The tragic story of Omar Khadr

This is the sad story of a Canadian teenager who grew up in Guantanamo bay. You know Guantanamo. That’s the CIA black prison site where they torture prisoners without a charge or trial and hold them indefinitely. That’s the place that Obama promised to close but didn’t. It’s a sad tale about what our complacency has turned us into.

Omar had just turned 15 when a foreign army invaded his homeland. Nine months later he was captured by the US military and charged with throwing a grenade at a US soldier which killed him. If he was in France and had thrown a grenade at an invading Nazi, he would have been given a medal. If he was in Canada or America and threw a grenade at an invading army, he would be revered as a war hero.

Instead, the 15 year old kid grew up in Guantanamo Bay. After 8 years in Guantanamo, if that kid doesn’t grown up to be a terrorist, then we know he is a saint and never should have been incarcerated in the first place. His father fought the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

After spending 8 years in that God forsaken institution where prisoners are tortured without a trial, he made a plea bargain. If he pleaded guilty to murder then he would receive another 8 year sentence with the possibility of being transferred back to Canada. He signed the plea agreement which makes the confession itself suspect.

So he returns to Canada and his lawyer contends that Harper has vilified his client. Harper claimed Omar was a convicted terrorist that supported Al-Qaeda. Wait a minute. Stephen Harper supported Al-Qaeda when he agreed to violating the no fly zone in Libya and helped Al-Qaeda terrorists overthrow Gadaffi. Should we put Harper in Guantanamo for that?

We know very well that Unicol supported the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. They were wining and dining them trying to win the contract for the oil pipeline across Afghanistan. Should we put Unicol in Guantanamo for their support of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda?

Nobody likes terrorism. Yet no one likes the invasion of a sovereign nation either. The Globe and Mail claims Omar Khadr ‘s return will test Canada’s commitment to war children. Indeed, the double standard is disturbing. If the Taliban are so bad, why did they stop opium production in Afghanistan and why did we increase it?

I think we as a people are diminished when we let this kind of injustice continue. Recently a blog reader sent me a list of You Know You Are a Conspiracy Theorist If… Sadly we could also use that list to define domestic terrorists. We are going in the wrong direction and we are letting our fear and hate take us there.

The War of 1812

Let’s turn back the hands of time and bring it home. What if this happened in 1812 when the Americans weren’t an ally they were an enemy who invaded Canada. Of all the tyrants and terrorists this world has to offer, the United States is the only country thus far that has actually invaded our country. We are seeing heritage commercials about the event on TV since it’s the 200th anniversary. Remembering that event is worth while.

So what if this Canadian born 15 year old was living in Canada in 1812 and had shot an invading American soldier? Would he still be called a terrorist? Would we still support his torture? Would we still say anyone who fires upon an ally deserves to die? The Americans invaded Canada and their navy kicked our ass. In response we marched across the border with some First Nations brothers and burned the White house to the ground. Was that an act of terrorism or an add for a heritage commercial?

The location of Guantanamo Bay

Another thing we need to discuss is the location of Guantanamo Bay. The Guantanamo Bay detention camp is in Cuba of all places. It was turned into a prison camp for torturing prisoners without a trial in 2002 by War criminal George Bush. The one who vetoed the bill to stop torture. Not only were they caught torturing prisoners, George Bush vetoed the bill stopping it. That makes him a war criminal. By vetoing the bill, he assumed legal liability for the torture.

Cuba is not an ally. The prison does not exist with Cuba's permission. Before the prison camp was created in 2002, the US had a naval base on site. This was from Cuban-American Treaty of 1903 where they were permitted to have a coaling (fuelling) station. A naval base is not a fuelling station nor is a prison camp for torturing prisoners. According to the 1903 agreement the US are required to recognize the Republic of Cuba's ultimate sovereignty over the area. They have failed to do this by changing the purpose of the fuelling station against the will of Cuba. This is the invasion and occupation of a sovereign nation.

The Cuban government opposes the presence of the naval base, claiming that the lease is invalid under international law as it was not a sovereign nation at the time. Obviously. There is no longer an agreement between both parties. The United States argues this point is irrelevant because Cuba apparently ratified the lease post-revolution, and with full sovereignty, when it cashed one rent check in accordance with the disputed treaty. That's like saying someone squatted in your house rent free for ten years and you cashed one of their rent cheques. That doesn't mean you agree to them being there. It means they accepted a token payment for all that time you squatted there rent free. It's time for Cuba to raise the rent and evict those evil squatters.

Another shooting in Winnipeg - 6 shootings in one week

A beautiful windy fall day on the water in Vancouver and another double shooting in Winnipeg. Tragic. 12:20 AM this morning police responded to a shots fired call. Two young men were hit. Police say a 24-year-old man is in critical condition, and a 19-year-old man is in stable condition.

There was a double shooting at a restaurant in Winnipeg last Thursday and three separate shootings in one day last Saturday. All six shootings in the past week have all been in the same neighborhood. When will it end? We all know it’s connected to the drug trade and we all know who’s ultimately responsible. It’s time to step up to the plate and rat out the real rats to stop the senseless violence driven by greed and betrayal.

Candy laced with Pot

Meanwhile, back on the ranch, a Surrey man is facing charges for allegedly trying to sell drug-laced candies to kids in Kelowna. Sorry guys. RCMP stopped a vehicle after receiving reports of a driver selling drugs to children. A test showed the candy contained THC, the main ingredient in marijuana. The man, released in August, may now be charged with possession of a controlled substance. Putting drugs in candy and giving them to kids is really messed up. People will say, oh it’s just pot. It doesn’t matter. Putting drugs in candy and giving it to kids is messed up. Especially around Halloween.

Crystal meth is indeed way worse than pot, yet the whole idea of selling drugs to kids in candies is really messed up. Back in the day we all used to joke about hash brownies. Yet I know a guy that make thc cookies. They joke about how powerful they are. One grown man had some one night and they laughed about how we was f*cked up for days. Another guy said oh yeah, you’re only supposed to have half of one. Well no one told this other guy that and it seriously messed him up for a long time.

Personally, I don’t like getting messed up at all not to mention for days. I’m the first one to admit that there is a huge difference between a grow op and a meth lab. Yet I am told the pot now a days is way more powerful then when we were kids. The smell now is very sharp and harsh. It’s not that mellow pleasing aroma. It’s poignant and smells awful. Although crystal meth is way worse than pot, there are way too many people that smoke way too much pot especially while driving. That is irresponsible.

Recently there was more drama from some of the former Vancouver majors calling for the legalization of pot. After thinking about it, I have come to the conclusion that I do not support the legalization of pot. I’m ok with decriminalization but I’m not ok with all out legalization. All out legalization would be a free for all and it’s bad enough as it is. I don’t support mandatory minimums for pot but I think all out legalization would be like kids in a candy store. You think second hand cigarettes smoke is bad, I don’t want second had pot smoke. Period. I don’t want it sold in the corner stores and I don’t want it put in candy for kids.

Military loses millions in ‘black assets’

Here’s a disturbing story that raises two serious concerns. The first is fiscal responsibility. “Conservatives” are *supposed* to be fiscally responsible. Or so they keep telling us. That’s why I keep saying Stephen Harper is not a conservative.

The Ottawa citizen is reporting that Canada’s special forces are having trouble keeping track of millions of dollars worth of sensitive equipment that they use — and in one case had no idea of the extent of the missing “black assets,” as they are known, according to a new Defence Department audit.

The US has the same problem times a thousand. The day before 911, Donald Rumsfeld said the greatest threat to America is the enemy from within and that the US military can’t account for 25% of what it spends and has lost $2.3 trillion. Trillion. That was the day before 911 and the invasion of Afghanistan overseeing opium production and the unlawful invasion of Iraq. Since then that figure has no doubt increased exponentially.

So the first problem is fiscal accountability. One department loses millions of dollars, I.E. Canadian tax dollars and they had no idea of the extent of the amount of missing money. That is a huge concern in itself.

Criminals steal. They mug people and steal purses. They will break into your home and will steal your car. They will steal your id and take money out of your bank account. More sophisticated criminals will commit investment fraud and steal from banks and wall street. The bottom line is that wherever there is money, there will be criminals wanting to steal it. It becomes a public issue when they are stealing tax dollars.

Since the military has money, they too are a prime target for criminals to steal from. Al Martin talked about how big a problem it is in the States when he described Huntsville as the vortex of corruption. Clearly Canada has a similar problem that needs to be addressed. No doubt Stephan Harper will fire the whistleblower that made this information public instead of dealing with the problem.

That brings us to the second concern. The Ottawa citizen is reporting that the nature of the equipment in question is censored from the audit done by the department’s Chief Review Services. But much of it is considered so secret that details about the gear is not even shared with the Defence Department or Canadian Forces.

The Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, or CANSOFCOM, calls such equipment “black assets.” Other equipment, which can be openly discussed are labeled as “green” assets. Ok so what the hell is a “black asset?” We have heard the term in a popular video game Call of Duty Black Ops. We have read recently of CIA black prison sites all over the world where they torture people without a lawyer or fair trial. So tell me then just what is a black asset?

Oh we can’t tell you because that is classified. Bullshit. That is hiding something that you know is wrong under the guise of national security. A military secret is something like the range and location of your missiles or fighters. A black asset is not a military secret that affects national security. It only affects national security if we keep it secret. Keeping an unlawful secret is unlawful.

This whole topic brings us to a third ongoing concern. After it was reported that the Harper government spent $750,000.00 on legal fees fighting Canadian veterans so they could claw back their pensions and benefits, Pierre Daigle the Canadian Forces ombudsman claimed two former soldiers, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders, were unfairly treated by officers and Defence Department managers.

The military dismissed the allegation saying the ombudsman has no jurisdiction to investigate the matter. That is crazy. That’s exactly what an ombudsman is supposed to do. Saying he has no jurisdiction to investigate the matter is another way of saying we are guilty and we don’t want to be accountable to anyone, especially the public.

Then Peter pea brain McKay pipes up and tells the media the ombudsman shouldn’t be acting as an advocate for the soldiers. That’s exactly what they are supposed to be doing. Investigating complaints. If they find a complaint is valid they are supposed to say so. Peter McKay should not have anything to do with the Canadian military.

Peter McKay and Stephen Harper lied about handing over Canadian prisoners to be tortured. They broke the law, they lied about their knowledge of it, and they fired and slandered the whistle blower that leaked the information to the public in the interest of national security.

Peter McKay and Stephen Harper are not honest men and should not have anything to do with the Canadian military. Ever. They have repeatedly proven to be in a conflict of interest that has jeopardized national security. Sadly, Pierre Daigle will be the next in a long list of whistleblowers fired by the Harper government. Stephen Harper has changed the nation and what he has created in not good. It is dark and evil and the time has come for those secret works of darkness to be brought to light. Word.

Every murder was approved by a committee

Project Sharqc investigators say the Hells sought to "expand their empire" by conspiring to eliminate drug dealers who refused to buy from them. Investigators say targets included members of the rival Rock Machine as well as independent dealers. They were among 165 people killed between 1994 and 2001 during the war over control of lucrative drug territory in Quebec. Gee, it sure looks like that’s what’s happening now in Winnipeg and Lloydminster.

In the spring of 1997, bikers "voted in favour of establishing a $25,000 premium paid out of the 10% to all their Hells Angels members for the murder of a Rock Machine member," Leblanc said. She said every murder was approved by a committee. So if the Hells Angels contracted a murder, then that criminal organization is criminally responsible for that murder. That would include the East Vancouver Hells Angels when David Giles was on that executive. Let's not forget that they didn't just kill rivals. Nice shoes girls.

Winnipeg double shooting

One man is dead and another in hospital following a double shooting at a restaurant in Winnipeg 3:00 AM this morning. Police say it appears to be targeted. CTV is reporting that sources claim the victims were cocaine dealers and suggested they were shot by a rival group. Gee I wonder who that would be. At least in Winnipeg when someone gets shot dead the police call it a homicide not a suspicious death like they do in Edmonton.

Five days ago there were three separate shooting in the same day in Winnipeg all tied to the drug trade. The deceased in today’s shooting has been identified as Jeffrey Lau. Six bullet holes can be seen in the front window of the restaurant. A handgun was found on the street at Hector Avenue and Stafford Street, several blocks from the restaurant. There are no concerns for public safety, police said in a release. No concerns or no regard?

Mongols and Hells Angels clash at biker rally

This one is priceless and sad at the same time. The Hells Angels were panhandling at a bike rally in Oregon selling their support your local crack dealer T-shirts. It was the Second annual Run to the Cascades in Redmond.

According to witness reports, a large Mongols group approached the Hells Angels members already at the event – the HAMC had a vendor booth there – and “demanded the Hells Angels group leave immediately.” It was reported that weapons were brandished. Once word of the confrontation went out to law enforcement it prompted police and sheriff’s deputies to enter the fairgrounds and stand by while the Hells Angels group packed up and left.

Other witnesses reported that the Hells Angels group intended to return with more people to settle the dispute, and at that point, sheriff’s deputies and police contacted fairgrounds Director Dan Despotpulos “and strongly recommended the event be closed in order to protect public safety.” The fair director agreed and they immediately began closing the event.

They sure ran to the cascades alright. The sad part is, no one needs or wants the Hells angles violence in their community not to mention at a biker rally. They are destroying it for everyone. People can say the Mongols started it this time but did they? The Hells Angels shouldn’t have booths selling things at biker rallies because they are a criminal organization that sells drugs. The East coast president was caught bringing crystal meth from California to Massachusetts.

In Vegas the Hells angels started a fight with Vagos. When they started losing the fist fight they pulled out guns and lost the gun fight too. There was Hells Angels violence at Sturgis as well. Clearly the Hells Angels should be banned from these events. They should not be allowed to have booths set up advertizing and pan handling for their criminal organization. Instead of cancelling the event, they should simply ban the Hells Angles. It has been said club business isn’t my business. It is when they sell crack or crystal meth in my community. It my business then. Just as it is if they bring violence to a bike rally I want to attend or a bar I want to drink at.

Jimmy Hughes’ Murders Ministry

I know I shouldn’t even mention it, but I will. Since we were talking about religious hypocrisy tied to the drug trade and the gang war, there’s one more example that I forgot to mention, Jimmy Hughes. Jimmy Hughes is a paid minister who’s claim to fame is that he was a hitman, a murderer. Now he’s a paid minister. Although he admits to being a hitman and murderer, he refuses to name any of the people he was contracted to murder. Oh that’s just between me and God. No it’s not. It involves the families of everyone he has murdered as well as the courts.

Not long ago, Jimmy Hughes was charged in a cold case where three people were murdered on the Cabazon Indian Reservation back in 1981 called the Octopus murders. It was alleged that a member of the Hells Angels hired him to murder another member of the Hells Angels and two of his friends to cover something up.

Glen Heggstad was a member of the Hells Angels who was alleged to have hired Jimmy Hughes to kill Ralph Boger, another member of the Hells Angels and his friends Fred and Patty. The motive for the murders is that Ralph and Fred were going to expose something Glen and a group of others didn’t want exposed.

So Jimmy Hughes was arrested not long ago for the murder but the case flopped and didn’t go anywhere. Now he’s back to being an unrepentant paid minister. The other day I saw one of Glen Heggstad’s books at Chapters. I can’t think of anything more hypocritical then bragging about being a former hit man and refusing to name who he murdered to the courts. That makes his ministry a lie. Yes people can change but you can’t overcome your past without coming clean and accepting responsibility for it.

Three years after the slaying, Jimmy Hughes claimed he was just a bagman in the case, contending that John Philip Nichols had him deliver $25,000 to a man in Idyllwild as partial payment for the hit. But that confession went nowhere. Police couldn't tie Nichols to the triple murders. Perhaps his ties to Robert Booth Nichols had something to do with it. Detectives won't say what prompted them to charge Hughes after all these years. But it's clear they believe Hughes was the hitman, not the bagman.

I used to work with a Protestant who was also a talented musician. He was very cynical about circus style religion and wrote a song about a Jimmy. His song was about three people named Jimmy: Jimmy Baker, Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Jones. He compared all three as snake oil salesmen leading a parade of insanity that was a bizarre circus side show. Clearly we can add one more jimmy to that list: Jimmy Hughes. Buyer Beware.

Justin Trudeau to make bid for liberal leadership

Thank God. What took so long? The Federal liberals wanted to flog and exhaust every other feasible alternative first? Justin Trudeau to lead the party’s come back. Now that’s worth seeing. Finally the son rises after a long dark night. Polls are already saying the nonexistent party has promise under his leadership. The gloves are off. Let’s get ready to RUMBLE…



Update: Canadians have spoken. Trudeaumania has begun.

Shooting in Lloydminster

There was a shooting in Lloydminster, Alberta yesterday morning around 5:00 AM. I have a report claiming Bryan Gower 35 was shot in the head and dead on scene and that Mike Bexson was shot 5 times with conflicting reports as to whether or not he is still alive or is on life support.

The newspapers are confirming shots were heard and Bryan Gower was found dead on the scene. Then comes the same bizarre slogan, the investigation into the death of Bryan Gower is being treated as a suspicious death, pending the results of an autopsy that is scheduled in Edmonton tomorrow. Shot in the head and that’s suspicious. I’d say so. That’s like that SUV in Edmonton that was parked at a cemetery and was riddled with bullets. The police treated their death as suspicious. I don’t understand how they can say that with a straight face.

Reports are also coming in that the White Boy Posse is in town. That’s the Neo Nazi Hells Angels puppet club from Northern Alberta that sell drugs for the Hells Angles. Apparently this shooting was drug related. I’ll tell ya what’s suspicious. That police department is suspicious. That’s not protecting the integrity of an investigation, that’s withholding information from the public. It’s called suppression of crime statistics, namely homicide.