Washington File

Henry Champ is merely focussing on top line items in American news. Despite that Canadians like to believe that we know more about the US than vice versa, it is far from the depth and detail of our conceit. This item was a surprise to people who don't follow US news closely, regardless of your opinion (e.g., Alex) as it is easy to find on web sites of MSNBC or CNN.

Upon reading the thread, I find Alex's communist references placed upon Henry Champ unfair. I find the topic an interesting one to learn about as it will have political ramifications in the US.

Sorry Alex, now that I have re-read your outburst, let me add (if I may)...I do not equate negative attitudes with the truth. Spin is spin, no matter if you have a smile on or not. Over the course of these blogs, I have found Mr. Champ to be very informative. If you have anything besides spin to provide us, (although your correction of my Russian history was well appreciated) then please do so. Otherwise, I will take Mr. Champ's blog as an accurate reflection of one man's opinion of one small peice of American life.

As for my comment about America's attitude leading up to the war in Iraq, how would you equate it? There were those who wanted vengance, those who were abosolutely against it, those who believed they could and should win in the name of democracy...it is this 3rd group I was refering to...

This 3rd group blindly accepted false/mis-statements by an Administration (I personally don't believe Mr. Bush decieved the public intentionally, however those around him did and continue to) to justify invading a country that was a minimial threat to American security. Do remember the theme at that time? Freeing the Iraqi people. No question, Saddam is and was a terrible man...but why did they not do the same in Sudan, Ethiopia, Congo, Columbia (ooops, they support that regime), East Timor, Rwanda...need I continue the list?

If you, Commrade Alex, believe for one second that Iraq was invaded solely to free the Iraqi people and to put down a threat, then you are, in my opinion, wearing rose-colored glasses.

Alex,

Please tell me what is wrong with Henry Champ telling us about recruitment problems in the US?

Don't tell me you were implying that Mr. Champ merely has a bias...you were implying that Mr. Champ was deliberately trying to decieve us by repeatedly ignoring any positive aspects of American life...hence the reference to the garbage dumps reported on across America.

9/11 was orchestrated by the military industrial complex.

I'd like to reply to the completely unwarranted outburst from Steve at Halifax.
He writes:" To Commrade Alex...who is more Soviet...yourself or Mr. Champ? Should we only trumpet the positive,..."

Steve doesn't argue with my perception of negative bias on the part of Mr. Champ. However, he implies that the only available alternative is to "only trumpet the positive". Ridiculous.

[Steve:]"... setting up entire fake villages as used to be done for the czar as he travelled through the rural countryside?"

First, there is a difference between "positive" and "fake". Second, the czar he referres to is not "he" but "she" -Empress Catherine II. Third, czar is not "Soviet". So-called Potyomkin villages were built for Catherine II during her visit to Crimea in 1787 (some historians consider it a legend).

[Steve:]"It is this blind attitude that led America to believe it could win the war in Iraq."

??? Wow!

[Steve:]"Of course there are many things alive and well in America. But I'd take the truth over rosed-colored glasses any day."

Negative=truth, positive=rosed-colored glasses? Nonsense again.

That was a satisfying read.

I think when the U.S.Students get back in
school they will begin to mobilize(a la Nam)
and by summer W&Co. will be getting a very
rough ride.

The problem with removing a dictator is that little consideration is given to who replaces that dictator. Hate, terror and crime will be filtering out of Iraq and the Mid-East for another 50-100 years because of the 'War on Terror'.

Just think back to other regimes Americans 'liberated'. Blood-lusting regimes just get replaced by anti-American blood-lusting regimes, since all these invasions do is give people a target to focus anger.

Most of the people really angered at Saddam were already dead in his torture camps, but now the people looking for a chance to rebuild have had their houses blown up, neighbours killed and families imprisonned. But don't worry, CIA intelligence reports all they want to do is bake cookies and sing happy songs.

"Why join the marines if you don't wanted to be a combat rifleman?"

Have you seen a recruiting commercial lately?

People join the marines and the other services mostly for the money. Of the marines I know the main reasons they joined are; money, chicks like the uniform, to prove they are tough, and getting out of whatever town they're in. Love of country is not that high on the list.

I visited a marine recruiting office 7 years ago. Took the ASVAB and the fitness tests. They offered to put me in for an aircraft maintenance speciailty. I would have joined had I not talked to a lot of marines and asked them why they joined.

In today's climate I wouldn't dream of walking into that recruiting office. I'm not at all surprised that they can't meet their recruiting goals. It doesn't help that the commander-in-chief and his cronies have zero credibility and no experience in the service.

I would hope that D. O'Reilly doesn't hesitate to run (don't walk), down to the closest U.S. military recruiting station and offer his or her own body up for fodder if he/she believes the American goal really is democracy for Iraqis.

Speaking of people who act from the same vantage point as a five year old, I must assume he is referring to our petulent leader of all that is American in this world.

All I can offer to O'Reilly for advice is he watch out for Weapons of Mass Destruction if he does opt to volunteer for Iraq. Rumour has it the Americans are loaded down with WMDs, so be careful who you sleep with.

When I enlisted during the Vietnam war, the military obligation was 6 years. I served 4 years on active duty and 2 years in the "inactive reserve". During the last 2 years I could have been called back if my military specialty had been required. I enlisted so that I could choose my specialty rather than be drafted for "cannon fodder". Everyone knows, or should know, that the military of every country serves the political objectives of the government. Why join the Marines if you don't wanted to be a combat rifleman?

2 quick comments: I met a Marine last year while vacationing, aged 22 who was heading back to Iraq for his third deployment there. He most certainly did not want to return and spoke with his recruiter about avoiding this, his third deployment; the response he received was that the only way he could be exempted was if he signed a new, extended contract. My second comment regards the CF expansion - there has been none despite an initiative announced by the Liberals and then enhanced by the Tories. The numbers coming in the door equal the numbers exiting despite the 'open door' policy that has grandfathers serving in our forces as well - i know; I had one work for me last year: age 50+ in his first year of service...

I wonder why the US is having trouble. Look at the public sentiment about the war. Why should anyone put their life on the line for a group that lied about the reasons for going, dragged their country's reputation into the mud, and have no plan for what constitutes victory. At least those who fought in WW 2 knew why they were there, knew there was a real threat to western civilization, and knew their government wouldn't try to win on the cheap.

As well, at least WW 2 wasn't hatched by a bunch of chicken-hawk, think tank warriors.

Let's not forget the human rights of those who cannot defend themselves under a repressive regime. Citizens of Iraq (I use the term loosely as 'citizen' implies some rights) mostly lived in fear, especially women. We are talking about an entire country of millions of our fellow-humans under the tirany of one man and his family for his own egotistical amusements. Does this sound acceptable to anyone's basic human values? If not, do we not have a responsiblity as global citizens to do something about this? When diplomacy fails (and it will when dealing with a man who operates at the level of a 5 year-old like Saddam) should we not, as Canadians with a conscience, pay (yes even with the blood of our soldiers) for the betterment of the world? We did it in WW1, WW2, Korea, Yugoslavia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Haiti, Somalia...why not in Iraq and Afghanistan?

To Commrade Alex...who is more Soviet...yourself or Mr. Champ? Should we only trumpet the positive, setting up entire fake villages as used to be done for the czar as he travelled through the rural countryside? It is this blind attitude that led America to believe it could win the war in Iraq.

Of course there are many things alive and well in America. But I'd take the truth over rosed-colored glasses any day.

Soviet TV once aired a special series on US, where correspondent travelled form coast to coast showing only dumps and homeless. Good work, comrade Champ!

Mr. Champ notes, correctly, that more attention is paid when the Marine Corps has to resort to extraordinary measures to keep its numbers up. But I wish that people would not automatically equate "being on active duty in the armed forces" with "serving one's country". The two phrases are not necessarily synonymous. I fail to see what "service" is being rendered to "my country" by Bush's Iraq war.

I would venture to say that the main reason why recruitment is up in Canada vs. the US is that the mission in which we are involved was initially and still is viewed as a "just" one by the general public. If we were to find out that Chretien lied/deceived/misinformed us the way the Bush adminsitration did, you would see a similar situation here as south of the border.

Having said that, I think Afganistan is not winnable for the main reason that it is viewed in a similar light to the American "immoral" war in Iraq and the overall war on terror.

I believe we will be pulling out Afganistan before its pacified.

I believe there are 535 members of the American Congress yet only 5 or so have children serving in the military and most would likely never dream of sending their children into possible death on the battlefield in lieu of a primo position at a prominent law firm or government department. It is an unspoken truth that the vast majority of American troops serving overseas are recruited from lower income areas with promises of good pay and training.

Odd in a way when one considers the fact that the people who benefit most from conflicts such as Iraq are usually very far from areas with high recruitment rates. Well, it seems that with a continuing war based on lies and seeminly without end, even the poor are beginning to believe that other options should be a priority.

This move to recall soldiers who have left the force is disgraceful. These people have already served their time, they are no longer truly active military members and obviously do not relish the idea of returning to duty and very possibly dying for a suposed cause that even President Bush has admitted has turned out to be baseless in terms of the original justifications.

Contrary to what Don Kopeck believes, military recruiting here in Canada is healthier than ever, as reported by the National Post on the 24th of August. The issue is that we have raised the recruiting targets.

Since Canada has recently raised recruiting targets, there is going to be a shortfall — but this is despite an overall increase in the number of volunteers. It's easy, though inaccurate, to claim that we are having "trouble" recruiting only because we have decided to expand the size of the CF.

Despite the new challenge, Colonel Peter Hunter recently stated publically that the target of the additional 10,000 recruits required by the Forces will be easily met.

It seems that Canadians are more eager to serve when there is conflict. Peacetime military service is "hurry up and wait", whereas our mission in Afghanistan has significantly increased interest in the Profession of Arms.

It is too easy for these incompetent leaders to call up the youth of the US while they enjoy a full life.
Bush says this is"a war". If it is it should be treated like a war and institute a draft. But that would be an act of political bravery and we all know that as far as bravery and courage are concerned, they are traits singularly lacking in the US leaders. With the exception of Rummy, none of them have served in the military, and in the case of Cheney he sought 6 exemptions. We all know about Bush slinking away from National Guard duty.
And think of the soldiers presently serving who heard Bush say the other day that the troops would be in Iraq until his term was over. 29 more months. Great for morale. 2600 dead;9000severely wounded and nothing accomplished. A tragedy beyond comprehension.

In olden days Kings led their troops into battle. Why not Geo. W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney follow their example. It would certainly improve their image. Might even help in recuiting.

The US military has been lowering its standards and upping the volunteer age (now 42) in order to claw back on their drop in recruiting. This past weekend on MSNBC, two senior recruits featured were a) a 42 year old grandmother and b) a 37 year old mother graduating boot camp with her 19 year old son.

A friend in the Oregon National Guard says that with aging demographics, any revival of their draft will race up to age 30 and beyond VERY quickly! (And for National Guard, they could draft up to age 50 and it will not be a place to hide like the Vietnam War. A third of the troops in Iraq are from Guardsmen.)

isn't it interesting that Haprer is having trouble here as well? isn't the Government here trying to lure immigrants into going back into dangers of war and terror, that they immigrated here to escape?

This should tell them something!
it also signals something about the "back-door draft "and the selling out of Canada to the Bush led war and terror.
Sucking us into a life of fear and terror.

This is Why Canada has to change course and re-establish our Peacekeeping skills and position and help, as opposed to financing agendas of war and terror.
there is a fine line and balance of establishing the evolution of Equal Human Rights and Freedooms , Without going to war and wasting tax dollars on agendas that kill our children and their future.

AIDS is one very real and sure way to get a grip on reality, from Governments to the people.
As Canadians , isn't it Our Duty and responsibility to Stand Up to agendas of War and terror? With Peacekeeping skills that respect better ways of communicating and understandings of Human life and the very essence of Spirit of Humanity.

Draw the line and ask .. Are you more interested in wasting tax dollars on agendas that kill our children and their futures?(ie: Wars that are geared to the power tripping extreme beleifs and egos of the few ) or ? Investing tax dollars on Infrastructures with Equal Human Rights and Freedoms to enable one another to help evolve without going to war!

Soldiers take pride in what they do. When they are doing something they cannot be be proud of, their spirits wane. Our Canadian soldiers, and the US troops I had the privilege of meeting, were well read, literate, Professional Soldiers, not mercenaries that will put up with the sound- bites of the day and "whistling-past-the grave yard bravados such as "Cut and Run" and "staying the course"' etc... We are being led at the worse possible times by the worse people...

Back Door draft is exactly what this is. These soldiers did their time in theater, survived, physically, and now should be enjoying the rest of their lives in peace. But now their government says wait we need you again. Most made it without a scratch, the first, second or third tour, and now their government wants to play Russian Roullette again with their lives. Where is the American Leadership? Haven't these soldiers earned the right to be left alone now? The death toll is rising, along with severly injured, and this government can't keep up with the cannon fodder needed to keep up with GW's failed government policy. Mr President maybe you should mobilize all the federal goverment employees to active service. After all they're on the payroll and while you may not be their Commander-in-Chief you are still their Boss.

Can you blame them!!! Six years of a corrupt regime in the White House that has repeatedly lied to the American public as to their true intentions for invading Iraq is enough to make anyone stop and think twice about signing up.

As if manipulating 9-11 to convince Americans to go into Iraq wasn't bad enough, the shameful execution of the war also compounds people reservations toward joining the forces.

At the very least, the man who is responsible, Donald Rumsfeld, should resign and make way for new blood. Although such an act would require a semblance of honour, something Rumsfeld never possessed.