Canada Bans Coverage of Returning War Dead

[BannedfromDU]

By BETH DUFF-BROWN, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 15 minutes ago<br>TORONTO - Canada's new Conservative government barred the media from covering the return Tuesday of the flag-draped coffins of four soldiers killed in Afghanistan, angering political opponents and some families.<br><br>The government also has stopped lowering flags to half-staff outside Parliament each time a Canadian soldier is killed, prompting Liberals to accuse Prime Minister Stephen Harper of trying to play down the growing human cost of the Canadian mission in Afghanistan.<br><br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060425/ap_on_re_ca/canada_fallen_soldiers">news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060...n_soldiers</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--> <p></p><i></i>

[streeb]

Seeing Harper running around Mexico in a ridiculous flak jacket a few weeks ago had me thinking that we're being acclimatized to the prospect of Canada's increased role in whatever comes next. This too. <p></p><i></i>

[chillin]

I heard a piece on this the other day. The argument I heard in favor of the ban was that they don't want the media swarming the greiving families when the remains get back in the country. There WAS coverage of the ceremony the troops had when loading the remains on to the plane in Afganistan, so it doesn't seem to me that it's an attempt to hide the fact that Canadians are dying.<br><br>I think there's some merit to the ban from the perspective of respecting the privacy of the surviving family members, but would be concerned if this somehow is a first step toward a general blackout on any media coverage that shows the consequences of war. <p></p><i></i>

[chillin]

I think not lowering the flag is despicable. <p></p><i></i>

[chillin]

Actually, there's no reason that they can't respect the families privacy by passing a 'no closer that 250 meters' law or something like that.<br><br>(sorry about triple post... I haven't figured out how to edit a post once submitted) <p></p><i></i>

[greencrow0]

This is a typical neoCon move. Harper is a neoCon puppet.<br><br>Probably going to fix the next election too.<br><br>There is absolutely no sovereignty-based reason for Canada to be in Afghanistan other than we're being Blackmailed into it.<br><br>Here's how the blackmail works<br><br>Canada belongs to NATO and depends on NATO to protect us.<br><br>The US dragged NATO into Afghanistan on the pretext of 'finding bin Laden' after 9/11.<br><br>If Canada says 'Hey, you're not even LOOKING for bin Laden' and pulls its troops out.<br><br>The US will say, You have gone against NATO so you're not protected by the NATO treaty anymore. Now we can move up there and take over.<br><br>THAT'S why we're in Afghanistan. To protect ourselves from the United States.<br><br>As bizarre and disgusting as all the other sickening things going on in the 'bushie cabalista world'.<br><br>GC<br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[darkbeforedawn]

Canadian citizens need to join us in planning a massive march to surround the WH. Here are some ideas from the smirking chimp <br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.smirkingchimp.com/article.php?sid=25858&mode=nested&order=0">www.smirkingchimp.com/art...ed&order=0</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br>There's more bitchin' being done in America's coffee and barber shops than ever before, above any previous question. But bitchin' alone doesn't get much accomplished.<br><br>We need to draw lessons from massive immigrant protests, and the tidal wave of French street discontent that forced Paris to drop its anti-youth labor legislation.<br><br>Imagine a mammoth march on Washington, linking up different constituencies with a host of grievances, but all committed to Peace, Justice, Democracy, Public Welfare and the Common Good.<br><br>Independent truckers, who're being driven into bankruptcy, could spearhead the demonstration, ringing the Capitol with their big rigs, horns blaring.<br><br>A contingent of Iraq war vets and their families could come next, followed by disillusioned Katrina survivors.<br><br>Labor would be there, led by militant workers from auto-parts maker Delphi in Flint, Michigan, steadfastly unwilling to accept forced concessions that would halve their hourly wages and eviscerate their benefits.<br><br>How about a joint contingent of senior citizens and young students, both painfully victimized by the Republicans' misplaced priorities and fund slashing?<br><br>Then, in a surging sea of righteous rage, women, gays, racial minorities, environmentalists, butchers, bakers, candlestick makers, Wal-Mart employees and every possible variation of John Q. Citizen would stream past, thunderously chanting: "The people united can't be defeated!"<br><br>All that shouting and marching would shake windows and rattle walls, just as Bob Dylan predicted, for the times would certainly be a-changin'.<br><br>The worst presidency in American history definitely deserves the best and biggest mass protest ever.<br><br>Let's spread the idea, and help get the ball rolling.<br><br> <p></p><i></i>