Friday, December 12, 2008

Daily Digest December 11-12, 2008


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

EDITORIAL PAGEs

ST.JOHN'S TELEGRAM -
Dollars and sense

CORNER BROOK WESTERN STAR -
Campaign has started already

CAPE BRETON POST -
Recession fears loosen discipline

HALIFAX CHRONICLE HERALD -
It's the economy, . . .

Finally, a real contender

MONTREAL GAZETTE -
This is no way to pick a party leader
http://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/This+pick+party+leader/1055223/story.html

Ignatieff's first steps are measured and assured
http://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/editorials/Ignatieff+first+steps+measured+assured/1064841/story.html
 
Supreme Court gets it right on Employment Insurance
http://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/editorials/Supreme+Court+gets+right+Employment+Insurance/1064842/story.html
 
Climate change is a challenge for us all
http://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/editorials/Climate+change+challenge/1060262/story.html

OTTAWA CITIZEN -
Shocking findings
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/todays-paper/Shocking+findings/1059932/story.html

Keeping bad company
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/editorials/Keeping+company/1064905/story.html

KINGSTON WHIG STANDARD-
Call them what they are: separatists

COLLECT TAXES ON RESERVES

HARPER'S LAST CHANCE

IMPRESSIVE START FOR IGNATIEFF
 
Off the (political) rails

TORONTO STAR -
Pick up pace on auto aid

Fairness for temps

NATIONAL POST -
Harper's Senate gambit
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=1065184

HAMILTON SPECTATOR -
Our children deserve more

NIAGARA FALLS REVIEW -
Harper could learn from this coalition

Ignatieff looks like he's ready to rumble on the big stage

Leaders saying all the right things so far

K-W RECORD -
If Harper wants to be loved he need only follow this simple advice

WINDSOR STAR -
Safe toys 

What it all means for our political system 

GG and the Senate  

Auto bailout
http://www.windsorstar.com/opinion/editorials/Auto+bailout/1065041/story.html

SUDBURY STAR -
Ignatieff's challenge

THUNDERBAY CHRONICLE JOURNAL -
Automakers not alone in trouble

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS -
Parliamentary democracy alive, well
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/parliamentary_democracy_alive_well.html

SASKATOON STARPHOENIX -
Last days of universality 

Coalition move can checkmate Harper 

Canada lacks vital leadership in political arena

Unease over mobility deal justified

RCMP should shoot straight

Ignatieff faces big rebuilding chore in West

Preserving aboriginal languages big challenge

Government job to challenge U.S. bullying at WTO

REGINA LEADER-POST -
It's Iggy's crown by default
  http://www.leaderpost.com/opinion/Iggy+crown+default/1055112/story.html

Battered prime minister must learn to reach out
http://www.leaderpost.com/opinion/Battered+prime+minister+must+learn+reach/1050168/story.html

CALGARY HERALD -
When death is the reward, what chance for peace?

GRANDE PRAIRIE DAILY HERALD TRIBUNE -
Just like that, coalition's toast - Ignatieff knows that route not the way to win election

EDMONTON JOURNAL -
One hundred lives lost in Afghanistan 

Secrecy under assault 

After doing wrong things for wrong reasons, Liberals finally get one right

Rash of Senate appointments unseemly
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/op-ed/Rash+Senate+appointments+unseemly/1066601/story.html

Forget the irony
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/op-ed/Forget+irony/1066598/story.html

LETHBRIDGE HERALD -
Website dealing truth or spin?
http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/content/view/15294/56/

RED DEER ADVOCATE -
Ignatieff brought in to save bumbling, bankrupt party

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN -
A knapsack on his back

VANCOUVER SUN -
After leadership shortcut, Ignatieff and the Liberals must prove credibility
http://www.vancouversun.com/opinion/After+leadership+shortcut+Ignatieff+Liberals+must+prove+credibility/1060540/story.html

 Harper on the horns of the Senate dilemma

VANCOUVER PROVINCE -
Driving stoned recipe for death
http://www.theprovince.com/opinion/editorials/Driving+stoned+recipe+death/1065488/story.html

VICTORIA TIMES COLONIST  -
Taser dangers ignored


ISSUES

AFGHANISTAN -
West pays Taliban protection money
U. S. pushing Canada to extend mission
Canada poised to cede command in Kandahar
Surge of U.S. troops will ease burden Canadian military shouldered nearly three years ago when it took charge of province
Canadians on hunt for killer drones
The Canadian military wants to buy unmanned aircraft that can attack targets as the U.S. military does now in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan with its hunter/killer Predator drones...
Ottawa firm on 2011 Afghanistan pullout
 MacKay declines Gates's suggestion to extend Afghanistan mission
Top U.S. official hints Canada should keep fighting in Afghanistan after 2011
Afghan war boosts recruiting
5,000 US troops to help British in Afghanistan

CANADIAN FORCES
Feds consider $3-billion search plane buy


CANUSA/USACAN
Evidence shows Khadr couldn't have thrown grenade in firefight: lawyer

Cannon meets Rice to discuss economic crisis; Afghanistan not an issue


ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
Wolf at the door


FEDERAL POLITICS PROGRAMMES
Clement says governments agree on aid package for Canadian auto industry

Demands for stimulus money escalates u Flaherty dampens expectations


OPINION AND INFORMATION
A Dangerous Precedent indeed...
http://gorillaserialist.blogspot.com/2008/12/dangerous-precedent-indeed.html

Bi-bi Cameral
http://nationalpolitick.wordpress.com/2008/12/12/bi-bi-cameral/

 Public funding of political parties is progressive

Quebec's gain, Harper's pain and Ontario's drain

Political Crisis Exposes Canada's National, Class Divisions

Whole thing is one petty power pay after another

Please welcome your new, unelected Senated

Recycled speech bad for environment

The Empire Strikes Back, Canadian Style

Single desk popular  Four of five newly-elected CWB directors support monopoly

Support for troops missing in action

Time out and come back co-operating


INFOS 
Négociations au sommet
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Politique/2008/12/12/002-Igantieffharper.shtml

Clement annonce un plan d'aide au secteur automobile
http://lapresseaffaires.cyberpresse.ca/article/20081212/LAINFORMER/81212026/5891/LAINFORMER01

Cannon assure que la mission ne sera pas prolongée
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/dossiers/le-canada-en-afghanistan/200812/12/01-810018-cannon-assure-que-la-mission-ne-sera-pas-prolongee.php


Rencontre «très cordiale» entre Harper et Ignatieff

 Ottawa obtient une faible note pour son imputabilité

 Le projet de Harper conspué

Flaherty croit que paniquer face à la crise serait dévastateur pour le Canadahttp://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081212/N1212169AU.html

Nommer de nouveaux sénateurs pourrait coûter jusqu'à 9 millions $
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081212/N1212193AU.html

Maple Leaf cherche à se repositionner après l'épisode de listeriose mortelle
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081212/N1212147AU.html

Les maires des Grands Lacs et du Saint-Laurent sollicitent les gouvernements
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081212/N1212125AU.html   

Harper et Ignatieff ont discuté vendredi de la crise parlementaire
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/081212/N121287AU.html

Afghanistan: les soldats du Québec déployés plus longtemps?
http://www.ledevoir.com/2008/12/12/222925.html

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)

REP BY POP OR NOT? What say you?

Ontario has a lot more seats than Quebec, and a lot more winnable ones for the Conservatives than Quebec. But there's a litmus test ahead for Mr. Harper. The redistribution of seats based on the last census ought to give Ontario another 21 seats, seven for British Columbia and five for Alberta.

The Harper government, afraid of a widening gap of seats between Ontario and Quebec, had introduced legislation giving Ontario just 10 more seats, instead of the 21. The Conservative platform spoke of moving "towards" accurate representation by population.

The sneaky language suggested that the Conservatives were going to try to pull a fast one on Ontario. Mr. Harper has already blown it in Quebec; he should know better than blowing it in Ontario too. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081211.wcosimp12/BNStory/politics/home


WHICH QUOTE DO YOU FIND MORE BELIEVABLE?

 "We categorically reject any suggestion that we now, or have ever, paid money to any individual for the safe passage of our convoys. Furthermore, we do not permit our subcontractors to do so on our behalf,"

 "We estimate that approximately 25 per cent of the money we pay for security to get the fuel in goes into the pockets of the Taleban,"

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Taleban tax: allied supply convoys pay their enemies for safe passage
Militants in Afghanistan who claim to be Taliban
Tom Coghlan
The West is indirectly funding the insurgency in Afghanistan thanks to a system of payoffs to Taleban commanders who charge protection money to allow convoys of military supplies to reach Nato bases in the south of the country.

Contracts to supply British bases and those of other Western forces with fuel, supplies and equipment are held by multinational companies.

However, the business of moving supplies from the Pakistani port of Karachi to British, US and other military contingents in the country is largely subcontracted to local trucking companies. These must run the gauntlet of the increasingly dangerous roads south of Kabul in convoys protected by hired gunmen from Afghan security companies.

The Times has learnt that it is in the outsourcing of convoys that payoffs amounting to millions of pounds, including money from British taxpayers, are given to the Taleban. The controversial payments were confirmed by several fuel importers, trucking and security company owners. None wanted to be identified because of the risk to their business and their lives. "We estimate that approximately 25 per cent of the money we pay for security to get the fuel in goes into the pockets of the Taleban," said one fuel importer.

Another boss, whose company is subcontracted to supply to Western military bases, said that as much as a quarter of the value of a lorry's cargo went in paying Taleban commanders.

The scale of the supplies needed to keep the Nato military operation going is vast. The main British base at Camp Bastion in Helmand province alone requires more than a million litres of diesel and aviation fuel a week. There are more than 70,000 foreign soldiers in the country for whom food and equipment must be imported, mostly by road. The US is planning to send at least 20,000 more troops into Afghanistan next year.

Other than flying in supplies, the only overland route is through Pakistan and Taleban-controlled areas of Afghanistan.

A security company owner explained that a vast array of security companies competed for the trade along the main route south of Kabul, some of it commercial traffic and some supplying Western bases, usually charging about $1,000 (£665) a lorry. Convoys are typically of 40-50 lorries but sometimes up to 100.

Asked whether his company paid money to Taleban commanders not to attack them, he said: "Everyone is hungry, everyone needs to eat. They are attacking the convoys because they have no jobs. They easily take money not to attack." He said that until about 14 months ago, security companies had been able to protect convoys without paying. But since then, the attacks had become too severe not to pay groups controlling the route. Attacks on the Kandahar road have been an almost daily occurrence this year. On June 24 a 50-truck convoy of supplies was destroyed. Seven drivers were beheaded by the roadside. The situation now was so extreme that a rival company, working south of the city of Ghazni, had Taleban fighters to escort their convoys.

"I won't name the company, but they are from the Panjshir Valley [in north Afghanistan]. But they have a very good relation with the Taleban. The Taleban come and move with the convoy. They sit in the front vehicle of the convoy to ensure security," said the company chief.

The Taleban are not the only ones making money from the trade; warlords, thieves, policemen and government officials are also taking a cut.

A transport company owner who runs convoys south on the notoriously dangerous Kabul to Kandahar highway said: "We pay taxes to both thieves and the Taleban to get our trucks through Ghazni province and there are several ways of paying. This goes to a very high level in the Afghan Government.

"Mostly the [Afghan] security companies have middlemen to negotiate the passage of the convoys, so they don't get attacked. They pay on a convoy by convoy basis to let the convoy pass at a certain time. They have to pay each of the Taleban commanders who control each part of the road. When you hear of an attack it is usually because a new small [Taleban] group has arrived on the road."

Lieutenant-Commander James Gater, a spokesman for Nato forces in Afghanistan, said that the transport of Nato supplies was contracted to commercial firms and how they got them into the country was their business.

"I can confirm that we use two European-headquartered companies to supply food and fuel, though for contractual reasons it is not prudent for us to name them. They provide their own security as part of that contract. Such companies are free to subcontract to whomsoever they wish.

"We are aware they do prefer to subcontract from the countries in which they are operating. In Pakistan they prefer to use Pakistani trucking companies, in Afghanistan they prefer Afghan trucking companies. That is a commercial decision for them."

A representative for the Swiss-based Supreme Global Solutions confirmed that the company held supply contracts with the military in Afghanistan.

However, last night the company denied paying protection money. "We categorically reject any suggestion that we now, or have ever, paid money to any individual for the safe passage of our convoys. Furthermore, we do not permit our subcontractors to do so on our behalf," it said.

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