Reminder Tonight Global TV, Terrorism, UN, Strong: Two Views, Navy & Communication Problem, Trusts & Taxes

Reminder: Global Television tonight

Recruiting for Terror

Showtimes:

Global Ontario, BC, Maritimes, Manitoba & Saskatchewan
10:00 - 11:00 p.m.

Global Alberta
9:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Global Quebec
8:00 - 9:00 p.m.




I'm leaving Canada for a bride sounds ominous today

At home with terror Stewart Bell and Jane Kokan, National Post, Sept. 10, 05

For the past year, the National Post and Global Television have been investigating the cases of young Canadians caught up in the war on terror. Today, in the second of two parts, the mysterious disappearance of Rudwan "Raider" Khalil of Vancouver who, according to Russian security officials, died fighting with a Chechen rebel faction.

[. . . . ] Most of the guerrillas escaped. But not all of them. When the Russian soldiers advanced, they found the bodies of four men clad in bloody camouflage. [. . . . ]

Inside the uniform of one of the dead, a bearded, athletic young man with dark skin and curly hair, they found a driver's licence issued by the Province of British Columbia and a blue passport that identified him as Rudwan Khalil, age 26, citizen of Canada.

Search: Dar Al Madinah Islamic Centre in Vancouver, Younis Khathrada , Kamal Elbajah and Azer Tagiev , going to Azerbaijan to find a bride , Saudi Arabia, Dubai , "doing visa for people who want to come to Dhobi "like the office that you are working in" " , Dagestan , returned to Vancouver in May , a courier of money




Shades of Worldly Sophistication? Understands how to get things done globally . . . with a million in cash and a handshake?

Beats me. Sounds more like the Sponsorship Funds moving around Quebec -- but of course, no wrong doing. You decide for yourself based on these items.

Maurice Strong's lawyer "Man of the world: Maurice Strong" -- "Pro and Con: Like Lester Pearson and Norman Bethune, Maurice Strong belongs in the pantheon of internationalists" John A. Campion, Financial Post, Sept. 9, 05

John Campion, a partner at Fasken Martineau, is counsel to Maurice Strong.

In Canada, Mr. Strong has variously held the positions of chief executive of Power Corp., PetroCanada and Ontario Hydro, among many others, and has helped establish Canada's modern foreign aid program as founding president of CIDA.

For his work, he has received 54 honorary doctorates and acclaim world wide, including India's Nehru Prize. He is the first and only non-American to receive the highest honour of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.

[. . . . ] In the single transaction under review, Mr. Strong had merely facilitated the sale of shares of a public company between the two third parties. The sale was made at arm's length between the two shareholders. Mr. Strong received no monies into his possession and made no personal gain in the transaction. The Volcker committee stated that Mr. Strong did not know the source of the funds paid from the vendor of the shares to the purchaser (Mr. Park).

Man of the UN: Maurice Strong -- Pro and Con: Strong isn't totally exonerated by this week's Volcker report - and nor are his views on an expanded UN

[The Volcker Report], however, concluded that Mr. Strong was "in a position to know or suspect the source of Mr. Park's funds." It also found that Mr. Strong received a personal "benefit." It also noted that "Mr. Strong provided inconsistent accounts of his receipt of the money from Mr. Park." [. . . . ]

Wires get crossed in Canada's relief effort -- Sailors can't reach Ottawa for supplies; they called wrong number, officials say Chris Wattie & Adrian Humphreys, National Post, Sept. 10, 05

[. . . . ] Navy personnel told the National Post that repeated calls to Public Security and Emergency Preparedness Canada went unanswered over the long weekend, meaning government supplies could not be accessed before the ship's departure.

When supply officers called emergency officials in Ottawa, the officials were not available, said a senior officer who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"We were calling them all weekend," the officer said. "All we got was voice mail ... [and] they never called back." [. . . . ]

I believe there is another story being told by those in charge of making sure there was someone to respond.




George Jonas: An ancient struggle continues National Post, Sept10, 05

I'm offering this potted history of the region because my reader is likely to be the product of what I've called "the 60-year gap." If born after 1918 (the year General Allenby rode through the gates of Damascus) but before 1979 (when the Ayatollah Khomeini deposed the Shah of Iran and the mujahadeen began resisting the Soviet Union in Afghanistan) he or she belongs to only about three generations in 1400 years during which the struggle between the Islamic and non-Islamic world was on standby: The only 60 years in which people could be blissfully unaware that their civilization was at war with another.

[. . . . ] "For a long time now there has been a rising tide of rebellion against this Western paramountcy, and a desire to reassert Muslim values and restore Muslim greatness. The Muslim has suffered successive stages of defeat. The first was his loss of domination in the world, to the advancing power of Russia and the West. The second was the undermining of his authority in his own country, through an invasion of foreign ideas and laws and ways of life and sometimes even foreign rulers or settlers, and the enfranchisement of native non-Muslim elements. The third -- the last straw -- was the challenge to his mastery in his own house, from emancipated women and rebellious children. It was too much to endure, and the outbreak of rage against these alien, infidel, and incomprehensible forces that had subverted his dominance, disrupted his society, and finally violated the sanctuary of his home was inevitable." [. . . . ]

What would Pearson do? by Russ Kyukendall, Sept. 9, 05, Western Standard Shotgun

Also, do not miss the entries by ET and Justzumgai on Martin-Chirac's agenda for Canada and the UN or something to replace it.




Tax regime under scrutiny -- Trust explosion: Ottawa seeking stakeholder input on revamping

[. . . . ] Observers say that if changes are contemplated for trusts, they will probably apply to new trust structures only. [. . . . ]

The consultation document -- which gives stakeholders until the end of the year to submit recommendations -- was released the same day as: CI Financial, the mutual fund giant, said it would pursue a trust conversion; CanWest Global Communications Corp. (the National Post's publisher) announced plans to spin off most of its newspapers into a trust; and Transat AT, the travel firm, said it was considering a conversion. [. . . . ]

---

Blog Survey

Take the Great Canadian Blog Survey Grandinite


Note also CanadianEconomist.com

If this survey receives a substantial amount of respondents, the data set will prove useful for two purposes: a free, globally available report on the state of Canadian Blogging, as well as a more technical paper that will examine the differences between those who read blogs and those who choose to write them.

Aaron Braaten
M.A. Candidate,
Department of Economics
University of Alberta

So You Want to Do Business in China

"Mr. Cai added that cultural barriers face people of Chinese origin who don't speak Chinese."

The moral of the story is use a Chinese intermediary who was sent to the West to study?

Pitfalls in China's progress -- What your business should know about China's headlong campaign for change

[. . . . ] Other pitfalls await those who don't do their homework, said Bob Kwauk, who runs the Beijing office of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, the only Canadian law firm left in China after seven others have folded operations since 1998. He practised law for many years in Calgary but came here because of the obvious opportunities for a Chinese-speaking lawyer with business contacts back home.

[. . . . ] "The mistake many people make is they don't understand the country or they get Chinese partners but don't undertake sufficient due diligence on these people," Mr. Kwauk said. [. . . . ]

Search: Beijing's construction activity , Beijing Global Strategy Consulting Co. , include arbitration clauses that allow disputes to be resolved in , Chinese oil companies that have made major investments in Alberta's oilsands sector , Kevin Cai , returned to China in 2000 after immigrating to Canada in 1988 to attend law school at the University of Toronto , McDonald Hayden , East Associates , bananas



China breathes freer -- WTO rules have vastly improved China's environment, but the next step will require something in short supply: freedom Lawrence Solomon, Sept. 10, 05

In some cases, especially in the case of curbs on the automobile, the Chinese are ahead of the West. Shanghai runs a weekly auction in which owners of new private vehicles now bid some 45,000 yuan ($6,550) for the right to drive their car on Shanghai roads.

Only those who already have money would even have a chance.




Chinese government journalist defends Beijing's human rights record Stephen Thorne, Sept. 9, 05, CP / National Post

[. . . . ] "Do you think we should apply the same rules to manage the two families?" Hi asked. "According to the understanding of the Chinese (populace), it's not possible to use a rich man's standard to manage the poor man's house.

"The food, the living conditions, the discipline all must be very severe." [. . . . ]

Diane Francis: China, India in innovative power play Financial Post, Sept. 10, 05

[. . . . ] The mechanics are going to be worked out in coming months. Memorandums of understanding are to be signed between the two countries' biggest oil companies which will include the three Chinese monopolies -- Sinopec Corp., China National Petroleum Corp. and CNOOC -- and India's Oil and Natural Gas Corp., its foreign subsidiary ONCG Videsh, Oil India Ltd., Indian Oil Corp., Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd. and Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd. The combined financial firepower is enormous, and way beyond the "mere" US$18-billion bid for Unocal Corp. that was rejected due to American protectionism.
Most of the Indian corporations are privately held unlike the Chinese ones, which are partially privatized but controlled by Beijing.

[. . . . ] (Talisman made a huge profit on the sale but it underscored the fact that state-owned oil entities have huge competitive advantages over private-sector ones because they enjoy sovereign immunity from pesky U.S. courts and other lawsuits as well as subsidies in order to overpay if necessary for assets.) [. . . . ]

Search: Canada's oilsands , both are exploiting hostility by , The alliance is needed to , joint ventures in Sudan

Diane has visited Mongolia and undoubtedly has much knowledge of what is happening in China -- worth linking. Note the advantage a state-owned/state-controlled company--even if nominally privatized--has in China and internationally. Beware.

Correction:
Previously I had written that I thought a Chinese company had acquired Talisman's assets but I was wrong, according to this article. It was an Indian company

---

Diamonds are a Man's Best Friend -&-Guns, Homicide and Toronto

Portus & Diamonds

Portus cash sent to gem firm -- receiver: $9M missing, court told: No word from hedge-fund's founder in a month -- Boaz Manor may have converted to "highly liquid, untraceable assets such as diamonds" Wojtek Dabrowski, Sept. 10, 05

[. . . . ] KPMG Inc., Portus's court- appointed receiver, told an Ontario Superior Court judge that on Mr. Manor's orders, nearly US$9-million was recently transferred to the Hong Kong bank accounts of Meirov International Diamonds Ltd. -- believed to be an Israel-based diamond merchant -- and Yossi Meirov, an MID director. [. . . . ]

Police investigating Toronto's 53rd homicide, two shootings



Hamilton pharmacist faces charges over counterfeit pills

---

"All human things are subject to decay" -&- Quick Tour

Dedicated to that political party, which has exchanged one rogue for another of questionable competence, and is now, it seems, casting about for an even less suitable candidate for the job that must be done.

John Dryden which leads to the whole poem MacFlecknoe

After the death of William D'Avenant, John Dryden became the first official Poet Laureate. However, following the Glorious Revolution of 1688 (when William and Mary succeeded to the throne) Dryden, who had become a Catholic, lost his position as Poet Laureate to his arch enemy Thomas Shadwell. Dryden satirised Shadwell in his poem MacFlecknoe - referring to him as the heir to the kingdom of poetic dullness.

All human things are subject to decay,
And when fate summons, monarchs must obey.
This Flecknoe found, who, like Augustus, young
Was called to empire, and had governed long;
In prose and verse, was owned, without dispute,
Through all the realms of Nonsense, absolute.
This aged prince, now flourishing in peace,
And blest with issue of a large increase,
Worn out with business, did at length debate
To settle the succession of the state;
And, pondering which of all his sons was fit
To reign, and wage immortal war with wit,
Cried: ‘’Tis resolved; for nature pleads, that he
Should only rule, who most resembles me.
Shadwell alone my perfect image bears,
Mature in dullness from his tender years:
Shadwell alone, of all my sons, is he
Who stands confirmed in full stupidity.
The rest to some faint meaning make pretence,
But Shadwell never deviates into sense.
Some beams of wit on other souls may fall,
Strike through, and make a lucid interval;
But Shadwell's genuine night admits no ray;
His rising fogs prevail upon the day. [. . . . ]

Ministers plotted to oust Chrétien if referendum was lost, CBC says Rheal Seguin, Sept. 9, 05

Quebec — Fearing defeat in the 1995 referendum on Quebec sovereignty, a group of federal ministers from English Canada openly pondered a putsch against former prime minister Jean Chrétien, a CBC documentary says.

[. . . . ] In an interview in the CBC documentary Breaking Point: Canada's Referendum, former fisheries minister Brian Tobin said the time had come to examine a previously unthinkable scenario: the breakup of Canada.

"We asked ourselves difficult questions such as: Could a prime minister from Quebec represent Canada in negotiations?" Mr. Tobin said. Could a team from Quebec negotiate on Canada's behalf if the province's left Canada? [. . . . ]

Angry GWN lists the ministers at the time and separates the list by whether from Quebec or not.



Jean Chretien: Was the target of a putsch Angry GWN, Sept. 9, 05 -- Trackback

Now consider the positions most immediately involved in potential negotiations with Quebec (essentially the key politcal and financial ministries, along with defence), as I see it: [graphic here] Now 57% of the core team is from Quebec. Tobin's concerns at the time were real. Ministers from English Canada could see that the critical decision making was focused on a group of ministers over half of whom were from Quebec.

Economic freedom, rule of law, institutions and customs Sept. 8, 05, Russ Kuykendall, the Burkean Canuck (http://burkeancanuck.blogspot.com/2005/09/economic-freedom-rule-of-law.html)

[. . . . ] I would extend the importance of these three -- rule of law, institutions, and custom/culture -- to what is necessary to constitutional, representative government . . . what we popularly describe as "democracy." When the customs and culture of constitutional, representative government diminish, it's tougher to find citizens and politicians who understand that a government or a politician or a public servant shouldn't get away with flouting long-standing customs of our form of government. Undermining the institutions of state -- like Parliament -- will tend to further undermine constitutional, rep. gov't and undermining social institutions (NB: NOT "state institutions") -- like marriage -- will tend to undermine our society. And, in the late stages, undermine the rule of law, and the basis for constitutional, representative gov't is lost. It's the rule of law that makes it constitutional, after all. [. . . . ]

Its about time that the media got tough with the Conservatives

I'm told that the PMO has had around thirty staff changes in the last year. . . .

On the other hand, the Conservatives just announced 5 or 6 changes in their staff, which of course proves that the wheels have fallen off that gas guzzling Conservative SUV. This is a major development that should concern every Canadian. In fact, I even go further than that.

Personally I'm in the camp that says that there has been way too much media attention focused on (alleged) Liberal wrongdoings. We KNOW of course that the Liberals can be trusted (As if they'd ever steer us wrong!). [. . . . ]

With tongue firmly in cheek . . .




Feds announce another registry delay -- Ottawa defers regulations for police, gun-makers

[. . . . ] "The government continues with this simultaneous face-saving, rear-end-covering exercise of trying to justify a very cumbersome, useless system."
MacKay, a former Crown prosecutor, insisted the government backed off because police forces would have ignored the registration demand. [. . . . ]

Oil for Food as Usual -- The U.N.'s worst critics couldn't invent what the Volcker report shows Wall Street Opinion Journal, Sept. 9, 05 -- or on CCD

[. . . . ] It's no coincidence, comrade, that France and Russia, as well as China (which did its own thriving business with Saddam) consistently downplayed the kickback allegations and pushed to have the sanctions regime eased. Only the U.S. and Britain made any effort to monitor Oil for Food for fraud, although even these efforts were lackluster until the Bush Administration came to office. We should also note the U.S. was itself guilty of looking the other way when it came to Iraq's oil smuggling through allies Jordan and Turkey.

So it was that the largest fraud ever recorded in history came about. . . . . in excess of $100 billion. From this, Saddam was able to derive $10.2 billion from illicit transactions. But the important point is that he was able to steer 10 times that sum toward his preferred clients in the service of his political aims.

[. . . . ] But the abiding fact is that it was the Western powers, not Saddam, who wanted Oil for Food at virtually any cost, because it offered the appearance of a meaningful policy in the absence of a real one, namely regime change. [. . . . ]

Charles Krauthammer: Assigning blame Townhall.com, Sept. 9, 05 via Little Green Footballs

WASHINGTON -- In less enlightened times, there was no catastrophe independent of human agency. When the plague or some other natural disaster struck, witches were burned, Jews were massacred and all felt better (except the witches and Jews).

A few centuries later, our progressive thinkers have progressed not an inch. [. . . . ]

Wretchard: Belmont Club


Wretchard: A Cycle of Cathay

Information Processing has a translation of Lee Kuan Yew's interview with Der Spiegel on the future role of China in the world.

[. . . . Wretchard comments: ] Although it is unstated, the concept underlying Lee Kuan Yew's outlook is that the confluence of the scientific revolution, maritime navigation and the industrialization which fueled the expansion of Europe into a dominant position across the globe, culminating in the grand empires of the 19th century, has passed. Now that those methods have been diffused, all the countries that opened their systems are potentially equal to the West. Under those equalized conditions, demography and culture will reassert itself; the giant and ancient civilizations of India and China will rise again to their 'rightful' places. [. . . . ]

If you scroll down, there are other items:

The Imperfect Storm 3

Here's a 2003 article from Civil Engineering Magazine on whether or how to protect New Orleans from floods. (Hat tip: Porkopolis) The summary says:

The Imperfect Storm 2

Mark Fischetti warned in a Scientific American article entitled Drowning New Orleans, published in 2001, that the pattern of land use development in Louisiana made a disaster inevitable.

Norman Spector: B.C. yacht in 1.5 tonne coke bust from Chad Skelton and Lori Culbert, Vancouver Sun

A 28-year-old North Vancouver man whose boat was stopped off the coast of Martinique in the Caribbean with 1.5 tonnes of cocaine onboard was a "high roller" who was often vague about what he did for a living, according to a friend.

[. . . . ] The RCMP announced Thursday that Becher and another North Vancouver man, John Carter Hanson, 60, have been charged with cocaine smuggling by the French police after their 20-metre sailboat, Cantamar IV, was caught in international waters carrying $30 million worth of cocaine.

If you get away with it most of the time, and our ports suffer lack of security, why work?




Just What Canada Needs!

A student of terror: How a Windsor man was recruited by Hamas -- "he intends to return to Canada once he is released" from prison. Stewart Bell, National Post, Friday, September 09, 2005

For the past year, the National Post and Global Television have been investigating the cases of young Canadians caught up in the war on terror. Today, in the first of two parts, the story of Jamal Akkal of Ontario, who is serving time in Israel after pleading guilty to involvement in Hamas. [. . . . ]

Are Muslims in Canada involved in terrorism, Prime Minister? CCD

[. . . . ] Abu Osama and his Canadian friend talked about a plot to kill Jewish community members and visiting Israeli dignitaries, the Ottawa diplomat says. He claims Hamas wanted to expand its war against Israel to Jewish communities in the West, and as a Canadian citizen, Akkal was their man.

"Two scenarios were involved," Mr. Gendelman says. "One scenario was basically to booby-trap a car or a house -- the front door of a Jewish person here in Canada.

"The Jewish person was supposed to be identified by his clothing, whether he was wearing a yarmulke, an Orthodox dress and so forth. Another scenario that was discussed was to kill an Israeli VIP who would come to visit Canada or the U.S." [. . . . ]

FEMA head relieved of hurricane responsibilities

Mike Brown has been replaced by "Vice Admiral Thad W. Allen, chief of staff of the U.S. Coast Guard, who was overseeing New Orleans relief and rescue efforts"



Free Dominion links


The online voice of the National Citizens Coalition

Book: The Trouble with Democracy by William Gairdner Morefreedom.org



Foreign Affairs Canada Confirms Chinese Official Defected Jessica Yang, Epoch Times, Toronto

On August 1st, 2005, The Epoch Times reported on August the 1st, 2005, that according to sources, a staff member in the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa named Yang Jianhua fled the Embassy along with his wife and son.

On the War on Terror, Part I: The Unexamined Effect of the Hainan Island Outrage China e-Lobby, Sept. 9, 05

This is the first of three posts that were inspired by Sunday’s anniversary of the 9/11/01 attacks. Tomorrow’s post will focus on occupied East Turkestan, which the Communists have used as their smokescreen to cover up their support of anti-American terrorists. The final post, on Sunday, will describe in detail those ties between Communist China and America’s enemies in the War on Terror. [. . . . ]

Search: Communist China was already helping Osama bin Laden launder money through its financial fronts around the world.

---

Sharia Life by a Saudi, AsiaPundit, Oh, Woe is Us! Ex-CRTC MP Oda on CBC Relevance

The Wonders of the World of a Sharia Life

The Religious Policeman

The diary of a Saudi man, currently living in the United Kingdom, where the Religious Police no longer trouble him for the moment.

In Memory of the lives of 15 Makkah Schoolgirls, lost when their school burnt down on Monday, 11th March, 2002. The Religious Police would not allow them to leave the building, nor allow the Firemen to enter. via Western Standard Shotgun.

The website is enlightening for those who may not have been reading much about this topic and who have heard from our "peaceful" brethren, particularly the Wahhabists and extremists pushing the thin edge of the Islamic/sharia wedge deeper into our Canada and politicians' need for votes. They have taken advantage of those Canadians who wish not to think ill of a group purporting to be a peaceful religion and to act for a god.



The Imam and his unborn child.

Abortion is a contentious subject in many parts of the world. Opposing views are often characterized as "pro-life" or "pro-choice". "Pro-choice" implies that the mother is exercising a choice to have an abortion. However, in this particularly tragic case, the abortion happened without the mother's agreement. Sept. 7, 05, via Western Standard / Shotgun, Sept. 9, 05

All I can say is link to this site and read.



Jack's Newswatch: another sharia link Sept. 9, 05

Search: Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is assuring

Also, see this article: "CF-18 jets flew to U.S. on eve of referendum"




AsiaPundit: "Below is a Chinese copy of the abstract of an official Propaganda department circular"

that was distributed to Chinese media editorial groups in April 2004. This document has been declared to be a State Secret’ by the Chinese Government and is the document that journalist [. . . ] (Shi Tao) received 10 years imprisonment for transmitting to a foreign website.

A full English translation has been provided.

Shi Tao was arrested and sentenced after Yahoo! provided state security with Shi Tao's user information. Most bloggers are bashing Yahoo! for this, ESWN is playing devil's advocate.: [. . . . ]

Jackie Jura: Orwell Today -- Just check the site and you will find many more articles of interest.



Oh, Woe is Us!

The CBC might not get it altogether in time to run another Trudeau hagiography. There was an article today stating that CBC would have to hold off on its 6-part Trudeau series. Oh, woe! Oh, woe!

Betcha PM doesn't call another election until Canadian are able to be surfeited with Liberal propaganda through its Liberal Propaganda Organ / liberal slant on everything with a heaping dump truck of Trudeau images -- meant to evoke some sort of past nirvana, I suppose. Check this list of directors and their biographies. Note the member second from the bottom on the top right, a documentarian and budding politician . . . or I miss my guess.

Did you read that the striking CBC journalists who are not management have set up a website to bring us news . . . as though Canadians were salivating for it. They are doing their part, undoubtedly, to let the imbalance continue! Even Robert Fulford (in the National Post this week -- excellent, by the way) hinted--or suggested--that each generation of CBC hires is somewhat lesser in the intellectual department than the ones who came before. I am sure that they are lib/left and with the right gender, multicultural and whatever other mix is mandatory, along with holding politically correct attitudes which don't differ appreciably from what the Liberal government(s) have throttled us with and shoved down our parched Canadian throats, seemingly forever.

Bloggers are giving them a run for their money, though; all of a sudden, bloggers are saying what has been verboten; they find information and state what they think -- not seen in Canada much before the internet.



Ex-CRTC MP Oda on CBC Relevance

Maybe CBC isn't worth its cost, MP says -- Tory heritage critic calls for review of public broadcaster's value to taxpayers Bill Curry, Sept. 8, 05

[. . . . Conservative] Ontario MP Bev Oda said in an interview that MPs should launch a debate on the CBC's future when Parliament resumes this fall.

The first-term MP, who is a former vice-president of CTV and commissioner of the CRTC, said yesterday that the CBC's English-language network's low ratings require members of Parliament to examine its value to taxpayers.

---

Katrina, Self-Government, Poverty: Two Views

A Civilizational Vacuum By George Neumayr, Published 9/8/2005

George Neumayr is executive editor of The American Spectator.

A republican form of government presupposes self-government -- the capacity of citizens to govern themselves according to reason -- and does not, if it intends to survive, champion them as "victims" when they don't. But the shocking lack of self-government demonstrated by New Orleanians is the one area of government that our republic's vapid media won't scrutinize in their post-mortems on the city's collapse.

Reporters keep shaking their fists at "the government," as if America were not a republic but a statist autocracy in which remote rulers can snap their fingers and make problems vanish for their subjects. [. . . . ] What I find more embarrassing is the media's infantilizing of New Orleans citizens who chose not to evacuate despite loud and obvious warnings. Does personal responsibility mean nothing at this point? Aren't citizens "the government" too? What's disgraceful, and positively dangerous, in a republic that depends on self-reliance is a media that encourages a culture of victimization.

Reasoned and worth reading.




Not So Fast By R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. , 9/8/2005

R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr., is the founder and editor in chief of The American Spectator, a contributing editor to the New York Sun, and an adjunct scholar at the Hudson Institute. His latest book is Madame Hillary: The Dark Road to the White House (Regnery Publishing).

WASHINGTON -- The stars of modern broadcast media take prodigious pride in the speed with which they can communicate to the masses. Of course, these artistes remain utterly oblivious of the poisonous concomitant of that speed, namely, the media's almost inane superficiality. [. . . . ]

Search: recriminations by public officials



Radio Blogger: two articles

1. Major Garrett updates us on the Red Cross AND the Salvation Army being blocked from helping by Louisiana state officials

Do not miss scrolling down for a revealing photo -- the mayor's best?


2. Mark Steyn on what DeTocqueville understood, what Blanco didn't, and the Democrats' march to 20%

HH: Mark, before we get to the specifics that I'm talking about, the media's meltdown, it seems to me that a lot of facts have come to light. What's your judgment of what went wrong last week in New Orleans?

MS: Well, I think the question of what went wrong is a very simple one. It actually has a failed local and state government. And when you're in that situation, there's a limit to what the national government can do, particularly when you're talking about a national government that has to basically span a continent. [. . . . ]

HH: You know, Mark Steyn, there seems to be a massive attempt at fraud under way, which if it was occurring in the mail, it would be, I think, subject to mail fraud, which is to persuade America, via the MSM, that this is George Bush's and his FEMA's fault. How do you respond to this? [. . . . ]

Read Steyn's responses to this and other questions. He's always worth reading and listening to.

Search: Jack Cafferty , Wolf Blitzer [MP3 just below his name] , Paul Begala [MP3 also]


The Urban Refugee: Staying Poor Sept. 7, 05. I regret that I forgot to write whose website sent me to this; thanks to ?(http://www.urbanrefugee.ca/categories/ponderous-ponderings/)

The writer is NOT claiming that those too old, sick, weak should work when they cannot; instead, he writes of an attitude, something seemingly familiar to him/her. It is worth reading.

Staying poor is a result of thinking that others owe you a living. They don’t. The only person who owes you a decent living is you.

Staying poor is a result of becoming too reliant on others. There is a massive infrastructure devoted to helping the poor in this country. It is in the interest of the persons who work in it to help you tread water and keep from sinking, not to pull you out of the water, because that puts them out of a job.

Staying poor is a result of being unwilling to learn new things. You may have dropped out of school in grade eight. You may have gotten a university degree in a field where there are few jobs. Fine. Go back to school if you can. Go visit your public library if you can’t. Make a point of reading and learning something new every day. Earning is tied to learning. [. . . . ]

May I add that you are never poor if you can read and get to a library? To develop a passion to learn is to leave poverty behind . . . . at least poverty of the spirit.

This is lengthy and full of points worth discussing.




For another point of view, there is what prompted this post.
** Inspired by this post.

From Whatever, September 03, 2005 and he / she notes, on the main page "In case anyone wants to point out the irony of me making hot, sweet reprint money by writing about poverty, I'll note in this particular case I've been waiving my reprint fee."

Being Poor

Being poor is knowing exactly how much everything costs.

Being poor is getting angry at your kids for asking for all the crap they see on TV.

Being poor is having to keep buying $800 cars because they're what you can afford, and then having the cars break down on you, because there's not an $800 car in America that's worth a damn. [. . . . ]

Worth reading also.

---

Bud Talkinghorn: Al Qaeda's Convicts, Katrina: Blame Game Contest, Conservative Issues

Al-Qaeda's new recruits--convicts

Recently the LA police and the FBI broke up a sleeper cell. It was composed of three black American Muslims and a Middle-Eastener. The Arab kid was a student at Santa Monica University. The blacks were ex-cons. They had detailed plans to blow-up synagoges and certain military targets. They financed their plans through hold-ups of convenience stores. In their twelth robbery the leader accidentally dropped his cell phone. From that the police tracked the cell down. In short, solved by a fluke.

These black gangsters claimed to be true believers, hence jihadis for the faith. The real Muslim follower had been recruited by the other three. They engaged in elaborate planning, even down to the high Jewish holidays, which would increase the fatalities.

This fanaticism was nurtured through prison visits from Wahhabi imams. They brought "the kill the infidel snakes" message to a mainly black group of garden variety thugs and people who already knew all about murder. The cons must be thinking, "Hell, now we can feel better about our murders, knowing that they were fulfilling Allah's wish". Through some legalistic manuever, these imams were allowed to preach this hate, to people who often have no stop signs. Well, I think the prison authorites had better get a handle on this soon. These prisoners are emotional loaded guns already, what we don't need is the heavy weaponry of religious nihilism as a creeping barrage behind them.

© Bud Talkinghorn, faith healer




Katrina gets invited to the Blame Game contest

Fingers are being furiously pointed in every direction. The hurricane did damage to more than the people of the Gulf States; it gored numerous politicians in Washington too. After endless broadsides from pundits of every ideological stripe, the simple truth of the matter is that the action goes bottom up. Only if the city asks for aid from the state will it be given. If the state can't handle it, they call on the Federal government. So the actions of Mayor Ron Naglin (?) were deficient from the beginning. He belatedly dumped tens of thousands of poor people in the Superdome with inadequate food, water, or even security. The buses that could have ferried them out to safey were allowed to drown in a cesspool. [photo on Radio Blogger] The city had even had a mock disaster exercise, which covered the exact situation that unfolded. But nothing was learned. The Mayor knew he was mainly culpable for the mess, so he decided to get his spin out first. The governor of Louisiana fumbled the ball too. She should have asked the Feds to take control. She refused to let the National Guard come under federal control, for some convoluted reason. Her finger soon followed the mayor's to point directly at FEMA and the Republicans. However, considering that they both had three days to understand the threat and put in emergency plans for a mass exodus, they weren't doing anything much for three days after the catastrophe.

The environmentalists have entered the fray to "prove" that federal neglect of the levees had created the havoc. Oh yes, and of course the global warming was the true villain. It had been ignored, so that is the punishment Bush deserves for his anti-Kyoto stance. The race card activists are beat this issue like a bass drum. Tune in tomorrow to The Blame Game--guaranteed to be lots of new contestants.

© Bud Talkinghorn




Conservative Issues

On Andrew Coyne's Take on the Conservative Party

Andrew Coyne, in The National Post (Wed, Sept, 7) took the Conservative Party to task over their wishy-washy policies. He saw them as hewing to the moderate-middle stance of all the other parties. This approach, by some preconceived definition, excludes any policies that will define our country for decades to come. Coyne doesn't give much credence to the issues of bilingualism, immigration or the death penalty. While I cannot support the death penalty, in light of the DNA evidence that shows so many wrongful executions, I certainly have lots of time to entertain immigration and bilingual concerns.

Mr. Coyne does his usual excellent work in pointing out other issues that could be the springboard to electoral victory, such as referenda and serious health care via a dual system.

However these issues don't have a serious impact on how Canada will look fifty years from now. Take immigration. What will affect a country the most, health care or the composition of the citizens who make up its citizenry? Our national best interests have been hobbled. We have been seduced by this absurd political correctness, which states all immigrant groups are equals in cultural compatibility and economic viability. Anybody who dares ask questions about what values should be the core of this future culture is slammed as "racist".

Presently, we see Ontario seriously considering sharia law courts--the thin edge of the ever-enlarging wedge--here in Canada. Its real application would offend about half The Charter of Rights. Since the Liberals swear to abide by that Charter, there should not even be a debate about this. I have met a few Muslim women and all of them hate Sharia law. It will be used in Canada to keep them second-class citizens. The real judges are the fathers and male relatives. What can you say about a religious law that states a woman's story of rape must be backed up by four male witnesses? Even being supported by four female witnesses is not evidence enough. In almost every avenue of life they will be disadvantaged. Marion Boyd, who agrees with its implementation, assures us that there will be legal oversight. Patent nonsense. The justice system of Toronto would grind to a stop if plea bargaining were abandoned as the main method of justice. Do you really think the Ontario justice system is going to investigate the sharia law decisions?

Now let us examine the bilingual issue. In the name of a Trudeaupian utopia, we were all going to be bilingual (like him of course) by the turn of the millenium. Oh, the joy of French cinema would be appreciated from Come-by-Chance to Tofino. All that whining for special treatment would disappear in Quebec. That was the dream and untold billions were spent to make that dream come true. It never did. The government has had to manipulate the success numbers to justify their billions more to be spent on it. However the reality is that even with French immersion schooling behind them, these supposedly-bilingual people cannot pass the civil service fluency tests. For some time, now, we have Liberal legislation which mandates that all applicants to the top positions must be fluently bilingual before they even apply. The vast over-representation of French Canadians in the government and civil service will only grow larger. Westerners will be effectively barred from having any significant representation in the National decision-making. Almost all the young anglo kids are leaving the "bilingual" province, NB. As part of Premier Frank McKenna's slimy Meech Lake deal, he got Bill 88 passed. This bill gives equal status for French with the majority English language. At the government / civil service levels the squeeze was put on the unilingual English-speakers. As their presence in the cities grew, the francophones started demanding French service in private businesses. Now in some stores an employee cannot even be a clerk unless he/she is bilingual. This exodus of the most promising anglo young will have terrible future implications for the province. This Trail of Tears will never be reported in the liberal/Liberal media, because it puts the lie to their bilingual Canada fantasies. All that it has really accomplished is to disenfranchise the Engish-speaking majority. It is interesting that the largest Conservative gain in the latest poll was in New Brunswick. In fact, there was a 6% approval gain in the Maritimes in general.

So I think Mr. Coyne was remiss in suggesting that the Conservative Party drop their interest in what he calls, "their traditional hobbyhorses". I fully agree with Coyne on the need to stand up for some principled initiatives. "Moderation" be d****d. I want to see the Conservatives put the spurs to those "hobbyhorses".

© Bud Talkinghorn

---

Updates 2-3: UN & Maurice Strong, PM, Hu Jintao & Another "Priority" -&- "A disaster waiting to happen"

Update 3:

China's president Hu Jintao: "let's at least remember who he is and what he stands for."

Remember who he is Editorial, Globe & Mail, Sep 6, 2005

China is a police state and President Hu is chief cop. Chosen by a cabal of Communist Party leaders Hu took over leadership of the Communist Party in November 2002 and became supreme commander of China's armed forces a year ago.

REMEMBER WHO HU IS

Hu has stepped up the harassment of writers and intellectuals, cracked down on dissidents on the Internet and ordered party officials to undergo strict ideological training.

[. . . . ]

Search: a researcher for the New York Times


RED CHINESE CAPITALIST BANKERS "Wall Street bankers need to be led, these Chinese-born bankers say, by someone who can earn the trust and respect of Chinese officials and executives but also know how to marshal the resources of a Western investment bank."

How often have you heard that to do business in China, Canadian businessmen need a middleman? Perhaps someone associated with the China-Canada business council or network?



Update 2:

The UN is the group to which the Canadian government turns for direction. e.g. US, Iraq and Saddam. Kofi Annan was invited to address our Parliament. Why?

In a scathing report released Wednesday, the IIC, headed by former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker (search), found that the United Nations was guilty of "illicit, unethical and corrupt" behavior. -- "U.N. Deputy Gets Fair Share of Blame in Oil-for-Food Report"

FOXNews.com's Liza Porteus, Eric Shawn and Jonathan Wachtel contributed to this report

It was Frechette's job to keep Annan in the loop about what Sevan was doing and to approve regular reports required as part of the program's management. But the report found that she saw no reason to get involved if it was thought the program was being "well run." [if it was thought -- By whom? Note the passive tense -- no names.]

Frechette tried to deny any responsibility for oversight or that there were problems, [. . . ]

"The deputy secretary-general knew about — but did not act upon — many reports of major program violations," the Volcker report states. "In the final analysis, Mr. Sevan ran a $100 billion program with very little oversight from the supervisory authority that created his position."

[. . . . ]


Search: Kojo Annan saved $20,000 by

There are plenty of links and other articles on the FOXnews site; perhaps these could be shared with the CBC which has been remiss on this story . . . when / if the Liberal Propaganda Organ goes back to work.

Volume I - The Report of the Committee (pdf)
Volume II - Program Background (pdf)
Volume III - United Nations Administration, Part I (pdf)
Volume IV - United Nations Administration, Part II (pdf)
Impact of Oil-for-Food Program on the Iraqi People (pdf)

Articles on FoxNews website:

Report Criticizes Annan, U.N. Security Council in Oil-for-Food Scandal
Committee: U.N. Allowed 'Corrupt Behavior' in Oil-for-Food Program
Fast Facts: Oil-for-Food Program
The U.N.'s Spreading Bribery Scandal: Russian Ties and Global Reach
U.N. Agencies Agree to Repay Oil-For-Food Proceeds
Oil-for-Food Report Hits 2 Ex-U.N. Officials



Oil-for-food is just the tip of the iceberg

It sounds like the Canadian government's Sponsorship corruption.

[. . . . ] The 860-page, four-volume document portrays an organization that suffers from "endemic corruption" and lacks both the expertise to run large-scale operations and the backbone to face down brutal dictators. . . . .

[. . . . ] There is much more. . . . . Too much attention was paid to ensuring diversity in race and homeland among oil-for-food senior managers, and too little to whether any of them had the skills-sets to handle their tasks.

The problems with oil-for-food are all too common in most UN projects. [. . . . ]
The new American ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, has begun to confront that culture. [. . . . ]

Update 1:

Former Homeland Security Boss `sweeping’ with the enemy?

Tom Ridge, the former leader of U.S. Homeland Security, is on the board of directors of a company that is controlled by Li Kashing of Operation Sidewinder notoriety, Canada Free Press has learned. [. . . . ]

Another Canada Free Press classic "We-told-you-so" moment -- on CSL & Cordex -- Denver-based? or Alberta-based? by Judi McLeod, Canadafreepress.com, Friday, April 22, 2005

[. . . . ] Yesterday, [Maurice] Strong admitted that Tongsun Park, the Korean man accused by U.S. federal authorities of illegally acting as an Iraqi agent, invested in Cordex, the company he owned with his son, in 1997.

In that admission, Strong describes Cordex as a Denver-based company. Cordex Petroleum Inc. is listed among Martin’s assets as an Alberta-based company.Cordex had a U.S. subsidiary. [. . . . ]

Search: Strong’s New Age Baca Ranch , Cordex Petroleums was

Note: there is an "s" on the end of Petroleum in that article.

Scroll down the webpage at Canada Free Press for "Other CFP Stories about Paul Martin and Maurice strong"



UN: The Tainted Cheque did NOT come Direct from Saddam

Strong took tainted cheque, inquiry finds -- No 'direct evidence' prominent Canadian businessman knew money came from Iraq Shawn McCarthy with Alan Freeman in Washington, Globe and Mail, Sept. 8, 05 via Newsbeat1

NEW YORK -- Prominent Canadian businessman Maurice Strong accepted a personal cheque for nearly $1-million (U.S.) that was drawn on a Jordanian bank and came from a controversial international businessman who was working closely with the Iraqi regime, an inquiry into the UN's scandal-ridden oil-for-food program has found.

[. . . . ] Ms. Frechette, a former senior bureaucrat in Ottawa, "did not carry out the responsibilities of her office," Mr. Volcker said. He offered the same criticism of her boss, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. [. . . . ]

Search: former Canadian spymaster Reid Morden , $1-million cash in a cardboard box , $988,885 , Cordex Petroleum




PM has another Priority: "human rights"

PM to talk human rights with Chinese president CTV.ca

Prime Minister Paul Martin says he will be discussing the issue of human rights with Chinese President Hu Jintao during his visit to Canada.

[. . . . ] Martin insisted there was no "trade-off between human rights and economics" and that he would indeed be discussing the issue with the Chinese president.

[. . . . ] Martin will host Hu Jintao at a state banquet on Thursday. During his visit, he will also give a speech at the Canada China Business Council and visit Niagara Falls. Hu will be in Eastern Canada from Sept. 8 to 11. [. . . . ]

Checking out the oil, I suppose. Will he be visiting his Husky Oil friends?



Protesters to shadow Chinese leader's visit





Canada's disaster preparation: "A disaster waiting to happen"

[. . . . ] MacKenzie, one of our most respected soldiers, was backed in his assertion by Liberal Sen. Colin Kenny, chair of the Senate committee on national security and defence.

"Canadians just assume somebody's going to take care of them," Kenny warned. "We have not invested in the resources needed to assure the safety of our own citizens."

[. . . . ] Kenny and his fellow senators have warned us over and over again that Canada is woefully unprepared for everything from a terrorist attack to a natural disaster. [. . . . ]

---

It is all about Quebec; The ROC is Secondary

GRIT STRATEGY REVEALED; THEY PLAN TO USE ALBERTA'S WEALTH TO BUY OFF QUEBEC The Calgary Sun, Mon 05 Sep 2005, Ezra Levant

[. . . . ] So we have to redistribute the wealth. After all, the good fortune of the West could become a disaster for the East. That is why we need a pact that will allow us to even things out."

[. . . . ] What's revealing about Lapierre's comments -- and Martin's failure to renounce them -- is that they illustrate the Liberal religion of jealousy, and that religion's rituals of political payoffs. How on Earth could anyone possibly call Alberta's success a "disaster," unless one is motivated by contempt and envy? Lapierre's solution is equally odious: He doesn't just want to raise Quebec up, he wants to cut Alberta down. [. . . . ]

Are people starting to get it?

---

Terrorist Tradecraft Manual, RCMP Staffing & Organized Crime

"Perhaps if [the public] had a look at the terrorist tradecraft manual, people would be a little more supportive of the guys who are trying to keep things from blowing up or our leaders from being shot."

Val Sears: Terrorism war is fought by the book Ottawa Sun, Sept. 6, 05

[. . . . ] I was shown a document the other day that I presume has been circulating in the intelligence community for some time. It is a terrorist trade craft manual, scooped up by the British in a raid on a suspected al-Qaida cell in Manchester. It is as chilling a piece of work as I have ever seen.

Translated from the Arabic, chapter after chapter details such matters as planting explosives, assassinations, torture (and how to bear it), cyphers, safe houses, guns and ammunition, in fact everything a well-schooled terrorist would have to know to do his job.

There are quotations from the Koran backing up some of the lethal moves. [. . . . ]

RCMP Staffing and Organized Crime

Mountie staffing to rise in rural Alberta -- Province's top cop vows hiring in 2006 -- "Some experts have blamed the two-year spike on an increase in organized crime activity in rural communities, but one leading criminologist said it's too soon to draw any conclusions" Jason van Rassel, Sept. 4, 05

Of course, we can use our own heads, can't we?

Reinforcements are on the way for the province's Mounties, who are in the middle of one of the deadliest years on record in rural Alberta.

There have been 38 homicides in jurisdictions policed by the RCMP this year, which is a pace that threatens to surpass 2004's unprecedented total of 50. [. . . . ]

Under a cost-sharing agreement that expires in 2012, the province pays Ottawa to hire the RCMP as Alberta's provincial police force. [. . . . ]

Actually, the feds make money from hiring out the RCMP. (Paul Palango's book on the RCMP)

Of course, crime rates have gone down in Canada, so we're told. Indeed.

---

DVD Formats, Counterfeiting, Organized Crime Connection

Along with mentioning the persistent Chinese hackers and the Chinese spies apparently operating in Canada, would Paul Martin bring this to Hu Jintao's attention, and also to the attention of the foreign dignitaries from other countries mentioned in this post?


For those interested in the new DVD formats, whether Blu-ray or HD DVD which is a compromise format, cheaper and compatible with current DVD and CD formats, thus allowing use of older technology, the fight is ongoing. Apparently, there is regional coding which is a copyright protection; the new technology is continent specific. In other words, the thing won't work if someone tries to copy a DVD on another continent. I think it even reports back any hacking to break this; for the exact details, see the Financial Post, "Both sides in the DVD format war are deadlocked", Sept. 6, 05, FP5.

Example of the problem: Counterfeiting DVD's -- "Counterfeiting operation uncovered in Co Meath", 03 June 2005 19:29

[. . . . ] Polythene tunnels that were originally erected on a farm to produce mushrooms were used by a criminal gang to produce up to 600 DVDs an hour - up to 3 million a year - on 20 DVD burners and printers. [. . . . ]

A SNAPSHOT OF OPTICAL DISC PIRACY AROUND THE WORLD

The problem of large-scale pirate optical disc production began in China in the mid-90s. When China cut off the export of piratical discs in the late 1990s, the pirates packed up their equipment and relocated to more hospitable areas where enforcement was lax or absent. Now we are seeing major problems with DVD production in Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Philippines, and Indonesia. Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ukraine, and elsewhere in Central Europe are host to factories replicating pirate copies of music CDs. The music industry's problems today are always a danger sign for us, since pirates often start with music and then move on to movies, video games and other products.

In the past year, we have also witnessed a major surge of large-scale factory production of DVDs in Russia. Today there are at least 26 optical plants in Russia, including at least five that specialize in the production of DVDs.[. . . . ]

. . . . selling them on the streets by the kilo. Pirate DVDs are sold everywhere—at street markets, in kiosks, in retail stores and over the Internet.

Those 26 plants in Russia currently have capacity to replicate about 300 million DVDs and CDs a year; legitimate demand in Russia is approximately 18 million units. This excess capacity points to the fact that the Russian pirates are targeting export markets—OUR export markets. [. . . . ]

THE ORGANIZED CRIME CONNECTION

Several U.S. government agencies are bringing attention to the link between organized crime and copyright piracy. The Federal Bureau of Investigation's website home page states the following:

''Unlike criminals who engage in other types of criminal activity, those who commit IP crimes can not easily be categorized. Counterfeiters, software pirates, and trade secret thieves are as different as the intellectual property they counterfeit, steal, and sell. In general, software pirates have an acute interest in computers and by extension, the Internet. Many counterfeiters hail from foreign countries, such as South Korea, Vietnam, or Russia. They are frequently organized in a loosely knit network of importers and distributors who use connections in China, Southeast Asia, or Latin America to have their counterfeit and imitation products made inexpensively by grossly underpaid laborers. There is also strong evidence that organized criminal groups have moved into IP crime and that they are using the profits generated from these crimes to facilitate other illegal activities. [. . . . ]

There is much more if you link -- several segments.

Do you think Canada is immune? Another topic for PM to broach in his meetings with foreign leaders such as Hu Jintao.

---

Claudia Rosett: UNSCAM -&- the Volcker Report

Independent Inquiry into the U.N. Oil-for-Food Programme: Vol. 1


Independent Inquiry into the U.N. Oil-for-Food Programme: Vol. 2


Independent Inquiry into the U.N. Oil-for-Food Programme: Vol. 3



Independent Inquiry into the U.N. Oil-for-Food Programme: Vol. 4


An excerpt:

Press Release: INDEPENDENT INQUIRY COMMITTEE FINDS MISMANAGEMENT AND FAILURE OF OVERSIGHT: UN MEMBER STATES AND SECRETARIAT SHARE RESPONSIBILITY

[. . . . ] REFORM PROPOSALS

On the central matter of United Nations reform, the Committee’s investigation leads it to make six major recommendations:

Create the position of Chief Operating Officer (“COO”). The COO would have authority over all aspects of administration and would be appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council. The position would report to the Secretary-General and the United Nations Charter should be amended as appropriate.

Establish an Independent Oversight Board (IOB) with a majority of independent members. In discharging its mandate, the IOB should have functional responsibility for all independent audit, investigation and evaluation activities, both internal and external, across the United Nations Secretariat and those agencies receiving funds from the United Nations and for which the Secretary-General appoints the executive heads.

Improve the coordination and the oversight framework for cross-Agency programs.

Strengthen the quality of the United Nations management and management practices.
Extend the financial disclosure requirement well below the current assistant secretary-general level within the organization and specifically include the Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary-General as well as all UN staff who have any decision-making role in the disbursement or award of UN funds (eg. Procurement Department, Office of the Controller). Expand and better define the United Nations conflict of interest rules so that they encompass actual, potential and apparent conflicts of interest.

Agencies involved in a United Nations program are entitled to reasonable support for “overhead” as well as direct expenses. In the context of the Oil for Food Programme, those charges were excessive and the Agencies involved should return up to $ 50 million in excess compensation secured as a result of work performed under Security Council Resolution 1483.

Emphasizing points expressed in the Report’s Preface, the Committee’s Chairman, Paul A Volcker, stated, “The inescapable conclusion from the Committee’s work is that the United Nations Organization needs thoroughgoing reform—and it needs it urgently. What is important—what has been recognized by one investigation after another—is that real change must take place, and change over a wide area. [. . . . ]

Claudia Rosett: Exposé, At Last? (09/06/2005) Claudia Rosett, National Review Online



Exposing the U.N. Oil-for-Food Scandal

---

Katrina: FEMA--Not a First Responder -&- Ray Nagin isn't blame-free -- 1998 Fiasco

Katrina: FEMA is not a first responder

Craig Martelle: FEMA is not a first responder
Don't be so quick to pillory the federal response in New Orleans. Immediate emergency management is primarily a local and state responsibility

[. . . . ] I've reviewed the New Orleans emergency management plan. Here is an important section in the first paragraph.

"We coordinate all city departments and allied state and federal agencies which respond to citywide disasters and emergencies through the development and constant updating of an integrated multi-hazard plan. All requests for federal disaster assistance and federal funding subsequent to disaster declarations are also made through this office. Our authority is defined by the Louisiana Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act of 1993, Chapter 6 Section 709, Paragraph B, 'Each parish shall maintain a Disaster Agency which, except as otherwise provided under this act, has jurisdiction over and serves the entire parish.' "

Check the plan -- the "we" in this case is the office of the mayor, Ray Nagin who was very quick and vocal about blaming everyone but his own office. [. . . . ]

Ray Nagin isn't blame-free

Now, check out the entire prescient article by Joel Bourne, National
Geographic:

http://www3.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0410/feature5/

The article was written "October 2004". Shiver me timbers!
Ray Nagin isn't blame-free
National Post
Tue 06 Sep 2005
Lorne Gunter

[. . . . ] So many of those fleeing Katrina last week were huddled in the Superdome as a direct result of Nagin's initial refusal to open the cavernous, covered football stadium during the Ivan evacuation. Following Ivan, Nagin was chastised for having kept the dome locked until the very last minute. At the time he claimed he was reluctant to swing open the doors because, during the 1998 Hurricane Georges evacuation, 14,000 had poured in and the place deteriorated into a criminal cesspool with muggings, thefts, fights and vandalism.

He made sure the Superdome was open this time to avoid a similar political fallout, but he made no provision for bottled water or water purification equipment, no emergency food stuffs, no portable toilets or diesel generators. No city-employed doctors or nurses were assigned to evacuation duty there. [. . . . ]

---

TRIBES

Bill Whittle: TRIBES Eject! Eject! Eject!

[. . . . ] My Tribe doesn’t fire on people risking their lives, coming to help us. My Tribe doesn’t curse such people because they arrived on Day Four, when we felt they should have been here before breakfast on Day One. We are grateful, not to say indebted, that they have come at all. My Tribe can’t eat Nike’s and we don’t know how to feed seven by boiling a wide-screen TV. My Tribe doesn’t give a sweet God Damn about what color the looters are, or what color the rescuers are, because we can plainly see before our very eyes that both those Tribes have colors enough to cover everyone in glory or in shame. My Tribe doesn’t see black and white skins. My Tribe only sees black and white hats, and the hat we choose to wear is the most personal decision we can make.

That’s the other thing, too – the most important thing. My Tribe thinks that while you are born into a Tribe, you do not have to stay there. Good people can join bad Tribes, and bad people can choose good ones. My Tribe thinks you choose your Tribe. That, more than anything, is what makes my Tribe unique. [. . . . ]

The whole article is worth reading. He's a powerful writer.

---

Charles Adler: Is Race an Issue in New Orleans?

If ever there were a case for Conservative media simply for some media balance, this article is it. . . . but it is about more than that.

here and here

[. . . . ] Have you been buying into the lies of big media? Do you think they have been fair and balanced in showing you the real victims of the hurricane? Have they gone into the rural Louisiana an Mississippi and Alabama? Or are they focusing on New Orleans? Don't you that the Big Easy hasn't been a party town for most of its residents? Don't you know that the party ended for this low rent crowd a long time ago. Don't you know that a third of the peopel in the Big Slimy live in poverty? Don't you know how many of them are functionally illiterate and vote for rubes, morons and hustlers? [. . . . ]

Why is this familiar to Canadians? Can you?



Charles Adler: two videos

---

Concensus, BQ wants global campaign against U.S.: Think Oil, "Kingsclear" Again, Class Size, New Orleans Mayor and Louisiana Governor Clueless & More

A Positive Step

Concensus from a Christian, a Jew & a Muslim: How to win this war by Rory Leishman, Salim Mansur and Michael Taube, Toronto Sun, September 3, 2005 - page 19

In Reply to: How to win this war posted by Leishman, Mansur, Taube by Bill Narvey



BQ wants global campaign against U.S. ostensibly about softwood lumber but the real story is oil CNEWS, Sept. 7, 05

It started with the BQ denouncing "the American government's "arrogant" attitude on the softwood lumber dispute" but quickly moved to the real issue.

[. . . . ] The Bloc hopes to call petroleum industry officials before Parliament's industry committee to explain their actions.

"The profit is not made at the pump, but on the refinery margins," Duceppe said. "Last week, the refinery margins were 47 cents, while a margin of seven cents ensures large profits."

He accused Martin of not reacting because of his ties with the petroleum industry in western Canada. [. . . . ]

Check into that last bit; what are the PM's ties? Would the network ties run through France and TotalFinaElf? Mais, non!




Charges in Kingsclear case By KEVIN BISSETT, CNEWS, Sept. 7, 05

There have been rumours for years that the enquiry into Kingsclear was shut down prematurely, before it moved higher. Hints abound. Perhaps high enough to touch a member of a law enforcement group? The leader attached to high/highest office (perhaps the one who died of a mysterious illness or brain disorder in an Ottawa hospital?), a friend--a politician from the Edmundston area, and a green Bricklin which figured into the story? The scuttlebutt is that it was shut down after the government of a still-active politician and/or diplomat, along with the rest who wanted the story to go away, was able to "get" four staff members / scapegoats and fire them. . . . Oh, make that three people. One, named The Shredder for obvious reasons, but who, reportedly, was supported by a very politically sensitive and active group, perhaps the Acadian society, did not lose his job. It pays to have powerful friends who are not above making a noise, the kind of political career-ending noise needed to save one of their own. Of course, it is only a rumour . . . but it does keep floating around.

Maybe the whole story will come out . . . or, more likely, those in the know will be able to gather in their favours and make any further digging into it go away . . . forever . . . if there is a story. It may all just be the usual gossip and innuendo. It would be nice to clear the air.

Of course, if there is any truth to the rumours, would it make the people cynical . . . we couldn't have that.




Peter Foster: The plot sickens -- Foster is always reasoned -- worth reading, on business bashing

Perhaps not surprisingly, one of the main peddlers of this take [anti-business] is none other than John Le Carre, whose hatred for President George W. Bush knows virtually no bounds. . . . . Eminent British journalist John Lloyd has noted that for Mr. Le Carre, "facts are nothing and hostility is all." . . . .

[. . . . ] Beyond a penchant for conspiracy theories and irrational fear of large business (which should be distinguished from a quite rational fear of big business and big government being in bed together, which is also a theme of the movie), there lurks the pervasive ignorance of the role of profits in generating new investment and better drugs. For conspiracy theorists, profits are the result of exploitation. And companies are prepared to kill to get them. [. . . . ]

Search: fan of Arab causes , a pompous ass who was supporting those who wanted to murder him, threats by Brazil , AIDS drugs , legalized theft , globalization




Smaller class sizes TrueAlberta

You can only expect so much out of the education system until you yourself has to take some sort of initiative and responsibility. My neice is 2, she already knows her alphabet. She can write upper and lower case latters. She properly uses prepostitions, nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives...the little rascal corrected her grandma and called a half-circle a semi-circle! Why? Because of mom and dad!! No class sizes or teachers to complain about there because mom and dad took some initiave [sic] and were actually parents! [. . . . ]

But, of course! But our government doesn't want this inconvenient idea to thwart big government day care and . . . whatever comes with it.



Looking not a day over 80 Bisbee -- and there are other comments on this webpage.

"In the real world Paul Martin is a billionaire."

Any Canadian that could suck the Canadian teat, the Canadian Treasury, as hard as Paul Martin has all his life would be a billionaire too. You can't lose when you have unfettered access to the public monies of the jolly Canadian taxpayer!

Need a chuckle at the expense of . . . well, just read it: The boy and the goat uplink




The law states clearly that the Feds cannot interfere with a municipality or a state unless they ask you .

These facts apply to the USA and Canada and most other countries who have enacted Emergency Assistance Acts.

Remember, it was Premier Robert Bourassa who requested that PE Trudeau send in the military during the FLQ crisis; of course, it might have been a response to a request from PM Trudeau since both were Liberals. In Louisiana, the principals are Democrats and Bush haters, so I've read.

New Orleans Mayor and Louisiana Governor Clueless

They are not "HIS state governors and mayors". They are responsible to the people of Louisiana, not to the President. State representatives, city representatives are independent of federal accountability. US Congressmen, US Senators, they are under the President's purview. The Commander in Chief of the Louisiana National Guard was Blanco, not Bush. I think you are coming from a Canadian political perspective. Yes, we have had for the past 12 years, a top-down system where the PM tells the provinces what they can and cannot do. The American system is different.

Rosemarie59 seems to know the score.

---

NO! NO! A THOUSAND TIMES NO! TO SHARIA COURTS IN CANADA

Fortunately, I am not in the same position as the McGuinty government, having to dance around the subject.

"The dilemma the Liberal government faces as it comes under increasing pressure from feminist groups, moderate Muslims and others to ditch the sharia proposal, is how to quietly do so without appearing to criticize Islam." -- well put, Christina Blizzard, TorSun, Sept. 7, 05!

What it boils down to is, how much multiculturalism is too much? . . . .

In answer, we passed that point long, long ago.

Search: Homa Arjomand , International Campaign Against Sharia Court in Canada , Arbitration Act




Opposition to Sharia courts goes global Lee Greenberg, Sept. 7, 05

An upcoming international demonstration designed to pressure Queen's Park into rejecting shariah courts continued to grow yesterday [. . . . ]

So far, Amsterdam, Stockholm, London, Paris and Los Angeles are among the confirmed participants in tomorrow's protests. They will join similar demonstrations in Toronto, Ottawa, Waterloo, Montreal and Victoria. [. . . . ]

"This has nothing to do with the faith of Islam. It's political Islam," said Homa Arjomand, founder of the International Campaign against Shariah Court in Canada. "Ontario is an easy target because we have multiculturalism."

Protectionism, PM, China, Hu Jintao -&- Protest

Bike protectionism: The small, concentrated interests of two Canadian bicycle manufacturers are winning out against those of consumers Sept. 7, 05, Financial Post

Many of us choose to buy what little we buy from Canadian businesses who do not use prison / slave labour, who do not coerce their citizens and kill or prey upon any opposition (Tiananmen Square, Falun Gong, spies in Canada according to reports) as does China. Under the Liberals we're getting there, of course: 'Creepy' surveillance legislation proposed -- "OTTAWA - Police and security agencies would be able to surreptitiously track unwitting Canadians via their cellphones, BlackBerrys and laptop computers..."

Nevertheless, to my knowledge, we don't send Canadian spies to China--as China did to Australia, Canada, etc.--to track down those who speak out against the Canadian government (Think PM and the 'democratic deficit').

Paul Martin, I suggest you mention this to Hu Jintao when he arrives to be courted by you and the China-Canada Business Council -- all those in the service of making money over the backs of those who will become unemployed, those Canadians who will lose their jobs to a country whose citizens have not the job protection, pension and health benefits we hope to maintain.




Reminder: Protest China's anti-democratic stance -- a protest against Hu Jin Tao (Chinese president) when he visits Toronto on September 10, 6pm, Metro Toronto Convention Centre

There is a link for more information.

Ecstasy Busts, Windsor-Detroit, & Smuggling the Harizis from Detroit

Feds make record ecstasy bust --

The U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement says that in August agents seized a record 500,000 ecstasy pills worth about $9.9 million near the southeastern Michigan-Ontario border.

Search: the major supplier , 100,000 tablets , Windsor-Detroit , 94,000 ecstasy tablets



Pardon me if I don't go all weepy over this one

Man drowned while being smuggled into Canada

WINDSOR - An Albanian woman is in custody and her son confirmed drowned after an apparent human-smuggling attempt by jet ski turned tragic on the weekend. Ontario Provincial Police . . . Shkelqim Harizi . . . Tecumseh-Windsor border . . . jet ski. . . Fadila Harizi, . . . smuggling the Harizis from Detroit. . . . . The RCMP is investigating the human-smuggling allegations. Windsor police. . . a trio demanding a smuggling fee. . . $3,000.

Why, if the smugglers managed to get at the family's refugee / welfare / other benefits payments for a short time, they would be repaid. It is cheap payment for the social services Canada is foolish enough to bestow on more of these "refugees" . . . as they would undoubtedly claim.

Katrina Timeline & Think Before Offering Your Home -&- Bringing in Questionable "Refugees"

Useful timeline -- concerning Katrina posted by Ezra Levant on the Shotgun




Let's think about this: don't be a fool about it.

Maritimers offer shelter to Katrina survivors -- kindly meant, but ascertain that Canadians aren't going to be receiving violent or criminal thugs into their homes.

The reason I suggested helping the children is that some of the adults are already formed in their criminality and it is impossible to tell in an emergency situation who is safe to accept into our country and into our homes and who is not.

Think about who have managed to make it onto our IRB and who will be making decisions about who enter Canada. Do you trust any more from this group heavily laden with those who have expertise only in joining the Liberals as cronies, bagmen, people who need to be rewarded by the Party for some reason or other, et cetera.

It is one thing to offer to help deserving people; it's another to be a fool about it!



If you want some background on some of the refugees, check these:

Update 3: "The welfare state—and the brutish, uncivilized mentality it sustains and encourages" Sept. 6, 05


Katrina "I'm OK" registry & The Sinister Underbelly & A Slip of the Tongue Sept. 6, 05


Our government had better not dare to bring in the criminal thug class from New Orleans which will join what it has already allowed into our country!

---

Updated Katrina: Police on One Policeman's Suicide, Guns, Helping Yourself? Perish the Thought

Update 1:

While a signifcant number of N.O. Police officers bugged out, the rest deserve medals for what they did trying to rescue people while they were being fired upon. Instapundit, and don't miss the links.




That's what governments are for, to help . . . isn't it? Of course, they may have caused your problems in the first place by political decisions instead of sensible ones or by choosing winners and creating losers with $$$, welfare, loans, et cetera, but their publicity machine helps governments to become the overweaning force in many people's lives. Read on.





For one police officer, it was all too much

Requiem For A Heavyweight -- "Sgt. Paul Accardo and the manner of his passing." Sept. 6, 05, by Jack of Jack's Newswatch

[. . . . ] I didn’t know Paul [Accardo] but I am willing to bet eveything I have that he gave the job his best shot and New Orleans was much the richer for it. It may be surprising to many but even the very worst officer has, in my experience, put his life on the line many times during his career for his (or her) fellow citizens without fear or favour.

They just do it because it’s the right thing to do.

Paul never tarnished his badge from what I can see. He did his very best and that is why I find CNN’s article so offensive. [. . . . ]

"Politicians will never, ever take care of you – they only want one thing from you, and that is to stay in power as long as they can."

New Orleans cop: Situation was predictable wnd.com, by Robert E. Johnson, a retired New Orleans police captain via Jack's Newswatch

[. . . . ] We are now reaping the benefits of a welfare state.

For more years than most can remember, we have been told by those holding office that they will take care of us. We have provided food, clothing and shelter to the extent that the recipients became entirely dependent on government resources to live. They have reached the point that no longer do they have the knowledge to take care of themselves. They will sit there and drown or go hungry, and curse the fact that the government has not gotten them out of this mess. [. . . . ]

Where are all the Democrats who told us the government would take care of us? You said if we vote for you, you will take care of us. Where are you Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry? Anton S, Sept. 6, 05




Making A Case for Guns

Uncle Sam won't save you

The anti-gun choice movement has long and loudly insisted that we should simply call 9-1-1 when faced with burglars, rapists, etc. Not one of them has come forward to explain how the citizens of New Orleans should accomplish that when there is no phone with which to call and no one at the other end of the line to respond. Even if the police were able to answer the call, they are so completely overwhelmed that they would not be able to respond. And even if they were to respond, it would take a very long time indeed for them to boat or swim to your house. [. . . . ]

In a situation like this in gun-registry, gun control Canada where only the crooks who don't register have guns at the ready, who would help you? Faced with a gun-toting criminal thug at your door and a breakdown in law and order, do you call the gun registry office? Liberal Party HQ? The PMO? The Department of Justice?

The more I think of it, the more I see the wisdom of owning a gun. I know a perfectly normal ex-Maritimer, a woman who lives in Miami . . . with a gun in her house for her safety. Makes sense to me.



The schools [Canadian universities] said they will admit undergraduates who were enrolled at Louisiana and Mississippi universities that have been closed indefinitely by flood damage. Up to 100,000 students have been displaced according to the Association of American Universities.

---