…because we are at war.  We’re a nation at war.

It’s easy to forget over the holidays, I suppose.  And, because it is happening so far away, in a place where most of us will never go, it seems like something happening in a movie theatre.  But for the Armed Forces, and for military families, it is much more realistic than that, I reckon.

Military expert Scott Taylor – who has forgotten more about this country’s military than I, or most of this web site’s readership, will ever know – writes about the war this morning in the The Chronicle Herald. I urge you to read all of it, because it isn’t just an important column – it’s a courageous column.  It’s courageous because pro-war voices are pervasive, and utterly dominate the discourse in Canada, these days.  They attack and malign whomever speaks up against them.

In particular, I wanted to draw to your attention the following:

“…Canada’s extended military contribution to this mission, with the provision of 1,000 military trainers until (at least) 2014, was loudly hailed by the pro-war tub-thumpers as an opportunity for Canadian soldiers to “finish the job.” This has become the universal catch phrase of the pro-war lobby in the wake of their realization that the word victory no longer makes any sense.

Even if we take that objective to its logical and limited conclusion and assume now that our soldiers’ job is to create a self-sufficient, effective Afghan security force, that still begs the question: How does that ultimately benefit the Afghan people?”

And:

“…Given the death of [Cpl. Steve] Martin — and his 153 comrades who have also made the ultimate sacrifice — Canadians need to continue to educate themselves about the real challenges and to define through debate the real job we may want to finish in Afghanistan.

Training more Afghan youths to fire weapons in order to impose ruthless authority is not the answer.”

It’s unfortunate that – every time I voice an anti-war opinion – I feel obliged to state that my Dad was an officer in the Armed Forces, that we grew up around the military, and that I wanted to join the military myself.  But such is the effectiveness of the military lobby, with their embedded journalists and wined-and-dined politicians: they make you feel a bit guilty about challenging the conventional “wisdom.”

But my view remains unchanged: I feel – and apparently Scott Taylor agrees with me – we have done our bit.  After almost a decade, it is time for other nations to step up.  Canada can apply her considerable expertise in many other parts of the world, where terror and tyranny also run unchecked.  Propping up Afghanistan’s dictatorship does us, and the world, no good.

Who else feels as I do?  Not bloody many, by my count.  The Conservative government, naturally, equates the untendered acquistion of billions in unneeded fighter jets with patriotism.  My party, meanwhile, isn’t much better: after opposing extending the war – and after repeatedly demanding that the government make good on its promise to withdraw in 2011 – the Liberal leadership now cheers it on, blithely giving the pro-war lobby the votes they needed to continue making billions.  And to keep a corrupt dictator in power.

The New Democrats and the Bloc feel similarly, I think, but they will never be close enough to power to do anything about it.  So, for years to come, we will continue to lose young lives.  We will continue to receive returning soldiers at CFB Trenton, and watch the grim trek down the Highway of Heroes to Toronto.

And, eventually, we will ask ourselves: for what?

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“The new governor general says he sees nothing wrong or illegitimate with coalition governments — something Prime Minister Stephen Harper has attacked for being “undemocratic.”

Gov. Gen. David Johnston told QMI Agency he’s been busy brushing up on constitutional governments in case he is called upon to navigate a choppy political crisis.

“Any governor general who has that role in a constitutional system like ours, from time to time will be confronted with questions where there is an element of discretion,” he said.”

Coming up: the “I have no relationship with the Governor-General” press conference!  Stay tuned!

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“A rare act of open hostility between a federal Conservative MP and his provincial PC cousin is resonating throughout Queen’s Park, prompting astonishment from the sidelines, mild concern within the party and outright glee among Liberal ranks. The outburst came in a letter to a Toronto newspaper penned by Conservative MP Scott Reid… Several Tory MPPs have privately expressed shock over the letter. And one senior Liberal said the party will use Reid’s remarks against Sterling in the October 2011 provincial election. Sterling, an MPP since 1977, played down Reid’s remarks, calling them “silly” and “irrelevant.” He said he’s not worried about the impact the comments will have in the upcoming election.”

What’s it all mean? Well, it means they are Reformatories, for starters. They are two parties within one: Conservatives on one side, rural extremists on the other.

And Timmy Hudak did a secret deal with the latter to win the leadership of the former. Soon enough, he’ll pay a price for that secret deal.

He won’t like the outcome.

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…it was me.

Angelo’s column today, always worth a read.

I stand by what I said: if the Conservatives and the Reformers got their act together, we’d be in big trouble.  They did; we still are.

And they’ll keep winning as long as we keep splitting the vote.

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“This was a year of new controversies, like prorogation and WikiLeaks. It was also the year of old battles, in the Middle East, and between the Koreas, and in the grinding and never-ending war against terror.

It was a year of wonderful highs, like the Vancouver Winter Olympics and Sidney Crosby’s gold-plated goal. And many, many lows, as in the economic recovery that never seems to feel like one, or Stephen Harper’s brutalization of the pregnant Helena Guergis, or Maclean’s calling all of Quebec “corrupt,” or the G20 fake lake costing tens of thousands, or …”

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What’s it all about?  Well, I watch this every year with my kids, who I  miss.  Linus sums it up well, I’d say.

Hug yours, right now, and Merry Christmas.

o

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This is very sad and unnecessary. But it’s also unstoppable, in my experience.

To see what I mean, plug in “Warren Kinsella” into a Google search, and read what comes up as recommended search terms two, three and five.

In our case, it happens to be true.  In our case, in fact, political enemies of mine – Conservatives and Liberals – have circulated copies of the pleadings to two newspapers, three hate bloggers and each other.  I know who did it, and I’ll be dealing with all of them soon enough.

But in respect of any family, here’s free advice: don’t be a complete lowlife and scumbag.  Leave them alone.

(And I can’t believe this crap is happening at Christmas, either.  But it is.)

UPDATE: The Globe has removed the posting it had up this morning.

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And you only need to refresh it every twenty minutes!  Enjoy!

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You know what they’re doing, and you want to look away, but you can’t.

Consolation: there are 21 million others like you.

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If you live in Toronto – or if you live near Toronto – I’m extending an invitation.

This afternoon starting at about 4 p.m., my kids and I will participate in Community Centre 55’s annual Share A Christmas campaign.  If you’re nearby, and you have time, you should, too.

In Share A Christmas, we deliver food and toys to hundreds of families in Toronto’s East End.  Families apply to receive the food baskets and toys, and they come all faiths and walks of life.  We’ve delivered food to community housing neighbourhoods, but also to addresses where families have fallen on bad luck, or worse.  For my kids, it is always an eye-opener, and it always leaves a big (and positive) impression on them.  You get rewarded in a special way, too.

C’mon by.  You – and we – will be glad you did.

Details are here. We converge on Centre 55 at 97 Main Street, between Kingston Road and Gerrard, at about 4 p.m.  We get food – and, if there are kids in the family, toys too – and start delivering right away.  It’s an amazing program, and one that helped more than 600 families last year.

Hope to see you there.

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