| rickholio |
03-02-2005 11:48 PM |
For what it's worth, we knew about the 30-some odd nucks in theatre in Iraq. Exchange program... there was some minor debate about pulling them out but it was decided that they would never likely see actual combat, so just let 'em sit. It wasn't a big deal because... well, it's not a big deal. Trying to play 'gotcha' with that tidbit of information is essentially a waste of time. We all already know, any of us who watch the news, anyways.
Here's another tidbit, it was common knowledge that we had support ships in the persian gulf for a while too. Minesweepers, radar/scout destroyers, resupply and the like. I know a few people who were on them and they were told quite explicitly that they were going to fulfill nato obligations and, unless a potential bogey came within the safe perimeter, would not engage. To my knowledge, not a single pair of boots hit the ground of Iraq from those ships (although I believe some did furlough in Kuwait). The deployment also resulted in a re-tightening of regulations on facial hair, which pissed off a lot of sailors... but it needed to be done, can't make a good seal on a gas mask when you have a full beard and Iraq was rumoured to have Sarin and so forth.
Canada didn't officially send people to vietnam, but a number of Canadians acted of their own accord to go south and enlist. Additionally, Canada geared up to produce various war materiel, including the infamous Napalm and Agent Orange substances... which is one less than stellar moment in Canadian history.
As with respect to news in Canada, and the CBC in particular, we're blessed here in that we have easy access to a number of news sources. CBC, CTV, BBC and, of course, the american cable news channels are all usually part of a basic cable package, and extra channels are readily available (NHK and other asian channels, Australia, various european stations and, of course, al Jazeera). As a result, it's easy for us to find alternate viewpoints if one doesn't want to base ones opinion entirely on the CBC. However, the CBC provides outstanding coverage in most cases, and in controversial issues is very good in providing truly balanced viewpoints. That is, they gather competent and eloquent speakers from all sides of the issue to comment, as opposed to loudmouthed jackasses who equate volume to correctness. Watching US 'news' sometimes is like watching an episode of jerry springer, except the chairs are bolted to the floor so they can't be used as weapons.
Ultimately, to the majority of candians people like Coultier are an irrelevent, shrill former somebody whose antics are seen as a dire attempt at retaining relevence in the wake of her own fuckups. She's one of those people we sort of half-chuckle, half-shake our heads in amazement that people like that actually have some sort of public forum. Kind of like paris hilton, only even LESS fuckable (if that's possible).
BTW - Rich, you gotta stop feeding the trolls man :winkwink:
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