Target Centermass

Category: North America

  • Quality Time and a Canada Tidbit

    Not much tonight, folks.

    One quick observation: CNN currently has the links to the following two stories side by side on their front page:

    Interceptor Missile Hits Test Target

    Canada Won’t Join Missile Defense Shield

    From the latter story is this little gem:

    Talking to reporters several minutes after his foreign minister first announced the move in the House of Commons, Martin said Canada would instead focus on strengthening its own military and defense in proposals laid out Wednesday in the federal budget.

    “Canada recognizes the enormous burden that the United States shoulders, when it comes to international peace and security,” [Canadian Prime Minister Paul]Martin said. “The substantial increases made yesterday to our defense budget are a tangible indication that Canada intends to carry its full share of that responsibility.”

    The federal budget presented to the House of Commons calls for $10.5 billion in the next five years to increase the country’s beleaguered armed forces — including an additional 5,000 soldiers and 3,000 reservists — the largest commitment to defense in two decades. It also called for another $807,950 to improve Canada’s anti-terrorism efforts and security along the unarmed, 4,000-mile border with the United States.

    Substantial increase? Largest commitment? Damian Brooks over at Babbling Brooks disagrees. Quite strongly.

    Don’t get me wrong: this is much better than the kick in the teeth our people in uniform have gotten for at least the past ten years. But to sell this bandaid as some blessed newfound commitment to our military is typical political dishonesty.

  • A Little Canadian Self-Examination

    Our neighbors to the north seem to be struggling with a bit of an identity crisis: are they allies or opponents to the U.S., contributors or pretenders as members of NATO and the international community? Ben at The Tiger in Winter takes an interesting and critical look here (hat tip to Damian Brooks at Babbling Brooks).

    We are unsteady as an ally. And this is not only a Liberal failing. In fact, the most egregious example was under a Conservative government. Diefenbaker did not co-operate with the Americans during the Cuban Missile Crisis — he refused to put the Canadian military on alert. (Canadian commanders, on the other hand, put themselves on alert.) That display prompted Bobby Kennedy to say of us, “in an emergency Canada will give you all aid short of help.”

    Go give it a read. Mr. Brooks adds his two cents to the piece.

    [Canadian conservatives] want Canada to live up to its potential, both domestically and internationally, so bad it hurts. That means making Canada stronger – economically, socially, and yes – militarily. The Canadian left likes to talk about charting an independent foreign policy from the U.S., but how can you remain independent with no assets to devote to your international goals – foreign aid, consulates and embassies, and yes again – military? How do you maintain true sovereignty over Canadian domestic issues without a strong and expanding economy – one that’s competitive worldwide without the crutch of a weak dollar?

  • AWOL Soldier Seeks Canadian Help

    An American is making headlines for deserting and begging our neighbor to the north for refuge.

    An American soldier who fought in Afghanistan two years ago but deserted and fled from the United States before he could be sent to Iraq has launched a long-shot bid for political refuge in Canada.

    Jeremy Hinzman, 26, has appeared before Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board, claiming he would face persecution if sent home to the US.

    Mr. Hinzman testified that while his comrades regarded him as a “soldier’s soldier”, he realised over time that he could not kill another human being.

    I wonder if the brave troops Hinzman left behind still consider him a “soldier’s soldier.” Actually, no, I don’t. I think his former comrades could come up with more colorful terms now.

    The South Dakota-born soldier of the 82nd Airborne Division is claiming refugee status based on his contention that he was right to refuse to fight in the war in Iraq, which he says is illegal and violated human rights.

    Mr Hinzman said he had requested conscientious objector status in the US in 2002.

    But his case failed and he was sent to Afghanistan, where he eventually made 18 combat parachute jumps.

    Late last year he learned he was to be deployed to Iraq, prompting him to flee to Canada early this year with his Laotian wife Nga Nguyen and two-year-old son, Liam.

    His case, and that of two other fugitive American soldiers, has stirred sympathy in Canada, which opposed the Iraq war.

    But it has also raised fears that a positive ruling could spark a flood of US deserters across the border, as the toll of the Iraq war and occupation deepens, having already cost more than 1000 US lives.

    The chances of Mr Hinzman getting refugee status are seen as slim. No such decision has ever been made in Canada.

    ….

    He testified that his growing awareness that killing was wrong was partly born from an interest in Buddhism and attendance at Quaker religious meetings.

    Outside, a knot of anti-war supporters, waved banners reading, “Let him stay.”

    Yes, please let him stay, Canada. We’ll keep the red, white and blue, and y’all can coddle our yellow.

    Should he remain in Canada as a deserter, Hinzman’s citizenship should be revoked if possible. If it can’t be, that’s a shame that I would love to see corrected. Should any such deserters elect to return, I would like to see Hinzman and his ilk given a choice: prison or finish service in one of the historical roles of conscientious objector, such as a medic or chaplain’s assistant. See, I have a heart, especially for Quaker Buddhists.