Christopher Hume is fast numbering among a tiny baby fist of favourite columnists writing for the Toronto Star. He actually makes urban municipal issues interesting to read. It’s lines like this one describing the mayoral candidacy of Rocco Rossi which is woeing me.
There’s nothing new about the politics of middle-class disgruntlement.
According to this Toronto Star article the Canadian Military is running into staffing issues.
OTTAWA–The military has put up to a dozen international missions on the chopping block as it struggles with a massive personnel shortage, the Toronto Star has learned.
From a five-soldier team training the Kosovo Security Force to the single officer monitoring the 1974 ceasefire in Cyprus, to the 30 personnel deployed on peacekeeping operations in Sudan, all is up for review as Canada juggles the demands of Afghanistan, the Olympics, and the G8 and G20 meetings of world leaders this summer.
“Political will exists to accept downsizing or deactivation of missions whose effects are no longer required, are not meeting their intent, or who can no longer be conducted owing to force generation pressures,” according to an internal report last year laying out the criteria for continuing or cutting the international deployments.
The personnel pinch was first identified by Gen. Rick Hillier, then chief of defence staff, in May 2008. He warned that the Canadian Forces would need to “continuously and ruthlessly rationalize our operational demands.”
So I have a suggestion to help ease the personnel crunch; immediately end Operation Porteus. By this time most of you are probably scratching your heads wondering what the hell Operation Proteus is. I know I was. I never even knew the Canadian Armed Forces had any kind of join venture on the go with the Palestinians until I read the most ridiculous and overall butt-ignorant editorial penned for the St. Catherine’s’ Standard. However, the editorial did allude to a Canadian operational mission with the Palestinian security forces and before I wrote the whole thing off as stuff and non-sense; I thought I should do a little digging.
Operation Proteus is probably the least publicly flaunted operation the Canadian Armed Forces are involved with. Of course, it would probably hurt the current Conservative government’s “Jew-cred” if the Conservatives started to openly tout Operations Prorteus rather than doing it on the sly QT. Nothing like using the Canadian army to train the Palestinian security forces to become better trained terrorists police officers. So don’t expect to see this on Sandy Crux’s list of the Harper’s Governments Accomplishments.
Simply put; Operation Proteus is the Canadian military’s contribution for training the Palestinian Security Forces – yes, we are training these guys who with frightening regularity often go postal and run amuck killing Israelis.
I bet you thought only the Americans and Euroweenies were the only ones dumb enough to train (ahem) security forces of the Palestinian thug-a-crats and sundry thieves who run riot through the billions given to the Palestinian Authority.
Yes, this is the same Palestinian Authority who first set in motion the infamous ‘jobs-for-guns’ program to al-Aqsa Martyr’s Brigade members to ‘lay down their guns’ for jobs in the Palestinian security forces.
Heaven knows, without the Palestinian Security Forces propping up one of the most innately corrupt gang of thugs and thieves the Palestinians have ever seen – what chance will any Palestinian know what it is like to enjoy justice without having to bride police, the judge or jury?
Furthermore, I would love to know what exactly is the Canadian military’s vetting process to ensure they are not training known terrorists? Although, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn the Canadian Armed Forces defers all Palestinian candidate decisions to the Palestinian Security Forces’ leadership.
So now the next time Palestinian Police decide to lynch a couple of directionally challenged Israeli reservists – or when a Palestinian security force personnel goes postal or even when a Palestinian military courts carries out the legal execution for the capital crime of selling land to a Jew; we call all sit back in safe and smug in Canada knowing how our government and army did its part. But for me, I am just sick about it.
Maybe it would be easier on the Dubai Police if they just started a list naming who was not involved in the death Hamas weapons procutuer Mahmoud al-Mabhouh. Ynet News:
Dubai has identified 15 new suspects in the assassination of a Hamas official at a Dubai luxury hotel, bringing the total number of people believed involved in the death to 26, the government said on Wednesday. Hamas commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh was killed last month in his hotel room in what Dubai police have said they are near certain was an Israeli hit. They said the killers travelled to the Gulf Arab emirate on European passports.
Of the new suspects, six carried British passports, three held Irish documents, three Australian, and three French, the Dubai government’s media office said in an emailed statement. Dubai authorities last week released the identities of 11 people whom they said travelled on fraudulent British, Irish, French and German passports to kill Mabhouh. Two Palestinians suspected of providing logistical support were in custody.
“Friendly nations who have been assisting in this investigation have indicated to the police in Dubai that the passports were issued in an illegal and fraudulent manner,” the statement said. Dubai police also released passport photos and closed-circuit television footage of the suspects, and said two of them had left Dubai by boat for Iran.
‘Cause we all know; Iran provides a safe haven for Mossad agents everywhere.
I got an offer for a 10% discount on all Mossad T-shirts from Israeli T-shirt Company this morning. Some days you can’t win for losing.
On second thought – maybe I do need a Mossad T-shirt – with something like the Last Mossad Agent not in Dubai or Exiled Mossad Agent from Dubai …
Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams comes clean on his healthcare. Toronto Sun.
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams had his mitral valve repaired in Florida – a procedure he says was not offered in Canada.
However, Dr. Asim Cheema, a cardiologist at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, told QMI Agency that mitral valve repair is routinely performed in Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto.Williams told NTV that his doctor recommended he have it done at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami, Fla., where the procedure is minimally invasive. The ailing premier talked about his medical ordeal for the first time Monday in an interview with NTV, a private TV station in St. John’s, N.L.(…)”I just said, ‘Look, our communications plan here is going to be quite simple: This is my heart, it’s my health and it’s my choice’,” Williams told NTV.
Williams said his doctors in St. John’s diagnosed him with mitral valve regurgitation about a year ago. His cardiologist told him his condition was moderate and he might eventually have to get the valve repaired or replaced. Just before Christmas, doctors told him his condition had become severe. “The mitral valve is a special surgery,” Williams said. “It’s not a typical open heart surgery where your arteries are replaced … so, they recommended that I look at going outside the province.”The premiere’s office confirmed that his procedure is, in fact, available in Canada, but could not confirm why Williams’ chose instead to go to Florida.
But to get the money quote we have to go to the Toronto Star:
The premier also said he paid for the treatment, but added he would seek any refunds he would be eligible for in Canada.
And this is why I shall forever call him Danny Millions.
I got a chain email asking if I am ready for redemption. Apparently, an image sent back by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has created quite the stir in some circles and at World Net Daily. Christians see a cross and Jews a Star of David. I can’t see the cross but I do get the shield of David thingy.
All the fuss reminds me of a story line I came up with years ago wherein we earthlings finally make contact with beings from outer space only discover the aliens are nothing more than time and space travelling Chabbadniks from both our past and future. Go ahead and laugh but I think its a tad more realistic scenario than the one concocted at WND.
I cannot decide if this is an example of pure and simple – spite or malice. You decide. Arutz Sheva:
IsraelNN.com) Palestinian Authority police chose to destroy hundreds of stolen Israeli vehicles last week rather than return them to their owners after discovering the cars in the town of Jama’een. The town, located south of the PA-controlled Samaria city of Shechem, has apparently served as the headquarters of a major car theft ring, where nearly 500 stolen Israeli vehicles were found last week.
PA police arrested three fugitives at the site, in addition to dismantling a 155-mm explosive shell, according to a report published Saturday by the Bethlehem-based Ma’an news agency. No one was injured and the thieves did not attempt to damage the security forces’ vehicles or equipment.
At least 941 stolen Israeli vehicles have been impounded – and destroyed – by PA police forces since January 1, 2010. None have been returned to their owners in Israel.
The Dubai authorities are verring further and further into the ridiculous with Dubai’s Chief of Police now calling on Interpol to seek the arrest of Meir Dagan – head of the Israeli Mossad reports the Jerusalem Post:
Dubai’s police chief directly accused Israel of the killing, and called on Interpol to seek the arrest of Mossad chief Meir Dagan, urging it to issue a “red notice against the head of Mossad.”
A UAE official was quoted by the Associated Press as saying on Thursday that at least 18 people – including two women – were now suspected in what Dubai police have described as a highly coordinated operation to kill Mabhouh.
Did I mention this is not the slightest shred of evidence produced tying the alleged killers (and I do mean ‘alleged killers’) to either the victim, the murder scene or even the Mossad? So good luck with arrest warrant for Meir Dagan but while we are on the topic of arrests – just how and why is it that Dubai is so accommodating to illicit arms-dealing terrorists in the first place? Perhaps, if Dubai would pay more attention to the background of those it offers safe harbour too – the Chief of Police wouldn’t have to worry about ‘visitors’ being offed in the first place.
And while we are speculating, this tidbit needs to be worked into whatever scenario….
The investigation has now widened to the United States. The alleged killers used fraudulent passports to open five credit card accounts through US-based banks, said an official who has close knowledge of the investigation. The official gave no additional details.
This works with my CIA/FATAH joint venture.
And if it wasn’t bad enough that the Dubai Chief of Police is lost in an alternative reality but now the EU is aiding and betting the deranged. Ynet News:
Ahead of Lieberman’s visit to Europe, European Union foreign ministers are expected to condemn assassinations and the use of fake passports on Monday, a move designed to censure Israel over the killing of a Hamas commander in Dubai.
Diplomatic sources said the ministers, meeting in Brussels, may not mention Israel by name but their statement was intended to show disapproval at the assassination last month by a team of assassins.
I cannot wait for Lieberman’s response and can feel the outrage already from the Euroweinies. If there is anything Lieberman knows how to do extremely well – its offending everyone and their grandmothers without even breaking a sweat.
In an otherwise boring article from the British Guardian yammering on about the Mossad’s alleged role in the Dubain Affair this little gem comes to light near the end.
There were more signs tonight the plot was connected with a less obvious country, after claims Austria was used as a communications hub by the squad.
Dubai police identified Austria as ¬”command centre” for the assassins, after mobile phone data showed at least seven numbers originating there. The gang never telephoned each other directly other than with what Dubai police speculated were “encrypted” messages, but contact was maintained via several Austrian mobile phone Sim cards. Austria has confirmed its officials were assessing the claims.
Vienna has a long reputation as a centre of espionage, having been used extensively during the cold war and elements of the sophisticated infrastructure have remained in place. In December 2008 radical Islamic terrorists also coordinated their bomb attacks in Mumbai, in which 160 people were killed, using Austrian mobile phone numbers.
Islamic terrorists have used Austrian mobile phone numbers in operations before. Well, well.
Unlike everyone else I have no idea who is behind the assassination of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai. While there is no direct or indirect evidence linking Israel to the assassination one would never know it. While the Mossad has used forged passports of other nations it is not the only spy agency to do so nor is it the only spy agency to use targeted assassination. Even though Mahmoud al-Mabhouh on the list of for enemies of the Jewish state; al-Mabhouh was a far cry from anyone’s top 10,000 most beloved list and his enemies were legion. Ha’aretz makes this point quite clear:
Haaretz earlier Thursday learned the identities of two Palestinians arrested in Jordan in connection with the January 20 killing at a Dubai hotel. Ahmad Hasnin, a Palestinian intelligence operative, and Anwar Shekhaiber, an employee of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, were arrested in the Jordanian capital Amman. Jordan on Tuesday confirmed it had extradited the two to Dubai.
The two were residents of the Gaza Strip until Hamas seized control there in 2007, a Hamas source told Haaretz. Both moved to Dubai, where they were employed by a real estate company belonging to a senior official of Fatah, the political faction headed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
A third man, a Hamas security operative, is under arrest in Syria on suspicion of having assisted the hit squad, the British daily The Guardian reported late Wednesday. Palestinian sources in the Gulf said Nahro Massoud was in detention and under interrogation in Damascus, the Guardian reported.
Hamas politburo chief Khaled Meshal has denied the allegation, according to the report, saying “It is not correct at all”. But Palestinian sources insisted Massoud was being questioned amid speculation that potentially senior Palestinian defectors may have been involved in the plot.
Now if we are to continue to believe the Mossad is the only game in Dubai we have two Fatah affiliates, one employed directed in Ramallah and the other a Palestinian intelligence operative, and a potential Hamas turncoat working for the Mossad. All of which makes me ask – is there anyone other than me who is not working for the Mossad?
