Eight Canadians killed in Lebanon: Ottawa

[Astrad]

"Eight Canadians were killed in Lebanon on Sunday, Foreign Minister Peter MacKay said, adding that Canada was preparing to evacuate some of the tens of thousands of citizens believed to be in the country. "

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060716/wl_nm/mideast_lebanon_canada_dc_2

__________________________________

New Canadian government supports incidental killings of its citizens

[Cha]

1. That's what it sounds

like to me..and how is that gonna play out in Canada?

"New Canadian government supports incidental killings of its citizens"

[daleo]

2. Harper will have quite a time with this

"Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Friday described the Israeli attacks as justified and measured. Since taking power in February he has shifted Ottawa's stance on the Middle East from one of relative neutrality to a firmly pro-Israel position."

I imagine he will try to get a sort of apology from Israel, but I can't see them going very far - probably a version of "sorry about their luck".

[deminks]

3. CNN - 5 killed in Lebanon today held Canadian citizenship

just an alert banner right now.

http://www.cnn.com/


Security officials say five of those killed in Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon held Canadian citizenship, The Associated Press reports.

[acmavm]

4. Hmmm. Does this mean that Isreal might be bombing civilian areas?

I thought Israel only targeted, strategically no less, the bad guys.

:sarcasm:

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JHH]

42. THE ENEMY?

who is the enemy?

[harun]

61. Gentiles

Muslims, Christians, Canadians, etc.

[gula]

46. After having bombed the get-away routes and bridges n/t

[cantstandbush]

54. So, was 9/11 the result of "the enemy" living among civilians?

This logic escapes me.

[tuvor]

5. And what's Canada's plan for Canucks in Lebanon? Stay put.

(Working like a fucking charm, isn't it?)

Canada advises against travel to Lebanon, urges Canadians to stay indoors

14, 2006 - 3:10 pm

OTTAWA (CP) - The violence in the Middle East has prompted the Canadian government to warn against all travel to Lebanon.

Foreign Affairs has issued a travel advisory also asking Canadians in Lebanon to remain indoors and stay put until further notice.

Israel has struck at targets deep inside Lebanon in retaliation for a Wednesday attack by Hezbollah forces that saw two Israeli soldiers captured and taken into Lebanese territory.

The offensive is Israel's strongest attack on Lebanon since it invaded and occupied the country 24 years ago.

http://www.news1130.com/news/national/article.jsp?content=n071461A

[daleo]

11. Harper told people to stay inside and avoid bombs

I guess that's not so easy.

[jonnyblitz]

13. "well they were warned by leaflet"

is what the apologists for this aggression will tell you. pathetic , I know. :eyes:

[Binka]

66. See post #38 on cue

:eyes:

[uppityperson]

33. "avoid bombs"? makes it sound so simple

[muriel_volestrangler]

36. You mean you didn't practice on "Missile Command"?

You didn't think that was just a game, did you? You have to be rated on that, or Space Invaders, before you get a visa for Lebanon these days.

[Lisa]

60. not so easy -- especially when the building collapses on top of you

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/07/16/lebanon-canadians.html

"Most of the dead were members of one extended Montreal family, on vacation in the village of Aitaroun at the time of the Israeli attack. Among those killed was Ali El-Akhras who came to Montreal from Lebanon 15 years ago. His wife, Saada El-Akhras, was among the injured.

The nephew of Ali El-Akhras, also named Ali, had accompanied his uncle and aunt on their annual summer vacation. His wife, Amira, and their four children, ages 1,4, 6 and 8, were killed in the attack.

Reports from Lebanon say the victims were crushed in a collapsed house."

[rodeodance]

6. the bombing of the city is really devistating--(pics on yahoo)--and the

human life toll with continue.

[allemand]

7. Israeli strike kills 8 in south Lebanon village (5 Canadians among them)

BEIRUT, July 16 (Reuters) - Israeli aircraft destroyed a house in a south Lebanon village on Sunday, killing eight civilians, including five with dual Canadian and Lebanese citizenship, a health ministry official said.

It was not immediately clear what was the target of the raid in Aitaroun village.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L1691774.htm

[Scurrilous]

8. IAF strike kills 5 Lebanese-Canadians in south Lebanon

<snip>

"An Israel Air Force aircraft late Sunday destroyed a house in a south Lebanon village on Sunday, killing eight civilians, including five with dual Canadian and Lebanese citizenship of the same family, a health ministry official said.

The officials said the five were killed at their home in the town of Aitaroun, which abuts the border. The target of the raid was not immediately clear.

The victims were not identified. TV stations said the family had come from Canada to spend the summer holidays in the town."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/738699.html

[daleo]

9. Harper will brush it aside

I notice they said "held Canadian citizenship". Another way of putting this is "they were Canadians". This is a bit of subtle propaganda, to distance people from the victims, as if they weren't real Canadians. It seems racist to me.

[alcibiades_mystery]

17. Indeed...like I "hold American citizenship" (in other words, I am American

These people have no fucking shame at all.

[AliceWonderland]

18. Yes, good catch --

I thought the same thing. Why not, "they were Canadians?" Oh wait, I think I can guess why not...

It's okay, though. If they died, and the Israeli army killed them, they MUST have been evil ragheads.

At the very least, they are responsible for their own murders because there was a leaflet.

[Tom Joad]

10. North Americans dying. In the eyes of the media, they are the only

ones that count. And the Israelis. Of course.

[ugarte]

24. The US media spin will be "dual citizens", ergo ragheads..nt

[daleo]

32. Sadly, you have a point

The more looney elements will probably imply they had "terrorist sympathies" or something like that.

[jseankil]

12. They were in town for summer holidays.

Bombing civilians is terrorism! While the Bush team stay's silent will the Democrats have the balls to stand up and say this is wrong!!??

[PansophicOne]

15. Is it only terrorism when Israel does it?

I am just curious. Not defending this of course but I never know what is considered terrorism and what isn't. Apparently this is terrorism but launching missiles into Israeli cities isn't, aye? I tend to think that perhaps both sides may be practicing terrorist acts... but what do I know?

[alcibiades_mystery]

19. Is it NEVER terrorism when Israel does it?

That seems to be your position. Most people (including myself) will be the first to say that when Hezbollah attacks a house full of civilians with rockets, it is INDEED terrorism. Now, all you have to say that it MIGHT be terrorism when Israel does it. Can you say that?

[PansophicOne]

37. How is that my position?

I do not recall saying that, in fact I believe I said the opposite.

[jseankil]

21. I expect more from Israel.

Hezbollah is a terror organization, Israel is not. Go on the ground and hunt out Hezbollah strong holds and destroy them, bombing civilans is unacceptable.

[LostinVA]

29. Lebanon is not firing on Israel n/t

[LiberalHeart]

40. Tell that to the eight people they killed today.

[President Kerry]

43. you gotta make a distinction between Hezbollah and Lebanon.

Israel is hurting Lebanon (many of whose citizens have nothing to do with Hezbollah) a lot more than Hezbollah.

[LiberalHeart]

44. True. I should have made that distinction.

[bluedog]

50. bush is a GD wimp.he doesn't know how to handle foreign policy

[Junkdrawer]

14. "Outraged by the killing of its citizens, Canadian gunships began shelling

targets inside Tel Aviv, completely destroying its international airport."

:sarcasm:

[AliceWonderland]

20. Yeah, another good catch.

The ironies abound.

[alcibiades_mystery]

22. Hezbollah supporter! Anti-semite! Nazi! Terrorist!

You think your jokes are funny, you Nazi Terrorist Anti-Semite scum???? Huh, do you, you concentration camp guard terrorist Nazi????

:sarcasm:

[ShortnFiery]

35. Oh Yeah!

And Remember American Patriots, Arabs are NOT human but merely "unlawful combatants" and "evil savages" ... their lives are NOT as valuable as those who laud European background history and/or ancestry. In fact, all Arabs and Persians are IN-HUMAN monsters who must be "bombed into the stone age." :sarcasm: !!! MEGA- :sarcasm: ! :(

[LynnTheDem]

47. But the USA & Israel are uber alles.

Any other nation's citizens are sub-human & don't count.

[theHandpuppet]

16. Canadian govt now reports 8 Canadians killed

According to MSNBC just now.

[daleo]

23. I still can't find any reference to this on the CBC website

This ought to be an embarrassment to the CBC.

[Minstrel Boy]

27. It's finally there:

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/07/16/lebanon-canadians.html

[daleo]

31. Thanks, it took a while.

I see Harper hasn't made a statement, at least in that report.

[gula]

48. What do you expect?

They are so biased in favour of Israel I haven't listened to them since the lock-outlast fall.

[mshasta]

25. Good going Canada You support ISRAEL well israel just gave you a thanks

[partylessinOhio]

26. Do you suppose they might interrupt the G8 frivolities to discuss

the deaths of 5-8 Canadians in Lebanon by bombing?

[IndianaGreen]

63. What? Interrupt another pig roast just for a bunch of dead Canadians?

Bush cares more about Israel than he does about America or Canadians or anyone else.

[allemand]

28. IDF tank shells wound UN peacekeeper in Lebanon (Reuters)

22:03 Ottawa: Eight Canadians killed in IAF attack on Lebanon (Reuters)

22:02 IDF tank shells wound UN peacekeeper in Lebanon (Reuters)

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/ShTickers.html

[goforit]

30. WAY to go ISRAEL!!! Kill at all costs!

This really is pissing me off!

[LeftistGorilla]

34. Harper called Israel's response...

"Measured"...


BULLSHIT....

[gula]

49. Harper needs to go

I think he would be perfect torun for the repugnants in the US

[tuvor]

55. Just to be clear, he made that remark two days ago.

It wasn't in relation to the eight Canadians killed.

I presume he'll now have to, er... "clarify" that assertion.

[daleo]

57. I predict that he won't back off much

I think it will be something like this:

"It is tragic that terrorist actions set off a chain of events that ultimately resulted in the deaths of several Canadians in Lebanon. The Israeli government has privately expressed regrets, but we understand their need for security."

Something like that. The only question is whether he will call them Canadians, Lebanese-Canadians, of people with dual Lebanese-Canadian citizenship.

[iverglas]

69. isn't that cute?

"held Canadian citizenship"

Not quite the same as "were Canadians", I guess. To CNN, I hasten to add.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060717.MIDEASTFAMILY17/TPStory/TPInternational/Africa/

This summer would be a good time to go back to the homeland, he told his family. They could visit the family's old house and introduce the four small kids to relatives there, the family members who had stayed behind.

Yesterday, all four children -- Salaan, 1, Ahamed, 3, Zeinab, 5, and Saja, 7 -- perished during the summer visit, in the ancestral Lebanese town of Aytaroun, near the Israeli border. So, too, did the children's mother and another female relative.

... Ali Al-Akhrass received his pharmacist's degree from the University of Montreal, and he started working behind the prescription counter for Jean Coutu for about six or seven years.

He worked his way up to become chief pharmacist, before finally taking over his own Jean Coutu franchise. He was considered a prominent member of Montreal's Lebanese community.

[President Kerry]

39. and how many Lebanese have been killed?

Where's the outrage? Fucking tragic when we only track the deaths of westerners. The rest "had it coming". :puke:

[HuffleClaw]

41. and of course harper dutifully parrots bush's lines

the bush bootlicking neocon toadie that he is.

[LiberalHeart]

45. Six others from same family are in critical condition.

[katinmn]

51. 8 Canadians killed in Israeli airstrike

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060716/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_canadians_killed

By SAM F. GHATTAS, Associated Press Writer

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Eight members of a Canadian family vacationing in Lebanon were killed Sunday in an Israeli air raid that hit a Lebanese town on the border with Israel, Canadian and Lebanese officials said.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay said six other Canadians were in critical condition.

Lebanese security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to make statements to the media, said the victims were members of a single family of Lebanese origin and were killed at home in their family's village of Aitaroun, which abuts the border.

TV stations said the family had come from Canada to spend their summer holiday in the town.

MacKay, who was quoted by The Canadian Press, said the government is putting commercial ships in place to evacuate its citizens by sea.

[kitty1]

52. Canada is sending a vessel ASAP to bring citizens home n/t

[kitty1]

53. If the Canadian victims had been anglo politicians....

I wonder if Harper's reaction would have been different. The victims were all related and of Lebanese descent. He's following his buddy Bush's lead lock step with his response here. Israel's response was measured he states. By what standard. It's all good because they didn't use nukes!!

[tuvor]

56. Harper's "measured" comment was made two days ago.

I don't believe he's made any official comment yet today, has he?

[daleo]

58. I think he is studiously avoiding saying anything.

And letting Peter McKay take the heat.

[Spazito]

59. Yep, he is, simply put, a chicken shit like his idol...

"Harper would not answer reporters' questions about whether his assessment of Israel's actions still stood on Sunday."

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L16105830.htm

[iverglas]

70. the Star's take on that

Harper's "measured" comment was made two days ago.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1153087815339&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154&t=TS_Home

Jul. 17, 2006. 05:16 AM

... Flying to London on his way here to the G-8 Summit, the Prime Minister declared Israel's assaults on Lebanon and Hezbollah a "measured" response to the kidnapping of two of its soldiers and the killing of eight others.

After intense talks yesterday that ran into the evening, Harper supported a consensus statement calling on Israel to exercise "utmost restraint" to avoid civilian deaths, damaging civilian infrastructure and acts destabilizing Lebanon.

... That balance was missing from Harper's original response. In effectively rubber-stamping Israel's bombing of civilian as well as Hezbollah targets, the Prime Minister failed to consider the threat to regional stability and fully answer questions about the implications to Canadians either living in Lebanon or visiting.

What seemed liked good politics on Thursday was exposed as bad public policy by Sunday.

In taking a more unequivocal position than U.S. President George W. Bush, Harper earned kudos from Israel's strong and politically active domestic supporters. But it put Canada's reputation as an honest Middle East broker at risk and ultimately proved unsustainable.

Asshole.

Not you. ;)

[CHIMO]

71. Clown

Stevie

[Spazito]

72. Oh my, LOVE that toon!

Thanks for posting it!

[Amonester]

73. F**K HARPER

VA CHIER HARPER!!

[IndianaGreen]

62. Today Condi Rice said that Israel must continue to kill civilians!

These Canadians were killed by Israeli bombs and American complicity in Israel's war crimes!

NYT: Rice Says Israel May Need to Prolong Offensive

WASHINGTON, July 16 — Israel may need to prolong its offensive in Lebanon to further reduce the threat from Hezbollah, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said today, as some Democrats called on her to travel to the region immediately to help defuse the crisis.

Ms. Rice appeared to support a longer-term Israeli effort to inflict decisive damage to Hezbollah’s presence in Lebanon.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2393581

[Lilith Velkor]

67. "The floggings will continue until morale improves."

:banghead: :argh: :hurts:

[Poll_Blind]

64. REUTERS: Israel blames Hizbollah after Canadian deaths in southern Lebanon

From Ha'Aretz Breaking News.

Way to take responsibility.

PB

[daleo]

65. This was predictable

And Stephen Harper, neo-con Canadian PM will parrot pretty much the same line.

[IndianaGreen]

68. Sociopaths never take responsibility for their actions

and the main combatants in the Middle East are all sociopaths.

[Poll_Blind]

74. I've been seriously thinking about that comment since you posted it.

The implications are just so disturbing to me...

PB

[iverglas]

75. Statement by Libby Davies, MP (NDP, Cdn Parliament)

Just arrived in my inbox, thought some might like to see it.
(Libby's one of our openly gay/lesbian MPs too, fyi.)

______________________________________________________


Libby Davies - Statement on Middle East Crisis
Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2006 13:03:31 -0700
From: "Libby Davies, MP" <[e-mail]>

I am deeply concerned with the recent escalation of violence by Israeli forces in Lebanon, and deeply disappointed with the Conservative government’s response to this crisis. Many constituents have contacted my office expressing their outrage and concerns about Canada’s response. By calling Israel’s military response to the kidnapping of three of its soldiers as “measured”, Prime Minister Harper has failed to show leadership on such a critical issue.

I have written to the Prime Minister to express my concern as the Member of Parliament for Vancouver East.

Israel’s disproportionately brutal response to the unlawful and provocative kidnappings by Hamas and Hezbollah militants is a violation of international law, and has put the whole region on the brink of war. The bombing of Beirut International Airport, and of bridges that lead in and out of the city, has endangered the lives of countless Lebanese civilians, and is a terrible display of collective punishment against the Lebanese people. Over 160 people have been killed since Israel began its bombardments last week. The situation in Gaza is also of concern, as Israel’s bombing of critical infrastructure, including a power station, has endangered the health and safety of hundreds of thousands of Gazans.

We learned of the deaths of seven Canadian tourists in Lebanon, including four young children, who were killed following an Israeli air strike. By not immediately setting up an evacuation plan for Canadians caught in the violence in Lebanon, the Canadian government has failed to ensure the safety of its citizens. It is becoming obvious that the Prime Minister is willing to put his friendship with George Bush ahead of his duty to protect Canadian citizens, and Canadian interests and values abroad.

I urge the Canadian government to immediately call on Israel to halt its attacks in Lebanon. Too many innocent lives have already been lost, and the Prime Minister’s silence on this matter is disgraceful. Both sides in this conflict must end the violence and return to peace talks before the situation spirals out of control any further.

[daleo]

77. That's a good note

I hope Layton follows through as well. I don't know if any Liberals will have the gumption to stand up for Canadian victims in this case. We'll see. Harper is crazy if he think his response is adequate.

We should demand an apology and a detailed explanation of why the house was hit. I don't think that's not too much to expect.

[stepnw1f]

76. I Guess Canada Should Bomb Lebanon Too

Afterall... an eye for an eye, stupid does stupid.