Harper Does Good in Haiti

[Colpy]

Rapid aid rollout shows PM has learned from the past - The Globe and Mail

I would submit that the Lebanon incident was entirely different..........an ally was engaged in military operations, there was fighting on the ground, and great risk of "rescuing" actual combatants....one had to be sure those brought out were not terrorists in sheep's clothing.

I think Harper's concern and decisive manner are much more suitably compared to the Liberal government's abysmal performance after the much greater tragedy of the 2004 tsunami.........it took Harper less than 30 minutes to set DART in motion.....it took the Liberals over 2 days to decide to send them...........and then they "starved": the mission.

Harper has glaring faults...........but on this file he has done very well, so far.

He is actually a leader to be proud of.....on rare occassions.

 

[MHz]

I hope Canada remembers to put chutes on the air-dropped cargo this time.

"I would submit that the Lebanon incident was entirely different..........an ally was engaged in military operations, there was fighting on the ground, and great risk of "rescuing" actual combatants....one had to be sure those brought out were not terrorists in sheep's clothing."
You really could have left out the Israeli propaganda

 

[Risus]

Once again Harper proves he is a true leader...

 

[MHz]

Ever see the damage air dropped pallets can do?

 

[lone wolf]

Finally! Some decisiveness and gumption....

 

[Colpy]

I hope Canada remembers to put chutes on the air-dropped cargo this time.

"I would submit that the Lebanon incident was entirely different..........an ally was engaged in military operations, there was fighting on the ground, and great risk of "rescuing" actual combatants....one had to be sure those brought out were not terrorists in sheep's clothing."
You really could have left out the Israeli propaganda

Israeli propaganda?? I used the example of Lebanon because it was mentioned in the article I cited...........simple as that.

 

[MHz]

Israeli propaganda?? I used the example of Lebanon because it was mentioned in the article I cited...........simple as that.

So why are the lives of our 'allies' more important than the lives of our citizens, let alone the Canadian soldiers that were with the UN? If you were under attack by one of my friends I just might kick him in the nuts if that is what it takes to bring you to a safer place.

 

[Colpy]

So why are the lives of our 'allies' more important than the lives of our citizens, let alone the Canadian soldiers that were with the UN? If you were under attack by one of my friends I just might kick him in the nuts if that is what it takes to bring you to a safer place.

Well, Canada is not going to kick Israel in the nuts...........and yes, bringing out Hezbollah terrorists was a concern. And a large number of the "Canadians" there were Canadian only in name and for convenience.

The problem is that the area in which the people we needed to resue were confined is an area that also contains many of our enemies, some undoubtedly desperate to escape Israeli retribution.

Now, if you think that is Israeli propaganda, so be it......but I would appreciate it if we could avoid turning this into yet another ME Israeli-Palestinian-Hezbollah thread.

So let's just agree to drop the subject.

Please.

 

[MHz]

Please.

Done

 

[AnnaG]

Um, remember Haiti? Harpy's reaction?

I think it's great that our gov't wasn't dawdling this time. It kind of gives me the impression they actually are representing real Canadians.

 

[damngrumpy]

Colpy here is one case where I agree with you, most times I am very critical of Harper as I am a long way from being a Conservative. In this case however, I think Harper has done well. He has acted quickly, and has spaced his action in a manner that does
not block up the stressed airport in Haiti itself. He is matching funds which requires
Canadians to do their part as well. Supplies and people will be on the ground where
needed and the transport of Canadians home under the circumstances is warranted.
This time he has got it right credit is due here.

 

[Mowich]

I also agree that our government has acted quickly and decisively in this crisis. Peter McKay, our Minister of Defense, should also be given some credit.

 

[Colpy]

Yep, real decisiveness, real action........and timely.

CBC News - Canada - Canadian military team heading to Haiti

This guy gets my vote.

 

[Avro]

After lying about the Afghan torture scandal and an unpopular proroguing of Parliament he had to see to some damage control and Haiti came along just at the right time.

Golly gee, God must be on his side.

He won't get my vote.

 

[Colpy]

After lying about the Afghan torture scandal and an unpopular proroguing of Parliament he had to see to some damage control and Haiti came along just at the right time.

Golly gee, God must be on his side.

He won't get my vote.

Well, he had mine anyway....unfortunately, I look at the alternatives.......and suddenly Harpo looks pretty damn good.

Everything is relative.

 

[JLM]

I was going to disagree with you but you did say "on rare occasions" so I guess we are in agreement, but having said that, since he parogied the gov't, I don't think his plate has been overly full (probably spending his time doing travel and motel bookings for the 2010 Charade)

 

[FiveParadox]

Re: Harper’s Management of the Haïtian Crisis

That’s a valid point when comparing the two responses, JLM.

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper P.C., M.P. (Calgary Southwest), the Prime Minister, didn’t need to balance responding to a foreign disaster with managing the day-to-day affairs of the national legislature, and coordinating the business of Her Majesty’s Government for Canada with one hundred five honourable senators, and three hundred eight members of the House of Commons, plus staffers, of course. And once more, he also doesn’t need to be concerned with the reactions of opposition parties to his reaction to this emergency, since the House of Commons cannot sit to discuss the performance of the prime minister’s Government. It’s a case of apples and oranges.

That being said, it’s good nonetheless to see a more timely response on the part of the Government to this disaster, and I am greatly appreciative of the hard work that Canadians are doing to help out our brothers and sisters in the Republic of Haïti. The massive outpouring of support that we have seen (whether this is fundraising through mobile phone bills, cash donations made by large corporations (such as the $100,000 USD donation made by The TJX Companies), or the thrown-together donation boxes at the local Costco cafeteria, it’s been wonderful to see Canadians unite for such an important purpose.

 

[Colpy]

So what you are saying, Five, is that it is a wonderful thing that Harper prorogued Parliament.....

LOL

 

[FiveParadox]

Re: Harper’s Management of the Haïtian Emergency

Certainly not.

The prime minister’s reasons for proroguing the Parliament of Canada made for the most politically-motivated prorogation that Canada has had, ever — and even other nations that use the Westminster system of government are looking to us with disdain for having done so. The prime minister has shown once again such shameful and paranoid contempt for our parliamentary institutions, just as when he declared the wise and honourable Supreme Court of Canada to be an enemy of the Government.

The prime minister’s management of our foreign affairs is but one minor piece in the game of government, and in almost all other counts this Government is failing miserably. At the end of the day, this Government was first elected to office with a promise to bring renewed accountability and integrity to Canadian politics, and they have failed to do so. They didn’t even believe in their own Federal Accountability Act — they haven’t even implemented the entire thing yet, and that was years ago, an item on their very first throne speech. The lack of integrity that this Government has demonstrated is staggering, and the circumstances and dark cloud surrounding this prorogation are just one example of this.

That doesn’t erase the fact, of course, that the prime minister’s response to the Haïtian crisis has been sound and timely. It was refreshing to see the ministry take a foreign disaster seriously and to take action as quickly as it did. If only that level of urgency and sincerity were exercised by this Government on domestic issues, Canadians would be far better off.

 

[Avro]

Well, he had mine anyway....unfortunately, I look at the alternatives.......and suddenly Harpo looks pretty damn good.

Everything is relative.

I look at my local candidate before the party leader. I will never ever vote for Jim Farty...he's and a$$ wipe.;-)