St. Petersglocke. That Explains It.

On the road. In Cologne, the sound of cathedral bells wakes me up.

The great Hohe Domkirche St. Peter und Maria is just around the corner, turns out. They started building it in 1248, and it took 632 years to finish. It survived several dozen bombing hits during the war.

Blogging, as they say, will be light.

'Whimsical Doughboys':

WITH UNITED STATES FIELD ARTILLERY on the Cologne Plain, Feb. 27 (Delayed) (U.P.)--Pvt. Donald P. Slevin of the Bronx, New York, pulled the lanyard of a big field piece at 12:30 A.M., today.

A minute and a half later the first artillery shell of the war screamed into Cologne, largest German city yet brought under direct fire by the Allies.

The whimsical doughboys chalked the name "Eau de Cologne" on the shell, a 95pounder.

What Do You Mean You're "Pro-Palestinian"?

Khaled Abu Toameh is an award-winning, veteran Palestinian journalist who started out with a Palestinian Liberation Organization newspaper and moved on to work as a columnist, consultant and producer for Israeli and international news organizations like the Jerusalem Post, the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. In this essay, he sets out what legitimate pro-Palestinian work should look like:

If anyone is entitled to be called “pro-Palestinian,” it is those who are publicly campaigning against financial corruption and abuse of human rights by Fatah and Hamas. Those who are trying to change the system from within belong to the real “pro-Palestinian” camp.

These are the brave people who are standing up to both Fatah and Hamas and calling on them to stop killing each other and start doing something that would improve the living conditions of their constituents.

Instead of investing money and efforts in organizing Israel Apartheid Week, for example, the self-described “pro-Palestinians” could dispatch a delegation of teachers to Palestinian villages and refugee camps to teach young Palestinians English. Or they could send another delegation to the Gaza Strip to monitor human rights violations by the Hamas authorities and help Palestinian women confront Muslim fundamentalists who are trying to limit their role to cooking, raising children and looking after the needs of their husbands.

Here is an idea: Let’s substitute Israel Apartheid Week with Palestine Democracy Week, where Palestinians would be urged and encouraged to demand an end to financial corruption and bad government. . .

Read it all.

An Encounter With The Latest Poster Girl For Dizzy, Bourgeois Vanity.

"Bravest woman in Afghanistan" my ass, Brian Platt, my colleague at the Canada-Afghanistan Solidarity Committee, observes. Brian also discovers that to ask the only pertinent question of Malalai Joya - have you even thought about the implications of what you are demanding? - is to be dismissed and shouted down by Joya's fans for asking an impertinent question.

During my many conversations with feminists and progressives in Afghanistan last year, one thing that came through loud and clear was that the "troops out now" posture so commonplace in polite society in western countries has no support among Afghan women's leaders. What was also clear was that Joya and her backers with the so-called Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, to the extent that they are thought about at all, are regarded as faintly ridiculous and marginal characters, at best.

Apart from slandering the leadership of the Afghan women's movement, engaging in weird and disruptive sectarianism and busying themselves with the attention-getting exhibitionism of transgressive, Maoist sloganeering, what the hell has RAWA done for anyone lately? And what has Malalai Joya ever done?

Six years ago, Joya was elected to the Afghan parliament - an event that wouldn't have even happened if all her rich "troops out" friends in Southern California had gotten their way. In 2003, she made a speech in the Loya Jirga that made her famous for its resort to unparliamentary language of the kind that would have earned any politician, anywhere, at least a suspension. In 2007, she said similarly mean things about certain of her hillbilly parliamentary colleagues in a television interview. That's about it. So what?

In Afghanistan, Joya is dimly remembered for these things, but is otherwise beautifully useless, and is in fact understood as largely an invention of the western media, anyway. For all the stenography that accompanies her travels in the masquerade of "journalism" in western capitals, it isn't at all clear what her real story is. Malalai Joya isn't even her real name.

It is only in "the west" that she serves any purpose. She can be summoned as a sort of celebrity spokesmodel for that caste of the west's rich liberals who have a weird need to believe the lie that there is something "feminist" or "progressive" in the narcissistic, reactionary isolationism they have adopted as the defining mark of their own political virtue. It's the reason why so much effort is expended in building up a cult of celebrity around Joya. That's all that's going on here. It has absolutely nothing to do with what Afghan women want or need.

Even in the "west," real feminists understand this: "Though we'd prefer that all U.S. funding be spent on development aid, we cannot in good conscience advocate the immediate military pullout that some are suggesting. The 2009 UN Humanitarian Action Plan noted that in 2008, "Approximately 40% of the country, including much of the South, remains inaccessible for most humanitarian organizations." Last year, 92 aid workers were abducted and 36 were killed, double the number from 2007. In recent public opinion polls, Afghans put security in their top three concerns right after food. Without stabilizing the country, there can be no significant redevelopment effort."

You want a real, brave Afghan feminist? Just one, among thousands, is Sima Samar, head of Afghanistan's Independent Human Rights Commission: "Finish the job you started. It's not just for protecting Afghanistan, or protecting Canadians. It is about the protection of humanity. This is a human responsibility. It isn't possible to escape this kind of responsibility."

'Why I Murdered 13 American Soldiers at Fort Hood', by Nidal Hassan

"Hassan is the first terrorist in history to give an academic lecture explaining why he was about to attack. . . In a sense, Hassan's lecture was a cry for help: Can anyone show me another way out? Can anyone refute my interpretation of Islam?"

Barry Rubin explains.

Q: How does a Canadian say hello? A: 'I'm sorry.'

Mitch Miyagawa is my colleague and student at the University of British Columbia. His family has now been thrice blessed with official government apologies. In this month's Walrus Magazine, Mitch canvasses Canada's strivings to be the Je M'excuse Capital of the entire universe:

"Penitential engagement is closer to reality than you’d think. The Japanese government has made at least forty “war apology statements” since 1950. All of Western Europe remembers German chancellor Willy Brandt’s famous Kniefall in 1970, when he fell to his knees on the steps of the Warsaw Memorial, in silent anguish for the victims of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. During the past twenty years, Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has apologized for the colonial occupation of Libya, South African president Frederik W. de Klerk has apologized for apartheid, and the Queen has issued a Royal Proclamation of regret to the Acadians in the Maritimes and Louisiana. In 1998, the Australian government began its annual National Sorry Day for the “stolen generations” of aboriginal children. In 2005, the US Senate apologized for its failure to enact federal anti-lynching legislation. And both houses of Congress have now passed apologies for slavery.

"At the 2001 UN World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, more than 100 countries called “on all those who have not yet contributed to restoring the dignity of the victims to find appropriate ways to do so and, to this end, appreciate those countries that have done so.” Working toward this goal is the International Center for Transitional Justice in New York, which “assists countries pursuing accountability for past mass atrocity or human rights abuse.” As if in response, jurisdictions across Australia, the United States, and Canada are passing apology acts designed to allow public officials to apologize without incurring legal liability.

"Concerned about our precious self-image as a peacemaking, multicultural country, Canada has been making every effort to lead the sorry parade. In addition to the residential school and Chinese head tax apologies, the federal government has also now said sorry for the Komagata Maru incident, when a ship full of immigrants from India was turned away from Vancouver Harbour, and established a historical recognition program “to recognize and commemorate the historical experiences and contributions of ethno-cultural communities affected by wartime measures and immigration restrictions applied in Canada.” And we became the first Western democracy to follow South Africa in establishing a truth and reconciliation commission, for the residential schools.

"Not surprisingly, other groups have come knocking on Ottawa’s door. . ."

Read it all.

Don't follow leaders. Watch the parking meters.

You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows, but you can't tell the players these days without a program.

1. Here's the spectacle of leftish-sounding right-wing British antisemitic Israel-supporting allies of anti-imperialist Hungarian neofascist Hamas-fanciers on parade, in a most instructive essay.

2. Who would write that the Taliban were grudgingly tolerated by Afghans, and it was because of the "honesty, integrity and good performance from all levels of government" the Taliban delivered? American white-nationalist and revisionist David Duke? British National Party leader and "anti-war" windbag Nick Griffin? Nope, neither. It was "left-wing" Canadian columnist Rick Salutin who wrote that, in the Globe and Mail today.

The pump don't work 'cause the vandals took the handles:

What Matters, What To Do Now, How It's Done: 'In It for The Long Haul.'

"Despite the challenges, since 2002, extraordinary gains have been made in Afghanistan, including the return of millions of girls to school, the beginnings of a functional primary health-care system, the availability of micro-credit to women, a parliamentary quota for women MPs, and promising economic growth. Having closely followed developments in Afghanistan since 1996, I have watched in awe the changes that have occurred over the last seven years. These include changes to the physical landscape – as reconstruction takes place, roads are paved, and Afghans have cultivated gardens and parks – as well as to the psychological landscape. People are free from the oppression of the Taliban, women take part increasingly in public life, and the arts and culture sector are on an exciting rebound. It is an entirely different place than it was in any part of the 1990s.

". . .I think it’s imperative that an international security force remain on the ground in Afghanistan for at least a decade to come, and that should include representation from Canada. This is part of the solution in that it will provide much needed breathing space to build the foundations of a long-term solution: the establishment of effective, quality education, health care, good governance, legal reform, poverty alleviation, and space for the growth of civil society. But the Canadian government, and other donor governments who want to see a stable, peaceful Afghanistan must begin to explicitly make the link between long-term security and quality education; and they must be in it for the long haul."

- Lauryn Oates, my co-founder at the Canada-Afghanistan Solidarity Committee, from here. More about Lauryn here.

Solidarity: This Is What It Looks Like In Israel, Palestine, And Up In The North Cariboo.

Solidarity with Palestinian and Israeli workers means opposing anti-Israel boycotts:

"Listening to people from both communities on the subject of the proposed international trade union boycott, it is evident that all parties oppose this action. In a meeting with the Jerusalem Municipality workers, one view from the Palestinian contingent was that a boycott would be more detrimental to the Arab workforce than any other." - Gerry Moloney, Advance Union.

Support Trade Unions Linking Israel and Palestine.

Meanwhile, keep your eye on the Solidarity Series, linking British Columbia's wage workers and cultural workers. Further to the Devlin's Bench miners, North Cariboo forest workers Michel Bernier and Jerry Krouzel demand the return of gaming money taken from non-profits and arts organizations. “Non-profits and arts groups are very important, especially in small communities in the hinterland, but they’re fragile. This funding can make or break them,” said Krouzel.

Warm regards, brothers Michel and Jerry:

In Remembrance: "Come back to us, and here you will find a homeland."

Comrades of the International Brigades! Political reasons, reasons of state, the good of that same cause for which you offered your blood with limitless generosity, send some of you back to your countries and some to forced exile. You can go with pride. You are history. You are legend. You are the heroic example of the solidarity and the universality of democracy. We will not forget you; and, when the olive tree of peace puts forth its leaves, entwined with the laurels of the Spanish Republic's victory, come back! Come back to us and here you will find a homeland.

- Dolores Ibárruri.

Carpenter, school-builder Mike Frastacky Age: 56 Home Town: Vancouver, British Columbia. Deceased: July 23 2006. Incident: Targeted assassination, Nahrin, Afghanistan.

Activist - researcher Jackie Kirk Age: 40 Home Town: Montreal, Quebec International Rescue Committee, Faculty of Education, McGill University Deceased: August 13, 2008 Incident: Targeted assassination, Gardez, Afghanistan.

Humanitarian worker Shirley Case Age: 30 Home Town: 108-Mile Ranch, British Columbia Deceased: August 13, 2008 Incident: Targeted assassination, Gardez, Afghanistan.

Sapper Steven Marshall Age: 24 Home Town: Calgary, Alberta Unit: 1 Combat Engineer Regiment Deceased: October 30, 2009 Incident: Improvised explosive device, southeast of Kandahar City, Afghanistan.

Lieutenant Justin Boyes Age: 26 Home Town: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Unit: 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Deceased: October 28, 2009 Incident: Improvised explosive device, south-east of Kandahar City, Afghanistan.

Corporal Jonathan Couturier Age: 23 Home Town: Loretteville, Québec Unit: 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment Deceased: September 17, 2009 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Panjwayi District, Afghanistan.

Private Patrick Lormand Age: 21 Home Town: Chute-à-Blondeau, Ontario Unit: 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment Deceased: September 13, 2009 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Panjwayi District, Afghanistan.

Corporal Jean-François Drouin Age: 31 Home Town: Beauport, Québec Unit: 5 Combat Engineer Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment Battle Group Deceased: September 6, 2009 Incident: Improvised explosive device, vicinity of Dand District, Afghanistan.

Major Yannick Pépin Age : 36 Home Town : Warwick, Québec Unit : 5 Combat Engineer Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment Battle Group Deceased: September 6, 2009 Incident: Improvised explosive device, vicinity of Dand District, Afghanistan.

Sapper Matthieu Allard Age: 21 Home Town: Val d'Or, Québec Unit: 5 Combat Engineer Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment Battle Group Deceased: August 1, 2009 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Zhari District, Afghanistan.

Corporal Christian Bobbitt Age: 23 Home Town: Sept-Îles, Québec Unit: 5 Combat Engineer Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment Battle Group Deceased: August 1, 2009 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Zhari District, Afghanistan.

Private Sébastien Courcy Age: 26 Home Town: St-Hyacinthe, Québec Unit: 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment Deceased: July 16, 2009 Incident: Killed in action in the Panjwayi District, Afghanistan.

Master Corporal Patrice Audet Age: 38 Home Town: Montreal, Québec Unit: 430e Escadron tactique d’hélicoptères Deceased: July 6, 2009 Incident: Helicopter crash, Zabul Province, Afghanistan.

Corporal Martin Joannette Age: 25 Home Town: Saint-Calixte, Québec Unit: 3e Bataillon, Royal 22e Régiment Deceased: July 6, 2009 Incident: Helicopter crash, Zabul Province, Afghanistan.

Master Corporal Charles-Philippe Michaud Age: 28 Hometown: Edmundston, New Brunswick Unit: 2nd Batallion, Royal 22e Régiment Deceased: July 4, 2009 Incident: improvised explosive device, Panjway District, Afghanistan.

Corporal Nicholas Bulger Age: 30 Home Town: Peterborough, Ontario Unit: 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Deceased: July 3, 2009 Incident: improvised explosive device, Zhari District, Afghanistan.

Corporal Martin Dubé Age: 35 Home Town: Québec City, Québec Unit: 5 Combat Engineer Regiment Deceased: June 14, 2009 Incident: improvised explosive device, Panjwayi District, Afghanistan.

Private Alexandre Péloquin Age: 20 Home Town: Brownsburg-Chatham, Québec Unit: 3rd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment Deceased: June 8, 2009 Incident: improvised explosive device, Panjwayi District, Afghanistan.

Major Michelle Mendes Age: 30 Home Town: Wicklow, Ontario Unit: Chief of Defence Intelligence Deceased: April 23, 2009 Incident: Non combat related.

Corporal Karine Blais Age: 21 Home Town: Les Méchins, Québec Unit: 12e Régiment Blindé du Canada, 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment Battle Group Deceased: April 13, 2009 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Shah Wali Kot District, Afghanistan.

Master Corporal Scott Francis Vernelli Age: 28 Home Town: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Unit: 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group Deceased: March 20, 2009 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Shah Wali Kot District, Afghanistan.

Corporal Tyler Crooks Age: 24 Home Town: Port Colborne, Ontario Unit: 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group Deceased: March 20, 2009 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Shah Wali Kot District, Afghanistan.

Trooper Jack Bouthillier Age: 20 Home Town: Hearst, Ontario Unit: Royal Canadian Dragoons, 3rd Battalion the Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group Deceased: March 20, 2009 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Shah Wali Kot District, Afghanistan.

Trooper Corey Joseph Hayes Age: 22 Home Town: Ripples, New Brunswick Unit: Royal Canadian Dragoons, 3rd Battalion the Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group Deceased: March 20, 2009 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Shah Wali Kot District, Afghanistan.

Trooper Marc Diab Age: 22 Home Town: Mississauga, Ontario Unit: Royal Canadian Dragoons, 3rd Battalion the Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group Deceased: March 8, 2009 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Shah Wali Kot District, Afghanistan.

Warrant Officer Dennis Raymond Brown Age: 38 Home Town: St. Catherines, Ontario Unit: The Lincoln and Welland Regiment Deceased: March 3, 2009 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Arghandab district, Afghanistan.

Corporal Dany Olivier Fortin Age: 29 Home Town: Baie-Comeau, Québec Unit: 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron at 3 Wing Bagotville. Deceased: March 3, 2009 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Arghandab district, Afghanistan.

Corporal Kenneth Chad O’Quinn Age: 25 Home Town: Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland Unit: 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signals Squadron Deceased: March 3, 2009 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Arghandab district, Afghanistan.

Sapper Sean David Greenfield Age: 25 Home Town: Pinawa, Manitoba Unit: 24 Field Engineer Squadron, 2 Combat Engineer Regiment, 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group. Deceased: January 31, 2009 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

Trooper Brian Richard Good Age: 42 Home Town: Ottawa, Ontario Unit: 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group Deceased: January 7, 2009 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Shah Wall Kot District, Afghanistan.

Sergeant Gregory John Kruse Age: 40 Home Town: Campbelltown, New Brunswick Unit: 2 Combat Engineer Regiment, serving as a member of 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group Deceased: December 27, 2008 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Panjwayi District, Afghanistan.

Warrant Officer Gaétan Roberge Age: 45 Home Town: Hanmer, Ontario Unit: 2nd Battalion, The Irish Regiment of Canada Deceased: December 27, 2008 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Panjwayi District, Afghanistan.

Private Michael Freeman Age: 28 Home Town: Peterborough, Ontario Unit: 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Deceased: December 26, 2008 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Zharey District, Afghanistan.

Cpl. Thomas James Hamilton Age: 26 Home Town: Truro, Nova Scotia Unit: 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Deceased: December 13, 2008 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Arghandab district, Afghanistan.

Private Justin Peter Jones Age: 21 Home Town: Baie Verte, Newfoundland Unit: 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Deceased: December 13, 2008 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Arghandab district, Afghanistan.

Private John Michael Roy Curwin Age: 26 Home Town: Mount Uniacke, Nova Scotia Unit: 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Deceased: December 13, 2008 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Arghandab district, Afghanistan.

Warrant Officer Robert Wilson Age: 38 Home Town: Keswick, ON Unit: 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Deceased: December 5, 2008 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Arghandab district, Afghanistan.

Corporal Mark Robert McLaren Age: 23 Home Town: Peterborough, ON Unit: 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Deceased: December 5, 2008 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Arghandab district, Afghanistan.

Private Demetrios Diplaros Age: 24 Home Town: Scarborough, ON Unit: 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Deceased: December 5, 2008 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Arghandab district, Afghanistan.

Sgt Prescott Shipway Age: 36 Home Town: Saskatoon, SK Unit: 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group Deceased: September 7, 2008 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Panjwayi District, Afghanistan.

Corporal Andrew Paul Grenon Age: 23 Home Town: Windsor, ON Unit: 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group Deceased: September 3, 2008 Incident: Insurgent attack, Zharey district, Afghanistan.

Corporal Michael James Alexander Seggie Age: 21 Home Town: Winnipeg, MB Unit: 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group Deceased: September 3, 2008 Incident: Insurgent attack, Zharey district, Afghanistan.

Private Chadwick James Horn Age: 21 Home Town: Calgary, AB Unit: 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group Deceased: September 3, 2008 Incident: Insurgent attack, Zharey district, Afghanistan.

Sapper Stephan John Stock Age: 25 Home Town: Campbell River, BC Unit: 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (1 CER)Deceased: August 20, 2008 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Zharey district, Afghanistan.

Corporal Dustin Roy Robert Joseph Wasden Age: 25 Home Town: Spiritwood, SK Unit: 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (1 CER) Deceased: August 20, 2008 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Zharey district, Afghanistan.

Sergeant Shawn Allen Eades Age: 33 Home Town: Hamilton, ON Unit: 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (1 CER) Deceased: August 20, 2008 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Zharey district, Afghanistan.

Master Cpl Erin Doyle Age: 32 Home Town: Kamloops, BC Unit: 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Edmonton Alberta Deceased: August 11, 2008 Incident: Insurgent attack, Panjwayi District, Afghanistan.

Master Corporal Joshua Brian Roberts Age: 29 Home Town: Prince Albert, SK Unit: 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Shilo, Manitoba Deceased: August 9, 2008 Incident: Insurgent attack, Zharey District, Afghanistan.

Corporal James (Jim) Hayward Arnal Age: 25 Home Town: Winnipeg, MB Unit: 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Shilo, Manitoba Deceased: July 18, 2008 Incident: Improvised Explosive Device (IED), Panjwayi District, Afghanistan.

Private Colin William Wilmot Age: 24 Home Town: Fredericton, NB Unit: 1 Field Ambulance, Edmonton (Alberta)Deceased: July 5, 2008 Incident: Improvised Explosive Device (IED), Panjwayi District, Afghanistan.

Corporal Brendan Anthony Downey Age: 37 Home Town: Dundurn, SK Unit: Military Police Detachment in Dundurn, Saskatchewan Deceased: July 4, 2008 Incident: Non combat related.

Captain Jonathan (Jon) Sutherland Snyder Age: 26 Home Town: Penticton, BC Unit: 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Edmonton, Alberta Deceased: June 7, 2008 Incident: Accident, Zhari District, Afghanistan.

Captain Richard Steven Leary Age: 32 Home Town: Brantford, ON Unit: 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, Shilo, Manitoba Deceased: June 3, 2008 Incident: Insurgent attack, Panjwayi District, Afghanistan.

Corporal Michael Starker Age: 36 Home Town: Calgary, AB Unit: 15 (Edmonton) Field Ambulance, Calgary, Alberta Deceased: May 6, 2008 Incident: Insurgent attack, Zharey District, Afghanistan.

Private Terry John Street Age: 24 Home Town: Surrey, BC Unit: 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Shilo, Manitoba Deceased: April 4, 2008 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Panjwayi district, Afghanistan.

Sergeant Jason Boyes Age: 32 Home Town: Napanee, ON Unit: 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Shilo, Manitoba Deceased: March 16, 2008 Incident: Explosive device, Panjwayi district, Afghanistan.

Bombardier Jérémie Ouellet Age: 22 Home Town: Matane, QC Unit: 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, Shilo, Manitoba Deceased: March 11, 2008 Incident: Non combat related.

Trooper Michael Y. Hayakaze Age: 25 Home Town: Edmonton, AB Unit: Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians), Edmonton, Alberta Deceased: March 2, 2008 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Panjwayi district, Afghanistan.

Corporal Étienne Gonthier Age: 21 Home Town: St-Georges-de-Beauce, QC Unit: 5 Combat Engineer Regiment, Valcartier, Québec Deceased: January 23, 2008 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Panjwayi district, Afghanistan.

Trooper Richard Renaud Age: 26 Home Town: Alma, Québec Unit: 12e Régiment blindé du Canada, Valcartier, Québec Deceased: January 15, 2008 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Arghandab district, Afghanistan.

Warrant Officer Hani Massouh Warrant Officer Hani Massouh Age : 41 Unit: 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment, Valcartier, Québec Deceased: January 6, 2008 Incident: Military vehicle rollover, Nalgham, Zhari District, Afghanistan.

Corporal Éric Labbé Age : 31 Home Town: Rimouski, Québec Unit: 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment, Valcartier, Québec Deceased: January 6, 2008 Incident: Military vehicle rollover, Nalgham, Zhari District, Afghanistan.

Gunner Jonathan Dion Age: 27 Home Town: Gatineau, Québec Unit: 5e Régiment d'artillerie légère du Canada, Valcartier, Québec Deceased: December 30, 2007 Incident: Improvised explosive device, Zharey District, Afghanistan.

Private Michel Jr. Lévesque Age: 25 Home Town: Rivière-Rouge, Québec Unit: 3 Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment, Valcartier, Québec Deceased: November 17, 2007 Incident: Improvised explosive device, near Ma’sum Ghar, Afghanistan.

Corporal Nicolas R. Beauchamp Age: 28 Home Town: Montréal, Québec Unit: 5 Field Ambulance, Valcartier, Québec Deceased: November 17, 2007 Incident: Improvised explosive device, near Ma’sum Ghar, Afghanistan.

Corporal Nathan Hornburg Age: 24 Home Town: Calgary, Alberta Unit: The King’s Own Calgary Regiment, Alberta Deceased: September 24, 2007 Incident: Mortar attack, Panjwayi District, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.

Major Raymond Mark Ruckpaul Age: 42 Home Town: Hamilton, Ontario Unit: Armoured Corps, The Royal Canadian Dragoons Deceased: August 29, 2007 Incident: Non-combat-related death, Kabul, Afghanistan.

Master Corporal Christian Duchesne Age: 34 Home Town: Montreal, Québec Unit: 5th Field Ambulance, 5 Area Support Group, Valcartier, Québec Deceased: August 22, 2007 Incident: Landmine, Afghanistan.

Master Warrant Officer Mario Mercier Age: 43 Home Town: Weedon, Québec Unit: 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment, Valcartier, Québec Deceased: August 22, 2007 Incident: Landmine, Afghanistan.

Private Simon Longtin Age: 23 Home Town: Longueuil, Québec Unit: 3rd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment, Valcartier, Québec Deceased: August 19, 2007 Incident: Improvised Explosive Device, Afghanistan.

Captain Jefferson Clifford Francis Age: 37 Home Town: New Brunswick Unit: 1 Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, Shilo, Manitoba Deceased: July 4, 2007 Incident: Improvised Explosive Device, Afghanistan.

Corporal Jordan Anderson Age: 25 Home Town: Iqaluit, Nunavut Unit: 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (Edmonton, Alberta) Deceased: July 4, 2007 Incident: Improvised Explosive Device, Afghanistan.

Captain Matthew Johnathan Dawe Age: 27 Home Town: Kingston, Ontario Unit: 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Edmonton, Alberta) Deceased: July 4, 2007 Incident: Improvised Explosive Device, Afghanistan.

Master Corporal Colin Stuart Francis Bason Age: 28 Home Town: Burnaby, British Columbia Unit: The Royal Westminster Regiment, New Westminster, British Columbia Deceased: July 4, 2007 Incident: Improvised Explosive Device, Afghanistan.

Corporal Cole D. Bartsch Age: 23 Home Town: Saskatchewan Unit: 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Edmonton, Alberta) Deceased: July 4, 2007 Incident: Improvised Explosive Device, Afghanistan.

Private Lane William Thomas Watkins Age: 20 Home Town: Winnipeg, Manitoba Unit: 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Edmonton, Alberta)Deceased: July 4, 2007 Incident: Improvised Explosive Device, Afghanistan.

Sergeant Christos Karigiannis Age: 31 Home Town: Montréal, Québec Unit: 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (Edmonton, Alberta)Deceased: June 20, 2007 Incident: Improvised Explosive Device, Afghanistan.

Corporal Stephen Frederick Bouzane Age: 26 Home Town: Springdale, Newfoundland and Labrador Unit: 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (Edmonton, Alberta)Deceased: June 20, 2007 Incident: Improvised Explosive Device, Afghanistan.

Private Joel Wiebe Age: 22 Home Town: Edmonton, Alberta Unit: 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (Edmonton, Alberta)Deceased: June 20, 2007. Incident: Improvised Explosive Device, Afghanistan.

Trooper Darryl Caswell Age: 25 Home Town: Bowmanville, Ontario Unit: The Royal Canadian Dragoons (Petawawa, Ontario)Deceased: June 11, 2007 Incident: Roadside bomb, Afghanistan.

Master Corporal Darrell Jason Priede Age: 30 Home Town: Burlington, Ontario Unit: Army News Team, 3 Area Support Group, Canadian Forces Base Gagetown Deceased: May 30, 2007 Incident: U.S. Chinook helicopter crash in Afghanistan.

Corporal Matthew McCully Age: 25 Home Town: Orangeville, Ontario Unit: 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signals Squadron, Petawawa, Ontario Deceased: May 25, 2007 Incident: Improvised Explosive Device.

Master Corporal Anthony Klumpenhouwer Age: 25 Home Town: Listowel, Ontario Unit: Canadian Special Operations Forces Command Deceased: April 18, 2007 Incident: Accident, non combat related.

Master Corporal Allan Stewart Age: 31 Home Town: Newcastle, New Brunswick Unit: The Royal Canadian Dragoons (Petawawa, Ontario) Deceased: April 11, 2007 Incident: Roadside bomb.

Trooper Patrick James Pentland Age: 23 Home Town: Geary, New Brunswick Unit: The Royal Canadian Dragoons (Petawawa, Ontario)Deceased: April 11, 2007 Incident: Roadside bomb.

Sergeant Donald Lucas Age: 31 Home Town: St-John's, Newfoundand and Labrador Unit: 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (Gagetown, New Brunswick) Deceased: April 8, 2007 Incident: Roadside bomb.

Corporal Brent Donald Poland Age: 37 Home Town: Sarnia, Ontario Unit: 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (Gagetown, New Brunswick) Deceased: April 8, 2007 Incident: Roadside bomb.

Corporal Christopher Paul Stannix Age: 24 Home Town: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Unit: Princess Louise Fusiliers (Halifax, Nova Scotia)Deceased: April 8, 2007 Incident: Roadside bomb.

Corporal Aaron Edward Williams Age: 23 Home Town: Perth-Andover, New Brunswick Unit: 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (Gagetown, New Brunswick) Deceased: April 8, 2007 Incident: Roadside bomb.

Private David Robert Greenslade Age: 20 Home Town: Saint-John, New Brunswick Unit: 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, (Gagetown, New Brunswick) Deceased: April 8, 2007 Incident: Roadside bomb.

Private Kevin Vincent Kennedy Age: 20 Home Town: St-John's, Newfoundland and Labrador Unit: 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (Gagetown, New Brunswick) Deceased: April 8, 2007 Incident: Roadside bomb.

Corporal Kevin Megeney Age: 25 Home Town: New Glasgow, Nova Scotia Unit: 1st Battalion, The Nova Scotia Highlanders (North) (Truro, Nova Scotia)Deceased: March 6, 2007 Incident: Non combat related.

Chief Warrant Officer Robert Girouard, CD Age: 46 Home Town: Bouctouche, New Brunswick Unit: 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (Petawawa, Ontario) Deceased: November 27, 2006 Incident: Suicide bomber attack.

Corporal Albert Storm, CD Age: 36 Home Town: Niagara Falls, Ontario Unit: 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (Petawawa, Ontario) Deceased: November 27, 2006. Incident: Suicide bomber attack.

Sergeant Darcy Scott Tedford, CD Age: 32 Home Town: Calgary, Alberta Unit: 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (Petawawa, Ontario) Deceased: October 14, 2006 Incident: Insurgent attack.

Private Blake Neil Williamson Age: 23 Home Town: Ottawa, Ontario. Unit: 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (Petawawa, Ontario)Deceased: October 14, 2006 Incident: Insurgent attack.

Trooper Mark Andrew Wilson Age: 39 Home town: London, Ontario Unit: Royal Canadian Dragoons (Petawawa, Ontario) Deceased: October 7, 2006 Incident: Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

Sergeant Craig Paul Gillam, CD Age: 40 Home town: South Branch, Newfoundland and Labrador Unit: Royal Canadian Dragoons (Petawawa, Ontario) Deceased: October 3, 2006 Incident: Insurgent attack.

Corporal Robert Thomas James Mitchell Age: 32 Home town: Owen Sound, Ontario Unit: Royal Canadian Dragoons (Petawawa, Ontario)Deceased: October 3, 2006 Incident: Insurgent attack.

Private Josh Klukie Age: 23 Home town: Shuniah, Ontario Unit: 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (Petawawa, Ontario)Deceased: September 29, 2006 Incident: Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

Corporal Glen Arnold, CD Age: 32 Home Town: McKerrow, Ontario Unit: 2 Field Ambulance (Petawawa, Ontario) Deceased: September 18, 2006 Incident: Suicide bomber attack.

Private David Byers Age: 22 Home Town: Espanola, Ontario Unit: 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Shilo, Manitoba) Deceased: September 18, 2006 Incident: Suicide bomber attack.

Corporal Shane Keating Age: 30 Home Town: Dalmeny, Saskatchewan Unit: 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (Shilo, Manitoba) Deceased: September 18, 2006 Incident: Suicide bomber attack.

Corporal Keith Morley, CD Age: 30 Home Town: Winnipeg, Manitoba Unit: 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (Shilo, Manitoba)Deceased: September 18, 2006 Incident: Suicide bomber attack.

Private Mark Anthony Graham Age: 33 Home Town: Hamilton, Ontario Unit: 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (Petawawa, Ontario) Deceased: September 4, 2006 Incident: "Friendly fire" incident.

Private William Jonathan James Cushley Age: 21 Home Town: Port Lambton, Ontario Unit: 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (Petawawa, Ontario) Deceased: September 3, 2006 Incident: Ground offensive.

Warrant Officer Frank Robert Mellish, CD Age: 38 Home Town: Truro, Nova Scotia Unit: 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (Petawawa, Ontario) Deceased: September 3, 2006 Incident: Ground offensive.

Warrant Officer Richard Francis Nolan, CD Age: 39 Home Town: Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador Unit: 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (Petawawa, Ontario) Deceased: September 3rd, 2006 Incident: Ground offensive.

Sergeant Shane Stachnik Age: 30 Home Town: Waskatenau, Alberta Unit: 2 Combat Engineer Regiment (Petawawa, Ontario) Deceased: September 3rd, 2006 Incident: Ground offensive.

Corporal David Braun Age: 27 Home Town: Raymore, Saskatchewan Unit: 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Shilo, Manitoba) Deceased: August 22, 2006 Incident: Suicide bomber attack.

Corporal Andrew James Eykelenboom Age: 23 Home Town: Comox, British Columbia Unit: 1st Field Ambulance (Edmonton, Alberta) Deceased: August 11, 2006 Incident: Suicide bomber attack.

Master Corporal Jeffrey Scott Walsh Age: 33 Home Town: Regina, Saskatchewan Unit: 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Shilo, Manitoba) Deceased: August 9, 2006. Incident: Shooting accident.

Master Corporal Raymond Arndt Age: 31 Home Town: Edson, Alberta Unit: The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (Edmonton, Alberta) Deceased: August 5, 2006 Incident: Traffic accident.

Private Kevin Dallaire Age: 22 Home Town: Calgary, Alberta Unit: 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Edmonton, Alberta)Deceased: August 3, 2006 Incident: Ground offensive.

Sergeant Vaughan Ingram Age: 35 Home Town: Burgeo, Newfoundland and Labrador Unit: 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Edmonton, Alberta) Deceased: August 3, 2006. Incident: Ground offensive.

Corporal Bryce Jeffrey Keller Age: 27 Home Town: Regina, Saskatchewan Unit: 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Edmonton, Alberta) Deceased: August 3, 2006 Incident: Ground offensive.

Corporal Christopher Jonathan Reid, CD Age: 34 Home Town: Truro, Nova Scotia Unit: 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Edmonton, Alberta) Deceased: August 3, 2006 Incident: Roadside bomb.

Corporal Francisco Gomez, CD Age: 44 Home town: Edmonton, Alberta Unit: 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Edmonton, Alberta)Deceased: July 22, 2006. Incident: Suicide attack.

Corporal Jason Patrick Warren Age: 29 Home town: Québec City, Québec Unit: The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada (Montréal, Québec) Deceased: July 22, 2006 Incident: Suicide attack.

Corporal Anthony Joseph Boneca Age: 21 Home Town: Thunder Bay, Ontario Unit: Lake Superior Scottish Regiment (Thunder Bay, Ontario) Deceased: July 9, 2006 Incident: Ground offensive.

Captain Nichola Kathleen Sarah Goddard, MSM Age: 26 Home Town: Calgary, Alberta Unit: 1st Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (Shilo, Manitoba) Deceased: May 17, 2006 Incident: Ground offensive.

Corporal Matthew David James Dinning Age: 23 Home Town: Richmond Hill, Ontario Unit: 2 Military Police Platoon, Petawawa, Ontario Deceased: April 22, 2006 Incident: Roadside bomb.

Bombardier Myles Stanley John Mansell Age: 25 Home Town: Victoria, British Columbia Unit: 5th (British Columbia) Field Artillery Regiment (Victoria, British Columbia) Deceased: April 22, 2006 Incident: Roadside bomb.

Corporal Randy Payne Age: 32 Home town: Gananoque, Ontario Unit: 1 Garrison Military Police Company, Detachment Wainwright, Alberta Deceased: April 22, 2006 Incident: Roadside bomb.

Lieutenant William Turner Age: 45 Home Town: Toronto, Ontario Unit: Land Force Western Area Headquarters, Edmonton, Alberta (20th Field Artillery Regiment) Deceased: April 22, 2006 Incident: Roadside bomb.

Private Robert Costall Age: 22 Home Town: Thunder Bay, Ontario Unit: 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Edmonton, Alberta) Deceased: March 29, 2006 Incident: Ground offensive.

Master Corporal Timothy Wilson Age: 30 Home Town: Grande Prairie, Alberta Unit: 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Shilo, Manitoba) Deceased: March 5, 2006 Incident: LAV III traffic accident.

Corporal Paul Davis Age: 28 Home Town: Bridgewater, Nova Scotia Unit: 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Shilo, Manitoba) Deceased: March 2, 2006 Incident: LAV III traffic accident.

Glyn Berry Age: 59 Home Town: United Kingdom Unit: Director, Foreign Affairs Canada Deceased: January 15, 2006 Incident: Suicide attack.

Private Braun Scott Woodfield Age: 24 Home Town: Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia Unit: 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment (Oromocto, New Brunswick) Deceased: November 24, 2005 Incident: LAV III traffic accident.

Corporal Jamie Brendan Murphy Age: 26 Home town: Conception Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador Unit: 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment (Petawawa, Ontario) Deceased: January 27, 2004 Incident: Suicide attack.

Corporal Robbie Christopher Beerenfenger Age: 29 Home town: Ottawa, Ontario Unit: 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment (Petawawa, Ontario) Deceased: October 2, 2003 Incident: Landmine explosion.

Sergeant Robert Alan Short Age: 42 Home town: Fredericton, New Brunswick Unit: 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment (Petawawa, Ontario) Deceased: October 2, 2003 Incident: Landmine explosion.

Sergeant Marc D. Léger Age: 29 Home town: Lancaster (Ontario) Unit: 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Edmonton, Alberta) Deceased: April 18, 2002 Incident: "Friendly fire" incident.

Corporal Ainsworth Dyer Age: 24 Home town: Montréal, Québec Unit: 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Edmonton, Alberta) Deceased: April 18, 2002 Incident: "Friendly fire" incident.

Private Richard Green Age: 21 Home town: Mill Cove, Nova Scotia Unit: 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Edmonton, Alberta) Deceased: April 18, 2002 Incident: "Friendly fire" incident.

Private Nathan Smith Age: 26 Home Town: Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia Unit: 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Edmonton, Alberta) Deceased: April 18, 2002 Incident: "Friendly fire" incident.

If ye break faith with us who die we shall not sleep, though poppies grow in Flanders fields.

As An Honoured Son Who Enters His Father's House.

HRH Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, and his missus HRH Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, were welcomed at Government House last night, in the warm and formal Sto:lo custom, by His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor Steven Point. I was happy to see some old pals at dinner, like Wendy Grant-John and Ed John, both of whom were right proud in the way the special guests were gifted with beautiful robe-blankets and cedar crowns. The prince was given a beautiful talking stick, and the duchess was given a bowl carved in the motif of a wolf, a spirit-animal with which His Honour's family enjoys an ancient affinity. The royals-from-away were treated as well to a song in the old language.

Qualicum scallops, Cowichan Valley venison, good company, and a well-deserved night out for my hardworking wife, Yvette, who was pleased to be seated beside this fine mariner.

Against Triumphalism: The Complex Legacy of 1989

Fred Halliday observes that 20 years on, there is much to celebrate in communism's collapse, but at the same time much horror followed. Putting 1989 in its proper global perspective forces us to recognize "other, less liberal and less welcome outcomes of the Soviet retreat; and the consequences of these events are very much alive today."

Similarly counterintuitive, it's instructive to recall the American origins of Canadian socialism:

Everything Else Is Just Noise.

Perhaps dumber than just noise, in some quarters. In any case, here's all that matters:

"Pull out, get out, give up is not the way to solve Afghanistan’s problems.”

- Afghan parliamentarian Shukria Barakzai.

“We want the troops here. Women are in danger already; if the troops go, the people who will be most affected will be women and children.”

- Huma Safi, a program manager with Women for Afghan Women.

“We could not be here if the troops were not here. We need troops here until we can sustain our own military.”

Aziza, Afghan businesswoman.

Sometimes, you just have to choose your comrades. I've made my choice. Until victory:

I Like It.

"Today this decision confirms what we've known all along. We have been stewards of our ocean resources for hundreds of generations, and the Government of Canada was wrong to push us aside in their attempts to prohibit our access to the sea resources our people depend upon."

- Cliff Atleo, on the B.C. Supreme Court decision upholding the rights of the Nuu-chah-nulth people to harvest and sell their traditional marine resources.

"It means there's some hope for a brighter future," said Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council president Cliff Atleo Sr. "There will be economic benefit for the Nuu-chah-nulth. That's great news. It's what we've wanted all along."

Also a quick report here from our pal Wawmeesh.

Understating The Case: Richard Fadden on Terrorism and the Dizziness of Canada's Elites

"Canada has seen its share of terrorism: 329 people, the vast majority of them Canadian, died in the bombing of Air India Flight 182 in 1985, shortly after the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) was born. We are inextricably linked to that event, and practically share the same anniversary. Canada is not immune from terrorism. . . You would not know this to be true, however, when you look at how Canadians discuss matters of national security. Our elites tend to avert their eyes, and media tend to give what little coverage they grant on this subject to groups that seem to feel that our charm and the Maple Leaf on our backpacks are all that we need to protect us."

Mr. Fadden understates the case.

Long before Flight 182 fell from the sky, the dizziness of Canada's elites in the face of open threats posed by Khalistani Sikh supremacists had already allowed, enabled and facilitated the slaughter and assassination of hundreds of civilians, politicians, liberals, socialists, poets and playwrights in India. The Khalistani terror campaign was organized, funded and directed from Canada.

A limp, confused and deluded response to the threat of clerical-fascist extremism was the reason Khalistani fanatics managed to successfully plot and murder those 329 Air India passengers. Back then, the terrorist haven wasn't the Pashtun borderlands. Canada was the terrorist haven.

Back when I was a cub reporter, I was intimately familiar with the Air India plotters, I'd travelled to Punjab and interviewed the key militants holed up behind their sandbagged gun batteries in the holy city of Amritsar, and I'd sat in conversation with Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the Khalistani version of Osama Bin Laden. To anyone paying attention, there was nothing surprising or mysterious about what eventually happened.

Six years ago, looking back on the Air India disaster, I made Mr. Fadden's case this way: "The world is a dangerous place, and righteous pacifism isn't enough. Federal NDP leader Jack Layton can quote J.S. Woodsworth until he's blue in the face, and the rest of us can march until the soles of our shoes have worn through. It's not enough. . . If Canada is going to make even a pretence of national independence, the federal government is going to have to employ the treasury for more than just unionized daycare centres, bus tokens and free flags. We're going to need a smart and efficient military and some crackerjack intelligence and counter-terrorism capacity."

Now I will understate the case: I can't think of a damn thing that has happened since then to change my mind.

In the case of Sikh supremacist fanaticism, the response of Canada's elites, most notably the news media, was to more or less leave things for this country's brave and browbeaten Sikh communities to figure out all on their own. Everybody was just so frightened of being called insensitive or racist or some other mean name. Nowadays, faced with hauntingly similar torments, Canada's young Muslims are being expected to just sort it all out more or less by themselves, too.

Not a good idea. Nothing progressive, liberal, enlightened, anti-racist, tolerant or sensible about it.

It Will Have To Do.

The perfect is the enemy of the good.

Like him or not, and no matter the apprehended fraud committed on his behalf during the recent elections, Afghan president Hamid Karzai is obviously and clearly "the legitimate leader of the country," say the Americans. Like it or not, this is correct.

Karzai's closest challenger, Abdullah Abdullah, may well end up a key figure in Karzai's new administration in Kabul. Then again, he may not. Either way, in Abdullah, Afghanistan now has a credible, de facto leader of the official opposition, and he is a canny fellow: "The future of Afghanistan will be either a moderate, Islamic country based on democratic principles" or a "Taliban-type, al-Qaida-type" regime, which will reverse the course of progress.

And that is a very true thing. Sometimes, you just have to choose sides and bloody well get on with it, and the civilized world has chosen sides. In the words of UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon: "We will not be deterred. We cannot be deterred. We must not be deterred, and the work of the United Nations will continue."

Back to work. Allons-y. Until victory:

Against Fascism, Islamic And Otherwise.

Further to this, the anti-fascist, pro-democracy left scored a small victory and had a fine time of it in London yesterday. The EDL can go to hell, and so can the BNP, and so can Muhajiroun. This is how it's done:














Here's Peter Tatchell, and if I'm not mistaken, that's our comrade David Toube behind him: