Musings of a Canadian Slacker |
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my thoughts, for what they are worth, on politics, history, military affairs, computer gaming..etc. Meryl Yourish A Small Victory Ghost of a Flea The Command Post WarBlog Argghhh!!! Gaming and such Penny Arcade Excessive Overkill news Call of Duty.org Goodfellas (NCR Elite Blog Mafia) Shenanigans Trudeaupia Inkless Wells Autonomous Source Bound By Gravity All Things Canadian Minority of One Ravishing Light Obsidian Tempest Highway 401 Blog The Phantom Observer Italics Mine Contact me E-mail me 
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Monday, December 13, 2004
Lately I've been thinking a bit about the process of history, partly because I have to write an essay over the next month for my class at Carleton, partly because I'd been reading this. Plus, of course, there is the recent death of Pierre Berton. Anyways, a phrase came to my mind that one would not normally associate with history. It was from Training Day, a rather brutal film about police corruption in Los Angeles. It's not what you know, Jake, it's what you can prove! That is fundamentally what historians have to deal with: not what the historian knows, but what the historian can prove. On a sidenote, I've had a couple of people I know in the real world ask me what history might have to say about the Iraq War, down the road. I usually don't say much..though I usually would like to quote General John Burgoyne: History, Sir, will lie! Sunday, December 12, 2004
I'm usually a fan of Paul Wells', but on this particular instance, I have to raise a minor point of order: It doesn't really constitute 'paradiplomacy' when the regional leader is also the leader of half the federal Opposition. Edmund Stoiber {German Link} is the Minister-President of Bavaria, but he is also leader of the CSU, which is half of the conservative coalition which opposed current Bundeskanzler Gerhard Schoeder in the last election. Indeed, Stoiber was the CDU-CSU candidate for Bundeskanzler. The argument may hold true about paradiplomacy, but in this case, the proper analogue would be a foreign leader meeting Stephen Harper, which we've seen as recently as this past month, when President Bush dropped by for a visit. Tuesday, November 30, 2004
On Pierre Berton. Pierre Berton was a writer whose work helped to define what we think about our nation and its past. 'Professional' historians often deride his work as too accessible and not properly sourced. But, for all that, far more Canadians have bought and read his work than will have ever even heard the names of those Ph.D bearing scoffers. As a person who has spent some time studying history, I am of two minds about Berton: I would have liked him to have spent more time sourcing his material. On the other hand, I loved several of his books, particular favorites being the War of 1812/ Flames across the Border series, and I like how they draw people into the 'story' of this country. The very best historians would be those who could combine Berton's skill for narrative with a professional ability to deal with sources and the other detail work of history. Pierre Berton produced some 47 books over his 84 years, and died today at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. Hat tip: Damian. Tuesday, November 16, 2004
I was listening to CBC Radio One's As it Happens this evening. (Not a normal listen for me: their rather tweedy leftish slant and their voices grate on me) They were interviewing a 'friend' of Margaret Hassan. This so called friend started out rather normally, talking about the unfortunate apparent killing of Ms. Hassan by terrorists of one stripe or another in Iraq. But I kept hearing jarring notes in his speech...he kept mentioning the destruction wrought by the US and by the "US-inspired" sanctions and so forth. Then I knew I had an asshat on my radio when he started in on how we should talk to the "terrorist NGOs" (his words, no shit) and try to work through the problems that way. I just swore out loud in my kitchen (thereby scandalizing my roommates). I yelled back at the radio: you dumbass! These filthy swine kill your friend and you want to talk to them and listen to their feelings? After the interview all became clear though: the announcer mentioned his name, which I didn't properly hear, and his former job: Undersecretary-general of the United Nations. As the Germans say, Alles Klar! Sunday, October 17, 2004
The CBC begins its series on "The Greatest Canadian" tonight. The part of it that I saw is a bit more than strange. Who decided that Bret Hart would make an appropriate advocate for this? The descriptions of Louis Riel as "the Che Guevara of the North" (Wendy Mesley) and "the Nelson Mandela of the Metis" (Murray McLauchlan) are more than a little much. Pretty classic CBC, I'd guess. Blackfive gives us the 411 on a stellar action by the PPCLI, reported by Peter Worthington. The parts about the French officer are particularly interesting. But I think Blackfive may be reading more into that than is really there. My feeling is that the French officer was just reacting without looking into what the Canadians found. Good work on the part of the Patricias involved. Victoria Patricia! Hat tip to John of Arghhh! Saturday, October 09, 2004
Through a military history list-serv (H-War), I came across this interesting story of how the American Army does the occupation 'thing'. This has to be the nicest army of Occupation in history...Despite the insurgency and everything that goes with it, the US forces try their best to do what needs to be done, without bruising Iraqi feelings unnecessarily: The clearing team goes in and comes out with seven men, including two who are neither related nor extremely close friends of the family. They are cuffed, blindfolded, and kept silent, kneeling against the wall. But they are handled gently by the GIs, more gently than they practiced on each other. Only a few hours ago, four Marines were killed—murdered, to be honest. And yet these troops submit themselves willingly to a rigorous discipline, maintained not by fear of punishment but by self-respect, self-interest, and not a little empathy for those who have lived through the unimaginable. Another interesting point was how the US Army uses traditionally non-combat arms troops such as engineers and gunners for patrolling..a job usually done by grunts: Artillerists and engineers alike, this is pure infantry work. Monday, September 27, 2004
Christopher Hitchens seems to be the man of the hour lately. This quote is an example: "However bad the American Empire has been, it is not as bad as this. It is not the Taliban, and anybody - any movement - that cannot see the difference has lost all moral bearings"(see more of Hitchen's interview by Johann Hari) I'd seen him this weekend on Tim Russert's show on CNBC talking with Andrew Sullivan. Some interesting views there...and had made more sense than 90% of what you see passing for punditry on television these days. Hitchens epitomizes the great leap of logic that many of us had to make in the wake of 9/11: we had to start facing reality as it was, not as we wished it was. That the seriousness and immediacy of the threat of Islamofascism is something we cannot wish away. Incidentally, one can read part of Hitchen's weltanschauung pre-9/11 in Martin Amis's affectionate Koba the Dread: Laughter and the Twenty Million which deals with Stalinism and its impact in the Western intelligentsia. Update Credits to Damian and the Ghost for Hari's interview. Sunday, September 26, 2004
Colonel Pat Strogan of the PPCLI, and late of Afghanistan fame, sounds off about the current state of the Canadian Forces. Some interesting thoughts there, though I'd tend to disagree with the Colonel on his view of the current Iraq war. I am a bit surprised that he'd be so frank in dissing the 'Mandarins' running defence policy. Perhaps he just doesn't want to be a general, or doesn't care.... Some other interesting stories in the series by the Ottawa Citizen. Update Having noted that Strogan's current job is Commander of JOG (Joint Operations Group), I thought I would find out just what the hell JOG is. Evidently, it replaced 1 Canadian Division HQ (thus finally ending the charade that we had the troops to staff a full Division). See here for some details. Fascinating how an organization that replaced a Divisional HQ could be commanded by a Colonel.... Friday, September 24, 2004
On campus, and around town lately, I've found that I see a lot of shirts and paraphenalia that displays the face of the late Argentinian Ernesto "Che" Guevara. Che , of course, was best known for his role in the Cuban revolution. Less well known for his murderous ways after the revolution. And who died trying to foment a Communist insurrection in Bolivia. Lately, especially amongst young hipsters, Che has acquired a certain cachet. I'm not exactly sure why this is...nostalgia for murderous Communists isn't my thing. Apparently it isn't Paul Berman's thing either. (Seen at Let it Bleed, via Damian) Tuesday, September 07, 2004
Perusing John's site yesterday, I came across this rather interesting bit.. Which led me to this enlightening piece by Major General L. Mackenzie (ret.). While looking around the Canadian Forces College site, I found this gem Funny how the "Interweb" can lead you around. . Sunday, September 05, 2004
The terrorist hostage taking in North Ossetia provokes some interesting thought. The Command Post and other sites (of particular merit is Logic and Sanity, whose webmaster has done an amazing job of making available Russian sources in English) have some useful information on the attack and its aftermath. However, I see that many are focussing rather too closely on the Al-Queda aspect. That part is important, but I think there was an element that many Westerners are missing. I think this might have been a play to reignite traditional ethnic conflicts in the Caucasus. The North Ossetians have long been Moscow's stick with which they have beaten the Chechens and Ingush (who are usually Muslim, while the North Ossetians are Orthodox Christian). Beslan is an Ossetian town, not a Russian one. It might well be useful to keep that in mind. It also might be useful to note the things that I noted in some of the news reports: that many of the relatives of the hostages gathered around the school armed with AK-47s and other assorted hardware. And more than a few of them expressed the desire to use them. Tuesday, July 20, 2004
July 20: Anniversary of the Officers' Plot. Today is the 60th anniversary of the attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler by a group of German officers. A small bomb, hidden in a briefcase, was placed in the main conference room at Hitler's Rastenburg command base. The bomb was placed by Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg. Staffenberg and his fellow plotters had decided to reclaim the honour of the German officer corps by destroying the political leader and entity who had besmirched that honour. Arguably a bit late, and not terribly well carried through. But an attempt worthy of honouring. The fundamental lesson there is that power alone is not legitimacy. Wednesday, July 07, 2004
There's a reason why John Kerry chose Senator Edwards to be his Vice Presidential running mate instead of Dick Gephardt. If he'd chosen Gephardt there would have been two Dicks in the Presidential race. Three if you count Dick Cheney. Snap! Thursday, July 01, 2004
 Happy Dominion Day!Today is Canada's 137th Anniversary of um, sort of independence. Celebrate! But don't forget those who sacrificed to make this free, strong nation what it is. Monday, June 28, 2004
Feel free to panic now. The minority aspect of it is interesting. All depends on whose assistance the Prime Minister chooses to call on to get those things done that he wishes to get done. Mr. Layton and M. Duceppe now become rather more important than they had been. Which may or may not be good for the country, since Mr. Layton represents our socialist friends, and M.Duceppe has as his fondest wish the idea that part of this country does not belong in this country. In any case, it should be an interesting year or two. I do hope that Belinda gets elected in her riding. She would make the opposition benches so much more interesting. Ok, kids, lets not panic. No reasonable person expected Stephen Harper to do well in Atlantic Canada; to many in the East, he is the bogeyman who is going to take all their candy away. Ontario will be the breakthrough. Take a deep breath and wait for 9:30 EST. Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Andrew Coyne drops a bot mot bomb: "...particular individuals, from Cheryl Gallant to Ralph Klein, who apparently lack the motor skills to close their mouths when a microphone is placed in front of them." My only question is this: isn't this basically a textbook definition of a politician? (Do read the rest of it) Wednesday, April 21, 2004
"Canada being mad at you is like Mr. Rogers throwing a brick through your window." -Jon Stewart on tonight's Daily Show. Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Yet another poll: and I'm not ashamed to admit that I tailored my answers to make sure that I got this result.  :: how jedi are you? :: (What?-ed.) Say what again, motherfucker! I dare you! Seen at Frozen in Montreal. Monday, April 19, 2004
"Somebody who is sending suicide bombers to kill innocent Israelis is a legitimate target for the government of Israel[...]" Probably the most concise and sensible expression of why Rantisi had to die, and Yassin as well. As long as Hamas thinks that suicide bombers is the way to go, their leaders deserve whatever they get. In a way, the attacks have already had effect. Sunday, April 18, 2004
Saturday, April 17, 2004
So, what are you reading?1. Grab the nearest book. 2. Open the book to page 23. 3. Find the fifth sentence. 4. Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions. In the previous November, at the so-called Hossbach conference, both generals had reacted with scepticism and concern when Hitler informed them about his immediate expansionist intentions (directed in the first place against Austria and Czechoslovakia).From The Origins of World War Two: the Debate Continues edited by Robert Boyce and Joseph A. Maiolo. Seen at Jen's. Sunday, March 14, 2004
Again with the quizzes:  I smell, I'm mean, I live in a trash can and I really don't like people. So just go away and leave me alone. Your Oscar the Grouch! What Sesame Street Character Are You? brought to you by Quizilla Are you ever going to do anything but quizzes?-ed. Shut up before I shut you up, ed.! yes, sir, sorry, sir.-ed. Saturday, March 06, 2004
More quiz insanity:  Magister Mundi sum! "I am the Master of the Universe!" You are full of yourself, but you're so cool you probably deserve to be. Rock on. Which Weird Latin Phrase Are You? brought to you by Quizilla I knew it. Found at Jennifer's Monday, March 01, 2004
Well, the Prime Minister would like to send Canadian Troops to Haiti to help evacuate Canadians there and stabilize things. I have one question for the Prime Minister: What troops? Update: It was announced today that 450 soldiers from the 2nd battalion, the Royal Canadian Regiment will be sent to Haiti. If I'm not mistaken, this was the last batallion really available, since the rest of 2 Brigade is resting after having come back from Afghanistan and 5 Brigade is busy with the current Afghanistan deployment. 1 Brigade is busy with Bosnia deployments. Interesting also how the Minister of National Defence changed his tone on what was or was not available for deployment. Friday, February 27, 2004
Quelle Surprise! Apparently I AM Canada. At least according to the Country Quiz:
Found at Rittenhouse Review, via Letter from Gotham. Saturday, February 14, 2004
To borrow a term from John, here's some Gun Porn, of a sort. Some pictures of your author with a KAR98K (Czech manufacture) and a Squires-Bingham M22 (Which is a .22LR made to look like a M-16). Old pictures, but some fun there.... Further to that, here are the pictures (Click for full size):   Saturday, February 07, 2004
The Dictionary of Canadian Biography, or the DCB as we Canadian history types call it, is on line now. Well sort of, so far you can only look at people who were active or died before 1920. But its a start. I took the time to look at one of the more interesting characters of early Canadian politics: Thomas D'Arcy McGee. D'Arcy McGee is best known now as one of the few Canadian political figures to be assassinated. (The other major one was Pierre LaPorte, the Quebec cabinet minister assassinated during the October Crisis of 1970). McGee's memory resonates particularly strongly here in Ottawa, since this is where he died and where his accused assassin was tried and hung. There is also a statue of McGee on Parliament Hill. |
