12 replies to this topic

[Topaz]

The following article is about Baird and his trip to Israel and and who he took with him and if this is the way one does peace talks, no wonder Canada never got that seat on the Security Council at the UN. http://thetyee.ca/Op...ip_Bairds_Lips/

[Wild Bill]

The following article is about Baird and his trip to Israel and and who he took with him and if this is the way one does peace talks, no wonder Canada never got that seat on the Security Council at the UN. http://thetyee.ca/Op...ip_Bairds_Lips/

Topaz, do you know the difference between an article and an opinion piece?

YOUR LINK is to an opinion piece, NOT an article! And who the hell are the Tyee News, anyway?

It's like using an editorial from the "I Hate Tories!" magazine as some kind of proof that Tories are bad.

This Murray Dobbin who wrote the piece is a columnist. He did NOT write this as a news article!

[waldo]

Topaz, do you know the difference between an article and an opinion piece?

YOUR LINK is to an opinion piece, NOT an article! And who the hell are the Tyee News, anyway?

yeesh - I believe it's an opinion article, WB. Surprising you aren't aware of the Tyee.

in any case, should we really be surprised at the antics... and mouth of Baird? I do believe there was a track record! Out of all the cabinet assignments Harper made, Baird's was the one that made the least sense, simply given his "fire-brand", over-the-top exhibitions in Parliament and through the Canadian media... and then, all of a sudden he's on the national stage. Yowzer!

[Wild Bill]

yeesh - I believe it's an opinion article, WB. Surprising you aren't aware of the Tyee.

in any case, should we really be surprised at the antics... and mouth of Baird? I do believe there was a track record! Out of all the cabinet assignments Harper made, Baird's was the one that made the least sense, simply given his "fire-brand", over-the-top exhibitions in Parliament and through the Canadian media... and then, all of a sudden he's on the national stage. Yowzer!

Hey Waldo, nothing any politician does really surprises me any more! Still, I'm suspecting something deeper here. Something may be going on behind the scenes.

Chretien's Liberals hurt the traditional Jewish support for the Liberal Party, particularly in Montreal and Toronto, with their increased apparent support for the Palestinians. This trend continued and grew under Martin and the flames were fanned higher with some gaffes by Dion and Ignatieff.

Now we have the Iran nuclear situation, where Israel is being pushed into a position of having to make a first strike. One can argue about whether or not Iran is truly a threat but that is a non sequitur. Israel believes it and so of course it will dictate Israel's actions.

If the balloon goes up all other countries will be scrambling to take sides. Iran has almost no friends left on the international scene. Canada may be asked for some military support, although given our limited and obsolescent resources I'm not sure what that would entail. Snipers, although of course braver and better trained than any others in the world, are not much use against nuclear arms, or defending tankers in the Straits of Hormuz.

Anyhow, I'm wondering if someone colourful like Baird is a good symbol to let the world know Canada is firmly backing Israel and of course, all those Jewish votes at home.

Or am I once again being too cynical?

[Peeves]

Rick: "Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine." Comes to mind.

Of all the rabbis I have known and who are available, picking this one was quite simply tsedreyt. Such kopdreynish we don't need.

[olpfan1]

We'll probably take part in bombing missions like in Libya but that is probably all

[fellowtraveller]

If the balloon goes up all other countries will be scrambling to take sides.

Everybody has taken sides already, they just have not been declared pubicly in some cases. Iran vs Israel is shaping up as a classic proxy war. Syria, Lebanon , Hamas and Hezbollah are Iranian proxies and would be directly involved on Israels borders. Russia and China will support Iran, not known to what extent.

Israel itself will be effectively a proxy for the EU, who will feel obliged to sit back and wring their hands, but they feel threatened by Iran too. The USA will supply whatever Israel needs in terms of money, armaments and surveillance. If Iran closes the Straits of Hormuz or gets frisky in the Persian Gulf, the US and Europe will get directly involved, likely by wiping out the Iranian air defence capacity. Canada has no role other than ongoing verbal support of the Israelis- unless it escalates to where NATO is involved..

[Peeves]

Everybody has taken sides already, they just have not been declared pubicly in some cases. Iran vs Israel is shaping up as a classic proxy war. Syria, Lebanon , Hamas and Hezbollah are Iranian proxies and would be directly involved on Israels borders. Russia and China will support Iran, not known to what extent.

Israel itself will be effectively a proxy for the EU, who will feel obliged to sit back and wring their hands, but they feel threatened by Iran too. The USA will supply whatever Israel needs in terms of money, armaments and surveillance. If Iran closes the Straits of Hormuz or gets frisky in the Persian Gulf, the US and Europe will get directly involved, likely by wiping out the Iranian air defence capacity. Canada has no role other than ongoing verbal support of the Israelis- unless it escalates to where NATO is involved..

The the Straits of Hormuz threat is of the (?) hundreds of suicide sized watercraft they have prepared to ram ships.

They have strengthened their naval capability. It is hardly superior though in any way but for the suicide crews.

I doubt they will try closing it, they did once before to their disastrous end.

[bush_cheney2004]

...They have strengthened their naval capability. It is hardly superior though in any way but for the suicide crews.

The Americans have experience with suicide attacks at sea...very annoying.

So the USA nuked 'em. Suicide attacks stopped.

[PIK]

Hey Waldo, nothing any politician does really surprises me any more! Still, I'm suspecting something deeper here. Something may be going on behind the scenes.

Chretien's Liberals hurt the traditional Jewish support for the Liberal Party, particularly in Montreal and Toronto, with their increased apparent support for the Palestinians. This trend continued and grew under Martin and the flames were fanned higher with some gaffes by Dion and Ignatieff.

Now we have the Iran nuclear situation, where Israel is being pushed into a position of having to make a first strike. One can argue about whether or not Iran is truly a threat but that is a non sequitur. Israel believes it and so of course it will dictate Israel's actions.

If the balloon goes up all other countries will be scrambling to take sides. Iran has almost no friends left on the international scene. Canada may be asked for some military support, although given our limited and obsolescent resources I'm not sure what that would entail. Snipers, although of course braver and better trained than any others in the world, are not much use against nuclear arms, or defending tankers in the Straits of Hormuz.

Anyhow, I'm wondering if someone colourful like Baird is a good symbol to let the world know Canada is firmly backing Israel and of course, all those Jewish votes at home.

Or am I once again being too cynical?

Ithink the muslim vote in canada is alot stronger then the jewish vote, so if tru ,voting has no part in it.

[Argus]

yeesh - I believe it's an opinion article, WB. Surprising you aren't aware of the Tyee.

in any case, should we really be surprised at the antics... and mouth of Baird? I do believe there was a track record! Out of all the cabinet assignments Harper made, Baird's was the one that made the least sense, simply given his "fire-brand", over-the-top exhibitions in Parliament and through the Canadian media... and then, all of a sudden he's on the national stage. Yowzer!

Parliamentarian of the year last year, wasn't he? Pretty much Harper's top trouble shooter?

[waldo]

Parliamentarian of the year last year, wasn't he? Pretty much Harper's top trouble shooter?

ok, you made me look... runner up was, wait for it... Pat Martin! I trust all those MLW members who have railed against Pat Martin will take solace in realizing Baird topped out over Pat Martin. In any case, I expect Baird must now be under a tight meds regimen to help moderate the all too familiar past projection of an, "open mouth, furrowed brow, blazing eyes, vehement shouting", uhhh... top trouble shooter!

[eyeball]

ok, you made me look... runner up was, wait for it... Pat Martin! I trust all those MLW members who have railed against Pat Martin will take solace in realizing Baird topped out over Pat Martin. In any case, I expect Baird must now be under a tight meds regimen to help moderate the all too familiar past projection of an, "open mouth, furrowed brow, blazing eyes, vehement shouting", uhhh... top trouble shooter!

Don't forget the tarantula on his forehead.

Or maybe that's his Goa'uld.