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A Peace Plank for Ignatieff

In her recent Toronto Star article, Linda McQuaig offers Ignatieff some advice on how to stand apart from the Conservatives: “champion the revival of Canada’s role as a leading peacekeeper in the world.” This would contrast the Conservative plan “Canada First Defence Strategy” that will involve spending $490 billion on Canada’s military over the next 20 years. […]

CDA and Matthew Fisher rush to military's defence

Press Freedom Day arrived this week (May 3), and it came just as a storm is brewing about new restrictions that the military is putting on journalists trying to report on the war in Afghanistan. Last week, Canadian Press reporter Murray Brewster wrote a story about security changes at the Kandahar Airfield that are dramatically […]

Air Force playing political games with spending

Steve Staples contributed to this article from the front page of the Ottawa Citizen. Check out David Pugliese’s blog. Air force threatens to ground Snowbirds Brass accused of playing ‘game of chicken’ with government over proposed funding cuts By David Pugliese, The Ottawa Citizen May 2, 2009 The air force is warning it won’t have […]

Mixed Reactions to Proposed Taliban Negotiations

President Barack Obama’s efforts to reach out to the Taliban in Afghanistan has been met with mixed reviews. Some have expressed hope and optimism that both sides to the conflict are willing to engage in talks. Others remain skeptical, arguing that it demonstrates weakness of the U.S. military and its inability to defeat the Taliban. […]

Foreign Aid a Deadly Business?

    Last year, 122 aid workers were killed, while 138 were kidnapped or injured while on duty, marking the highest toll on record and making 2008 the deadliest year ever for aid workers. In a recent study conducted by the Center on International Cooperation (CIC), “Providing Aid in Insecure Environments“, the authors note that attacks on aid […]