Daily Digest January 8, 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 -
Doomsday predictions
http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=208303&sc=80

AMHERST DAILY NEWS -
This is religion?
http://www.amherstdaily.com/index.cfm?sid=208415&sc=61

MONTREAL GAZETTE -
Cutting through the fog of war
http://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/editorials/Cutting+through/1153285/story.html

OTTAWA CITIZEN -
Soldier under fire
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/editorials/Soldier+under+fire/1153009/story.html

Forced martyrdom
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/editorials/Forced+martyrdom/1153010/story.html
 
The smell of (excessive) fear
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/editorials/smell+excessive+fear/1153020/story.html

KINGSTON WHIG STANDARD-
End bloody Gaza conflict
http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1378044

TORONTO STAR -
More tax cuts not the solution
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/563383

Wise ruling on terror
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/563382

GLOBE & MAIL -
Part of the culture, not of the gameComment27
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090107.weHockey08/BNStory/specialComment/home

Glimmer of hope
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090107.weGaza08/BNStory/specialComment/home

NATIONAL POST -
Four years late
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=1154473

HAMILTON SPECTATOR -
Ryan wrong to propose ban 
http://www.thespec.com/Opinions/article/492438

K-W RECORD -
The tough job of being a Canadian soldier  
http://news.therecord.com/Opinions/article/468528

WINDSOR STAR -
Ryan's bias
http://www.windsorstar.com/opinion/editorials/Ryan+bias/1153162/story.html

Naming young offenders
http://www.windsorstar.com/opinion/editorials/Naming+young+offenders/1153163/story.html

SUDBURY STAR -
International effort needed to bring peace
http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1378614

THUNDER BAY CHRONICLE JOURNAL -
Job danger all night long
http://www.chroniclejournal.com/stories.php?id=156933

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS -
Our soldiers' hands are pretty clean
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/our_soldiers_hands_are_pretty_clean.html

WINNIPEG SUN -
Job creation better than tax cuts
http://www.winnipegsun.com/comment/editorial/

SASKATOON STARPHOENIX -
Citizens deserve better answers on chopper costs
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/forum/story.html?id=f6ea7667-4fef-46f5-80f9-48b58a4ca1a2

GRANDE PRAIRIE DAILY HERALD TRIBUNE -
Time to put the pressure on banks - Full rate cuts should be passed on to consumers
http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1378858

LETHBRIDGE HERALD -
Science of small has big potential
http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/content/view/20717/56/

RED DEER ADVOCATE -
World pays price for avoiding hard choices 
http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradvocate/opinion/World_pays_price_for_avoiding_hard_choices.html

VANCOUVER PROVINCE -
Polygamy play aims to change law
http://www.theprovince.com/opinion/editorials/Polygamy+play+aims+change/1153530/story.html

VICTORIA TIMES-COLONIST -
This polygamy story has barely started
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=9d20913a-67e3-4329-8738-7a1d2a6f16d8

What has to happen to end the battle over Gaza
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=83015793-291a-436b-a539-c1ebb503e0b5

Another botched military purchase
  http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=4fb94e12-8851-4d5c-9352-a729feb9bf04

Forest industry deserves better
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=45c550e3-e04a-41b1-a677-973dff488b9a


ISSUES

AFGHANISTAN -
U.S. has unrealistic goals in Afghanistan
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/War_Terror/2009/01/08/7958421-ap.html

An Afghanistan 'Surge' Is a Losing Battle
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123143672297764875.html

Afghanistan After the Taliban: Interview With Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta'
http://www.afghanconflictmonitor.org/

Officials: new NATO routes to Afghanistan likely
http://www.pr-inside.com/officials-new-nato-routes-to-afghanistan-r994642.htm


ECONOMIC AFFAIRS -
Bank of Canada hints at more rate cuts to come
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/090108/canada/canada_us_economy_bankofcanada

Canadian pension plans' solvency at record lows
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090108.wpensionfunding0108/BNStory/crashandrecovery/home

Canadian budget to support car financing: report
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/090108/canada/canada_us_autolease

Banks not hoarding cash, RBC says
http://www.thestar.com/business/article/563648


FOREIGN AFFAIRS -
Who would man a UN force?
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2009/01/08/matt-gurney-on-a-un-force-in-gaza-it-won-t-happen-and-here-s-why.aspx

UN halts all aid deliveries to Gaza
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090108.wgaza0108/BNStory/International/home

U.N Security Council Passes Gaza Ceasefire Resolution
http://pacificfreepress.com/news/1/3564-un-security-council-votes-on-gaza-disaster.html

Peace a pipe dream
Hamas wants to destroy Israel, not live in harmony
http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/lorrie_goldstein/2009/01/08/7953626-sun.html

Matt Gurney on a UN force in Gaza: It won't happen, and here's why
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2009/01/08/matt-gurney-on-a-un-force-in-gaza-it-won-t-happen-and-here-s-why.aspx

Patrick Martin answered your Gaza questions
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090107.wmartindiscussion0108/BNStory/International/home

 Our myopic view of Gaza conflict 
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/563405

The duty to care
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/op-ed/duty+care/1156320/story.html

An Unnecessary "War",  By Jimmy Carter
I know from personal involvement that the devastating invasion of Gaza by Israel could easily have been avoided.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21687.htm


JUSTICE SYSTEM -
Polygamy law faces stiff test under Charter
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1154421


POLITICS IN THE PROVINCES -
Laurie Scott to give up Peterborough-area seat for PC Leader John Tory
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090108/national/ont_tory_seat

Tory finds seat as turbulent times continue
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Tory+finds+seat+turbulent+times+continue/1156283/story.html

Africentric school fails to draw kids
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2009/01/08/7955146-sun.html


FEDERAL POLITICS -
Harper pushes to gain control of SenateComment491
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090108.wsenate08/BNStory/politics/home

Jim Flaherty's money tree
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/story.html?id=1154477

 Why PM is sharing the spotlight 
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/563402

Casey opponent loses job
Tories' parachute candidate returns to Ottawa to join unemployment line
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1099657.html


PRESSURE POINTS -
World faces perpetual food crisis: study
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090108.wclimate0108/BNStory/International/home


OPINION AND INFORMATION -
Principal Harper ends the free speech foodfight
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2009/01/08/chris-selley-principal-harper-ends-the-free-speech-foodfight.aspx

How Peter got his groove back
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090107.wcomartin08/BNStory/politics/home

 Child care - Canada can't work without it 
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/563403


INFOS -
Ignatieff déclare qu'Israël a le droit de se défendre
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200901/08/01-815958-ignatieff-declare-quisrael-a-le-droit-de-se-defendre.php

Entourage d'Ignatieff : «il y aura des francophones»
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200901/08/01-815675-entourage-dignatieff-il-y-aura-des-francophones.php

4 millions d'aide canadienne
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200901/08/01-815668-4-millions-daide-canadienne.php

Les objectifs américains en Afghanistan étaient «irréalistes»
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/international/moyen-orient/200901/08/01-815962-les-objectifs-americains-en-afghanistan-etaient-irrealistes.php

Israël décide d'élargir son offensive
http://www.ledevoir.com/2009/01/08/226283.html

Exit les votes de confiance à répétition
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Politique/2009/01/08/001-vote_confiance_senat.shtml

L'armée canadienne souhaite obtenir de l'artillerie lourde à longue portée
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/090108/N0108189AU.html

La garde cotière américaine appuie le passage de pétroliers près du N.-B.
http://info.branchez-vous.com/Nationales/090108/N010887AU.html

Affaire Mulroney-Schreiber - Le juge Oliphant déposera son rapport fin 2009

Des baisses d'impôt ne suffiront pas à juguler la crise économique

Un hiver meurtrier en Afghanistan

En bref - Retour aux États-Unis

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)

If ever we have needed to spread the spirit of ijtihad, it is now.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ijtihad

IRSHAD MANJI writes in  her article posted at the end of to-day's Digest "It's time for all of us to embrace ijtihad", a word with the same root as the now familiar jihad; but antipathetical to it. Those going on jihad are True Believers as analyzed by Eric Hoffer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_True_Believer

I very much agree with her statement  "Of course, most people - not just Muslims - could use more independent thinking." and hope you do too. 

Particularly in relationship to the spinmeisters of both sides of the Gaza imbroglio.

         Joe

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From: Ron Thornton
Subject: Re: Daily Digest January 7, 2008

Hi Joe:

Larry Kazdan is probably correct in his comments in the January 7th Digest that the phantom coalition will probably affect what Harper's government would put forward. Then again, in a minority situation, that probably would have ended up being the case regardless, once the Conservatives discovered at what point the opposition would react at being poked with a stick. That said, while the pay equity, party election financing, and civil service proposals might have been repugnant to the opposition, I don't believe they were to a majority of Canadians. However, if the opposition had not reacted, especially when it came to getting free funds at our expense instead of raising their own, then they never were going to react.

By the way, Joe, just when is this Global Warming thing going to kick in up here in the Great White North? I'm freezing my ass off here.

Ron Thornton

Subject: And another thing...

Hi Joe:

In going through today's news items, I was left wondering about a few things. I read that Michael Jackson is coughing up $100,000 per month for a Bel-Air mansion, but I thought the poor guy was, well, cash poor in recent years. I wish I was as cash poor as Jocko. How does one go about realizing that?

A baby born to a Ugandan woman in Canadian airspace on a flight from Amsterdam to Boston is a Canadian citizen. I understand the rationale, but shouldn't someone actually visit our country (or have parents from here) before they join our happy family? If not, then I reckon a bag of peanuts sold on a flight across our friendly skies should be subject to Canadian taxation, whether the plane lands here or not. I'm just trying to follow the logic trail. Also, if a baby is born on the space station, I guess one could claim the child to be a citizen of an entire hemisphere, or an Amexadian to cite one example.

Only a woman judge would come up with this ruling in Ontario. The marriage crumbles a decade ago and he pays child support for the twins that came from the marriage. It is then discovered the kids were not the product of his loins, as the former missus apparently did some freelancing, yet as he was the only daddy the kids knew, the judge says he still has to fork over the cash to support the now 16-year olds. I'm thinking that if he was suspicious, he probably shouldn't have waited until a custody snit caused him to demand a DNA test, but I wonder what responsibility the mother and the real daddy should be expected to accept.

Talk about being a true jerk off. A guy was cruising at 150 klicks along a Aussie highway while smoking pot and videoing himself, er, playing with himself when he got caught. They also found a pot plant in the back seat and a loaded rifle in the car.  The news item claimed the $2000 fine and two months in the pokey to be a stiff one, but it seems rather flaccid to me. Well, different strokes for different folks, I guess. As for the moral of the story, if morality has anything to do with it, might I recommend that to start with it probably is best to keep both hands on the wheel.

Meanwhile, I read that former cabinet minister, and my former CKKR Rosetown, Saskatchewan radio colleague, Monte Solberg is presently in Mexico to escape the affects of Global Warming here in Canada. The bastard.

Sometimes the news doesn't even have to be about political affairs to leave us wondering.

Ron.

===================================
From: "Jacob Rempel"
Subject: ---invasion of the Gaza Strip related to offshore gas reserves

War and Natural Gas: The Israeli Invasion and Gaza's Offshore Gas Fields
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=CHO20090108&articleId=11680

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From: "Rebecca Gingrich"
Subject:  Canada stands with israel

Mr. Harper--how can you state that "we stand with Israel" after you read
what is written in this article? How can any Canadian who believes in the
sanctity of life continue to support a state that would commit such
atrocious acts?
We suffer when a soldier is killed in Afghanistan but our government
supports a state that can murder whole families and then shoot those trying
to save the few survivors.
There is nothing more evil on this planet than what we are seeing and
reading about what is being perpetrated in Gaza and Palestine by Israel.
Mr. Chavez had the courage of our convictions. Please, please have the
courage to attempt to stop this genocide. Canadians will not accept these
actions by our government. If you can condone this none of us are safe from
similar actions if we do not toe the line.
Canadians know this has to stop and must be stopped. As the PM you must
obey the wishes of Canadians.

Rebecca Gingrich
Princeton, Ontario

Gaza medics describe horror of strike which killed 70
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/4162193/Gaza-medics-describe-horror-of-strike-which-killed-70.html

===================================
It's time for all of us to embrace ijtihad
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090107.wcomanji08/BNStory/specialComment/home
IRSHAD MANJI From Thursday's Globe and Mail January 8, 2009 at 2:44 AM EST

In Gaza a few years ago, I conducted an on-camera interview with the political leader of Islamic Jihad, Mohammed al-Hindi. With his finely trimmed beard and gracious manners, he symbolized the modern - and moderate - Muslim man.

But his interpretation of the Koran suggested something else. "Where," I asked, "does it say that you can kill yourself for a higher cause? As far as I know, the Koran tells us that suicide is wrong."

Through his translator, the physician assured me that the verses endorsing suicide operations could be found "everywhere" in Islam's holy book. I challenged Dr. al-Hindi to show me just one passage.

After several minutes of reviewing the Koran, then calling for help on his mobile, then looking through companion booklets, he told me he was too busy and must go. "Are you sure you're not pulling a fast one on me?" I asked. He smiled, clearly understanding popular American lingo. "I want to know that you're telling me the truth," I repeated.

Dr. al-Hindi summoned two assistants to the office and made another call. His translator shifted uncomfortably, hanging his head as my camera swung past him to film the assistants. Backs to me, they flipped feverishly through the Koran. Minutes later, they presented a verse glorifying war.

But it had nothing to do with suicide. So I asked Dr. al-Hindi yet again. He said Islam permits defensive aggression. "If a thief comes to your door and steals your money, isn't it legitimate to protect yourself?" he said through the translator.

Still unable to draw the link between self-protection and suicide, I proposed this analogy: "If my boss steals my job and I kill myself because something that is mine has been taken away, am I a martyr?"

Horrified, the translator shook his head. "No, no, you can't ask this."

"Why not?" I wondered. "It's important, theologically, to ask these questions."

At that moment, my camera batteries died. This, the translator whispered, was a better outcome than me dying - which is what Dr. al-Hindi would have arranged if I stayed in his office much longer. The translator and I hurried out.

I'm reminded of this encounter as the world watches another Mideast crisis unfold, and otherwise liberal Muslims fall into the tribal trap of sanitizing Islamic extremism while condemning Israeli actions.

It would be far more helpful - to Palestinians, if nobody else - for Muslims to ask questions out loud. We have relied far too long on self-appointed "higher-ups" to do the interpreting for us. We have given them the ability to abuse passages and power. We Muslims have forgotten Islam's own tradition of independent thinking: ijtihad.

For hundreds of years, three equations have driven mainstream Islamic practice. The rituals vary in Islam's major sects, but the equations themselves apply across the board.

First, unity equals uniformity. In order to be strong, members of the worldwide ummah (Muslim nation) must think alike. Second, debate equals division. Diversity of interpretation is no longer a tribute to God's majesty; it is a threat to the unity that Muslims must exhibit in the face of those intent on dividing us. And third, division equals heresy. Because division is the opposite of uniformity, whatever divides must be prevented. Which means that innovation must be stopped. Which, in turn, means that the spirit of ijtihad must be suppressed.

It is a pattern that persists to this very day. Not long ago, my mother's imam in Vancouver preached that I am a bigger "criminal" than Osama bin Laden because my views on religious reform have caused more "division" among Muslims than al-Qaeda's terrorism has. Apparently, he did not detect the irony in proclaiming that debate is worse than terrorism.

Nor did he see how he damned Muslims by acknowledging that literary expression divides us more than the use of violence does. If ever we have needed to spread the spirit of ijtihad, it is now.

Of course, most people - not just Muslims - could use more independent thinking. This point grabbed me at the Gaza office of Mohammed al-Hindi. As we left, I asked his translator why Dr. al-Hindi would give me an on-camera interview, knowing that he could not find a single verse to prove his claim that the Koran justifies suicide operations.

The translator replied: "He assumed you were just another dumb Western journalist." Reporters from the West had never asked this veteran terrorist the most basic of questions: Where is the evidence for what you do in God's name?

Maybe it's time that the media joined Muslims in embracing ijtihad. I would be happy to supply both groups with security tips.

Irshad Manji, director of the Moral Courage Project at New York University, is author of The Trouble with Islam Today and creator of the documentary Faith Without Fear.

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