How Montreal's Power Corp. found itself caught up in the biggest fiasco in UN history & Al Qaeda, UNSCAM, Gomery-PQ-Foreign Policy, CIC-Dr. Elmasry

Update: My Error and a Correction

Today, I associated the University of Western Ontario to Dr. Elmasry in a post below entitled " "When Jews Target a Canadian Muslim" Posted by David on 00:05:23 2005/03/05 ".

Dr. Mohammed Elmasry is associated with the University of Waterloo, whether computer engineering or computer science, I am not certain, so you will have to check that.

I apologize to the University of Western Ontario for my error. NJC.




Some Journalists in New Media are Doing the Job

We know that, in general, the mainstream media is protecting the status quo; people ask where they can find out what is really going on. Well, before you get to the article, note these websites.

The Canada Free Press website is excellent; Judi McLeod has done a superb job, helped by her crew, as have a group in the West who write for the Western Standard, people like Kevin Steel and Kate McMillan. Another source for the current news updated and commented upon is the Canadian Coalition for Democracy, people like Al Gordon and the rest of the gang. If you want a daily compilation of links, you will look at Jack Davies' site; he is assiduous in finding stories that I eventually get to -- like the following which I didn't get to, then was reminded by Al Gordon's post below. This is what blogging does; bloggers are like a dog with a bone; they remind us and don't let go until we check further. Thanks to all the good people who try to discover where truth lies and then inform Canadians.

Canadian Coalition for Democracy: Maybe this explains our China and Iraq policies Posted by Al Gordon on 16:54:39 2005/03/05

Could personal enrichment, as well as clinging to power, explain Canada's otherwise inexplicable foreign policy toward Iraq, China, and the United Nations? [. . . . ]

And now, to the big story.

Canada Free Press: How Montreal's Power Corp. found itself caught up in the biggest fiasco in UN history by Kevin Steel, The Western Standard March 5, 2005, via Canadian Coalition for Democracy and Jack's Newswatch

Most Canadian companies look forward to the day they earn themselves a mention on the prime-time news. They hire PR firms and spend thousands to harass news editors with press releases to tout their latest acquisition, invention or foreign venture in hopes of convincing someone to give them even a passing mention on the national news–never mind the nearly unimaginable publicity of being plugged on a U.S. newscast.

But when Montreal-based Power Corporation of Canada found itself, in late January, the topic of a news story on America’s top-rated Fox News Channel, which draws millions of U.S. and international viewers, executives there probably weren’t thrilled. Unlike most publicly traded firms looking to build their brand on Wall Street, Power Corp. is, at the best of times, a quiet, often obscured company (in the past year it’s issued a total of five news releases). That might seem strange, given the massive size and, well, power wielded by the holding company. Power controls some of Canada’s biggest blue-chip companies, including the Investors Group, the country’s largest mutual fund dealer, and investment firm Mackenzie Financial. It owns insurers Great-West Lifeco, Canada Life and London Life. Power owns several Quebec newspapers, including La Presse. It also holds substantial positions in Chinese airlines and telecom firms and has large stakes in the world’s leading entertainment company, Bertelsmann, as well as a big piece of one of Europe’s largest oil producers. In 2003, Power Corp. reported annual revenues of $16 billion.

But the Fox News story wasn’t prompted by an announcement from Power of some billion-dollar takeover or the appointment of a new senior executive. It was something altogether different: the revelation that the man handpicked by the UN secretary general last April to probe the UN’s scandalized Oil-for-Food program, Paul Volcker, had not disclosed to the UN that he was a paid adviser to Power Corp., a story which had originally been broken by a small, independent Toronto newspaper, the Canada Free Press.

Don't miss the detailed timeline on the Canada Free Press website:

* How the biggest scandal in history unfolded

Other Oil for food Stories -- on the Canada Free Press website. Get 'em while they're hot!

Canada's Prime Minister, the UN Secretary-General and Louise
Houston oil conference:
Oil-for-Food finds NFL football!
While Kofi Annan was ignoring Zimbabwe crisis, his son was building Harare's airport
Oil-for-Food: It's all relative
Annan met with UN reform pointman Yevgeny Primakov in Moscow when Oil-For-Food scandal broke
Canadian oil-for-food investigator says "all this stuff" is imputing UN integrity
Yet another Paul Volcker potential conflict of interest
No Canadian Investigation into the United Nations Oil-for-Food
Oil-for-food scandal investigator conflict of interest No. 2
Oil-for-food scandal investigator conflict of interest?

Re: Maybe this explains our China and Iraq policies -- This is a subtantial piece of work that makes the Goo of Quebec politics even murkier. Posted by Brian Lemon on 18:16:28 2005/03/05

Foreign policy, courtesy of Quebec Posted by Steve Majewski on 09:41:09 2005/03/03

[. . . . ] Quebec is the major source of [. . . . ]

followed by

In Reply to: Foreign policy, courtesy of Quebec posted by Steve Majewski Posted by Al Gordon on 23:14:51 2005/03/04

As usual, Quebec calls the shots
L. Ian MacDonald
National Post
March 4, 2005 [. . . . ]

Read what MacDonald has written.



Re: Foreign policy, courtesy of Quebec Posted by Brian Lemon on 22:41:31 2005/03/03

[. . . . ] Now that they are caught, their chief henchman (Jean Jacques Chretien) is trying to kill the messenger).

I hope the commission carries through and finds blame where it lies.

In the hands of JJC and his cronies.

Scapegoating Quebec for the Liberal's opportunism is wrong
Posted by David on 00:20:19 2005/03/05

As a Quebecer myself, . . . .

In Reply to: Scapegoating Quebec for the Liberal's opportunism is wrong posted by David Posted by Al Gordon on 10:32:33 2005/03/05

You're right that . . . . what cannot be denied are the polling results . . . .

Furthermore, the disproportionate influence of Quebec on Canadian politics and foreign policy means that the Liberal government panders to those sentiments, spreading the disease beyond the Quebec border.

But it is clear that the ROC has bred its own jerks as well, especially when you read the rantings of Haroon Siddiqui, Mohammed Elmasry, CBC, and most of the Toronto Star.

Keep scrolling for a feature on Mohammed Elmasry from the Canadian Coalition for Democracy.




Up to 200 Al-Qaeda terrorists in Britain March 06, 2005, Brendan Bourne

BRITAIN’s most senior police officer at the time of the September 11 terrorist attacks has warned that there are at least 100 Al-Qaeda trained fighters “walking Britain’s streets”.

Sir John Stevens, who retired as Metropolitan police commissioner at the end of January, fears the true figure of those potentially able to carry out attacks is probably nearer 200.

[. . . . ] Stevens’s latest assessment of the threat posed by fundamentalist adherents of Osama Bin Laden comes in a newspaper article in which he says the government’s prevention of terrorism bill is “vital” legislation.

[. . . . ] “For the safety of the vast majority, occasionally we will have to accept the infringement of the human rights of high-risk individuals.”

Search: radicalising influence, core of the threat, suspects held without trial, strapped a bomb . . . .

If you look up those, you'll read the rest. An important article.




If you thought Canadians were so tolerant, so reasonable, so "nice" that the bad guys just wouldn't hurt us, think again.

Are todays Christians and Jews considered from the people of the book? -- You will want to know what the implications are if they are not. Posted by Joan O'C on 00:15:53 2005/03/06

Postings from Canadian Site:

Shaykh Abu Hamza and Supporters Of Shareeah // Home.

Question:

I have been hearing some people say that the Jews and Christians are People of the Book. And since they are people of the book, we are not to call them kuffar, mushrikun (pagans) or any other derogatory terms, because Allah called them the People of the Book. May we call the Jews and Christians kuffar or pagans? [. . . . ]

When Jews Target a Canadian Muslim Posted by David on 00:05:23 2005/03/05

Elmasry, who is being slowly but surely resucitated by unprincipled journalists and used as a bona fide representative of Canadian Muslims tries to whitewash himself and portrays himself as a victim of Jews and hints at a collusion between Jewish organizations and CanWest against Muslims. Vintage despicable Elmasry which must be denounced once more.

When Jews Target a Canadian Muslim

by Dr. Mohamed Elmasry - February 25, 2005

"Dr. Elmasry, we received intelligence reports that the Jewish Defence League is having two bus loads coming to town this Sunday. We will give you police protection," the senior local police officer informed me in person. "You are a man of honour. You have our support." It was not clear if the JDL was coming from the U.S. or from Canada, or from both countries, he told me. [. . . . ]

You had better see what is in this post. I have mentioned the self-styled leader of Canadian Muslims, Dr. Elmasry, previously and more than once on this site. Elmasry started and heads the Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC) though I don't believe he has been elected democratically as the leader of all Canadian Muslims so whether he speaks for all, I still doubt. Elmasry, using his position as a staff member of Waterloo University (I had mistakenly written earlier that he was with the university of Western Ontario. NJC) to give himself credibility--unfortunately--is vocal and slick, and with his shock of silver hair, personally attractive enough to appear benign.

I leave you to form your own conclusions about whether his messages are benign and whether his organization promotes understanding, dialogue and tolerance -- or whether there is duplicity involved. He is severely exercised over "gross injustice" and if you read to the end, you will find he suggests his intellectual bona fides.

I have a background in the history of ideas and keep thinking of how the old Enlightenment thinkers had to use all sorts of tricks to frustrate the censors. We too find ways to get the message across and this will become more effective, not less so.

He has also mentioned previously that he thinks Canada will bring in polygamy or that it is achievable in Canada -- with a little dose of politicking. We're on the slippery slope now.




Posting from Canadian website Posted by Joan O'C on 00:15:53 2005/03/06

Shaykh Abu Hamza and Supporters Of Shareeah // Home.

Are todays Christians and Jews considered from the people of the book?

Question:

I have been hearing some people say that the Jews and Christians are People of the Book. And since they are people of the book, we are not to call them kuffar, mushrikun (pagans) or any other derogatory terms, because Allah called them the People of the Book. May we call the Jews and Christians kuffar or pagans? [. . . . ]

Allah has also said,

"And those that are kuffar from among the Jews and Christians, they are in the Hell fire forever, and they are the worst of creation." Surat ulBayyinah, ayah 6

Well, are Jews and Christians kuffar or pagan? And what does that mean to Canadians?