Jack Granatstein has thrown what little remains of his intellectual integrity straight into the shitter with his op-ed piece in today's Globe & Mail.
First and foremost, this agenda-driven pundit attributes Liberal and NDP opposition to Canada's continued combat role in Afghanistan to anti-Americanism:
"The NDP and the Liberals talk a good game on the UN, praise Mike Pearson, and prattle on about peacekeeping's great virtues (which are many). The contradictions in their positions, however, suggest that sanctimonious, opportunistic anti-Americanism plays a large part in deciding where they sit. Nothing Washington supports can be good in Liberal and NDP eyes, it seems, not when anti-Americanism remains a prime vote-getting tactic in Canada."
Granatstein castigates Bob Rae for calling for an end to Canada's counterinsurgency campaign in Kandahar:
"...recent opinion polls do suggest that Mr. Rae is correct in describing public attitudes. Leaders, however, are supposed to help shape public opinion, not simply follow it. Does Mr. Rae now reflect the new Liberal position? Paul Martin's government sent troops to Kandahar precisely to play a counterinsurgency role, not for peacekeeping or peacemaking. The government of 2005 understood that there could be no peace until the Taliban were either defeated or had their support reduced to a level at which the elected Karzai government could gradually extend its control across the country. What has changed since 2005?"
Really, Jack, "what has changed since 2005?" What hasn't changed? Name one thing beyond the name itself of that cursed hellhole that hasn't changed. Karzai has changed. His government has changed by becoming even more corrupt and compromised. The warlords have changed. The support of the NATO membership has certainly changed. The opium industry has changed. The Taliban have sure changed - and grown - and spread. Pakistan has changed in so many ways, none for the better.
What hasn't changed? Only a man absolutely committed to ignoring reality could pose such an infantile, ridiculous question. But, of course, it's essential to Granatstein to ignore all these realities in order to make his specious point.
Does Granatstein call for Canada to deploy a force of 15,000 to 20,000 combat infantrymen to Kandahar? Of course not. That too is an inconvenient reality he chooses to ignore.
Jack Granatstein has chosen to turn himself into a wizard of facile sophistry. Sad, really.
First and foremost, this agenda-driven pundit attributes Liberal and NDP opposition to Canada's continued combat role in Afghanistan to anti-Americanism:
"The NDP and the Liberals talk a good game on the UN, praise Mike Pearson, and prattle on about peacekeeping's great virtues (which are many). The contradictions in their positions, however, suggest that sanctimonious, opportunistic anti-Americanism plays a large part in deciding where they sit. Nothing Washington supports can be good in Liberal and NDP eyes, it seems, not when anti-Americanism remains a prime vote-getting tactic in Canada."
Granatstein castigates Bob Rae for calling for an end to Canada's counterinsurgency campaign in Kandahar:
"...recent opinion polls do suggest that Mr. Rae is correct in describing public attitudes. Leaders, however, are supposed to help shape public opinion, not simply follow it. Does Mr. Rae now reflect the new Liberal position? Paul Martin's government sent troops to Kandahar precisely to play a counterinsurgency role, not for peacekeeping or peacemaking. The government of 2005 understood that there could be no peace until the Taliban were either defeated or had their support reduced to a level at which the elected Karzai government could gradually extend its control across the country. What has changed since 2005?"
Really, Jack, "what has changed since 2005?" What hasn't changed? Name one thing beyond the name itself of that cursed hellhole that hasn't changed. Karzai has changed. His government has changed by becoming even more corrupt and compromised. The warlords have changed. The support of the NATO membership has certainly changed. The opium industry has changed. The Taliban have sure changed - and grown - and spread. Pakistan has changed in so many ways, none for the better.
What hasn't changed? Only a man absolutely committed to ignoring reality could pose such an infantile, ridiculous question. But, of course, it's essential to Granatstein to ignore all these realities in order to make his specious point.
Does Granatstein call for Canada to deploy a force of 15,000 to 20,000 combat infantrymen to Kandahar? Of course not. That too is an inconvenient reality he chooses to ignore.
Jack Granatstein has chosen to turn himself into a wizard of facile sophistry. Sad, really.
3 comments:
Jack's arguement, like so many others of predictable persuasion, fails miserably in the logic department.
Afghanisnam today is quite a simple analysis; George left. There's nothing else to say. All bets are off, the blind, stupid and otherwise self-imposed ignorant notwithstanding.
NATO and Canada owe nothing to the USA when the USA decides to bugger off from the mission.
I hear you foot. What I dont understand is how this guy drifted so far to the right that he lost so much perspective. The question he tossed out answers itself and, in the process, totally undermines his argument.
I hear you foot. What I dont understand is how this guy drifted so far to the right that he lost so much perspective. The question he tossed out answers itself and, in the process, totally undermines his argument.
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