PM Harper on densive over media ban on return of dead soldiers

[henslee]

PM Harper on defensive over media ban on return of dead soldiers
Updated Tue, 25 Apr 2006 16:02:29 EDT/CBC News

Prime Minister Stephen Harper defended his government's decision to ban the media from covering the return of bodies of soldiers killed in the line of duty, accusing the opposition of politicizing the issue....
http://torontosun.com/News/Canada/2006/04/25/1549387-sun.html

[LisaM]

1. Is he just reading out the Bush playbook verbatim?

Fortunately, I don't think Canadians will put up with this.

[ixion]

5. taken right from the playbook, including the so-called 'defense'

of the issue.

[HuffleClaw]

15. yeah, that 'politicization' comment. what a joke.

accusing others of their own crimes is right from the bushco. playbook alright and a disgrace.

[rodeodance]

8. I hope the Canadians raise a STORM over this.

[LSparkle]

2. Wait a minute -- did the Canadian media do this under Martin too?

Or is this a new policy thanks to Bushbot Harper?

[Kagemusha]

3. The policy is spanking brand new

and absolutely it's reading from the Bush playbook.

[Spazito]

4. Nope the Libs allowed the media on site, this is strictly a Harper

idea and it is backfiring, gotta love it. Another nail in the coffin of any hope of re-election when his minority government falls.

[HuffleClaw]

16. that is my take too

he's only shooting himself in the foot. people are PISSED about this and the flag thing. and the media is reporting it as a BUSH-inspired ploy!

[muriel_volestrangler]

18. Yeah, Blair handles the same situation better

British TV can show returning flag-draped coffins; they have sometimes, but I don't think they do it every time now. And I don't think it's actually bad for the politicians involved - they can say "look, we take this seriously, and it's a tragedy when a soldier is killed". If the military and the families themselves are ok with the coverage, then it makes more political sense to go with them - it gives the ex-generals one less reason to come out and criticise you.

[NanceGreggs]

6. Mhmmm, that has a familiar ring to it ...

... where have I heard that before?

Although I live in Canada, I'm an American and pay very little attention to Canadian politics. As a result, I tend to judge politicians here on face value, because I am not attuned to what the various parties stand for, etc.

My first thought on seeing Harper was, "Jesus, this guy is stupid." He has that vacant look in his eyes, that tells me he's more than a little slow on the uptake.

Well, my initial reaction is confirmed. Imagine being newly-elected to the highest office in Canada, and the example you choose to follow is a failing US president whose numbers are going down every day, who is met with protests everywhere he goes, not only in his own country but around the world.

So for anyone who thinks the continent needed ANOTHER IDIOT, your prayers are being answered ...

[LisaM]

7. It also begs the question, how many soldiers is he going to endanger?

So far, the number of Canadian soldiers killed is not terribly high (well, ONE is too many, but hte numbers pale in comparison to here, or even the UK).

[daleo]

10. 10 soldiers in last 2-3 months in Afghanistan, out of about 2300

So, that would annualize to about 40 or 50, or a death rate of 2%. That is actually considerably higher than the U.S. in Iraq (about 800 deaths per year out of 150,000 soldiers, or 0.5%).

Actually, the 10 Canadian soldiers killed this past couple months in Afghanistan constitutes 0.5% of the force there.

On edit: The CBC site shows 36 dead or wounded (including traffic accidents, which may not really be accidents) already in 2006. So, that's a casualty rate of 1.5% with only one third of the year gone (and the summer months are usually the worst season in Afghanistan for combat). It is no wonder Harper wants to limit publicity of casualties.

[Ecumenist]

9. Yeah, I bet he is..

It's going over like a lead balloon with an attached mercury weight...

[achtung_circus]

11. In driving around the GTA

I noticed lots of flags at half mast.

There was also an editorial in the Globe this morning reinforcing the Harper stance that half mast is what Remembrance Day is for.

Theyt're also a lot of mad people.

WE care, even if Stevie doesn't. He's



And don't let his lies convince you otherwise.

[MrPrax]

13. I am going to nitpik...

It's not just you, everyone does it...and it driving me insane.

"I noticed lots of flags at half mast."

It's a mast if it's on a ship; it's a staff if it's on land...

Oh yeah...Harper! This is playing well in the stix...They are a little annoyed out West here. His own supporters are barking about this one...

I really hope Harper does MORE ape-ing of Chimpy; where the Chimp's numbers go, then Harper's will surely follow...

We'll be finished with him sooner, than later I hope...

[Lautremont]

12. He's on the "densive," all right. (nt)

[AX10]

14. How long till DAS CON's go down?

The sooner the better.

[ConcernedCanuk]

17. What worries me about this is how obvious Harper is

.
.
.

He has to know this would upset many Canadians, so . .

my concern is what is he doing BEHIND the scenes

media restrictions already

previous governments decades ago signed multi-decade contracts to the US regarding our petroleum resources

MOST of those contracts are coming up for renewal or renegotiation real soon

I think Harper is more than capable of selling us out to the PNACers

OIl/lumber/water/military resources, etc., - we even had USA nukes here once not far from where I live - Bush would love to get his nukes back on our soil, well, if they ever really left?

And Harper is far from stupid

Evil is more like it.

(sigh)