Now that November 11 and the official “remembering” of our “heroes”, their “bravery” and “greatness” is over, it is a good time to take a deeper, more critical look at Canada’s participation in wars. While on Remembrance Day we are told to “thank a soldier for your freedoms” and the commemorations talk about “defending democracy”,... Continue Reading →
Canadian Forces must do more to screen out far-right extremists
Given that people who espouse neo-Nazi ideology are attracted to the military, it is disappointing to learn what a poor job the generals do to uncover and expel them. Or perhaps the inaction reflects a deeper problem. A recent stream of stories about right wing extremists in the Canadian military prompted the leadership to scramble... Continue Reading →
Rather than being critics, Liberals actually enable Saudi crimes
One has to admire the Canadian government’s manipulation of the media regarding its relationship with Saudi Arabia. Despite being partners with the Kingdom’s international crimes, the Liberals have managed to convince some gullible folks they are challenging Riyadh’s rights abuses. By downplaying Ottawa’s support for violence in Yemen while amplifying Saudi reaction to an innocuous... Continue Reading →
When it comes to Saudi LAV sales, lobbyists will likely rule
Will they cancel the contract or won’t they? In order to understand Ottawa’s decision making process regarding General Dynamics’ massive arms deal with Saudi Arabia one must look closely at industry lobbyists. While the Trudeau government is under substantial public pressure to rescind the $15 billion Light Armoured Vehicle sale, to do so would challenge the company and... Continue Reading →
Canada escalates its hypocritical attack on Venezuela
Requesting the International Criminal Court investigate Venezuela’s government is a significant escalation in Ottawa’s campaign of interference in the domestic affairs of another country. Supported by five like-minded South American nations, it’s the first time a member state has been brought before the ICC’s chief prosecutor by other members. In Canada the campaign to have the... Continue Reading →
Why is ‘aid’ money spent on propaganda inside Canada?
Few are aware that Canada’s aid agency has spent tens of millions of dollars on media projects designed in part to draw journalists into its orbit and shape perceptions of Ottawa’s international policies. For example, “Find Out How Canada is Back!” was the title of Journalists for Human Rights’ (JHR) Night for Rights fundraiser at... Continue Reading →
Ottawa’s incestuous world of pro-military lobbying
How do you feel about taxpayer-funded organizations using your tax dollars to lobby elected politicians for more of your tax dollars? Welcome to the Canadian military. Last week Anju Dhillon told the House of Commons “I saw first-hand the sacrifices that our men and women in the navy have made to protect our country.” The Liberal... Continue Reading →
CIJA, B’nai B’rith smear Palestine activist instead of racists, anti-Semite
Part two on the smear campaign against Dimitri Lascaris. Like British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn Canadian lawyer Dimitri Lascaris is the victim of a “Big Lie” slander campaign. Defenders of the most aggressive ongoing European settler colonialism have once again smeared a “proud, anti-racist advocate for human rights.” In this article I offer some important... Continue Reading →
If Canada is a colony why are our banks so rich and powerful?
Strange how some people think Canada is a colony, a victim of U.S. power, when so much evidence points to the Great White North being an imperial power. For example, Canada is an international banking powerhouse. The Globe and Mailreport on TD’s third-quarter results noted that its “international operations – mostly in the United States and... Continue Reading →
Why on this despoiled earth would NDP leaders praise John McCain?
The NDP hierarchy’s response to noted war hawk John McCain’s death is shameful. Even worse, it reflects a general hostility towards the victims of Western imperialism. After the U.S. Senator died over the weekend federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh tweeted: John McCain had the courage not to stoop to divisive politics. He showed us that... Continue Reading →
What is behind glorifying the military?
Are soldiers more valuable to society than teachers? Are they more essential than the people who drive buses or clean up our waste? Are their jobs that much more dangerous than firefighters, or psychiatric nurses or loggers? Is what they do more honourable than parenting, caring for elders, providing essential social services or reporting the... Continue Reading →
Critical voices needed at development studies conference
Are they critical thinkers or cheerleaders pretending to be independent of the government that funds them? Given the title conference organizers chose — “Is Canada Back: delivering on good intentions?” — one would guess the latter. But, an independent researcher keeps an open mind. Publicity for the mid-September conference organized by the Canadian Council for... Continue Reading →
The story behind the military’s recruitment of Indigenous youth
Is the Canadian military a friend and ally of First Nations or an exploiter and repressor? The military’s immense resources and cultural clout certainly enables it to attract indigenous youth to become soldiers. But First Nations have more reason than most to be wary of the Canadian Forces (CF). A recent Ipolitics story titled “This... Continue Reading →
Here comes the Mali mission media manipulation
For the military, shaping media coverage of deployments is what roasting a marshmallow is to a summer camper's S'mores; there isn't one without the other. Even before beginning a small "peacekeeping" mission, the Canadian forces have an elaborate media strategy. At the end of June, Chief of the Defence Staff Jonathan Vance brought journalists with... Continue Reading →
NDP flirts with anti-Russian extreme right
In response to Ukrainian Canadian Congress campaigning, two NDP MLAs recently convinced the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission to withdraw a brand of Russian vodka from its stores. Alberta MLAs Deron Bilous and Jessica Littlewood argued that a hammer and sickle logo on a bottle of vodka was “offensive“. Articulating a growing rightist effort to... Continue Reading →
Response of Canada’s ‘defence’ community to Trump threats: silence
A volatile leader in charge of a military behemoth prone to aggression has repeatedly attacked Canada and its prime minister in recent weeks. But, this country’s “defence” community, which often hypes Russian, Jihadist and other threats, has barely made a peep. Citing a concern for its “national security”, the US slapped tariffs on Canadian steel... Continue Reading →
Forget Facebook, Five Eyes is bigger threat to our privacy, security
While the media has been full of news about information-gathering by Facebook and other Internet giants, other secretive organizations that are a major threat to our personal privacy and public security are seldom mentioned. And when they are, it has most often been because politicians are praising them and offering up more money for them... Continue Reading →
Hey Montréal police, respect our right to protest
The Montréal police have a problem with democracy that the new progressive city council should address. Last Thursday I was arrested for shouting “shame; free Palestine” at the large annual pro-Israel demonstration. Three officers on bikes blocked me from walking on the sidewalk of Boulevard René Lévesque and yelling “shame, free Palestine” at people with... Continue Reading →
Art and history paid for to shape opinions about military
Would it surprise you to learn the Canadian military spends millions on art and history? Until April the Canadian War Museum is hosting an exhibition of war art from the Ukraine created through the Canadian Forces Artists Program (CFAP). In 2014–15 eight artists were sent to observe Operation UNIFIER, Canada’s “training” mission to support Ukraine’s... Continue Reading →
Ottawa’s foreign policy swamp an unhealthy quagmire
Drain the swamp’ was a popular Donald Trump campaign slogan that referred to reducing the influence of Washington lobbyists. While the three words reflect an extreme lack of ecological consciousness — wetlands need to be protected and recreated, not destroyed — the image of politicians slogging their way through lobbyist infected, tangled, dense vegetation and... Continue Reading →
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