November 12, 2005

The Squirrel & the Pregnant Puppy

Remembrance Day causes a hiatus in normal activity as we ponder what is worthwhile, including how we spend our time. So I meditate and listen to great music instead of going shopping.

Not long ago I received these photos which I just love. I forwarded them to several people but I think they're worth posting for others to enjoy. I had a relative who could charm wildlife; I remember a chipmunk sitting in his palm. I have had my moments with begging squirrels myself -- until someone who knew about such things said it wasn't a good idea to cultivate a begging squirrel that made his way across the deck on his belly, begging -- or the squirrel that sat on his haunches on the lid of a garbage can outside, waiting for me to notice each day, and looked so forlorn that I always found something for him/her. I'm a sucker for these little creatures so these photos touched a chord. Enjoy.

The photos include a woman fighting cancer who owns a pregnant dog and is taking care of an infant squirrel that needed mothering. The dog has puppies and they appear to bond with the squirrel. There are more photos but Blogger doesn't appear to want to reveal them, though they were uploaded. Party Pooper.












November 11, 2005

Remembrance -&- Forboding

Bumped up. New posts below this. NJC





For millions of Canadians the poppy has long been the flower of Remembrance. It originally was a reminder of the blood-red flower which grew in the fields where many Canadians died in a place called Flanders. It remains the flower of Remembrance.




For all those airmen who didn't become medal winners

Losses

"We read our mail and counted up our missions--
In bombers named for girls, we burned
The cities we had learned about in school--
Till our lives wore out; our bodies lay among
The people we had killed and never seen.
When we lasted long enough they gave us medals;
When we died, they said, "Our casualties were low."


The Death of the ball-turret gunner

From my mother's sleep I fell into the state.
And I hunched in its belly, till my wet fur froze.
Six miles from Earth, loosed from its dream of life.
I woke to the black flak and the nightmare fighters.
When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.

Both the above are by Randall Jarrell

If you haven't read it, check Bud Talkinghorn's account of two "Canadian heroes" -- see menu.






Forboding

5,000 burnt-out cars, along with torched schools and businesses--a portrait of the future

France, that bastion of all things cultural, is in shell-shock. Every city and town which had a sizable African Muslim population has been touched by the flames of anarchy. The French elite who lauded Franz Fanon's The Wretched of the Earth as a classic are now discovering its real underlying meaning. They are coming to stay with you. The colonial treasures of Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria have turned to lead. The millions of Muslims from these past colonial possessions, who were brought in to do the dirty, boring jobs, are sitting in their slummy suburbs and festering. Automation has claimed many of their positions, but they have no intention of going back to their homelands. Life there is either deadening or deadly. France gives them welfare and a picture window on the good life--neither of which they have in their ravaged native lands. They hate the French for their snobbery and their "depraved" lifestyles; however they will remain put.

What we are witnessing across France is an intifada, much like that in Palestine. It is fueled by a similar subliminal envy for their neighbours' decent life. Outside of their belief that their religion has a stranglehold on the truth, their daily existence is bereft of creature comforts. The mindlessness of the violence in both the Muslim slums of Paris and the Gaza area of Palestine suggest that the battle for reconciliation will be hard won. The French Muslim youth burn down their schools, cultural centers, and their neighbour's cars; while the Gazans destroy millions of dollars worth of greenhouses that the exiled Israelis had left behind. Both show a revanchist mentality that will always hinder any true progress.

Sometimes people have to accept the truth of a situation. There is never going to be a Palestinian / Isreali peace and the French Muslims are never going to assimilate properly. Even the idea of basic birth control is a non-starter; hence, they will breed vast numbers of children, who will be, at once, religiously indoctrinated and subsequently, will be disenfranchized from general society. The demographic bomb has a short fuse. What the country which espouses "liberty and fraternity" can do about this situation is anybody's guess. At least, let it be a gallow's sermon for the Western Left and their laissez-faire immigration policies.

Bud Talkinghorn

Let our government learn a lesson before it is too late -- or are they unable? NJC



Overheard on CBC TV

Heather Hiscox is talking to Harry Forestal, the London bureau reporter

Hiscox: "And what is the latest on the French riots, Harry?"
Forestal: "Well, things are calming down, with fewer than 500 cars being burnt".
Hiscox: "What is the response from the government?"
Forestal: "The Interior Minister, Nicholas Sarkozy, is calling for the swift deportation of illegal immigrants, or ones on a temporary work permit, who are among the 2,000 in detention for rioting. (now Forestal turns extremely sarcastic) I'm sure that measure will go down well with the poor and destitute in the urban slums?"

Trust the CBC to misappropriate blame for the riots. How dare the French government toss out people who are in the country illegally? Just because they burned a few cars and supermarkets. It is obvious to Forestal that France should emulate Canada and let them stay while they wend their way through decade-long appeals. Swift deportation for gangsters, arsonists and suspected terrorists? Quelle horreur!

Minutes later, after snapping off the TV in a rage, I try to calm myself down with the National Post. My fury is re-ignited when I read that DNA proves the Vancouver Muslim kid, Rudwan Khali, was actually killed by Russian troops, along with three other Chechen jihadi terrorists. He attended the Dar al Madinah Islamic Center in Vancouver. He came under the influence of a fundamentalist lecturer, Sheik Younis Kathrada, who called for jihad against the infidels and made derogatory statements about Jews. Even the moderate Muslims took umbrage at this fiery rhetoric. One Muslim however took the Sheik's message literally and sent him an e-mail saying that he had lots of guns which he wanted to use in waging jihad. Kathrada, to his credit turned the guy in to the police. When the man's house was raided, he had accumulated a small arsenal

Another BC Muslim man was thought to have been travelling with Khali. He has disappeared. Another man, Azer Tagiev, is thought to know about the fate of the two. However, after being interviewed by police he left the country. All three of these men attended the Dar al Madinah Center and were close friends. The Center is a registered charity. Just two simple questions arises from all this, and they are: Why is this Sheik, who is not a Candian citizen, not deported or arrested for hate mongering? Secondly, why is a center that preaches religious hatred not closed down, or at the least, denied charity status?

Bud Talkinghorn


GG Ottawa, PM: Damned by faint praise -&- Film & Music

Remembrance Day Ottawa -- Some veterans refused to acknowledge the Governor General because they believe she is a closet separatist or supports the separatists who would work for the breakup of Canada. Apparently, someone turned his back on her -- maybe more than one.




Shall we parse the meaning of "clear"? of "exonerated"

Damned by faint praise Nov. 6, 05

Source:
Blogging Jamieson - Views of gmason@globeandmail.ca
Weblog: Blogging Jamieson Source: Views of gmason@globeandmail.ca Link: http://bloggingjamieson.blogspot.com/2005/11/views-of-gmasonglobeandmailca.html VANCOUVER

When a mayoral candidate recently admitted to helping an addict buy crack cocaine -- and allowed him to smoke it in the back of his van -- people barely stifled a yawn. Which is what many here are likely doing in the wake of Mr. Justice John Gomery's report, which contained few revelations that weren't previously made public during testimony at his commission. Moreover, Judge Gomery went out of his way to clear Prime Minister Paul Martin, who has made B.C. a priority in Ottawa like no prime minister before him. Money for the province's Asia Pacific initiative, pine beetle infestation, the Olympics, rapid transit. It has not gone unnoticed. Nor was the decision to give B.C. ministers key cabinet positions such as health (Ujjal Dosanjh) and industry (David Emerson). While there are certainly those who believe, probably rightly, that Mr. Martin did not deserve to be let off the hook by Judge Gomery, the fact is there is nothing in his report that directly ties the Prime Minister to the scandal.


Clear?

That is not quite the case. If Justice Gomery were told to investigate the state of the coffee room, then he would have no justification for investigating the boiler room. Gomery was NOT tasked with looking into the $$$ to CSL, Earnscliffe, lobbyists, etc.

See also: The Invisible Hand: Stephen Harper quotes excerpt below posted on Frost Hits the Rhubarb the week of Oct. 30 to Nov 5, 05

"Mr. Martin has been exonerated of something he was never accused of. [. . . . ]

"Where we have suggested - I have to point this out - where we have suggested that Mr. Martin should be investigated is in the contracting practices with Earnscliffe, which were part of the Auditor General's chapters three, four, and five, but were left off of Gomery's terms of reference." [. . . . ]



See "PM is not "mad as hell" about some things." posted today with a link to MK Braaton.

Questionable events under Paul Martin's watch are also mentioned in The List of approximately 200 items: Blue Blogging Soapbox: Best List "A Dubious Day" -- and here -- Search: Blue Blogging Soapbox: Copy, Send & Keep It Too posted on FHTR week of Oct. 30 to Nov. 5, 05


Film & Music

Film: Street Smart is an old film; a NY reporter's "story" of low life triggers real life terror -- a pimp, a hooker and a reporter -- terrifying moments --

Morgan Freeman played an animal, a memorable one; you won't soon forget the scissors scene. Christopher Reeve played a reporter in over his head while Kathy Baker played a hooker.

Music: Since my father played "Turkey in the Haymow" for me when I was a child, I have liked stringed instruments -- all of them -- harp, violin, cello, classical guitar, banjo (Listen to "Duelling Banjos"), mandolin, etc. -- and now, Dobro guitar, thanks to someone who knows the ability of Jerry Douglas.

What is a Dobro/Resophonic guitar?

Slide Rule -- I am listening to it now. Try "Ride the Wild Turkey", "Pearlie Mae", "I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby" (singer: Allison Krauss), "It's a Beautiful Life" . . .

Ah, just enjoy that all that pickin' an' singin'.

"To be sure, Jerry Douglas is one of the most talented, respected, and in-demand Dobro players of his generation. His ripping version of Flatt & Scruggs's instrumental "Randy Lynn Rag" is a mighty impressive testament to his picking powers". --Marc Greilsamer [Genres: Country/Bluegrass, Country/General]


There are free downloads: "Randy Lynn Rag" or Fluxology from the CD: Everything Is Gonna Work out Fine

Restless on the Farm -- Try listening to "Turkish Taffee", "Takarasaka" and "For Those Who've Gone Clear"

Great Dobro Sessions -- Various Artists - Folk -- Listen to Samples

Listen to samples: Alison Krauss & Union Station - Live


PM to Skip Commonwealth Summit, Peguis Reserve, "Refugees", Earnscliffe, CSL, PM & Pre-election "Budget"?

The question is: Will Pettigrew's chauffeur go?

Outrage grows over Martin's decision to skip Commonwealth summit

Ottawa Paul Martin's decision to become the first Canadian prime minister to skip the Commonwealth summit is drawing fire from abroad and at home. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference have met every two years since 1971. [. . . . ]


Search:

Lloyd Axworthy, the foreign affairs minister in the former Jean Chretien government

Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew




Chief [of Peguis First Nation] accused of buying votes -- The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs is investigating allegations that a native chief in Manitoba manipulated a band election by offering cash bribes and four semi-trailer loads of furniture and appliances in return for votes.
Indian Affairs Minister is Andy Scott.

Search:

a petition
signed affidavits detailing
travelled to a transport depot
RCMP detachment
Before casting my vote
$31-million
Jim Prentice, the Conservative Indian Affairs critic
Mr. Scott and Prime Minister Paul Martin
First Nations Governance Act



In Play!

Paul Martin refuses to "play politics" . . . as he plays . . . again.

Apparently, if it is a fiscal and economic "update", that's one thing . . . but the secrecy surrounding it indicates that it is, in reality, a "budget" . . . Has it been designed to buy votes? Consider your history. I did and my conclusion is below.

Conservatives threaten to block Goodale's fiscal update Monday -- "essentially a mini-budget and much larger than the usual mid-year update"

[. . . . ] "The government started out saying it was just an (economic) update, then it was a 200-page update, then an update that required a lockup . . . and we got to thinking it's obviously a lot more," than a mere economic forecast, Solberg said in an interview Thursday.

[. . . . ] But Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP member of the committee, said if she sees an election platform when Monday's document is revealed, she'll vote to keep Goodale from presenting it to the committee.

Otherwise, the Liberals will essentially be using Parliament as a campaign springboard, she said. [. . . . ]


$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$

and

Guess Who Will Pay


Read "MK Braaten's Top Ten" before you vote; do it today.




PM is not "mad as hell" about some things.

MK Braaten's Top Ten via Need Inquiry into CSL/Earnscliffe Strategies etc -- written November 09, 2005 by Beryl P. Wajsman -- A reader posted a few items in CNEWSForum -- via Small Dead Animals

[. . . . ] Nor why there is no Inquiry into the $1.5 billion dollars in guarantees awarded under Mr. Martin’s watch as Finance Minister in favour of Bombardier whose lobbyist was Mike Robinson, a principal in Earnscliffe and national campaign co-chair for Mr. Martin, who admitted on CTV to having talked with Mr. Martin’s Chief of Staff on this file.


Look for mention of:

Canada Steamship Lines contracts

contracts awarded to Earnscliffe Strategies

according to Radio- Canada’s “Enjeux” documentary, avoided $300,000,000 of taxes

not “mad as hell


Guess who made that last comment. Ah, too easy.



Terror cell suspects named -- Sought refugee status: Five Algerians stayed in Canada after claims denied Stewart Bell, National Post, Nov. 11, 05

[. . . . ] But while the document indicates the government wanted the men held, the Algerians were released within days [. . . . ]


Search:

Auberge Francophone, a Toronto non-profit group that helps French-speaking immigrants

Sunni Muslim extremists from Algeria and other North African nations

Groupe Salafiste pour la Predication et le Combat (GSPC)."

failed refugee claimants who were able to delay their deportations for years


Only in Canada, you say?

Consider: A person may enter Canada 1995 / fail to be accepted as a refugee 1996 / not be deported / and REMAIN in Canada until arrested in 2005 and . . .




Bureaucracy costs were six times benefits distributed -- Compassionate care "during its first two years of operation, more than six times the amount paid in benefits to people caring for dying loved ones" Norma Greenaway, NP, Nov. 11, 05

OTTAWA - The federal government spent almost $70-million to administer its compassionate care program during its first two years of operation, more than six times the amount paid in benefits to people caring for dying loved ones, government figures show.

Conservative MP Lynne Yelich says [. . . . ]


Search:

administration and advertising costs

changing computer systems




Stray e-mails outline Liberal plan to attack top

Source:
http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/
news/story.html?id=04559d57-858c-457b-9fad-d01cae37b727

[. . . . ] - An e-mail from Liberal-connected Vancouver lobbyist John Paul Fraser urges political staffers from Industry Canada, Transport Canada, and Infrastructure Canada to help arrange a meeting with the Fraser River Port Authority and a handful of top bureaucrats. The subject was the port's demand for funds for dredging in order to prevent flooding.

- Sadar provided the racist and lewd e-mail to The Sun on condition that no details were published that would identify the government employees involved. However, it referred to sexual boasts by government employees and a reference to the sexual predilections of a person from a certain ethnic group. [. . . . ]



No, you don't say! Who would have thought?

During the election campaign whenever it comes, expect PM and team to brand Conservatives as anti-immigration, racist, xenophobic, anti-choice whether of artistic expression or abortion . . . Well, you know the rest.

Actually, Stephen Harper would leave decisions on contentious topics to a free vote in Parliament, particularly in areas where decent individuals have different opinions -- which, to Liberals is really "scary" . . . Why, the PM/PMO would lose CONTROL.

Bring on the election. I'm all for choice!


Bud Talkinghorn's Random Thoughts

Jacob Richler is right; they are ruining gin

Jacob should have seen it coming. Coffee was desecrated long before. Chocolate-mint mocha? I don't think so. I even gave up diluting my coffee with milk. Richler posits in his National Post column that gin is the latest victim of the "perfume" plague. When I was a kid, my favourite booze was Gooderham and Worts lemon-lime gin. It was supposed to be diluted with water and ice, but I liked it straight. Can't let anything get between me and that sugar/alcohol high. I was a kid then; since then, I have put away childish things (well, most of them anyway). Now I want that pure juniper hit. A proper gin and tonic is a one-to-one ratio concoction. It is not a slurpy.

I now notice that the liquor store stocks their candy shots right next to the cash register. "They're a huge seller", the female cashier assured me. First we had "lite" beer, which blurred the line between water and malt. Then along came the coolers. The distillers understood the "liquor is quicker" truism. Next thing you know, regular-looking guys are pushing Mike's Hard Lemonade across the check-out counter. "For the little lady, you understand," he claims. True, but she might have to arm-wrestle for it. Don't forget. these regular guys are former fans of the slurppy too. I suspect that there are thousands of these folk out there, who secretly are sipping their Key West Rasberry Zombie, while lisening to Jimmy Buffett. Start hoarding those unadulterated Gordon's Gin bottles. When all you get is Gordon's Cranberry Gin, they will be priceless.

© Bud Talkinghorn--Maybe they should start adding artificial favours to that Lite beer; might help disguise that water taste.


For the sad parade of blacks at the New Orleans Convention center

Black Tambourine--1926

The interests of a black man in a cellar
Mark tardy judgment on the world's closed door.
Gnats toss in the shadow of a bottle
And a roach spans a crevice in the floor.

The black man, forlorn in the cellar,
Wanders in some mid-kingdom, dark, that lies,
Between his tambourine, stuck on the wall
And, in Africa, a carcass quick with flies.

Hart Crane

And for the Liberals, incapable of shame, but fueled by o'er-weaning arrogance

Spare a moment for the stay-at-home voter
The Salt of the Earth confronted by a parade
of grey-suited grafters, offering you the choice between
Cancer and polio

Mick Jagger--"The Salt of the Earth"

And for the usual liberal media suspects

"And above the everlasting murmur of the woods and rivers
And more insistent than the lulling answers of the waltz.
The hum of printing presses turning forests into lies."

W.H. Auden



Updated: CEUDA Report Part 2 (clauses 1.28 to 1.89) to Senate Committee on National Security and Defence

Update: "a culture of deception"

Border crossing agents walk off job citing right to refuse dangerous work

Border inspectors stepped down yesterday morning at the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor and Detroit, which is Canada's business land crossing for both cars and trucks; the Blue Water Bridge at Sarnia, Ont., the country's second-busiest truck crossing; and at the Detroit to Windsor tunnel [. . . . ]


See below for some of the problems. CEUDA is the union for CBSA.






What is below was originally posted Nov. 10, 05

On Frost Hits the Rhubarb, Nov. 4, 05, I posted part of this submission, from the Introduction to clause 1.29. This post includes the rest of that report, along with some other information.

Deputy Minister Anne McLellan is responsible for CBSA. There is some information on the President of the CBSA, Alain Jolicoeur who may be less well-known and the rest of the CEUDA submission.


Today, there are five sections:

1. CEUDA highlighted phrases / clauses CEUDA (clauses 1.28 to 1.89) -- for those who want to skim -- that will show you why it is important to you as a citizen and to the border guards, themselves. These are the phrases I had highlighted on first reading. For the all of the rest of the report not posted Nov. 4, 05 scroll to "5. Ceuda Report Part 2 (clauses 1.28 to 1.89)"


2. Background: Alain Jolicoeur, President of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

3. The repercussions for whistleblowers -- Airport security firm suspends employee who spoke to CBC News

4. Links to other information -- such as the Fifth Estate program on insecurity -- see it in repeat this weekend.

5. CEUDA Report Part 2 (clauses 1.28 to 1.89)







1. CEUDA highlighted phrases / clauses

Assume [. . . . ] after each.


contrary to what Mr. Jolicoeur stated

the job hazard analysis was altered

evidence says quite the opposite to what Mr. Jolicoeur tried to convince the House of Commons Subcommittee members.

not the only instances where Mr. Jolicoeur can be found to have intentionally led people astray or failed to accurately report

Someone, as of yet undetermined, instructed Moduspec that this specific armed presence recommendation was to be removed, and the Report was altered to meet this instruction.

deliberate alteration

The draft version recognized that there was considerable risk to unarmed border inspectors

The final version of ModuSpec's Job Hazard Analysis omitted this recommendation and simply recommended that officers not be armed [ Search: RCMP Commissioner Zaccardelli ]

the job hazard analysis was altered

the most senior officials within the CBSA continue to attempt to deliberately mislead elected officials and the Canadian public

institutionalized bias against Customs Officers

Despite non co-operation and attempts to obstruct the study by CBSA’s senior management in Ottawa

How can the CBSA President continue to publicly say police response times to calls from Customs are adequate when CBSA doesn’t even know the distance of police detachments to more than 90% of the sites serviced by Customs?

OPP unilaterally changed the MOU in Prescott, ON, to no longer respond to firearms seizures insisting that Customs Investigators attend from Ottawa in these matters; these investigators are routinely instructed not to attend by CBSA management resulting in subjects being released into Canada after attempting to smuggle firearms;

a review and analysis we undertook led us to note there are about 250 unguarded roads coming into Canada from the U.S., and no one, absolutely no one, is watching these roads, checking who comes across them or what they’re bringing into Canada.

given RCMP Commissioner Zaccardelli's testimony about how the RCMP cannot maintain a border presence; we shouldn't confuse the RCMP's involvement in IBETs with the U.S. Border Patrol to mean there are joint Canada/U.S. teams patrolling the border.

specialized intelligence-driven teams such as IBET’s can only operate effectively if field officers are out there gathering and obtaining day-to-day intelligence on activities and movement on the front-line.

1.68 Canada needs to establish an armed Customs Border Patrol (CBP). The RCMP clearly does not want to do the work of patrolling the border but the work must be done. Customs can do that work, has the expertise, infrastructure, and management team already in place along the border, and our members know the terrain and travellers better than anyone.

we wish to take this opportunity to restate the need for senior CBSA officials to provide nothing short of completely accurate information when presenting information to Parliamentary Committees and advice to elected officials, especially the Minister to whom they report.

King and Waugh v. Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (January 13, 2005;
File # 160-2-83).
As you may be aware, CBSA unlawfully ordered destruction of officer safety related information, as confirmed by the PSSRB in this decision.

we urge you to explore them further by questioning CBSA officials.


1.84 CBSA uses a Border Management Plan (BMP) to set artificial numerical targets for vehicle and vessel searches, without regard to the goal of finding contraband or any result beyond the search itself. Literally, this “numbers game” is a public relations exercise that focuses on having more searches performed rather than on finding anything. In fact, intelligence based, targeted high-risk searches are routinely discouraged because of the time involved to carry out such searches and so that easier searches – to pad the numbers – can occur. As you know, more security is not necessarily better security, although it does permit unreliable claims to be made.

1.85 Linked to that deceit is a system of management bonuses based on managers achieving BMP numerical quotas and for running operations under budget. Providing financial incentives to managers in this fashion is an outright encouragement to avoid doing enforcement related duties, which does nothing short of corrupt the law enforcement mandate of CBSA.

1.86 There is a widespread policy, despite Front-Line Customs Officer objection, to admit persons into Canada notwithstanding the fact they were caught attempting to smuggle guns or drugs into Canada. This constitutes criminal inadmissibility under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

1.87 As is always the case we are in a position to substantiate these newer findings and it is our hope that you will question CBSA officials in a view of seeking explanations for what has been reported to us and what justifications exists for such measures that are clearly contradictory to the public interest of Canadians.









2. Background: Alain Jolicoeur

Alain Jolicoeur, the President of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) wrote a letter to the editor which was published in the National Post, in response to some of what has been reported about Canada's insecurity. It was published since Nov. 4, 05, in reaction to the negative press garnered after the contents of the CEUDA report became more widely known.

It is always instructive to know the background of ministers and deputy ministers.

Background: Alain Jolicoeur, President, CBSA


Mr. Alain Jolicoeur completed his classical education at the Collège de Haute-Rive.

[CEGEP
www.cegep-baie-comeau.qc.ca/college/historique.htm ]

He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in physics engineering at Université Laval [Québec] and pursued studies in meteorology at the Université du Québec à Montréal.

Mr. Jolicoeur began his career in the Public Service of Canada in 1973 and, until 1980, held various positions in the field of meteorology with Environment Canada and the Department of National Defence. From 1980 to 1992, Mr. Jolicoeur held management positions in engineering, technology transfer, technological development, and the state of the environment.

[1992] Subsequently, Mr. Jolicoeur joined the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat as head of human resources for the Government of Canada. In July 1999, he became Associate Deputy Minister of National Revenue and Deputy Commissioner of the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA).

In September 2002, Mr. Jolicoeur was named Deputy Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs. He occupied this position until December 12, 2003, when he became President of the Canada Border Services Agency.




3. The repercussions for whistleblowers

Airport security firm suspends employee who spoke to CBC News -- "An airport security worker in Ottawa has been suspended with pay, after talking to CBC News." Last Updated Wed, 09 Nov 2005, CBC


INDEPTH: Airport Security


Bill Butler told The Fifth Estate that security at airports is, at times, "a joke." A passenger screener, Butler said Canadian airports are far less secure than they appear. "It's what I call the illusion of security, that's what I call it."


Butler said he was only trying to do what's best for the flying public. He works for a private company called Aeroguard, which provides passenger screening to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority [CATSA], the agency in charge of security at Canada's airports.


He says he's "angry, bitter after being suspended. It hurts. They seem to be taking what I've done the wrong way ... [I was] just trying to point out the flaws and they feel like I'm attacking them."
A vice-president at Aeroguard says Butler's suspension is related to the Fifth Estate report and an investigation into his conduct is underway.


The Fifth Estate report says passenger safety is at risk in Canada.



Search:


Canadian Air Transport Security Authority [CATSA]
Minister of Transport Jean Lapierre
decipher access codes
Steve Elson, a former U.S. Navy SEAL and a former agent for the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration





4. Links to other information

For more, check: here
http://newsbeat1.com/2005/11/
well-it-looks-like-more-work-for.html

The fifth Estate will be repeating the program, Fri.Sat. And Sun for those who missed it.
http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/
fastenseatbelts/index.html

CBC article
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/
national/2005/11/09/airport051109.html

Another here
http://www.cbc.ca/toronto/story/
to-airportsecurity09112005.html





5. CEUDA Report Part 2 (clauses 1.28 to 1.89)


1.28 The evidence we gather from our members who work at the border says quite the opposite to what Mr. Jolicoeur tried to convince the House of Commons Subcommittee members. For example of the 17 vehicles documented in Lacolle during a three-week period in December 2004 (referred to above in paragraph 1.24), none were brought back to the port by police in spite of a full description having been immediately provided to police in each case.

1.29 CEUDA submitted an ATIP request asking exactly how many “port-running” vehicles are actually caught by police and returned to Customs and Immigration for processing. While CBSA’s ATIP Office has yet to respond, we don’t expect to learn that CBSA keeps track of these statistics and, if it does, that we’ll learn most are never caught and brought back to the border contrary to what Mr. Jolicoeur stated.

1.30 It needs to be noted that our information from Customs Officers on the front lines is that the numbers provided to you by the CBSA is a gross underestimation of the number of vehicles that actually do not stop or that do not report to Customs as required by law. We are in the process of gathering more information on this and will present it to you upon completion. One thing is however very clear in the minds of Customs Officers: only on very rare occasions are “port-runners” ever caught and brought back for processing.

1.31 Mr. Ménard then asked the logical follow-up question to which Mr. Jolicoeur answered, as follows:
Mr. Serge Ménard: The simplest response would have been to say that you run after these people and catch them, but that was not your answer. You stated that you call the police. What police force do you call and how long does it take for the police to arrive?
Mr. Alain Jolicoeur: I cannot give you a general answer to that question. It depends what location you are talking about. As you know, a police force is always designated under a local agreement. Each border crossing has an agreement. That is how things operate. (Emphasis added by CEUDA)


1.32 Again, evidence says quite the opposite to what Mr. Jolicoeur tried to convince the House of Commons Subcommittee members.

1.33 Unfortunately, these were not the only instances where Mr. Jolicoeur can be found to have intentionally led people astray or failed to accurately report on the state of affairs.

1.34 Some of the following paragraphs paraphrase from an October 6, 2005 letter I sent to the Honourable Bill Graham, Minister of National Defence, and copied to the Chair of this Committee.
1.35 In 2002, as a result of a series of ongoing complaints from our members because they were not issued side-arms to enforce the Criminal Code, the CBSA, CEUDA, and Labour Programs of HRDC (formerly Labour Canada) agreed that the CCRA would contract a consulting firm to carry out a job hazard analysis of the work of Customs Officers. Moduspec was the firm selected by the CCRA and they completed on site inspections and interviews. In early 2003, Moduspec provided the CCRA with its Draft Report and Recommendations.

1.36 The original Recommendations included a specific reference to providing for an armed police presence at Canada’s 6 biggest border crossings with the U.S. as a matter of officer safety. Someone, as of yet undetermined, instructed Moduspec that this specific armed presence recommendation was to be removed, and the Report was altered to meet this instruction. When it was released by the Government on February 5, 2003, no reference was made to the original armed presence recommendation and instead the Report recommended Customs Officers not be issued with side-arms.

1.37 This deliberate alteration on an issue supposedly under direct consideration was discovered by CEUDA a number of weeks later when copies of the original report were provided anonymously to the Union. Both the CCRA and Moduspec confirmed the fact of the deliberate alteration to media inquiries thereafter. This is also confirmed specifically by your June 2005 report.

1.38 The following is from your own June 2005 report.

1.39 To Arm or Not to Arm Inspectors: The ModuSpec Job Hazard Analysis

1.40 The government has supported its policy not to arm border officials with a 2003 Job Hazard Analysis performed by ModuSpec Risk Management Services for the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. In it, ModuSpec recommended against arming border inspectors. The Committee gained access to copies of both the final analysis and the working draft that was presented to the CCRA's National Health and Safety Policy Committee.

1.41 The draft version recognized that there was considerable risk to unarmed border inspectors at some locations and while it recommended against arming border inspectors, it did recommend that the government increase or ensure police presence for the "confidence and peace of mind for border officers.

1.42 The final version of ModuSpec's Job Hazard Analysis omitted this recommendation and simply recommended that officers not be armed (see Appendix XI). It is unclear why there is a difference between the two versions. When asked, CBSA President Alain Jolicoeur testified to the Committee, "I am not aware of any request to alter the report.”

1.43 Jolicoeur suggested that the Committee ask ModuSpec. The Committee did. In response, ModuSpec General Manager Stephan Zuberec wrote: “It is ModuSpec’s practice to provide clients with draft reports for review and comment prior to issuing a final report. Typically, the client will contribute comments, additions, deletions and other edits to the draft report that they want included in the final report. “This practice would have been applied to the draft report that was submitted to the National Health and Safety Policy Committee.

1.44 In other words, the job hazard analysis was altered.

1.45 Having, himself, never acknowledged the deliberate, material, alteration of the Report, Mr. Jolicoeur and CBSA continue to rely on this Report and give advice to elected officials that it somehow independently justifies a conclusion that an ongoing armed presence is not required at the border. We are gravely concerned that senior managers of CCRA and CBSA have deliberately altered a third party report by deleting a safety‑focused recommendation. Further, it is more than disconcerting that the most senior officials within the CBSA continue to attempt to deliberately mislead elected officials and the Canadian public by suggesting a report they know to have been falsified ‘justifies’ inaction on this matter of public and officer safety. This is reinforced by the fact that sections 125(1) (q) and (s) of Part II of the Canada Labour Code create specific information related obligations on the employer regarding employee safety which this action of concealment may trigger.

1.46 It is ironic to note that in just the past few months police officers have been called to border crossings in southern Ontario in response to situations of correctly perceived danger; in each case they were there to intercept a suspected armed and dangerous fugitive. In two of these cases they were waiting with firearms drawn and at the ready. Customs Officers are not afforded that same safety measure. It is nothing short of shameful that peace officers acting in service of their fellow Canadians are exposed to this kind of safety risk.

1.47 You may also be unaware that the same senior management of CBSA that promotes this falsified Moduspec Report instructs Customs Officers that when confronted with such risks they are to ‘withdraw’ and permit armed and dangerous individuals unhindered entry into Canada. Officers are then instructed to notify police, who are, of course, not on site, in the usually forlorn hope of their interception of the dangerous person. CEUDA and its members have sadly concluded that Officer and public safety is being sacrificed on the altar of bureaucratic ego that refuses to admit change is required.

1.48 Another ATIP request we made with CBSA sought to find out exactly how many armed and dangerous criminals Customs Officers have released into Canada unhindered as per CBSA policy over the past few years. Troubling as it may be, the CBSA again logs absolutely no data on these matters. In other words, they do not know and obviously do not want to know how many times this happens.

1.49 This becomes even more disturbing given CBSA database systems don’t regularly tell Customs Officers on the front-line when someone is considered to be armed and dangerous, which not only prohibits them from adhering to the withdraw and release policy but also puts them and their colleagues who do secondary examinations of these individuals at grave risk of bodily harm or even death. This is another troubling reality that was captured in your June report.

1.50 It has been said that the RCMP Commissioner does not support an armed Customs Officer presence at the border. RCMP Commissioner Zaccardelli, as you know, is also Deputy Minister in the same Department responsible for the continuing use of the falsified ModuSpec Report. With the greatest of respect, the Commissioner’s position is more a reflection on his apparent complete ignorance regarding the law enforcement duties expected of Customs Officers than a credible insight about whether there is a need for an armed presence at the border. Inasmuch as the training required as a pre-condition for firearms issuance would be at least the same as that required for the RCMP, the Commissioner appears to lack faith in the capacity of all police officers to deal with side-arm issuance.

1.51 It is Commissioner Zaccardelli, after all, who was quoted in media as saying he would hate to see Customs Officers with guns jump out of their huts and shoot at cars blowing past. This is yet another indication of the Commissioner’s lack of knowledge regarding law enforcement work expected of Customs Officers at the border. Further, it is quite disconcerting that someone holding the Office of RCMP Commissioner carries such an institutionalized bias against Customs Officers to the point he feels compelled to try and paint them as dangerously untrustworthy of side-arm issuance.

1.52 Fortunately, the Government of Canada relies on other police entities for advice on matters related to law enforcement generally and firearms specifically. Since 1994, the Canadian Professional Police Association (formerly the Canadian Police Association) has been a group whose expertise the Government has sought and consistently publicly cited for its various criminal justice initiatives – especially in relation to firearms. As such, we know that you will be interested to learn that the Executive Board of the Canadian Professional Police Association has fully endorsed CEUDA’s position that Border Services Officers working at border crossings be equipped with sidearms. This affirmation from one of Canada’s most credible law enforcement organizations is a complete answer to the inaccurate belief that the police are opposed to the arming of Border Services Officers.

1.53 In light of the foregoing, we trust you can appreciate the depth and extent of misinformation that has been given and why it is critical that you receive accurate information on these important subjects.

1.54 It is precisely for these reasons that CEUDA has commissioned its own independent risk analysis review by the renowned Northgate Group on the specific issue of side-arms. This review is currently underway. Despite non co-operation and attempts to obstruct the study by CBSA’s senior management in Ottawa, the study has already heard from more Customs Officers than the ModuSpec Report. And note the ModuSpec report attributed a mere 2 pages of text to the complicated question of side-arms for Customs Officers. In large numbers, Officers as well as some front-line managers from across Canada have been attending off site interviews to ensure their voices are heard. All we have ever asked for is a fair analysis, unburdened by pre-determined outcomes. We can assure you that we remain determined to have it, as we know you do.

1.55 Senators, please accept this presentation as a confirmation that the Northgate Report will be provided to you, unaltered, upon its completion.

1.56 There are exactly 1,065 sites serviced by Customs across Canada, broken down as follows:
119 highway crossings;
13 international airports;
193 other airports in Canada that Customs must also service mainly for private aircraft;
716 marine installations serviced by Customs; and
24 rail sites.

1.57 Canada Customs knows the distance of police detachments to only 114 of these sites. How can the CBSA President continue to publicly say police response times to calls from Customs are adequate when CBSA doesn’t even know the distance of police detachments to more than 90% of the sites serviced by Customs? We have put in an ATIP request asking what police response times were for calls by CBSA and we continue to wait for a response. Calls to our National Office from ATIP staff at CBSA seeking details about our request lead us to believe CBSA does not record police response times across Canada when calls are made by Customs seeking police assistance.

1.58 About the supposed agreements between Customs and local police forces Mr. Jolicoeur said exist for such things as chasing “port-runners”, our members have told us the following:
Many work locations have no Memorandums of Agreement (MOU’s) with police whatsoever;
The only agreements we were able to consistently locate were those that exist for the specific need that arises when police are required to pick up already arrested criminals, for example, impaired drivers or individuals for whom an arrest warrant was issued and which was executed by Customs;
OPP unilaterally changed the MOU in Prescott, ON, to no longer respond to firearms seizures insisting that Customs Investigators attend from Ottawa in these matters; these investigators are routinely instructed not to attend by CBSA management resulting in subjects being released into Canada after attempting to smuggle firearms;
Police have many other jobs to do and response time is a problem that is becoming increasingly worse day by day; this is not a complaint against police given we know Police Officers are doing their best under the circumstances; and
There are absolutely no other agreements in place that we are aware of or that CBSA ATIP could produce, despite a May 2005 ATIP request, that speaks to this supposed police mandate to chase down anyone who blows by a Customs point-of-entry. In fact, MP Serge Ménard tells us, as an example, that he knows for a fact that no such agreements exist between Customs and the QPP or RCMP in Québec.

1.59 We’re quite convinced based on this evidence that the Committee would find more interesting information if it delved into the situation with more vigour and perseverance. Naturally, once CBSA’s ATIP office responds with a list of agreements that do exist, if any, we will be more than pleased to share a copy with the Committee.

1.60 As if the problems weren’t worrisome enough, a review and analysis we undertook led us to note there are about 250 unguarded roads coming into Canada from the U.S., and no one, absolutely no one, is watching these roads, checking who comes across them or what they’re bringing into Canada. As already mentioned, we know from talking with city officials that in Standstead, Quebec, some 250 vehicles enter Canada via Leeball Road and Church Road each month. That’s nearly 60 vehicles per week, on just 2 of some 250 unguarded roads. A good number of these roads can easily accommodate any type of vehicle; with some paved and even ploughed in the winter.

1.61 And lest we forget that these figures don’t include boat traffic across waterways where the honour system is given the greatest of emphasis. Customs has telephone reporting stations. Boaters are asked to dock, then phone Customs, then wait for Customs to show up if dispatched. Of course if anyone is in the business of smuggling people or goods across the border, the last thing they will do is dock in compliance and keep illegal persons or goods on their boat, and wait for Customs to show up and make arrests or seize the boat!

1.62 Commissioner Zaccardelli says pulling away from the border is okay. He even testified before the House of Commons Justice, Human Rights, and Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee on March 22 that the RCMP’s “main mandate in Quebec is not to be a visible police force”. He went on to testify that the RCMP would only make their way to the border in the context of an intelligence driven operation or an investigation. Law enforcement specialists all agree that visible patrolling is the strongest existing means by which to discourage violations of the law. When questioned on this, Commissioner Zaccardelli referred to pre-emptive patrolling as nothing more than an exercise in “burning gas”, implying border patrolling is, in his mind, a total waste.

1.63 Government officials are placing much emphasis on International Border Enforcement Teams, or IBETs, espousing their virtues and promoting them as the ideal solution for border security. However, as this quote from the CBSA’s own website points out, IBETs "operate as intelligence-driven enforcement teams"; they identify, investigate, and interdict "persons and organizations that pose a threat to national security or are engaged in other criminal activity." The U.S. Border Patrol and Canada's RCMP have assumed the lead roles but, given RCMP Commissioner Zaccardelli's testimony about how the RCMP cannot maintain a border presence; we shouldn't confuse the RCMP's involvement in IBETs with the U.S. Border Patrol to mean there are joint Canada/U.S. teams patrolling the border. IBET's are extremely important however they are intelligence-driven and not at all field-driven. These are two very distinct aspects of law enforcement, which complement each other. In fact, one does not need to be a crime prevention expert to realize that specialized intelligence-driven teams such as IBET’s can only operate effectively if field officers are out there gathering and obtaining day-to-day intelligence on activities and movement on the front-line.

1.64 Inspector Jean Yves Lemoine, Officer in Charge of IBETs, was quoted in an article of the Pony Express (the Nov/Dec 2002 issue of the RCMP national internal magazine), as saying “People think that we’re out there in marked cars doing border patrol. That’s just not what IBET is about.” The article describes an IBET as “comprised of joint teams of investigators who gather intelligence related to national security and organized crime. This information is passed on to analysts who identify major threats within each of the 15 geographical regions. This information is then communicated to other IBET regions through a shared database. The team brings in the necessary specialists, such as drug investigators or commercial crime investigators, to deal with the needs of that particular investigation.”

1.65 If IBETs were the solution to border enforcement in lieu of having RCMP Detachments along the border, or in lieu of an armed Customs Border Patrol, then shouldn’t the Americans be dismantling their Border Patrol instead of continuing to staff their now more than 1,000 strong Border Patrol force along the Canadian border? Does Commissioner Zaccardelli know something our American partners don’t?

1.66 Senators, there is a great lack of law enforcement along our border with the U.S. today. It exists at points-of-entry for many reasons, some of which you delved into and reported on in your June 2005 report but most notably because of the sheer and overwhelming absence of any personnel whatsoever dedicated to enforcing our border between points-of-entry. It is nothing short of shocking that security at our border has become so ill managed and that managers have been allowed to so poorly set priorities about what needs or doesn’t need to be done.

1.67 You may be interested to know we have consulted with the Minister’s office on this matter in some detail. The following outlines where, in our view, the next steps need to be taken.

1.68 Canada needs to establish an armed Customs Border Patrol (CBP). The RCMP clearly does not want to do the work of patrolling the border but the work must be done. Customs can do that work, has the expertise, infrastructure, and management team already in place along the border, and our members know the terrain and travellers better than anyone. We make this recommendation above and beyond our mutual position that there also needs to be an armed presence at border crossings. CEUDA also fully supports the call to re-open RCMP Detachments along the border.

1.69 The CBP should be organized as a separate Branch under CBSA, and should be comprised of some 500 FTE’s across Canada. We estimate the cost of operating the CBP should not exceed $80M broken down as follows: $50M for salaries and benefits (assuming approximately $100,000 per FTE, which factors in salary, benefits, and overtime), another $10M for the purchase of approximately 200 vehicles costing approximately $50,000 each, and an additional $20M to cover operation costs. We estimate an additional $25M start-up cost for the 1st year given the initial refurbishing of port office space and the primary purchase of security equipment such as side-arms, outfitting vehicles, and radios. Further, given the RCMP withdrawal from these types of duties, this may simply require a re-allocation of funds rather than new expenditures.

1.70 A specific job description will need to be created for the position of an armed Customs Border Patrol Officer.

1.71 Individuals will need to qualify for the position accordingly and may come from varying law-enforcement backgrounds, with the priority going to those already within the Customs Service.

1.72 The CBP should be the first-response team, mandated to patrol the border, between points-of-entry and working in partnership with the RCMP and other police forces, the latter of whom would act as the second-response partner along the border at and between points-of-entry.

1.73 The CBP could also be involved in direct assistance at Customs points-of-entry, especially in smaller operations. Nevertheless, let us be clear that, like you, we remain firmly of the view that no officer should be working alone at any Canadian points-of-entry ever, under any circumstances.

1.74 We have no doubt Americans would see this step in a very positive light and highly reflective of a growing commitment on the part of Canada to enforce its shared border with the U.S., where gun and cannabis smuggling as well as the ever-growing fear associated with terrorism are becoming major problems for citizens and politicians on both sides.

1.75 An armed CBP may not be the complete solution to enforcement problems faced at points-of-entry, but it would be a solid step in the right direction.

1.76 CEUDA is not the only organization to call for a CBP. In fact, no less than 48 community councils along the border have adopted firm Resolutions since March this year specifically calling for a Customs Border Patrol.

1.77 Furthermore, in early June this year, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (CFM) adopted at its annual conference in St. John’s, Newfoundland, an Emergency Resolution calling on the federal government to give to the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) the first-response mandate to patrol the border between points-of-entry while working in partnership with the RCMP and other police forces.

1.78 In this respect, we, supported by many communities on the border, and the FCM, call on your Committee to ensure the mandate of the CBSA, as outlined in Bill C‑26 is encompassing enough to give authority to the Minister to establish an armed Customs Border Patrol at CBSA without having to seek future amendments to the Canada Border Services Agency Act. If this is not possible, we ask the Committee to amend the Bill accordingly, and we have great confidence given our work with Members of Parliament on this very issue that such an amendment would receive wide support in the House of Commons.

1.79 On a broader note, we wish to take this opportunity to restate the need for senior CBSA officials to provide nothing short of completely accurate information when presenting information to Parliamentary Committees and advice to elected officials, especially the Minister to whom they report. This means officials should refrain from making up answers to downplay questions about problems in border enforcement, especially when information in keeping with those answers does not exist. No one wins when the truth is obscured, especially when we are talking about issues that prohibit provision of duty of care by senior government officials toward Front-Line Customs Officers.

1.80 It is time these officials accept and recognize the evidence before them and ensure that border security is adequate rather than direct alteration of reports and destruction of relevant safety information, the latter of which occurred in King and Waugh v. Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (January 13, 2005;
File # 160-2-83). As you may be aware, CBSA unlawfully ordered destruction of officer safety related information, as confirmed by the PSSRB in this decision. It is nothing short of shocking that the most senior officials of a Canadian government Agency prefer to conceal the truth rather than acknowledge it.

1.81 We would like to take this opportunity Senators on behalf of the women and men we represent, and indeed all Canadians, to thank your Committee for having been at the forefront of the effort to ask pertinent questions, to keep asking them and to publicly state when you didn’t get answers to them. Democracy would be much improved if your actions became the standard rather than the exception to public governance.

1.82 In that vein we would like to conclude by alerting you to a number of issues that we suspect will be of interest to you. Like you, we are determined to see the truth emerge about the reality of what is occurring with respect to the capacity and inclination of CBSA management to discharge the enforcement duties, which this government has rightly laid upon us. Since we last appeared before your Committee we have learned of specific circumstances that serve as alarming indicators of CBSA’s senior management unwillingness to discharge enforcement duties and we urge you to explore them further by questioning CBSA officials.

1.83 We have become aware of the following:

1.84 CBSA uses a Border Management Plan (BMP) to set artificial numerical targets for vehicle and vessel searches, without regard to the goal of finding contraband or any result beyond the search itself. Literally, this “numbers game” is a public relations exercise that focuses on having more searches performed rather than on finding anything. In fact, intelligence based, targeted high-risk searches are routinely discouraged because of the time involved to carry out such searches and so that easier searches – to pad the numbers – can occur. As you know, more security is not necessarily better security, although it does permit unreliable claims to be made.

1.85 Linked to that deceit is a system of management bonuses based on managers achieving BMP numerical quotas and for running operations under budget. Providing financial incentives to managers in this fashion is an outright encouragement to avoid doing enforcement related duties, which does nothing short of corrupt the law enforcement mandate of CBSA.

1.86 There is a widespread policy, despite Front-Line Customs Officer objection, to admit persons into Canada notwithstanding the fact they were caught attempting to smuggle guns or drugs into Canada. This constitutes criminal inadmissibility under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

1.87 As is always the case we are in a position to substantiate these newer findings and it is our hope that you will question CBSA officials in a view of seeking explanations for what has been reported to us and what justifications exists for such measures that are clearly contradictory to the public interest of Canadians.

1.88 This brief is respectfully presented without prejudice.

1.89 Thank you.






November 10, 2005

We Remember -&- Bud Talkinghorn: WWII & Canadian Heroes




For millions of Canadians the poppy has long been the flower of Remembrance. It originally was a reminder of the blood-red flower which grew in the fields where many Canadians died in a place called Flanders. It remains the flower of Remembrance.


FLOWER OF REMEMBRANCE: SYMBOL OF UNITY


On November 11th Canadians all across the country will stop and pay tribute to the men and women killed in Canada's wars and military operations. Some will remember friends and relatives long dead. Others - like yourselves perhaps - will pause in tribute (but will really have nothing to remember).


There is more: "Vimy Ridge in 1917" and "Dieppe" -- how these cemented the soldiers' unity -- "for the difficult thing they had done together" at Vimy and "knowing that they had shared something difficult" at Dieppe.

Remembrance Day Links: poems, art, history, personal remembrances and more



Bud Talkinghorn: Canadian Heroes

We remember those who fought in World War II

War is sheer horror; yet, Canada has produced magnificent, heroic military men and women. Here, Bud details the exploits of two Canadian heroes as part of his "Interesting bits and pieces about the end of WW11".

The returning Algerian veterans, who had fought for France, began demonstrating for independence. The riots led to a hundred Europeans being killed. On May 8, 1945, the French retaliated with air and ground attacks that massacred between 18,000 and 20,000 Algerians. Ironically their massacre began on VE Day.

Hundreds of thousands of Russian troops taken as prisoners by the Nazis, were handed over to the occupying Russian army by the Allies. Some were shot outright and the rest were sent to Siberian concentration camps. Earlier, when Stalin was told by the underground that his son had surrendered and was being kept in Dachau, he said, "I have no son." On hearing his father's retort, the son committed suicide.

Even after it was announced that Hitler was dead, Canadian troops had to keep on fighting the Nazis in Holland. This series of battles created two of the most astonishing tales of Canadian valour. While the word "hero" has been terribly debased, it isn't when talking about these two soldiers. One was an English-Canadian named Aubrey Cosens of the Queens Own Rifles. He single-handledly stormed a German fortress in Mooshof, Holland. Before he was killed by a sniper's bullet, he killed or captured dozens of German soldiers. For this gallant action he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross--the military's highest honour.

Of equal merit were the magnificent exploits of Leo Major, a French-Canadian. Leo lost an eye during the Normany invasion, but refused to be evacuated back to England. In the Battle of the Scheldt, he captured 93 Germans, but he refused on principle to accept the decoration offered. Montgomery, the British Field-Marshal, was going to personally present it to him. However, Major thought Montgomery was militarily incompetent, so refused it. Incredible as that sounds, his story does not end there. With a friend, Willy Arsenault, he scouted out the German positions in the town of Zwolle. When Arsenault was cut down by machine gun fire, an infuriated Major rushed the gunners, killing two and putting to flight the rest. When he reached Zwolle, he attacked German patrols and ran through the street tossing grenades into empty buildings to give the impression of a large attack. When he stumbled into the SS headquarters by mistake, he killed four of them, while the rest ran away. By four in the morning, Mr. Major realized the Germans had fled the town. He had liberated it. This time he did accept The Distinguished Conduct medal--second only to the Victoria Cross in merit, and one of only three awarded to British Commonwealth troops during the entire war. He went on to collect a second DCM, when he led his company in capturing an enemy hill in Korea. Quite a guy! A true hero.

The orgy of rape, looting and general violence that the Russians indulged in during their occupation of East Germany is well documented. Stalin considered it all to be fair recompense for the suffering of the Russian people at the hands of the Nazis. However there were comedic episodes also. This story was related to me by my good friend Joszi, who was living in Budapest when the Russians "liberated" Hungary. His family was forced to billet Russian soldiers in their house. One day, Joszi heard the rat-a-tat of a machine gun upstairs. He discovered a Russian who had been washing his wooden false teeth in the toilet (he had never seen one before, so thought it was a wash basin). Unfortunately, the soldier had hit the flush button and his precious teeth went down. In his fury he blasted the toilet to pieces with his gun. The soldier claimed that a demon had snatched his teeth, so he killed it. Joszi everafter referred to these soldiers as "far beyond the mountains of civilization".

General De Gaulle, the commander of the Free French, was allowed to enter the freed city of Paris as a 'liberator'; even though he had done practically nothing to win France's freedom. In fact, he was universally cursed by the real heroes of the resistence for allowing their comrades to be slaughtered in the south-eastern mountain region. De Gaulle had promised them an airlift of ammunition and food if they held down a German force. He reneged and the defenders were wiped out. De Gaulle falls into that category that saw every French whore who infected a German and every shopkeeper who cheated them as resistance fighters.

As often as I criticize the Arabs for mindlessly firing their guns in the air, it must be noted that the same thing happened in Okinawa on VJ Day. The Americans fired endless rounds into the air, which caused over 200 American casualties--and who knows how many Japanese ones.

© Bud Talkinghorn

This was originally posted for the sixtieth anniversary of the end of war in Europe but, because it concerns Canadian war heroes, I thought it was apropriate for Remembrance Day. We remember. NJC -- Frost Hits the Rhubarb: "WW2 Anniversary", May 8-14, 05 -- or the specific post here: Interesting bits and pieces about the end of WW11 posted May 11, 05


Update re No-Pasaran! Links to Paris Riot Info

Nothing is certain about links in blogging.

The titles alone are informative and it is a great website but . . . maybe I made a mistake with a link, it was deleted or I copied the first link before the writer was finished. Anyway, I checked and the link for the post titled "Escalation" doesn't work any more. I checked the site and a few other links seem to be fine. -- Re this post No Pasaran! Excellent -- Bomb-Making Factory in Paris -- posted here, Frost Hits the Rhubarb, Nov. 7, 05

Aside from that, No-Pasaran! has some great information, but for those who are in a hurry, just check. New headings include but are not limited to:

It’s must be the rehab talking

FranceUnibodyCount

French sympathy for Muslim terrorists and Arab dictatorships is a vulture that is coming home to roost

Outburst in Belgium as well

French MSM covers up what is, in fact, a pogrom

One less Infidel

Achtung Baby!

Yes, but thanks to the fatwa those gangs will be busy meditating from now on


It's a Muslim theocracy! posted by U*2 @ 2:34 AM

A very productive night for the new French powers-that-be. 1408 torched vehicles, 395 arrests, and one fatwa.




Note:

I have promises to keep today so any posting will come later. Check Newsbeat1 for some great links and information; I already have. NJC


November 09, 2005

GG, Kashechewaste, Falluja-Sur-Seine? Media Bias and More

Not only is this article informative, but it is funny, when you consider all the words wasted on blaming . . . everyone from every angle.

Kashechewaste: Government responses to the First Nation water problem were a fiasco. Expert private water providers are the answer Financial Post, Nov. 9, 05


Michaelle Jean says she is being targeted -- "she is mystified by the uproar in Quebec over her humourous performance at the press dinner, held on Oct. 22." Jack Aubry, NP, Nov. 9, 05

I provided a link to the GG's performance at the dinner on Nov. 2, 05--see below; someone thought she seemed inebriated but I thought she was simply hilarious. The timing of her delivery didn't indicate any over-indulgence; it was perfect, almost as if she intended to keep everyone on the edge of their seats to see if she would falter. It got my laugh though I noticed a few sickly grimaces from one or two members of her audience, one of them a former party leader. Maybe Jean needed a glass of wine to perform but, goodness, could any of us stand the constant scrutiny . . . and being filmed during the performance without one?

I still think she and her husband could be closet separatists but that has nothing to do with the criticism Jean mentions of her performance; it was a show for a dinner at which everyone tries to be outrageous in hope that it will be funny memorable. Jean was definitely funny memorable.

Of course, I was not invited and could be wrong about her performance. Next time, invite me and a few more of the great unwashed and we'll comment more adequately. Judge for yourself.

Originally, this was posted on Frost Hits the Rhubarb, within this post, "The only saint in the brothel" -&- a video of our GG -- The video is here: Video: Canada's Governor General has a sense of humour!




National Post: "Harper wavers on vote" -- Actually, it is Jack Layton wavering -- no bias evident in that misleading headline, of course National Post, Nov. 9, 05

Jack Layton needs to keep his face in front of the cameras and the MSM will play along. He is at the nadir of his power to command attention and, in giving it, the MSM are giving us the appearance of democracy for a little while and until the "right people" get back in -- by featuring this NDP leader -- the "defender of the poor and downtrodden" who can be bought by a corrupt PM and team -- if he can just keep his face in the media -- frightening the Librano$ leader desperate to stay in the seat of power -- dispensing pork with your money and his "charismatic" leadership.

Media keep talking about it, telling Canadians we need charisma in our leadership. I can only assume this is what they are talking about when they feature JL and PM, but seldom show Stephen Harper except to be negative about him or his message. MSM keep pushing a man who cannot make up his mind to bring down the present corrupt and tired government -- featuring him and thus egging him on to make a deal with the other man who dithers; I can only conclude that this is what the mainstream media mean; they both must be charismatic.



Shocked! "Unaware"? -- Dissembling? Duplicitous?

Australia says 2 " were competing to become the first to stage a major bombing "-- 17 suspects -- Melbourne and Sydney -- Muslims "shocked" though if you listen to a radical imam from Algeria preach, are you "unaware"? Duplicitous? Dissembling? From CTV/AP, Nov. 9, 05



SYDNEY, Australia — [. . . . ] Prime Minister John Howard on Wednesday assured Muslims they were not being targeted. [. . . . ]

Ameer Ali, president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, said the country's nearly 300,000-member Muslim community was shocked at the number of arrests and that all the suspects appeared to be Muslims. [. . . . ]


Search: racial profiling , cleric Abu Bakr, an Australian who was born in Algeria , stockpiling the same kind of chemicals used in , camp northeast of Melbourne , pleading for permission to become a martyr

Why do I think now that I could write boilerplate that would fit every news article to be published after a police raid and series of arrests in the Muslim Islamist communities in the Western world? Should I hasten to add that these are not the same as your average Muslim community in the West -- that they have nothing to do with each other and that "peaceful" Muslims are "shocked and appalled" . . . but not much else? They demand respect and no "racial profiling".

* Why is there usually a Muslim cleric from away involved -- preaching, leading prayers?

* Why are imams imported described as "from" one of the world's Islamist training grounds or sinkholes? Is there no-one in each of the Muslim communities around the world capable of preaching or leading prayers?

* Why do I sense that use of the words "peaceful" and "prayer" in the Muslim community are hiding something? That they signal some ineffable something that the rest of us must take heed?

Does the evidence mislead? Convince me otherwise.

Come to think of it, the evident and pervasive debasement of language rendering it divorced from meaning--not intended for anything but smokescreen until the problem goes away--continues apace. Do you believe the person issuing any of these phrases means anything at all or are these simply mantras trotted out -- boilerplate for politicians to soothe or to signal another buy--whether of time, votes, or whatever? For example:



It is a priority
initiative
investment
I / we will get to the bottom of
Let me make myself clear
We have been clear on this




Falluja-Sur-Seine? "Amir Taheri noted in the New York Post that the French have already heard from people who claim that they can negotiate an end to the violence." -- "There's a reason the media is reluctant to connect the dots on the French riots." by Edward Morrissey of Captain's Quarters writing in the Weekly Standard, Nov. 9, 05

[Source of Taheri "noted" ]



[. . . . ] France averaged 80 cars a day lost to arson this year even before the riots began, and they assumed the riots meant little.


After a few straight days of increasing violence, however, the only people still believing that comforting line appeared to be members of the French government and the media, who insisted on doing everything they could to miss the story. Twelve days into the riots, even after they had spread across France and inspired violence in Germany and Belgium, the media for the most part still could not bring itself to mention the "M" or "I" words: Muslim and Islamist. The lack of even any suggestion that radical Islamists might have initiated the violence, or at least be taking advantage of it, boggles the imagination.

[. . . . ] It is, in effect, a land-for-peace proposal aimed at the heart of France and Christendom. [. . . . ]



Search: "youths" , In September, the Algerian Islamist terror group GSPC , recruiting French citizens to train , "underground railroad" , jihad zone

It would be fruitful to read what I left out.






Rioting Spreads to 300 Towns in France Angela Doland, Nov. 7, 05, AP

Associated Press writers Emmanuel Georges-Picot in Paris, Thierry Boinet in Grenoble and Jan Sliva in Strasbourg contributed to this report.



[. . . . ] On Sunday night, vandals burned more than 1,400 vehicles, and clashes around the country left 36 police injured, setting a new high for overnight arson and violence since rioting started Oct. 27, Michel Gaudin told a news conference.

[. . . . ] Attacks overnight Sunday to Monday were reported in 274 towns, and police made 395 arrests, Gaudin said.

[. . . . ] France's biggest Muslim fundamentalist organization, the Union for Islamic Organizations of France, issued a fatwa, or religious decree. It forbade all those "who seek divine grace from taking part in any action that blindly strikes private or public property or can harm others."


Caveat: I do not listen to the CBC/LPO all day so this only what I saw/heard in the time I did tune in to TV.


During all the upheaval in Europe, what was our distrusted, duplicitous Liberal Propaganda Organ, aka the CBC, spending an inordinate amount of television time on? Why, the wonders of multiculturalism and immigration.


I saw the wonders of Chinese filming in the Carcross area of the Yukon and how many people would be reached by the result of this Survivor-like film effort -- something like 500,000,000 people. Paulie's Propagandists want you to salivate at all those $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ to be made.

Then, last evening later, I was treated to the SUCCESS (with that beaming, smiling tone that says "The Liberal immigration and refugee system has been right all along . . . and we want more! . . . Canadians are going to get it anyway so here is how you're supposed to view it.") of the Somalian refugee women--no men involved--in their learning--mouthing the right words anyway--on integration to Canadian tolerance and understanding which these Somalians (I think they were refugees) were learning in a school, MacDonald? Hamilton? What riches in terms of immigration we have now and have had under the Librano$ ! Cue the perky tone, the smarmy delivery.

Mentioned more than once yesterday was that, of course, Paul Martin and team just need more time to govern, to pass those bills which will squeeze the pork out over the land -- from all those $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ that over-taxation brought to Librano$ . . . who know how to schmooze with your money.

Left unmentioned were any questions that might rouse any. . . uh, negative emotions:

* Why would Canadians want and need an election? Hint to CBC: it's the corruption, the sleaze already exposed and the rest that we know is there but which has not yet been exposed. Surely, this should be explored by any serious news organization . . . but CBC has forfeited its claim to be considered serious or balanced. Cue the interviews with NDP and Lieberals, the photos of PM and kids. . . blah, blah, blah.

* What will be the effect upon the rest of us of massive migration of people whose life experience has been living under authoritarianism and/or sharia?

* Why is our media remiss on this? If several news reports state and show proof that China has been sending spies into the West, why is this not discussed before PM and team carry out more Chinese immigration and business people imports?

* What will be the effect of immigration from China and SE Asia on intellectual property for Canadian business, given what has happened in the past? On government information that should remain secret?

* How many imported women who've been downtrodden and treated as second-class does it take to alter the balance in the West on attitudes toward women, considering their penchant for having babies?

* How many male immigrants come who believe in jihad, sharia, women's lower status and barbaric punishments for transgressions that are not transgressions in the West? How many is enough to change our country? And when will this point be reached? Has anyone considered it or the numbers? The political implications of the numbers?

* Will any of this favour Paulie's Puppies whose interest is in maintaining their place at the trough and/or making money?

* What will the Muslim males attached to these female immigrants but not in the positive CBC presentation want in Canada? And why were they not in the picture? Is it only women embracing tolerance?

* Who is making money from imported film-makers working in Carcross, Yukon and other areas? Chinese? Natives? The arts community -- actors and technicians?

* Is there any espionage component to all this interest in Canada?



Those questions came out of just what I watched; I could come up with more but I would have to watch more LibPropOrg and I cannot.

I am cynical this morning, but I resent being manipulated by a taxpayer funded media organization devoted to maintaining the sleazy status quo and evidently trying to convince Canadians like me to want more of the same with includes funding this bloated, self-satisfied, self-congratulatory, political propaganda tool.




First they came for . . .

"With two synagogues already damaged during 12 days of Muslim riots, French Jews fear they’ll be specifically targeted with further, more intense hostility over the coming days". . . [media] "reduce coverage of the riots" -- "French Jews targeted next?", Nov. 8, 05

Where does this leave the victims?



Eurabian Nights Posted 11/7/2005



[. . . . ] As we've noted for years, there's another bomb going off in Europe, a demographic time bomb. It's already having unintended geopolitical consequences as Muslim immigrants descend on a declining Europe desperate for "cheap" and abundant labor.

Indigenous Europeans are a dying breed. To sustain a population requires each woman on average to have 2.1 children. In the European Union, the birth rate is 1.5 and falling. To keep its working population stable, Europe must import 1.35 million people a year. Most are Muslim. Not all are friendly. [. . . . ]




Media Neglect and Islamist self-confidence and contempt

Tony Blankley: Islamist threat in France Nov. 9, 05 -- or read this on Newsbeat1



[. . . . ] The big networks have consistently given only headline coverage to the story. I was in Russia last week (lecturing and doing media on my book) and actually timed the BBC coverage of the French Muslim violence story at about a minute and a half, while in the same broadcast the post-Pakistani earthquake-relief story was given over fifteen minutes. CNN International proportioned its coverage similarly. [. . . . ]


Just read it and pay particular attention to mention of various media and the quotations from Paul Belien

Suggestion: Listen to various news broadcasts in Canada and note the subject and amount of time devoted to it. The news is simply not making it to the one-horse towns and smaller cities in the boonies, particularly those with few media outlets such as newspapers because of the low population, single owners controlling the press (Irvings in NB, for example) or the sources for news are run by interests which want to keep a lid on some knowledge until another election passes . . . and maybe the issue will go away?

Book:Tony Blankley "The West's Last Chance: Will We Win the Clash of Civilizations?" (Regnery Publishing, Washington D.C. September 11, 2005)



I have written before on Saudi Wahhabist money and influence in the West: Saudi Arabia's influence and here




Media Bias

Photos keep the issue alive, and generate sympathy for opposition to the barrier



On November 5, two Canadian newspapers — the Regina Leader-Post and the Windsor Star — published photos alongside articles about Israel. While the articles were about the anniversary of the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, the photos were entirely unrelated. They showed protesters confronting Israeli soldiers at the site of Israel's security barrier [the fence] near the West Bank village of Bilin.


The Getty Images press release on the grant describes Israel's separation fence as a monstrous barrier to peace, akin to the Berlin Wall:

A representative of Getty Images apologized, explaining "We recognize that our recent press materials failed to note that comments describing the focus and intent of each photographer's work are taken directly from the project applications."

Unfortunately, most people do not get to see this response to bringing the above to their attention.

Ironically, "Russian security experts want to build a security fence along the Chechen border and met with Israeli officials to learn more"





Robert Spencer: Jihad in Europe? FrontPageMagazine.com , Nov. 8, 2005



Has an intifada begun in France — an all-out jihad? Are the French facing what is by now, as the riots are well into their second week and have engulfed virtually the entire country [. . . . ]

• Postings on Muslim weblogs indicate that the riots are not spontaneous outpourings of rage, but carefully planned endeavors. Some revealed not only the planning involved in the riots, which have now swept all across France and have spread also to Denmark, Belgium and Germany, but also the Islamic supremacist goal behind them. One wrote: “The cops are petrified of us, everything must burn, starting Monday, the operation ‘Midnight Sun’ starts, tell everyone else, rendezvous for Momo and Abdul in Zone 4 ... jihad Islamia Allah Akhbar.” Another added: “You don’t really think that we’re going to stop now? Are you stupid? It will continue, non-stop. We aren’t going to let up. The French won’t do anything and soon, we will be in the majority here.”





A "war against modernity"

Roy Clancy: Cloud darkens Nov. 3, 05



[. . . . ] The biggest threat to Western countries these days is from homegrown radicals indoctrinated to believe terrorism is the way to achieve their fanatical ends.

Canada's CSIS director Jim Judd told a Senate committee this week that homegrown radicals pose a grave threat because they often fall under the radar of intelligence organizations. [. . . . ]


Search: destabilize and take control , Attacks on the U.S. and Britain , facilities such as Alberta's oilpatch



We had better hope there is agreement, in Toronto and elsewhere.

Done Deal -- "tentative" and no details yet -- negotiating committee -- Toronto police agreement Nov. 8, 05