Arthur.Let's assume for a moment Afghanistan will be a hot topic in the House of Commons this time round as it was last time.Let's also assume that had a no confidence vote been held and an election called,Harpoco could use this little delegation to deflect answering questions concerning Afghanistan.
Also of note was the little poll released yesterday which had a high percentage of Afghans wanting Nato to stay.
Harpco has to sell this war to Canadians in the most positive way possible.It remains to be seen how many Canadians will buy it.
It didn't work for Bush.And if much tangible progress isn't forthcoming soon it won't work for him either.

Their name is Freedom Watch , their game as the modern missionarys is to bring bush enlightment and democracy while passing their collection plates to support "the good work".
Stevie is stuck in the tricky dickie anger syndrome and will meet his watergate soon enough .
Most Canadians honestly respect other peoples and want to help .

Good morning Ted. Who calls the no confidence hearing. Who votes? Is the general public involved in it in any way? Wish we had that here. If we did, bush/cheney would be gone by now.

Arthur,
The other point about the platinum panel is that, if I am not mistaken, not a single member can claim any in-depth knowledge of the region they are supposed to be making recommendations about.
Query: CBC and Environics are making a big deal of an 'all-Afghan' survey they have just conducted which supposedly shows, among other things, that the majority of Afghans love their government, etc.
Do you agree with the findings of this survey?
Bill

It's a valid and timely poll, and warrants a more complete review, which we'll do in a few days' time. One undisputed fact: a majority of Afghans still welcome constructive outside assistance to prevent the Taliban and al Qaeda clawing their way back into the country.

One worrying aspect: the poll confirms the Afghan civilian population's continuing decline of confidence in the direction their country is going. As opposed to 55% feeling positive about that direction in October 2006 (according to a BBC/ABC poll at that time), the Globe/CBC poll now finds that response down to 51%.

Arthur,

I shudder at the thought of defending Stephen Harper and friends, but the daily rates paid are not out of sync with consulting services in the Canadian economy. This is of course conditional on the consultants having a high level of expertise, which Manley and friends do not. As a lawyer, Manley would most likely make more if he stayed in Canada than if he went on this trip. Further since Manley and friends don't live in Afghanistan it is appropriate to pay them in accordance with where they live. Given their respective professional credentials, government experience, and the potential importance of this work, if rates were cut in half I think it would be difficult to argue that the rates were inappropriate.

HOWEVER, I do think you have valid points concerning the flawed nature of the approach because they are all high profile politicians who won't really see what is happening. That is a serious flaw making it valid to call this panel a waste of money. However complaining about the current billing rates of lawyers is like whining that hockey players are over paid. It is probably true, but without massive restructuring of how the economy works, it is meaningless.

Deasr Arthur,
You have been working in Afghanistan problems for a very long time and may know a bit on how the regime runs. Can you tell me how an illiterate person like Fahim can be awarded the highest rank of army position?
Isn't he involved in the martyrdom of late A. Masood ? Can all that confiscated property including the homes and public road in Karte Perwan cover his crime? The same things goes to Dostum as well.

Although the daily rates are not out of sync within the Canadian economic context, such high rates stand in glaring contrast with how much the locals get paid - IF they are lucky enough to be employed.

At another level, it should not be difficult to see how the Afghan conflict has been turned into a business project for an imperialist agenda. Manley and friends will not be and have not been the only group of so-called experts dispatched to Afghanistan to produce, out of their First World enclaves built for them there, an official report about Afghanistan. The question is: A report to what end?

To find out how out of touch they have been with the reality on the ground? To figure out the disconnection and lack of trust between them and the local population?

Or perhaps, more accurately, a scripted report expediently shelved for a time like now in order to sell the imperialist project in a different way - this time making it a bit more "scientific", a posteriori, based on surveys and/or expertise knowledge.

Hi Bonny.When the oppostion members outnumber the elected government members they can vote no confidence on any bill the government might want to pass.If the no votes outnumber the yes votes parliament is disolved and another election is called.People do not vote in the non confidence motion.
In the US the president can veto stuff..Not here.Enjoy your evening

Ted,

If parliment is dissolved, can Harper run again? If so, what are his chances of being re-elected?

Arthur, do you take the photographs that appear on the site? I especialy like the ones of the children. They're beautiful. The photos and the children.

Bonny, yep, once parliament dissolves the starting gun's fired for an election, and all the parties throw their hats in the ring. Harper's Tories and the opposition Liberals are the only parties with realistic chances of coming out on top - at least with a minority, ie the most seats but not more than the other parties combined. Neither the Tories or Liberals really want an election right now because it's not clear which of them would get a minority - Canadians currently would likely give neither a majority.

And re the images and footage you see here, yes. Your reaction to the children is virtually universal among all the journos, aid workers and soldiers you'd meet in Afghanistan. Those young faces are like a promise of a better future - a promise the country's foreign "friends" would do well to honor and fulfill.

Harper has gone positive . He no longer belittles/blames others for what should be his responsibility but is now prime ministerial stevie .
Don't critize global warming look at the new uses we can put an ice free northern passage to .
Don't dwell on American defense contractor saying all is well with building a police force instead brag that Canadian troops are paying the police directly in Kandahar province .
Arthur , Senlis Council , Human rights groups find problems just turn up the positives . Manleys job is to find/report all that is good about harper/bush/freedom watch efforts in Afghanistan ..

Arthur : For your health and safety please stick to the positives . I have gained incredible respect for you and as you realize there is billions of dollars at stake here to be milked from American , Canadian and E.U. taxpayers .

http://www.thestar.com/columnists/article/268736
Afghans see progress that we ignore

harper/bush/freedom watch like Kim Jong Il cannot take critizism or method improvement suggestions.

Mr. warrior G. W. Bush started a War in Afghanistan with the slogan: I will bring to the Afghan people Democracy, peace, freedom, eliminate terrorist and prosperity.
It is very funny, that the president of superpower could not realize one of them, opposite, he brought his trained people and joined them with other criminal and killer and he announced with euphoric style, that we can be witness of democratic free election in Afghanistan, but in reality was used by both elections mafia methods and the election won those, who were selected from outside the country, how it is possible such winning in real democratic election? Anarchy and chaos took place, poverty is increasing day by day, it is appearing new huge building ( hotels, houses, markets) in the city of Kabul and in an other cities, the owner of them are the selected people, prices are going to increase very fast, it does not exist control on it, in fact those selected people dictate the prices. Corruption and nepotism got a normal status. Terrorism increased and it expanded over the whole country, ISAF, NATO and USA bombing the country merciless totally, we are hearing every day, that it need in Afghanistan more weapons, more soldiers, but nobody is saying: Did we put right people there? Why it is not possible to stop corruption and nepotism? Why should not let qualified people to realize and get the expected goal?
Why should be cheat the nation?
Why should not accept the helping countries, specially USA, that we made mistake and we to correct our made mistake?
I am afraid, the situation in Afghanistan becomes worst.

At the present time is Pakistan trouble area too, I do not think, that the future of ISAF, NATO and USA will appear positive output at all!

Arthur,
I am somewhat reassured by your view that the Environics poll is 'valid'. On the other hand, I wonder how many of the people responding were simply providing answers they thought the questioners wanted to hear. There is also the factor of how valid a national poll can be in a country with so much violence.
I very much look forward to your in-depth review. In this context I found today's article in the Star quite interesting.

"Afghanistan" - we appreciate your contribution, and will ensure that your views are communicated to the panel.

Bill, now that is a valid point. In my experience, most Afghans, particularly in the countryside, would laugh if confronted by a pollster. Just get the war over with, they'll tell you.

Anyway, have a look tomorrow. As usual, the really pertinent issue is how the poll results will be interpreted, used or abused by the politicians.

Thanks Arthur, I am appreciated for it!
USA supported the nation of Afghanistan against former UdSSR occupation very strong, the Afghans will never forget it, although CIA with cooperation ISI made huge mistakes to support only religion groups and the creation of Religion-Schools in Pakistan, they destroyed the future of Afghan children at that time and they are acting as enemies now. Further played CIA a wrong game at the end of 1995 to support the created group of Taliban through Unocal (in fact, it was created for weapon collection in country), this group was created by Mr. Ex-General Abdul Wali(son in law of former King Zahir Shah) in Quetta Pakistan in July 1995, he has given them the name Taliban. Before this action, Mr. Ahmad Shah Masoud was contacted, he sent his brother Mr. Ahmad Zia Masoud to London for meeting in may 1995. Mr. Zalmay Khalilzad and Mr. Karzai were the key persons of CIA, they made it possible to switch weapon collection task of Taliban into transfer the power to Taliban. we have evidences for all such steps!

We are watching and following each steps of current installed government and of ISAF, NATO and USA actions.
Let me to start with following:
This installed government did not reflect any positive signal to the nation till now, the member of government and the people of high positions are busy with their own corruption and nepotism, huge came into the country, but nobody could see the fruit of it, except the selected peoples, in fact they are thieves. From time to time announce Mr. Karzai to ISAF, NATO and USA, please be careful by bombing. He is announcing too to talk to Mullah Omar and Mullah Gulbuddin and he offered them even to share with them power. The foreigner troops, specially USA troops are acting like occupier, they are killing merciless innocent people and they persecute the people during checking of civilian houses. All people with beards, national cloths and turbans will be seen as enemies. All those selected people are known as CIA, ISI, FSB(former KGB) and Iranian Intelligent service. Mr. Khalilzad Excellency is proud on it, that he brought such people together,
Yes, he rewarded for Taliban and because of those elements by Mr. G. W. Bush!

Most Canadians want us out of there.

A majority of MPs would pull us out of there given a vote.

NATO doesn't care.

I cared, but after watching Mr. Kent on The Hour and seeing this site...

I now want Canada out of there too.

I know that's not exactly what you were aiming for, but that's likely what you'll get Arthur.

I don't believe most of Canadians want Canada out of Afghanistan. I'd like to see evidence Albertan. Also, I don't have proof of my viewpoint either, except that we are there and Canadians have elected a Conservative government that wants us there.

If Canadians have a complaint, it is the style of conduct Harper portrays, following Bush like a puppy and not demanding required changes in the conduct of the war and the Karzai government. He isn't supplying our troops with the proper equipment nor demanding enough that other NATO nations step up. The type of war is frustrating to Canadians as well.

We need more troops to provide for greater rotation and security. Alcaida/Taliban are waiting for us to leave.

We want to see Afghans free to choose.

How about and SES poll released today?

"Generally, Canadians are divided on the government’s handling of the mission (44% agree with how the mission is being handled, 48% disagree the rest were unsure). However, 55% of Canadians believe that Canada and NATO together have not deployed the resources necessary to succeed.

Sixty-seven percent of Canadians think our mission makes Canada more of a terrorist target and 55% of Canadians think that if the casualties continue Canada should pull out (39% of Canadians think that casualties are a necessary part of our mission).

Politically, whenever Afghanistan is in the news the Tory numbers in Quebec drop. Although the mission may be good at consolidating core Tory support it basically throws a wrench in any effort for the Tories to build a majority coalition (even 40% of committed Conservative supporters think the government should pull out if the casualties continue)."

http://www.nikonthenumbers.com/topics/show/27

It is not talk about leaving the country, it is talk about what those countries did in Afghanistan during 6 years. Alcaida/Taliban are production of CIA and ISI(Pakistan intelligent service). It does not exist united voice between the installed government and American and American Allies.
Installed president is announcing to Taliban and Gulbuddin to talk to them and share power with them.
American and American Allies want to get more weapon and soldiers against Alcaida/Taliban. How can be seen Afghan to choose free, when ISAF, NATO and USA are killing and destroying indiscriminate and in very brutal way, YES, it was free choose among the trusted and selected guys, this show was already carried out 2003 and 2005, there are already wished guy selected, is such rubbish really democracy and freedom condition, what it could be expected??