Canada's NDP
The New Democratic Party is outdoing itself, truly it is. Some incredible, mind-boggling resolutions are being brought forward to be aired and discussed and voted upon at the party's convention this week-end in Quebec City. This political party is one I no longer recognize. Its values, priorities, views of the world and embrace of issues inimical to its former standing is beyond the understanding of any well-balanced liberal-minded Canadian. It has become a home for the disaffected, the critically-unbalanced, the bend-over-backward correctness of current new-left politics.One of over 100 proposals on international affairs to be brought forward from local riding associations is a resolution with unbelievable wording to the effect that:
"Canada's troops in Afghanistan have been "acting like terrorists, destroying communities, killing and maiming innocent people", according to a resolution that will be voted on by New Democrats at the party's convention in Quebec City."
One is left to wonder what the drug of choice is among these conference attendees. Have they gone entirely out of their collective minds? Just whom are they purporting to represent? What is their ultimate design for this country? The wording of this brilliantly-insightful resolution is published just at the same time as the bodies of five Canadian solders killed in Afghanistan, fighting for the freedom of that country's citizens, have been returned to Canada for honour and burial.
But of course the resolution was foreordained by the ineluctable words of their leader Jack Layton who last week called for the withdrawal of Canadian troops from Afghanistan by February of 2007 at the latest. Mr. Layton feels that Afghanistan is "not the right mission for Canada". When Mr. Layton becomes prime minister of this country he will divulge exactly what the right mission might be for Canada, no doubt about it.
Another wonderful resolution appears to call for an end to "military aid and economic trade", benefiting Israel, further stating that "there can be no lasting peace in Palestine/Israel or the surrounding region without social justice. The riding association in Trinity-Spadina responsible for the wording of this resolution called for the NDP to support the right of return for all refugees, an end to Israeli settlements and "occupation" of Palestinian lands; "a halt to armed aggression, the bulldozing of homes, destruction of olive groves and farms and the assassination of political leaders and activists by the Israeli state.
That's certainly calling it like it is: Israel, the world's reigning pariah state. Guilty as charged. Guilty of occupation for the purpose of protecting its own population from the enthusiastic and ongoing attempts to rout it from the area by any and all means; attrition if necessary, blitzkreig if at all possible. By all means, the return of all those Palestinians who fled, "temporarily" abandoning their homes and properties while the invading armies of Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Transjordan would oust the Jews and take possession (for the Palestinians, of course) of the land in question. Armed aggression in protection of land and people, be damned. Targeting of those who target you, unspeakable!
However, the resolution goes on to urge the NDP to campaign for an end to the "rule of apartheid laws that make Palestinians and Israeli Arabs second- and third-class citizens under occupation". The afterthought that the party be opposed to the use of suicide bombings against civilian targets was thoughtfully tacked on for complete evenness of concern and evidence of neutrality in a rather simple situation deserving of a simple solution, duly delivered.
The good news is that pollster Ipsos Reid's Darrel Bricker felt the anti-war stance may pay electoral dividends for the NDP and the Conservatives: "If this issue drives the next vote, Layton could pull enough anti-war votes from the Liberals to help elect Tories", he is reported to have said.
I've got a raging headache. You?
posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, September 06, 2006
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