Lee Zaslofsky, of the War Resisters Support Campaign, an organization that lobbies for and gives support to Iraq war deserters, said Prime Minister Stephen Harper's (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) government today is a lot different from the Trudeau-era government that allowed him to stay in Canada when he came here as a Vietnam draft dodger in 1970. He said the Conservative government should heed the non-binding opposition motion, passed in the House on June 3, calling for a freeze on deportations of U.S. Army deserters, and for them to be allowed to apply for permanent resident status.
"The Canadians government has basically taken a hands-off attitude. Their tactic is to try to keep this as a refugee question, now Parliament's motion says nothing about refugees but the government chooses to ignore that because they want to say that it's the refugee process," said Mr. Zaslofsky.
"If they decide they're not [refugees], well then of course we just automatically throw them out of the country." Mr. Zaslofsky, who said there are about 200 Iraq war deserters living in Canada, said that while he has met with members of all three opposition parties, the government has ignored his organization. "We've been trying to get a meeting with [Immigration Minister] Diane Finley and we've basically been told she'll be busy until she dies."
Two things, in the paragraph right after Lee speaks of a Canadian MP who is Conservative but shows support of some form and doesn't name him. He's apparently unaware that the man has already been named (by a US war resister in Canada) in other Canadian press (that was at the end of last week). Second, Lee, which is it? You were avoiding the draft or you deserted. There's a huge difference and by not being clear, you've brought the topic by the myth of what the Canada did for 'draft deserters' during Vietnam and stayed silent on what they did for deserters. Maybe it's the reporter who can't grasp it but this myth keeps going around and considering that Lee has recently identified as a deserter (which press in real time during Vietnam and press in this country during the current illegal war has repeated), it makes a BIG difference.
Meanwhile a Vietnam era war resister writes a letter to the Toronto Star:
As an American war resister who has lived a happy and productive life for the last 40 years in Canada, I have been encouraged by the positive support that the new wave of resisters to the Iraq war found among Canadians.
In fact, our Parliament has demonstrated that support in voting to offer refuge to these young men and women. Polls show that about two-thirds of the Canadian population, with a majority in every province, support them. But the Harper government rejects this simple humanitarian gesture. Why? The questions we have to ask before the next federal election are: What is this government doing to the Canada that we treasure? Do we really want to live in a Canada built in the image of the present government?
Michael Hendricks, Montreal, Que.
Michael, from New Jersey originally, went to Canada as a war resister who was avoiding the draft. We last noted Michael June 25th. On Robin Long, KBS Radio notes, "U.S. Iraq war resister Robin Long received word on July 14th, in Vancouver that his appeal to have his deportation order stayed was denied and he was deported the next day. That has left some people wondering...what happened next? According to Bob Ages who is the chairman of the Vancouver war resisters campaign Robin Long was in Buckley which is South East of Seattle as of Friday, and was moved once again to a location that is unknown to the group."
Yesterday, Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "Take Two," Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "Take Three" and Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "The approved cover" went up addressing the faux outrage over The New Yorker cover last week. For those who missed it, the First Amendement Specialists at NOW are calling for the destruction of the illustration (online and outside the US). Apparently having destroyed their own reputation for peace ("Peace is a feminist issue" was vanished from the website in 2007), they're now attempting to telegraph to the world that they also oppose free speech. Next on the agenda: Burkas for all!
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
Jim adding for C.I. Amy Goodman lies, Rosa Clemente plays the idiot and upcoming Nader events:
First, Elaine, C.I. was so pressed for time that it was "pull an Elaine" this morning (with hair).
Second, Rosa Clemente's trying real hard to walk it back on Democracy Now! as I type -- and pretend like she gives a damn about Latinos. Keep lying Rosa. That shaky voice of her's recalls Katharine Hepburn in On Golden Pond ("Norman, the loons!") and it's hard to tell whether it's that voice or if she honestly said "Iran" when she meant Iraq. Funniest moment is when Clemente's asked to list the most important issues to young people around America. She starts with? "Prison-industrial complex." She's so touch in with the youth of America! She's too old to be the youth and should honestly not be asked to speak for them. She's closing in on middle-age at 36 -- which is a good thing since the age requirement is 35. Rosa Clemente, the prison-industrial complex is a real issue and one that a number of Americans care about. It is not the most pressing issue of any age demographic. "Go Big Red!"
The whole thing plays out like a damage control response to Ava and C.I.'s TV commentary yesterday.
"The first all women of color ticket" in "presidential history." Goody tells some lie like that this morning. From C.I.'s July 14th snapshot:
Leave it to Aileen Alfandary to bring in "uninformed" which, for the record, she did on the first news break of KPFA's The Morning Show where she declared of the Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente ticket, "This year's Green ticket marks the first time a US has nominated women of color for both president and vice-president." Uh, no, Alfandary, it's not. From Friday's snapshot: "What About Our Daughters? explains that, if McKinney is the nominee, this is the third time two women of color would be on the ticket with the first being Lenora Fulani and Maria Elizabeth Munoz in 1992 (New Alliance Party) and Monica Moorehead and Gloria La Riva (Workers World Party) in 1996."
Cynthia McKinney's worth listening to in the interview, just FYI. Ava and C.I. may have to tackle this because Goody's spinning like crazy.
From Team Nader:
Nader to Campaign in Mississippi, Sat., July 26
Sunday, July 20, 2008 at 12:00:00 AM 
News Advisory FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chris Driscoll, 202-360-3273, chris@votenader.org (national); Susan Stonecypher, 601-842-6769 (local).
NADER TO CAMPAIGN IN MISSISSIPPI, SAT., JULY 26
Who: Independent Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader
What: Nader/Gonzalez News Conference and Book Signing/Speech
When: Sat., July 26, 5:30 p.m. News Conference and 6 p.m. Book Signing/ Speech
Where: Lemuria Bookstore, 202 Banner Hall, 4465 I-55 North, Jackson, MS 39206
Independent Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader will campaign in Mississippi, Sat. July 26, hosting a news conference and book signing/speech at the Lemuria Bookstore, 202 Banner Hall, 4465 I-55 North, Jackson. The News Conference starts at 5:30 p.m. and the speech and book signing is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Mr. Nader will address issues major party candidates have taken "off the table" that the Nader/Gonzalez campaign has put on the table, including:
- a comprehensive, negotiated military and corporate withdrawal date from Iraq;
- a single-payer, Canadian-style, private delivery, free-choice public health insurance system for all;
- a living wage and repeal of the anti-union Taft-Hartley Act;
- a no-nuke, solar-based energy policy supported by renewable, sustainable, energy-efficient sources;
- a carbon tax to deter global warming;
- an end to the corporate welfare and corporate crime that has resulted in millions losing pensions, savings and jobs and squandered tax dollars; and,
- more direct democracy reflecting the preamble to our constitution which starts with "we the people," and not "we the corporations."
For more "on the table" topics see: VoteNader.org
Nader to Campaign in Georgia Friday July 25
Sunday, July 20, 2008 at 12:00:00 AM
News Advisory FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chris Driscoll, 202-360-3273, chris@votenader.org (national); Xaiver Kim 404-446-7093 (local) .
NADER TO CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA FRIDAY JULY 25
Who: Independent Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader
What: Nader/Gonzalez News Conference and Campaign Rally
When: Friday July 25, 5 p.m. News Conference and 5:30 p.m. Campaign Rally
Where: University of Georgia, Master's Hall, 1127 South Lumpkin St., Athens, Ga. 30602
Independent Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader will make a campaign stop in Athens, Ga. Friday July 25 with a news conference scheduled for 5 p.m. and a campaign rally at 5:30 p.m., both to be held at the University of Georgia, Master's Hall, 1127 South Lumpkin St., Athens, Ga. 30602. Rally general admission will be a suggested contribution of $10/$5 student.
Mr. Nader will address issues major party candidates have taken "off the table" that the Nader/Gonzalez campaign has put on the table, including:
- a comprehensive, negotiated military and corporate withdrawal date from Iraq;
- a single-payer, Canadian-style, private delivery, free-choice public health insurance system for all;
- a living wage and repeal of the anti-union Taft-Hartley Act;
- a no-nuke, solar-based energy policy supported by renewable, sustainable, energy-efficient sources;
- a carbon tax to deter global warming;
- an end to the corporate welfare and corporate crime that has resulted in millions losing pensions, savings and jobs and squandered tax dollars; and,
- more direct democracy reflecting the preamble to our constitution which starts with "we the people," and not "we the corporations."
For more "on the table" topics see: VoteNader.org
iraq
robin long
andrei hurancyk
harris macleed
