They are in the glove box, behind the maps

Stolen keys delay the start of military mission

"We had been told a 10 percent theft rate was likely in convoys brought in from Pakistan, but we had not expected the spare car keys to go missing," defense ministry spokesman Jaroslaw Rybak told news channel TVN24.

ooooook...........

Still Winning Their Hearts and Minds

This is disturbing, really disturbing; a MySpace page apparently belonging to Deryk Schlessinger, the son of Dr. Laura Schlessinger, who is serving in Afghanistan. The page featured attrocities, drug use, torture, child molestation, and rape.

Deryk Schlessinger's Web site indicated the 21-year-old soldier is stationed in Kandahar, Afghanistan, where, the site's author writes, "godless crazy people like me," have become "a generation of apathetic killers."
The site indicated Schlessinger's team has survived numerous mortar, rocket and roadside bomb attacks. It also included several graphic cartoons. In one of the stick drawings, a top-hatted man laughs as he rapes a bound and bleeding woman in front of her family. In another depiction, a man forces a boy to perform oral sex at knifepoint as the child's mother pleads for her son's life.

This fills me with unspeakable horror.

I'm Harry

Now I am not a supporter of the War in Iraq: It was instigated under false pretences by a megalomanic chickenhawk who seems to think that he is John Wayne (who was a chickenhawk too) incarnate. Tony Blair and John Howard, poodles #1 and #2 jumped on the band wagon with great aplomb, Blair as he wanted to be a "war prime minister" wasn't hard to convince. Howard is clueless git who, on a visit to Canada, referred to the Shrub as "the greatest force for peace in the world". He then went south to Washington where he was rewarded with a kibble, though it is unknown whether they let him on the furniture.

The US tried to get Canada involved in Iraq, oh they really tried. The US Ambassador Paul "Don't Let the Door Hit You on The Ass" Cellucci was especially vocal and annoying about the whole thing. Our then Prime Minister, Jean Chretien, held firm and at least we were not drawn into that quagmire. I don't think our current Prime Minister, He With the Face Like a Refrigerator Door, would have displayed the intestinal fortitude to say "Give us Proof". As a matter of fact, Stevie Harper, who was in favour of joining the Americans, must be glad he dodged that particular bullet, given how popular (not) invading Iraq has become.

Granted, Canada is in Afghanistan, and I am uncertain how I feel about that. I didn't like the idea of going, but now I am afraid of what will happen there if we aren't. But then, the Taliban and Al Quaeda actually were in Afghanistan. However, it is with great regret I have to say that our reputation as "peacekeepers" is circling the drain, particularly with this latest fiasco concerning prisoners.

Now that my feelings about the whole thing in general are out of the way, I turn to one little microcosm of the war: Harry Windsor, third in line to the Throne. Harry went to Sandhurst for 4 years, and that is no small feat in and of itself. He trained hard along with his unit, and wanted to serve with them when his regiment, the Blues and the Royals were to be deployed in a few weeks time.

It was decided by the powers that be, that deploying Harry would, because of his status, endanger the lives of his unit. Perhaps this is true, but on the other hand, I am of the mind, and I am not alone in this: not allowing Harry to go to serve in the capacity for which he has been trained will have a devastating effect on morale.

It will have a tremendous effect on morale right across the army," Heyman said. "Soldiers will say: 'If it's too dangerous for Prince Harry, then it's too dangerous for me. Is his life worth more than mine?' Well, from a political point of view, yes. But from a morale point of view, the answer is no."

It is not as if the Royals had a habit of being excused from front line duty: Uncle Andrew flew his helicopter in the Falklands war of 1982. His own grandmother, while not exactly on the front lines, drove an ambulance in the later days of World War II, which was not exactly risk free either - in the dark, no headlights, over bombed out roads during air raids. This was no small thing at a time when, contrary to the popular myth, women in serving in any branch of the military were viewed by many as "Little Better than Camp Followers". (I am happy to say that history has proven that particular viewpoint to be terribly, terribly wrong.) His grandfather, though not the prince consort at the time, served as well.

Does Harry deserve any less of a chance to serve his country?

Also, the article points out, Harry wants a career in the army. By the time this is all over, he will be the need front line experience if he is to have any credibility at all. If he doesn't have it, he might as well be the ceremonial head of a regiment like his aunt Princess Anne - looks good, but no real command.

The decision to exclude Harry from combat duty is not exactly popular with the troops. They h have, in their own way, have voiced not their disagreement with this decision, but announced their willingness to take the risk of serving along side him by the simple act of a T-shirt.
These khaki tees, have the words "I'm Harry" emblazoned across the chest, complete with target.

It was mentioned on the Bill Moyers show as a commentary:



I also have to point out, as Bill Moyers has, that it has not gone unnoticed that the sons and daughters of the Bushes and members of congress aren't exactly lining up to join the military. It has always been a fact that the Royal Family has always done their duty in this regard, and now is not the time to be seen to brush it off. Yes, sending Harry would be dangerous, but I think it is even more dangerous to the credibility of the Monarchy as a whole if they do not.

Nemesis - the Last Days of the American Republic

Chalmers Johnson is president of the Japan Policy Research Institute & professor emeritus at the University of California, San Diego, has written numerous books on Japan & Asia including his classic "Miti & the Japanese Miracle"&"Japan: Who Governs?" He was also, for many years, an advisor to the CIA.

From his publisher:

The long-awaited final volume of Chalmers Johnson''s bestselling
"Blowback" trilogy confronts the overreaching of the American empire and the threat it poses to the republic. In his prophetic book "Blowback," Chalmers Johnson linked the CIA''s clandestine activities abroad to disaster at home. In The Sorrows of Empire, he explored the ways in which the growth of American militarism and the garrisoning of the planet have jeopardized our stability. Now, in "Nemesis," he shows how imperial overstretch is undermining the republic itself, both economically and politically. Delving into new areas--from plans to militarize outer space to Constitution-breaking presidential activities at home and the devastating corruption of a toothless Congress--"Nemesis" offers a striking description of the trap into which the dreams of America''s leaders have taken us. Drawing comparisons to empires past, Johnson explores in vivid detail just what the unintended consequences of our dependence on a permanent war economy are likely to be. What does it mean when a nation''s main intelligence organization becomes the president''s secret army? Or when the globe''s sole "hyperpower," no longer capable of paying for the vaulting ambitions of its leaders, becomes the greatest hyper-debtor of all times?
In his stunning conclusion, Johnson suggests that financial bankruptcy could herald the breakdown of constitutional government in America--a crisis that may ultimately prove to be the only path to a renewed nation

Johnson was interviewed on The Current - April 18, part three. If you have realaudio, and half an hour to spare, I suggest that you listen. I think I will be picking up those three books.

In the interview, Johnson points out that one can either have a domestic republic or a foreign empire, but not both. Further, that the only way to have the empire is through a military dictatorship.

As one standing on the outside of America, Johnson's premise and prediction have a frightening ring of clarity - the constitution is effectively eroded, the influence of congress has all but disappeared.

If the price of Liberty is eternal vigilence, The USA is asleep at the wheel.

Update - Dr. Riyadh Lafta at Simon Fraser

Now the British government won't even give him a transit visa through Heathrow to change planes. Of course, this should not be surprising as the Blair is in bed with Bush and both have a vested interest in keeping the world ignorant of the findings of this report.

We need this data and, as unpopular as it is, we need to complete this work," Dr. Takaro said. "It's extraordinary that the British would have held up something, and it makes me think that they were influenced to do it -- we'd love to know why."

Another thing I have noticed when I have tried to research this story is the way that it has been almost ignored by the media. I found nothing on the CBC website, and this morning, my favourite current events program on CBC ONE "The Current" was supposed to have done a story on Dr Lafta this morning - but didn't. I am really curious to know why and sent an email to that effect. I doubt if I shall receive a response.

Update on the Update: I did get a response from The Current:

I am not sure why this didn't air or if it was a mistake in the promo ... I didn't see it in the line up. We are still intending to do the story though. Stay tuned next week.

Take care,



Lisa Ayuso
The Current

So there you have it.  I, for one, will be waiting.

Winning their Hearts and Minds

Canada offers forum for lecturer barred from U.S.

In short: A highly regarded Iraqi epidemiologist who wants to tell Americans about an alarming rise in cancer levels among Iraqi children will come to Canada instead because he couldn't get a visa to the United States.

Cancer and birth defects are rising in epdemic proportions among Iraqi children since the first Gulf War. the University of Washington wanted Dr. Riyadh Lafta to speak there, but his requests for a visa went ignored. So, he was invited to speak at Simon Fraser.

Spent uranium coating, among other things, are the causes. There is nothing left in Iraq to use such weaponry against, yet still it is being used. And in Afghanistan too. In the years to come it will effect not only the children, but the vetrans of this war as well.

This is just another thing that Bush's propoganda machine does not wish Americans to know about. The effects of this poisoning will likely be felt years from now, just like agent orange, and likely denied, just like agent orange.