Canada's Near Terror Attack
As most have probably heard 17 suspects were arrested in connection with an attempted terror plot . I would like to send my kudos out to the RCMP, CSIS, and all law enforcement officials who helped foil this plot. I also would like to condemn those idiots who vandalized a mosque . Most Muslims are good honest citizens, not supporters of terrorism, so we should not blame the whole community for the radical views of a few individuals. I am glad even our public safety minister, Stockwell Day, who I absolutely despise, admitted most Canadian Muslims are honest citizens.
In light of this failed attack, it is clear Canada is a target, but the question is what is the cause. Stephen Harper believes it is our way of life and our freedoms, but I personally don't buy this argument. Others argue it is our role in Afghanistan and our close alliance with the United States. Even though there is likely not one reason for it, I think this argument has far more merit than the former one. I don't think we should just pull out of Afghanistan just because we are a target, but I do think we need to decide whether the benefits from being in Afghanistan outweigh the risks. People will differ on this including even those within the Liberal Party, but personally I don't believe the benefits of being in Afghanistan outweigh the risks.
In light of this failed attack, it is clear Canada is a target, but the question is what is the cause. Stephen Harper believes it is our way of life and our freedoms, but I personally don't buy this argument. Others argue it is our role in Afghanistan and our close alliance with the United States. Even though there is likely not one reason for it, I think this argument has far more merit than the former one. I don't think we should just pull out of Afghanistan just because we are a target, but I do think we need to decide whether the benefits from being in Afghanistan outweigh the risks. People will differ on this including even those within the Liberal Party, but personally I don't believe the benefits of being in Afghanistan outweigh the risks.
posted by Monkey Loves to Fight at 9:58 PM
12 Comments:
Coward.
Brad - You don't defeat terrorism by bombing the crap out of them nor do you do it through more war. You must get at the roots of it. It is poverty, oppression, and an aggressive foreign policy on the part of the West, but especially the Americans that is fueling terrorism. You can take a simplistic approach to a complex problem, but that won't work.
Brad: I couldn't have said it better myself.
This form of self-defeatism will be the downfall of western civization unfortunately. A civilization that will not defend itself is doomed.
Miles, if you were accosted on the street, would you stand up and protect yourself, or try to get at the root causes? I'm afraid you have already answered the question.
You sir, are yellow bellied.
This form of self-defeatism will be the downfall of western civization unfortunately. A civilization that will not defend itself is doomed.
I don't see this as an East vs. West, rather as a conflict between two ideologies, neo-conservatism vs. Islamic fundamentalism, neither which I support.
Miles, if you were accosted on the street, would you stand up and protect yourself, or try to get at the root causes? I'm afraid you have already answered the question.
I think you are making the wrong comparison here. Rather suppose someone attacked someone on the street (the Americans) and the other person punches them back (the terrorists) and then the other one punches them onto the ground (the Americans) and then a whole gang of friends join in a kicking the guy (American Allies).
It is US foreign policy in the Middle East that helped allow Al-Qaeda to grow to its current level so aligning ourselves with the Americans just makes us more of a target. We don't need to get caught in the crossfire, lets stay out of the battle. It is their war, not our war.
The terrorists attacked the West on 9/11, not just neo-cons.
They have stated they wish to destroy the West - U.S., UK, Canada, Europe, etc, not just the U.S.
You are a complete coward, shameful really.
The terrorists attacked the West on 9/11, not just neo-cons.
They have stated they wish to destroy the West - U.S., UK, Canada, Europe, etc, not just the U.S.
You are a complete coward, shameful really.
The Terrorists attacked the United States, not the West as a whole on 9/11. They want the West to stop interferring in their domestic affairs. I agree Osama Bin Ladin is an evil man who wants to destroy the West, but he needs recruits and if we treated the Middle East better he would have fewer recruits. Everytime the West attacks a Muslim country, it is easier to get Al-Qaeda recruits.
I am not a coward, I believe in dealing with the root cause. Also since when is wanting to be independent from the United States in our foreign policy cowardly. We are a sovereign nation with different values so we should stop taking this attitude of blindly following them.
It has nothing to do with blindly following the U.S. You are a coward because you refuse to protect yourself, or to support action that results in us being protected.
You are a coward because you blame us for people who want to kill us, instead of blaming them.
You are a coward for refusing to admit that we can't simply sit back and play defense, that we must destroy the terrorism before it destroys us.
And finally, and most importantly, you are a coward for not wanting to get involved in the hope that we are spared any wrath - this is a textbook sign of a coward.
Are you this cowardly in all aspects of your life? Would you protect your girlfriend from threats? Would a woman even feel safe with you?
It has nothing to do with blindly following the U.S. You are a coward because you refuse to protect yourself, or to support action that results in us being protected.
Bombing a poor third world country makes us more of a target, not less of one. You should spend some time around people from the Middle East and learn about its history before commenting. Secondly standing up to the United States takes far more courage than bullying a poor third world country.
You are a coward because you blame us for people who want to kill us, instead of blaming them.
I don't agree with terrorism, but I believe that it is the United States foreign policy that is the primary reason for it. Noticed I said the United States, not Canada, so I don't know your nationality, between I don't consider the Americans "us" rather I consider the Americans "them".
You are a coward for refusing to admit that we can't simply sit back and play defense, that we must destroy the terrorism before it destroys us
Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth doesn't work. It doesn't work in foreign policy and it doesn't work with crime either. It is simplistic right wing idea that is appealing, but doesn't work. By attacking them pre-emptively such as the Iraq war you simply fuel more hatred and give the more reason not less reason to attack you.
And finally, and most importantly, you are a coward for not wanting to get involved in the hope that we are spared any wrath - this is a textbook sign of a coward.
It is not just about being spared the wrath, it is about morals too and I don't believe there is a good and a bad guy. The US government and that of its allies have killed far more people than the terrorists have so both are bad guys in my book.
Are you this cowardly in all aspects of your life? Would you protect your girlfriend from threats? Would a woman even feel safe with you?
No I am not cowardly anywhere. If my girlfriend (I don't have one at the moment, but lets assume I did) was attacked I would defend her. But if some criminal who attacked another guy first was being attacked, no I wouldn't defend him.
I am not some coward as you say. I live in multicultural city, was a member of the SFU International Club and know many people from the Middle East. I've talked to them and even though all of them condemn terrorism, they have also pointed to American foreign policy as the primary reason for it. If anything I could argue you are a coward for not wanting to stand up to the United States and say enough of their bullying. Instead Conservatives here believe we should kowtow to them. Standing up to a poor third world country doesn't take courage. Standing up to the world's most powerful nation does. And if you happen to be an American, I suggest you inform yourself about Canada and its history and realize we don't share the same values you guys do and we don't want to.
You talk of the US bombing third world countries...and you talk of this tying into neo-conservatism.
Yet, Iraq WAS bombed by Bill Clinton in what was known as Operation: Desert Fox in December 1998. Clinton, of course, is hardly a neo-con, as many of us would agree.
It's not just a neo-Conservative thing, Miles. As much as you would like them to bear the blame for the terrorist attacks, I am sure Clinton's foreign policy was no more appealing to them.
As far as terrorism goes, you said yourself Bin Laden and the upper echelons of Al Qaeda geniuinely hate the West and what it stands for. THAT is what we are fighting. If some people joined up based on US foreign policy, that is their prerogative; however, the main thing driving Al Qaeda is sheer, unwarranted hatred of the West, something that even you have confirmed.
Yet, Iraq WAS bombed by Bill Clinton in what was known as Operation: Desert Fox in December 1998. Clinton, of course, is hardly a neo-con, as many of us would agree.
I am not condoning what Clinton did but bombing a country for two days is different than invading.
As far as terrorism goes, you said yourself Bin Laden and the upper echelons of Al Qaeda geniuinely hate the West and what it stands for. THAT is what we are fighting. If some people joined up based on US foreign policy, that is their prerogative; however, the main thing driving Al Qaeda is sheer, unwarranted hatred of the West, something that even you have confirmed
I agree Osama Bin Ladin hates the West, but he needs recruits to carry out his attacks and if American foreign policy did interfere as much in the Middle East, he wouldn't have the recruits necessary to carry out his attacks.
It has to do with hatred of the West, but it also has to do with ancient history. That is why Spain was bombed. Bin Laden himself said so. For a blogger you sure are uninformed.
You know, I can see (even if I disagree) with the objections to Iraq, but for the life of me I can not understand the objections to Afghanistan. Luckily, even in liberal Toronto, most understand the need to be there. Heck, even the Liberals sent us in there, NATO is there, even EUROPE is there!
You are a coward and even a traitor.
It has to do with hatred of the West, but it also has to do with ancient history. That is why Spain was bombed. Bin Laden himself said so. For a blogger you sure are uninformed
As I said earlier, Bin Ladin is driven by hatred of the West, but his ability to recruit members is largely due to US foreign policy. Also Spain likely wouldn't have been attacked had they not gone into Iraq.
You know, I can see (even if I disagree) with the objections to Iraq, but for the life of me I can not understand the objections to Afghanistan. Luckily, even in liberal Toronto, most understand the need to be there. Heck, even the Liberals sent us in there, NATO is there, even EUROPE is there
Canadians are split down the middle on Afghanistan and I suspect the majority in Toronto oppose it much like Vancouver. Yes NATO is there, yes Europe is there, but that doesn't mean we need to be there. And the fact you still support the Iraq War probably says your understanding of the Middle East is not particularly strong.
You are a coward and even a traitor
I could argue you are a traitor for blindly supporting the United States, but I won't. Supporting an independent foreign policy based on peaceful engagement with the rest of the World is not being a traitor. In fact according to your logic almost half of the MPs are traitors.
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