Arthur : Do you have a clone that could work in Ottawa , Canada ?

Keith - any clone would enjoy a stint in Canada's capital (especially now, with the Senators about to seize the Stanley Cup). Go Sens Go - those other guys might be nice enough fellows, but a duck emblem? With Lord Stanley's silverware? Please...

Seriously, though, skyreporter plans to begin regular reports later in the year from Ottawa, as well as Washington DC and London. Let's face it, under-performing political scoundrels dominate all our capitals - the Afghans are not alone in suffering incompetent, self-serving leaderships.

Um, when last I checked the "ducklings" had seized the 1st game, but that's neither here nor there, my team isn't in this fight (Habs).

I did a little experiment with my representatives in Washington last week. I went on their websites (clearly I have too much down time in my day) and wrote to them about a pressing political issue. Only one Congressman responded - and that was a form letter. So, political "scoundrels" is a fairly accurate description. Looking forward to some reports from Washington.

KLM, well said - and good on you for trying, anyway. And about the Ducks, it's true. They're trying hard to make monkeys out of all of us Habs, Flames and Sens fans.

Arthur, just to let you know, that of the Liberal, NDP and 'new' Conservative MP's I wrote to (the only 'new' conservative was the Prime Minister) on 26 April, just one has responded to my email re Attorney General Sabet, his Canadian citizenship and his ties with Hekmatyar. Dawn Black, NDP, MP, member for New Westminster/Coquitlam was professional enough to respond. Not a peep from Denis Coderre, Omar Alghabra, Bill Siskay, and most disappointly, no acknowledgment of or response to my 3 emails to my own MP, Liberal Blair Wilson, representing West Vancouver. The 3 emails to my MP were sent 19 April, 26 April and 9 May, respectively. Not one word, pas de mot, rien. Needless to say, I have basically lost all confidence in any of these 'humans' with the exception of Dawn Black. Sad commentary on what was once a fine governmental system.

PSB, don't feel bad. When I repeatedly received no responses from my NDP MP, defense critics, government leaders or leading press outlets (Globe and Mail shame on you) I developed a two page, easily readable (no big words)Word document based on reports from skyreporter.com, and an email list which I send out every two days. This list includes all MPs and media outlets' editorial offices, and I made certain that the cc's were all in place. At some point one of these recipients will tire of ignoring me and either do something publicly or have me arrested for harrassment. Either way I win and they lose. You can do this as well. There are two things politicians fear..given too much attention or being ignored. They prey on our fear to justify their (in)action, so I see my actions as legal, non-violent and fair payback.

Hey PSB, don't be too forlorn. It's early in the game. In other words, there isn't an election coming up in the next six weeks or so.

A suggestion, if you'll permit me? Put all your emails-of-inquiry together in one master text, headed with The Honourable Ms. Black's response. When the election's called this autumn, send copies to all your local newspaper editors and TV and radio news directors, along with your analysis of the situation.

There's not much riding on Canada's policy on Afghanistan - just the lives of 2,300-or so servicemen and women, the future stability of Southwest Asia and our own security here at home.

Any hey John - that's persistence! Way to go - if the Sens show half that spirit, the Cup's Ottawa bound for sure...

2-0 Ducks.

So, I'm listening to the radio on the way to work this morning and all the talk is about Venezuala, Chavez, the protests, etc. Freedom of speech issues seem to be cropping up all over the globe (hello Afghanistan!), yet Venezuala is getting global attention vs. Afghanistan. What gives?

we afghans thought the war is over and afghanistan will be a prosperous country once again, but the fact is' its not, this curruption is jst as same as a War. It ruins communities, afgan themselves have no moral to show for the opportunity been given to rebuild once and for all. Its no ones fault but afghan themselves.
Arthur thank you very much for the times you have spent in my country and exposing the evils and traitors. Thank you for bringing us the truth. Extremely thankful and all the best.

Freedom of speech? Big joke. Freedom of speech entails the honest revelation of the presence of the Taliban and Hizbe Islami elements of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. The former is amuzingly not described a 'terrorist group' though its 'Hamas' and 'Hezbbullah' type of modus operandi (suicide bombers)has claimed tens of innocent lives--both Afghan civilians and non-Afghan peacekeeepers. The second IS a declared terrorist group.

Karzai and his Pashton supremacist regime has tactfully removed all explicitly and proven anti-Taliban forces from power and is merely paving the ground for the emergence of yet another disaster to Afghanistan and the world. Freedom of speech needs to bring up this sinister strategem for in which stands big stakes for world peace and humanity.

Freedom of speech should not only be confined to Afghanistan but to our own environment too. Here in Canada we should talk about it. Why is there not a single journalist, other than Arthur, to talk about the current status of affairs in Afghanistan. Why does a single mass-circulated newspaper not ever ask about what happened to those true Nato and world Afghan partners who defeated the Taliban--those who had first declared war against these terrorists? Why are they sidelined? Lets have the 'freedom of speech' passion ask these questions for us here in our homeland--canada!