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Originally Posted by percy
OK I have cooled off a bit. Can't but feel worried for the rest of the Canadians trying to get out of Lebanon when our government seemingly think that all that is going on is a "measured response."
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Harper made those comments priror to the G-8 summit not long after the conflict errupted.
After the statments groups condemned the PM.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl.../BNStory/Front
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Originally Posted by Globe And Mail
The National Council on Canada-Arab Relations issued a statement in Ottawa calling on Mr. Harper to use Canada's diplomatic ties to demand an immediate cessation of Israeli attacks against Lebanon.
The council called on Mr. Harper to “contact his counterparts in Lebanon and Israel to urge restraint and condemn the use of force against civilians.”
“The implications of the widening conflict engulfing Lebanon, Syria, Israel and the Palestinians will result in far-reaching consequences that will prevent any chances of peace in the region.”
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Near the end of the G-8 conference, after the conflict escalated more, the G-8 nations issued a joint statment in which the Canadians played a role in drafting, was agreed to by all 8 leaders including Harper.
The statement from teh G-8 does exactly as the National Council on Canada-Arab Relations requested.
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Originally Posted by G-8 Statement
...It is also critical that Israel, while exercising the right to defend itself, be mindful of the strategic and humanitarian consequences of its actions. We call upon Israel to exercise utmost restraint, seeking to avoid casualties among innocent civilians and damage to civilian infrastructure and to refrain from acts that would destabilize the Lebanese government...
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Full text:
http://www.g8.gc.ca/m_east-en.asp
Is Harper saying the same thing as he originaly stated? or has signing this changed his statement?
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Originally Posted by Charlatan
What does Harper gain from taking this stance? He gets to be Bush's pal "Steve".
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This is most Probably right.
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Originally Posted by Charlatan
He gets the appearence, at home, of looking decisive (as opposed to waffling).
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This is no help if the general population is not happy with the decision. (note: we don't know how the population feesl in general. We can only guess.)
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Originally Posted by Charlatan
He gets to curry favour with a large part of the Jewish vote in Canada (interestingly outnumbered 2 to 1 by Muslims).
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You have to figure that a guy that would want to keep his job would try to curry favor with the Muslim-Canadian population as this would give him more needed votes than placating the Jewish-Canadian Population.
So why does Harper say what he says? That is a good question.
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Originally Posted by Charlatan
It wouldn't surprise me if, we are hit with some sort of terrorist reprisal because of this.
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While in this case (as in most cases) one may or may not agre with what Harper (or any PM) says, it would be a real shame if we let the thought above creep into our minds, even if it is true.
A possible terrorist act against us should not keep us from making statements. Should we let this thought enter our minds and should it hinder us from stating what we want then the terrorist has already won even without attacking.
In this case Harpers comments are controversial amongst Canadians.
What about our role in Afganistan? We are probably a target for that too.
What about the fact that we are, in general, on friendly terms with the US? I am sure that makes us a target as well.