Libya... They Are Shocked !!!

In the same way Captain Renault was "shocked" that gambling was going on in Rick's Bar as the good Captain was in the process of picking up his winnings.





So too with Libya - The Allies are "shocked" that Muslim extremists have taken over the government from mad-man Dictator Muammar Qaddafi. And that they have installed the hated Sharia Law. Oh my.





In the case of the latter - Sharia Law, was it not our esteemed Premier, - the Right Honourable Dalton McGuinty who wanted to see that Law in force in Ontario? So why the surprise that real muslims would want the same in a majority muslim country like Libya?





As readers will know, I did not support the Allies in their efforts to depose M. Qaddafi. That he was a bad man - to be sure. But that he kept worse men in line - ie the Extreme Muslims cannot honestly be argued; Al - Qaeda, Hamas, Fatah, Hezbollah, the Taliban and so on.





And sadly, it sends a message to other Qaddafi types that they too can expect the same treatment from the West should push come to shove. And this is most worrisome in regard to Saudi Arabia.





What is certain here is that the Arab Spring is quickly turning into an Arab Winter with Jews and Christians alike facing more and more persecution, injury and death. Moderate Muslims too, who cherish freedom and human liberty, are facing their countrymen's wrath.





When President Bush Sr. pulled back from Iraq during the first Gulf War - leaving Saddam Hussein to live another day - the brilliance of his move was immediately obvious. It was Hussein and company who were keeping Iran in check and without him, Iran would quickly move to fill the vacuum. This is exactly what has happened as a result of Geo. W's impetuous act a decade later.





Again, there is no doubt that Hussein was a very evil person but when compared to the alternative, the Iranian Ayatollahs, he was much preferable. These Ayatollahs who are on record as promising to obliterate Israel from the face of the earth.





So with Libya gone and Egypt and Iraq before them, things are getting much worse than better.





On the positive side, rumblings are now being heard about a possible Israeli attack on Iran's Nuclear Facilities. Hopefully this will come to pass. If it does not and when Iran's insane leaders finally obtain a functional nuclear arsenal all bets for peace are off and the imminent danger of all out nuclear war will be once again upon us.

As I see it....

K.D. Galagher'

11 / 11 / 11 Part One

I had only planned to do one Blog this year on Remembrance Day but a conversation last eve has caused me to double my intended production.



Why So?



Specifically, to address a matter of Revisionist History on the part of Italy.



A few years back, my wife and I were in Italy when we encountered a National Holiday. I enquired as to its basis and was told that each year on April 25th the Italians mark the fall of Mussolini and their Liberation from German occupation which occurred on April 25, 1944.



Freedom from Mussolini and Liberation from Germany?



Wasn't Italy one of the three founding members of the Axis Powers along with Germany and Japan?



Didn't Italy declare war on the Allies at the same time their other Axis Buddies did in 1939?



And was it not Italy that invaded a defenceless Ethiopia in 1935 with the intent to create a "Second Roman Empire".



Surely I had heard wrong. I didn't though - they have such a day and continue to celebrate it annually.



Now to my conversation with our guests last eve.



They too had visited Italy and were recently back from their venture.



Both he and she - albeit mostly he, waxed eloquent about the "key role the Italian Resistance had played during WW II".



I nearly choked on my cappuccino; did I hear correctly - " Key Role Played by the Italian Resistance"?



I pointed out to our friends, to no apparent avail, that the Italians were our Enemy in the Second World War - and that they strongly supported their charismatic, albeit clownish, Leader Benito Mussolini. So why did they think there would be an organized resistance in Italy against the forces of evil during WWII?

Forces of Evil I might add in which Italy held prominent membership.

Apparently their Hosts had spoken at length about the fine work of the Italian Resistance during the War and they had visited numerous Museums built to propagate this fantasy.

Speaking of which, I was beginning to think I had landed in Alice in Wonderland where 'up was down and down was up'.

I quickly came to my senses though recalling my own father, who fought up through Italy, saying to me that the Canadian Soldiers never felt safe or liked in Italy; we were always viewed as the enemy. It wasn't until they reached Holland that they were amongst friends and appreciative citizenry.

But to be sure, I took the time to do some research.

Until September 3, 1943 there "is no evidence to suggest the existence of an Italian Resistance".

The significance of Sept. 3rd is that on that day, Italy surrendered to the Allies who were by then marching north up through their country.

So from the 20s and 30s Italy worked hand-in-glove with their Fascist Friends but it was not until the time of their surrender, did a Resistance begin to emerge.

Coincidence? Or more to the point, by then, the Writing was on the Wall?

Not only that, the early Resistance Groups, post Sept. 3, 1943, more often than not "fought amongst themselves" which was not surprising given the broad political spectrum these so-called freedom fighters sprung up from.

Rather than assisting the Allies, I submit this late in the day Resistance was directed more to having some say in how Italy would be run Post War. In other words, it was a bald power play on their respective parts.

At least Germany has never attempted to down play their misguidedness - they are the first to say, they erred and vow never again to put themselves in such a nefarious position.

And I respect them for that.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

Premier Dalton McGuinty Told Me So .

As a vocal opponent of Dalton McGuinty in the lead up to the recent Ontario Election, I have vowed not to say a disparaging word about him given his stunning electoral victory; i.e. I was obviously out of sinc with my fellow Ontarians.

So in that vain, I want to relate some positive aspects about his new administration.

First on the Economic Front.

During the last Election, the Premier was at pains to promote the excellent job he and his fellow Liberals have done in preserving Ontario's economy and in creating jobs - both black and green jobs. He glossed over the fact that under his stewardship, Ontario had fallen to Have-Not Status but let us not be picky.

So the Good News. Reports out this week indicate that both the United States and Ontario have created about 70,000 full time jobs in October. Oh wait, the United States did but the papers report a negative 70,000 in the case of Ontario. A mere typo I am sure - Premier Dalton McGuinty told me so. Those same newspaper reports show Ontario's jobless numbers increasing but again they are not to be believed.

And Speaking of Green Jobs - you will well remember during the Campaign, Premier McGuinty held a press conference at one the new Green Manufacturers where he stated that Ontario's Green Policies have created 20,000 jobs on the way to 50,000. We were all so proud of our Premier, even when it came out the next day that the company where his news conference was held - was closed for want of business. A mere detail

But want I want to communicate to you today is another misleading newspaper account stating that a Green firm in St. Catharines called Silicon Knights upon receiving a large government grant - just laid off half of its work force. Lies, Lies and more Lies. Again, Premier McGuinty told me so.

As an aside, I really do not understand what has gotten into the media - they are usually so left wing and we should be able to count on them to put our Premier in proper light.

And then there is Hydro. Users began calling into the Talk Radio Stations - some in tears - saying that immediately after Election Day they began to receive letters from Hydro threatening to cut off their power. Many said that they even offered partial payment - since their bills were so high - but Hydro out and out rejected their offers.

Well dear reader, I know what is going on here too. Tories disguised as Hydro Consumers are clogging these shows with their false and misleading statements. Premier McGuinty told me so.

Well that's it for now. Rest assured I will continue to point out these frivolous yet spiteful attacks against our Premier as they continue to come to me attention.

And just remember, when you too come across them - bear in mind they are all false.

Premier McGuinty Told Us So.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galager'

Well So Much For Democracy...

Papandreou collapsed faster than a cheap card table in the face of Germany and France's dictum to drop the Referendum or face immediate expulsion from the EU.

So where does that leave the people of Greece?

Angrier than ever. They will not be allowed a say in the continued loss of their 'entitlements'.

More violence and bloodshed will follow.

As I said yesterday, with such major changes being imposed on Greek Society, it is only proper that its citizens have a direct say in what occurs.

Now they won't.

Not that it matters in regard to the eventual outcome though.

Either way, Greece will have to continue to reel in its spending. And either way - with or without a Referendum, Greece will most likely be dropped from the EU Club.

But at least with a Referendum, the Greek People would have a direct say in their future.

And with that, it would have mitigated the violent fallout and would have help the average Greek person to both accept and positively engage the needed austerity measures.

An opportunity lost.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

Beware of Greek Bearing ...

... A Dagger.

One just stabbed it into the back of his EU Colleagues - as in Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou.

And this just following Europe's months of contortions to reach a financial bailout for their Greek Member State.

Some friend.

But you know what - Papandreou is correct in what he is doing - too bad he let things drift so long before springing his plan; it would have saved much time and wasted energy.

But why do I say the PM is correct? Simply because it is the Democratic Way to do things.

Greece is in turmoil; strikes, riots and demonstrations by its citizens over draconian cuts to jobs, salaries, and pensions.

In a democracy, they should have the right to decide on such major developments via a Referendum.

As an aside, these draconian measures are coming our way too, as I have pointed out in many of my previous Blogs. We had a chance and indeed we still do to a lesser extent - to cushion the blow in regard to our so-called "Entitlements," but if we put it off much longer, we too will soon experience a Greek-like Collapse.

The EU is in shock by this development and are threatening Greece with expulsion.

Bear in Mind though, it would have happened anyway - even with the bailout and assuming Greece went along with it; - in the end, Greece's continuation in the EU Community was destined to failure given its dire economic position.

Now to the Referendum which is to be held within three or four months time.

But you know what ? - it will never be held.

There is no way in hell that Europe will put things on hold for that length of time awaiting Greece's decision.

Europe will move right away to give Greece an ultimatum - go with the Bailout or get the hell out the Union.

Greece will opt for the latter, since Papandreou has now boxed himself in with his Referendum Pledge.

And as I mentioned above, this would have eventually happened in any event; there is no way Europe would want to continue to extend needed future packages to this ailing country.

So Papandreou gets the best deal he can - his approach is democratic and cannot be faulted in that respect. Plus, he is currently vilified by his citizenry for imposing draconian measures and now the acceptance or rejection of those self same measures will fall to the voter for decision where they belong.

If a Referendum is held, it will not be on whether or not to remain in the EU - that decision will be made much sooner and certainly not by the Greeks themselves.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

I Have A Confession To Make...

And I do so at the real risk of having you think less of me .... if that's possible.



As you know, I am not a fan of Jogging - from my perspective it just wrecks one's knees and flattens your feet.



Perhaps it's my Scottish Background but I see most exercise, just the sake of exercise, to be a waste of precious time in the sense that if you have time to run around like a gerbil - why not do something useful like split a few cords of wood?



I know many of you will take great exception to this and I accept that.



But that's the lead-in to my Apology.



So here goes...


Rick Hansen has been in the news over the course of the last couple of days in regard to the 25th Anniversary of his World Sojourn in a Wheelchair. Quite a feat of strength by any standard.


So here is my Confession - I was not all that excited about his Achievement in the first place and continue to feel that way today. It was a waste of time and energy.



So there - think what you will, but I wanted to come clean with you.




And this applies to similar masochistic endeavours such as Terry Fox's run across Canada.




Do it for yourself if you will, but don't expect everyone to hoist you on a pedestal for the doing. It is a useless activity made all the more so by drawing it out.



I cannot deny that much good came of their struggles - millions of dollars were raised in the fight against cancer and spinal injury but did that warrant the glory and idolization that flowed from their running and wheel chairing?



Does it warrant the statutes placed across Canada?



What about real heroes such as Sir Frederick Banting and Dr. Charles Best who, in the 1920s, rather than raising millions of dollars, saved millions of lives through their important discovery of insulin in combating diabetes?


I think that we as a civilization have lost our way in determining who the Real Heroes of Society Are.


And speaking of Real Hereos - what about our young 20 year old soldier killed in Afghistan earlier this week. He never even got to meet his new baby girl saving our sorry butts back here in Canada.


For my money - I will go with Him and the Bantings and Bests of this world and leave the masochists to fellow joggers to cheer on.


I know, I know, ... I am hateful.


But as the younger generation would say - "Bite Me".


As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'

























It is quite an accomplishment to roll yourself such a distance, but where I take exception is for the Roller to think he or she is entitled to other peoples' caring - just for the rolling. If Hansen or others had come to me first I would say to them 'if you really want to help others in your situation - go and help them directly or join their associations and do volunteer work'.













If he or she persisted in wanting to roll or walk or run or swim or whatever I'd say "fine" but do it for yourself - as a test for yourself - and not expect others to idolize you just for the doing.













People every day do specular things mostly because it is needed (i.e. useful). They do not expect glory for their actions - although it would not be out of place to give some to them.













But for those who set out to do what I find to be bordering on useless and then expect me to say Wow - that is another thing entirely.

Mirror Mirror On The Wall ...

Whose The Dirtiest Of Them All ?



As in Suppliers & Users of Dirty Oil that is.



At the writing of this Blog, Two Hearings are in progress - one in Europe, the other in Washington, both questioning whether or not to admit "Dirty Oil" from Canada's Oil Sands.



And, let's be frank, other than those engaged in the Oil Industry - world wide - no one particularly likes Oil - you and me included. But what's the Option?



Oil to the world economy, is like Blood to an Individual. It would make about as much sense to replace an ill person's blood with water or cola as it does to think you can successfully replace oil with wind or solar or whatever.



Some day yes - but not now or even in the foreseeable future.



Even those opposed to the Oil Sands, have to admit, albeit grudgingly, the validity of this statement.



But they continue to call our Oil "dirty".



So who is supplying them now.



We'll take Europe first.



About 60% of their oil comes from the Dictatorships of the Middle East. The remaining 40% originates in Russia a country that is slowly but surely slipping back into Totalitarian Rule.



Let's not even get into the Human Rights abuses committed by the Middle Eastern Countries, most notably against their women - but rather look at where Europe's purchase dollars end up. Simply stated - they help fund Islamic Terrorism. The same Terrorism that has raised its ugly head throughout Europe and will continue to increase as Muslim extremism grows.

And Russia. Hardly a reliable source of energy.

Russia has shown itself on several occasions actually and /or threatening to cut off their oil and gas pipelines to Europe for their petty political purposes. If things get tough - as they will, I would not want to be dependent on Putin to come through in the pinch.

Thankfully for us in Canada, the European Move against our "dirty" oil is but an Academic Exercise since we do not export much if any oil to them.

But then there is the United States, where nearly 100% of our Oil Exports go South of the Border.

Key elements there are fighting a planned major Pipeline from Alberta to the Texas Gulf for refining. Some one million barrels per day can be expected to flow through this line proposed by Trans Canada Pipeline.

Many there do not want it - primarily because our oil is dirty and "dirty" in the sense that it is mined via our 'tar sands'. Their secondary complaint is that the flow would be subject to spills that would damage the environment.

Good arguments both if the alternatives were better - but they of course are not.

They too get much of their oil from the Middle East and thus are equally guilty as are the Europeans in funding Terrorism. It is like paying a hit man to kill you.

In the matter of damage to the environment, the United States is also on flimsy ground. Few things are more dangerous to the environment than an Oil Tanker Spill. And 10 or so of these Super Tankers enter US waters each day delivering some 20 million barrels of oil. It is not a question of if, but rather when,one of these Tankers breaks up and spills its contents somewhere along America's coastlines. It has happened before in the case of the Exxon Valdez and will most certainly happen again.

Pipelines are safer. Dirty Oil from Canada does not fund killers.

To the United States we provide a safe and reliable source of their needed life blood.

Studies have shown that our Oil Reserves in Western Canada are equivalent to those of Saudi Arabia.

So what to do if the US does the unexpected and blocks our Oil. They won't of course but let's just pretend for a moment.

We here in Canada would not lose out since we have other customers for our oil exports primarily China and to a lesser extent Japan and India.

Trans Canada Pipeline could easily construct a line from Alberta through to the BC coast for transport to the Far East and that is what it would do if our source of oil export to the south disappeared (it won't remember we are just pretending here since America would not be that stupid).

And unlike the do-gooders in Europe and America who pretend to be 'Clean', China acknowledges that it is 'Dirty' and is not too proud to use our "Dirty Oil".

China knows that to get ahead it needs power - clean, dirty or indifferent and is willing to do what is needed to obtain it.

In that regard, China is not the hypocrit the other two are.

As I see it...

'K.D. Galagher'