Monthly Archives: December 2007
We Will Remember Him
| 12/30/2007 | Posted by Patti under Brave Canadians |
They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them
In memory of our fallen Canadian:
Gunner Jonathan Dion– Afghanistan December 30, 2007
Always Caring — Always Canadian — Never Defeated
Support Our Troops — Wear Red on Fridays
Who Killed Bhutto?
| 12/30/2007 | Posted by Patti under General |
Much of Pakistan remains restive today, three days after the death of Benazir Bhutto. The government of Pakistan has pointed the finger of blame at Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, a 34 year old pro-Taliban militant reported to have thousands of foot soldiers at his command as well as trained suicide bombers. The government claims to have intercepted a call between Mehsud and Maulvi Sahib aka Mr Cleric in which the two discuss and congratulate each other on the assassination.
Others, like the US, appear to support this claim. Supporters of Bhutto appear to be more intent on blaming Musharraf for at minimum not providing enough security for her. If Mehsud was behind her murder it would not be terribly surprising. The Taliban, backed by anti-Musharraf elements could well be aiming to destabilize Pakistan. The Taliban, which ironically enough Bhutto helped create, need a new base of operations. Under pressure from the west, Musharraf was being pressed to deny the Taliban the safe haven they had developed in the northwest provinces which allowed them to move with impunity into Afghanistan. (more…)
Was Bhutto A Democratic Champion?
| 12/28/2007 | Posted by Patti under General |
As Benazir Bhutto’s body is buried in Sindh, her home province, it appears her spirit has gone on a rampage across Pakistan. People across the country have lashed out violently at the loss of one they placed their hopes of democracy in. Bhutto was seen by her supporters as someone who could lead Pakistan to become a full democracy, as an effective opposition to the increasing anarchy under Musharraf.
I’m not about to start pretending that I understand the politics that drives that part of the world. I’m not even sure that those who live in the middle of it understand what is going on. It doesn’t take a lot to understand that in a country with few leadership choices the violent loss of one, who seemed to hold such promise, can spark fear, panic, even rage. So far 32, in addition to the 20 killed along with Bhutto, have died in the unrest. Paramilitary forces have been given orders to shoot on sight those doing damage so more deaths are inevitable. (more…)
Bhutto Reported Assassinated
| 12/27/2007 | Posted by Patti under Middle East, World News, World Politics |
Having escaped injury or death in a suicide bombing attack in October on a parade celebrating her return to Pakistan from exile Benazir Bhutto, has been assassinated. Reports from Pakistan indicate that Bhutto was shot in the chest and neck as the entered a vehicle following a rally in Rawalpindi. The attacker then blew himself up killing up to 20 others. Bhutto died a short time later at a local hospital.
Twice Prime Minister of Pakistan, she was the first female elected to lead a post-colonial Muslim state. Both of her tenures were ended by the Pakistani President of the time on charges of corruption. In 1998 she went into exile in Dubai until her return to Pakistan in October. She was running in the Pakistani elections due to be held January 8th. (more…)
Oscar Peterson RIP
| 12/25/2007 | Posted by Patti under Canadian News |
A legend of jazz music, Canadian Oscar Peterson, has died at the age of 82. Peterson was born in Montreal on August 15, 1925 to immigrant parents. He started his musical life at the age of 5 playing the trumpet and the piano. After his lungs became damaged due to tuberculosis he focused on playing piano. His friends and fellow musicians include jazz greats like Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong and Charlie Parker.
Probably one of the greatest influences on his life and career outside of his family was by Hungarian Paul de Marky an accomplished classical musician with whom Peterson worked while still in high school. de Marky taught Peterson the technique and speedy fingers which would help distinguish him on the world stage. He also taught Peterson to believe in himself. (more…)
Are Tasers Dangerous?
| 12/9/2007 | Posted by Patti under Canadian News |
After several high profile deaths following being tasered, questions about the taser’s role in the death continue to be debated. Originally tasers were meant to be an alternative to lethal force. Those situations where either the suspect or others were in imminent danger of death or injury yet police couldn’t readily move in to subdue the person.
What is increasingly happening is that police are using tasers as an intermediate force like pepper spray and batons. Any type of force against another person has the potential of contributing to that person’s death depending on their physical condition. (more…)
Schreiber Talks to Committee
| 12/5/2007 | Posted by Patti under Canadian Politics |
One of the most difficult things to determine when Karlheinz Schreiber opens is his mouth is the question — he hoodwinking us into letting him stay in this country or ripping the lid off the seedier side of Mulroney’s days in office? My suspicion is that we’re getting a bit of both.
Schreiber is a showman, that is pretty clear. However, so is Mulroney which really leaves this whole developing soap opera worthy of several seasons worth of juicy material before it goes into reruns… oops… this isn’t a soap opera, it’s happening in real time. (more…)
Drunk Faces Dangerous Offender Designation
| 12/3/2007 | Posted by Patti under Canadian News |
An Alberta man is facing becoming a dangerous offender, for chronic drunk driving. If the Crown is successful, he will become the first in Canada to be so designated. The man had three previous drunk driving convictions prior to stealing a pickup truck in 2006 and slamming head on into a vehicle containing a mother and three children, all of who died. He was driving while under suspension at the time and just prior to the collision police had tried to stop him. He sped away from police, lost control and slammed into his victim’s vehicle.
I am not sure that dangerous offender which would see him jailed indefinitely is the answer. The man claims to have been free of drugs and alcohol since the accident which claimed the four lives. I do believe there needs to be serious consequences for his actions especially on the heels of previous convictions but is Canada’s money and resources going to be put to good use housing him in prison if he has indeed dried out?
He does need to do some prison time, he committed murder with a vehicle. The question is how much.
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