http://www.cdfai.org/the3dsblog/?p=397
We are also in the market for joint strike fighters beyond 14, but we haven’t placed a firm order or commitment for any more than 14,” Mr Smith told ABC News Breakfast. He said Australia built into the project “capacity for slippage” in terms of cost and delay but “we are starting to rub up against that”. “We are very conscious there have been both cost and schedule delays, and that will form a part of my conversations with not just secretary of defence [Leon] Panetta but also with other officials.”..
So Smith and Australia’s DoD want to keep their options open — they could continue down the F-35 path, if the program shapes up, but this also could represent an opening for Boeing. It has already sold the Aussies some F/A-18F Super Hornets as a stopgap for F-35s…
Laura Baziuk - Recent Government Efforts Fail to Engage Canadians in Activities in Americas
http://www.cdfai.org/the3dsblog
Four in five Canadians agree the government should continue to send aid to Haiti for the next five to ten years, while one in five (18 per cent) do not agree.
(
Haiti wants Canada's help prosecuting Duvalier - Politics - CBC News
www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/03/07/haiti-ottawa030711.html
7 Mar 2011 – The Haitian government wants Canada's help in prosecuting former dictator Jean-
What is Canada Doing in Haiti?
The “Ottawa Initiative on Haiti”: Humanist Peacekeeping or…?
On the very first line of the section of its website devoted to Haiti, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) boasts how “Canada has committed to allocate $555 million over five years (2006-2011) to reconstruction and development efforts in Haiti.” Such “special consideration” is given to Haiti because “[t]he Government of Canada is committed to helping the people of Haiti improve their living conditions.”[3] Unequivocally endorsing the government’s line as reiterated by its Ambassador to Haiti, Claude Boucher, Maclean’s Magazine answers its own question in an April 2008 feature article: “it's easy to forget that what Boucher says is true. Haiti is a less dangerous, more hopeful place than it has been for years, and this is the case, in part, because of the United Nations mission there and Canada's involvement in it.”[4]
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=13280 The Ottawa Initiative
In contrast to Maclean’s pronouncement, a growing number of international critics insist that what is happening in Haiti is instead an odious imperialist crime in which Canada is shamefully complicit.[5] These skeptics argue that in January, 2003 the Canadian government organized a meeting to plan the illegal and violent overthrow of the democratically-elected government of the small Caribbean nation for political, ideological and economic reasons.[6] The meeting, called the “Ottawa Initiative on Haiti,” was held at the government’s Meech Lake conference centre in Gatineau, Québec, on January 31 and February 1, 2003, one year before the February 29, 2004 coup d’état.
The extraordinary decisions taken at this gathering of non-Haitians were first leaked to the general public in Michel Vastel’s March 2003 article, published in French-language magazine l’Actualité. Under the prophetic title “Haiti put under U.N. Tutelage?,” Vastel described how, in the name of a new Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine, parliamentarians of former colonial powers invited to Meech Lake by Minister Denis Paradis, decided that Haiti’s democratically-elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, had to be overthrown, a Kosovo-like trusteeship of Haiti implemented before January 1, 2004 while the US- subservient Haitian Army, the Forces armées d’Haiti (FAdH), would be reinstated alongside a new police force. The UN trusteeship project itself first surfaced in 2002 as mere rumor (or trial balloon?) in the neighboring Dominican Republic’s press.
While Canadian soldiers stood guard over Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, the president of Haiti and his wife were put on an airplane by US officials before dawn on February 29, 2004. According to world-renowned African-American author and activist Randall Robinson, who interviewed several eye-witnesses, the aircraft was not a commercial plane. No members of the Aristide government and no media were at the airport as Mr. and Mrs. Aristide were effectively abducted and taken to the Central African Republic against their will, following a refueling stop in the Caribbean island of Antigua.
In contrast to Maclean’s pronouncement, a growing number of international critics insist that what is happening in Haiti is instead an odious imperialist crime in which Canada is shamefully complicit.[5] These skeptics argue that in January, 2003 the Canadian government organized a meeting to plan the illegal and violent overthrow of the democratically-elected government of the small Caribbean nation for political, ideological and economic reasons.[6] The meeting, called the “Ottawa Initiative on Haiti,” was held at the government’s Meech Lake conference centre in Gatineau, Québec, on January 31 and February 1, 2003, one year before the February 29, 2004 coup d’état.
The extraordinary decisions taken at this gathering of non-Haitians were first leaked to the general public in Michel Vastel’s March 2003 article, published in French-language magazine l’Actualité. Under the prophetic title “Haiti put under U.N. Tutelage?,” Vastel described how, in the name of a new Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine, parliamentarians of former colonial powers invited to Meech Lake by Minister Denis Paradis, decided that Haiti’s democratically-elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, had to be overthrown, a Kosovo-like trusteeship of Haiti implemented before January 1, 2004 while the US- subservient Haitian Army, the Forces armées d’Haiti (FAdH), would be reinstated alongside a new police force. The UN trusteeship project itself first surfaced in 2002 as mere rumor (or trial balloon?) in the neighboring Dominican Republic’s press.
While Canadian soldiers stood guard over Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, the president of Haiti and his wife were put on an airplane by US officials before dawn on February 29, 2004. According to world-renowned African-American author and activist Randall Robinson, who interviewed several eye-witnesses, the aircraft was not a commercial plane. No members of the Aristide government and no media were at the airport as Mr. and Mrs. Aristide were effectively abducted and taken to the Central African Republic against their will, following a refueling stop in the Caribbean island of Antigua.
The Politics of Brutality in Haiti
Canada, the UN and "collateral damage"
http://www.dominionpaper.ca/accounts/2006/01/21/the_politi.html)
Colin Robertson - U.S Relations Much More than Obama, Harper
http://www.cdfai.org/the3dsblog
...the smart driver’s licence. It was the brainchild of former British Columbia premier Gordon Campbell and Washington Governor Chris Gregoire who recognized that requiring a passport was an expensive and time-consuming obstacle for those who wanted to attend the 2010 Olympics. Championed by the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER), especially the legislators that make up the partnership of the 10 states, provinces and territories, their efforts persuaded the Department of Homeland Security to accept the new licence containing an embedded chip. Now it is available in most border states and provinces, although we need to do more to promote its use.
The asymmetries of the relationship - the U.S. market provides half of our GDP - means that Canadians usually have to take the initiative with the US. Fortunately, we’ve created a series of forums where leaders and legislators at the state, provincial and territorial level get together to discuss and resolve shared challenges.
From Milnews.ca (last link is to a Ottawa Citizen story):
…Could this be the start of serious CF cuts in terms of missions in order to save money? I certainly would think the Air Force would fight very hard to keep this warm and fuzzy, publicly-popular, role. Just think of the job losses and the qu
What’s Canada Buying? (3) Does this bit in an invitation to companies interested in providing a new Fixed Wing Search and Rescue Plane mean the CF is considering privatizing search and rescue operations? Or does it mean the CF’ll consider leasing instead of buying? Or both? “…. The Government of Canada will consider all options to ensure the best possible SAR service to Canadians and best value for taxpayers. The main goals of this consultation include: reviewing project status; reviewing the updated requirements; and seeking Industry opinions on Alternate Service Delivery options. During the consultation, Government of Canada officials will discuss the outcome of the NRC independent review and provide a summary of the revised key requirements followed by a discussion on potential procurement approaches for FWSAR including Alternate Service Delivery options ….” We’ll have to wait and see – more on that here…
( Time was we had an aircraft industry. http://www.cartercopters.com/faq-general.html could be worth a look )
F-35 and South Korea: This Could Be a Very Interesting Fighter Competition
The start of a Foreign Policy piece:
Afghanistan Is Now India’s Problem
The United States may soon have the option of washing its hands of Afghanistan. But with an untrustworthy Pakistani military exerting greater influence, India does not.
Pakistan’s Military Plotted to Tilt U.S. Policy, F.B.I. Says
Mark Collins - What Price China?
…would it be too much for Canada to remind China they are invaders and occupiers of that country [Tibet] and not liberators?
How much money will it cost us to say something like that?
( Beats me. Maybe Libyans could help give us a clue - or Afghans )
The "Trade" Agreement Ottawa and Nova Scotia Want Kept Secret
Packed room hears Canada-Europe trade negotiations denounced
anadian News
Torontonians Smash Ford's Anti-Tax Agenda
Consultation shows public wants services before tax cuts
Jul 25 3 comments
Canadian Delegation Talks Pipeline Impacts in Washington
Fears over spills, environmental impact spurr concerns on both sides of border
Jul 22
Canadian Media Failed to Deliver
Media coverage of Canada Post labour dispute uncritical, Inaccurate
Jul 20 1 comment
July in Review, Part I
Canada not disarming, Israel not boycotting, prisoners not eating, ships not sailing (nor flying)
Jul 15
First Nations Under Surveillance
Harper government prepares for Native “unrest"
Jul 13 1 comment
Jul 11
The Strength to Carry on
Residential school survivor speaks out as part of In Our Own Voices writing project
Jul 4
June in Review, Part II
Greeks revolt, Gaza flotillas ready, feds go anti-postal
Jun 30
Every Mohawk a Suspect
Why drugs raids in Kanehsatake feel like police invasions
Jun 29 5 comments
Jun 29
Once, We Welcomed Tamil Refugees
Twenty-five years later, Canada jails "boat people"
Jun 24 12 comments
Sincerely, the Working Class
Postal workers supported across Canada
Jun 22
In BC, Pipes Spell Double Trouble
KSL gas pipeline is low profile, high threat
Jun 20
Convicted by the Media, Sentenced by the Courts
Supporters of Nicole Kish say she is innocent and the media is guilty
Jun 17 6 comments
June in Review, Part I
Postal workers locked out, First Nations housing cut out, federal budget called out
Jun 15
Inside Look At Yet Another Religious Group With A Private Army
http://www.warisbusiness.com/7738/news/inside-look-at-yet-another-religious-group-with-a-private-army/
Sikh Dharma is a group founded by the late Yogi Bhajan, who converted thousands of white Americans to Sikhism. The group owns a number of large companies, the largest of which is Akal Security, a $500 million-a-year US government contractor that guards federal courthouses in 40 states, at least one US Embassy abroad and a number of international airports.My story last year included many previously obscure details on Akal, including some long-ago connections to a would-be arms smuggler and the family of a CIA deputy director. The connections this group has are truly incredible. I also found out that Sikh Dharma leaders apparently sat in on negotiations between the Indian government and the US government for the sale of enriched uranium.
The story out on the streets of Portland today, and online here, focuses on allegations of subterfuge and fraud stemming from the legal fight for control of Akal’s parent company in Oregon.
The Oregon Attorney General’s office got involved in the case last year. Which begs a question that no one I’ve spoken to has been able to answer: If the state of Oregon believes the board of Akal Security is led by untrustworthy people, then why do the departments of Defense and Homeland Security continue to award contracts to the company? Akal won a four-year $150 million contract to guard the Kansas City airport this spring—months after the Oregon AG filed its complaint.
Granted, the rank-and-file security guards don’t know what’s going on in the boardroom, but the conduct of the leadership does speak to the future reliability of the company as a whole.
More drug war collateral damage
http://www.drugwarrant.com/2011/07/more-drug-war-collateral-damage
Freedom from Pain
For much of the Western world, physical pain ends with a simple pill. Yet more than half the world’s countries have little to no access to morphine, the gold standard for treating medical pain.al Jazeera
Freedom from Pain shines a light on this under-reported story. “For a victim of police torture, they will usually sign a confession and the torture stops,” says Diederik Lohman of Human Rights Watch in the film. “For someone who has cancer pain, that torturous experience continues for weeks, and sometimes months on end.”
Unlike so many global health problems, pain treatment is not about money or a lack of drugs, since morphine costs pennies per dose and is easily made. The treatment of pain is complicated by many factors, including drug laws, bureaucratic rigidity and commercial disincentives.
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