Watching the ebb tide of freedom in Britain

Rod Liddle, writing in The Spectator magazine (Jan, 1 2005), shows how new laws brought out by the Labour government have eroded free speech. Also the laws have been used as a political weapon against The British Nationalist Party, an opponent. Nick Griffins the leader of the BNP was arrested, along with several party members. The charges were that they were supposedly fomenting racial hatred when they complained in a pub about the problems caused by large-scale Muslim immigration.

It's not quite up there with the bullhorn calls for murdering non-Muslim infidels, that various imams call for in London parks.

At first, Liddle could not get the arresting West Yorkshire police to comment on the case, except to say "they had a team of officiers on the case five days a week, ten hours a day." When he asked what evidence they had, they refused to answer. They did say that their direction came from "higher up"--meaning a political level. Yet when Liddle quizzed The Home Office about that admission, they said they knew nothing about the case. Then, being a good reporter, he asked the magistrate who signed the arrest warrant whether she saw this as a political gag tactic. The judge, Mrs. Parnham said, "I can't say anything about this. I could get into trouble."

The paw tracks of political instigation are all over this legislation and its covert use to silence any challenge to the Labour Party's ideology. Labour has been practically impotent in stemming the most viscous Muslim pronouncements--one leader openly preached that former PM John Major, should be assassinated; yet he escaped anything stronger than a tut-tut from the government. I guess in some perverse way, a bogus refugee can call for murder of officials (and all homosexuals, of course), yet not be seen as inciting racial or religious hatred. This is happening in what we used to call The Cradle of Democracy, so don't think that Labour's little brother, The Liberal Party of Canada, isn't taking note of how to muzzle the Conversatives. Also, on their radar screen was the decision of Belguim's Supreme Court to outlaw the Vlaams Bok Party, which garnered most of the votes in the Flemish area of northern Belguim. Because they called for decreased immigration, they were deemed "racist".

If Harper doesn't make an appeal to the ethnic vote, he is labelled "racist" by Martin, and if he does, then he is pandering to the worst aspects of the ethnic voters. It's the old Liberal 'Catch-22'. The bet is that with nearly a million new immigrant/refugees coming in every three years, (not to count the 'visitors and student' that they have lost track of) the Liberals can just corral them with favours. Along with the diehard-liberals, and the francophone vote, they can give the middle finger to the rest of us.

If you think Cotler's glib excuse for trashing traditional marriage was the nadir of social engineering, then consider his boast that much more 'groundbreaking' minority rights are in the works. If these new laws can be used to hobble his political opponents, all the better.

Bud Talkinghorn

The European weasels take a bow

Andrew Coyne in The National Post (Feb.2) has skewered the hypocritical European response to the successful Iraqi election. The spokesman for French President Jacques Chirac made the astounding comment that Iraq's election was "a great success for the international community". France, Russia and Germany were of course considered part of that "international community". That all these countries bitterly opposed any military intervention to oust Saddam has miraculously been forgotten. If they had had their way Saddam would still be in power and the only elections would be the farcical ones that again elected him president by 99.9% of the vote. Even if these three countries had been neutral toward Saddam's barbarous regime, they would not sound so absurd congratulating the vote, but they actively supported him. France sold him nuclear material, Russia missiles, and the Germans poison gas (Coyne's comment: "I thought Germany got out of that business.")

Coyne does not spare Canada either. He brings up Chretien's famous rationale for doing nothing. "We are against regime change," he said. Spoken like a true democrat, Jean. Of course the Iraqi war did interrupt Chretien's relationship with the principals associated with Totalfina Elf's profis in the oil-for-food scandal. Some of the billions in that scam ended up in Totalfina Elf's pockets. But gee, weren't some of those UN boys doing the dirty too. Maybe that is Chretien's idea of the perfect multinational action. Martin is not spared either, "And look! There's Paul Martin, as though anybody cared, saying on behalf of all Canadians, "how much we admire the courage of the Iraqi people." From afar, of course, but admiring all the same." As a final jab at the non-stop howling of the lefties, he points out that they were wrong on most of their apocalyptic prophesies. There were no "million dead', nor were there the millions of refugees predicted. However, when you are dealing with the hardcore ideologues of the left, victory can always be construed as defeat. Rick Salutin of The Globe and Mail called the election nothing more than "a fetish"--whatever that means. If the main opponents of American intervention had won the day, Saddam would still be in power oppressing his people and all the scamsters that profitted off the 'oil-for-food' program would still be getting rich off the backs of starving Iraqi children. I'm surprised that Irwin Cotler hasn't piped up about the rights of that poor minority, the Baathists and jihadis.

Bud Talkinghorn

Irwin Cotler should choke on his own words

While supporting the same-sex marriage proposal, as a sign of our great Canadian tolerance and compassion towards minority 'rights', Justice Cotler is quoted by John Ivison of The National Post as saying: "I fought for protection against the arbitrary actions of government." Ivison notes that these battles were often in cases where tyrannical minorities were dictating policies that were inimical to the majority of the population. Think Idi Amin and his small band of tribal loyalists running Uganda. Cotler is hard-core worshipper at the altar of the The Charter. That's the same Charter that supposedly tells us we must keep bogus refugees--many of whom are violent criminals and terrorists--in our midst because they might be tortured if we deported them back home. Yes sir, minority rights at their most pristine. As Ivison says, "How ironic."

Bud Talkinghorn

When are we going to say enough is enough?

- Treasury Board president Reg Alcock said he supports same-sex marriage, and affirmed it is a question of minority rights. Conservative justice critic Vic Toews expressed concern that the bill will consume much of the legislative agenda and mean other issues, such as getting tougher on criminals, will be lost in the shuffle. Mr. Alcock argued that it is the Conservatives who are obsessed with the issue, and noted the bill could pass in a matter of days if the Opposition allowed it. It was suggested that gay adoption rights could be the next equality battle (F. Landry: WSun 10).

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada charged that the PM is misleading the public when he says he will protect the freedom of religious and civil officials from being forced to perform same-sex marriages. Fellowship director Janet Buckingham said in a letter to Justice Minister Irwin Cotler that Mr. Martin's promise is an empty one. Conservative justice critic Vic Toews agreed, and said: "when freedom of religion comes up against equality rights, equality rights seem to trump religious freedom. We have seen it in numerous (legal) cases" (B. Harvey: WStar A8 and Ctz A5).

- Roman Catholic Church groups have joined forces with Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Orthodox Jewish groups to defeat the legislation which is being introduced today in the House of Commons. Jean Morse-Chevrier, president of the Catholic Parents Association of Quebec, and a leader in the campaign, affirmed that "children need to have the model of a mother and a father." It was mentioned that Mr. Harper has urged amendments to the bill to allow civil unions for same-sex couples, and preserve the traditional definition of marriage (CP: KWS 9 and RLP A1).

- Justice Minister Irwin Cotler will introduce a three-paragraph bill that, if passed into law as expected, will make Canada the third country in the world to allow same-sex civil marriage. Mr. Cotler confirmed that he would table the legislation today, but refused to disclose details of the bill. NDP justice critic Joe Comartin, who was briefed on the legislation, said it includes a preamble that sets out the history of the legislation, as well as the government's intention not to use the Constitution's notwithstanding clause to maintain the current, opposite-sex definition of marriage. Mr. Comartin said he believes the third clause in the proposed law will specifically recognize the right of religious organizations and groups not to perform same-sex marriages (C. Schmitz: NP A1 and Ctz A5, Gaz A12, EJ A5, CH A4, VTC A4, VSun A5, SSP C8; T. MacCharles: TStar A1 and HS A9).

- Leaders of a national group opposing same-sex marriage say they are outraged by the suggestion by Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew that church groups should not interfere with the government's same-sex marriage legislation. The Campaign Life Coalition urged supporters to contact Mr. Pettigrew and has posted the address, phone, fax and e-mail information for his offices in Ottawa and Montreal on its web site (E. Thompson: Gaz A12 and NP A1, WStar A8).

CPC MP Jim Abbott, whose riding includes the controversial commune of Bountiful, B.C., defended the right of the community to practise plural marriage. Mr. Abbott said he is downplaying the controversy to diffuse tensions between the polygamists and residents in neighbouring Creston. In an interview he stated that while his "personal belief system is contrary to polygamy, there a lot of people who get involved in a awful lot of things in society that really, really bother me but being as we live in the democracy we do, I represent everybody." It was noted that Mr. Harper warned earlier that if the same-sex marriage bill passes, the "next thing on the Liberal agenda will be polygamy" (T. Naumetz, CanWest: VTC A5 and Gaz A10, VProv A15).

- A report discussed the case of Bahig Skaik and his family, who were rejected by federal government in their application for immigration to Canada because Mr. Skaik had two wives, which is legal in his home country of Kuwait (G. Dimmock: Ctz A1 and NP A5, VTC A5).

Gay adoption rights could follow same-sex legislation as Canada's next equality battle. NDP MP Libby Davies said if same-sex marriage rights are extended across Canada, uniform adoption rights must follow. She added that while adoption laws are provincial domain, Minister Cotler must encourage his provincial counterparts, since if you "recognize their right to marry, then on what basis do we deny people the right to adopt children? Same-sex couples are just as good parents or as mediocre parents as any other couple" (K. Harris: OSun 4 and TSun 7, CSun 7, ESun 23).


Thanks to RC for this.

I have written many times on gays as parents; ideally, children start off with two opposite sex parents so that they may learn from each -- how to be their own sex and to understand and appreciate the other. Gays may be fine parents but one part of the equation is missing. There are other reasons. See one of the two sites I have already mentioned on this site or on News Junkie Canada for more articles on gay marriage. One particularly good article was in the National Post within the last three days -- on the letters page, below them.



Petitions: Sign up to make known your views on marriage.

Enshrine Marriage petition

Marriage Referendum petition

PM and Truth -- Paul Martin Needs Peace with Nfld., NS, & PQ -- Can be Squeezed -- to Win Next Election

Paul Martin and Truth

I just heard Paul Martin claiming he raised human rights with the Chinese President. Like Jason Kenney, I think the PM is lying. What a disappointment he has been. Whenever he turns red, and huffs and puffs, you know . . . . . . . It is especially evident when he claims some issue is a "priority". He can be pressured by some Premiers -- to stop dissension before an election -- votes needed.



Shadows of the past stalking the PM -- Gomery, same-sex, missiles, scandal -- Critics say he's trapped by old problems

Shadows of the past stalking the PM -- Gomery, same-sex, missiles, scandal -- Critics say he's trapped by old problems Susan Delacourt, Ottawa Bureau Chief, Jan. 31, 05

[. . . . ] Parliament resumes today after the extended Christmas break, putting Martin back on the firing line on the same list of issues that have plagued his tenure over the last year: same-sex marriage, the proposed U.S. missile-defence plan, military under-financing, concessions to the provinces, and the ubiquitous opposition search for Liberal scandal.

[. . . . ] Critics say Martin is trapped in this Groundhog-Day-style repetition because he just doesn't have the leadership skills to make his problems go away. [. . . . ]

Under the deal reached late Friday, Newfoundland gets an immediate $2 billion, Nova Scotia gets $830 million, and an arrangement that puts 100 per cent of oil revenues back in the provincial coffers for the next eight years. Ottawa has promised not to claw back any of these riches by reducing payments on the equalization system, at least until — or if — these provinces are no longer the "have-nots" in the federation.

[. . . . ] Martin's critics will be sniffing for signs of weakness and overaccommodation.

Though Ottawa maintains that it hasn't given away the store, this is yet another Martin deal that offers special treatment to selected provinces. The Prime Minister faced the same sort of attacks after he allowed Quebec Premier Jean Charest to sign his own "side deal" on health care in last September's $41-billion agreement between Ottawa and the provinces. [. . . . ]

Go to News Junkie Canada Update Jan. 31, 05 & Comppilation-3: Tory-Immigration, AG-Gomery, China-Oil-Mourner Beaten, McLeod-Sidewinder-Peoples’ Rep-CA, Volcker-Desmarais, Cda-Russia Route, RCMP -- There are several other compilations, also.

Bud Talkinghorn: Another Billion Dollar Plus Government Boondoggle

The National Post (Jan. 31 A-7) reports that "the Liberals' Technology Partnerships Canada program, which has shelled out about $2-billion in so-called corporate investments, is collecting less than a fifth of its promised repayments. Through The Access to Information Act (thank God for that act) it is revealed that only $55.6 million has been repaid over the last five years, although the government expected a return from the companies of $283 million."

The disbursements went to such corporate welfare bums as Bombardier and Pratt and Whitney. Bombardier, through its close relationship to Jean Chretien and his relatives, is never far from the trough. Any commercial bank that took such a bath on clients like these would be grabbing their assets. They certainly would not keep loaning these losers billions more. However, the Liberals have an enormous piggybank called taxation and they feel free to wow whatever businesses might garner votes. Doesn't this remind you of the 'self-sustaining" gun registry? Except this TPC program was actually supposed to make a handsome profit. "Government program" and "profits" makes a true oxymoron. Forget beating the same-sex drum all the time, the opposition should expose this travesty in Parliament. Let the people see how the Liberals just go on frittering away their tax dollars. Calling Auditor General Sheila Fraser. . . . .

© Bud Talkinghorn--Speaking of the Chretien business connection, does anyone remember that, in a fit of pique in 1993, Chretien cancelled theEH-101 helicopter contract at a cancellation cost to Canadian taxpayers of $470- million. Of course, if Bombardier had been able to make that helicopter . . .

I have said before that JC is the most c****** politician in my memory. Jean Chretien had the nerve to send his minions to attempt to besmirch Brian Mulroney, his predecessor and a former Prime Minister. Jean Chretien lost in a court of law. I suppose taxpayers, not JC, were forced to pay the court-awarded millions which went to charity, not to Mr. Mulroney. For using his power thus, Jean Chretien should be in * * * * . For all the rest, you may fill in your own choice place for him . . . . . . My fondest wish is for him to land in ********* -- forever. You figure it out. Enjoy yourself; use your imagination. I am grinning at the thought.

Bud Talkinghorn: Terrorism at Home--We are Failing

I watched CBC Sunday Morning program, where Evan Solomon was interviewing an American group that monitors Islamic internet hate sites in North America. The man interviewed pointed out that the Global Islamic Front out of Toronto was totally subversive. This site offered its viewship ways to destroy Canadian infastructure and how to do other damage to the country. As a special "fear factor' extra, they showed the beheadings of innocent Iraqis and foreigners. When the interview ended, Solomon and MacNeil nit-picked over whether this site "really enhanced or promoted treasonable actions". A classic knee-jerk CBC reaction--mustn't offend the Muslim audience by stating the obvious.

However, there was worse to come. Solomon supposedly asked the RCMP for their opinion. It seems the RCMP is as muddle-headed as the CBC. They were investigating the issue. Meanwhile that site has closed down and will probably pop up under a new name. Is there no authority left in this country that can call a spade a spade? These Islamic fascists are part of international terrorism and should have been jailed for numerous offenses. We don't need new laws to combat these traitors; we already have them. The laws simply need to be enforced. When, after years of unopposed preparation, the terrorists strike, this gutless government will respond by holding a 'special commission' to discover how this could have happened. Unbelievable!

© Bud Talkinghorn

Bud Talkinghorn: Iraqi Voters 1--Naysayers 0

The success of the Iraqi elections must be causing severe gnashing of teeth in far-flung left-wing circles. Allison Smith of CBC had to use tape to paste on a smile when she announced the news. Needless to say that good news was immediately followed by a 'poison sandwich' of "yes-buts". John Kerry even went so far as to suggest that the Iraqis would pay dearly for this. When it comes to direct American action to promote democracy, versus a series of worthless UN "resolutions", the latter always wins in liberal circles.

Are there future problems in Iraq? You bet there are. The deadender Baathists and the death cult jihadis have no future, so they will go on terrorizing, until they are relentlessly hunted down and destroyed -- but, with a legally-elected government, their claims to legitimacy grow more feeble. If the Shia and Kurds extend an invitation to the Sunnis to help rebuild Iraq, the terrorists will become marginalized. Of course, we can never underestimate the centuries-old grudges and claims to religious 'purity' that each group harbours. Perhaps it will become another anarchic country like much of Africa. Still, I believe that, once people get the taste of freedom, it will be hard to reintroduce totalitarianism. What sane people would want the uterly mad rule of a Saddam Baathist regime again? A regime that makes the number dead in the current violence seem picayune in comparison to the million and a half dead under Saddam's rule.

Perhaps the most galling aspect of the left's criticism is their demand for instant improvements Are the supposedly astute writers of The Toronto Star or The NY Times unable to remember the rocky road that democracy took in America? This was a democracy that was founded in bloodshed, continued slavery for the next 80 years, and only ended that abominable institution through a viscious civil war. That war killed more Americans per capita then all the wars they have fought since then. Yet the naysayers expect the peaceable kingdom to immediately arise in a long brutalized country. If this crowd were around during D-Day in Normandy, they would have probably opposed the operation.

© Bud Talkinghorn--Let us rejoice at Iraq's first baby steps. Sure, it may fall down, but it will get back up.

Bud Talkinghorn: Univ Political Correctness, Kilroy-Silk-UKIP-Islam, Kojo Annan Admits Oil Dealing, Cdn Refugee-Ze Wei Wong-Ecstasy, AIDS & More

Note:

Parliament will be convening just before the next election. They are using the same sex stuff to distract from Gomery and to demonize Harper and the Conservatives. The beat goes on.

Don't you get it yet? It isn't same sex "marriage"; it is corruption -- overweaning corruption that you should be considering.

Related: Lawyers for Martin government to back Gomery at sponsorship inquiry Jim Brown, CP, Jan. 29, 05 -- another item in JC's "legacy"



Bud Talkinghorn: The Universities--then and now

Barbara Kay has written a brilliant article in The National Post, Jan. 29, 05 on the comparison between her university days in the 1960's and today. As a prop she employs Tom Wolfe's new novel, "I am Charlotte, the story of a naive North Carolina girl, who enters one of the big universities and is astounded by what she finds. The old uni of Barbara's day was a place of wide open opinions and wide-ranging discussion. You could, and were encouraged to, pursue any topic without the heavy hand of political correctness censoring you. Fellow students, or profs, might argue vociferiously with your propositions, but there never was anyone telling you that you couldn't espouse these ideas. Today you have what Robert Fulford calls "the coalition of the offended" demanding that you shut up. As Kay points out, this coalition is heavily weighted in favour of the radical feminists, gays and lefties. Anything that offends their sacred dogmas must be silenced. The university administrations are so cowed by these groups that they back their nonsensical dictates. Auden's poetic line, "The best lack all conviction; while the worst of full of passionate intensity" perfectly fits the current campus situation.

Kay remembers that literature which had stood the test of time was revered for opening young minds. That attitude has been replaced by a nihilistic theory that states that some drivel from a woman or an ethnic writer has more worth. You see, that Shakespeare dude was writing from a "phallo-European-centric" tradition. All that verbiage can (and should be) deconstructed to allow "alternate ways of knowing".

As Lawrence Summers, the president of Harvard discovered, you can't even suggest that males and females might think differently; lest you be branded a misogynist. The poor fellow has had to publically apologize three times and then promise an extra $25 milion to--affirmatively--hire women for the science departments. Short of immolating himself on the uni quadrangle, nothing is going to appease his detractors. He has never been forgiven for "driving away" Cornel West, the top Afro-American scholar. The fact that West had practically abandoned his teaching course work to endlessly rant about "racial discrimination at Harvard" was not even considered by the radical staff and students. Their equation was reduced to black man good, white man bad. Summers should have been put to the stake then -- now this outrage against women.

Like Kay, I find it hard to believe the degree to which racial / gender politics has come to dominate what once was an intellectually free curriculum. Oh, I meet these young folk out of UBC and Simon Fraser, and their blindered view of human progress is scary indeed. Most, thankfully not all, have been spoonfed the most appalling socialist victimology claptrap. It is nearly impossible to conjure up for them the true historical world that they so blithely condemn. They are like a tabla rasa, upon which their professors have written a false map of civilization. They remind me of the Western "useful fools" that Stalin's communist regime depended on to hide his own holocaust. It does not augur well for the future of this country's democracy.

© Bud Talkinghorn



UKIP -- Hopefully, coming to a country near you

UKIP stands for the United Kingdom Independence Party. Its leader is Robert Kilroy-Silk. Just how feared Kilroy-Silk is was illustrated by his being attacked by a Muslim in Birmingham, who threw a bucketful of animal feces on him, while streaming about his attack on Islam. The NY Times Magazine ( Jan. 5, 2005) suggested it was a good thing that the the guy gave his complaint, as Kilroy-Silk has a number of enemies. It avoided misunderstanding. The reason that he and his party are so despised by the establishment is that UKIP has taken on the mindless refugee policies of Blair's Labour party, along with opposing the idea of Britain joining the European Parliament.

Kilroy-Silk has had a varied career, which ranged from being a university lecturer, to winning a Labour seat, to hosting an Oprah-type BBC show, and then to leading this new party. The reason that he is no longer with the BBC is because he wrote an article to The Sunday Express entitled "We owe the Arabs nothing" [see article below]. In it he stated some home truths, such as their contributions to the world has been nil. That even their oil was found by the West, produced by them and remain their major source of oil revenue. He ended it with, "What do they think we feel about them?...That we admire them for for their cold-blooded killings in Mombasa, Yemen, and elsewhere? That we admire them for being suicide bombers, limb-amputators and women repressors?" He was promptly fired by the BBC, the mother of all politically correct institutions (The CBC is still in grade school by comparison).

Ever able to reinvent himself, Kilroy-Silk was a few months later a successful candidate for UKIP. In the following European Parliament UKIP took 16 seats, which was more than Ireland or Denmark. Now seated, they began to attack the entire premise of the Parliament. Why should Britain allow itself to be dictated to by a bunch of ultra-leftist Europeans, who send years regulating what size condom can be sold across Europe. He also saw the fallacy of allowing unrestricted Muslim immigration or bogus refugees into the country. The combined forces of the Labour Party and the English liberal media has not dented the UKIP movement. Now they are a force to be reckoned with. The British Conservative Party is all atremble. A fair comparison to their success would be the defeat of the Red Tory rump in Canada by the Reform / Canadian Alliance Party. People are tired of being lied to and forced to swallow the pieties and absurdities of the ruling Liberals. UKIP sees England as being at the crossroads. Either the nation gets a firmer grip on immigration and the erosion of freedoms or it goes under. The liberal Canadian media doesn't want you to know what is happening in the cradle of liberty, as it might create a similar reversal of fortunes here. Check out the British sources for further developments. [Read on.]

© Bud Talkinghorn




The Reference: New York Times Magazine: The Anti Europeanist Christopher Caldwell, January 9, 2005, Sunday magazine -- or Liberty Forum: copy of "The Anti Europeanist"

The Raging Squire Last month, Robert Kilroy-Silk -- the best-known member of Britain's most-talked-about political party, the anti-European U.K. Independence Party (UKIP) -- found himself being covered in animal feces by an angry stranger.

The bucket-wielding assailant ambushed Kilroy-Silk on his way to a radio appearance in Manchester, shouting something about avenging Kilroy-Silk's controversial remarks on Islam. It was good that he did, because people dislike Kilroy-Silk for such a great variety of reasons that not stating your grievance directly would risk misunderstanding.

[. . . . ] The column [We Owe Arabs Nothing.] had failed to draw much attention the first time it was published. The second time around, the uproar was immediate from Muslim groups. Of the Arabs, Kilroy-Silk wrote:

Quote:''Few of them make much contribution to the welfare of the rest of the world. Indeed, apart from oil -- which was discovered, is produced and is paid for by the West -- what do they contribute? Can you think of anything? . . . What do they think we feel about them? . . . That we admire them for the coldblooded killings in Mombasa, Yemen and elsewhere? That we admire them for being suicide bombers, limb-amputators, women repressors?''The BBC suspended Kilroy-Silk and then forced him to resign.

A few months later, he was a U.K. Independence Party member and a candidate for the European Parliament. It was a natural fit. Kilroy-Silk has been skeptical of European integration since his Labor days and liked UKIP's nonconformist verve.

Meanwhile, his firing had upset many viewers. His arrival in UKIP married his buzz to the party's and drew support from Joan Collins and other conservative celebrities.

In the June elections for the European Parliament, the Tory and Labor parties together took less than half the British vote. UKIP's taking 16 percent and a dozen seats (of 732 Europe-wide) meant its delegation was almost as large as that of Ireland or Denmark. Suddenly British opposition to the European Union was unignorable. It was even a bit chic.

***** is no excuse. You may make up your own mind as to the perspicaciousness of what Kilroy Silk averred.



Kofi Annan’s son admits oil dealing

Kofi Annan’s son admits oil dealing Robert Winnett and Jonathon Carr-Brown, January 30, 2005

THE son of the United Nations secretary-general has admitted he was involved in negotiations to sell millions of barrels of Iraqi oil under the auspices of Saddam Hussein.

Kojo Annan has told a close friend he became involved in negotiations to sell 2m barrels of Iraqi oil to a Moroccan company in 2001. He is understood to be co-operating with UN investigators probing the discredited oil for food programme.
The alleged admission will increase pressure on Kofi Annan, the UN secretary general, who is already facing calls for his resignation over the management of the humanitarian programme.

The oil for food programme allowed Saddam to sell oil to buy humanitarian supplies under UN supervision. However, it has emerged that the programme was riddled with corruption as Saddam used it to buy influence around the world. [. . . . ]

Refugee-Ze Wei Wong, Ecstasy Ringleader

A "refugee story" -- late to be reported in Canada -- Ze Wei Wong, from Guangdong province, China, had landed in Canada and mouthed "refugee" in 1987 and guess what? He became an Ecstasy gang ringleader. Another criminal success story -- able to develop his "business" and escape extradition until 2005

Is the National Post so politicized it downplays just what our immigration system has become?

This news was announced by the US DEA Jan. 19, 05 and covered in the Washington Times Jan. 20. It concerned Ze Wei Wong, one of Canada's "refugees" who was head of an Ecstasy ring. The National Post finally printed--inside and along the fold--on Jan. 29, 05 this story: "Criminal agrees to extradition for family's sake".

Given the news items on Tamil Tiger terrorists in Canada and that the Immigration Minister Sgro had to step down because of a liar, Harjit Singh, [Colin Perkel, Jan. 29, 05, CP, "Singh defiant despite video evidence" to the contrary ], why was this refugee story of Ze Wei Wong not reported earlier?

Who benefits?

Let's see, Paul Martin was courting "business" in China. Frank McKenna was announced as Canada's Ambassador to Washington. Yet, news like this did not make it to the National Post until Jan. 29? Strange -- news that concerned Canada's Immigration Department / IRB, her stupendously stupid "refugee" policy, the drug trade, China, US and overall security.

Also, while several National Post news articles are available today, Jan. 30, this story from Jan. 29, 05 is not on the National Post site one day later -- though you may read all manner of other news. Interesting, don't you think? Is the National Post just lax or is it politicized? Liberal Frank McKenna is/was Chairman of the CanWest Board. Who benefits?

Fortunately, there are other sources:

Accused Ecstasy Supplier Extradited -- from Canada to the US -- Ze Wei Wong's ally and wife Kay Wu is still here -- to look after their children -- to develop the business again? Why was there any question about extraditing such scum?

DEA Finds Significant Nationwide Impact as a Result of International Ecstasy Investigation January 19, 2005

JAN 18— WASHINGTON, D.C. - DEA Administrator Karen P. Tandy announced today the extradition of DEA Priority Target Ze Wai Wong from Canada to the United States and DEA findings of a significant aftershock in the U.S. Ecstasy market caused by the dismantlement of the Ze Wai Wong international drug trafficking organization.

[. . . . ] Operation Candy Box is a joint investigation involving the DEA, FBI, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the United States Attorneys, Department of Justice Criminal Division, and various state and local law enforcement agencies, in conjunction with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canadian Border Services, Toronto Police Department, Ontario Provincial Police, and Ottawa Police Department.

There are details if you link.


Accused Ecstasy Supplier Extradited Tom Hays, AP, Jan. 24, 05



Ecstasy ringleader suspect extradited from Canada

DEA: Ecstasy ringleader suspect extradited from Canada Ecstasy ringleader suspect extradited from Canada

Ecstasy ringleader suspect extradited from Canada - The Washington Times: Nation/Politics - January 20, 2005 Washington Times via Yahoo, Jerry Seper, Washington Times, Jan. 20, 05, or here Jerry Seper, World Peace Herald, January 20, 2005

The reputed leader of an international Ecstasy ring that supplied 15 percent of the U.S. Ecstasy market has been extradited from Canada to the United States on drug trafficking and conspiracy charges, the Drug Enforcement Administration said yesterday.

DEA Administrator Karen P. Tandy said the March arrest and extradition this week of Ze Wai Wong — the result of an undercover investigation known as Operation Candy Box — resulted in a "significant aftershock" in the U.S. Ecstasy market, dropping both the availability and purity of the drug.

"The extradition of Ze Wai Wong to stand trial in the U.S. is a fitting conclusion to Wong's reign of preying on the U.S. with this dangerous drug that is primarily peddled to our youth," Mrs. Tandy said. "For the first time in all law enforcement, DEA has measured the impact of this operation, revealing that Operation Candy Box decimated the U.S. MDMA [Ecstasy] market — dramatically reducing MDMA availability, slashing its purity and raising its price."

DEA spokesman Ed Childress said Wong faces drug trafficking and conspiracy charges stemming from an indictment handed up in U.S. District Court in New York. If convicted, he faces 40 years in prison.

Mr. Childress said Wong was arrested in Canada along with more than 130 others in 16 cities in the United States as part of Operation Candy Box. He said the arrests marked the culmination of the two-year multi-jurisdictional and international Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation.

He said the investigation revealed that bulk quantities of Ecstasy were being produced in clandestine labs in Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal and smuggled into the United States. In August 2003, he said, Canadian officials discovered and dismantled three fully operational tableting laboratories.

Mr. Childress said the Wong organization was capable of distributing up to 1 million Ecstasy tablets per month in the United States and Canada, using a sophisticated money laundering network and travel agencies in both the United States and Canada to launder millions of dollars in drug proceeds. [. . . . ]

You will be delighted to know a new deal to allow Chinese into Canada for "tourism" has just been signed by our government. Which travel agencies will be involved? Of course, Deputy PM McLellan did say security is fine in Canada -- so we can feel secure.



Bud Talkinghorn: AIDS and aid in Africa--The current hopeless situation

At the Davos economic conference in Switzerland, French President Jacques Chirac has called for a tax on worldwide financial transactions to bolster Africa, particularly to fight AIDS. Even his buddy Schroder of Germany thought that was a bit much. Blair refused to acknowledge the idea at all. And they were right. A friend recommended that I read Paul Theroux's Dark Star Safari. Having recently finished it, I see no ready answer to the problem. Theroux travelled by bus, ship, and train from Cairo to Capetown.

His chronicle is leavened by his life in East Africa 34 years ago. The deterioration of the civic and economic life was shocking to him. He was an avid womanizer himself when he lived there, so his criticisms don't stem from puritanism, but rather, practicality. Probably his best encounter to show the current AIDS situation was when he met an AIDS' specialist from Norway. She was giving up on Zambia--one of the most infected countries--because the promiscuity involved rampant pedophilia. When Theroux asked her what they said when she lectured them on the dangers, she said, "They wanted to know whether they could sleep with me." He found the same reckless attitude in Malawi, his old Peace Corps country. One report that I read said that many men actually are proud of their infection. In another of his employment countries, his old university colleagues boasted of Uganda reducing AIDS to 'only' 18% of 16 to 25 year olds. Finally, in South Africa, which Theroux said was the only African country which had begun to approach Western modernity, the black president, Mbeki, didn't even believe in the HIV theory of AIDS transmission.

"The cause was poverty, which was the whiteman's fault",

Mbecki maintained. No amount of money can be thrown at this problem, until there is a radical change in attitudes among the peasantry and their 'Presidents for life'. Maybe the increasing number of deaths amongst the elites will finally sober them up. Mandela's son recently died of AIDS.

Besides the AIDS problem, Theroux was dismayed at the general lack of initiative shown. Despite endless moritoriums on IMF debt, the countries he saw just kept sinking further into dependency. 43% of Uganda's GDP was foreign aid in 2001. His former schools had falen into ruin. The major life goal among those he talked to was to get out of their home countries. Perhaps his observations sound as though he is kicking a cripple, but those were the cold hard facts he found in his journey.

His conclusion is that Africa might get motivated if the cornucopia of aid from governments and NGOs was stopped. Until then, he prophecies that Africa will be a perpetually benighted continent.

© Bud Talkinghorn



Arrogance, thy name is Liberal

At times I yearn for a cleansing fire sent by a just, but wrathful God. Such a time occurred during the Liberal's hug-fest in Fredericton. Realizing that their support for same-sex marriage might cost them big time, they have resorted to spouting the most appalling gibberish.

First, we have Martin excoriating Harper for his "racial profiling", when all Harper has done is put ads in ethnic newspapers suggesting that they protest against the marriage changes. A perfectly reasonable suggestion -- not one of their faiths condone homosexuality, let alone gay marriage.

This is the same Martin that has overseen our disgraceful immigration / refugee situation. Despite the Harjit Singh clan's massive credit card fraud record, they are still here and the government can't even get rid of the patriarch after 17 years of wasted appeals. The Liberals have courted the ethnic vote for decades, plying them with multicult grants, family reunification dispensations, and calls for affirmative hiring. Martin can't even bring himself to declare the Tamil Tigers a terrorist organization. Hell, that might jeopardize a few Tamil ridings.

Secondly, we have Pierre Pettigrew demanding that the churches shut up about the same-sex marriage issue. He obviously thinks that separation of church and state means that the churches have no right, moral or otherwise, to speak up on such a fundamental moral issue. That would put Canada right in line with China's position. I am waiting for Pettigrew to tell the mosques and Hindu temples to shut up as well. Not a chance of that happening, of course. What does it say about Martin and Pettigrew's Catholicism that they would attack their own church's stance? They obviously dropped their religious convictions long ago.

Then we have Ujjal Dosanjh, the federal health mininister, demanding that NB pay for private abortion clinics. This is the same man who rails against any other form of private health care. Add hypocrisy to that arrogance. From such people can there be any principled legislation, or only that which will keep them in power? And if Martin isn't careful, he is going to make Chretien look saintly in comparison.

© Bud Talkinghorn



It's Official! Politicians' Lying to Get Elected is OK with Courts -- Remember Paul Martin's election 'promise' to Nfld? He didn't have to give Nfld $2-BILLION -- but he will need the votes so . . .

Politician's promises not set in stone, court says Kirk Makin with Caroline Alphonso, Jan. 29, 05

The judge was ruling on a request from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation to quash the Liberals' new health premium on the grounds that it broke an election promise.

I await the day when a decent and capable person not backed by money interests and not spewing lies can stand before the electorate and say:

I am a person of integrity and I shall do my best to represent your interests. I can promise no more.

In addition, check this one for election money to buy votes and to avert problems with future "business" in the Quebec / Labrador north, I am guessing:

Non-natives in James Bay region to get $310 million for Quebec hydro project Martin Ouellet, CP, Jan. 30, 05

CAMP EASTMAIN, Que. (CP) - About 16,000 non-natives in the James Bay region will share $310 million if a proposed hydroelectric project passes an environmental assessment, Premier Jean Charest said on Friday.

[. . . . ] The James Bay Cree agreed in principle to the project in 2002, when they signed a deal with Quebec to end opposition to Hydro projects in the region in exchange for millions of dollars in compensation.

He must marry gays or quit -- Discrimination, man complains

He must marry gays or quit Kathleen Harris, January 29, 2005, Ottawa Bureau

[. . . . ] After last November's court decision to affirm same-sex marriage in Saskatchewan, the province said marriage commissioners must "turn in their authorization to solemnize marriage" if they wouldn't marry same-sex couples.

"I contend that this order ... discriminates against my freedom of religion and therefore, is a violation of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, not to mention a violation of the Charter ... ," Goertzen states in his complaint.

Last month, Federal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler said "no one should be compelled to perform a same-sex marriage contrary to their religion or belief," and that he believed "accommodations" could be made so civic officials would not have to resign or act against their conscience.

Saudi funding

NEW REPORT ON SAUDI GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS IN U.S.

WASHINGTON, DC, January 28, 2005- Freedom House’s Center for Religious Freedom released today a new report exposing the dissemination of hate propaganda in America by the government of Saudi Arabia.

The 89-page report, “Saudi Publications on Hate Ideology Fill American Mosques,” is based on a year-long study of over two hundred original documents, all disseminated, published or otherwise generated by the government of Saudi Arabia and collected from more than a dozen mosques in the United States.

The propagation of hate ideology by Saudi Arabia is known to be worldwide, but its occurrence within the United States has received scant attention until now. Within worldwide Sunni Islam, followers of Saudi Arabia’s extremist Wahhabi ideology are a distinct minority, as is evident by the millions of Muslims who have chosen to make America their home and are upstanding, law-abiding citizens and neighbors.

The report concludes that the Saudi government propaganda examined reflects a “totalitarian ideology of hatred that can incite to violence,” and the fact that it is “being mainstreamed within our borders through the efforts of a foreign government, namely Saudi Arabia, demands our urgent attention.” The report finds: “Not only does the government of Saudi Arabia not have a right – under the First Amendment or any other legal document – to spread hate ideology within U.S. borders, it is committing a human rights violation by doing so.”

Such publications that “advocate an ideology of hatred have no place in a nation founded on religious freedom and toleration,” write James Woolsey, chairman of the board of Freedom House, in the foreword to the report.

Among the key findings of the report: . . . . .

[. . . . ] The research, translation and principle analysis of the materials for the report were carried out by both Muslims and non-Muslims who wish to remain anonymous for reasons of security. Some 90 percent of the publications are in Arabic; two independent translators reviewed each Arabic document. This project was undertaken after many Muslims requested the Center’s help in exposing Saudi extremism in the hope of freeing their communities from ideological strangulation.

Check the rest for yourself.



Simply Delightful

"The Canadian government gives them a billion dollars to put this sort of stuff on the air, and the Canadian government is really at fault here, isn't it?" O'Reilly said to one guest.

"You scare the hell out of them, Bill," the guest answered.

Fox News host slams CBC documentary 29 Jan. 2005, CBC News (Related: The Fifth Estate )

[. . . . ] In the past, O'Reilly has called the CBC radically to the left, the Globe and Mail a "far-left newspaper," and Canadian health care "socialist."

He and his conservative colleagues say they're doing journalism that is fair and balanced.

The Fox News Channel is the highest-rated news network in the United States. In mid-December, Rogers Communications announced it had added Fox to its all-digital channel lineup, becoming the first in Canada to do so.

It's the Productivity Gap! Excellent--Terence Corcoran: "The message nobody hears"

The message nobody hears Financial Post, Jan. 29, 05

The caucus and the country would have been much better served if the politicians had been forced into a lockup with Roger Martin, dean of the Rotman School of Business and chair of the Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity. Instead, the dean was off in Davos, Switzerland, where yesterday he presented the institute's latest summary of the mess the politicians back in Fredericton have been making of the economy over the last 20 years

[. . . . ] The prosperity gap, as Mr. Martin calls it, grew during the fiscal disaster created by the massive explosion of government activity during the last half of the 20th century. Measured in GDP per capita, Canada began to trail the United States in 1981. Then, Canadians and Americans shared a similar economic profile, worth $30,000 per person. Within a decade the Americans had jumped ahead by almost $8,000. The gap is currently around $7,200. "If Canadians were able to overcome this prosperity gap, the average Canadian household annual after-tax disposable income would rise by $15,000," said the institute's report.

Well, forget it. Nothing is happening in Ottawa that will even begin to close the prosperity gap and help put more after-tax cash in the hands of Canadians. The minority Liberal caucus cares not a bit about Ottawa's role as the producer of growth-killing programs.

[. . . . ] The institute's paper also reviews some of the lengthy list of perverse programs and disincentives that hamper competition and market forces. Subsidies here, trade and market protections there -- it all conspires to undermine Canada's ability to be as productive and prosperous as it could be.

But so what? While you can read more about the prosperity gap at www.compete prosper.ca, you won't hear about any of it in the reports from Fredericton or any other political gathering place.

Rubbing Canadians' Noses in It

Privacy commissioner workers can keep inappropriate raises, despite demotions Dean Deeby, Jan. 30, 05

OTTAWA (CP) - At least seven employees in the office of the privacy commissioner have been allowed to keep the hefty pay raises that were ordered inappropriately by George Radwanski, the disgraced former commissioner.

Five of the workers have seen their job classifications downgraded after a review found they had been improperly bumped up to a higher position.

Two other executive positions are formally slated for a downgrade - but only after the incumbents resign or retire.

In the meantime, all seven employees continue to draw the higher salaries given them by Radwanski, who resigned the position in June 2003 after a Parliamentary committee uncovered a slew of financial irregularities. [. . . . ]