craig Paul Gillam South Branch, Newfoundland and Labrador
Corporal Robert Thomas James Mitchell Owen Sound, Ontario
Trooper (Private) Mark Andrew Wilson London, Ontario
Sergeant Darcy Tedford Calgary, Alberta
Private Blake Williamson Ottawa, Ontario
Chief Warrant Officer Robert Girouard Bouctouche, New Brunswick
Corporal Albert Storm Niagara Falls, Ontario

2007
Corporal Kevin Megeney Stellarton, Nova Scotia
Sergeant Donald Lucas St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Corporal Aaron E. Williams Lincoln, New Brunswick
Corporal Brent Poland Camlachie, Ontario
Private David Robert Greenslade Saint John, New Brunswick
Private Kevin Vincent Kennedy St. Lawrence, Newfoundland and Labrador
Corporal Christopher Paul Stannix Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Master Corporal Allan Stewart Newcastle, New Brunswick
Trooper Patrick James Pentland Geary, New Brunswick
Master Corporal Anthony Klumpenhouwer Listowel, Ontario
Corporal Matthew McCully Orangeville, Ontario
Master Corporal Darryl Jason Priede Burlington, Ontario
Trooper Darryl Caswell Bowmanville, Ontario
Sergeant Christos Karigiannis Laval, Quebec
Corporal Stephen Frederick Bouzane Scarborough, Ontario
Private Joel Vincent Wiebe Edmonton, Alberta
Captain Matthew Johnathan Dawe Kingston, Ontario
Corporal Jordan Anderson Iqaluit, Nunavut
Corporal Cole Bartsch Whitecourt, Alberta
Private Lane Watkins Clearwater, Manitoba
Captain Jefferson Francis Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
Master Corporal Colin Bason Abbotsford, British Columbia
Private Simon Longtin Longueuil, Quebec
Master Warrant Officer Mario Mercier Estrie, Quebec
Master Corporal Christian Duchesne Montreal, Quebec
Major Raymond Ruckpaul Hamilton, Ontario
Corporal Nathan Hornburg Calgary, Alberta
Corporal Nicolas Raymond Beauchamp Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec
Private Michel Levesque Rivière-Rouge, Quebec
Gunner Jonathan Dion Val-d'Or, Quebec

2008
Warrant Officer Hani Massouh Alexandria, Egypt
Corporal Eric Labbé Rimouski, Quebec
Trooper Richard Renaud Alma, Quebec
Corporal Etienne Gonthier Quebec City, Quebec
Trooper Michael Yuki Hayakaze Edmonton, Alberta
Bombardier Jérémie Ouellet Matane, Quebec

Activist Video: Sara Marlowe Power of the People

Rise up! Show the power of the people tomorrow!

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION
WORLD AGAINST WAR
BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW
RALLY AND MARCH
Saturday, March 15, 1 PM
Gather at the National Gallery
(Giant Spider, St. Patrick and Sussex, map)
Student Protest outside University of Ottawa Morriset Library 12 noon

Across Canada: Canadian Peace Alliance Call-Out

Activist Video: 5 Years Too Many

Protests are happening around the world to mark the 5th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. For those in Ottawa please join in the protest against the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Ottawa Saturday March 15th
1pm Rally And March starting at the National Gallery
2:30pm A Teach in at the National Archives of Canada

For those in other parts of Canada go to: The Canadian Peace Alliance
For those in the United States go to: 5 Years Too Many
For those in the UK go to: Stop the War Coalition

Afghanistan: Opium Production and Death Toll on the Rise

In Afghanistan things seem to be getting worse according to opium production and death tolls. Opium used to create the world's supply of mainly heroin has been a major issue in Afghanistan for many years. Before the invasion of US and NATO led forces into Afghanistan in 2001/2 Afghanistan had been the lead supplier of Opium producing approximately 75% of the world's opium in 1999. However, come 2000 to early 2001 the Taliban reduced the cultivation drastically which was confirmed by the United Nations [1]. Since the coalition invasion however opium production has risen each year to formerly unknown heights. In 2007 93% of the worlds opium came from Afghanistan which is more then any country ever before. It is also estimated that 14% of Afghanis are participating in the cultivation of poppies [2] and a 78% unemployment rate. This is mainly due to the increasing instability in the country and the economic viability of opium which produces at least 4X or more profits in comparison to other crops.

The instability in Afghanistan is seen very blatantly through increasing mortality rates. 2007 also had the highest mortality rates of more then 6500 deaths by direct conflict 222 being outside forces [3] including 30 Canadians. Five more Canadian soldiers have died already this year including yesterday Trooper Michael Yuki Hayakaze, with no knowledge of how many more casualties will result during the spring and summer -- consistently the most violent time when the most Canadians have lost their lives.

Not to mention that though part of the reason for this war is "Women's Rights". The rights of women are worse then ever. A male journalism student recently looked at a article on the internet that said that women's subjection under Islam was actually a misrepresentation of the Prophet Mohammed's words and the Koran. This has resulted him having to go to court with a possible death sentence. To quote The Independent of London "Violent attacks against females, usually domestic, are at epidemic proportions with 87 per cent of females complaining of such abuse – half of it sexual. More than 60 per cent of marriages are forced. Despite a new law banning the practice, 57 per cent of brides are under the age of 16. The illiteracy rate among women is 88 per cent with just 5 per cent of girls attending secondary school. Maternal mortality rates – one in nine women dies in childbirth – are the highest in the world alongside Sierra Leone." [4] It seems that despite the overthrowing of the Taliban regime things in Afghanistan seven years later are worse not better.

Images of Opium Production and a recent Afghan Funeral from the BBC

Canada: Authorization of US troops on Canadian Soil

It seems the Harper and Bush governments have signed a no-longer secret agreement on February 14th authorizing the use of the foreign government's military on domestic soil. Canadian Troops on American soil and American troops on Canadian soil. The result of which is the further integration of the Canadian and American militaries as well as possible abuses of power.

There is distrust of this agreement on both sides of the border. On the Canadian side of the border there is a distrust of the American military and how it has been used around the world. According to many polls Canadians want to be less connected militarily to the United States and want to be more independent working with many other countries around the world. There is a fear that the American military may be called in to quell civilian disturbances such as protests opposing corporations, further integration, the control of Canada's natural resources or dissent against foreign policy decisions. In the United States people feel that Canadian forces may be called in to also quell local dissent and aren't bound by the same laws preventing the use of military and military searches in civilian situations.

I don't doubt the importance of the military during natural crises, but why we need a foreign power especially one that has had serious abuses of power is dangerous for Canadians. When we are in a period when the use of our military is being so hotly debated it is undemocratic and an abuse of power to sign an agreement allowing foreign military on our soil without parliamentary or public consent. This seems just one more step in a North American Union.

Image of Bush, Fox, and Harper at the Security Prosperity Partnership

Ottawa: Reliving Bilderberg

Last night at Ottawa Cinema Politica the movie Endgame by Alex Jones was shown. I have a number of issues with the movie, but he does accurately give information regarding the creation of a North American Union, the Security Prosperity Partnership, local militarization, a history of Eugenics (though I don't agree with all his inferences) and, the Bilderberg Group. The Bilderbergs are a group that has met since the 1950s including major heads of state and, large corporate interests. The group meets secretly in order to have discussions on world affair. Some major members include the Rothchilds, Rockafellers, royalty of the Netherlands, members of the IMF, World Bank, and most western heads of state such as Steven Harper. In 2006 the Bilderbergs met in Ottawa and I was covering them, here are the links for those who were interested.

Bilderberg Posts:
Ottawa: Bilderbergs Arrive Tomorrow
Ottawa: Some Bilderbergs Arrive
Ottawa: Bilderberg Tickets and Researchers
Ottawa: Bilderberg Site and Article Round Up
Ottawa: Bilderbergs at Brookstreet Report
Ottawa: Pictures Outside the Bilderberg Conference
Ottawa: Bilderberg Conclusion

Also people had an interest towards the military takeover and operations in Winnipeg of that same year as many could not believe it.:
Winnipeg: Exercise Charging Bison

Opinion: 2011? Supporting our Troops?

As we come close to the end of Canada's military role in Afghanistan, the war drums are on again to continue the occupation longer. The Canadian combat operations are set to end in Afghanistan in February 2009, a year from now. Due to this Stephen Harper is on the warpath to extend combat operations until 2011. He has stated after that, the operations would be handed over to Afghan security forces.

Yet, this would indicate that slowly the country is getting more stability. This is not the case. Even in Kabul considered one of the safest regions suicide attacks have started, which is a tactic that up until recently was rare in Afghanistan even if a widely used tactic in Iraq. Norway has actually had to evacuate their embassy recently in Kabul [1] due to terror threats. Plus Canadians are having more and more people come home in body bags.

In a letter I sent to former Minister of Defence Gordon O'Conner when the combat mission was extended in May 2006 to continue to February 2009, one of his major statements was "When terrorists attacked the United States on 11
September 2001, 24 Canadians died. We must do all that we can to tackle the
terrorist threat to our national interests before Canadian lives are lost again." [2] In total so far 79 Canadians have died in Afghanistan which by my count is much higher. The numbers are concentrated in the last few years however with 37 deaths in 2006, 30 in 2007 and 4 so far just this year.

According to a recent Strategic Counsel poll [3] more Canadians think that Canada is in Afghanistan because, the United States wants them there. More Canadians think their foreign policy is less independent then 50 years ago and that the US is the thing most influencing foreign policy. Plus according to their July 2007 study [4] Most Canadians (59%) oppose our troops being in Afghanistan.

Lets bring our troops home, go with public opinion, and not see any more destruction of our military or the death of our soldiers.

[1] http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/003200802111653.htm
[2] Personal Email Sept 27, 2006
[3] http://www.thestrategiccounsel.com/our_news/polls/
2007-12-10%20GMCTV%20Dec%206-9%20final.pdf
[4] http://www.thestrategiccounsel.com/our_news/polls/
2007-07-16%20GMCTV%20July%2012-15.pdf

Video: Can. War Resister

Canada has its first public War Resister. Former member of the Canadian Navy and then Army officer canditate, Francisco "Paco" Juarez. I was lucky enough to meet and see him speak in person yesterday at the Canadian Peace Alliance Convention. I encourage everyone to watch this speech of him in Vancouver last month.

Afghanistan: Canadians once again hit by friendly-fire

The first Canadians to die in Afghanistan were killed by friendly-fire due to an American bomber bombing them during a training exercise in 2002. However, during live combat this labour day one Canadian has been killed and 30 more injured by being strafed by NATO planes. The day before four other Canadians were killed in live combat. This brings the total Canadians killed in Afghanistan up to 32 with many more injured.

A Strategic Counsel poll done on July 18th, 2006 showed that 56% of Canadians opposed troops in Afghanistan with only 39% supporting. With a particularly deadly summer where 15 soldiers have been killed since the poll was taken it is quite possible that opposition to troops being in Afghanistan will only increase.

Across the country peace, labour and, faith groups are getting ready for a push against Canadians in Afghanistan by having a major cross-Canada protest on October 28th. The endorsing groups of the action can be seen here.

Ottawa: Dead Soldier wanted home

According to the CBC the 17th Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan wanted to come home. Cpl. Anthony Boneca was killed Sunday west of Kandahar. Kandahar is currently occupied by international forces under Canadian leadership. The mainstream news has said that it is a hotbead for Taliban resistence, but the numbers do not add up and the possibility of resistence simply due to outside occupation is not even mentioned.

The family of the recently killed soldier is calling for the troops to come home. Cpl. Boneca "...felt he had been misled by the military."[1] Stephen Harper stated that, "... On behalf of Canadians, I praise Corporal Boneca's courage and self-sacrifice and I take comfort knowing that his memory will live on in the spirit of fellow CF soldiers serving around the world, and in the hearts of his countrymen who pray for their safe return. ... As a country we stand proudly behind you."[2] On the contrary Mr. Harper you obviously do not support them. Maybe you stand behind them with a gun in their back making them doing what more do not want to then we know. If you support the troops bring them home from the war.

As the war rages on more military families will courageously speak out against this war. This is not the first family to speak out however, dissent against the war is not popular in the media despite about half of Canadians who oppose it. It is up to everyone to speak out against this war for those who cannot.

Montreal: Evidence of Bad treatment of Afghanis by Canadian Soldiers

The Montreal French language newspaper La Presse has gotten footage of Canadian soldiers abusing Afghanis. There has been documentation of widespread abuse of Afghanis especially by US soldiers and regional warlords or druglords. This footage however, is the first major evidence of Canadian soldiers joining in that abuse.

In the footage there is the breaking down of civilians doors, which is a common tactic used by US forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. When actually around civilians or inside the homes there are insults and death threats lodged at the civilians including the elderly. In one section Canadian forces try to bribe a civilian to show them where the 'Taliban' are. The civilian instead refuses saying its their land that they will defend. Due to this footage the paper called it the 'End of Innocence' for Canadian soldiers.

This comes right on the heels of a new largely increased defence budget of an additional $15 billion over the next few years. [1] The increase of military funding and extension of the occupation will only continue the control of Kandahar, a city which is along a route for the trans-Afghan pipeline. With the continued presence of Canadian forces more evidence of abuse may become exposed in the future. US forces have been documented in Afghanistan arbitrarily detaining people, using forced entry at night as well as the use of torture and rape. [2]

Ottawa: Support for Afghan mission continues to Wane

The mission in Afghanistan by Canadian troops according to public opinion polls continues to loose public support. According to a recent poll by Decima Research only 41% of Canadians support the two year extension of the occupation. Only 11% said they strongly supported it as compared to 54% opposed 24% of which said they were strongly opposed.

The polls have showed a slow but steady decline in support of the continuation of Canadian troops overseas in Afghanistan. In April 46% opposed while 45% supported it which was down from the month before by a poll by The Strategic Counsel which showed at the time 55% supported and 41% opposed the mission. As Stephen Harper becomes more and more intertwined with a military occupation started without a vote by the Liberal party it seems to have been losing support.

Ottawa: Where Have Canadian Troops Been Sent

Canada has an image of a peacekeeping country, who help found the creation of peacekeepers and have always been there to help other countries in need. Whether that is still true or not is in question. Since the mid 1990s Canadian participation in United Nations peacekeeping has been on a steady decline. Instead what has taken over is more participation in NATO forces as seen by the contribution of forces during the break up of the Former Yugoslavia and, in Afghanistan. More recently since September 11th, 2001 the United States led "Operation Enduring Freedom" has become a priority for Canadian military involvement.

According to a recent study done by the Polaris Institute only 18 troops and 41 military observers are being contributed to United Nations military peacekeepers as of May 17th, 2006. Currently Canadian forces have about 2,300 troops in Afghanistan under "Operation Enduring Freedom". This has changed because, earlier this year 800 of Canadian troops were under NATO command in Afghanistan. Canada is also participating outside of the United Nations, NATO and, "Operation Enduring Freedom" in an EU force in Bosnia-Herzegovina, a multi-national force in the Sinai and, the International Military Advisory Training Team in Sierra Leone.

Ottawa: Peace Activists Stand up for 54% of Canadians

Today there was a vote in the house of commons about the extension of the occupation of Afghanistan by Canadian soldiers. Peace activists gathered on the hill during the short notice as the announcement for the vote was done 36 hours before the debate. Peace activists had even less time to prepare. However, there were five banners, two megaphones, and petitions. In all there were 80 signatures of the Canadian Peace Alliance petition to bring troops home. We talked briefly to a few members of parliament and gave the ones voting against a round of appaluse.

The Raging Grannies sang a few songs despite the lack of a sound system. Grannie Alma reported about it here. Yaya Canada was also there and also wrote a report and took pictures including the one above and below. I mentioned the actual state of Afghan women where rape and abuse have become the routine according to RAWA. I also talked about how many Afghanis have resorted to growing opium to survive and that Afghanistan has gone from producing 185 tons of opium in 2001 to 4,100 tons in 2005 which results in 87% of the world market. We chanted "Support Our Troops, Bring Them Home!", "Occupation n'est pas Liberation", "Health Care, Day Care, anything but Warfare", "54% of Canadians say no! 70% of Quebecers say no!" and, "4.1 billion dollars" after the amount so far spent on the occupation. Unfortunately the result of the vote was 149 for, 145 against resulting in two more years of occupation. Well keep fighting though.

Document: Letter to MPs about Afghanistan mission

I sent the below letter to MPs in response to the fact that a vote on Afghanistan is happening today.

Dear Honourable Member of Parliament,

I am deeply concerned about Canadian troops in Afghanistan. According to a recent Strategic Council poll 54% of Canadian oppose Canadian soldiers being there, yet despite this Parliamentarians have not represented Canadian views. The reasons that Canadian citizens are given for the mission also is not true. Women's rights are far from protected as reported by the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan who was called the "only credible voice of Afghan women" according to CBC on November 19th, 2001.

Who we are working with in Afghanistan is also troubling. It has been widely reported that we are working with warlords and drug lords. The drug lords have increase opium production to 87% of the world opium trade according to the UN Office of Drugs and Crime. The Karzai government is also known to torture detainees. With Canada's continued involvement this will only lead to more deaths of our brave soldiers and possible complicity in War Crimes. I implore you to actually listen to Canadian citizens and support our troops by bringing them home. Democracy is also supposed to work on foreign policy.

Sincerely,
Aurora Jade Pichette
Concerned Canadian Citizen

Winnipeg: Exercise Charging Bison

In Winnipeg, shots are being fired, pyrotechnics are going off, and the Canadian military has its boots on the ground. There is no crisis. No enemy to detain. The city is not under martial law, but Canadian soliders are undering training in real sections of the city. This all started on sunday and will continue until this saturday under the title of Exercise Charging Bison. The mission is said to train soldiers for the conditions of urban warfare. The guns are loaded with blanks and pyrotechnics take the place of real explosions. About 500 soldiers are patrolling part of the city in order to "develop independence of thought and action at the lowest group level, while reinforcing individual soldier skills within the context of a Full Spectrum Operations environment" according the army website. There is no affirmation that these soldiers will be going to Afghanistan because, they are only set to deploy overseas in 2008.

I find this worrisome. Though, it does make sense to train soldiers in urban combat due to the change in military operations from the army ahead of you to being in the middle of possible friendlies with a enemy here and there, I still find it troubling. If the army wishes to train like that they should have their own facility not on Canadian streets. The result is a desensitization of the public towards the military. Living in Ottawa and going downtown on a regular basis I often see members of the armed forces in uniform however, they are not there to police the people of Ottawa. Instead they are there simply coming to and from work. To see soldiers patrolling the streets with armoured vehicles and weapons only makes it seem more normal. I do not under any circumstances become patrolled by the military.

Ottawa: Dishonour our Troops

The new government has been quite innovative in its ability to mimic the United States on how to go about war. The phrase 'cut and run' has entered our dialect, directly from the Republican public relations individuals from the United States. The phrase is used to marginalize anyone who asks to bring the troops home. It says we will not be cowards and run from our mission. Despite pulling out being the more honourable thing to do instead of occupying a people and working with warlords and drug lords. Somehow supporting our troops to this government means to stop dissent and, to crush justice and free speech which are important parts of democracy.

Now two more ideas have been pulled from the United States playbook. The first is the barring of media from showing the caskets of the fallen soldiers when they come home. I think this is a disgrace to the soldiers, if however, the families request it that I support. Yet, in this case one of the families actually came out directly against the decision as dishonourable. The second is that the flag on the Peacetower will no longer be lowered for the death of soldiers only for, "former governors general, senators and prime ministers." [CBC] Both of these are to stop people from realizing how many people are being killed then asking why are our soldiers really there? I have a lot more respect for soldiers who loose their lives then someone such as a senator who is a appointed and therefore undemocratic. Our soldiers put themselves on the line because, of a feel that they need to protect this country. It is the duty of every Canadian to not send them to war unless absolutely necessary. Every soldier that dies, is the responsibility of Canadians. If Canadians are silent on the issue their wasted blood is on our hands. Below is the names of the killed soldiers and diplomat from Afghanistan so far.

Sgt. Marc D. Leger
Cpl. Ainsworth Dyer
Pte. Richard Green
Pte. Nathan Smith
Sgt. Robert Alan Short
Cpl. Robbie Christopher Beerenfenger
Cpl. Jamie Brendan Murphy
Pte. Braun Scott Woodfield
Glyn Berry
Master Cpl. Timothy Wilson
Cpl. Paul Davis
Pte. Robert Costall
Cpl. Randy Payne
Lt. William Turner
Bombardier Myles Mansell
Cpl. Matthew Dinning

Debate on Afghanistan

On monday finally there will be a debate about Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan. There will be no vote on Afghanistan of course, but this is a step. Would an actual vote on this issue bring about change? Both the Conservatives and Liberals support the mission and together hold a majority. In contrast to the Canadian people whom a Strategic Council report in February stated that Upwards of 62% of Canadians opposed the occupation.

Here are the top ten unreported facts on Afghanistan by the media from Global Research.
Brief Overview:
FACT #1: Jean Chretien & Canadian Corporations Involved in Trans-Afghan Pipeline
FACT #2: Gordon O'Connor, Defence Minister, Is Former Military Lobbyist
FACT #3: Current Afghan Parliament Includes Warlords and Drug Lords
FACT #4: Afghan Warlords Considered Bigger Threat Than Taliban
FACT #5: Afghan Women Face Repression Despite Removal Of Taliban
FACT #6: Elected Afghan Woman Faces Death Threats For Speaking Out
FACT #7: Since the U.S.-led War, Afghanistan Is Increasingly Hooked on Heroin
FACT #8: U.S. And Coalition Forces Using Excessive Force & Arbitrary Detention
FACT #9: Canada Complicit In Violation of Human Rights For 'War On Terror'
FACT #10: U.S. Finds More Oil and Gas Reserves After 4-Year Search

Due to these reasons a protest will happen outside.
Date: Monday April 10th
Time: 6pm
Where: Parliament Hill
What: Speakers and a following candle light vigil