Daily Digest July 7, 2008

The DAILY DIGEST: INFORMATION and OPINION from ST. JOHN'S to VICTORIA.
ARCHIVED at http://cdndailydigest.blogspot.com/

EDITORIALs

CORNER BROOK WESTERN STAR -
Things are slowing down
http://www.thewesternstar.com/index.cfm?sid=150171&sc=30

AMHERST DAILY NEWS -
Leverage at the G8
http://www.amherstdaily.com/index.cfm?sid=150381&sc=61

MONTREAL GAZETTE -
'Quebec's story is one of survival'
Jean Charest talks about language, reasonable accommodation and federalism in wide-ranging interview
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/editorial/story.html?id=50855855-2a6a-4ae7-a14f-d51a40e93462

OTTAWA CITIZEN -
Knowing where you are eating
Nova Scotia and Alberta have announced plans to post on the Internet the results of all restaurant inspections conducted in those provinces. The technology isn't expensive and the benefits to the public are many, so why aren't all jurisdictions doing this? http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/editorials/story.html?id=cfb31133-467a-4216-b58f-d54c92c02a7c

KINGSTON WHIG STANDARD-
Conference proves wind advocates aren't full of hot air
http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1102869

U. S. DECISION WILL LEAD TO VIOLENCE
http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1102841

BELLEVILLE INTELLIGENCER -
Who you gonna call? Habitat for Humanity
http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1102666

TORONTO STAR -
Is McGuinty's house on fire?
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/455304

When police face trial
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/455305

Fill 'er up — with husks
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/455306

GLOBE & MAIL -
The Time to combine against stagflation
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080707.eLeaders08/BNStory/specialComment/home

Don't stay home alone
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080707.EOlympics08/BNStory/specialComment/home

For game and country
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080707.ECherry08/BNStory/specialComment/home

NATIONAL POST -
India's deadly badge of honour
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/07/07/national-post-editorial-board-india-s-deadly-badge-of-honour.aspx

Unlocking the 'Strad secret'
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=636636

TORONTO SUN -
A carbon tax is now irrelevant
http://www.torontosun.com/Comment/Commentary/2008/07/07/6086081-sun.html

ST. CATHARINES STANDARD -
A precious resource we take for granted
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1103222

Canada has been too modest about its achievements
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1103211

K-W RECORD -
More than a few irate Westerners questioned the intelligence of Liberal Leader Stephane Dion recently: but they shouldn't.
http://news.therecord.com/Opinions/article/379072

Old and neglected in Ontario
http://news.therecord.com/Opinions/article/379070

WINDSOR STAR -
U.S. should watch its own footprints
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/editorial/story.html?id=8ba7772e-666b-4ede-a9b9-111ad75ce27b

SUDBURY STAR -
Gambling is no economic plan
http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1103283

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS -
Coming out at the G8
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/editorial/story/4195680p-4787050c.html

Aid to Africa
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/editorial/story/4195682p-4787071c.html

SASKATOON STARPHOENIX -
G8 leaders left struggling in new world
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/forum/story.html?id=9173c857-4e2d-46cd-bad8-01fe98ce80ae

CALGARY HERALD -
Colombia earned Canada's support
President Uribe gives hope to country once seen as hopeless
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/theeditorialpage/story.html?id=cebe7a38-22bf-46e9-81c8-e2413746fe06

LETHBRIDGE HERALD -
Losing ground on literacy
http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/article_11289.php

VANCOUVER PROVINCE -
Why silence is golden
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/editorial/story.html?id=006bc105-a7ad-4fd5-a1bc-f55fd9ba66ab


ISSUES

AFGHANISTAN -
Russians reflect on Afghan conflict
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7494357.stm

Loved, reviled Afghan general says the Taliban can be beaten
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1066139.html

Investigation to find out if U.S. bombing victims were civilians 
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=eaff3dfa-af92-4a53-9b6e-653897075af8

Afghans blame foreign agents for car bomb
The Financial Times (07/07/2008)

Suicide Car Blast Kills 41 in Afghan Capital
The New York Times (07/07/2008)

Militants mounting pressure to destabilize Afghan gov't
Xinhua (07/07/2008)

A look at the role of Pakistani intelligence in volatile Afghanistan
The Associated Press (07/07/2008)

Eyewitness: Afghan bombing
BBC (07/07/2008)

Bush: Pakistan, Not Iraq, Next President's Big Task
U.S. News & World Report (07/07/2008)

India - Afghanistan's influential ally
BBC (07/07/2008)

Enemies' Of Afghan-India Ties Behind Attack: Karzai
AFP (07/07/2008)

40 dead in suicide attack on India's Afghanistan embassy
AFP (07/07/2008)


CANADIAN FORCES
Military to buy new radars to keep better eye on the sky
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=733f1b2c-78d1-42e3-bdd5-118316b3edd7

Military showed little enthusiasm in Arctic sovereignty patrol
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080707.wnanook07/BNStory/National/home

Edmonton field ambulance unit mourns death of medic in Afghanistan
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080707/national/afghan_soldier_killed


CANUSA/USACAN
A bridge too far from John McCain
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080707.cosimp08/BNStory/specialComment/home

Are Americans showing Canadian tendencies?
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1066163.html

Alberta premier meets with U.S. ambassador to discuss 'dirty' oil
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080707/national/alta_stelmach_oil

Ruling deserts basic tenets of war
http://www.thestar.com/News/Columnist/article/455431


ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
GM considers more cuts
http://wheels.ca/reviews/article/270460

Bell's internet throttling illegal, Google says
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/07/07/tech-crtc.html


FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Iran closer to compromise on its uranium enrichment
The West preaches enrichment abstinence – not for all, of course, but for Iran
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/455308

G8 leaders to avoid setting hard emissions targets
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080707/climate_G8_080707/20080707?hub=QPeriod

Climate-change goals fall short at G8
Canada joins resistance to targets for reducing emissions as members opt to wait for next year's UN summit – and next U.S.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080706.wg8-07/BNStory/Front/home

Bush calls to prime minister: 'Yo, Harper'
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080707/bush_harper_080707/20080707?hub=QPeriod

G8 leaders lean on Africa over Zimbabwe
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080707.wharpermug0707/BNStory/International/home

Spotlight on African aid at G8 summit; Canada singled out for criticism
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080707/national/g8_cda_africa

European Union not poised to become a superstate
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/opinion/story.html?id=666b86ab-df50-4f5b-ac70-d23c9891c4fb


HEALTH CARE RELATED
CDC reports almost 8,000 adverse reactions to cervical vaccine in U.S.
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/07/07/adversereactions-gardasil.html


POLITICS IN THE PROVINCES
The Liberal seduction is on
http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Columnists/MacFarlane_Gord/2008/07/07/6085821-sun.html

Time to 'go negative' to sell carbon tax
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=6041892b-5875-4979-b226-50a1fb2ba2ea

Replacing Hampton
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/editorial/story.html?id=3ec41b5c-e219-446f-ae6c-64c19f723ad0


PARTY POLITICS
Firm to sue Liberals over 'Green' brand
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/455623

Liberals tout new fundraising program
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/455397

Dion chides PM for 'vulgar' language
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=d728c5f0-66d2-40f0-bb55-e547f1446375


POLITICAL OPINION -
Cadman widow disputes journalist's story
Sworn affidavit claims Zytaruk was not introduced to Harper
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=ba115ea1-bf78-4020-b139-c0bf9d8e1e43

HARPER'S BACKROOM GENERAL
To Conservative political mastermind Doug Finley, the prime minister is 'the boss.' To much of the party's rank-and-file, that title belongs to Finley himself: 'Unless Doug Finley says you can run, you can't run' http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=8ab38b84-3243-4f56-ac4d-13fa1530f722

Dion takes page from Clarity Act
http://www.thestar.com/Canada/Columnist/article/455399

Kinsella whips Hebert on Clarity
http://www.warrenkinsella.com/index.php?entry=entry080707-083423

Dion's last stand?
http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/article/346822

'Green, green, green. But where is the mention of the Green Party?'
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080707.COMARTIN07/TPStory/TPComment/Politics/

Swing voters could make anything happen next time in Central Nova
http://www.thehilltimes.ca/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=2008/july/7/swing_voters/&c=2

Changes in PMO staff, future strategy captivate politicos
http://www.thehilltimes.ca/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=2008/july/7/hillclimbers/&c=2

Abortion: Clashes in view within the PC
http://translate.google.ca/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ledevoir.com%2F2008%2F07%2F07%2F196758.html&sl=fr&tl=en&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

A potential vote winner . . .
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/viewpoints/story.html?id=24fce52d-4b35-480e-b30f-fce0ea014c5c

. . . that could ruin the West
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/viewpoints/story.html?id=0c9f8ab4-c822-487d-bb3d-9d9c42074aff

Dion outfoxes Harper on political front
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/ westview/story/4195616p-4787079c.html


PROGRAMMES
Riding around and around on Ottawa's access-to-information highway
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080707.waccess07/BNStory/National/home


PRESSURE POINTS
Marc Sageman on the battle for young Muslims' hearts and minds and the future of the leaderless jihad
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/07/07/marc-sageman-on-the-battle-for-young-muslims-hearts-and-minds-and-the-future-of-the-leaderless-jihad.aspx


OPINION AND INFORMATION
Gutless leaders strike again
http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Rosica_Father_Thomas/2008/07/07/6086926-sun.php

Morgentaler's shallow victory
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=636666

On the road to reduce poverty
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/455303

A global lesson in market failure
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080707.coecon08/BNStory/specialComment/home

The real score on freedom of expression in China
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080707.cochina08/BNStory/specialComment/home

Case of the Hitler-loving mom
In Manitoba, thought crimes can make you bad enough to lose your kids
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080707.cowent08/BNStory/specialComment/home

Gas prices just an inconvenience to most of us
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/editorial/story.html?id=2f168ce2-5944-437c-a5a4-7146b575829c

G8 is not enough
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=c518f7fd-c219-442a-a9a2-c893ca7bbad2

Keep life sacred
In a time when science blots out religion, when everything happens on its own and nothing is sacred, we can see the shadow of a much darker past
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=efe4cbf9-dd5d-4e33-b1ed-0c0334095047

A way for Canadians to counter extremism
http://news.therecord.com/Opinions/article/379075


INFOS 
Un 87e soldat canadien est mort dans une explosion dimanche en Afghanistan
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080707/N0707132AU.html

Le Bloc québécois entame une tournée des régions pour parler d'essence
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080707/N070749AU.html

Stéphane Dion vante son plan vert à de jeunes favorables à l'écologie
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080706/N070680AU.html

Les Américains chérissent leur droit constitutionnel à posséder des armes
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080706/N070663AU.html

Le PCC voudrait bloquer les audiences sur ses dépenses électorales
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080706/N070665AU.html

Irak
Une demande refusée
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/International/2008/07/07/009-irak-retrait.shtml

Aide internationale : le Canada malmené
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080707/CPACTUALITES/80707068/1025/CPACTUALITES

«Yo, Harper!»
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080707/CPACTUALITES/80707075/1025/CPACTUALITES

Avortement: heurts en vue au sein du PC
http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/07/07/196758.html

La Teoria Conspiratoria

BELOW(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)30)30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)

"No comeback for Taliban:" A reflection of reality or government policy?

The deciding factor in skirmishes in defeating insurgents in Afghanistan is air power.

Wins comer at a cost however.  Collateral damage is the terminology employed to-day
for civilians being killed in air raids.                                                                        

"No comeback for Taliban"?  Read the words of our new Chief of Defence Staff - then
Grim days in Afghanistan. It's your decision as to how much his words reflect reality

Joe                                                                                  

No comeback for Taliban: Canada's new top solider
http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1102898

Harper hints new chief of defence will be on shorter leash
Implementation of government policy now Natynczyk's duty
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=c70157d5-3013-4e8d-88d3-409244b0962f

Grim days in Afghanistan
http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/455846

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From: "Rebecca Gingrich"
Subject:  US respect for human life?

Is this similar to the spraying of Agent Orange in Gagetown? Sadly, this
report does not state if the Australian government would have allowed, or
did allow this to go ahead. Remember the use of a nerve gas in a Montreal
subway by the CIA? The US should have asked Canada to be allowed to carry
this out--it would have been a go!
Becky

US planned nerve gas tests on Aussies
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23976733-421,00.html

===================================
From: "Jacob Rempel"
Subject: My LTE, to  Winnipeg Free Press
 
__________
Dear Editor:
I'm a retired social studies and literature teacher. After dropping out of high school for four years, I did my Grade Eleven at the MCI in Gretna, Manitoba, then returned home to Swift Current, Saskatchewan to complete my Grade Twelve. In Gretna an immigrant teacher Mr. Gerhard Enns loved and taught history. I followed up on his enthusiasm for our Canadian story.
 
You wrote, "Polling regularly shows that history, particularly Canadian history, is not a priority for most of us. A recent survey by Ipsos Reid shows that Canadians know more about the history and politics of (the United States) than they do about their own country."
 
It's not just a matter of teaching Canadian history. If students  don't appreciate our world-class Canadian culture, our aboriginal, francophone and anglophone music, art and literature, they won't appreciate our distinctive history either. 
 
At a Liberal Party federal policy convention, with the support of St. Boniface MP Ron Duhamel, I brought a policy resolution proposing that the Ministry of Citizenship sponsor a joint federal-provincial initiative for a national curriculum institute.
 
The idea was to  provide Canadian social studies, literature, music and art resources for every classroom in Canada, both online on internet and in hard copy, based on aboriginal, francophone and anglophone Canadian history and culture.
 
The policy resolution foundered under the tired arguments of provincial jurisdiction for education.
 
In the fading Canadian story, maybe it's too late as we integrate our unconscious dreams ever more deeply with the American conscious dream and plan for a manifest destiny of continental hegemony, a threat recognized by Robert Baldwin, Louis LaFontaine, George Etienne Cartier, John A. Macdonald, Louis Riel and the Fathers of Confederation a hundred and fifty years ago. Brian Mulroney enjoyed the American dream. 
 
Fifty years ago, George Grant wrote a book "Lament for a Nation." Since then, others have campaigned to recover our independent historical direction: the Committee for an Independent Canada (now the Council of Canadians), Mel Hurtig's National Party, Paul Hellyer's Canadian Action Party and his books, and David Orchard's long campaign for an environmentally sustainable, independent Canadian industry, as well as political independence. 
 
You wrote, "Polling regularly shows that history, particularly Canadian history, is not a priority for most of us...."
 
For enable editors and students to discover and appreciate our distinctive history, I propose that we urgently place David Orchard's book "FIGHTING FOR CANADA: 400 Years of Resistance to American Expansionism" into the hands of every editor and student.
 
Jacob Rempel, Vancouver

===================================
From: Roger Buxton
Subject: Great letter to the editor in the Edmonton Journal today

Roger C. Buxton, Pres.
       Wetaskiwin Federal Liberal Assoc.

__________________________________
Like it or not, climate change is occurring
The Edmonton Journal
Monday, July 07, 2008


Re: "Dion carbon tax would shaft West again: Alberta, Saskatchewan would pay disproportionate price as big oil, gas producers," by Lorne Gunter, June 29.

Exactly how much wealth does Alberta need before the debate can be about something else? The province just announced a $4.6-billion surplus.

Besides, the big oil companies operating near Fort McMurray are mostly foreign owned. The wealth isn't going east, it's going south.

The effects of climate change are going to be felt across this country and around the world in one way or another.

Just ask the forest industry about its battle with the pine beetle, or the employees of the GM truck plant in Ontario who have just been laid off, or the Inuit hunters who for the first time in recorded history won't see any ice at the North Pole.

The Green Shift is a responsible plan that puts a price on carbon and cuts taxes. It is not the national energy program.

Folks should come and hear for themselves at the Green Shift town hall meeting with Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion tonight at 6 p.m. the Polish Hall, 10960 104th St.

Karen Sevcik, Edmonton

Jim Wachowich

===================================
From: "Suan H.Booiman"
Subject: The doctatorship
To: aqmember@gmail.com
Cc: ItsSemple@aol.com, Day Stockwell <Day.S@parl.gc.ca>,
 Cummins John <cummij@parl.gc.ca>, Cannan Ron <Cannan.R@parl.gc.ca>,
 Abbott Jim <Abbott.J@parl.gc.ca>, Fast Ed <Fast.E@parl.gc.ca>,
 "Harris Richard B.C.Caucus Chair" <Harris.R@parl.gc.ca>,
 Hiebert Russ <Hiebert.R@parl.gc.ca>, Hinton Betty <Hinton.B@parl.gc.ca>,
 Kamp Randy <Kamp.R@parl.gc.ca>, "Warawa Mark ." <Warawa.M@parl.gc.ca>,
 Grewal Nina <Grewal.N@parl.gc.ca>, Hill Jay <Hill.J@parl.gc.ca>,
 Lunn Gary <Lunn.G@parl.gc.ca>, Lunney James <Lunney.J@parl.gc.ca>,
 Moore James <Moore.J@parl.gc.ca>, Strahl Chuck <Strahl.C@parl.gc.ca>,
 Mayes Colin <Mayes.C@parl.gc.ca>, Emerson David <emersd@parl.gc.ca>,
 Day Stockwell Minister of Safety <days1@parl.gc.ca>,
 "Strahl Chuck B.C. CPC MP." <riding@chuckstrahl.com>,
 Thompson Myron <Thompson.M@parl.gc.ca>, Rajotte James <Rajotte.J@parl.gc.ca>,
 Prentice Jim <Prentice.J@parl.gc.ca>, Menzies Ted <Menzies.T@parl.gc.ca>,
 Lake Mike <Lake.M@parl.gc.ca>, Jean Brian <Jean.B@parl.gc.ca>,
 Harper Stephen <Harper.S@parl.gc.ca>, "Calkins B." <Calkins.B@parl.gc.ca>,
 Ambrose Rona <Ambrose.R@parl.gc.ca>, Ablonczy D <ablonczy.D@parl.gc.ca>,
 Anders R <anders.R@parl.gc.ca>, Casson R <casson.r@parl.gc.ca>,
 Epp K <Epp.K@parl.gc.ca>, Goldring P <Goldring.P@parl.gc.ca>,
 Hanger A <Hanger.A@parl.gc.ca>, Hawn L <Hawn.L@parl.gc.ca>,
 "Jaffer R." <Jaffer.R@parl.gc.ca>, Kenney J <Kenney.J@parl.gc.ca>,
 Merrifield R <Merrifield.R@parl.gc.ca>, Mills B <Mills.B@parl.gc.ca>,
 ObhraI D <Obhrai.D@parl.gc.ca>, Richardson L <Richardson.L@parl.gc.ca>,
 Soberg M <Solberg.M@parl.gc.ca>, Sorenson K <Sorenson.K@parl.gc.ca>,
 Storseth B <Storseth.B@parl.gc.ca>, Warkentin C <Warkentin.C@parl.gc.ca>,
 "Williams J." <Williams.J@parl.gc.ca>

July 7, 2008
 
Reading Ernie's comment, of settling down and read your story, is very
well all we can do in this arrogant French forced society. There is no one
yet that his any say that will stand up and will speak out about this
Trudeau-ism. Federal politicians of all walks of life fear to say anything,
least of all those that are Central Canadian controlled, which are very well
all of them. Our members of parliament around the country are nothing
more than puppets, dancing to the tune of their leader, lick the heels of
Quebec. As many ordinary Canadians oppose this sell-out nothing will
change, for "A" they don't have the funds to be heard "B' as said before
lacking the leadership. Just simply look at the glorification or Morganthaler,
the majority, as polled some time ago said "NO", not much different as
the majority said "NO" that the Charlottetown Accord Referendum, what
did we get all that was said "NO" to, because of incompetent fearful
politicians, getting additional jobs as secretary of state but produce nothing.
Watch how James Moore will sell out the west to buy the French vote
in Alberta and B.C.
 
Suan H.Booiman
204-1220 Fir Street
White Rock BC V4B 4B1
Canada

===================================
From: "Rebecca Gingrich"
Subject: [On-Guard] Petition re Morgentaler

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Morgentaler/

===================================

Grim days in Afghanistan
http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/455846
THE CANADIAN PRESS

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan–It was a record-setting day for violence in Afghanistan, offering a grim snapshot of a steady spike in suicide killings, roadside bombings and civilian and military casualties.

A Canadian military medic renowned for his perpetually sunny disposition was pronounced dead from a roadside bomb.

Afghanistan's capital saw its deadliest attack since the fall of the Taliban, with more than 40 people killed, scores more injured, and terror-stricken civilians fleeing from a suicide blast site in Kabul.

And three more police officers became the latest victims of a surge in violence in a Kandahar district following the assassination of the local member of parliament several days ago.

Shortly after the massive explosion in Kabul, a woman ran from a local hospital screaming, crying and hitting her face in grief. Her two children, a girl named Lima and a boy named Mirwais, were killed.

"Oh my God!" the woman screamed. "They are both dead."

Hundreds of kilometres away from the bomb site, Canadian flags flew at half-staff as bagpipes moaned mournfully during a sunset ceremony in honour of Pte. Colin William Wilmot.

His flag-draped coffin was lifted onto an airplane at Kandahar Airfield for the voyage home. Across the city at a Canadian reconstruction camp, the military medic was eulogized by a weeping colleague.

Peers described how the Edmonton-based soldier was not scheduled to come to Afghanistan, but barged into the office of his superior and insisted on being added to the current rotation.

Several spoke of Wilmot's fundamental kindness and unwavering good cheer.

"He'd walk around with this really goofy smile on his face all the time. I don't know why. He just did. He was always happy – no matter what the situation was," said a tearful Cpl. Genevieve Dureau, who served in his unit.

As Defence Minister Peter MacKay headed to Trenton, his office issued a statement saying that Wilmot was "a dedicated and professional soldier, who will be dearly missed."

"His sacrifice will not be forgotten."

Wilmot was attached to the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group. His home unit was 1 Field Ambulance.

He grew up in a military family, and his father recently transferred from CFB Gagetown in Oromocto, N.B., to CFB Petawawa in eastern Ontario.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper expressed condolences on behalf of the federal government.

"Private Wilmot was strongly committed to treating members of both the Canadian Forces and Afghan National Security Forces injured in combat," Harper said.

"He participated in numerous security patrols with his fellow soldiers to ensure that immediate medical assistance was available if someone got hurt. Tragically, he was critically wounded on such a patrol in the Panjwayi District when an explosive device detonated."

Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean said Wilmot gave his life to support the Afghan people in their desire to escape a life of constant menace and violence.

"We must salute his courage and recognize the absolute commitment to humanity of this worthy young man," she said.

Wilmot became the 87th soldier killed in the Afghan mission when an improvised explosive device detonated during a night-time foot patrol just after midnight Sunday.

June was the deadliest month for coalition troops since they entered Afghanistan in October 2001 to oust the Taliban, just weeks after the 9-11 attacks in the U.S.

June's total eclipsed the previous record – set in May.

Coalition deaths have increased steadily since 2004 with 58 soldiers killed that year. The total more than doubled to 130 killed in 2005, 191 in 2006, and 232 in 2007. One hundred twenty-seven have died so far this year.

But coalition partners say such statistical indicators offer a distorted picture of the reality in Afghanistan.

Canadian officials point to far more encouraging statistics:

– Per-capita income has doubled across the country since 2002.

– Over 80 per cent of Afghans now have access to basic health care, compared with only nine per cent in 2004.

– School enrolment has shot up almost 1,000 per cent from 2001 – with girls also allowed to attend.

When the Taliban were chased from power in 2001, only 700,000 boys sat in classrooms, while six million children are officially enrolled today.

Those are the official enrolment numbers. The picture is dimmed somewhat by the classrooms left empty in rural areas where the Taliban have beheaded teachers and burned down schools.

Coalition spokespeople note that the Taliban's chronic inability to win a battlefield fight has forced them to take up such guerrilla attacks favoured only by the weakest armies.

A reputed Afghan expert argues that's precisely the insurgents' goal: to slowly win local support while a steady drip of bombings, suicide-attacks, kidnappings, and beheadings erode international morale.

Thomas H. Johnson warned in a report last year that coalition forces had been appallingly slow to take an interest in understanding the rigid tribal laws of Afghanistan's Pashtun people.

The Taliban were raised on those rules and use them to their advantage; they take refuge in villages and dare the foreigners to come looking for them or, better yet, to bomb the place.

Under the centuries-old code called Pashtunwali, body-searching a woman or storming into a man's home are crimes that cry out for 'badal' – vengeance.

A research professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in California, Johnson argued that civilian casualties from NATO bombings caused incalculable damage.

In his paper, On the Edge of the Big Muddy, he suggests the death of one innocent child can trigger the lifelong enmity of an entire village and he quotes an old Afghan proverb: "A hundred good works can be destroyed by a single mistake."

A number of the strategic problems laid out in his paper were echoed in a more recent report produced for the U.S. Pentagon by the Rand Corp. earlier this year.

The absence of aid delivery in some of the most struggling areas has sapped public support, Johnson says.

And the notoriously corrupt Afghan police, many suggest, has been as much of a problem as a solution.

Johnson quotes a U.S. drug enforcement official who declared in a TV interview that 90 per cent of the police chiefs in Afghanistan are either actively involved in the drug industry – or protecting it.

And he says there simply aren't enough soldiers in Afghanistan to achieve the objectives NATO has set.

In the Kosovo and Bosnia international interventions, for instance, the peacekeeper-to-citizen ratios was one soldier for every 50 citizens in Kosovo and one for every 66 citizens in Bosnia.

For most of the Afghan mission, the ratio has been around one soldier per 2,000 citizens.

In Kosovo, there was one international soldier per 0.3 square kilometres of land. In Afghanistan, it's one per 13.21 kilometres

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