Karzai snubs Layton request for meeting

[CHIMO]

OTTAWA — Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived in Canada on Thursday to help drum up support for the mission in his troubled country, but a meeting with the country's most prominent anti-war politician did not appear to be on his agenda.

NDP Leader Jack Layton has made several requests for a meeting with the Afghan leader — and has had no reply.

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[Spazito]

1. bush's puppet can not be seen with....

a subversive who doesn't kneel down and kiss bush's ass (am not saying I have forgotten Layton's ass kissing of harper during and after the last election but that's another "story").

[daleo]

2. Besides, Karzai might have to answer some uncomfortably tough questions

If he met with Layton.

He much prefers softball lobs from most of the Canadian media (Christie Blatchford: "President Karzai, what is your favorite colour?") and photo-ops with Harpo.

[MrPrax]

3. Karzai is getting a full military honour?

I don't know if that pisses me off more than Karzai speaking to Parliament -- he's a stupid little puppet who doesn't deserve the honour.

Good point on the poster -- Layton might actually throw him a curveball instead of sipping wine with him...ask him why for instance he thinks he's worth 'good Canadian kids' dying to protect his kleptocracy.

[Mother Jones]

4. Will Oppos. be able to speak after Karzai addresses Parliament?n/t

[Bragi]

5. Once again...

The only party that unambiguously reflects the views of most Canadians on the Afghan deployment (the NDP) is once again deliberately marginalized.

I think I see a pattern here. In fact, I think I'm seing a pattern around the whole Karzai visit.

Turns out this Bushbot was coming over for the UN gig anyway, and command central (the White House) decided he should come to Canada to bolster Stevie, who they know is having trouble bringing his recalcitrant countrymen to supporting sending troops in to keep Karzai's particular group of drug lords in power.

I guess the White House idea is that Karzai could spend some time in Ottawa, walk around wearing his colourful garb, and talk into microphones about how important it is for Canadian troops to die so his side of the civil war can prevail, maybe.

Meanwhile, Ottawa's biggest right wing radio station got into the act by spontaneously mounting a "wear-red-this-Friday-to-support-Bush's-war" campaign that would show up to Rally on the Hill today, right when Karzai wouldb here. Quelle surprise, non?

This divisive wear-red campaign, you will recall, was originally started by US neocons to create media-coverable shows of support for the war, and to polarize people on the war.

This campaign was picked up in Canada by a few military families from the Petawawa military base up in the Ottawa Valley, and was then picked up by Ottawa's right wing radio mouthpieces, and wouldn't you know it, it turns out that the "wear red day" and Hill rally meshes perfectly with Steve and Karzai day on the hill!

Seeing any patterns?

I'm wondering of there was a US PR firm behind the whole thing. I guess it's too much to expect that any Candian media will ask about this, but maybe it's an angle the NDP could pursue.

- B

[Canadian_moderate]

6. The NDP reflect the views of maybe 15% of Canadians.

The Liberals are split on the issue of Afghanistan.

[Bragi]

7. Not really the point

Whether or not the Liberals are split on the issue is irrelevant. Last time I checked, the numbers of Canadians who felt we ought not be on the Afghan deployment was about 48 per cent. About 42 per cent supported the mission. Both groups are large, which is what shows up in the sumbers when mainstream public opinion is divided on some matter.

My point from this was/is that, amidst this division, as portrayed in Canada's mainstream media, the leader whose opinions most closely reflect those of the plurality of Canadians is constantly and uncritically portrayed as wooly-headed or worse, lambasted as a supporter of terrorism, and dismissed as a proponent of some discredited, sectarian, unpleasant weirdness.

- B

[daleo]

9. The NDP generally gets about 15% of the popular vote

But that's not the same thing as the percentage of people's views they represent on any particular issue.

[daleo]

8. I didn't hear about "wear red" day

But I don't listen to much radio. Fortunately I didn't accidentally wear anything incriminating.