Prime Minister Stephen Harper is announced the government has reached a legal settlement in the lawsuit filed by Maher Arar over his 2002 deportation to Syria, where he was detained on suspicion of being a terrorist and tortured. The deal is reported to be around $10.5 million plus an additional $2 million for court costs.
Arar, a Syrian-born Canadian, was detained by U.S. authorities at a New York airport in 2002 and deported to Syria, where he was imprisoned and tortured. In his lawsuit against the federal government, the former Ottawa engineer alleged negligence, negligent investigation, defamation, false imprisonment, assault and battery and abuse of public office.
Last fall, a public inquiry report by Justice Dennis O'Connor found RCMP mislabelled Arar as an Islamic extremist with suspected ties to al-Qaida. The report also concluded the sharing of that misinformation with U.S. authorities likely led them to deport him.
The shock waves of O'Connor's report were immediate. Then-RCMP commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli resigned over the case and apologized and so has Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Yet, American officials refuse to apologize and continue to see a wrongfully accused man as a criminal.
His deportation was the most sickening example of the dangers of ''rendering'' individuals suspected of terror links to third countries for interrogation. Furthermore, Bush continues to stick to his guns; ones from another century and another time. When Americans saw those from foreign lands as a threat to their values.
This week, the issue heated up and threatened to cause a rift in Canada-U.S. relations. U.S. ambassador David Wilkins scolded Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day for insisting that Arar be taken of the the U.S. watch list. Speaking to reporters in Edmonton on Wednesday, Wilkins said the U.S. administration's decision to keep Arar on the list was none of the Canadian government's business.
The decision is absurdly based on personal associations and travel history. Visiting family? Just because they live in Syria? While Washington concedes these points may not warrant Arar's presence on a Canadian security roster, they meet the thresh hold for the American list.
I'm sorry Mr. Wilkins, the mistreatment of our people is Canada's business even if it is by our 'friends'. The U.S can close their border permanently for all I care, but treating this man the way they did is smack right out of Orwells' '1984'. Americas' shady practice of 'extraordinary rendition,' whereby terrorism suspects are sent to regimes with spotty human-rights records for interrogation is criminal, despite what the U.S federal system thinks.
To rub salt in Mr. Arars' wounds the judge ruled legislative precedent showed the Torture Victim Prevention Act, under which Arar was seeking redress, didn't apply to non-U.S. citizens. He determined the court couldn't hear the case on constitutional grounds either.
Elections in the U.S couldn't come sooner, the day Bush and his draconian cronies are gone, the better the world will be. Long live democracy.
Later,
Kenaz
Showing posts with label United States. Show all posts
Showing posts with label United States. Show all posts
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Friday, August 18, 2006
U.S Senator makes a 'monkey' of himself
...or should I say a complete jack-ass.
US Republican Senator George Allen has apologised for calling a man of Indian descent by a name which means monkey, saying he never meant to cause offence. Before Mr. Allen opens his big mouth again, maybe he should check out the definition of 'racist'.
Allen called SR Sidarth, who has been monitoring Mr Allen's re-election campaign for Democratic challenger Jim Webb, "Macaca" at a Republican rally.
"This fellow over here with the yellow shirt, Macaca, or whatever his name is, he's with my opponent," Mr Allen said.
Macaca is a genus of monkey which includes the macaque and reese.
Furtermore Allen showed how red his neck really was when he added "Let's give a welcome to Macaca here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia." Stupid, considering Mr. Sidarth was from Virginia.
On Monday, Mr Allen's spokesman, Dick Wadhams, said the name Macaca was a variation of Mohawk, a nickname Mr Allen's team of advisers had given the student because he had a Mohawk haircut.
But on Tuesday, Mr Allen, who is widely expected to try to run for president in 2008, said the name was "just made up" and that he had no idea the word referred to a monkey.
I'm not sure what dictionary Wadham read but I'm sure it's bookmarked at monkeys uncle.
Maybe Allen's campaign song should be 'Dueling Banjos' because all I see when I look at his picture is the mentally challenged kid from 'Deliverence'.
The kicker, in his younger years he wore a Confederate flag lapel pin in his high school yearbook photo and had the flag hanging in his living room.
Allen is my early favourite for 'loser of the year'.
Later,
Kenaz
US Republican Senator George Allen has apologised for calling a man of Indian descent by a name which means monkey, saying he never meant to cause offence. Before Mr. Allen opens his big mouth again, maybe he should check out the definition of 'racist'.
Allen called SR Sidarth, who has been monitoring Mr Allen's re-election campaign for Democratic challenger Jim Webb, "Macaca" at a Republican rally.
"This fellow over here with the yellow shirt, Macaca, or whatever his name is, he's with my opponent," Mr Allen said.
Macaca is a genus of monkey which includes the macaque and reese.
Furtermore Allen showed how red his neck really was when he added "Let's give a welcome to Macaca here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia." Stupid, considering Mr. Sidarth was from Virginia.
On Monday, Mr Allen's spokesman, Dick Wadhams, said the name Macaca was a variation of Mohawk, a nickname Mr Allen's team of advisers had given the student because he had a Mohawk haircut.
But on Tuesday, Mr Allen, who is widely expected to try to run for president in 2008, said the name was "just made up" and that he had no idea the word referred to a monkey.
I'm not sure what dictionary Wadham read but I'm sure it's bookmarked at monkeys uncle.
Maybe Allen's campaign song should be 'Dueling Banjos' because all I see when I look at his picture is the mentally challenged kid from 'Deliverence'.
The kicker, in his younger years he wore a Confederate flag lapel pin in his high school yearbook photo and had the flag hanging in his living room.
Allen is my early favourite for 'loser of the year'.
Later,
Kenaz
Monday, August 14, 2006
Middle East in Crisis
Timeline of recent events
Aug. 14, 2006
The shaky ceasefire held along the Lebanese-Israeli border on its first day, while leaders of the warring groups both claimed victory.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olhmert said his country's forces had delivered "a major blow to Hezbollah," while Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Islamic militant group, claimed a "strategic victory" over Israel.
Olhmert said Israel will continue to pursue Hezbollah.
Nasrallah claimed his militant Islamic group had achieved a "strategic, historic victory" against Israel. He also said it was the wrong time to publicly discuss disarming Hezbollah, which is a condition of the UN ceasefire.
Israeli troops clashed with Hezbollah militants in three separate skirmishes on the first day of the ceasefire, but there were no reports of major hostilities hours after the ceasefire came into effect.
Israel, Hezbollah both claim upper hand as ceasefire holds
Aug. 11, 2006
The UN Security Council votes 15-0 to adopt the resolution that calls for an end to the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. It authorizes the deployment of UN peacekeepers to help Lebanese troops take control of south Lebanon as Israel withdraws.
Earlier in the day, the U.S. and France come to an agreement on the final wording of a draft UN resolution to halt the fighting. Both sides send the text to the governments of Israel and Lebanon. The draft calls for a "full cessation of hostilities." It tells Hezbollah militants to stop all attacks immediately and tells Israel to end "all offensive operations." After the fighting stops, Lebanon is to deploy its armed forces throughout southern Lebanon as the Israeli army withdraws. The draft is presented to the UN Security Council for a vote.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert accepts the draft resolution, and will recommend that his government approve the deal in its meeting on Aug. 13.
But, the military offensive that expanded earlier on Friday continues. Israeli air strikes kill at least 14 people across Lebanon, including 12 in an attack on the Abboudiyeh border crossing into Syria. This leaves only one open border crossing from Lebanon into Syria.
Explosions are also reported in Beirut's southern suburbs. Israeli warplanes also hit three vehicles in the Lebanese city of Baalbek, killing at least one person.
Hezbollah fires more than 150 rockets into Israel.
UN prepares to vote as Israel expands Lebanese offensive
Aug. 10, 2006
The Israeli security cabinet decides to hold off a planned expansion of its ground offensive, to give diplomats a few more days to work on a ceasefire proposal. But Defence Minister Amir Peretz says the military will use "all of its tools" against Hezbollah if the UN ceasefire talks are unsuccessful.
Israeli forces take control of Marjayoun, a predominantly Christian town about eight kilometres north of the Israel-Lebanon border. Israeli warplanes drop leaflets that warn of a "painful and strong" response to Hezbollah, and tell residents in three southern suburbs to evacuate their homes. Lebanese officials say at least four civilians are killed.
Hezbollah fires 110 rockets into northern Israel by mid-afternoon, reportedly killing an Arab Israeli woman and her daughter.
Israel takes key town, delays expansion of push into Lebanon
Aug. 9, 2006
The Canadian Embassy in Beirut says Ottawa has booked two ships with room for about 2,400 Canadians still wanting to flee Lebanon. It says the ships will leave from Beirut to an undisclosed location next week.
Israel's security cabinet decides to expand its ground offensive in Lebanon toward the Litani River, about 30 kilometres from the Israel-Lebanon border. Just hours before, Maj.-Gen. Udi Adam is replaced as commander of Israeli forces in Lebanon by Maj.-Gen. Moshe Kaplinsky, the deputy chief of staff.
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council continues to debate a draft resolution seeking a ceasefire to the fighting in Lebanon. In a televised speech, Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah warns Israeli Arabs to leave Haifa, as he threatens to intensify attacks on the Israeli city. He also says he approves of Lebanon's proposal to deploy 15,000 Lebanese troops to south Lebanon.
Eleven Israeli soldiers are killed during fighting with Hezbollah guerrillas in southern Lebanon. And at least four missiles from Israeli ships strike suburbs south of Beirut. Israeli air strikes also hit the largest of Lebanon's refugee camps for Palestinians and destroy a building in the Bekaa Valley, leaving a woman and four children under the rubble.
Israel to broaden ground offensive against Hezbollah
Hezbollah leader warns Arabs to leave Haifa
2 more ships to take Canadians from Beirut
Aug. 8, 2006
The UN Security council meets and representatives of the Arab League presents it with a new ceasefire plan, which involves Lebanon deploying 15,000 of its troops along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says Israel is seriously considering this proposal, calling it "interesting," but says Hezbollah guerillas must be disarmed and removed as a threat first.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military drops leaflets in the city of Tyre in southern Lebanon, warning people not to drive or their vehicles will be bombed. And Israeli air strikes hit Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, as Israeli forces also try to get control of the militant group's villages and sites used to launch rockets at northern Israel.
Hezbollah and Israeli troops exchange gunfire in near Bint Jbail, a militant stronghold that Israeli troops have been trying to capture for weeks. Hezbollah reportedly attacks Israeli troops near the town of Naquora, killing two Israeli reservists. The militant group fires about 90 rockets on northern Israel by the afternoon.
Arab League to present new ceasefire plan to UN
Israel to bomb all moving vehicles in southern Lebanon
Aug. 7, 2006
An Israeli air strike kills six civilians and wounds two people, all from the same family, in the village of Ghazzaniyeh. At least 49 people die in Israeli attacks.
Hezbollah rockets wound at least five people. The Israeli army says Hezbollah guerrillas killed two Israeli soldiers with an anti-tank missile in south Lebanon. Hours later, another Israeli soldier is killed by sniper fire.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora again calls for an immediate ceasefire during an emergency meeting of the Arab League in Beirut to discuss the UN Security Council draft resolution on a ceasefire.
The Lebanese government proposes sending 15,000 Lebanese troops to the Israel-Lebanon border to stand between Israel and Hezbollah. Lebanese troops would take control of south Lebanon and Israel would withdraw from the region. Lebanon would assert its control of the region and take control of Hezbollah strongholds.
Amnesty International holds vigils around the world calling for a ceasefire, including one outside Montreal's Mount-Royal metro station.
Lebanese PM renews ceasefire plea
Amnesty calls for Mideast ceasefire at Montreal vigil
Aug. 6, 2006
About 80 missiles hit towns across northern Israel, killing 15 Israelis and wounding dozens more — the deadliest attack on Israel since fighting began. Hezbollah also sends rockets into Haifa, killing three and wounding 40 others.
Israeli air strikes and artillery kill at least 13 people in southern Lebanon. Lebanese security officials say the bombing raid lasted for half an hour. Israeli soldiers move into the Lebanese town of Qana.
Diplomatic efforts continue to end the fighting. Lebanese parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri rejects the U.S.-French draft resolution because it did not include the government’s plan for ending the fighting. The Lebanese cabinet votes unanimously to deploy 15,000 Lebanese soldiers to help 2,000 UN peacekeepers if there is a ceasefire and Israeli forces pull back.
At home in Montreal, Quebec politicians and Jewish and Muslim Canadians march through the city streets, calling for an end to the conflict in the Middle East.
Mideast fighting escalates amid efforts to secure ceasefire
Israeli commandos in gunfight near Tyre
Aug. 5, 2006
Israeli forces storm an apartment building and attack suspected Hezbollah guerillas in the southern Lebanese port city of Tyre. The raid was planned to destroy suspected Hezbollah launchers for long-range rockets. The Israeli army also drops leaflets on the city of Sidon, warning residents to leave the area immediately.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah fires more rockets into Israel.
Diplomatic efforts to end the fighting continue as the U.S. and France agree on a draft UN resolution after weeks of negotiation. The draft does not call for an immediate cessation of violence, but calls for Hezbollah to stop all military operations and for Israel to stop its offensive drive against Lebanon. The resolution would allow Israel to strike back if Hezbollah were to break a ceasefire. It also calls for a buffer zone in south Lebanon occupied only by international and Lebanese soldiers.
In Ottawa, about 1,000 people gather on Parliament Hill to protest the fighting in Lebanon.
Anti-war protesters rally on Parliament Hill
Israeli commandos in gunfight near Tyre
U.S., France agree on draft Mideast resolution
Aug. 4, 2006
Hezbollah rockets hit the Israeli city of Hadera, 75 kilometres south of the Israel-Lebanon border. There are no casualties, but the strike marks the farthest south that Hezbollah attacks have reached. Israeli authorities say about 190 rockets hit northern Israel.
Israeli air strikes hit Christian areas north of Beirut for the first time, killing four civilians and wounding 10. Air raids damage four bridges on the main north-south coastal road linking Beirut to Syria, further isolating Lebanon.
Liberal foreign affairs critic Keith Martin demands the Tories call for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East conflict and calls for the Harper government to give more funding to aid organizations.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper tells a news conference that principles, not polls, will govern how the Conservatives establish policy, as 80 protesters gather outside the Conservative caucus retreat in response to Harper's refusal to call for an immediate ceasefire.
The body of Maj. Paeta Hess-von Kruedener comes home. Canadian military officials, dignitaries, colleagues, friends and family gather for a repatriation ceremony at CFB Trenton.
Liberals demand Tories call for immediate Mideast ceasefire
Harper remains firm on Mideast crisis, softwood
Canadian UN observer's body returned home
Aug. 3, 2006
Early in the morning, Israel launches air strikes near Beirut for the first time in nearly a week.
One Israeli soldier is killed and four others wounded in a battle with Hezbollah guerrillas in Ayt a-Shab in southern Lebanon.
At least eight Israeli civilians are killed as a result of rocket fire, while four Israeli soldiers are killed in clashes with Hezbollah and two others are wounded.
Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah says his militant group will stop firing rockets on Israeli cities if Israel stops its attacks on Lebanese towns. He threatens to fire rockets at Tel Aviv if central Beirut is attacked.
A statement from the Israeli military says that its bombing of the Lebanese village of Qana was a mistake and that its attack guidelines would be evaluated and updated as a result.
Israel resumes attacks on Beirut
Hezbollah leader offers ceasefire, but threatens Tel Aviv
Qana attack a mistake, Israeli military concludes
Aug. 2, 2006
Hezbollah launches more than 210 rockets into northern Israel, the highest daily number in the conflict. One of the rockets hits Beit Shean, about 68 kilometres from the border, marking the deepest rocket strike into Israel so far. Another Hezbollah rocket hits the West Bank. An Israeli-American is killed and 58 other people injured across the country, police say.
A series of Israeli air raids, including a strike near a hospital in Al Jamaliyeh, kills 15 Lebanese civilians, witnesses say.
About 10,000 Israeli troops move into southern Lebanon, where they conduct house-to-house searches for Hezbollah fighters.
Mohammed al-Safadi, Lebanon's transport and public works minister, says the Israeli attacks have caused an estimated $2 billion US in damage on the country's infrastructure.
Israel renews strikes near Beirut
Hezbollah launches record number of rockets into Israel
Aug. 1, 2006
Israeli troops land by helicopter in northeastern Lebanon and launch strikes on a Hezbollah stronghold in Baalbek, their deepest ground attack in Lebanon since fighting began. The military confirms that it captured several guerrillas in the Baalbek operation.
Heavy fighting near the Lebanese border village of Aita al-Shaab kills three Israeli soldiers. The Israelis say they struck dozens of Hezbollah militants during the fighting.
Israeli planes hit Shia villages in south Lebanon and attack Hezbollah positions elsewhere in the country.
Iranian cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati asks Muslim countries to send weapons to Hezbollah to help in the fight against Israel.
Israeli troops push deeper into Lebanon
July 31, 2006:
Israeli air strikes resume in southern Lebanon less than 12 hours after the government announced a 48-hour suspension to investigate the civilian deaths in Qana.
One of the air strikes kills a Lebanese soldier in Tyre. Other air strikes took place in Taibe to support Israeli ground troops, the military said.
Hezbollah rockets hit Kiryet Shmona in northern Israel. No casualties were reported.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert apologizes for civilian casualties after an Israeli air strike in Qana, but pledges there will be no ceasefire with Hezbollah in the coming days.
Overnight, Israel's security cabinet approves expanding the military ground operation in southern Lebanon by a near-unanimous vote.
Israeli air strikes resume in Lebanon
Israel battling a 'vicious force': cabinet minister
Israel votes to expand ground attack
July 30, 2006
An early morning Israeli air strike on the southern Lebanese town of Qana collapses a building, killing 28 people, many of them women and children. Lebanese officials say the civilians killed had taken refuge in the basement of the building.
Israeli officials say the neighbourhood was targeted based on intelligence that Hezbollah fighters had used it to launch rockets at northern Israel. They also say civilians were warned several days ago to leave Qana.
Hezbollah launches 157 rockets into northern Israel — the highest one-day total during the offensive. The rockets injure 13 people.
Following the Qana attack, Israel agrees to a 48-hour cessation of bombings over southern Lebanon while it investigates the incident. U.S. State Department spokesman Adam Ereli says Israel and the UN will co-ordinate a 24-hour window for civilians to leave southern Lebanon if they wish.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice cancels a planned visit to Beirut, hours after the air strike on Qana.
Israeli air strike kills dozens of civilians
Israel agrees to 48-hour suspension of air strikes
July 29, 2006
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives for talks in Jerusalem. Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah says he will co-operate with the Lebanese government in negotiations toward ending the crisis.
France drafts a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. The proposal calls for a buffer zone in south Lebanon to be patrolled by international forces and the Lebanese army and the release of two Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah.
Israeli officials reject a UN call for a 72-hour ceasefire to allow civilians to leave the region and help aid workers bring in humanitarian supplies. A government spokesman says the ceasefire is unnecessary "because Israel has opened humanitarian corridors to and from Lebanon."
An Israeli air strike on a house in the Lebanese village of Nmeiriya kills seven people, including a mother and her five children and another child.
Two UN peacekeepers from India are wounded in an Israeli air strike near their border post in Adaisseh in southern Lebanon.
Israeli warplanes struck the Lebanese side of the Syrian-Lebanese border, blocking fleeing refugees and humanitarian aid.
Israeli troops withdraw from Bint Jbail, saying their mission is finished. Israeli radio reports that Israeli troops had killed 50 guerrillas in the town over a week-long battle. Hezbollah leaders, however, say they had defeated the Israeli forces, killing 18 of their troops.
Hezbollah fires rockets at the northern Israeli town of Safid.
The last of Ottawa's scheduled ships from Lebanon leaves Beirut, carrying hundreds of Canadians, but Foreign Affairs officials say they'll continue to help any Canadians who want to leave. An estimated 13,000 Canadian have left Lebanon during the daily evacuations.
Nasrallah ready to talk as Rice returns to Mideast
2 Indian UN peacekeepers wounded in southern Lebanon
Canadian evacuees reach 13,000 as 2 ships leave Beirut
July 28, 2006
Israeli defence forces say their warplanes hit 130 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon overnight, including a base in the Bekaa Valley where long-range rockets were stored. Lebanese security officials say the raids killed three people and wounded nine, including four children.
The Israeli army says it has killed about 200 Hezbollah guerrillas since it launched its offensive more than two weeks ago. Hezbollah refutes the claim, saying it has fewer casualties, but provides no number.
Lebanese President Emile Lahoud tells CBC's Nahlah Ayed that Hezbollah has the complete backing of his government.
A United Nations official says the UN will remove 50 members of the unarmed Truce Supervision Organization from posts along the border between Israel and Lebanon to ensure their safety.
Canada's evacuation effort rescues more than 1,000 people, 877 of them Canadians, from Beirut, leaving by boat for Larnaca, Cyprus.
U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair announce that they will seek a UN resolution to send a multinational force to south Lebanon to end the conflict.
Missiles hit Hezbollah base, buildings and hideouts, Israel says
Lebanese president gives full backing to Hezbollah
UN removes unarmed observers from border
Ottawa winds down daily Lebanon evacuations
Bush, Blair call for multinational force to keep order in Lebanon
July 27, 2006
Israeli jets carry out air strikes, including more than 30 bombing runs in the southern region of Iqlim al-Tuffah. The air strikes hit roads in the south and east, as well as a Lebanese army base in the north. An Israeli missile strikes the car of a Lebanese policeman in the eastern city of Zahle, killing him.
Ground fighting and rocket attacks continue along the Israel-Lebanon border. Hezbollah rockets hit a vacant laundry-detergent plant in the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shemona.
The Israeli cabinet votes to call up reserve units, but rules out expanding its military campaign against Hezbollah.
Israeli Justice Minister Haim Ramon says the international summit in Rome on the conflict gave Israel permission to continue its operation in Lebanon. European Union officials vehemently disagree, saying that nearly every country represented at the conference called for a ceasefire.
Ayman al-Zawahri, second-in-command of al-Qaeda, says the militant group now sees "all the world as a battlefield open in front of us." In a video message broadcast by Arab television network Al-Jazeera, al-Zawahri threatens to retaliate against the "crusader coalition."
Canadian Foreign Affairs evacuates 1,724 people out of Beirut. The department says that daily ship departures from the port will continue until Saturday and that the Canadian Embassy in Beirut is no longer contacting registered Canadians to board evacuation ships.
Mideast foes trade air strikes, rocket attacks
Israel calls up reserves, but won't expand military operation
'We will attack everywhere,' al-Qaeda leader warns
Evacuees pack Beirut port, after talks fail to bring ceasefire
Postcards urge PM to call for Mideast ceasefire
Wife of Canadian UN observer prays for a 'miracle'
July 26, 2006
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert apologizes to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for the bombing of a UN post in southern Lebanon the day before. Olmert says the attacks were a mistake and promises a full investigation.
A preliminary UN report says UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon called the Israeli military 10 times in six hours asking them to stop bombing in the area, before the post was hit.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper calls the attack a "terrible tragedy" but says he doubts the attack was deliberate.
Olmert also says Israel wants to establish a two-kilometre-wide "security zone" in south Lebanon, free of Hezbollah guerillas.
Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah says they will start firing rockets capable of reaching deeper into Israel.
Israeli troops continue to fight for control of Bint Jbeil, a Hezbollah stronghold. About 20 Israeli rockets hit a southern suburb of Beirut, another Hezbollah site.
U.S., European, Arab and Canadian officials – including Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay – meet in Rome and say they should work towards a ceasefire, but can't agree on a plan to put it in place. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the summit must work to end the violence, but they cannot return to the "status quo" of instability in Lebanon. Annan says any solution to the region's violence must include Iran and Syria.
Canadians trying to leave Lebanon head for the city of Tyre, where they board a Canadian-chartered ship waiting offshore, headed for Cyprus.
Harper doubts UN post deliberately targeted
Israeli troops battle Hezbollah guerrillas for control of border town
World leaders want ceasefire, but fail to work out details
Stranded Canadians shuttled to waiting ship in Lebanon
July 25, 2006
Saudi Arabia's king urges Israel to stop its attacks on Lebanon, warning the violence could plunge the Middle East into a regional war if a ceasefire can't be forged.
The United States says it won't pressure Israel for a quick end to its military campaign against Hezbollah.
Opponents to Israel's military campaign in Lebanon and Gaza organize a general strike throughout the West Bank.
Demonstrators in Ramallah briefly clash with Palestinian police, throwing rocks as police beat them back with sticks.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reaffirms Washington's commitment to a future two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Saudi Arabia pledges a $1.5-billion US donation to Lebanon to help with the reconstruction of the country and to restart the economy.
Hezbollah rockets kill a teenage girl and injure more than 30 people in northern Israel.
Israel says its troops are focused solely on crushing Hezbollah outposts and rocket-launching sites near the border with Israel. Israel says it has no intention of sending ground forces beyond southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military seals off the Lebanese border town of Bint Jbeil, a Hezbollah stronghold.
However, Israel says it will open safe delivery passages into Lebanon for humanitarian aid.
Israel air strikes hit a United Nations post, killing three UN observers, including a Canadian. One observer is missing. Officials say the observers are from Austria, China, Finland and Canada. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan says the UN post near Khiam, Lebanon, was clearly marked and Israel had assured them it would not be targeted by Israeli forces. Annan calls the attack "apparently deliberate".
Saudi king warns of regional war if strikes continue in Lebanon
U.S. won't pressure Israel for quick end to violence: Rice
July 24, 2006
Canadian soldiers help about a dozen Canadians flee from Tyre and get on a Cyprus-bound ship chartered by the Canadian government.
Three Palestinians die and eight are wounded after the Israeli military shells Beit Lahiya, a town in the Gaza Strip.
A Canadian-born pilot serving in the Israeli Air Force dies after his helicopter crashes in northern Israel.
An Israeli helicopter crashes near the Lebanese border, injuring six soldiers and sparking a huge fire.
Humanitarian aid begins to arrive in the port of Beirut after the Israeli navy lifts its blockade.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives in Beirut on a surprise visit. She says a ceasefire is urgently needed, but only if conditions exist to make it sustainable.
UN emergency relief chief Jan Egeland announces that $171 million is needed to deliver food, medicine, clean water and sanitation services to the Lebanese people over the next three months.
Canadian soldiers help dozens escape Lebanon
Canadian-born pilot killed in Israeli helicopter crash
Israeli troops capture 2 Hezbollah guerrillas in fierce fighting
Annan, Rice intensify diplomatic efforts to end conflict in Lebanon
'Significant' American aid on way to Lebanon
July 23, 2006
Hezbollah militants continue to launch volleys of rockets into northern Israel, killing two people in one attack on the city of Haifa.
Israel conducts air strikes on Beirut, Tyre and the southern port of Sidon, where Israeli missiles destroy the Sayyed al-Zahraa religious complex, which is linked to Hezbollah. Israeli troops bomb a textile factory in al-Manara, a Lebanese border town, killing one person.
John Bolton, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, rejects Syria's offer to enter talks with the U.S. to resolve the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Saudi Arabian officials, including Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, meet with U.S. President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington, D.C., to discuss a ceasefire.
UN emergency relief chief Jan Egeland visits Beirut and calls for an end to the violence, saying the "disproportionate response by Israel is a violation of international humanitarian law."
The Department of Foreign Affairs announces that it has chartered a ship to take up to 1,000 Canadian citizens out of the southern Lebanese port of Tyre on July 26. The transportation out of Tyre means that Canadians there won't have to make the potentially dangerous trip to Beirut, where most Canadians are leaving Lebanon.
Explosions rock Lebanon, Israel
U.S. rejects Syrian call for ceasefire
Saudi Arabia seeks Lebanon ceasefire in meeting with Bush, Rice
Beirut bombings violate humanitarian law: UN
Ship will take Canadians from Tyre: Ottawa
July 22, 2006
Israel sends troops, tanks and bulldozers into southern Lebanon, seizing Maroun al-Ras, a large Lebanese border village.
Government spokesperson Avi Pazner says the attack is not an invasion and Israel has no intention of re-occupying Lebanon. "There is not yet a decision on an invasion of Lebanon," Pazner says.
Israeli planes fire missiles at communications towers in the mountains of northern and central Lebanon. The Lebanese Broadcasting Corp., the nation's leading private network, and two other TV stations go off the air within seconds.
Maj.-Gen. Sayyed Hassan Firuzabadi, the chairman of the joint chiefs of Iran's armed forces, says Iran would not join the fighting in the Middle East.
The Department of Foreign Affairs announces that about 2,000 more Canadians have been transported out of Lebanon to Cyprus.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announces that the number of refugees within Lebanon — 700,000 people displaced within the country by some estimates — could result in a "major humanitarian disaster."
Israeli forces enter southern Lebanon
Nearly 2,000 Canadians safely out of Lebanon
Lebanese refugees a potential disaster, Annan warns
July 21, 2006:
Israeli tanks and troops mass along the Lebanese border to prepare for a ground invasion. The action is designed to push Hezbollah back to create a buffer zone. A military radio station broadcasts warnings to southern Lebanon residents to leave the area.
A United Nations post near the Israeli-Lebanese border is hit, but reports about the attack's origin are conflicting. The Israeli army says Hezbollah rockets fell short of their targets and struck the post. An unnamed official at the UN post tells Canadian Press an Israeli artillery shell hit the building. The post is used by the UN interim force, which patrols the border established by the UN when Israeli troops withdrew from Lebanon six years ago.
Israeli troops — believed to be more than 1,000 soldiers — cross into Lebanon for the third straight day. Israeli air strikes hit Beirut, the Bekaa Valley and south Lebanon, sites thought to be Hezbollah strongholds. A section of Lebanon's oldest bridge, which is part of the Beirut-Damascus highway in central Lebanon, collapses after being hit with four Israeli missiles. Senior military officials say their offensive will not end until Israel can create a buffer zone by forcing Hezbollah to retreat behind the Litani river, 30 kilometres north of the Israeli-Lebanese border.
Hezbollah launches rockets into northern Israel. Five rockets hit Haifa and injure at least six people. The militant group says it has fired about 900 rockets into Israel in the past 10 days.
Israel's ambassador to Canada, Alan Baker, rejects previous warnings of possible war crimes charges, saying Israel is attacking legitimate Hezbollah military targets.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says she's heading to Israel to work toward a diplomatic solution but did not call for a ceasefire. She says the illegal Hezbollah attack on Israel was the cause of the violence, and a ceasefire would only be a short-term fix.
Israeli army massing on Lebanese border
Rice sees no quick fix in Mideast
July 20, 2006:
The first boatload of Canadians arrives in Cyprus, after a 15-hour trip from Lebanon. At least 1,375 Canadians leave Beirut on ships headed for the Turkish port of Mersin. The ships begin arriving in Turkey at night. Nearly 100 people fly to Ottawa on Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government plane and the rest will take flights chartered by the federal government.
Three Israeli soldiers are wounded in two separate clashes with Hezbollah guerrillas inside southern Lebanon. Hezbollah says it destroyed two Israel tanks on the way to the border town of Maroun al-Ras. Israeli jets strike homes believed to be used by Hezbollah in the Lebanese town of Hermel, wounding three. Fighter jets also destroy another alleged Hezbollah site, a five-storey building in Baalbek.
The Israeli Army says a full-scale invasion of Lebanon is still a possibility.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan condemns Hezbollah's "provocative attack" and Israel's "disproportionate" response during a special session of the United Nations Security Council. He calls for an end to the hostilities. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour says that war crimes charges may be warranted against Israel and Hezbollah if steps aren't taken to protect civilians.
World leaders' reactions are split. Canada and the U.S. say Israel's response is measured. France and Russia condemn the air strikes, calling them an overreaction. Annan also says humanitarian groups cannot reach the more than 500,000 people in Lebanon who have been displaced or affected by the bombing.
Israeli troops cross Lebanese border
Canadians reach Cyprus after gruelling trip from Lebanon
70 troops off to Cyprus, navy ships on standby
'Hostilities must stop,' UN chief Annan says
July 19, 2006:
Canadians board the first ship out of the port of Beirut, chartered by Ottawa to rescue them from the strife-torn region. About 261 people board the ship, forcing the rest of the roughly 1,800 Canadians wanting to leave Beirut to stay one more night.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper makes a surprise announcement that he and his wife, Laureen, will fly to Cyprus and shuttle about 120 Canadians back home. He later flies to Cyprus with a skeleton crew to make room for those fleeing Lebanon.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora appeals for an end to the hostilities, which have left 300 dead and 1,000 wounded, the first official casualty figures out of Lebanon.
It is one of the deadliest days since the conflict began. Israeli troops clash with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Israeli strikes kill at least 58 people in Lebanon and Hezbollah militants kill at least four Israelis. Hezbollah fires a rocket into northern Israel, killing three people – two of them children – in Nazareth. It marks the first direct hit on a holy town during this conflict. Israeli warplanes drop 23 one-tonne bombs – also known as "bunker busters" – on a suspected Hezbollah bunker. The militant organization says none of its members are killed.
There are 80 Israeli air strikes overnight.
Diplomatic efforts to cease the fighting continue, with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speaking via telephone with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
Hezbollah bunker bombed: Israeli military
Stranded Canadians begin boarding evacuation ship
Harper to fly to Cyprus to help with evacuation
July 18, 2006:
Israeli air strikes kill 11 Lebanese soldiers at an army base near Kfar Chima, as soldiers were heading for bomb shelters. Another 35 soldiers are injured.
The southern suburbs of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold, and a coastal road north of Beirut are hit. Hezbollah rockets hit Israel, many in the northern city of Haifa.
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan calls for an international force to stop the fighting in Lebanon. The U.S. and Israel have indicated they're not keen on the idea.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says Israel will continue to hit Hezbollah targets until the soldiers captured by Hezbollah are freed and Israelis are safe from attacks.
Israeli air strikes overnight level almost 20 houses and buildings in Lebanon. The military says it has crushed about 50 per cent of Hezbollah's arsenal. A Christian suburb in Beirut is hit for the first time since the offensive began.
Israeli missiles hit Lebanese army base
July 17, 2006:
The Israeli army sends ground troops into Lebanon for a quick operation involving a small number of troops to reduce Hezbollah rocket attacks on Israel, according to officials. Israeli warplanes pound Tripoli in northern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley in the east. At least 15 people are killed.
Nine Lebanese army soldiers are killed and more wounded in attacks on military bases at the nearby port of Abdeh on Lebanon's northern coast, Lebanese security sources tell Reuters. The Israeli air force also hits the eastern city of Baalbek. Six Lebanese civilians are killed in an air strike on the village of Aitaroun, witnesses tell Hezbollah TV, the Islamist organization's television station. In Gaza City, Israeli air strikes destroy the Palestinian Foreign Ministry building. Nine Lebanese civilians are killed in a missile attack in the city of Tyre — all from one family, six of them children.
In a news conference, the Israeli military says it hit 60 Hezbollah targets on Sunday alone.
Hezbollah fires hundreds of missiles back into Israel, some reaching as far south as Arafula, about 60 kilometres south of the border. A rocket fired from Lebanon hits Haifa, destroying a three-storey building and killing three people. Hezbollah rockets also hit the northern Israeli town of Safed, Israeli officials say. Palestinian gunmen in the West Bank city of Nablus ambush Israeli troops, killing one and wounding six others.
Israel says it would consider a ceasefire if Hezbollah agrees to pull back from the Lebanese border and release two captured Israeli soldiers. Hezbollah rejects Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's ceasefire offerings of July 18, saying they were just an excuse to let Israel continue its attacks. The ceasefire proposal does not curtail the air strikes — they continue in Lebanon and Israel late into the day.
Canada leases six ships from Cyprus to retrieve Canadians who want to leave strife-torn Lebanon, the Department of Foreign Affairs says. The ships will be able to transport about 4,500 people a day. Ottawa says the evacuation could begin by the middle of the week, but will only proceed if the vessels are allowed safe and secure passage.
Israel, Hezbollah trade attacks
Ottawa: Ships ready to take Canadians from Lebanon by midweek
July 16, 2006:
For the first time since fighting began, Israeli warplanes drop bombs on central Beirut, its suburbs and a major power station. Seven Canadians are killed, most of whom were members of an extended family from Montreal on vacation in the village of Aitaroun: Ali El-Akhras, his wife Amira and their four children aged one, four, six and eight.
Hezbollah carries out a missile attack on a rail repair plant that kills eight people in the Israeli city of Haifa. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warns that the attacks on Haifa would have "far-reaching consequences."
Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay announces plans for evacuation of Canadian citizens from Lebanon.
Leaders of the Group of 8 industrial nations issue a statement calling for Israel to end its military actions in Lebanon and Gaza and for "extremist forces" to return Israeli soldiers captured in cross-border raids.
G8 calls for Israeli withdrawal, release of captured men
July 15, 2006:
Fifteen people, including a number of children, die in an Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese police. Israel expands its range of targets to include the northern port city of Tripoli. Eighteen Lebanese villagers are killed while fleeing when missiles hit their vehicles en route to the southern city of Tyre.
Hezbollah fires rockets for the first time at the Israeli city of Tiberias, 35 kilometres south of the Lebanon-Israel border. No injuries were reported. Rockets also hit other cities along the border, including Nahariya, Safed, Mahanayim, Hatzor, Ben Ami and Karmiel.
More Israeli air strikes on southern Beirut as Israel sends troops into Gaza
Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa calls on the United Nations Security Council to tackle the crisis.
July 14, 2006:
Prime Minister Stephen Harper says Canada is concerned about the "escalation of violence in the Middle East," adding that it is essential that Hezbollah release two captured Israeli soldiers and Hamas do the same with two others. On his way to the G8 summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, Harper indirectly appealed to the governments of Syria, Iran and Lebanon, asking them to "encourage the recognition of Israel's right to exist." Harper says Israel is simply defending itself against Hezbollah and he describes Israel's response to the kidnapping of its soldiers as "measured."
Israel pounds Lebanon, destroying Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut and smashing city roads and runways. Shortly after the attack, the organization's official television station, Hezbollah TV, played a recorded audio speech. Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, the group's secretary general, says, "You want an open war, we will go to the open war. We are ready for it. War, war on every level."
Meanwhile, reports surface that a Hezbollah rocket in the northern Israeli town of Meron has killed an Israeli woman and a four-year-old girl.
The United Nations Security Council meets in an emergency session to discuss a request by Lebanon to condemn the Israeli attacks. It is unable to agree on a response, but issues a brief statement calling for countries in the region to co-operate with UN efforts to arrange a ceasefire.
'Escalation is inevitable' unless Israeli soldiers released: Harper
Hezbollah leader vows 'open war' on Israel
Intense diplomacy to stop Mideast fighting
July 13, 2006:
Israeli air strikes target Beirut's international airport, destroying runways and fuel storage tanks. Other attacks hit highways, including the main highway between Beirut and Damascus, and military bases. The Israeli strikes kill about 60 people in Lebanon. Israel's navy enforces a sea blockade of ports in Lebanon. Israel insists that Hezbollah will not be able to return to its former position along the international border.
Hezbollah responds to the first wave of Israeli strikes by firing more than 100 Katushya rockets into northern Israel, killing two civilians. A rocket hits Haifa, Israel's third-largest city, but Hezbollah does not claim responsibility.
Israeli assault on Lebanon and Gaza continues
July 12, 2006:
Hezbollah militants in Lebanon conduct a raid into Israel, killing as many as seven Israeli soldiers and wounding another eight. The militants also capture two Israeli soldiers.
Israel's Defence Ministry says the Lebanese government would be held responsible for the kidnappings.
Israeli rockets target roads and bridges in southern Lebanon in an apparent attempt to block escape routes and troops enter the country to search for the abducted soldiers. Eight soldiers are killed and two are injured during fighting with Hezbollah.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert calls the Hezbollah attack "an act of war."
Later,
Kenaz
Aug. 14, 2006
The shaky ceasefire held along the Lebanese-Israeli border on its first day, while leaders of the warring groups both claimed victory.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olhmert said his country's forces had delivered "a major blow to Hezbollah," while Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Islamic militant group, claimed a "strategic victory" over Israel.
Olhmert said Israel will continue to pursue Hezbollah.
Nasrallah claimed his militant Islamic group had achieved a "strategic, historic victory" against Israel. He also said it was the wrong time to publicly discuss disarming Hezbollah, which is a condition of the UN ceasefire.
Israeli troops clashed with Hezbollah militants in three separate skirmishes on the first day of the ceasefire, but there were no reports of major hostilities hours after the ceasefire came into effect.
Israel, Hezbollah both claim upper hand as ceasefire holds
Aug. 11, 2006
The UN Security Council votes 15-0 to adopt the resolution that calls for an end to the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. It authorizes the deployment of UN peacekeepers to help Lebanese troops take control of south Lebanon as Israel withdraws.
Earlier in the day, the U.S. and France come to an agreement on the final wording of a draft UN resolution to halt the fighting. Both sides send the text to the governments of Israel and Lebanon. The draft calls for a "full cessation of hostilities." It tells Hezbollah militants to stop all attacks immediately and tells Israel to end "all offensive operations." After the fighting stops, Lebanon is to deploy its armed forces throughout southern Lebanon as the Israeli army withdraws. The draft is presented to the UN Security Council for a vote.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert accepts the draft resolution, and will recommend that his government approve the deal in its meeting on Aug. 13.
But, the military offensive that expanded earlier on Friday continues. Israeli air strikes kill at least 14 people across Lebanon, including 12 in an attack on the Abboudiyeh border crossing into Syria. This leaves only one open border crossing from Lebanon into Syria.
Explosions are also reported in Beirut's southern suburbs. Israeli warplanes also hit three vehicles in the Lebanese city of Baalbek, killing at least one person.
Hezbollah fires more than 150 rockets into Israel.
UN prepares to vote as Israel expands Lebanese offensive
Aug. 10, 2006
The Israeli security cabinet decides to hold off a planned expansion of its ground offensive, to give diplomats a few more days to work on a ceasefire proposal. But Defence Minister Amir Peretz says the military will use "all of its tools" against Hezbollah if the UN ceasefire talks are unsuccessful.
Israeli forces take control of Marjayoun, a predominantly Christian town about eight kilometres north of the Israel-Lebanon border. Israeli warplanes drop leaflets that warn of a "painful and strong" response to Hezbollah, and tell residents in three southern suburbs to evacuate their homes. Lebanese officials say at least four civilians are killed.
Hezbollah fires 110 rockets into northern Israel by mid-afternoon, reportedly killing an Arab Israeli woman and her daughter.
Israel takes key town, delays expansion of push into Lebanon
Aug. 9, 2006
The Canadian Embassy in Beirut says Ottawa has booked two ships with room for about 2,400 Canadians still wanting to flee Lebanon. It says the ships will leave from Beirut to an undisclosed location next week.
Israel's security cabinet decides to expand its ground offensive in Lebanon toward the Litani River, about 30 kilometres from the Israel-Lebanon border. Just hours before, Maj.-Gen. Udi Adam is replaced as commander of Israeli forces in Lebanon by Maj.-Gen. Moshe Kaplinsky, the deputy chief of staff.
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council continues to debate a draft resolution seeking a ceasefire to the fighting in Lebanon. In a televised speech, Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah warns Israeli Arabs to leave Haifa, as he threatens to intensify attacks on the Israeli city. He also says he approves of Lebanon's proposal to deploy 15,000 Lebanese troops to south Lebanon.
Eleven Israeli soldiers are killed during fighting with Hezbollah guerrillas in southern Lebanon. And at least four missiles from Israeli ships strike suburbs south of Beirut. Israeli air strikes also hit the largest of Lebanon's refugee camps for Palestinians and destroy a building in the Bekaa Valley, leaving a woman and four children under the rubble.
Israel to broaden ground offensive against Hezbollah
Hezbollah leader warns Arabs to leave Haifa
2 more ships to take Canadians from Beirut
Aug. 8, 2006
The UN Security council meets and representatives of the Arab League presents it with a new ceasefire plan, which involves Lebanon deploying 15,000 of its troops along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says Israel is seriously considering this proposal, calling it "interesting," but says Hezbollah guerillas must be disarmed and removed as a threat first.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military drops leaflets in the city of Tyre in southern Lebanon, warning people not to drive or their vehicles will be bombed. And Israeli air strikes hit Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, as Israeli forces also try to get control of the militant group's villages and sites used to launch rockets at northern Israel.
Hezbollah and Israeli troops exchange gunfire in near Bint Jbail, a militant stronghold that Israeli troops have been trying to capture for weeks. Hezbollah reportedly attacks Israeli troops near the town of Naquora, killing two Israeli reservists. The militant group fires about 90 rockets on northern Israel by the afternoon.
Arab League to present new ceasefire plan to UN
Israel to bomb all moving vehicles in southern Lebanon
Aug. 7, 2006
An Israeli air strike kills six civilians and wounds two people, all from the same family, in the village of Ghazzaniyeh. At least 49 people die in Israeli attacks.
Hezbollah rockets wound at least five people. The Israeli army says Hezbollah guerrillas killed two Israeli soldiers with an anti-tank missile in south Lebanon. Hours later, another Israeli soldier is killed by sniper fire.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora again calls for an immediate ceasefire during an emergency meeting of the Arab League in Beirut to discuss the UN Security Council draft resolution on a ceasefire.
The Lebanese government proposes sending 15,000 Lebanese troops to the Israel-Lebanon border to stand between Israel and Hezbollah. Lebanese troops would take control of south Lebanon and Israel would withdraw from the region. Lebanon would assert its control of the region and take control of Hezbollah strongholds.
Amnesty International holds vigils around the world calling for a ceasefire, including one outside Montreal's Mount-Royal metro station.
Lebanese PM renews ceasefire plea
Amnesty calls for Mideast ceasefire at Montreal vigil
Aug. 6, 2006
About 80 missiles hit towns across northern Israel, killing 15 Israelis and wounding dozens more — the deadliest attack on Israel since fighting began. Hezbollah also sends rockets into Haifa, killing three and wounding 40 others.
Israeli air strikes and artillery kill at least 13 people in southern Lebanon. Lebanese security officials say the bombing raid lasted for half an hour. Israeli soldiers move into the Lebanese town of Qana.
Diplomatic efforts continue to end the fighting. Lebanese parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri rejects the U.S.-French draft resolution because it did not include the government’s plan for ending the fighting. The Lebanese cabinet votes unanimously to deploy 15,000 Lebanese soldiers to help 2,000 UN peacekeepers if there is a ceasefire and Israeli forces pull back.
At home in Montreal, Quebec politicians and Jewish and Muslim Canadians march through the city streets, calling for an end to the conflict in the Middle East.
Mideast fighting escalates amid efforts to secure ceasefire
Israeli commandos in gunfight near Tyre
Aug. 5, 2006
Israeli forces storm an apartment building and attack suspected Hezbollah guerillas in the southern Lebanese port city of Tyre. The raid was planned to destroy suspected Hezbollah launchers for long-range rockets. The Israeli army also drops leaflets on the city of Sidon, warning residents to leave the area immediately.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah fires more rockets into Israel.
Diplomatic efforts to end the fighting continue as the U.S. and France agree on a draft UN resolution after weeks of negotiation. The draft does not call for an immediate cessation of violence, but calls for Hezbollah to stop all military operations and for Israel to stop its offensive drive against Lebanon. The resolution would allow Israel to strike back if Hezbollah were to break a ceasefire. It also calls for a buffer zone in south Lebanon occupied only by international and Lebanese soldiers.
In Ottawa, about 1,000 people gather on Parliament Hill to protest the fighting in Lebanon.
Anti-war protesters rally on Parliament Hill
Israeli commandos in gunfight near Tyre
U.S., France agree on draft Mideast resolution
Aug. 4, 2006
Hezbollah rockets hit the Israeli city of Hadera, 75 kilometres south of the Israel-Lebanon border. There are no casualties, but the strike marks the farthest south that Hezbollah attacks have reached. Israeli authorities say about 190 rockets hit northern Israel.
Israeli air strikes hit Christian areas north of Beirut for the first time, killing four civilians and wounding 10. Air raids damage four bridges on the main north-south coastal road linking Beirut to Syria, further isolating Lebanon.
Liberal foreign affairs critic Keith Martin demands the Tories call for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East conflict and calls for the Harper government to give more funding to aid organizations.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper tells a news conference that principles, not polls, will govern how the Conservatives establish policy, as 80 protesters gather outside the Conservative caucus retreat in response to Harper's refusal to call for an immediate ceasefire.
The body of Maj. Paeta Hess-von Kruedener comes home. Canadian military officials, dignitaries, colleagues, friends and family gather for a repatriation ceremony at CFB Trenton.
Liberals demand Tories call for immediate Mideast ceasefire
Harper remains firm on Mideast crisis, softwood
Canadian UN observer's body returned home
Aug. 3, 2006
Early in the morning, Israel launches air strikes near Beirut for the first time in nearly a week.
One Israeli soldier is killed and four others wounded in a battle with Hezbollah guerrillas in Ayt a-Shab in southern Lebanon.
At least eight Israeli civilians are killed as a result of rocket fire, while four Israeli soldiers are killed in clashes with Hezbollah and two others are wounded.
Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah says his militant group will stop firing rockets on Israeli cities if Israel stops its attacks on Lebanese towns. He threatens to fire rockets at Tel Aviv if central Beirut is attacked.
A statement from the Israeli military says that its bombing of the Lebanese village of Qana was a mistake and that its attack guidelines would be evaluated and updated as a result.
Israel resumes attacks on Beirut
Hezbollah leader offers ceasefire, but threatens Tel Aviv
Qana attack a mistake, Israeli military concludes
Aug. 2, 2006
Hezbollah launches more than 210 rockets into northern Israel, the highest daily number in the conflict. One of the rockets hits Beit Shean, about 68 kilometres from the border, marking the deepest rocket strike into Israel so far. Another Hezbollah rocket hits the West Bank. An Israeli-American is killed and 58 other people injured across the country, police say.
A series of Israeli air raids, including a strike near a hospital in Al Jamaliyeh, kills 15 Lebanese civilians, witnesses say.
About 10,000 Israeli troops move into southern Lebanon, where they conduct house-to-house searches for Hezbollah fighters.
Mohammed al-Safadi, Lebanon's transport and public works minister, says the Israeli attacks have caused an estimated $2 billion US in damage on the country's infrastructure.
Israel renews strikes near Beirut
Hezbollah launches record number of rockets into Israel
Aug. 1, 2006
Israeli troops land by helicopter in northeastern Lebanon and launch strikes on a Hezbollah stronghold in Baalbek, their deepest ground attack in Lebanon since fighting began. The military confirms that it captured several guerrillas in the Baalbek operation.
Heavy fighting near the Lebanese border village of Aita al-Shaab kills three Israeli soldiers. The Israelis say they struck dozens of Hezbollah militants during the fighting.
Israeli planes hit Shia villages in south Lebanon and attack Hezbollah positions elsewhere in the country.
Iranian cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati asks Muslim countries to send weapons to Hezbollah to help in the fight against Israel.
Israeli troops push deeper into Lebanon
July 31, 2006:
Israeli air strikes resume in southern Lebanon less than 12 hours after the government announced a 48-hour suspension to investigate the civilian deaths in Qana.
One of the air strikes kills a Lebanese soldier in Tyre. Other air strikes took place in Taibe to support Israeli ground troops, the military said.
Hezbollah rockets hit Kiryet Shmona in northern Israel. No casualties were reported.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert apologizes for civilian casualties after an Israeli air strike in Qana, but pledges there will be no ceasefire with Hezbollah in the coming days.
Overnight, Israel's security cabinet approves expanding the military ground operation in southern Lebanon by a near-unanimous vote.
Israeli air strikes resume in Lebanon
Israel battling a 'vicious force': cabinet minister
Israel votes to expand ground attack
July 30, 2006
An early morning Israeli air strike on the southern Lebanese town of Qana collapses a building, killing 28 people, many of them women and children. Lebanese officials say the civilians killed had taken refuge in the basement of the building.
Israeli officials say the neighbourhood was targeted based on intelligence that Hezbollah fighters had used it to launch rockets at northern Israel. They also say civilians were warned several days ago to leave Qana.
Hezbollah launches 157 rockets into northern Israel — the highest one-day total during the offensive. The rockets injure 13 people.
Following the Qana attack, Israel agrees to a 48-hour cessation of bombings over southern Lebanon while it investigates the incident. U.S. State Department spokesman Adam Ereli says Israel and the UN will co-ordinate a 24-hour window for civilians to leave southern Lebanon if they wish.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice cancels a planned visit to Beirut, hours after the air strike on Qana.
Israeli air strike kills dozens of civilians
Israel agrees to 48-hour suspension of air strikes
July 29, 2006
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives for talks in Jerusalem. Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah says he will co-operate with the Lebanese government in negotiations toward ending the crisis.
France drafts a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. The proposal calls for a buffer zone in south Lebanon to be patrolled by international forces and the Lebanese army and the release of two Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah.
Israeli officials reject a UN call for a 72-hour ceasefire to allow civilians to leave the region and help aid workers bring in humanitarian supplies. A government spokesman says the ceasefire is unnecessary "because Israel has opened humanitarian corridors to and from Lebanon."
An Israeli air strike on a house in the Lebanese village of Nmeiriya kills seven people, including a mother and her five children and another child.
Two UN peacekeepers from India are wounded in an Israeli air strike near their border post in Adaisseh in southern Lebanon.
Israeli warplanes struck the Lebanese side of the Syrian-Lebanese border, blocking fleeing refugees and humanitarian aid.
Israeli troops withdraw from Bint Jbail, saying their mission is finished. Israeli radio reports that Israeli troops had killed 50 guerrillas in the town over a week-long battle. Hezbollah leaders, however, say they had defeated the Israeli forces, killing 18 of their troops.
Hezbollah fires rockets at the northern Israeli town of Safid.
The last of Ottawa's scheduled ships from Lebanon leaves Beirut, carrying hundreds of Canadians, but Foreign Affairs officials say they'll continue to help any Canadians who want to leave. An estimated 13,000 Canadian have left Lebanon during the daily evacuations.
Nasrallah ready to talk as Rice returns to Mideast
2 Indian UN peacekeepers wounded in southern Lebanon
Canadian evacuees reach 13,000 as 2 ships leave Beirut
July 28, 2006
Israeli defence forces say their warplanes hit 130 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon overnight, including a base in the Bekaa Valley where long-range rockets were stored. Lebanese security officials say the raids killed three people and wounded nine, including four children.
The Israeli army says it has killed about 200 Hezbollah guerrillas since it launched its offensive more than two weeks ago. Hezbollah refutes the claim, saying it has fewer casualties, but provides no number.
Lebanese President Emile Lahoud tells CBC's Nahlah Ayed that Hezbollah has the complete backing of his government.
A United Nations official says the UN will remove 50 members of the unarmed Truce Supervision Organization from posts along the border between Israel and Lebanon to ensure their safety.
Canada's evacuation effort rescues more than 1,000 people, 877 of them Canadians, from Beirut, leaving by boat for Larnaca, Cyprus.
U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair announce that they will seek a UN resolution to send a multinational force to south Lebanon to end the conflict.
Missiles hit Hezbollah base, buildings and hideouts, Israel says
Lebanese president gives full backing to Hezbollah
UN removes unarmed observers from border
Ottawa winds down daily Lebanon evacuations
Bush, Blair call for multinational force to keep order in Lebanon
July 27, 2006
Israeli jets carry out air strikes, including more than 30 bombing runs in the southern region of Iqlim al-Tuffah. The air strikes hit roads in the south and east, as well as a Lebanese army base in the north. An Israeli missile strikes the car of a Lebanese policeman in the eastern city of Zahle, killing him.
Ground fighting and rocket attacks continue along the Israel-Lebanon border. Hezbollah rockets hit a vacant laundry-detergent plant in the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shemona.
The Israeli cabinet votes to call up reserve units, but rules out expanding its military campaign against Hezbollah.
Israeli Justice Minister Haim Ramon says the international summit in Rome on the conflict gave Israel permission to continue its operation in Lebanon. European Union officials vehemently disagree, saying that nearly every country represented at the conference called for a ceasefire.
Ayman al-Zawahri, second-in-command of al-Qaeda, says the militant group now sees "all the world as a battlefield open in front of us." In a video message broadcast by Arab television network Al-Jazeera, al-Zawahri threatens to retaliate against the "crusader coalition."
Canadian Foreign Affairs evacuates 1,724 people out of Beirut. The department says that daily ship departures from the port will continue until Saturday and that the Canadian Embassy in Beirut is no longer contacting registered Canadians to board evacuation ships.
Mideast foes trade air strikes, rocket attacks
Israel calls up reserves, but won't expand military operation
'We will attack everywhere,' al-Qaeda leader warns
Evacuees pack Beirut port, after talks fail to bring ceasefire
Postcards urge PM to call for Mideast ceasefire
Wife of Canadian UN observer prays for a 'miracle'
July 26, 2006
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert apologizes to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for the bombing of a UN post in southern Lebanon the day before. Olmert says the attacks were a mistake and promises a full investigation.
A preliminary UN report says UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon called the Israeli military 10 times in six hours asking them to stop bombing in the area, before the post was hit.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper calls the attack a "terrible tragedy" but says he doubts the attack was deliberate.
Olmert also says Israel wants to establish a two-kilometre-wide "security zone" in south Lebanon, free of Hezbollah guerillas.
Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah says they will start firing rockets capable of reaching deeper into Israel.
Israeli troops continue to fight for control of Bint Jbeil, a Hezbollah stronghold. About 20 Israeli rockets hit a southern suburb of Beirut, another Hezbollah site.
U.S., European, Arab and Canadian officials – including Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay – meet in Rome and say they should work towards a ceasefire, but can't agree on a plan to put it in place. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the summit must work to end the violence, but they cannot return to the "status quo" of instability in Lebanon. Annan says any solution to the region's violence must include Iran and Syria.
Canadians trying to leave Lebanon head for the city of Tyre, where they board a Canadian-chartered ship waiting offshore, headed for Cyprus.
Harper doubts UN post deliberately targeted
Israeli troops battle Hezbollah guerrillas for control of border town
World leaders want ceasefire, but fail to work out details
Stranded Canadians shuttled to waiting ship in Lebanon
July 25, 2006
Saudi Arabia's king urges Israel to stop its attacks on Lebanon, warning the violence could plunge the Middle East into a regional war if a ceasefire can't be forged.
The United States says it won't pressure Israel for a quick end to its military campaign against Hezbollah.
Opponents to Israel's military campaign in Lebanon and Gaza organize a general strike throughout the West Bank.
Demonstrators in Ramallah briefly clash with Palestinian police, throwing rocks as police beat them back with sticks.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reaffirms Washington's commitment to a future two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Saudi Arabia pledges a $1.5-billion US donation to Lebanon to help with the reconstruction of the country and to restart the economy.
Hezbollah rockets kill a teenage girl and injure more than 30 people in northern Israel.
Israel says its troops are focused solely on crushing Hezbollah outposts and rocket-launching sites near the border with Israel. Israel says it has no intention of sending ground forces beyond southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military seals off the Lebanese border town of Bint Jbeil, a Hezbollah stronghold.
However, Israel says it will open safe delivery passages into Lebanon for humanitarian aid.
Israel air strikes hit a United Nations post, killing three UN observers, including a Canadian. One observer is missing. Officials say the observers are from Austria, China, Finland and Canada. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan says the UN post near Khiam, Lebanon, was clearly marked and Israel had assured them it would not be targeted by Israeli forces. Annan calls the attack "apparently deliberate".
Saudi king warns of regional war if strikes continue in Lebanon
U.S. won't pressure Israel for quick end to violence: Rice
July 24, 2006
Canadian soldiers help about a dozen Canadians flee from Tyre and get on a Cyprus-bound ship chartered by the Canadian government.
Three Palestinians die and eight are wounded after the Israeli military shells Beit Lahiya, a town in the Gaza Strip.
A Canadian-born pilot serving in the Israeli Air Force dies after his helicopter crashes in northern Israel.
An Israeli helicopter crashes near the Lebanese border, injuring six soldiers and sparking a huge fire.
Humanitarian aid begins to arrive in the port of Beirut after the Israeli navy lifts its blockade.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives in Beirut on a surprise visit. She says a ceasefire is urgently needed, but only if conditions exist to make it sustainable.
UN emergency relief chief Jan Egeland announces that $171 million is needed to deliver food, medicine, clean water and sanitation services to the Lebanese people over the next three months.
Canadian soldiers help dozens escape Lebanon
Canadian-born pilot killed in Israeli helicopter crash
Israeli troops capture 2 Hezbollah guerrillas in fierce fighting
Annan, Rice intensify diplomatic efforts to end conflict in Lebanon
'Significant' American aid on way to Lebanon
July 23, 2006
Hezbollah militants continue to launch volleys of rockets into northern Israel, killing two people in one attack on the city of Haifa.
Israel conducts air strikes on Beirut, Tyre and the southern port of Sidon, where Israeli missiles destroy the Sayyed al-Zahraa religious complex, which is linked to Hezbollah. Israeli troops bomb a textile factory in al-Manara, a Lebanese border town, killing one person.
John Bolton, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, rejects Syria's offer to enter talks with the U.S. to resolve the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Saudi Arabian officials, including Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, meet with U.S. President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington, D.C., to discuss a ceasefire.
UN emergency relief chief Jan Egeland visits Beirut and calls for an end to the violence, saying the "disproportionate response by Israel is a violation of international humanitarian law."
The Department of Foreign Affairs announces that it has chartered a ship to take up to 1,000 Canadian citizens out of the southern Lebanese port of Tyre on July 26. The transportation out of Tyre means that Canadians there won't have to make the potentially dangerous trip to Beirut, where most Canadians are leaving Lebanon.
Explosions rock Lebanon, Israel
U.S. rejects Syrian call for ceasefire
Saudi Arabia seeks Lebanon ceasefire in meeting with Bush, Rice
Beirut bombings violate humanitarian law: UN
Ship will take Canadians from Tyre: Ottawa
July 22, 2006
Israel sends troops, tanks and bulldozers into southern Lebanon, seizing Maroun al-Ras, a large Lebanese border village.
Government spokesperson Avi Pazner says the attack is not an invasion and Israel has no intention of re-occupying Lebanon. "There is not yet a decision on an invasion of Lebanon," Pazner says.
Israeli planes fire missiles at communications towers in the mountains of northern and central Lebanon. The Lebanese Broadcasting Corp., the nation's leading private network, and two other TV stations go off the air within seconds.
Maj.-Gen. Sayyed Hassan Firuzabadi, the chairman of the joint chiefs of Iran's armed forces, says Iran would not join the fighting in the Middle East.
The Department of Foreign Affairs announces that about 2,000 more Canadians have been transported out of Lebanon to Cyprus.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announces that the number of refugees within Lebanon — 700,000 people displaced within the country by some estimates — could result in a "major humanitarian disaster."
Israeli forces enter southern Lebanon
Nearly 2,000 Canadians safely out of Lebanon
Lebanese refugees a potential disaster, Annan warns
July 21, 2006:
Israeli tanks and troops mass along the Lebanese border to prepare for a ground invasion. The action is designed to push Hezbollah back to create a buffer zone. A military radio station broadcasts warnings to southern Lebanon residents to leave the area.
A United Nations post near the Israeli-Lebanese border is hit, but reports about the attack's origin are conflicting. The Israeli army says Hezbollah rockets fell short of their targets and struck the post. An unnamed official at the UN post tells Canadian Press an Israeli artillery shell hit the building. The post is used by the UN interim force, which patrols the border established by the UN when Israeli troops withdrew from Lebanon six years ago.
Israeli troops — believed to be more than 1,000 soldiers — cross into Lebanon for the third straight day. Israeli air strikes hit Beirut, the Bekaa Valley and south Lebanon, sites thought to be Hezbollah strongholds. A section of Lebanon's oldest bridge, which is part of the Beirut-Damascus highway in central Lebanon, collapses after being hit with four Israeli missiles. Senior military officials say their offensive will not end until Israel can create a buffer zone by forcing Hezbollah to retreat behind the Litani river, 30 kilometres north of the Israeli-Lebanese border.
Hezbollah launches rockets into northern Israel. Five rockets hit Haifa and injure at least six people. The militant group says it has fired about 900 rockets into Israel in the past 10 days.
Israel's ambassador to Canada, Alan Baker, rejects previous warnings of possible war crimes charges, saying Israel is attacking legitimate Hezbollah military targets.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says she's heading to Israel to work toward a diplomatic solution but did not call for a ceasefire. She says the illegal Hezbollah attack on Israel was the cause of the violence, and a ceasefire would only be a short-term fix.
Israeli army massing on Lebanese border
Rice sees no quick fix in Mideast
July 20, 2006:
The first boatload of Canadians arrives in Cyprus, after a 15-hour trip from Lebanon. At least 1,375 Canadians leave Beirut on ships headed for the Turkish port of Mersin. The ships begin arriving in Turkey at night. Nearly 100 people fly to Ottawa on Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government plane and the rest will take flights chartered by the federal government.
Three Israeli soldiers are wounded in two separate clashes with Hezbollah guerrillas inside southern Lebanon. Hezbollah says it destroyed two Israel tanks on the way to the border town of Maroun al-Ras. Israeli jets strike homes believed to be used by Hezbollah in the Lebanese town of Hermel, wounding three. Fighter jets also destroy another alleged Hezbollah site, a five-storey building in Baalbek.
The Israeli Army says a full-scale invasion of Lebanon is still a possibility.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan condemns Hezbollah's "provocative attack" and Israel's "disproportionate" response during a special session of the United Nations Security Council. He calls for an end to the hostilities. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour says that war crimes charges may be warranted against Israel and Hezbollah if steps aren't taken to protect civilians.
World leaders' reactions are split. Canada and the U.S. say Israel's response is measured. France and Russia condemn the air strikes, calling them an overreaction. Annan also says humanitarian groups cannot reach the more than 500,000 people in Lebanon who have been displaced or affected by the bombing.
Israeli troops cross Lebanese border
Canadians reach Cyprus after gruelling trip from Lebanon
70 troops off to Cyprus, navy ships on standby
'Hostilities must stop,' UN chief Annan says
July 19, 2006:
Canadians board the first ship out of the port of Beirut, chartered by Ottawa to rescue them from the strife-torn region. About 261 people board the ship, forcing the rest of the roughly 1,800 Canadians wanting to leave Beirut to stay one more night.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper makes a surprise announcement that he and his wife, Laureen, will fly to Cyprus and shuttle about 120 Canadians back home. He later flies to Cyprus with a skeleton crew to make room for those fleeing Lebanon.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora appeals for an end to the hostilities, which have left 300 dead and 1,000 wounded, the first official casualty figures out of Lebanon.
It is one of the deadliest days since the conflict began. Israeli troops clash with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Israeli strikes kill at least 58 people in Lebanon and Hezbollah militants kill at least four Israelis. Hezbollah fires a rocket into northern Israel, killing three people – two of them children – in Nazareth. It marks the first direct hit on a holy town during this conflict. Israeli warplanes drop 23 one-tonne bombs – also known as "bunker busters" – on a suspected Hezbollah bunker. The militant organization says none of its members are killed.
There are 80 Israeli air strikes overnight.
Diplomatic efforts to cease the fighting continue, with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speaking via telephone with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
Hezbollah bunker bombed: Israeli military
Stranded Canadians begin boarding evacuation ship
Harper to fly to Cyprus to help with evacuation
July 18, 2006:
Israeli air strikes kill 11 Lebanese soldiers at an army base near Kfar Chima, as soldiers were heading for bomb shelters. Another 35 soldiers are injured.
The southern suburbs of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold, and a coastal road north of Beirut are hit. Hezbollah rockets hit Israel, many in the northern city of Haifa.
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan calls for an international force to stop the fighting in Lebanon. The U.S. and Israel have indicated they're not keen on the idea.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says Israel will continue to hit Hezbollah targets until the soldiers captured by Hezbollah are freed and Israelis are safe from attacks.
Israeli air strikes overnight level almost 20 houses and buildings in Lebanon. The military says it has crushed about 50 per cent of Hezbollah's arsenal. A Christian suburb in Beirut is hit for the first time since the offensive began.
Israeli missiles hit Lebanese army base
July 17, 2006:
The Israeli army sends ground troops into Lebanon for a quick operation involving a small number of troops to reduce Hezbollah rocket attacks on Israel, according to officials. Israeli warplanes pound Tripoli in northern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley in the east. At least 15 people are killed.
Nine Lebanese army soldiers are killed and more wounded in attacks on military bases at the nearby port of Abdeh on Lebanon's northern coast, Lebanese security sources tell Reuters. The Israeli air force also hits the eastern city of Baalbek. Six Lebanese civilians are killed in an air strike on the village of Aitaroun, witnesses tell Hezbollah TV, the Islamist organization's television station. In Gaza City, Israeli air strikes destroy the Palestinian Foreign Ministry building. Nine Lebanese civilians are killed in a missile attack in the city of Tyre — all from one family, six of them children.
In a news conference, the Israeli military says it hit 60 Hezbollah targets on Sunday alone.
Hezbollah fires hundreds of missiles back into Israel, some reaching as far south as Arafula, about 60 kilometres south of the border. A rocket fired from Lebanon hits Haifa, destroying a three-storey building and killing three people. Hezbollah rockets also hit the northern Israeli town of Safed, Israeli officials say. Palestinian gunmen in the West Bank city of Nablus ambush Israeli troops, killing one and wounding six others.
Israel says it would consider a ceasefire if Hezbollah agrees to pull back from the Lebanese border and release two captured Israeli soldiers. Hezbollah rejects Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's ceasefire offerings of July 18, saying they were just an excuse to let Israel continue its attacks. The ceasefire proposal does not curtail the air strikes — they continue in Lebanon and Israel late into the day.
Canada leases six ships from Cyprus to retrieve Canadians who want to leave strife-torn Lebanon, the Department of Foreign Affairs says. The ships will be able to transport about 4,500 people a day. Ottawa says the evacuation could begin by the middle of the week, but will only proceed if the vessels are allowed safe and secure passage.
Israel, Hezbollah trade attacks
Ottawa: Ships ready to take Canadians from Lebanon by midweek
July 16, 2006:
For the first time since fighting began, Israeli warplanes drop bombs on central Beirut, its suburbs and a major power station. Seven Canadians are killed, most of whom were members of an extended family from Montreal on vacation in the village of Aitaroun: Ali El-Akhras, his wife Amira and their four children aged one, four, six and eight.
Hezbollah carries out a missile attack on a rail repair plant that kills eight people in the Israeli city of Haifa. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warns that the attacks on Haifa would have "far-reaching consequences."
Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay announces plans for evacuation of Canadian citizens from Lebanon.
Leaders of the Group of 8 industrial nations issue a statement calling for Israel to end its military actions in Lebanon and Gaza and for "extremist forces" to return Israeli soldiers captured in cross-border raids.
G8 calls for Israeli withdrawal, release of captured men
July 15, 2006:
Fifteen people, including a number of children, die in an Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese police. Israel expands its range of targets to include the northern port city of Tripoli. Eighteen Lebanese villagers are killed while fleeing when missiles hit their vehicles en route to the southern city of Tyre.
Hezbollah fires rockets for the first time at the Israeli city of Tiberias, 35 kilometres south of the Lebanon-Israel border. No injuries were reported. Rockets also hit other cities along the border, including Nahariya, Safed, Mahanayim, Hatzor, Ben Ami and Karmiel.
More Israeli air strikes on southern Beirut as Israel sends troops into Gaza
Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa calls on the United Nations Security Council to tackle the crisis.
July 14, 2006:
Prime Minister Stephen Harper says Canada is concerned about the "escalation of violence in the Middle East," adding that it is essential that Hezbollah release two captured Israeli soldiers and Hamas do the same with two others. On his way to the G8 summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, Harper indirectly appealed to the governments of Syria, Iran and Lebanon, asking them to "encourage the recognition of Israel's right to exist." Harper says Israel is simply defending itself against Hezbollah and he describes Israel's response to the kidnapping of its soldiers as "measured."
Israel pounds Lebanon, destroying Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut and smashing city roads and runways. Shortly after the attack, the organization's official television station, Hezbollah TV, played a recorded audio speech. Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, the group's secretary general, says, "You want an open war, we will go to the open war. We are ready for it. War, war on every level."
Meanwhile, reports surface that a Hezbollah rocket in the northern Israeli town of Meron has killed an Israeli woman and a four-year-old girl.
The United Nations Security Council meets in an emergency session to discuss a request by Lebanon to condemn the Israeli attacks. It is unable to agree on a response, but issues a brief statement calling for countries in the region to co-operate with UN efforts to arrange a ceasefire.
'Escalation is inevitable' unless Israeli soldiers released: Harper
Hezbollah leader vows 'open war' on Israel
Intense diplomacy to stop Mideast fighting
July 13, 2006:
Israeli air strikes target Beirut's international airport, destroying runways and fuel storage tanks. Other attacks hit highways, including the main highway between Beirut and Damascus, and military bases. The Israeli strikes kill about 60 people in Lebanon. Israel's navy enforces a sea blockade of ports in Lebanon. Israel insists that Hezbollah will not be able to return to its former position along the international border.
Hezbollah responds to the first wave of Israeli strikes by firing more than 100 Katushya rockets into northern Israel, killing two civilians. A rocket hits Haifa, Israel's third-largest city, but Hezbollah does not claim responsibility.
Israeli assault on Lebanon and Gaza continues
July 12, 2006:
Hezbollah militants in Lebanon conduct a raid into Israel, killing as many as seven Israeli soldiers and wounding another eight. The militants also capture two Israeli soldiers.
Israel's Defence Ministry says the Lebanese government would be held responsible for the kidnappings.
Israeli rockets target roads and bridges in southern Lebanon in an apparent attempt to block escape routes and troops enter the country to search for the abducted soldiers. Eight soldiers are killed and two are injured during fighting with Hezbollah.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert calls the Hezbollah attack "an act of war."
Later,
Kenaz
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Mideast 'Conflicted'
The question should not be whether Hamas and Hezbollah need to be disarmed, but how best to achieve this. While I condemn any act of terror or violence, I have
also to be against using this as a reason and justification to do anything in the name of it.
For example, Palestinian militants attacked military targets and captured a soldier. Hezbollah militants attacked military combatants and captured soldiers. Israel targetted civilian infrastructure, bombing a Palestinian power plant that supplies power to over 70% of the population in the region, leaving civilian population without power for up to 6 months! Over 50 Palestinian civilians have died in the invasion into Palestine territory. Israel also attacked civilian infrastructure in Lebanon, destroying their international airport and devastating an economy driven by tourism. 28 member nations of the UN voted unanimously in support of a resolution calling for an end to the Israel incursion, however USA VOTO'd it. But that is no surprise, as USA government provides $3. BILLION annually in foreign aid to Israel.
Bush has declared that Israel has the right to do this because two soldiers were kidnapped. It is bsolutely absurd to make an entire country pay the price for Hezbollah. Lebanon is full of peaceful people of all faiths who are caught in the middle.
Isreal is overreacting on an extreme scale...the death of this many people over 2 soldiers abductions!?They also have the stronger military and claim to have the moral highground, if that were the case they would be wise to show restraint. What are they teaching to other countries in similiar situations? That if they have the bigger gun they should use it?? This is not how the modern world should act. Have they not learned the lessons of WWII? To tempt fate towards a mid-east war is insane!
We are now seeing Canada take Isreals side against the Muslim people who have had their lands occupied and their resistance demonized. Harper should not be standing beside their decision. Bush's support for Israel has nothing to do with right and wrong. Our Prime Minister is sending the message that Canada is no longer free thinking nor peaceful. Gone are our days as a U.N. peacekeeping nation. Now, under Stephen Harper, we seem to be a lapdog serving the war policies of U.S. President George Bush. Canadians are being bombed and killed and Prime Minister Harper seems to have no problem whatsover with this.
Why are world leaders and the world media so silent about the abuse of power that Israel is displaying in Lebanon?
With deep regret, this is but just another sorry chapter in this drama that has played itself out for centuries. This will not be the last one either. It seems that these two cultures are just inherently pre-determined to squabble with one another. Regrettably, there does not appear to be any end in site. Even more regrettable, no outside party will help with a neutral state of mind.
Later,
Kenaz
also to be against using this as a reason and justification to do anything in the name of it.
For example, Palestinian militants attacked military targets and captured a soldier. Hezbollah militants attacked military combatants and captured soldiers. Israel targetted civilian infrastructure, bombing a Palestinian power plant that supplies power to over 70% of the population in the region, leaving civilian population without power for up to 6 months! Over 50 Palestinian civilians have died in the invasion into Palestine territory. Israel also attacked civilian infrastructure in Lebanon, destroying their international airport and devastating an economy driven by tourism. 28 member nations of the UN voted unanimously in support of a resolution calling for an end to the Israel incursion, however USA VOTO'd it. But that is no surprise, as USA government provides $3. BILLION annually in foreign aid to Israel.
Bush has declared that Israel has the right to do this because two soldiers were kidnapped. It is bsolutely absurd to make an entire country pay the price for Hezbollah. Lebanon is full of peaceful people of all faiths who are caught in the middle.
Isreal is overreacting on an extreme scale...the death of this many people over 2 soldiers abductions!?They also have the stronger military and claim to have the moral highground, if that were the case they would be wise to show restraint. What are they teaching to other countries in similiar situations? That if they have the bigger gun they should use it?? This is not how the modern world should act. Have they not learned the lessons of WWII? To tempt fate towards a mid-east war is insane!
We are now seeing Canada take Isreals side against the Muslim people who have had their lands occupied and their resistance demonized. Harper should not be standing beside their decision. Bush's support for Israel has nothing to do with right and wrong. Our Prime Minister is sending the message that Canada is no longer free thinking nor peaceful. Gone are our days as a U.N. peacekeeping nation. Now, under Stephen Harper, we seem to be a lapdog serving the war policies of U.S. President George Bush. Canadians are being bombed and killed and Prime Minister Harper seems to have no problem whatsover with this.
Why are world leaders and the world media so silent about the abuse of power that Israel is displaying in Lebanon?
With deep regret, this is but just another sorry chapter in this drama that has played itself out for centuries. This will not be the last one either. It seems that these two cultures are just inherently pre-determined to squabble with one another. Regrettably, there does not appear to be any end in site. Even more regrettable, no outside party will help with a neutral state of mind.
Later,
Kenaz
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Harper and Bush have lost touch on gay rights
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has promised to re-open the issue of gay marriages, in a cheap attempt to reverse the hard faucet legislation that allowed those of the same sex to live in dignity.
A decision that has a growing number of Harper's Conservative cabinet ministers and MPs even questioning.
Harper made the commitment to hold the vote in response to complaints from many that the Liberals rushed through the law that legalized same-sex unions.
But now that his party is trying to make inroads in Bloc Quebecois and Liberal ridings in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia, wading into the debate might seem like a no-win situation.
Add to that the fact that thousands of gay and lesbian Canadians have married since the law was passed, and you find cold feet in Conservative quarters.
Woefully Harper will get the message that at the end of the day Canadians are much more interested in how the federal government is going to tax them, what our stance is on the increasing crime on our streets, what's the role of the military . . . and not same-gender marriage.
In the United States the gay rights issue has hit an even bigger low, due to the fact that Bush is an idiot. President George W. Bush on Saturday called again for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
George W. blamed 'activist judges' for changes to the definition of marriage.
"Unfortunately, activist judges and some local officials have made an aggressive attempt to redefine marriage in recent years," Bush said in his weekly radio address.
"An amendment to the constitution is necessary because activist courts have left our nation with no other choice," he said.
Bush said he believed marriage should be defined as a union between one man and one woman. He even had the gaul to add to his McCarthyistic rant,
"Marriage cannot be cut off from its cultural, religious, and natural roots without weakening this good influence on society," he said.
A vote on the proposed amendment is scheduled next week in the U.S. senate, but it is not considered likely to pass. Unless, Bush can dig out the support from the 19 states he says have approved amendments to their state constitutions aimed at protecting the traditional definition of marriage. Right! I think these are among his 35% of supporters who believe guns in the hands of children is a good thing and believe that they have had sex with Aliens.
Bush and his throw back to another era playmate Harper both need to leave this issue closed and deal with the issues that matter to their voters.
Later,
Kenaz
A decision that has a growing number of Harper's Conservative cabinet ministers and MPs even questioning.
Harper made the commitment to hold the vote in response to complaints from many that the Liberals rushed through the law that legalized same-sex unions.
But now that his party is trying to make inroads in Bloc Quebecois and Liberal ridings in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia, wading into the debate might seem like a no-win situation.
Add to that the fact that thousands of gay and lesbian Canadians have married since the law was passed, and you find cold feet in Conservative quarters.
Woefully Harper will get the message that at the end of the day Canadians are much more interested in how the federal government is going to tax them, what our stance is on the increasing crime on our streets, what's the role of the military . . . and not same-gender marriage.
In the United States the gay rights issue has hit an even bigger low, due to the fact that Bush is an idiot. President George W. Bush on Saturday called again for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
George W. blamed 'activist judges' for changes to the definition of marriage.
"Unfortunately, activist judges and some local officials have made an aggressive attempt to redefine marriage in recent years," Bush said in his weekly radio address.
"An amendment to the constitution is necessary because activist courts have left our nation with no other choice," he said.
Bush said he believed marriage should be defined as a union between one man and one woman. He even had the gaul to add to his McCarthyistic rant,
"Marriage cannot be cut off from its cultural, religious, and natural roots without weakening this good influence on society," he said.
A vote on the proposed amendment is scheduled next week in the U.S. senate, but it is not considered likely to pass. Unless, Bush can dig out the support from the 19 states he says have approved amendments to their state constitutions aimed at protecting the traditional definition of marriage. Right! I think these are among his 35% of supporters who believe guns in the hands of children is a good thing and believe that they have had sex with Aliens.
Bush and his throw back to another era playmate Harper both need to leave this issue closed and deal with the issues that matter to their voters.
Later,
Kenaz
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Bush Should Be Put Behind A Fence
Bending to right wing democrats demands to shore up the southern U.S. border to prevent illegal immigrants from freely crossing into the country, the Senate voted Wednesday to build 370 miles of triple-layered fence. Senators voted 83-16 to add fencing and 500 miles of vehicle barriers along the southern border.
This sets in stone that George Bush is a complete lunatic. It has been a joke for years that the solution to the American self imposed isolation from the world would be to build a giant wall around the country. And now they will, or at least part of it. Sure the reasons being tossed out, include; keeping out illegal Mexicans who take millions of dollars out of the US economy by living off welfare or taking cheap US jobs. Mind you these jobs are ones that Americans won`t do!
The world cheered when the Berlin wall fell, it should weep when the American erect this American tragedy.
And now the comedy, here`s a couple Pat Oliphant takes on the situation.
Later,
Kenaz
This sets in stone that George Bush is a complete lunatic. It has been a joke for years that the solution to the American self imposed isolation from the world would be to build a giant wall around the country. And now they will, or at least part of it. Sure the reasons being tossed out, include; keeping out illegal Mexicans who take millions of dollars out of the US economy by living off welfare or taking cheap US jobs. Mind you these jobs are ones that Americans won`t do!
The world cheered when the Berlin wall fell, it should weep when the American erect this American tragedy.
And now the comedy, here`s a couple Pat Oliphant takes on the situation.
Later,
Kenaz
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
South Dakota legislature's bill an insult to women
A direct attack on Roe v. Wade is coming from the South Dakota legislature. The new bill, which outlaws abortion, makes no exceptions, not for a pregnancy caused by incest or rape. It would only be legal—the only exception if it would save the pregnant woman's life.
Doctors who perform abortions could face up to five years in prison. The bill passed the State Senate 23-12. It's expected to pass the House again and then go to Governor Mike Rounds' desk. The bill's sponsor says he thinks the antiabortion movement has momentum on its side and a—quote—“change in national policy on abortion is going to come in the not-too-distant future.”
To read an excerpt from their conversation, click on this link
In his opening statement DAN ABRAMS, HOST, ‘ABRAMS REPORT' states:
Dan has it right, I may be a Canadian liberal, small l. But attacking a womens right to not have to live with the stigmatisms that the world would impose on her if she was forced into bringing a child into the world that was the result of a rape or god forbid incest, is as sick as the act it self.
Roe v Wade is a world wide cornerstone of justice and for a handful of South Dakota extremist politicians to even conceive such a bill proves that their is something seriously wrong with our elected officials.
Here in this country our Canadian women found themselves in a similar fight for respect.
On May 29, 1990, the House of Commons passed Bill C-43. This bill would have put abortion back into the Criminal Code, while exempting from penalty those abortions deemed necessary by a physician for health reasons. Bill C-43 was awaiting only Senate approval to become Canada’s new abortion law when, suddenly, two cases of clandestine illegal abortion reappeared in Canada. In June of 1990, a sixteen-year-old girl from Kitchener, Ontario, sustained physical injury from a botched abortion performed in a man’s home. Less than two weeks later, a Toronto woman died from a self-induced coat-hanger abortion, apparently the first such death in well over a decade.
When Bill C-43 was introduced, at least sixty doctors, fearful of possible criminal prosecution, stopped performing abortions. A 1990 survey done by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada found that 275 of the 460 specialists then performing abortions would stop if the bill became law. The legal possibility of criminal charges for performing an abortion was simply a greater price than most doctors could afford to pay.
Bill C-43 was defeated by the Senate on January 31, 1991, in a dramatic tie vote. Since then, there have been no new attempts by the federal government to return abortion to the Criminal Code. Abortion in Canada has remained a private medical matter between a woman and her doctor since 1988.
Later,
Kenaz
Doctors who perform abortions could face up to five years in prison. The bill passed the State Senate 23-12. It's expected to pass the House again and then go to Governor Mike Rounds' desk. The bill's sponsor says he thinks the antiabortion movement has momentum on its side and a—quote—“change in national policy on abortion is going to come in the not-too-distant future.”
To read an excerpt from their conversation, click on this link
In his opening statement DAN ABRAMS, HOST, ‘ABRAMS REPORT' states:
"My Take” is that the state lawmakers have got to know this bill effectively spits in the face of the U.S. Supreme Court precedent. Not just because of Roe v. Wade, because the high court reaffirmed Roe when it revisited the abortion issue in 1992 in Planned Parenthood v. Casey. A majority agreed that women have the right to have an abortion before the fetus is viable and to obtain an abortion without undue interference from the state.
So whatever you think of abortion, this law is almost an insult to the court. Governor, I know you've made it perfectly clear you support many abortion restrictions, but this is not an abortion restriction. This is outlawing it. I assume you've got to know that this wouldn't pass the court's test.
Dan has it right, I may be a Canadian liberal, small l. But attacking a womens right to not have to live with the stigmatisms that the world would impose on her if she was forced into bringing a child into the world that was the result of a rape or god forbid incest, is as sick as the act it self.
Roe v Wade is a world wide cornerstone of justice and for a handful of South Dakota extremist politicians to even conceive such a bill proves that their is something seriously wrong with our elected officials.
Here in this country our Canadian women found themselves in a similar fight for respect.
On May 29, 1990, the House of Commons passed Bill C-43. This bill would have put abortion back into the Criminal Code, while exempting from penalty those abortions deemed necessary by a physician for health reasons. Bill C-43 was awaiting only Senate approval to become Canada’s new abortion law when, suddenly, two cases of clandestine illegal abortion reappeared in Canada. In June of 1990, a sixteen-year-old girl from Kitchener, Ontario, sustained physical injury from a botched abortion performed in a man’s home. Less than two weeks later, a Toronto woman died from a self-induced coat-hanger abortion, apparently the first such death in well over a decade.
When Bill C-43 was introduced, at least sixty doctors, fearful of possible criminal prosecution, stopped performing abortions. A 1990 survey done by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada found that 275 of the 460 specialists then performing abortions would stop if the bill became law. The legal possibility of criminal charges for performing an abortion was simply a greater price than most doctors could afford to pay.
Bill C-43 was defeated by the Senate on January 31, 1991, in a dramatic tie vote. Since then, there have been no new attempts by the federal government to return abortion to the Criminal Code. Abortion in Canada has remained a private medical matter between a woman and her doctor since 1988.
Later,
Kenaz
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Time Line Of Kidnapping In Iraq of Four Aid Workers
Image of Briton Norman Kember from the hostage video
Image of Thomas Fox, an American from Virginia, from the hostage video.
Image of Canadian Harmeet Singh Sooden--a resident of New Zealand. Image of James Loney, of Canada.November 26, 2005
Four Christian Peacemaker Team mebers two Canadians,an American and one British on an aid mission in Baghdad are taken at gunpoint on Saturday.
November 28, 2005
A video showing the four men sitting on the ground, and the passport belonging to one of them is aired on Iraqi News Station Al-Jazeera. A time stamp indicates the video was recorded on Nov. 27.
November 29, 2005
The hostages are identified as Harmeet Singh Sooden, a 32-year-old Canadian, 41-year-old James Loney of Toronto, Norman Kember, 74, from London, England and Tom Fox, 54, from the United States.
The four are members of Christian Peacemaker Teams, a small, international group which aims to reduce worldwide violence.
The organization has denied claims by the kidnappers, a group calling itself the Swords of Righteousness Brigade, that the four were spies working in Iraq. "All of us are praying that they will be merciful and these people will be released," said Doug Pritchard of the Christian Peacemaker Teams.
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin issues a statement saying that Foreign Affairs is in contact with the families of the hostages and is working on their behalf.
"I want you to know that there is no more urgent issue than ensuring the safety of our citizens," said Martin.
In a statement released Tuesday, Christian Peacemakers Teams said it was outraged that the four pacifists, including a pair of Canadians, are now suffering for a war they didn't create.
"We are angry because what has happened to our teammates is the result of the actions of the U.S. and U.K. governments due to the illegal attack on Iraq and the continuing occupation and oppression of its people," the Toronto- and Chicago-based organization wrote in the statement posted online.
December 1, 2005
In what Prime Minister Paul Martin called "a callous act of terror" a shadowy group holding two Canadian peace activists hostage threatened Friday to kill them and two other Christian aid workers if its demands for the release of detainees weren't met.
The unknown kidnappers set a deadline of Thursday December 8, for authorities to meet their demand for all prisoners in U.S. and Iraqi detention centres to be released, according to Al-Jazeera news channel, which quoted a statement delivered with videotape it aired.
December 2,2005
In an interview from Baghdad, a colleague of the two members of Christian Peacemaker Teams taken hostage on Saturday said there had been no contact from the kidnappers.
"It's still more hurry up and wait," Greg Rollins said.
"We've been getting friends to release statements in hopes they (the kidnappers) will step forward and say something or do something, but there's been nothing."
Palestinian activists have added their voices to those concerned about the four members from the Christian Peacemaker Teams - including two Canadians - kidnapped in Iraq on Sunday.
The Palestinians gathered in Ramallah's main square Thursday, where they called on the militants in Iraq to release the four men.
"Your brothers in Palestine ask the Iraqi fighters in Fallujah, who are defending their country from their enemies the Americans, to release our international brothers, who have helped us in our struggle for freedom here," said Basel Masour.
December 5
Family and friends of the four hostages held in Iraq publicly plead for the release of their loved ones.
"Harmeet … is a peace loving man," said Manjeet Kaur Sooden, whose son, Harmeet Sing Sooden, is among the four hostages. "He went to Iraq to do good. I pray those who are holding Harmeet will look into their hearts [and] see the good that is in my son."
Loney's family also spoke to his captors and pleaded for his release.
"Please release him," said his mother, Claudette Loney. "We miss him. We love him. And we want him home."
"We want him to be able to continue the work that is just so important to him with the Iraqi people," said Loney's sister, Kathleen Weir.
Tom Fox is said to have prepared his family in case he was taken hostage, something many aid workers going over to Iraq feel the need to do. The family is reluctant to speak out because they fear it will harm Fox and his co-workers.
"A number of Christian peacekeeper teams actually have prepared statements of conscience in case something should happen," Rose said. "Tom's team was developed with co-workers knowing the prevalence of threat. … They wanted to make sure that everyone knew they did not want military or a forceful group to rescue them."
The first recent American hostage to receive considerable media attention was Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, kidnapped in Pakistan and beheaded.
Later, Nicholas Berg, American businessman kidnapped in Iraq, befell the same fate.
Military and civilians from Bulgaria, South Korea and Italy have been captured and beheaded in Iraq. Beheading has become a preferred tactic of terror for insurgent groups and al Qaeda.
Even still, Christian Peacemaker Teams refused armed protection in Iraq.
"We don't use guns, we are non-violent," Rose said. "What kind of integrity would a non-violent group have if they were guarded by men with guns? To be honest, members of our group often act as non-violent guards and in Palestine. Tom was escorting Palestinian farmers to work through border points."
December 6
A new videotape posted on the internet shows four Western hostages in Iraq, including two Canadians, as they make assurances that they are being treated well.
The tape shows the Canadians unshackled while the other two hostages – an American and a Briton – are handcuffed.
"We are being treated well. We are both well. All of us are well," Torontonian Jim Loney says on the tape.
"We're being treated well. We are sleeping OK. We'd like to thank the people holding us for that," adds Harmeet Sooden, formerly of Montreal.
It was not clear whether the men were speaking of their own volition. Neither is it clear when the tape was made, although the images are dated Dec. 2
December 7
The Iraqi group holding hostage four Christian peace activists, including two Canadians, extended their deadline for execution until Saturday, al-Jazeera repots.
Meanwhile, the family of one of the kidnapped Canadian men in Iraq continued to hold out hope for his release Wednesday as a deadline looms to execute him and three other hostages.
Speaking from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Loney's family thanked all those working to free him, and expressed hope of seeing that happen soon.
"We want James home," said his brother Matthew Loney. "We want the other members home. And we want a peaceful resolution to how things are going over there," he said.
Matthew Loney also referred to a video that was released of the hostages saying, "We are grateful that Jim appeared well cared for in the last tape and we pray that will continue."
Loney's brother Ed appeared to fight back tears as he said, "At this time we would like to express our compassion and support for all families facing similar circumstances."
Editorial, by me.
Experts speculate the extention of the deadline and the unshackling of the Canadians are part of the mind games the Iraqi captors are playing. The assumption is that the message the captors wish to convey is "if you don't wish to paticipate with countries that we feel are trying to supress us (ie America and Britain) than you will be treated fairly, if you do then you will meet the same fate as they will." Hense the shackled and blindfolded American and British Aid Worker.
Neither the Canadian government nor military has never taken a proactive stance in this latest US and British led campaign to rid Iraq of the perceived terrorist threat, they have though been open supporters of their effors. Hopefully, after the election in January, the next Canadian government will wake up and provide better defense our peace keepers and aid workers.
December 9
Family and supporters around the world spent Friday in growing trepidation as a grim deadline set by kidnappers holding four Christian peace activists in Iraq loomed.
The still mysterious group of kidnappers threatened to kill the two Canadians and their fellow hostages unless the Americans released thousands of prisoners in Iraq by Saturday - International Human Rights Day.
"I really can't imagine anything worse than the scenario that myself and my family are going through right now," Ed Loney, brother of Canadian hostage Jim Loney told the Canadian Press.
Sunni clerics in Iraq issued a plea on Friday for the freedom of four Western hostages, including two Canadians.
At the Abu Hanifa Mosque in a Baghdad, Sunni cleric Imam Ahmed Taha devoted part of Friday prayers to the hostages. Speaking in Arabic he said, "We ask those who have the authority and the power to do their best to release the people who work for a Christian peace organization," he said. "They were the first who condemned the war on Iraq."
December 10
Loney's family waited in his parents' home in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., his brothers Ed and Matthew spoke about the ordeal with CBC News.
"The whole thing is just one really gut-wrenching experience after another," Ed Loney said.
"You don't know what's going to happen and you can't get caught up in those little deadlines or those little apparently meaningful things. It's all meaningful at this point."
He said his parents, who are in their 70s, have suffered most.
"They don't need the added stress and the pressure to complicate their lives. We're a bit younger, we can deal with that a bit better – but to imagine it going on for weeks and months would be terrible."
Loney's brothers said that, in scouring the media for news, they've discovered his fight against rights violations in Iraq and Palestine touched more lives than they ever imagined.
"We know what he was like within our family," said Matthew Loney. "But we didn't know as much, nearly as much, as we could have known about his work."
He said the irony was that the peace activists' goals weren't that different from those of their captors, who are demanding that U.S. and British military authorities free all prisoners being held in Iraq.
"Anything that happens to them negatively will impact the work that can be done for human rights in Iraq and around the world, and in the Middle East."
December 12
The tense waiting continued Monday with still no word of any kind on the fate of four Western hostages, including two Canadians, being held in Iraq.
December 13
The Swords of Righteousness Brigades, the group holding four western peace activists hostage in Iraq has ties to the Islamic Army, which has in the past killed several hostages, according to a Canadian newspaper. The National Post reported Tuesday that the previously unknown hostage-takers had uploaded at least two videotaped statements onto a hidden directory of an Islamic Army website that is only accessible to those in contact with the site's administrator.
"I would say that there is a strong connection between the hostage-takers and the Islamic Army," said Rita Katz, director of the SITE Institute, a US organization that monitors Jihadist activities and made the link. Katz said she had alerted US officials.
The Islamic Army killed Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni in 2004, and a statement from the group last week claimed American contractor Ronald Allen Schulz has been executed, but Washington officials could not confirm his death.
The group was also behind the kidnapping of French journalists Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot, who were freed at the end of 2004 after being held captive for four months.
December 15
A colleague of four Western hostages in Iraq told CBC News on Thursday that concerted efforts are continuing to try to reach the captors and get the four men set free.
"We're thinking that no news is good news, that maybe they're trying to figure out what their next move should be," Greg Rollins of Surrey, B.C., told CBC News on Thursday
December 24
Families of Iraq hostages advertise for help
CTV.ca
The faces of four captive Christian Peacemakers Team (CPT) members appeared on the front pages of Baghdad newspapers Saturday, along with new appeals for their safe release.
Family members have placed the ads and they are planning another appeal on Iraqi radio for Dec. 26.
The messages say that Canadians James Loney and Harmeet Singh Sooden, Briton Norman Kember and American Tom Fox are men of peace who want to help Iraq.
The ads also say: "Many clerics and religious figures from the Arab and Muslim world have spoken of the good work the men were doing."
A phone number is offered for anonymous callers to give "any information that can help."
Many people in Baghdad want to see the captives released.
"At the end of the day, we are trying to live in peace," one Iraqi told CTV News. "This is our chance to prove to the world we are a peaceful people."
Back in Canada, vigils continue to be held by friends and supporters.
In Toronto on Saturday, people gathered to sing, pray and hope for the hostages' safe return.
Meanwhile, worried family members say they will try to celebrate Christmas.
"There's only one thing that would satisfy our entire family and that's to have this thing over with," Matthew Loney, the brother of captive Jim Loney told CTV News on Friday.
The Loney family says a place will be set at the Christmas dinner table for James.
His brother Ed says the family will try to have a normal holiday celebration in their Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. home.
"Just do our typical thing, you know," Loney said. "Have dinner and share the day with my sister's family … and keep it really simple, but still keep Jim in mind."
Sooden's brother-in-law Mark Brewer says his family continues to regard the lack of news about the hostages as a positive sign.
January 29. 2006
One of four kidnapped Christian peace activist Canadian, James Loney, of Toronto is seen in this image aired by Al Jazeera TV on Saturday. (AP)Vigils struck for hostages in Iraq
Canadian Press and Associated Press
Baghdad — As they anxiously wait and hope for good news from Iraq, relatives of a Canadian hostage say they are thankful for the overwhelming support they've received over the last two months.
Matt Loney, brother of Canadian hostage James Loney, said he has been touched by events like Sunday's marches in Toronto and Vancouver, and the continued outpouring of support for his family.
The demonstrations were organized by the Christian Peacemaker Teams. Four of the group's members, including James Loney, were kidnapped Nov. 26 in Baghdad.
"As shocking as the original news of the kidnapping was, we've been even more overwhelmed as a family by the support we've been getting; and that's been locally and internationally," Mr. Loney said.
Sunday's events were planned weeks ago and followed by a day the release of a 55-second video showing Canadian hostages Mr. Loney and Harmeet Singh Sooden, along with an American and a British co-worker.
The tape, time stamped Jan. 21, was shown Saturday on the Arab all-news network al-Jazeera, seven weeks after the captors — the previously unknown Swords of Righteousness Brigades — made their last set of demands and the passing of a deadline that was met with silence.
The video — which is grey and apparently shot using the camera's night-vision function — shows the four men standing near a wall, then cuts to another shot in which the men are seated and talking but their voices are not heard.
At one point, Mr. Loney is seen close-up wearing a tuque and speaking into the camera, and he looked relatively fine, said the CPT's William Payne, a friend of Mr. Loney's.
"My immediate reaction was he looked well considering the circumstances and I was really happy," Mr. Payne said Saturday. "He seemed himself from his facial expressions."
The Loney family awoke to the news of the videotape Saturday morning and said they were encouraged to see James is still alive.
His brother Matt in Vancouver first heard about the video early Saturday and said that while it was good to see his brother, it still wasn't the best of news.
"It's a good and bad scenario. We know that he's alive and the others are alive as well, and we take great solace in that fact," he said.
"But the fact remains that this is still a delicate situation."
Mr. Loney's mother was happy to see her son again, even under the difficult circumstances, said the CPT's Rebecca Johnson.
"Mrs. Loney was also relieved to see her son is alive and happy to see that, that was one of the first things she said," according to Ms. Johnson.
"(The family) is hoping for the best and for his release, of course."
The Swords of Righteousness Brigades called the brief tape a "last chance" for the hostages. They demanded the release of all Iraqi prisoners "otherwise their fate will be death."
No deadline was set.
Government spokesman Dan McTeague said Saturday that freeing the hostages — Mr. Loney, 41, of Toronto; Mr. Sooden, 32, a former Montreal resident; Tom Fox, 54, of Clear Brook, Va., and Norman Kember, 74, of London — remains a priority.
"All the resources of the government of Canada have been co-ordinated to communicate and listen to and receive any info that would help us see the safe release of these hostages," Mr. McTeague said.
Christian Peacemaker Teams has been working in Iraq since October 2002, investigating allegations of abuse against Iraqi detainees by American and Iraqi forces. Its teams host human rights conferences in conflict zones, promoting peaceful solutions.
Humanitarian workers had been warned repeatedly by Iraqi and western security officials that they were taking a grave risk if they moved around Baghdad without bodyguards.
More than 250 foreigners have been taken hostage in Iraq since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, and at least 39 have been killed.
Al-Jazeera editor Saad al-Dosari declined to say how the station obtained the tape but that all of the footage was aired.
Mon, 20 Feb 2006
Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay 'very optimistic' about release of Canadian hostages in IraqCanada's new foreign affairs minister says he believes the two Canadians, and two other Westerners taken hostage in Iraq, are still "very much" alive.
"The most up-to-date information that we have leads us to believe that there will be -- and we remain very optimistic -- a safe release of these individuals," Peter MacKay said in an interview with Canadian Press.
On Monday, MacKay told CP the government is "pursuing all means, with our allies, to be helpful and supportive to ensure their safe return and release."
"The most recent information leads us to believe they have, on a number of occasions, been moved from one location to another."
"We remain very optimistic about their well-being," MacKay said.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Canadian an American Officials In Dispute Over Details
Canadians are disputing the U.S. version of an incident in Iraq that saw American soldiers fire shots at a car carrying four Canadian diplomats in Baghdad.
No one was injured, but the two sides differ on what prompted the volley of shots.
A U.S. military spokesperson in Iraq claims American soldiers "felt threatened" that the car might represent a potential suicide-bomb attack after the vehicle came too close and ignored hand and arm signals to keep a safe distance away.
"They felt they had to use warning shots," said U.S. Lt.-Col. Barry Johnson, spokesman for the multinational force in Baghdad.
"Clearly, these warning shots weren't aimed at the occupants."
A statement from the country’s military said the shots were aimed "at the front of the vehicle, away from the passenger area."
But Canadian officials argue that one shot did enter the passenger compartment and others struck the vehicle.
They also claim that the car did keep a safe distance away from the convoy and that they didn’t see any warning signals.
"Our officials are clear that they were operating within the rules," prime minister-designate Stephen Harper said in Ottawa.
"Obviously, we'd like to make sure we deal with this and avoid such a situation in the future. We're obviously very glad no one was hurt."
Gen. Rick Hillier, Canada’s chief of defence staff, has contacted U.S. authorities with concerns over the chain of events.
The vehicle was carrying the charge d'affaires to Iraq, Stewart Henderson, consular offical Michelle Cameron, an unidentified agent with Canada's spy service and another official, plus the driver.
They were on a routine trip through the Green Zone, a highly militarized part of Baghdad that includes the headquarters of the U.S. military and houses the Iraqi government and diplomats, when the bullets began to fly.
No apology has come from the U.S. yet, as it continues to investigate what happened.
"Nobody, our soldiers and our security personnel, certainly don't want to fire on innocent people, certainly not close friends and allies, said U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.
Canada has a small diplomatic presence in Iraq at this point, but plans to establish an embassy there by the summer.
It will be interesting to see how the Americans will try to get out of this one without an adequate explanation or even an apology. Maybe the Canadians should be required to belt out "I am Canadian!" as they pass through the blocquade. Just my oppinion.
Later,
Kenaz
No one was injured, but the two sides differ on what prompted the volley of shots.
A U.S. military spokesperson in Iraq claims American soldiers "felt threatened" that the car might represent a potential suicide-bomb attack after the vehicle came too close and ignored hand and arm signals to keep a safe distance away.
"They felt they had to use warning shots," said U.S. Lt.-Col. Barry Johnson, spokesman for the multinational force in Baghdad.
"Clearly, these warning shots weren't aimed at the occupants."
A statement from the country’s military said the shots were aimed "at the front of the vehicle, away from the passenger area."
But Canadian officials argue that one shot did enter the passenger compartment and others struck the vehicle.
They also claim that the car did keep a safe distance away from the convoy and that they didn’t see any warning signals.
"Our officials are clear that they were operating within the rules," prime minister-designate Stephen Harper said in Ottawa.
"Obviously, we'd like to make sure we deal with this and avoid such a situation in the future. We're obviously very glad no one was hurt."
Gen. Rick Hillier, Canada’s chief of defence staff, has contacted U.S. authorities with concerns over the chain of events.
The vehicle was carrying the charge d'affaires to Iraq, Stewart Henderson, consular offical Michelle Cameron, an unidentified agent with Canada's spy service and another official, plus the driver.
They were on a routine trip through the Green Zone, a highly militarized part of Baghdad that includes the headquarters of the U.S. military and houses the Iraqi government and diplomats, when the bullets began to fly.
No apology has come from the U.S. yet, as it continues to investigate what happened.
"Nobody, our soldiers and our security personnel, certainly don't want to fire on innocent people, certainly not close friends and allies, said U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.
Canada has a small diplomatic presence in Iraq at this point, but plans to establish an embassy there by the summer.
It will be interesting to see how the Americans will try to get out of this one without an adequate explanation or even an apology. Maybe the Canadians should be required to belt out "I am Canadian!" as they pass through the blocquade. Just my oppinion.
Later,
Kenaz
Thursday, January 12, 2006
"We are being culturally integrated into the U.S. and our politicians are not doing anything about it"
Discussion about Canadian culture has been missing from the current election campaign, according to a group of prominent actors who gathered to draw attention to their concerns.
'We have so much freedom in this country to say what we want,' comic actor Colin Mochrie said at a conference aimed at increasing political focus on culture. 'The only freedom we don't have is financial.'
Wendy Crewson, Sonja Smits, Colin Mochrie and R.H. Thomson were among those who assembled in Toronto Wednesday morning to call on the federal political parties to share their cultural platforms with Canadian voters.
From www.cbc.ca
"During this federal election campaign, we have heard nothing about cultural issues and we're here today to put culture on the election agenda and to demand action," Crewson said.
"Our own broadcasters are more interested in simulcasting U.S. programming than they are in showing Canadian programs. The reality is this: we are being culturally integrated into the U.S. and our politicians are not doing anything about it," she added.
"We are facing cultural appropriation by the U.S. and our next government needs to take action."
Mochrie, who has been seen on TV comedy shows in both the U.S. and in Canada, emphasized the difference between them.
While on the U.S. production Who's Line Is It Anyway?, Mochrie had a nifty wardrobe and dined from a well-stocked craft table, but he recalled listening to arguments "over whether the word penis would be used in the show" and "whether it would be inappropriate for me to fake-kiss a man on the lips."
Conversely, while working on CBC-TV's This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Mochrie joked, he may have once worn a hand-me-down wig and had only snacks to nibble on backstage, but he had the freedom to do skits like one about Viagra, where "my erect penis gets stuck in an elevator door."
"We have so much freedom in this country to say what we want," he concluded. "The only freedom we don't have is financial."
Stage and screen actress Fiona Reid recalled that in 1999, there had been a dozen, hour-long, English-Canadian dramas shown on TV during prime time. By the end of 2005, that number had dwindled to just three following CRTC changes (in 1999) that loosened Canadian content regulations during prime time.
"We have to get the teeth back in those regulations," Reid urged. "We must not apologize for asking government to support culture. Every other developed nation – save the United States and India – supports their culture and they make no bones about it...it takes money."
Wednesday's event, organized by English-language performers union ACTRA, stressed the three main issues it is pursuing with politicians:
* New CRTC content and spending requirements for private broadcasters.
* Increasing and stabilized funding for the Canadian Television Fund, Telefilm and the CBC.
* Maintaining current limits to foreign ownership of Canadian airwaves.
These issues were included in a series of questions the national union sent out to the major parties, including the Green Party, in early December. However, after follow-up letters and phone calls, only the NDP and the Bloc have replied.
"We haven't heard anything from the Green Party although they've got something on their website about culture. Nothing from the Liberals or the Conservatives," Stephen Waddell, ACTRA's national executive director, told CBC Arts Online.
"So where are they? Where do they stand?" he asked. "We're hopeful that we will get a response. Why not? These are very simple questions. Tell us what you believe in terms of the future of Canadian culture."
CANADIAN CULTURAL SOVEREIGNTY UNDER THREAT
January 11, 2005 - Toronto - Canadian stars today called on federal politicians to let Canadians know where they stand on Canada’s cultural future. Among those members of ACTRA taking
part in a Toronto press conference were Wendy Crewson, Richard Hardacre, Dan Lett, Miriam McDonald, Colin Mochrie, Cara Pifko, Karl Pruner, Fiona Reid, Wayne Robson, Sonja Smits, Julie Stewart, and R.H. Thomson. These well-known Canadian actors are determined to raise the alarm during this election about the threat to Canada's cultural sovereignty.
"It is our culture that defines us as a nation - it is what makes us who we are. Unfortunately, Canadians are overwhelmed by Hollywood content from American broadcasters; they're dumping their product into Canada. We're being culturally integrated into the U.S. and our politicians are not doing anything about it. Our next government needs to take immediate action," said Wendy Crewson.
At the press conference, actors spoke passionately of their concerns about the devastating decline of Canadian drama programming on our television screens and the lack of Canadian films in our movie theatres. They also drew attention to the alarming potential for foreign ownership of Canadian airwaves and the need for increased long-term funding for Telefilm, the Canadian Television Fund and the CBC.
"U.S. programming dominates our private broadcasters' schedules and Canadian drama is disappearing from our own TV screens. We're asking politicians to tell us that they will direct the CRTC to impose both drama content and spending requirements on private broadcasters so that Canadians can see our own diverse culture on our screens," said R.H. Thomson.
Culture is a $26 billion dollar industry that provides more than 700,000 direct jobs for Canadians. Performers and others in our cultural industries are frustrated that federal politicians are ignoring such a large part of Canada’s economy and sovereignty.
"There are less than two weeks left in this federal election campaign and we know very little about the parties’ plans on cultural issues," said Crewson.
"Canadians deserve to see the parties' cultural planks before we let them lead us down a path of no return" said Thomson. "And we’re asking Canadians to vote for the party and candidates who are most committed to taking action to give our country a strong, vibrant and independent culture."
ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is a national organization of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of 21,000 members across Canada – the foundation of Canada's highly acclaimed professional performing community.
Later,
Kenaz
'We have so much freedom in this country to say what we want,' comic actor Colin Mochrie said at a conference aimed at increasing political focus on culture. 'The only freedom we don't have is financial.'
Wendy Crewson, Sonja Smits, Colin Mochrie and R.H. Thomson were among those who assembled in Toronto Wednesday morning to call on the federal political parties to share their cultural platforms with Canadian voters.
From www.cbc.ca
"During this federal election campaign, we have heard nothing about cultural issues and we're here today to put culture on the election agenda and to demand action," Crewson said.
"Our own broadcasters are more interested in simulcasting U.S. programming than they are in showing Canadian programs. The reality is this: we are being culturally integrated into the U.S. and our politicians are not doing anything about it," she added.
"We are facing cultural appropriation by the U.S. and our next government needs to take action."
Mochrie, who has been seen on TV comedy shows in both the U.S. and in Canada, emphasized the difference between them.
While on the U.S. production Who's Line Is It Anyway?, Mochrie had a nifty wardrobe and dined from a well-stocked craft table, but he recalled listening to arguments "over whether the word penis would be used in the show" and "whether it would be inappropriate for me to fake-kiss a man on the lips."
Conversely, while working on CBC-TV's This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Mochrie joked, he may have once worn a hand-me-down wig and had only snacks to nibble on backstage, but he had the freedom to do skits like one about Viagra, where "my erect penis gets stuck in an elevator door."
"We have so much freedom in this country to say what we want," he concluded. "The only freedom we don't have is financial."
Stage and screen actress Fiona Reid recalled that in 1999, there had been a dozen, hour-long, English-Canadian dramas shown on TV during prime time. By the end of 2005, that number had dwindled to just three following CRTC changes (in 1999) that loosened Canadian content regulations during prime time.
"We have to get the teeth back in those regulations," Reid urged. "We must not apologize for asking government to support culture. Every other developed nation – save the United States and India – supports their culture and they make no bones about it...it takes money."
Wednesday's event, organized by English-language performers union ACTRA, stressed the three main issues it is pursuing with politicians:
* New CRTC content and spending requirements for private broadcasters.
* Increasing and stabilized funding for the Canadian Television Fund, Telefilm and the CBC.
* Maintaining current limits to foreign ownership of Canadian airwaves.
These issues were included in a series of questions the national union sent out to the major parties, including the Green Party, in early December. However, after follow-up letters and phone calls, only the NDP and the Bloc have replied.
"We haven't heard anything from the Green Party although they've got something on their website about culture. Nothing from the Liberals or the Conservatives," Stephen Waddell, ACTRA's national executive director, told CBC Arts Online.
"So where are they? Where do they stand?" he asked. "We're hopeful that we will get a response. Why not? These are very simple questions. Tell us what you believe in terms of the future of Canadian culture."
CANADIAN CULTURAL SOVEREIGNTY UNDER THREAT
January 11, 2005 - Toronto - Canadian stars today called on federal politicians to let Canadians know where they stand on Canada’s cultural future. Among those members of ACTRA taking
part in a Toronto press conference were Wendy Crewson, Richard Hardacre, Dan Lett, Miriam McDonald, Colin Mochrie, Cara Pifko, Karl Pruner, Fiona Reid, Wayne Robson, Sonja Smits, Julie Stewart, and R.H. Thomson. These well-known Canadian actors are determined to raise the alarm during this election about the threat to Canada's cultural sovereignty.
"It is our culture that defines us as a nation - it is what makes us who we are. Unfortunately, Canadians are overwhelmed by Hollywood content from American broadcasters; they're dumping their product into Canada. We're being culturally integrated into the U.S. and our politicians are not doing anything about it. Our next government needs to take immediate action," said Wendy Crewson.
At the press conference, actors spoke passionately of their concerns about the devastating decline of Canadian drama programming on our television screens and the lack of Canadian films in our movie theatres. They also drew attention to the alarming potential for foreign ownership of Canadian airwaves and the need for increased long-term funding for Telefilm, the Canadian Television Fund and the CBC.
"U.S. programming dominates our private broadcasters' schedules and Canadian drama is disappearing from our own TV screens. We're asking politicians to tell us that they will direct the CRTC to impose both drama content and spending requirements on private broadcasters so that Canadians can see our own diverse culture on our screens," said R.H. Thomson.
Culture is a $26 billion dollar industry that provides more than 700,000 direct jobs for Canadians. Performers and others in our cultural industries are frustrated that federal politicians are ignoring such a large part of Canada’s economy and sovereignty.
"There are less than two weeks left in this federal election campaign and we know very little about the parties’ plans on cultural issues," said Crewson.
"Canadians deserve to see the parties' cultural planks before we let them lead us down a path of no return" said Thomson. "And we’re asking Canadians to vote for the party and candidates who are most committed to taking action to give our country a strong, vibrant and independent culture."
ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is a national organization of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of 21,000 members across Canada – the foundation of Canada's highly acclaimed professional performing community.
Later,
Kenaz
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Tonkin Gulf Cover Up Finally Set Straight
The murky events in the Gulf of Tonkin in August 1964 propelled the United States into the Vietnam War. Over three days, the U.S. government reported two attacks on its destroyers. The first assault by North Vietnamese PT boats on August 2 provoked only a protest from Washington. On the cloudy night of August 4, two U.S. ships detected another apparent ambush. They fired their guns in response, claiming to have sunk several enemy boats. The incident prompted Lyndon Johnson to order airstrikes and obtain what amounted to a declaration of war from Congress.
Now, a newly declassified NSA study--and over 140 formerly top secret intelligence reports--confirm just how wrong McNamara was. Indeed, the 55-page report by NSA historian Robert Hanyok effectively rewrites the history of this pivotal event. Hanyok proves not only that there never was a second attack but that the NSA had plenty of contradictory evidence that was actively suppressed. "The overwhelming body of reports, if used, would have told the story that no attack had happened," Hanyok concludes. "So a conscious effort ensued to demonstrate that the attack occurred."
Hanyok concludes officials "deliberately skewed" intelligence to support the claim of a second attack. But he blames lower-level NSA analysts, not senior political leaders. "The conspiracy was always believed to be that President Johnson and Secretary McNamara basically manipulated the intelligence . . ." says intelligence historian Matthew Aid. "Now, we know the mistakes and conspiracy were widespread but at a midlevel." Still, the Johnson administration set the climate. For one thing, there was intense White House pressure to confirm the attack to clear the way for immediate retaliation. Hanyok quotes Ray Cline, the
CIA's deputy director for intelligence at the time: "We knew it was bum dope that we were getting . . . but we were told only to give the facts with no elaboration on the nature of the evidence. [Johnson] did not like to deal with uncertainties."
full story
In August 1964, Stockdale's squadron played a role in the Gulf of Tonkin incident, which involved North Vietnamese attacks on U.S. naval vessels. The Johnson Administration invoked these occurrences to justify a massive American military response. Interestingly, Stockdale always maintained that during the Incident's key "engagement," he saw no enemy vessels. In his words, "I flew so low there was salt spray on the windshield, and I still didn't see a thing!" But the die was cast. The next morning, he was ordered to lead a raid on North Vietnamese oil refineries. America -- and Jim Stockdale -- were at war.
biography
Once I read Jim Stockdale's book "In Love and War", the story of his storied life, including the events of that fateful day, I couldn't help be inspired to write a screenplay faithful to reaccounts. It was only after I finished the screenplay last year that I found out there had been a made for TV drama made based on the same book back in 1986 starring James Woods. I feel the story desearves the big screen treatment. You can upload my screenplay here, enjoy.
Click here to read 'In Love And War-The Jim Stockdale Story'
Later,
Kenaz
Now, a newly declassified NSA study--and over 140 formerly top secret intelligence reports--confirm just how wrong McNamara was. Indeed, the 55-page report by NSA historian Robert Hanyok effectively rewrites the history of this pivotal event. Hanyok proves not only that there never was a second attack but that the NSA had plenty of contradictory evidence that was actively suppressed. "The overwhelming body of reports, if used, would have told the story that no attack had happened," Hanyok concludes. "So a conscious effort ensued to demonstrate that the attack occurred."
Hanyok concludes officials "deliberately skewed" intelligence to support the claim of a second attack. But he blames lower-level NSA analysts, not senior political leaders. "The conspiracy was always believed to be that President Johnson and Secretary McNamara basically manipulated the intelligence . . ." says intelligence historian Matthew Aid. "Now, we know the mistakes and conspiracy were widespread but at a midlevel." Still, the Johnson administration set the climate. For one thing, there was intense White House pressure to confirm the attack to clear the way for immediate retaliation. Hanyok quotes Ray Cline, the
CIA's deputy director for intelligence at the time: "We knew it was bum dope that we were getting . . . but we were told only to give the facts with no elaboration on the nature of the evidence. [Johnson] did not like to deal with uncertainties."
full story
In August 1964, Stockdale's squadron played a role in the Gulf of Tonkin incident, which involved North Vietnamese attacks on U.S. naval vessels. The Johnson Administration invoked these occurrences to justify a massive American military response. Interestingly, Stockdale always maintained that during the Incident's key "engagement," he saw no enemy vessels. In his words, "I flew so low there was salt spray on the windshield, and I still didn't see a thing!" But the die was cast. The next morning, he was ordered to lead a raid on North Vietnamese oil refineries. America -- and Jim Stockdale -- were at war.
biography
Once I read Jim Stockdale's book "In Love and War", the story of his storied life, including the events of that fateful day, I couldn't help be inspired to write a screenplay faithful to reaccounts. It was only after I finished the screenplay last year that I found out there had been a made for TV drama made based on the same book back in 1986 starring James Woods. I feel the story desearves the big screen treatment. You can upload my screenplay here, enjoy.
Click here to read 'In Love And War-The Jim Stockdale Story'
Later,
Kenaz
Sunday, September 11, 2005
World victims among NY dead
September 14, 2001 Posted: 3:22 AM EDT (0722 GMT)
Hundreds of foreign nationals are feared among the dead in New York
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Nations across the globe are reporting that many of their citizens are among the thousands dead and missing in the U.S. terror attacks.
The vast majority of those who have been confirmed dead were travelling on either of the two planes that slammed into the World Trade Center twin towers in New York on Tuesday.
Some countries are not even beginning to estimate the number of its dead.
New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani says more than 4,700 people, of all nationalities, are missing.
About 100 Britons are known to have died in the New York attacks, and the final toll could reach the "middle hundreds" if not higher, UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said.
Hundreds of Britons are believed to have been working in the twin towers of the World Trade Center when they were destroyed, many in banks and other financial institutions.
Acting Australian Prime Minister John Anderson said three of its citizens who had died had been on one of the Boston planes that crashed into the twin towers.
The government is trying to trying to confirm whether a further six had been on the plane. About 75 are still missing.
Germany has said four of its dead were on the planes.
Ireland has confirmed two of its people had been plane passengers.
Switzerland's foreign ministry said at least two of its nationals, a married couple, were victims of the plane hijack. Four other Swiss nationals had been in the World Trade Center at the time of the attacks, listed now as missing.
Up to 300 were listed missing, though that figure was expected to fall, a spokesman for the ministry said.
Japan reports that it has 100 nationals still unaccounted for. Two are believed to have been airline passengers.
Some 20 Japanese companies had offices at the World Trade Center. They included many of Japan's biggest banks, such as the trust operations of Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank and Chuo Mitsui.
Fuji Bank & Trust operated on four floors in 2 World Trade Center. A spokesman said on Wednesday afternoon that 12 out of 125 Japanese expatriate employees were missing. The rest had checked in and are safe.
Around 90 percent of the 500 local U.S. employees had been located, he said. "We hope the rest are OK," he said.
Office workers were seen falling or jumping from the Twin Towers before they collapsed.
Asahi Bank Ltd. had 94 employees in its New York branch on the 60th floor of 1 World Trade Center. All 94 are alive, the company said Wednesday.
A spokesman said he was unsure how the employees got out of the building but they have all been accounted for."
Also, 27 South Koreans were listed as missing. One Korean was on the hijacked United Airlines plane from Boston. Kim Ji-soo was headed to Los Angeles to visit her grandmother.
Notimex, the Mexican news agency, is reporting that there were 100 to 150 Mexicans working at the World Trade Center and at least 12 cannot be accounted for.
China Daily's Web site said 11 out of 18 Chinese businesses scattered across the WTC had tabs on their staff.
South Korea has confirmed one dead, a professor at Boston University's medical school who was flying to visit her 83-year-old grandmother in Los Angeles. Kim Ji-soo, 37, had been flying with her American husband and their two-year-old daughter.
The Irish Times newspaper reported a story of how a man at the World Trade Center survived but his sister and a niece were in one of the planes that hit the tower.
John Clifford of Cork told the Times that his brother Ronnie, 47, survived but his sister Ruth McCourt, 45, and her 4-year-old daughter Juliana died.
The two boarded a flight in Boston bound for Los Angeles. The woman and her daughter lived in Connecticut, Clifford told the Times.
In the UK, Straw said Scotland Yard's casualty bureau was in the process of contacting the families of the dead.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Straw said: "I understand that the number of confirmed British deaths is now approaching 100.
"The total number of British deaths is unlikely to be less than the middle hundreds and may be higher."
Straw also said British forces were in a state of readiness for any response to the attacks but said he did not wish to discuss what action might be taken.
He said NATO and the U.N. Security Council were both resolved to do whatever was necessary to bring those responsible, and those who were harbouring them, to account for their part in the attacks.
Earlier, Scotland Yard said it had received a "massive" number of calls from anxious relatives.
Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman said: "It is difficult to predict with any certainty, but what is becoming clear is that the death toll of British citizens is likely to run into the hundreds."
Hundreds of foreign nationals are feared among the dead in New York
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Nations across the globe are reporting that many of their citizens are among the thousands dead and missing in the U.S. terror attacks.
The vast majority of those who have been confirmed dead were travelling on either of the two planes that slammed into the World Trade Center twin towers in New York on Tuesday.
Some countries are not even beginning to estimate the number of its dead.
New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani says more than 4,700 people, of all nationalities, are missing.
About 100 Britons are known to have died in the New York attacks, and the final toll could reach the "middle hundreds" if not higher, UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said.
Hundreds of Britons are believed to have been working in the twin towers of the World Trade Center when they were destroyed, many in banks and other financial institutions.
Acting Australian Prime Minister John Anderson said three of its citizens who had died had been on one of the Boston planes that crashed into the twin towers.
The government is trying to trying to confirm whether a further six had been on the plane. About 75 are still missing.
Germany has said four of its dead were on the planes.
Ireland has confirmed two of its people had been plane passengers.
Switzerland's foreign ministry said at least two of its nationals, a married couple, were victims of the plane hijack. Four other Swiss nationals had been in the World Trade Center at the time of the attacks, listed now as missing.
Up to 300 were listed missing, though that figure was expected to fall, a spokesman for the ministry said.
Japan reports that it has 100 nationals still unaccounted for. Two are believed to have been airline passengers.
Some 20 Japanese companies had offices at the World Trade Center. They included many of Japan's biggest banks, such as the trust operations of Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank and Chuo Mitsui.
Fuji Bank & Trust operated on four floors in 2 World Trade Center. A spokesman said on Wednesday afternoon that 12 out of 125 Japanese expatriate employees were missing. The rest had checked in and are safe.
Around 90 percent of the 500 local U.S. employees had been located, he said. "We hope the rest are OK," he said.
Office workers were seen falling or jumping from the Twin Towers before they collapsed.
Asahi Bank Ltd. had 94 employees in its New York branch on the 60th floor of 1 World Trade Center. All 94 are alive, the company said Wednesday.
A spokesman said he was unsure how the employees got out of the building but they have all been accounted for."
Also, 27 South Koreans were listed as missing. One Korean was on the hijacked United Airlines plane from Boston. Kim Ji-soo was headed to Los Angeles to visit her grandmother.
Notimex, the Mexican news agency, is reporting that there were 100 to 150 Mexicans working at the World Trade Center and at least 12 cannot be accounted for.
China Daily's Web site said 11 out of 18 Chinese businesses scattered across the WTC had tabs on their staff.
South Korea has confirmed one dead, a professor at Boston University's medical school who was flying to visit her 83-year-old grandmother in Los Angeles. Kim Ji-soo, 37, had been flying with her American husband and their two-year-old daughter.
The Irish Times newspaper reported a story of how a man at the World Trade Center survived but his sister and a niece were in one of the planes that hit the tower.
John Clifford of Cork told the Times that his brother Ronnie, 47, survived but his sister Ruth McCourt, 45, and her 4-year-old daughter Juliana died.
The two boarded a flight in Boston bound for Los Angeles. The woman and her daughter lived in Connecticut, Clifford told the Times.
In the UK, Straw said Scotland Yard's casualty bureau was in the process of contacting the families of the dead.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Straw said: "I understand that the number of confirmed British deaths is now approaching 100.
"The total number of British deaths is unlikely to be less than the middle hundreds and may be higher."
Straw also said British forces were in a state of readiness for any response to the attacks but said he did not wish to discuss what action might be taken.
He said NATO and the U.N. Security Council were both resolved to do whatever was necessary to bring those responsible, and those who were harbouring them, to account for their part in the attacks.
Earlier, Scotland Yard said it had received a "massive" number of calls from anxious relatives.
Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman said: "It is difficult to predict with any certainty, but what is becoming clear is that the death toll of British citizens is likely to run into the hundreds."
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