Canada: Afghanistan War: Parliament votes 149-145 to continue war against anti-democracy forces in Afghanistan
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I just witnessed the vote in Canada's House of Commons to continue participation in the war of Afghanistan and its allies against the the leftover ferocity of the Taliban and Al-Quaeda (the latter now almost invisible) trying to destroy the Afghani's fledgling democracy. The commons vote features the Conservatives on one side with the New Democrat Party (socialists) and the Bloc Québecois (one-province nationalists who don't want to support any war of Canada which is of course mostly English-speaking, not French-speaking; but among the Conservatives are 10 French-speaking Québecois who reflect the fact that a good number of Québecois citizens serve as officers and ranks in the Canadian Forces, including in the Afghan War).
The real news, however, is that the Liberal Caucus in the Commons allowed its members to vote freely Yes or No. Historically, the Federal Liberals do not allow a free vote very often, while already in their last term of forming the government the Libs allowed ordinary Members of Parliament in their ranks to vote freely, holding only Cabinet Members to discipline on the gmarriage vote they pushed thru with the NDP and BQ. Also, importantly for Canadian politics and the Liberal Party, the president pro temp of the Lib caucus in the Commons, Bill Graham (formerly a minister of foreign affairs, and then minister of defense) voted to extend Canadian Forces' mandate in A-stan. Further, one of the key candidates for the Lib Party leadership, Michael Ignatieff, until recently a professor of human r+ts at Harvard, voted for the extension. On the other hand, former Lib Prime Minister Paul Martin ducked out. A no show. A lame duck to be sure. Again, on the negative side, most Libs voted No. They came close with the NDP and BQ, but the Yes vote won by 4 votes. - Politicarp
Capt. Nichola Goddard: Rest in Peace
A combat officer of the Canadian Forces, Captain Nichola Goddard was killed yesterday while serving under command of the CF Afghanistan Mission. We extend our condolences to all her family, friends, and comrades. Warrior Goddard was the first woman combat soldier to die in Canadian military service, but not the first woman in the Forces to die in other than combat duties. - Owlb
More resources:
Preview of Tories' Call for Vote on Afghan War
Gen. Dallaire's position was refuted on CTV by Gen Mackenzie tonite
Toronto Star plays at military wisequy
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