[skippy the wonder dog]

It was Harper who transformed the Canadian mission from a humanitarian relief effort to "defending the oil pipeline".

This is factually incorrect.

Canadian troops were originally in Kabul as part of ISAF. ISAF is not a humanitarian relief effort; it is the UN-sanctioned International Security Assistance Force, and its mandate is to assist the recognized government of Afghanistan in securing the country. Canada also had a Provincial Reconstruction Team deployed there, with a humanitarian mandate.

Paul Martin's government made the decision to redeploy Canadian troops from Kabul to Khandahar, still under the ISAF mandate. Since Khandahar province is much more unstable than north-east Afghanistan, this necessitated an increased number of troops under ISAF, an increase in heavy equipment, and an increased emphasis on security operations.

The redeployment to Khandahar began before Harper was elected. Since being elected, Harper has not changed the mandate of Canadian troops in Afghanistan. They continue to operate as part of the UN-sanctioned ISAF, and the mission continues to include a PRT. The increased emphasis on combat operations arises not from a change in mission, but from a change in the situation.

[NegPhil]

When have I ever professed a conspiracy theory? :lol:

I always provide sources for my statements. What about you? You spew right wing propaganda and insult me if I dare speak up against your lies. You can not bully me because I am not afraid of you or your attempts to embarrass me. I am a liberal. I am a Catholic. I am a Liberation Theologists. I am willing to stand up and fight. I will not allow people like you to twist the truth and then attack the opposition as unchristian or unpatriotic or a conspiracy theorists because we resist lies and imperialism.

For the record my statement was a paraphrasing of Canadian journalist Murray Dobbins comment in the video I provide.

"Canada's involvement in Afghanistan, we can see where it's headed, because there's been an announcement that they're going to build a pipeline through southern Afghanistan which would go up through Kandahar. So, in effect, Canada's role will be to defend the building of an American pipeline."

[skippy the wonder dog]

Murray Dobbin is a board member of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, and a past board member of the Council of Canadians. These are political lobby groups. As such, he's not a journalist, but an activist, a political lobbyist who dishonestly brands himself as a journalist. You should keep this in mind when viewing a "news" report that features him as its sole quoted source.

[NegPhil]

I acknowledge the source of the information is from an alternative source. As I stated earlier I found the mainstream press to be noticeably biased in favor of the establishment. The subject has over 100,000 hits on Google where the facts are laid out quite clearly.

We can argue over the politics but the facts remain the same.


The Real News featured on PBS Foreign Exchange
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Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.policyalternatives.ca/News/2008/06/PressRelease1905/index.cfm?pa=BB736455">http://www.policyalternatives.ca/News/2 ... a=BB736455</a><!-- m -->


Afghanistan gas pipeline could impact Canada's role in Afghanistan: report

June 19, 2008 | National Office | Topic(s): Energy policy, International relations, peace & conflict | Publication Type: Press Release

(OTTAWA) – A new report released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) raises serious questions about the impact of a proposed trans-Afghanistan natural gas pipeline on the role of Canadian Forces in that war-torn country.

A Pipeline Through a Troubled Land: Afghanistan, Canada and the New Great Energy Game documents the proposed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline, which will transport natural gas 1,680 kilometres from southeast Turkmenistan through southern Afghanistan, to Pakistan and India.

The report, written by international energy economist and former lead economist of PetroCanada John Foster, describes the U.S.-backed pipeline as turning Afghanistan into “an energy bridge” between Central and South Asia.

“The U.S. is our ally and it clearly asserts the geopolitical importance of the region. But the quest for 'energy security' risks drawing Canada unwittingly into a new Great Energy Game," said Foster.

A Gas Pipeline Framework Agreement, signed by representatives of the four nations on April 25, 2008, commits the four nations to initiating construction of the $7.6 billion gas pipeline in 2010, supplying gas by 2015.

“Canada’s debate has been devoid of any discussion about how building a U.S.-backed pipeline through Kandahar would affect Canadian Forces’ efforts to build peace and stability in Afghanistan’s most troubled province,” said Bruce Campbell, CCPA Executive Director. “Will Canadian Forces become guardians of this pipeline?”

The report notes that Canadian Members of Parliament and officials have participated in regional energy meetings; but in government speeches and media reports, it’s as if no meetings have ever taken place.

The report is available online at <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.policyalternatives.ca">www.policyalternatives.ca</a><!-- w -->

[skippy the wonder dog]

Same think-tank, same talking points. Quelle surprise.

Yawn.

[laliber]

We need Cornelius the First back or at the very least the Natural Law Party to levitate some ass...

[Tthip]

Conversation about Cuts to Culture and Green Shift.
Liberal Candidate David Remington and Musician Rob Baker discuss a variety of issues.

[youtube]1up9LyL_IOI[/youtube]