Words
I hear his son thinks Rob Ford is “too radical even for me.”
"...[The War Room] has plenty of fascinating insights and is a must-read for political junkies."
- The Toronto Sun
"Warren Kinsella’s new book is a must-read for anyone interested in political campaigning in Canada. And not just political campaigning."
- The Literary Review of Canada
"The War Room is a rich, detailed, and substantive primer on how to run a winning war room - warts, pizza boxes, smelly couches and all - from a master war roomer."
- The Hill Times
"Kinsella has crafted a handy little guide for politicos and non-politicos alike. Just keep it away from the kids."
- The Winnipeg Free Press
"... a great read ... full of fascinating stories..."
- John Moore, CFRB
"...I don't want to say [he's a] genius...but there's valuable insights here..."
- John Oakley, AM640
"I just got one copy, but I plan to get more!"
- John Wright, Ipsos, CFRB
"I do recommend [The War Room] to everyone."
- Charles Adler, Adler Online
"A fascinating book...full of great stories."
- Ken Rockburn, CPAC
George Bush Sr. just went by us in this boat
Too bad you couldn’t flag him down to question him on the invasion of Panama in 1989 when he ruined Christmas for thousands of Panamanians who lost their lives during the intervention.
How many lives did Noriega, his henchman, and his product ruin?
How was that GHB’s concern again?
Ummm…because ‘Manny’ was an ass?
Other concerns included:
1.) Safeguarding the lives of U.S. citizens in Panama. In his statement, Bush claimed that Noriega had declared that a state of war existed between the United States and Panama and that he also threatened the lives of the approximately 35,000 US citizens living there. There had been numerous clashes between U.S. and Panamanian forces; one US Marine had been killed a few days earlier and several incidents of harassment of US citizens had taken place.
2.) Defending democracy and human rights in Panama.
3.) Combating drug trafficking. Panama had become a center for drug money laundering and a transit point for drug trafficking to the United States and Europe.
4.) Protecting the integrity of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. Members of Congress and others in the U.S. political establishment claimed that Noriega threatened the neutrality of the Panama Canal and that the United States had the right under the treaties to intervene militarily to protect the Panama canal.
(OK, OK…I wiki’d it)
Being able to recite the tenets of “Operation Just Cause” (or, as critics like to refer to it “Operation Just Because”) is not sufficient for an analysis.
As Michael F. points out, US policy makers didn’t mind too much when Noriega was on the CIA payroll for YEARS, or when he was profiting off drugs. When he became a liability in the setting of War on Drugs policy and George H. Bush (a former CIA director during the time Noriega was a CIA asset) needed to combat his “wimp” image, then his days were numbered.
You clearly no zilch about the history of U.S.-Panama relations (your wiki search and the sweeping generalization which followed confirms this). If you think the Americans have used intervention to “defend democracy and human rights” in Panama, or for that matter, any other Latin American country throughout the 20th century, then you are incredibly naive and uninformed.
It is not as simple as “bad US” and “good Latin American countries” but the United States government has a lot to answer for in the context of U.S.-Latin American relations.
Check out John Lindsay Poland’s meticulously researched book “Emperors in the Jungle” for more on the U.S.-Panamanian relationship.
Also, Barbara Trent’s Academy-Award winning 1992 documentary: “The Panama Deception” is good for people who love movies, and those who have difficulty reading a long book.
Raymond,
Being able to recite the official tenets of “Operation Just Cause” (or, as critics like to refer to it “Operation Just Because”) is extremely easy. But it doesn’t make for an analysis.
As Michael F. points out, US policy makers didn’t mind too much when Noriega was on the CIA payroll for YEARS, or when he was profiting off drugs. When he became a liability in the setting of War on Drugs policy and George H. Bush (a former CIA director during the time Noriega was a CIA asset) needed to combat his “wimp” image, then his days were numbered.
You clearly no zilch about the history of U.S.-Panama relations (your wiki search and the sweeping generalization which followed confirms this). If you think the Americans have used intervention to “defend democracy and human rights” in Panama, or for that matter, any other Latin American country throughout the 20th century, then you are incredibly naive and uninformed.
It is not as simple as “bad US” and “good Latin American countries” but the United States government has a lot to answer for in the context of U.S.-Latin American relations.
Check out John Lindsay Poland’s meticulously researched book “Emperors in the Jungle” for more on the U.S.-Panamanian relationship.
Also, Barbara Trent’s Academy-Award winning 1992 documentary: “The Panama Deception” is good for people who love movies, and those who have difficulty reading a long book.
You must be in Kennebunkport! Take a look at John Ivison’s story in the National Post’s web site. It seems that Ignatieff and Donolo were talking politics recently on an airplane and were completely oblivious to the fact that the gentleman sitting behind them was Senator Doug Finley, the Conservative Campaign Chairman. I am sure that you would never make that amateur mistake.
I don’t like Ford, but the Bushes are historically freaky and dangerous. Lucky Jeb married a Mexican women…so the Southern Rednecks won’t support him for a run at the White House.
C’mon Warren the big news today is that George Smitherman has told Toronto that he is, in fact, The Tax Man!!
Sorry: henchMEN.
Decent boat man! Looks like a Boston Whaler with triplets! It would out run a torpedo boat.
Do you have a photograph of the Bush mansion at Walker’s Point? George Senior was born with a lot of silver spoons in his mouth, yet he did break out on his own by beginning a business in Texas. He was quite rich, but instead of a life as an indolent rich guy, he chose a career in public service. You may not like his politics, but he did chose a life of service that exposed him to praise and ridicule. I thought that he was much more effective than his successor.
Agreed. Well said.
Didn’t always agree with Pres. Bush Sr. and his policies, but I agree with your post Paul. It’s only right to for him to enjoy his golden years after so much public service through difficult times.
When many thought the US should have kept rolling on to Baghdad during the first Gulf War, he wisely chose another course.
On the other hand it’s good to see Lipman is back.
Watch out for that one!!!
http://youtu.be/0ntMluaKA_c
Looks like Smitherman is flip-flopping like a carp on the dock.
Taxes. No Taxes. Taxes. No Taxes.
W’s idiocy exposed him to praise and ridicule. Everything else was given to him by Bush Sr., or by Bush Sr’s friends and appointees.
And while I’m not a fan of either Bush, the elder was certainly a competent and worthy president, particularly during the collapse of communism and the fall of the Soviet Union. He had his flaws – his role during the Iran Contra scandal was just one glaring sin – but to say that he was indolent is actually quite wide of the mark.
Come on, the history of the Bush family is well documented that I can’t believe you’d actually write what you did.
Paul R. Martin:
You should read a bio on GHWB. He was destined for public service from the getgo. His oil ventures were funded by family money.
Aw crap, I just re-read your post, Paul R. Martin, and see that you were referring to Bush Sr. My reading comprehension sucks in the evening, I see. Apologies.
No problem. I have also misread stuff before.
So furious George told a Rossi campaign worker to go f yourself!!!
Rossi needs to get that volunteer all over the news! Smitherman is done.
That is a sweet boat, was Senior driving it or just a passenger?
I read somewhere that GHWB was the guy who shot JFK from the Grassy Knoll. I know that can’t be true.
He might have taught his sons how to blow up frogs with fire crackers, but that would have just been father-son bonding.
Nice boat.
I understood you the first time, Lipman.
The question was “how was it GHWB’s concern?”
For the sake of expediency, I posted a pre-written rebuttal.
I’m sorry your friendly dictator was deposed. Get over it.
Even if i bought this line of reasoning, perhaps they could have found a way to get rid of him without killing a lot of innocent civilians. But historically, killing brown people has never been a big deal to the American government.