Soldiers flee to Canada to avoid Iraq duty
Posted By: PK on 2006-03-29
In Reply to:
Soldiers flee to Canada to avoid Iraq duty
Duncan Campbell
Tuesday March 28, 2006
Guardian Hundreds of deserters from the US armed forces have crossed into Canada and are now seeking political refugee status there, arguing that violations of the rules of war in Iraq by the US entitle them to asylum.
A decision on a test case involving two US servicemen is due shortly and is being watched with interest by fellow servicemen on both sides of the border. At least 20 others have already applied for asylum and there are an estimated 400 in Canada out of more than 9,000 who have deserted since the conflict started in 2003.
Ryan Johnson, 22, from near Fresno in California, was due to be deployed with his unit to Iraq in January last year but crossed the Canadian border in June and is seeking asylum. I had spoken to many soldiers who had been in Iraq and who told me about innocent civilians being killed and about bombing civilian neighbourhoods, he told the Guardian.
It's been really great since I've been here. Generally, people have been really hospitable and understanding, although there have been a few who have been for the war. He is now unable to return to the US. I don't have a problem with that. I'm in Canada and that's that.
Mr Johnson said it was unclear exactly how many US soldiers were in Canada but he thought 400 was a realistic figure. He had been on speaking tours across the country as part of a war resisters' movement and had come across other servicemen living underground.
Jeffry House, a Toronto lawyer who represents many of the men, said that an increasing number were seeking asylum. There are a fair number without status and a fair number on student visas, he said, and under UN guidelines on refugee status they were entitled to seek asylum.
The first test cases involve Jeremy Hinzman, 26, who deserted from the 82 Airborne Division and Brandon Hughey from the 1st Cavalry Division. A decision on their applications is due within the next few weeks. If they are turned down the case will be taken to the federal appeal court and the Canadian supreme court, according to Mr House, a process that would last into next year at least.
All deserters, past and present, are placed on an FBI wanted list. Earlier this month, Allen Abney, 56, who deserted from the US marines 38 years ago during the Vietnam war, was arrested as he crossed into the US, a journey he had taken many times before without problem. He was held in a military jail in California for a few days, then discharged.
They have resuscitated long-dormant warrants, said Mr House. I know 15 people personally who have crossed 10 or more times without problems and then all of a sudden they are arresting people. It seems like it would be connected to Iraq.
Lee Zaslofsky, 61, the coordinator of the War Resisters' Support Campaign in Toronto, said that he was impressed by the young men who were seeking asylum. Some have been to Iraq and others have heard what goes on there, he said. Mainly, what they discuss is being asked to do things they consider repugnant. Most are quite patriotic ... Many say they feel tricked by the military.
During the Vietnam war between 50,000 and 60,000 Americans crossed the border to avoid serving.
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1740986,00.html
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About Face: Soldiers Call for Iraq Withdrawal
For the first time since Vietnam, an organized, robust movement of active-duty US military personnel has publicly surfaced to oppose a war in which they are serving. Those involved plan to petition Congress to withdraw American troops from Iraq. (Note: A complete version of this report will appear Thursday in the print and online editions of The Nation.)
After appearing only seven weeks ago on the Internet, the Appeal for Redress, brainchild of 29-year-old Navy seaman Jonathan Hutto, has already been signed by nearly 1,000 US soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen, including dozens of officers--most of whom are on active duty. Not since 1969, when some 1,300 active-duty military personnel signed an open letter in the New York Times opposing the war in Vietnam, has there been such a dramatic barometer of rising military dissent.
Interviews with two dozen signers of the Appeal reveal a mix of motives for opposing the war: ideological, practical, strategic and moral. But all those interviewed agree that it is time to start withdrawing the troops. Coming from an all-volunteer military, the Appeal was called unprecedented by Eugene Fidell, president of the National Institute of Military Justice.
this message is misleading - she is not for killing innocent soldiers and civilians in Iraq
You lumped killing innocent wildlife and killing soldiers and civilians in Iraq into the same line. She is not for killing innocent solderies and civilians in Iraq.
As distasteful as it is killing wildlife she is definitely not for the other. That is totally absurb.
Show me the proof where she said she is for killing innocent soldiers and civilians in Iraq.
You may hate her but making up totally false statement is outrageous and why once again I see the "political rape" of Sarah Palin. If you can show me proof I take back this last paragraph and eat my words, but I need proof. Saying something like that is like saying because Obama is a Muslim he is for killing all american if they don't convert to the muslim faith. Plain idiocracy.
Dereliction of Duty.
He was war criminal.
Just do your duty and vote for McCain and
see if we care.
It is his duty to represent his clients, but
if you will reread the OP, you will see, these were his VIEWS, his co-authored versions and interpretations. Yes, these were his beliefs and you better well remember it. He could care less that a 14-year-old girl has to have parental permission to get her ears pierced, just don't mess with her when it comes to getting an abortion! She has her rights you know.
And that statement is ridiculous, Iran and Iraq enemies, remember the Iran-Iraq war? Iraq would jus
nm
Bush didn't destroy Iraq. He helped to liberate Iraq.
m
So to avoid the bad things...
better to 1.2 million babies a year. If you are okay with that, that's fine. You are entitled to, by activist judges, kill all the babies you want.
There are many more successful adoption stories than unsuccessful.
One person's experience does not mean that every person's experience will be so.
What's next? We are already aborting Down's babies. What next? Oops...that one is minus a finger. Kill it. Oops, that one is minus an arm...kill it. Oops, that one MIGHT, just MIGHT, be developmentally disabled. Kill it.
That line of thought disturbs me, and yes, I will speak out against it. It is my right. Why is it that only the pro choicers have rights? That sounds more like Nazi Germany than America. You guys act like you are the only ones who have a right to an opinion and express it. What's up with that??
sorry - I avoid the nutball
web sites and stick to the fact-checked organizations. Nice try though.
You avoid the nutball sites? LOL. nm
nm
sighhh...you just can't avoid the low road can you?
lol
avoid political discussions . . .
with people who get angry if you question their beliefs or have no respect for your beliefs. My mother is a staunch conservative who will go on and on about how stupid liberals are and how she hates them. Well guess what, I am a liberal. But she is so involved in her own view, she has never even noticed I am a liberal because I don't talk about it with her and either walk away or change the subject. Can't stand the venom that comes from her mouth when she rants about people with different beliefs than her. Started her tirade at my daughter's high school graduation dinner, and I had to tell her it was inappropriate. She didn't understand where I was coming from and got all offended. She is nuts anyway and has no clue about other people's feelings.
Can we avoid lumping everyone into one bunch?
I'm a liberal and I have to say, I really resent it when people say the libs this or the dem's that and refer to all of us in one great big bunch that worships Obama and thinks he's the messiah. It really bugs the crap out of me. He's a man. He's not my Savior.
I have seen condescension and name calling from BOTH sides of the fence, none of which is appropriate coming from anyone who calls themself an adult. I do find it interesting that it seems to be much more accepted in this election cycle than in years before. I don't know if it's because of the proliferation of message boards and the complete lack of humanity that tends to go with posting on them, or if it's this particular year and set of candidates/winners.
Let's give the man a chance. Yes, he's a man. I believe he is a very smart man and I have high hopes for him. Let's avoid name calling, liberal bashing, conservative hate, etc. That just does everyone a disservice.
Why should I comment on France - or avoid doing so?
We're not France. It's not like you can take a system from one culture and parachute it into another culture. This isn't Leggos, or buying off-the-rack clothes.
There are many, many factors to take into account when a society fashions something like government-paid healthcare because it will impact, and be impacted by, that society in many ways. We don't have the same culture that France has, we don't have the same tax rates, we have a different healthcare delivery system in place, and on it goes.
No, I won't be commenting about France, except to say that I watched an extensive documentary about government health systems around the world and neither England, Canada, France or Sweden were rated very highly in terms of efficiency or patient satisfaction. Japan's system was considered the best on most metrics, so if anything I would comment on that system - which I won't do either for the reasons mentioned above.
Personal e-mail was used to avoid subpoena!
While Ms. Palin took office promising a more open government, her administration has battled to keep information secret. Her inner circle discussed the benefit of using private e-mail addresses. An assistant told her it appeared that such e-mail messages sent to a private address on a “personal device” like a BlackBerry “would be confidential and not subject to subpoena.”
Well, Mcsame saw this crash coming and tried to avoid it...
unlike some others. That is one of the reasons I trust him.
I have found all liberals this way. Avoid Ayers,
nm
topics to avoid during polite conversation.
We do have separation of church and state.
Here's one from Canada! sm
The Democrats' decline
by Klaus Rohrich
September 9, 2004
The leftist protesters that attempted to shut down Fox News Network in New York Last week are a crystal clear illustration of just how totalitarian and desperate these poor wretches have become. Sporting a philosophy that was killed by President Ronald Reagan in 1999, but had lost any claim to legitimacy long before that, they stormed Fox News’ offices chanting, "Shut up Fox News".
Dressed in a variety of bizarre costumes such as those sported by their "Code Pink" and the "Inferno Noise Brigade" cohorts, the group is evocative of the Nazi storm troopers that frequented Germany in the 1930s. Like the storm troopers of yesteryear, these storm troopers are also attempting to silence voices that do not agree with them. Their effort to "shut up Fox News" is the moral equivalence of burning books.
I have long been fascinated with the mixed messages emanating from the left. On the one hand, they are in favour of extending freedom to everyone, except people with whom they disagree. In this case I imagine they would have no problem imprisoning those who dared to disagree. It’s clear that the left has been highjacked and relegated to the lunatic fringe. I can’t imagine any other reason why people dressed as carrots would show up at their demonstrations.
But more importantly, who can take these people seriously? It appears that the Democratic Party has managed to attract every way-out radical leftie in North America. No wonder serious Democrats such as Zell Miller are deserting the Party in droves.
The Democrats are the party of John F. Kennedy and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, both of whom have left an indelible mark in the history of the United States. The former for his bold civil rights initiatives and the tax cuts that created one of the longest periods of prosperity in recent history, while the latter helped Americans pull themselves out of the Great Depression by their bootstraps and faced the most destructive war in history. Today’s most recent democratic presidents have left bodies in the Iranian desert and stains on an intern’s dress. Oh, how the mighty have fallen!
It’s curious to note that their fight to regain control of the House of Representatives, the Senate and the Presidency is largely waged with lies, half-truths and innuendo. Imagine, taking Michael Moore’s allegations seriously, or listening to anything that Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia has to say! Byrd is a former Ku Klux Klansman who has seen the light and became a luminary of the Democratic Party. He’s also the poster boy for all that’s wrong with American politics, given the pork-barrel payoffs he has managed to wangle for his state at the expense of the American taxpayer. He is famous for a recent radio interview during which he used the N-word not once, not twice, but three times. But that seems to be okay with his cohorts, who bend themselves into pretzels trying to prove that the Republicans are racist.
Another fine specimen of Democratic legerdemain is Ted Kennedy, the senior senator from Massachusetts. This flatulent, besotted has-been is famous for midnight swims and his ability to consume vast quantities of alcohol. Then there is Hillary Clinton, whose billing practices at the Rose law firm cost Web Hubbell his career. She was such an astute investor in the cattle futures market that she managed to turn an investment of $1,000 into $100,000 in just over a year, which any futures trader will admit is totally unbelievable. (I realize most of this is innuendo, but maybe the Dems deserve a taste of their own medicine.)
It’s too bad that this has happened to the Democratic Party, because they once were a grand party that moved America into a direction of which they could be proud. Today’s Democratic initiatives sound like Karl Marx wrote them. And they’re wondering why people are deserting them in droves.
Most modern Democrats believe that the reason they are losing ground is because their message isn’t getting across to their constituents. I believe the exact opposite is true. Americans are listening to the things Democrats are saying and then voting Republican. Certainly this has been consistently so at the state and local level.
But think about it: how long can you talk about the inequities of poverty without having someone say "shut up already". After all, the Dems were in power for over 40 years and haven’t managed to win their war on poverty. They are telling African Americans that their lives are miserable because they do not have the same opportunities as Whites. Again, what did the Dems to for black people all those years they were in power? Many African Americans are beginning to understand that it’s the Dems who are managing the plantation, and are looking towards the GOP as an alternative.
One of the reasons that the Democrats haven’t totally perished as a party is the fact that America’s entertainment elite is heavily supporting them. However, that isn’t going to sustain them philosophically, as the population at large is starting to become aware of the foibles, intellectual shortcomings and freak show attributes of people like Barbra Streisand, Whoopie Goldberg and the rest of the Hollywood glitterati.
It’s a fact that the mainstream has shifted to the right. Rather than take their hint from the voters, the Dems are turning into an agglomeration of wing nuts and special interests. Their party has become a centrifuge for loony tunes and outré ideologies. Their decline will continue until they finally get it.
canada
I am stunned that Americans are more passive than Canadians. I am stunned that we have been trampled on for so long that we don't even know how to get up.
Probably Canada
still close to US and I want to go somewhere where there is a lot of snow!
MOVE TO CANADA
There you can enjoy their great health system.
love you, canada!!
Do you have any insight to share with us about Sarah Palin's extensive foreign policy experience, she being Gov in a state that borders on both CANADA and RUSSIA?
Also, please realize there are many people here that also think we are nuts and are working very hard to clean out the mess we have been in the last 8 years.
Wow....even Germany and canada want O....
now THERE is an endorsement.
The voting jews? Redneck fundamentalist? Geez...BIGOTED much??
Another graduate of the Saul Alinsky Marxist-socialist (DNC) school of thought. This is ugly, ugly, and yet another wonderful reason to NOT vote for the big O and give this kind of bigotry power.
I suppose Canada
At least they speak English and I've been there numerous times.
My adult son would probably say Poland as he's been there and it's a nice, friendly, beautiful country with a low cost of living. I might be persuaded to try Poland, but I'd have a hard time learning Polish!
Not so with regard to Canada.
When you have an illness, appts are made for followup (or is it follow up ::rolls eyes::). My four grandparents lived well into their 80s in their own residences and never had the worry of doctor bills sapping their life savings. GF had prostate CA in 1958 and lived 20 more years. Other GF had major cardiac surgery (grafts) and lived 20 more years afterwards. The wait may come with walk in clinics but that is equivalent to U.S.
That may be true in Canada,
though I've heard some stories to the contrary. However, I have no confidence in the US government putting in place anything that is: A) Efficient. B) Humane. C) Cost effective. Instead, it will be the usual bureaucratic power grab and a means to micromanage our lives just a bit more. Our government has too long a history of mucking up everything it tries to run.
As for where the doctors are going, I personally know of two who hold positions as heads of QA at MTSOs, and these are not retirement-age individuals. Doctors may make as much money being 'detail' people for drug companies - without the weekends and malpractice issues. There are doctors in media who no longer practice, but do medical features. There are doctors who no longer practice and are consultants to law firms. Some doctors have become lawyers (talk about going over to the dark side.) There are doctors who go into hospital management and no longer practice.
And where do you get your statistics, other than Canada?
#
And where do you get your statistics, other than Canada?
#
Canada is being called the new America.
I questioned a Canadian how the economy is up there. He said it was strong. I am worried about my social security personally. I am considering buying Canadian dollars now on a regular basis since the exchange rate is now at 1.03 CAN per US dollar.
It has not been this way for 50 years - typically, it was .75 CAN to US 1.00 as I recall my grandmother complaining about losing 25 cents and then 40 cents over the years when she sent the grandkids money as gifts.
Great, take Barbra S and others to Canada with you.
nm
From what I understand Canada's healthcare...sm
is not run by private insurance companies as is Obama's plan, but rather by the government itself. His aim is for all people to have availablity to health insurance with a premium based on what they can afford, the ability to keep your insurance when you change jobs, keep your own doctor, and have your doctor ultimately decide what treatment is best for you not the insurance company.
Need a job? Move to Saskatchewan, Canada. Why?
OIL AND CHEAPER GOVERNMENT TAXES. Didn't McCain want to start oil producing here in our own country? Look what it is doing for Saskatchewan. Dang it. An area of our own country could have been like Saskatchewan and instead, we are building a train track from LA to Las Vegas and other STUFF which will soon be out of jobs again down the road.
CNN) -- Normally, "hot spot" isn't the first phrase that comes to mind when talking about Saskatchewan, Canada.
A relocation service company president said he is moving more people to Saskatechwan than ever before.
1 of 3 But with most of Canada suffering from devastating job losses, this cold province is becoming exactly that.
It's an asterisk to the entire country when it comes to the economic climate, and Premier Brad Wall is shouting it as loud as he can.
"It's a great time to come to Saskatchewan," said Wall, who even called the Toronto Star newspaper to tout his province's economic success and let Ontarians know there were jobs for the taking.
"For those who are losing their jobs, we need them to know we have thousands of jobs open right now in both the private and public sector," Wall said. "We have a powerful story to tell, a story of success and that's something we want to share with those who are struggling."
Wall's province is one of the exceptions to the unemployment increases battering provinces across Canada. Saskatchewan's unemployment rate fell to 4.1 percent in January from 4.2 percent in December, making it the only province recording a decline. In Ontario and the city of Toronto, unemployment rates rose to 7.2 percent and 8.5 percent respectively. To the west, British Columbia shed 68,000 full-time jobs in January.
More Saskatchewan jobs should be on the way. To stave off any possible recession, Wall announced a $500 million infrastructure "booster shot" to help keep the economy strong. Learn more about different towns in Saskatchewan »
"All across the country, industries are getting quite ill," Wall said. "We aren't immune to it. We see some impacts in terms of layoffs and new vehicle purchases slowing off, and so we want to be proactive in staying ahead of the curve."
On Tuesday, the Conference Board of Canada released a report that said Saskatchewan will likely continue to lead the nation in economic growth in 2009 because of the infrastructure investment and tax reductions.
Saskatoon temperatures
Average January temperature:
-16.4 C (2.5 F)
High: -11.1 C (12 F)
Low: -21.6 C (-7 F)
Average July temperature:
18.3 C (65 F)
High: 25 C (77 F)
Low: 11.5 C (52.7 F)
Source: Environment Canada The province has also been reaping the benefits of an influx from nearby Alberta. When the government in Alberta decided to raise the oil royalty rates, oil exploration and expedition companies decided to move their operations to Saskatchewan in hopes of making more money.
With the province's growing opportunities, David Montgomery, president of Calgary's Qwest Haven Relocation Services, said he is moving more people to Saskatchewan each day.
"Alberta has always been the gravy train of oil," said Montgomery, who is also a former resident of Regina, the capitol and second-largest city in Saskatchewan. "But with the new royalties, oil companies are saying 'Why stay here and make less when the opportunities right next door are even better?' Many other companies may start to follow suit."
Montgomery said people looking to move have said that cheaper land and insurance prices are among the other reasons they are headed to Saskatchewan.
"There, government insurance is cheaper than anywhere else in the country and it comes with your license plates," he said. "With the amount of jobs, cheaper opportunities and great way of life, the government there has made it very attractive to move there."
That means more business for Wall's province and more jobs coming to the area.
Not that there's a shortage of jobs. On Tuesday night there were nearly 6,000 private- and public-sector jobs on the Web site Saskjobs.com.
A constant stream of revenue from oil production and exports also buoys the economy in the province.
Don't Miss
Obama, Brown discuss new economic partnership
Brown: World needs 'global New Deal'
Obama meets Canada's prime minister
Saskatchewan is the largest producer of oil in Canada and exports more oil to the United States than Kuwait. It is the leader in uranium production and produces a third of the world's potash.
The province continues to keep ahead of the curve, Wall said, finding ways to diversify its resources and embark on ambitious green projects and new oil projects. The province is working with Montana on a $212 million climate change initiative that would create the first major greenhouse gas storage project in North America. The carbon dioxide from coal-fueled power plants would be stored in the ground in Montana and later be withdrawn for use in oil production.
Wall also said what may be the largest discovery of sweet, light crude oil in the southeast part of the province means it could have even more oil to work with. The Bakken Formation could potentially have 413 billion barrels of oil, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. That would be another huge untapped revenue gold mine.
Despite the growth of nearly all sectors across the board, Wall cautioned that it is possible his province may see economic stress, just later in the game than other places.
"We need to be circumspect and prudent about promoting our province," he said. "We are not immune; we do see the impacts. It isn't some sort of panacea or answer to economic questions that don't exist elsewhere. We are a bit of an asterisk that says there is some stress, but it's relatively calm here."
Wall encouraged people not to count out a move to the province based on stereotypes that it is "only winter here," and "all of the land is just rolling hills."
"'It's a beautiful, big place where life is great and right now there's also opportunity," he said. "I'm very, very biased, but I can't imagine a place I'd rather be, especially with what's going on economically around the world."
Need a job? Move to Saskatchewan, Canada. Why?
OIL AND CHEAPER GOVERNMENT TAXES. Didn't McCain want to start oil producing here in our own country? Look what it is doing for Saskatchewan. Dang it. An area of our own country could have been like Saskatchewan and instead, we are building a train track from LA to Las Vegas and other STUFF which will soon be out of jobs again down the road.
CNN) -- Normally, "hot spot" isn't the first phrase that comes to mind when talking about Saskatchewan, Canada.
A relocation service company president said he is moving more people to Saskatechwan than ever before.
1 of 3 But with most of Canada suffering from devastating job losses, this cold province is becoming exactly that.
It's an asterisk to the entire country when it comes to the economic climate, and Premier Brad Wall is shouting it as loud as he can.
"It's a great time to come to Saskatchewan," said Wall, who even called the Toronto Star newspaper to tout his province's economic success and let Ontarians know there were jobs for the taking.
"For those who are losing their jobs, we need them to know we have thousands of jobs open right now in both the private and public sector," Wall said. "We have a powerful story to tell, a story of success and that's something we want to share with those who are struggling."
Wall's province is one of the exceptions to the unemployment increases battering provinces across Canada. Saskatchewan's unemployment rate fell to 4.1 percent in January from 4.2 percent in December, making it the only province recording a decline. In Ontario and the city of Toronto, unemployment rates rose to 7.2 percent and 8.5 percent respectively. To the west, British Columbia shed 68,000 full-time jobs in January.
More Saskatchewan jobs should be on the way. To stave off any possible recession, Wall announced a $500 million infrastructure "booster shot" to help keep the economy strong. Learn more about different towns in Saskatchewan »
"All across the country, industries are getting quite ill," Wall said. "We aren't immune to it. We see some impacts in terms of layoffs and new vehicle purchases slowing off, and so we want to be proactive in staying ahead of the curve."
On Tuesday, the Conference Board of Canada released a report that said Saskatchewan will likely continue to lead the nation in economic growth in 2009 because of the infrastructure investment and tax reductions.
Saskatoon temperatures
Average January temperature:
-16.4 C (2.5 F)
High: -11.1 C (12 F)
Low: -21.6 C (-7 F)
Average July temperature:
18.3 C (65 F)
High: 25 C (77 F)
Low: 11.5 C (52.7 F)
Source: Environment Canada The province has also been reaping the benefits of an influx from nearby Alberta. When the government in Alberta decided to raise the oil royalty rates, oil exploration and expedition companies decided to move their operations to Saskatchewan in hopes of making more money.
With the province's growing opportunities, David Montgomery, president of Calgary's Qwest Haven Relocation Services, said he is moving more people to Saskatchewan each day.
"Alberta has always been the gravy train of oil," said Montgomery, who is also a former resident of Regina, the capitol and second-largest city in Saskatchewan. "But with the new royalties, oil companies are saying 'Why stay here and make less when the opportunities right next door are even better?' Many other companies may start to follow suit."
Montgomery said people looking to move have said that cheaper land and insurance prices are among the other reasons they are headed to Saskatchewan.
"There, government insurance is cheaper than anywhere else in the country and it comes with your license plates," he said. "With the amount of jobs, cheaper opportunities and great way of life, the government there has made it very attractive to move there."
That means more business for Wall's province and more jobs coming to the area.
Not that there's a shortage of jobs. On Tuesday night there were nearly 6,000 private- and public-sector jobs on the Web site Saskjobs.com.
A constant stream of revenue from oil production and exports also buoys the economy in the province.
Don't Miss
Obama, Brown discuss new economic partnership
Brown: World needs 'global New Deal'
Obama meets Canada's prime minister
Saskatchewan is the largest producer of oil in Canada and exports more oil to the United States than Kuwait. It is the leader in uranium production and produces a third of the world's potash.
The province continues to keep ahead of the curve, Wall said, finding ways to diversify its resources and embark on ambitious green projects and new oil projects. The province is working with Montana on a $212 million climate change initiative that would create the first major greenhouse gas storage project in North America. The carbon dioxide from coal-fueled power plants would be stored in the ground in Montana and later be withdrawn for use in oil production.
Wall also said what may be the largest discovery of sweet, light crude oil in the southeast part of the province means it could have even more oil to work with. The Bakken Formation could potentially have 413 billion barrels of oil, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. That would be another huge untapped revenue gold mine.
Despite the growth of nearly all sectors across the board, Wall cautioned that it is possible his province may see economic stress, just later in the game than other places.
"We need to be circumspect and prudent about promoting our province," he said. "We are not immune; we do see the impacts. It isn't some sort of panacea or answer to economic questions that don't exist elsewhere. We are a bit of an asterisk that says there is some stress, but it's relatively calm here."
Wall encouraged people not to count out a move to the province based on stereotypes that it is "only winter here," and "all of the land is just rolling hills."
"'It's a beautiful, big place where life is great and right now there's also opportunity," he said. "I'm very, very biased, but I can't imagine a place I'd rather be, especially with what's going on economically around the world."
Need a job? Move to Saskatchewan, Canada. Why?
OIL AND CHEAPER GOVERNMENT TAXES. Didn't McCain want to start oil producing here in our own country? Look what it is doing for Saskatchewan. Dang it. An area of our own country could have been like Saskatchewan and instead, we are building a train track from LA to Las Vegas and other STUFF which will soon be out of jobs again down the road.
CNN) -- Normally, "hot spot" isn't the first phrase that comes to mind when talking about Saskatchewan, Canada.
A relocation service company president said he is moving more people to Saskatechwan than ever before.
1 of 3 But with most of Canada suffering from devastating job losses, this cold province is becoming exactly that.
It's an asterisk to the entire country when it comes to the economic climate, and Premier Brad Wall is shouting it as loud as he can.
"It's a great time to come to Saskatchewan," said Wall, who even called the Toronto Star newspaper to tout his province's economic success and let Ontarians know there were jobs for the taking.
"For those who are losing their jobs, we need them to know we have thousands of jobs open right now in both the private and public sector," Wall said. "We have a powerful story to tell, a story of success and that's something we want to share with those who are struggling."
Wall's province is one of the exceptions to the unemployment increases battering provinces across Canada. Saskatchewan's unemployment rate fell to 4.1 percent in January from 4.2 percent in December, making it the only province recording a decline. In Ontario and the city of Toronto, unemployment rates rose to 7.2 percent and 8.5 percent respectively. To the west, British Columbia shed 68,000 full-time jobs in January.
More Saskatchewan jobs should be on the way. To stave off any possible recession, Wall announced a $500 million infrastructure "booster shot" to help keep the economy strong. Learn more about different towns in Saskatchewan »
"All across the country, industries are getting quite ill," Wall said. "We aren't immune to it. We see some impacts in terms of layoffs and new vehicle purchases slowing off, and so we want to be proactive in staying ahead of the curve."
On Tuesday, the Conference Board of Canada released a report that said Saskatchewan will likely continue to lead the nation in economic growth in 2009 because of the infrastructure investment and tax reductions.
Saskatoon temperatures
Average January temperature:
-16.4 C (2.5 F)
High: -11.1 C (12 F)
Low: -21.6 C (-7 F)
Average July temperature:
18.3 C (65 F)
High: 25 C (77 F)
Low: 11.5 C (52.7 F)
Source: Environment Canada The province has also been reaping the benefits of an influx from nearby Alberta. When the government in Alberta decided to raise the oil royalty rates, oil exploration and expedition companies decided to move their operations to Saskatchewan in hopes of making more money.
With the province's growing opportunities, David Montgomery, president of Calgary's Qwest Haven Relocation Services, said he is moving more people to Saskatchewan each day.
"Alberta has always been the gravy train of oil," said Montgomery, who is also a former resident of Regina, the capitol and second-largest city in Saskatchewan. "But with the new royalties, oil companies are saying 'Why stay here and make less when the opportunities right next door are even better?' Many other companies may start to follow suit."
Montgomery said people looking to move have said that cheaper land and insurance prices are among the other reasons they are headed to Saskatchewan.
"There, government insurance is cheaper than anywhere else in the country and it comes with your license plates," he said. "With the amount of jobs, cheaper opportunities and great way of life, the government there has made it very attractive to move there."
That means more business for Wall's province and more jobs coming to the area.
Not that there's a shortage of jobs. On Tuesday night there were nearly 6,000 private- and public-sector jobs on the Web site Saskjobs.com.
A constant stream of revenue from oil production and exports also buoys the economy in the province.
Don't Miss
Obama, Brown discuss new economic partnership
Brown: World needs 'global New Deal'
Obama meets Canada's prime minister
Saskatchewan is the largest producer of oil in Canada and exports more oil to the United States than Kuwait. It is the leader in uranium production and produces a third of the world's potash.
The province continues to keep ahead of the curve, Wall said, finding ways to diversify its resources and embark on ambitious green projects and new oil projects. The province is working with Montana on a $212 million climate change initiative that would create the first major greenhouse gas storage project in North America. The carbon dioxide from coal-fueled power plants would be stored in the ground in Montana and later be withdrawn for use in oil production.
Wall also said what may be the largest discovery of sweet, light crude oil in the southeast part of the province means it could have even more oil to work with. The Bakken Formation could potentially have 413 billion barrels of oil, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. That would be another huge untapped revenue gold mine.
Despite the growth of nearly all sectors across the board, Wall cautioned that it is possible his province may see economic stress, just later in the game than other places.
"We need to be circumspect and prudent about promoting our province," he said. "We are not immune; we do see the impacts. It isn't some sort of panacea or answer to economic questions that don't exist elsewhere. We are a bit of an asterisk that says there is some stress, but it's relatively calm here."
Wall encouraged people not to count out a move to the province based on stereotypes that it is "only winter here," and "all of the land is just rolling hills."
"'It's a beautiful, big place where life is great and right now there's also opportunity," he said. "I'm very, very biased, but I can't imagine a place I'd rather be, especially with what's going on economically around the world."
Need a job? Move to Saskatchewan, Canada. Why?
OIL AND CHEAPER GOVERNMENT TAXES. Didn't McCain want to start oil producing here in our own country? Look what it is doing for Saskatchewan. Dang it. An area of our own country could have been like Saskatchewan and instead, we are building a train track from LA to Las Vegas and other STUFF which will soon be out of jobs again down the road.
CNN) -- Normally, "hot spot" isn't the first phrase that comes to mind when talking about Saskatchewan, Canada.
A relocation service company president said he is moving more people to Saskatechwan than ever before.
1 of 3 But with most of Canada suffering from devastating job losses, this cold province is becoming exactly that.
It's an asterisk to the entire country when it comes to the economic climate, and Premier Brad Wall is shouting it as loud as he can.
"It's a great time to come to Saskatchewan," said Wall, who even called the Toronto Star newspaper to tout his province's economic success and let Ontarians know there were jobs for the taking.
"For those who are losing their jobs, we need them to know we have thousands of jobs open right now in both the private and public sector," Wall said. "We have a powerful story to tell, a story of success and that's something we want to share with those who are struggling."
Wall's province is one of the exceptions to the unemployment increases battering provinces across Canada. Saskatchewan's unemployment rate fell to 4.1 percent in January from 4.2 percent in December, making it the only province recording a decline. In Ontario and the city of Toronto, unemployment rates rose to 7.2 percent and 8.5 percent respectively. To the west, British Columbia shed 68,000 full-time jobs in January.
More Saskatchewan jobs should be on the way. To stave off any possible recession, Wall announced a $500 million infrastructure "booster shot" to help keep the economy strong. Learn more about different towns in Saskatchewan »
"All across the country, industries are getting quite ill," Wall said. "We aren't immune to it. We see some impacts in terms of layoffs and new vehicle purchases slowing off, and so we want to be proactive in staying ahead of the curve."
On Tuesday, the Conference Board of Canada released a report that said Saskatchewan will likely continue to lead the nation in economic growth in 2009 because of the infrastructure investment and tax reductions.
Saskatoon temperatures
Average January temperature:
-16.4 C (2.5 F)
High: -11.1 C (12 F)
Low: -21.6 C (-7 F)
Average July temperature:
18.3 C (65 F)
High: 25 C (77 F)
Low: 11.5 C (52.7 F)
Source: Environment Canada The province has also been reaping the benefits of an influx from nearby Alberta. When the government in Alberta decided to raise the oil royalty rates, oil exploration and expedition companies decided to move their operations to Saskatchewan in hopes of making more money.
With the province's growing opportunities, David Montgomery, president of Calgary's Qwest Haven Relocation Services, said he is moving more people to Saskatchewan each day.
"Alberta has always been the gravy train of oil," said Montgomery, who is also a former resident of Regina, the capitol and second-largest city in Saskatchewan. "But with the new royalties, oil companies are saying 'Why stay here and make less when the opportunities right next door are even better?' Many other companies may start to follow suit."
Montgomery said people looking to move have said that cheaper land and insurance prices are among the other reasons they are headed to Saskatchewan.
"There, government insurance is cheaper than anywhere else in the country and it comes with your license plates," he said. "With the amount of jobs, cheaper opportunities and great way of life, the government there has made it very attractive to move there."
That means more business for Wall's province and more jobs coming to the area.
Not that there's a shortage of jobs. On Tuesday night there were nearly 6,000 private- and public-sector jobs on the Web site Saskjobs.com.
A constant stream of revenue from oil production and exports also buoys the economy in the province.
Don't Miss
Obama, Brown discuss new economic partnership
Brown: World needs 'global New Deal'
Obama meets Canada's prime minister
Saskatchewan is the largest producer of oil in Canada and exports more oil to the United States than Kuwait. It is the leader in uranium production and produces a third of the world's potash.
The province continues to keep ahead of the curve, Wall said, finding ways to diversify its resources and embark on ambitious green projects and new oil projects. The province is working with Montana on a $212 million climate change initiative that would create the first major greenhouse gas storage project in North America. The carbon dioxide from coal-fueled power plants would be stored in the ground in Montana and later be withdrawn for use in oil production.
Wall also said what may be the largest discovery of sweet, light crude oil in the southeast part of the province means it could have even more oil to work with. The Bakken Formation could potentially have 413 billion barrels of oil, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. That would be another huge untapped revenue gold mine.
Despite the growth of nearly all sectors across the board, Wall cautioned that it is possible his province may see economic stress, just later in the game than other places.
"We need to be circumspect and prudent about promoting our province," he said. "We are not immune; we do see the impacts. It isn't some sort of panacea or answer to economic questions that don't exist elsewhere. We are a bit of an asterisk that says there is some stress, but it's relatively calm here."
Wall encouraged people not to count out a move to the province based on stereotypes that it is "only winter here," and "all of the land is just rolling hills."
"'It's a beautiful, big place where life is great and right now there's also opportunity," he said. "I'm very, very biased, but I can't imagine a place I'd rather be, especially with what's going on economically around the world."
Need a job? Move to Saskatchewan, Canada. Why?
OIL AND CHEAPER GOVERNMENT TAXES. Didn't McCain want to start oil producing here in our own country? Look what it is doing for Saskatchewan. Dang it. An area of our own country could have been like Saskatchewan and instead, we are building a train track from LA to Las Vegas and other STUFF which will soon be out of jobs again down the road.
CNN) -- Normally, "hot spot" isn't the first phrase that comes to mind when talking about Saskatchewan, Canada.
A relocation service company president said he is moving more people to Saskatechwan than ever before.
1 of 3 But with most of Canada suffering from devastating job losses, this cold province is becoming exactly that.
It's an asterisk to the entire country when it comes to the economic climate, and Premier Brad Wall is shouting it as loud as he can.
"It's a great time to come to Saskatchewan," said Wall, who even called the Toronto Star newspaper to tout his province's economic success and let Ontarians know there were jobs for the taking.
"For those who are losing their jobs, we need them to know we have thousands of jobs open right now in both the private and public sector," Wall said. "We have a powerful story to tell, a story of success and that's something we want to share with those who are struggling."
Wall's province is one of the exceptions to the unemployment increases battering provinces across Canada. Saskatchewan's unemployment rate fell to 4.1 percent in January from 4.2 percent in December, making it the only province recording a decline. In Ontario and the city of Toronto, unemployment rates rose to 7.2 percent and 8.5 percent respectively. To the west, British Columbia shed 68,000 full-time jobs in January.
More Saskatchewan jobs should be on the way. To stave off any possible recession, Wall announced a $500 million infrastructure "booster shot" to help keep the economy strong. Learn more about different towns in Saskatchewan »
"All across the country, industries are getting quite ill," Wall said. "We aren't immune to it. We see some impacts in terms of layoffs and new vehicle purchases slowing off, and so we want to be proactive in staying ahead of the curve."
On Tuesday, the Conference Board of Canada released a report that said Saskatchewan will likely continue to lead the nation in economic growth in 2009 because of the infrastructure investment and tax reductions.
Saskatoon temperatures
Average January temperature:
-16.4 C (2.5 F)
High: -11.1 C (12 F)
Low: -21.6 C (-7 F)
Average July temperature:
18.3 C (65 F)
High: 25 C (77 F)
Low: 11.5 C (52.7 F)
Source: Environment Canada The province has also been reaping the benefits of an influx from nearby Alberta. When the government in Alberta decided to raise the oil royalty rates, oil exploration and expedition companies decided to move their operations to Saskatchewan in hopes of making more money.
With the province's growing opportunities, David Montgomery, president of Calgary's Qwest Haven Relocation Services, said he is moving more people to Saskatchewan each day.
"Alberta has always been the gravy train of oil," said Montgomery, who is also a former resident of Regina, the capitol and second-largest city in Saskatchewan. "But with the new royalties, oil companies are saying 'Why stay here and make less when the opportunities right next door are even better?' Many other companies may start to follow suit."
Montgomery said people looking to move have said that cheaper land and insurance prices are among the other reasons they are headed to Saskatchewan.
"There, government insurance is cheaper than anywhere else in the country and it comes with your license plates," he said. "With the amount of jobs, cheaper opportunities and great way of life, the government there has made it very attractive to move there."
That means more business for Wall's province and more jobs coming to the area.
Not that there's a shortage of jobs. On Tuesday night there were nearly 6,000 private- and public-sector jobs on the Web site Saskjobs.com.
A constant stream of revenue from oil production and exports also buoys the economy in the province.
Don't Miss
Obama, Brown discuss new economic partnership
Brown: World needs 'global New Deal'
Obama meets Canada's prime minister
Saskatchewan is the largest producer of oil in Canada and exports more oil to the United States than Kuwait. It is the leader in uranium production and produces a third of the world's potash.
The province continues to keep ahead of the curve, Wall said, finding ways to diversify its resources and embark on ambitious green projects and new oil projects. The province is working with Montana on a $212 million climate change initiative that would create the first major greenhouse gas storage project in North America. The carbon dioxide from coal-fueled power plants would be stored in the ground in Montana and later be withdrawn for use in oil production.
Wall also said what may be the largest discovery of sweet, light crude oil in the southeast part of the province means it could have even more oil to work with. The Bakken Formation could potentially have 413 billion barrels of oil, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. That would be another huge untapped revenue gold mine.
Despite the growth of nearly all sectors across the board, Wall cautioned that it is possible his province may see economic stress, just later in the game than other places.
"We need to be circumspect and prudent about promoting our province," he said. "We are not immune; we do see the impacts. It isn't some sort of panacea or answer to economic questions that don't exist elsewhere. We are a bit of an asterisk that says there is some stress, but it's relatively calm here."
Wall encouraged people not to count out a move to the province based on stereotypes that it is "only winter here," and "all of the land is just rolling hills."
"'It's a beautiful, big place where life is great and right now there's also opportunity," he said. "I'm very, very biased, but I can't imagine a place I'd rather be, especially with what's going on economically around the world."
Canada's health plan does not work...
that is why people with critical illnesses cross the border to come HERE for treatment. Taxes have gone up dramatically trying to pay for the rising costs. You will pay it in deductibles or pay it in taxes...but you will pay it in a national health care system.
McCain has already enunciated his plan to take care of the "golden parachute" crowd. It is a good plan. He has a plan in place to handle earmarking and lobbying. Saying as President "I will veto those bills and name those who seek to add pork and you will know their names." Good for him!! And he means EITHER party. He puts his country first and wants to make government like it is supposed to be...to serve WE, the people. Yet another reason I am voting McCain. Country First is not just a slogan.
Bill Maher should move to Canada, but I would not
nm
I have a relative living in Canada, yet comes back to
nm
If McCain wins, I'll be moving to Canada...Montreal
Another way to use soldiers
Out of respect for your request, Democrat, I will call myself Starcat.
It seems to me the last sentence sums it up very well, but Bush doesn't have the guts for that, does he? Just canned questions and canned answers.
Bush Teleconference With Soldiers Staged
By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press WriterThu Oct 13, 4:35 PM ET
It was billed as a conversation with U.S. troops, but the questions President Bush asked on a teleconference call Thursday were choreographed to match his goals for the war in Iraq and Saturday's vote on a new Iraqi constitution.
This is an important time, Allison Barber, deputy assistant defense secretary, said, coaching the soldiers before Bush arrived. The president is looking forward to having just a conversation with you.
Barber said the president was interested in three topics: the overall security situation in Iraq, security preparations for the weekend vote and efforts to train Iraqi troops.
As she spoke in Washington, a live shot of 10 soldiers from the Army's 42nd Infantry Division and one Iraqi soldier was beamed into the Eisenhower Executive Office Building from Tikrit — the birthplace of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
I'm going to ask somebody to grab those two water bottles against the wall and move them out of the camera shot for me, Barber said.
A brief rehearsal ensued.
OK, so let's just walk through this, Barber said. Captain Kennedy, you answer the first question and you hand the mike to whom?
Captain Smith, Kennedy said.
Captain. Smith? You take the mike and you hand it to whom? she asked.
Captain Kennedy, the soldier replied.
And so it went.
If the question comes up about partnering — how often do we train with the Iraqi military — who does he go to? Barber asked.
That's going to go to Captain Pratt, one of the soldiers said.
And then if we're going to talk a little bit about the folks in Tikrit — the hometown — and how they're handling the political process, who are we going to give that to? she asked.
Before he took questions, Bush thanked the soldiers for serving and reassured them that the U.S. would not pull out of Iraq until the mission was complete.
So long as I'm the president, we're never going to back down, we're never going to give in, we'll never accept anything less than total victory, Bush said.
The president told them twice that the American people were behind them.
You've got tremendous support here at home, Bush said.
Less than 40 percent in an AP-Ipsos poll taken in October said they approved of the way Bush was handling Iraq. Just over half of the public now say the Iraq war was a mistake.
White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Thursday's event was coordinated with the Defense Department but that the troops were expressing their own thoughts. With satellite feeds, coordination often is needed to overcome technological challenges, such as delays, he said.
I think all they were doing was talking to the troops and letting them know what to expect, he said, adding that the president wanted to talk with troops on the ground who have firsthand knowledge about the situation.
The soldiers all gave Bush an upbeat view of the situation.
The president also got praise from the Iraqi soldier who was part of the chat.
Thank you very much for everything, he gushed. I like you.
On preparations for the vote, 1st Lt. Gregg Murphy of Tennessee said: Sir, we are prepared to do whatever it takes to make this thing a success. ... Back in January, when we were preparing for that election, we had to lead the way. We set up the coordination, we made the plan. We're really happy to see, during the preparation for this one, sir, they're doing everything.
On the training of Iraqi security forces, Master Sgt. Corine Lombardo from Scotia, N.Y., said to Bush: I can tell you over the past 10 months, we've seen a tremendous increase in the capabilities and the confidences of our Iraqi security force partners. ... Over the next month, we anticipate seeing at least one-third of those Iraqi forces conducting independent operations.
Lombardo told the president that she was in New York City on Nov. 11, 2001, when Bush attended an event recognizing soldiers for their recovery and rescue efforts at Ground Zero. She said the troops began the fight against terrorism in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and were proud to continue it in Iraq.
I thought you looked familiar, Bush said, and then joked: I probably look familiar to you, too.
Paul Rieckhoff, director of the New York-based Operation Truth, an advocacy group for U.S. veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, denounced the event as a carefully scripted publicity stunt. Five of the 10 U.S. troops involved were officers, he said.
If he wants the real opinions of the troops, he can't do it in a nationally televised teleconference, Rieckhoff said. He needs to be talking to the boots on the ground and that's not a bunch of captains.
Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
Copyright © 2005 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
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Soldiers are no different than anyone else....
in that there are those who disagree with this administration and the war. However, the overwhelming majority of the military respect the commander in chief and they believe in their mission. But, if you only watch CNN and liberal media, you will not hear from those soldiers. For every article from a liberal source you find that Bush did not listen to leaders, I can find one from a conservative source to counter. We will have to agree to disagree. I do not find this administration stubborn...I find this administration trying to stick to its guns so to speak, doing what is best in the long run for this country as far as countering terrorism. I know you do not understand nor want to understand the danger; however, I do. Every time Reid or Pelosi do something stupid, the liberal media lauds them as heroes and you can go right to the Arab news outlets and see how they pick it up and run with it. Al Qaeda must be lovin life right now. And that makes me SICK.
As to the half staff, talk about stubborness...I do not know and still do not understand why you cling to that as some kind of evidence that Bush doesn't care about the soldiers or people in Iraq, because he ordered a half staff for the VA Tech victims. And why you would say just because we have always done it that way... sheesh. Hanging onto this just screams at me that it is your problem with Bush personally and nothing else. I cannot see how you can find fault with the half staff and criticize the man for showing up at Va Tech. And..frankly...he cannot control what the governor said, but that being said...I do not understand the reaction of the left to it. But then I do not understand the reaction of the left to much of anything. I do not understand how you profess compassion for the Iraqi civilians yet want to cut and run and leave them to the terrorist thugs. That makes absolutely no sense to me. A President showing compassion for those kids at VA Tech, and you don't like that...what kind of sense does that make? The President shows compassion meeting with families of fallen soldiers, and if you look at him you can tell the toll this has all taken on him personally...if you took the time to look...not that you give a darn. I would like to say I understand you, but I don't. I used to think I did, but you have changed. It kinda reminds me of the at commercial I once saw that said: *You will be assimilated. Sadly, I believe you have been.
Who are these many soldiers?
I would be interested in knowing. I did not say you or anyone was Anti American...do not put words in my mouth. You used the word patriotic, I used it back to you. I said it was not illegal...and it is not. Congress voted for it. It is not illegal. If a soldier said it was immoral it is his right, like it is your right. However, when you talk about pulling funding when we have troops in battle, yes, I think that is unpatriotic, and if a soldier said we should pull funding, yes, I would say he was unpatriotic too. I have never heard a soldier say so. I have certainly never heard "many" soldiers call the war immoral either.
For the soldiers
As a tribute to our soldiers I felt a strong need to post this. As a prior US Army soldier I was proud of my country when I served and I am proud of all our soldiers in today's Army, and proud of anyone who decides (past, present, and future), that they love our country so much and the freedoms it offers us to give their time to the military. This is no small step. Your whole life changes in the blink of an eye (or however long it takes you to sign your name) and you will never be the same again or look at things the same as you did before.
The election recently has brought this to mind. I can remember the times my mom sending me an absentee ballot to vote and when I turned it in to my First Sergeant he looked at it and said Soldiers do not have the right to vote. You are a soldier in the Army and you will serve your country. We were "An Army of One" and our individual viewpoints do not matter. (When I joined J. Carter was president and this was the next election when Carter/Regan were running). So I threw my ballot in the garbage and followed my First Sergeant's order as a soldier is trained to do.
I have been reading that 68% of our veterans support J. McCain and only 23% support B. Obama. There is a post below that has an article that is focusing on only those 23%. In any organization you are going to have disgruntled employees, but if you were trying to judge a company would you base your decision on the few disgruntled or what the company employees have to say as a whole about their company.
Here are what some of the veterans are saying about their choices (link will follow below to the actual article) - This is how many in the military feels.
Most military will not vote for Obama, with every rule there is an exception but I personally know that the majority of the military will never vote for someone like him!
Because he is too inexperienced, and unfit to be the commander in chief of the Military!
His stance on foreign policy terrifies me!
He preaches change, but never says what that change will entail, but if you look at his record you can deduce that the change he talks about is a dumbed down version socialism, which sounds nice on paper but never works!
I’d much rather have a Commander in Chief who’s been in the military and one who knows what war is like, and McCain has 2 sons who are both in the Marine Corps and have fought in Iraq…
I’m sick of people telling me that they need to pull the troops out, when I am trying as hard as I can to rehabilitate and get back out there to finish the job! pulling us out would undo everything that we’ve worked for, everything that I sweat and bled for out there, everything that some very dear friends have died for! And by pulling us out you’d be saying that what we did didn’t amount to anything, and those lives lost were in vein.
There is a responsible way of pulling the troops out and there is an irresponsible way. If we just got pulled out of there then there would be a vacuum effect that would turn Iraq into more of a terrorist breeding ground than it ever was before, more so than even Afghanistan. And that would undo everything that we worked so hard to accomplish!!! I have been for this war from the very beginning, and even after facing death, being shot, and having all the surgeries I’ve had since I’ve been home I believe in the cause now more than ever. But even if you opposed the war to begin with we can’t abandon those people now it would be selfish, reckless, and utterly irresponsible to do so and would actually make things much worse for us in the long run.
I’m not the biggest McCain supporter there are many issues I don’t agree with him on but he at least understands all of this, he understands what we are going through over there, he understands combat, and he understands what is at stake in this war that the American people have seemingly abandoned and forgotten, not only our future but the future of an entire nation of people is at risk if we give in and pull out!
Some people don’t think it’s our responsibility to fight for other countries and stabilize their governments but as I’ve said before in previous blogs “It’s a good thing France didn’t have that attitude during our revolution, otherwise we never would have won our own Independence!!!”
Obama is not a competent Commander in Chief! You tell me what exactly he stands for???????? CHANGE? what the he!! is he gonna change? HOPE? what kind of hope? are you kidding me? he never says what the he!! he’s talking about, he just throws out what people want to hear but never provides a solution!!! Most people I talk to that say they’re gonna vote for him can’t even answer those questions, but they’re gonna vote for him because someone they know and respect says they are gonna vote for him! Why don’t you at least look into it yourself and make an educated decision! I can at least respect that! But that doesn’t seem to be the case in most people I’ve come across.
http://twana.wordpress.com/2008/09/08/veterans-against-obama/
One other note is that we need a person like McCain who will be workign towards winning the war and bring our troops home as the hero's they are. Not Obama's idea of pulling them all out irresponsibly and then they'll end up like the soldier's after the Vietnam War. They'll be called everything you can thing of (invader's, murderers, etc.). They'll be treated the same exact way the soldier's were treated from the Vietnam War.
I pray for our troops every day, and will pray until the election is over the the right person (McCain), will win this election.
Do you actually know any soldiers?
Are you honestly suggesting that the soldiers who are on the front lines are less informed than you are?
You think you 'have more opportunity to see the big picture and the real motives behind it' than the men and women putting their lives on the line.
Lady, please get a grip.
Maybe go volunteer at a VA Hospital. Then perhaps you will stop preaching your uninformed views from your keyboard.
I am sure that our soldiers would sm
rather shoot these terrorists too. They can't, they have to do what they have to do to get information out of them.
I can think a whole lot worse I would do to them that would get the information out of them a whole lot faster. Think I will save that though.
Sounds like you want to create a military force of a bunch of "mamby pambies" who do nothing but make sure the terrorists/prisoners are so comfy in their little beds. Good grief should we sing them to sleep to?
What do you think they do to Americans when they capture them? A whole lot more than we ever do to them. Come down to reality will ya?
Yes, our soldiers deserved better.
I think these are fallen soldiers...nm
soldiers votes
you know, on the news last evening, in a very mild manner, it was mentioned that maybe only 30% of the overseas military's votes will be counted this election, due to mail problems, time constraints, etc. OUTRAGEOUS!!! To boot, this also happened 4 yr ago, and still no one has fixed it (tho 1 senator is allegedly trying). Where are all the hanging chad type screaming complaints, the concern for the (hate this word now): disenfranchised???? IMO this would not be a hard problem to fix, so why is it still broke? A soldier's vote should be most definitely counted, WITHOUT FAIL. Grrrrrr. not to mention, that in Ohio, reported also last night, the homeless can now list their park benches as their addresses, and vote. Mind you, you cannot collect help in the form of welfare/food stamps etc without a solid normal address, but you can vote. nevermind that the homeless are likely uninformed. (don't feed or house them, just give them a ballot and tell them who to vote for...) all the while, our military's votes are casually tossed aside, with an "oh well..." i am still fuming the next day.
Tell that to the soldiers there who have heard
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