Sunday, August 24, 2008

Daily Digest August 24, 2008


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

EDITORIALs

ST.JOHN'S TELEGRAM -
Olympic absurdities

HALIFAX CHRONICLE HERALD -
Get out of jail, and stay out

AMHERST DAILY NEWS -
Meat scare has more meaning

KINGSTON WHIG STANDARD-
'All natural' doesn't mean safe

TORONTO STAR -
Only an election win can save Dion

LONDON FREE PRESS -
CMA head to rock health-care boat

WINNIPEG SSUN -
TO OTTAWA Hand out the cash, get lost

CALGARY SUN -
Right to conscience for MDs is vital  

Trudeau, not mission, is wrong  

VANCOUVER PROVINCE -
Drug testing a wise trade-off  

Daylight robbery  

VICTORIA TIMES-COLONIST -
Rich countries, troubled kids  


ISSUES

AFGHANISTAN -
NATO-chartered helicopter crashes in Afghanistan
Reuters (08/24/2008)
[]
Karzai fires top general, says over 89 civilians killed
AFP (08/24/2008)
[]
Taliban win over locals at the gates of Kabul
The Observer (08/24/2008)
[]
Afghan president decries airstrike he says killed 95
The New York Times (08/24/2008)
[]
Afghans stage protest against civilian killings by US military
AFP (08/24/2008)
[]
U.S. Sees Much to Fear in a Hostile Russia
The New York Times (08/23/2008)
[]
Militants ready for Pakistan's war
Asia Times (08/23/2008)
[]
Rockets, guile and the lessons of history: the Taleban besiege Kabul
The Times (08/23/2008)
[]
Struggling to Find New Pakistan Ally Against Taliban
The New York Times (08/23/2008)
[]
Pressure Mounts For Military Strategy Review In Afghanistan
AFP (08/23/2008)
[]
Emergency hotline services facilitate common Afghans' fight against illegal activities
Xinhua (08/23/2008)
[]
Dust storms cause health problems in west
IRIN (08/23/2008)
[]
Strike Forged Bin Laden-Taliban Bond
The Associated Press (08/23/2008)
[]
Brown Presses Karzai to Tackle Afghanistan Corruption
Bloomberg (08/23/2008)
[]
The Key to Rebuilding Afghanistan
The Washington Post (08/23/2008)
[]
Russia says NATO needs its help on Afghanistan
Reuters (08/23/2008)
[]
Still short of equipment and facing a more confident enemy, British frustration grows
The Guardian (08/23/2008)
[]
Brown makes surprise trip to Afghanistan as Taliban step up attacks
The Guardian (08/23/2008)
[]
Behind the Taliban Surge
TIME (08/23/2008)
[]
The State of Afghanistan
TIME (08/23/2008)

Peshawar, Kohat, Nowshera next targets of terrorists

CANADIAN FORCES
Canadians complete big offensive in Afghanistan ahead of troop rotation

Canadian military claims major victory in offensive


CANUSA/USACAN
Academics fear speaking freely in Canada

Policy expertise good for Canada

Pick poses challenges for Canada

What Obama and Dion should be talking about
Both need to break away from the Bush-Harper policies that have led to the current quagmire


ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
Credit cards come with hefty fees


FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Chinese take out Mao

Russian incursion into Georgia sends strong message to the U.S.  

Kosovo and Georgia aren't the same, despite what Russia says  

In defence of fantasy:ABMs in Poland won't work against missile that doesn't exist
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/westview/story/4217330p-4810466c.html


HEALTH CARE RELATED
Look to Europe for health care model: CMA head


JUSTICE SYSTEM
Why the hell not?
The federal Tories promised such an overhaul 21/2 years ago during the last federal election.
So far they've failed to deliver.


POLITICS IN THE PROVINCES
Save our jobs, Ontarians tell preem


PARTY POLITICS


PM sets sights on senate reform for election

Dion says he will meet with Harper to discuss a fall election

Harper returns to North to polish what could be election plank


POLITICAL OPINION -
Steve, don't pull the plug

Only an election win can save Dion

A fall election for all the marbles  


PROGRAMMES
Coast guard, navy ships aren't sunk: minister

Clement's bias embarrassing Canada at home and abroad  


PRESSURE POINTS
Will Canada's oil boom be an environmental bust?

Renewables a Mirage?


OPINION AND INFORMATION
Interfaith dialogue is about respect

Battling old behaviour the new front in AIDS fight  

Affirming the difference between good and evil  

Shutting down the hucksters of false hope  

We're kicking the gasoline habit  

I predict your prediction is wrong  

Seven years after 9/11, extremists are still a problem  

Kabul's past may be Afghanistan's future 

Ethics and the search for perfection  


INFOS 
La volte-face sur les piqueries soulève un tollé

Pas de Julie sans Maxime

Stéphane Dion se dit prêt à se lancer dans la bataille

Aux urnes le 6 octobre?

L'équipe Obama-Biden pourrait mettre le libre-échange en veilleuse

Les médecins critiquent le projet d'Ottawa
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/societe/2008/08/21/002-amc-projet-loi-484.shtml

Dion ouvert à une rencontre
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Politique/2008/08/23/001-dion-reponse-harper.shtml

Le G8 sans la Russie?
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080824/CPACTUALITES/80823151/1025/CPACTUALITES

Montréal est le plus important centre de pornographie en ligne au Canada
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080824/N082422AU.html

Les conservateurs font piètre figure en environnement, selon Québec-Kyoto
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/080824/N082424AU.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)

A QUESTION

Were you a Russian would you have accepted the Georgian military moving into South Ossetia?

At the UN, Russia is under pressure to respect Georgia's sovereignty.
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/484077

While Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has drawn justified criticism for sparking the crisis, Washington and its allies still support him, intent on preventing Russia from making Georgia a client state.

The Western allies also plan to help rebuild Georgia's infrastructure and rearm it with anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons so that it can better defend itself. Pointedly, the U.S. has used military planes to send in aid.

There have been calls as well to kick Russia out of the Group of Eight club of industrial nations. And to bar Russia from the World Trade Organization. This won't boost investor confidence.

___________________________
Russian incursion into Georgia sends strong message to the U.S.
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/opinion/story.html?id=e3c81e62-9962-413a-980c-3d76770721b7

Simply put, Russia has succeeded in administering a significant, albeit indecisive, blow to the United States. The official media in Russia generally makes two major comments: First, that the Russians rebuffed an attempt by the "criminal regime" of Mikheil Saakashvili, president of Georgia, to take over its recalcitrant region of South Ossetia by force and genocidal acts; and second, that Russia has demonstrated that the U.S. is incapable of protecting those states that it calls friends and, in this case, a potential member of NATO.

Particularly galling to the Russian government are statements by U.S. President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the effect that, in the 21st century, it is not permissible for one state to violate the territorial integrity of another. This is depicted as hypocrisy by a superpower that has invaded Iraq, bombed Belgrade, and threatened to invade Iran over the past decade. Russia also believes that the U.S. is behind the "colour revolutions" that took place in Serbia, Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan, removing corrupt and often unpopular administrations and replacing them with ostensibly democratic regimes.

«¤»¥«¤»«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»

From: Ron Thornton
Subject: Re:Daily Digest August 22, 2008

*Hi Joe:

I haven't been much involved in politics in recent years, and your comments regarding candidate selection helped remind me why I am not. I never much understood why, in a democracy, a candidate, especially one of those nice shiny "star" candidates, needed to be appointed, rather than elected by the membership.

Oh, there are reasons, but all of them are an insult to those who believe in democratic ideals or who are hoping that the exercise is to elect a "representative" government.  Mind you, while it seems that only the Conservatives are deserving of your disdain for their less than democratic ideals, we would be amiss if we did not recognize that all of these damn parties often thwart the democratic process in such a fashion.

If you wanted reform, I'm afraid that party went out of business a number of years ago. It was touted as grassroots, but in the end the powers that be used manipulated consent to get what they wanted. In that regard, they were no better, though no worse, than every other political outfit. Preston Manning led the team like a pied piper, usually offering the choice between two extremes on an issue along with a Manning inspired alternative that came down somewhere in between. Most often the membership turned to Manning's alternative, though this was not the case with the Charlottetown Accord when the membership rejected both the Accord and Manning's alternative. While it put the Reform Party on the map, it also illustrated to the leadership that they could not always trust that the membership would do as the party expected unless properly indoctrinated.  They never made that mistake again.

So, while you may be disappointed the actions of the Conservative Party in putting together a team democratically chosen by the membership, it would seem they are going by the same playbook as the rest. When I was involved with Reform, it was due to a passion for a cause.  Without such passion, or the ingredients needed to renew it, I wonder what there might be to motivate me to spend my own time for the benefit of others without any form of reward?  To be frank, I can't think of anything. It should not be surprising to anyone that the numbers of those involved in the political process, to even take the time to cast a ballot, is plummeting. Even a dog needs some positive attention once in a while to keep from straying from the farm.
The Conservatives belong to Stephen Harper, the party elite, star candidates, and those who have found some reward in being involved.  It does not belong to me. I vote Conservative, not because of passion but because I find the alternatives utterly repugnant.

Ron Thornton*

===================================
From: "John Halonen"
Subject: How will Future news be delivered

Obama`s choice to use the Internet to advise his followers of the Vice
President chosen, indicates a further errosion of support for the
Press and even TV news media.

Many individuals today appear to prefer the Internet vs the choice of
media outlets that have been around for years.

Perhaps, knowing that these outlets are being influenced by either
Government, big business and the elite is having a bearing on where
and how to get the news that they prefer to recieve without having it
interpreted by others. Could this be why our Governments are trying to
decrease or limit Internet usage.

John Halonen

===================================
From: Henry Atkinson
Subject: Fraud Alert


New Credit Card Scam

Snopes.com says this is true. See this site -
http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp


This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, except the one piece they want.

Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it. This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.

One of our employees was called on Wednesday from 'VISA', and I was called on Thursday from 'Master Card'. The scam works like this: Caller: 'This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a Marketing company based in Arizona ?'

When you say 'No', the caller continues with, 'Then we will be issuing a credit to your acc ount. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?'

You say 'yes'. The caller continues - 'I will be starting a Fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security.'

You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. 'Do you need me to read it again?'

Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The caller then says, 'I need to verify you are in possession of your card'. He'll ask you to 'turn your card over and look for some numbers'. There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security Numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, 'That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any o ther questions?' After you say No, the caller then thanks you and states, 'Don't hesitate to call back if you do, and hangs up.

You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was charged to our card.

Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statem ent you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a 'Jason Richardson of Master Card' with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening.



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

No comments: