Lots of empathy for Omar Khadr, but almost none for another Canadian detained overseas and who joins me tomorrow, and more....

A great deal of time, effort and money has been expended and continues to be delivered to the objective to gain some level of release from Guantanamo Bay prison for Omar Khadr.

Michael Ignatieff and Jack Layton in their meeting with U.S. president Barack Obama  when Obama visited Ottawa made Khadr a point of discussion in the short time they each had with the president.

But nary a peep from either Ignatieff or Layton about the predicament of a Canadian being detained overseas and who joins me on tomorrow's.  To make matters worse, the Conservatives have grossly dropped the ball in this situation as well.  I will make all of this clear on tomorrow's Green Show on the Corus radio network.  This segment will air at 3:30pm (Eastern).

You will not want to miss this segment and my guess is you'll be on the phone and firing off emails to your member of parliament.

Michael Ignatieff expressed his displeasure at the Conservative government's decision to purchase the new F35 Joint Strike Fighter plane.  Mr. Ignatieff accuses the Conservatives of doing this in secret.  Ummm...would the 'would be' PM be entirely surprised to find out the Liberals, when last in power, signed a memorandum of understanding with the plane's developer Lockheed to ummmm...oh yes, develop the plane.

Mr. Ignatieff has had a wobbly week on his cross Canada 'BBQ with Canadians' bus tour. Not helpful was talk of a post-political University of Toronto career awaiting (planted by U of T alumnus Bob Rae perhaps?  Just wondering....).  The bus wasn't the only thing to break down it seems.  And it was delicious irony that, as an observant member of Canada's media pointed out, the bus was repaired at a place called Harper Diesel.

The Liberal leader with his F35 fighter plane announcement that if PM he would 'review' the deal to purchase the planes immediately caused Canadians to recall how Jean Chretien in a fit of anti-Mulroney pique cancelled the EH101 helicopter contract, costing Canadian taxpayers half a billion dollars in fines and consigning our military to continue to fly Sea King helicopters which spent more time in repair than they did in the air.  Smart strategy Mr. Ignatieff.  You're making Stephen Harper's job so much easier.

I will open the phone lines on your view of Michael Ignatieff's week and whether or not you believe he has improved prospects for his stated sole agenda, that of becoming Prime Minister of Canada. 

Also joining us, a survivor of horrific torture at the hands of the Iranian regime which was prepared to sanction the almost prehistoric savagery of allowing a woman to be stoned to death. That is until international outrage caused a change of direction, if not change of heart.

There's an outstanding Canadian organization which is helping members of Canada's military to readjust to civilian life when they return from war zones like Afghanistan.  You'll hear the details ..... and on the lighter side things (if ethics can in fact be a lighter side issue) .... what to do with an extra $20 a bank machine spits out.  Keep it?  Well......????  Feel free to post your thoughts.

To post comments, scroll to the bottom of this page, click on 'comments', then scroll to the bottom of the page which will open and write your thoughts and views in the box available for exactly that.

Comments

[PO2 Rick Austin CD RCN(retd)]

Iggy continues to astound me with his ineptness,especially with his latest foray into promising to putting on hold the purchase of new fighter airplanes for our Air Force.Just like the "little guy from Shenanigan"(sic) did with the CH101 cancellation.How many old Sea King crashes have occurred since acquiring 41 of them in 1963?The number of crashes is four with ten personnel perishing.As I seriously doubt any of the "Professor's" progeny will likely be flying in Sea Kings,I can see why he can easily use the military bashing as the old tried and tested liberal political pandering tool.

[PO2 Rick Austin CD RCN(retd)]

Empathy for O.K.(Omar Khadr) Please, I am over saturated with the constant mention of that Gitmo detainee,with his Canadian by convenience citizenship.Every time I hear some naive shill for the left bemoaning O.K.'s loss of rights,I want to shout for his victim: Sgt.Christopher Speer,his widow Tabitha,and his fatherless children Taryn and Tanner.Compare the resumes of Sgt Christopher Speer (http://www.groups.sfahq.com/3rd/speer_kia.htm) and O.K. and logically decide who you would rather have as a citizen and neighbour next door to you.If Ignatieff and Layton like him so much ,take him on tour with you during the next election campaign.If Khadr is freed from Gitmo,he should be given safe passage home.....to Afghanistan.

[marg p.]

Roy:
Thanks again for your show today. What is the website for the veteran program in Vancouver? trying to find it on the internet.

[roy]

Honour House at www.honourhouse.ca, is the much needed and privately funded resource and support centre for Canadian Military veterans and first responders like police, firefighters and paramedics.
An outstanding effort scheduled to open during Remembrance Day week in Vancouver.

[Auli Ingman]

extra $20 from bank machine?

No way would I keep it. I will fight tooth and claw for what I've earned, but not freebies.

Problem is that returning it is complicated and not particularly appreciated. I get the impression I'm intruding on the bank clerk's coffee break.

[Paddy Dutton]

I enjoyed your slant on the actions or non action of our Canadian Embassy in Cuba. I have had the opportunity to see our ambassadors in action in Buenos Aires, Argentina,Shanghai PRC and in Hanoi,Vietnam. Although I worked there some years ago I believe not much has changed. They throw great parties on our dime along with a Canadian agency that provides money for pet gov't projects for foreign gov'ts. I understand they do not want to offend the country they are based in. Another sour note was while I was there the Quebec referendom was taking place and all the ambassadores were from you guessed it Quebec. Much like our military no chance of higher command if not a Quebecois Cuba is not communist is is a dictatorship. Even China and Vietnam have elections.

[Joey]

I would much rather have the 9 billion (over 10 yrs) spent on the military than the 9 billion the gov't handed to GM in bail out money to appease the unions.