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Asher
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Calgary, Alberta
Nov 1999
time: 22:28
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quote:
Originally posted by Sava
Global Nation? Is that some sort of right-wing rag? |
CanWest Global owns Global, CanWest is run by one of Chretien's good friends.
Here's more info: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNe..._21/?hub=Canada
quote:
McCallum defends unarmed troops in Afghanistan
CTV.ca News Staff
The government was on the defensive again Wednesday, as the Opposition took the Liberals to task over a Canadian military reconnaissance team that's on a mission in Iraq unarmed.
In the House of Commons Wednesday, Canadian Alliance MP Leon Benoit pressed Defence Minister John McCallum to explain why the soldiers travelling to Afghanistan aren't allowed to carry firearms.
"Was it a deliberate decision on the part of this government to deny our Canadian soldiers the weapons they need to protect themselves or was it an oversight?" Benoit asked.
"Yesterday, I said it was a non-issue and I repeat that," McCallum replied. "While the government has every concern for the safety of our troops, a small reconnaissance mission unarmed as is often the case… this is normal."
On Tuesday, Benoit said the decision to send a 25-member team to Afghanistan without weapons was "shameful." But McCallum told the Commons the issue was "no big deal," as the team would be well-protected by German troops while there.
Repeating his assurances Wednesday, the minister accused Benoit of "talking nonsense."
"This group is well-protected by the Germans who are currently deployed. The same is true for a small group of NATO soldiers," McCallum told the House.
The Canadian team is in Afghanistan to prepare for the arrival of 1,800 other Canadian troops expected in August. They will be part of a 5,000-member force sanctioned by the UN but not led by it. NATO agreed to assume that role last week.
Sharing his analysis from Ottawa, CTV's Mike Duffy says that the team travelled to Afghanistan on commercial carriers.
"As they tell me at National Defence headquarters, you can't get on a plane with a gun today. And to bring a gun to do what is essentially a bureaucratic mission. They see it as unnecessary, a lot of hassle and extra trouble," Duffy said.
The issue is likely drawing steam from worried relatives of the unarmed soldiers, who are putting pressure on the Alliance to "carry the banner," Duffy said.
In the House, Benoit was indeed raising the issue.
"The families are worried," Benoit said in a question for McCallum.
"Afghanistan, in case he doesn't know it, is a very dangerous place. Just 11 days ago, two American soldiers were killed in Afghanistan in a surprise attack. How can this minister fail so badly in his obligation to our Canadian serving men and women?"
But the minister was unmoved.
"It is the opposition which is causing unnecessary worry for the families. It is the opposition who by raising these non-issues is casting aspersions on the fine work done by the Canadian forces," McCallum shot back.
"I would suggest that they support our forces and talk about the fine achievements rather than raising these non-issues." |
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notyoueither
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of naught
Aug 2001
time: 22:28
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Seems like a good place for it...
http://www.satirewire.com/news/feb02/warship.shtml
quote:
"Canada Warship Seizes Tanker in Arabian Sea" -- Reuters, Feb. 8, 2002
CANADIAN WARSHIP SEIZES TANKER IN... WAIT...
CANADA HAS A WARSHIP?
Oh Right, and Switzerland Has Nuclear Weapons
Arabian Sea (SatireWire.com) — Canadian television reported Friday that a Canadian warship in the Arabian Sea had seized a tanker suspected of smuggling oil from Iraq, leading many to suspect that the report was a hoax.
The Halifax Class frigate Vancouver.
Honest.
"You're kidding, right? Canada has a warship?" asked U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. "Like for war?
"Does Canada know?" he added.
"Nobody was more stunned than we were," said Kali Omari, first mate of the seized vessel. "We saw this frigate steaming toward us, and we were worried, but then we saw the maple leaf on the flag, and we thought, 'Oh, Canadians. What the hell do they want?'"
When an officer of the HMCS Vancouver announced that the tanker was about to be boarded, the crew of the detained ship was confused, said Omari, but their confusion quickly turned to anger when they saw what the Canadians sailors were carrying.
"They were armed. With guns," said Omari. "Canadians. With guns. And a warship. What is this world coming to?"
"They were pretty rude, too," Omari added. "They started asking us all sorts of questions, like 'Where did that oil come from?' But first we wanted to know who gave them the damn warship."
According to Canadian defense officials, the Vancouver is one of four frigates deployed in the region to assist in the U.S.-led Afghanistan conflict. The tanker was stopped, officials said, because its cargo of crude oil violated United Nations sanctions, which prohibit Iraq from selling oil unless in exchange for food and medicine.
The U.N. said the incident is already under investigation, and promised swift action against those found responsible for giving the Canadians guns. Initial findings indicate that the Vancouver crew may have been watching too many American television shows.
RECOMMEND
THIS PAGE
Copyright © 2002, SatireWire. |
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Lancer
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Oregon Coast, USA! or Bohol, Philippines!
Apr 1999
time: 05:28
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It's a good thing. Highlights the idiocy of the left. Not that it needs much more highlighting...
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DinoDoc
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AECCP loves Democracy
Sep 1999
time: 23:28
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quote:
Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat
In other words, they're not combat types, and they're not going for combat ops. |
Don't we let our noncombat units carry weapons? I remember one noncombat unit getting into a firefight before being captured in Iraq.
Last edited by DinoDoc on 10-05-2003 at 02:43
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All times are GMT. The time now is 05:28.
Apolyton Time is 00:28. |
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09-05-2003 01:20
This would be hilarious if it wasn't for the ****ing islamic militants which run around shooting people. 
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