Skip navigation

 Login or Register | Member Centre

Afghan journalist sentenced to death

AMIR SHAH

Associated Press

Latest comment posted at 12:13 PM EST 23/01/08

23-year-old distributed a paper printed off Internet that court said humiliated Islam ...Read the full article

This conversation is closed

  1. Mei-Xing Xu from Canada writes: isn't it sweet Canadian soldiers fight to the death to defend laws like this. sweeter is Canadian tax dollars fund this.

    for those that claim no Muslim protest radicalism you may have missed this 100 000 person protest against radicalism http://www.thestar.com/News/article/203323
  2. Burger King from Canada writes: Free the poor man or send the troops home...
  3. Joe Hudon from Fredericton, Canada writes: This is what our soldiers are fighting (and dying) to protect over there?
  4. J Law from Canada writes: Canadians are really FU. We really are! We should ask people to live by our laws and rules when they are in this country, but let them live by their laws and rules when they are in their own. Who are we to demand others live by our laws and rules?
  5. Kathleen Degelder from AberdeenUSA, Canada writes: The others news article about the Alberta Human Rights Commission and the Macleans magazine and this story. It just proof in the pudding on lack of freedom of the speech and the press.
  6. Greed, Exploitation, Vengeance, Rule the world, from everywhere under the sun, Canada writes: Time to drop some more BIG bombs on some islamic terrorists, maybe that will sink in?
  7. Bob in Chilliwack from Chilliwack, Canada writes: Muneeza Sheikh, Khurrum Awan, Daniael Simard and Naseem Mithoowani got to love this.
  8. Let me tell You How It Is from Seattle, Washington, United States writes: Don't Canadians understand about multiculturalism? You guys need to be tolerant of others beliefs and values. Ontario almost instituted a form of this Sharia law a couple of years ago. Don't worry this is how Afghanistan has been for hundreds of years even before there was such a thing as Canada or Canadian soldiers. There are some in Ontario who accep these same values with summary execuations so Canada should accept this as part of their mulitcultural mosaic.
  9. NR Connor from TO, Canada writes: Stephen Harper!

    Bring
    our
    troops
    home
    from
    that
    place.
  10. S L from Canada writes: The news report says:

    1. he is a journalist students,
    2. he was discussing a paper in class with his teacher and his classmates,
    3. his classmates (obviously don't like the paper) complained to the authority
    4. the government was urged to punish him by the cleric committee who is supposed to represent the religious view of the country
    5. The court and the judges agreed and sentenced him to die.

    This makes me wonder about Afganistan as a country, and Molsem as a religion as practiced in that country.
  11. james bell from Canada writes: J Law from canada, what'nhell are canadians doing over there? we're told endlessly we're over there to show these poor, helpless peons that WE are the way and the light.
    you want it both ways.
  12. NR Connor from TO, Canada writes: Let me tell You How It Is from Seattle, Washington, United States writes: ... Ontario almost instituted a form of this Sharia law a couple of years ago. ...

    ==============

    Well, no, not really. In fact, religious law was permitted in non-court arbitrations for some time. Then, when someone wanted to set up an arbitration service that would base its analysis on Sharia law, other people realized that no religion of any kind should be involved in family breakup arbitrations and the McGuinty government passed a law prohibiting all religious arbitration in family breakups.
  13. Mark From BC from Canada writes: Solutions to the Afghan dilemma.

    1> Any Afghan man that forces his wife to wear a Burqua is wrapped in a pigskin and beaten to within a whisker of death. This would stop the subjugation of women..

    2> Fill our new C-17 transports with copies of Hustler magazine, and drop them (air dispersal) over the Afghan countryside. Once a Taliban gets a chance to imagine the depraved pleasures the west can offer, a Mullah could never control them again.

    We have to attack Islamic fundamentalism at its root cause.
  14. Jim OKeefe from Toronto, Canada writes: I saw a billboard once, right where Lakeshore Blvd joins the Gardiner Expressway by the DVP. It said 'Islam means Peace' I think it meant 'there is no peace with Islam'
  15. Stop! Think! from Canada writes: Another shining example of why we are fighting over there...we're there to ensure that free speech is met with execution....And that religious ideology trump the rule of law....

    Please end this quagmire, and use that money for something else!!!!
  16. Offshore Directional Driller from Pattaya, Thailand writes: This sadly shows what backward savages those muslims in Afghanistan really are. Karzai will no doubt, step in and save his bacon. There is no saving them from themselves unfortunately. If it walks like a duck....
  17. J Lee from North Vancouver, Canada writes: Is this what our boys are fighting, dying and getting maimed for? Out now! Let them figure out what sort of country they want.
  18. Clive Gingell from Canada writes: For the ten thousandth time, (or so it feels), we are in Afghanistan so that the Taliban don't regain power and allow al Qaeda, (or somesuch), to operate terror training camps to attack the West...(i.e. Canada and our allies).

    All this bumf about 'rebuilding', (rebuilding WHAT?), is a sop for the bleeding hearts and handwringers who keep on wailing about Canada's (fictitious) 'traditional role'.
  19. D G from Canada writes: I think we should support countries that separate religion and state.
  20. Joe dICK from Kingston, Canada writes: We should get out of there and withdraw our troops. That way, the Taliban can kill whomever they choose. Even if it goes against our Western Judeo-Christian ethic.

    Much better. Right?
  21. Larry T from NY, United States writes: Wow, if anything that you could do, might insult someone of islam, you should be killed for that? How was this religion, labled the religion of peace?

    Here a student discussion in a classroom, could get you killed? Is that a learning exercise?

    Or if your class name the class mascot after someone that they admire. It could be an insult to someone and you should be killed for that?

    If someone is raped, they should be killed for that because of the shame that you brought to the family?

    If you talk about being violated, outside of the closed court room, you should be killed for that, or just sent to jail for a few years.

    Two eyes for an eye is not the way to peace. I have a very strange feeling that this is going to end badly and it will be a lot more people than this journalist, teacher, daughter, or wife.

    Most of these judgements happened last year with the exception of the student journalist. Where will it end?
  22. Emma Hawthorne from Canada writes: In the eyes of the world this kind of thinking is barbaric, cruel and very foolish. If Islam has any credibility at all, which this action certainly puts in doubt, it should easily be able to withstand ordinary discussion, open debate and even great insults without rancor. Most Western peoples view religion as quaint, I believe. Only a minority subscribe to organized religions which today cause so much rancor, ill-will and violence in the world. The bible is filled with many tales, mythology, violence and some pearls of wisdom, but it is sadly out of date. The Quaran (Koran) is no better. Yet too many Islamic societies are trapped in cycles of poverty and ignorance. Getting out from under this oppression by establishing basic human rights and freedom of speech should be a first priority. If there really were a god, surely this kind of cruel and ignorant thinking could never be tolerated.
  23. Clive Gingell from Canada writes: Larry T: Where will it end?

    Here's a stop along the way:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn-KsSX_0us
  24. Kathleen Degelder from AberdeenUSA, Canada writes: Reminds me of the Teddy bear that was named Mohammed fiasco.
  25. Emma Hawthorne from Canada writes: I hope Mr. Harper will call Karzai and ask him to commute the journalist's sentence. I think he should come to Canada and claim refugee status.
  26. jojo savard from Canada writes: I don't get it. We are fighting the Taliban because they do this kind of thing.
  27. Mike........ Just Mike from Toronto, Canada writes: I wonder if those 4 Muslim Lawyers filing a complaint against McLeans will take up this mans case? I doubt it. Nice to see what we are fighting for.
  28. Richard Daystrom from Toronto, Canada writes: Any newspaper dare publish a cartoon editorial about this? I thought so.

    Islam means submission and obedience not peace.
  29. Emma Hawthorne from Canada writes: Again, NATO is foolish to expect to create peace in a country without making basic demands, such as that Afghanistan adopt basic human rights and clean up its inept legal system.
  30. k st-pierre from toronto, Canada writes: Clive Gingell- First-There are still terror training camps there now. So we haven't done a very effective job at shutting them down. Second, according to Harper and the Manley report we are there to nation build, so that goes beyond just basic security. I find it ironic the CONS come on here saying we are there to allow girls to go to school from one side of their mouth, then when articles like this show we are not doing that either then its just about 'security'from the other side. Make up your minds or be honest about the real reason for us being in A-stan. Are we there to make sure Sharia law is harshly exercised? Q:How much different would a Taleban ruling on this issue have been from the one right now? A: There is no difference. So why are we there again?
  31. smelter rat from Canada writes: Our troops are dying to support this type of thinking?? It's time to declare victory and bring the troops home....NOW!
  32. Kevin Desmoulin from TO, Canada writes: Well, Well, Well, Shall we continue to support a country with judicial system such as Afghanistan, merciful? Open minded? tolerant? do these fit with our canadian values....
  33. Emma Hawthorne from Canada writes: Journalists and politicians are fond of labeling countries as Islamic or Christian, etc., which only exaccerbates these situation as this impression is false. The vast majority of the world is secular. Most persons opressed by religious fanatics, equivalent I suppose to an American mafia, just want to escape the oppression and be left alone
  34. Anuradha Bose from ottawa, writes: is this what our brave men and women are giving their lives for?
  35. A good Canadian from Canada writes: Mike........ Just Mike from Toronto, Canada writes: I wonder if those 4 Muslim Lawyers filing a complaint against McLeans will take up this mans case? I doubt it.
    *****************************
    I am not sure, but there is a group in BC who might.
  36. Anuradha Bose from ottawa, writes: Ms Hawthorne what planet do you inhabit? It is the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in case you did not know.
  37. Simon Dimuantes from Toronto, writes: I'm utterly shocked that the craven G&M online moderators didn't automatically close comments to this post...neat-o!

    I look around, and I see many problems in Canada that require attention and money. Then I look to someplace like Afghanistan, where we're wasting tons of Canadian money, and dozens of incalculably precious young Canadian lives, and I think, 'Why the hell are we wasting our time, money and the precious young lives of our soldiers over there?'

    Canada should get out of Afghanistan. Let them summarily execute whomever they want for naming a teddy bear or printing something off the internet. Go ahead. As long we're not wasting time/money/lives trying to support such a society.

    Let's spend money on infrastructure, education, health care and other important domestic issues, instead of on tanks and helicopters and other bullshìt like that in Afghanistan. That's what I'm saying.
  38. M j from Canada writes: Clive Gingell, oft repeating does not it correct. Canadian soldiers are NOT fighting in Afghanistan to defeat the Taliban. Western nations were pleased enough to prop up the Taliban government in the vacuum of the Soviet withdrawal, whatever the cost to those poor 'backward savages', as one poster put it. They curtailed opium production and kept out the Russians, so they were okay by us. We gave them aid and them imposed fundamentalist Islamic law. The Taliban had no interest in terrorism - and still don't, frankly - so that's also a red herring. They were linked to Al Qaeda because they didn't denounce the group as all good allies were expected to do, but the Taliban were hardly material supporters of the outlaw group. These are strawmen to keep the schmucks busy chanting 'support our troops!' The real reason we decided we didn't like the Taliban was because they are fervently nationalist and didn't support an oil pipeline running through northern Afghanistan. You may execute civilians under fundamentalist law, thumb your nose at international human rights, even kill a few of our civilians on an occasional basis, but don't ever, EVER mess with the OIL. While PM Martin signed us up for a year or two, doing light duty with the rest of NATO, our current crop of right-wing government stooges has actually committed us to fight a guerilla war (which we WILL lose) because there is oil at stake. Or the interests of oil companies anyway, upon which the political fortunes of our current PM and his party rest. Of course the soldiers and supporters are given the rah-rah-freedom-loving-peace-building-orphans-and-little-grrls-in-school speech, and of course they believe it because, well, they're soldiers. They weren't hired for their political science degrees. Whatever we tell them to do, whether it's saving the world or fighting for corporate interests, we're going to tell them whatever will make them do the job most willingly.
  39. Jeff Pritchard from Canada writes: Separation of church and state FTW.
  40. Brad Reddekopp from Hazelton, British Columbia, Canada writes: That's the society that Canadian soldiers are dying to protect and nurture? Absolutely disgusting. Bring 'em home now!
  41. della baird from vancouver, Canada writes: dee vancouver: yeah,yeah, yeah! what are we fighting for? clean up the mess at home! what i gather from most G&M posts is that while our guys are over there,no-one here is minding the store! i believe that if this disintegrating society rears it's ugly head and gives in to the retoric of immigrants who desire freedom of religion in this country..... excuse me , did i read that right? it seems to me, these very people had that freedom before coming here. what is their beef? they consider anyone not of their faith as infidels. i rest my case, except to add. the diatribes against our institutions just maybe the seeds of a revolution unlike anything ever experienced in our country. i am not fear mongering .i am also sure i am not the only one who feels this way. i also have the right to say what i think.(i think)
  42. K Ordos from Canada writes: Their country, their laws. However Canadian troops should not be over there defending this sort of behaviour from outdated, intolerant and barbaric religion.
  43. Clive Gingell from Canada writes: k st-pierre: Our primary role is to stop a resurgence of the Taliban, but if we can establish an Afghan army under Karzhi to do it for us, so much the better.

    IF there are still terror training camps it's because we have not yet gotten around to killing the occupants.

    With luck the Kharzi government and/or its successors will allow females to attend school, but Afghanistan, whichever way you cut it, IS still Muslim and subject to the (however backward they may be) customs of those who practice that religion.

    You ask 'How much different would a Taliban ruling on this issue have been from the one right now'? Again....terror camps.
  44. Sam Fed from Canada writes: I would say that it's time to implement plan B, if we had a plan B (for afghanistan) i say it's time to create a plan B,& C. Time to give notice to NATO that it's our turn to play boy scouts, their turn for the fighting.
  45. The Wight from Canada writes: NR Connor: 'Well, no, not really. In fact, religious law was permitted in non-court arbitrations for some time.'

    Thank you for correcting this. I was a part-time arbitrater in Ontario for a time and happened to be there when this whole stink erupted. Watching the province (and the country) devolve into blatant racism when priests/ministers and rabbis had been practicing arbitration with their flocks for a decade at least was a real eye opener. While there were plenty of excellent religious arbitrators left out in the cold with the McGuinty decision, no one can say that he left the issue undecided!
  46. Michael Erskine from Canada writes: Remind me again--why are we supporting these people?
  47. gerhard beck from Canada writes: J. Law, we are supposedly in Afghanistan to bring democracy to the country. That includes freedom of expression and the press. A journalist condemned to death for publishing an opinion does not sound to democratic, unless you are ultra right wing. This kind of treatment for journalists was common in Nazi Germany.
  48. Wall Flower from Canada writes: gerhard beck, in case you didn't know, Harperites do not believe in the freedom of the press.
  49. Clive Gingell from Canada writes: M j: Since the proposed pipeline was to bring natural gas to Pakistan & India, one who think that, if that WAS the reason for fighting, we'd have Indian troops there and more support from Pakistan.
  50. Beatriz Perez-Sanchez from Toronto, Canada writes: I thought that the lives of Canadian soldiers were being sacrificed to bring 'democracy' and 'freedom' to Afghanistan. At least that's what our government and all the other pro-war cheerleaders have been telling us. It must be a real comfort for the friends and families of Canada's Afghanistan war dead to know that their loved ones have died to defend religious intolerance. Wasn't religious intolerance one of the reasons why the Taliban was condemned so justly by much of the world in the first place?
  51. Robert Wood from Victoria, Canada writes: It's difficult to fathom how the authors of the web article (Attacking Human Rights Tribunal Attacks Us All) issued today can seriously put forth their views. A jounalism student has been sentenced to death for distributing an article that he (she?) did not even write. I guess they're fortunate to live here. If we had the same extreme views it could be their necks on the line for writing something so offensive to western society.
  52. della baird from vancouver, Canada writes: dee vancouver: i find it strange that in a documentary i saw a few months ago, i saw only little boys in school in afghanistan. however in a later piece i did see little girls in schools run by afghan women. the teachers claimed they lived with daily threats from their own people. how can a
    anyone expect to change what has been going on for hundreds of years? was what i saw, mere propaganda? sometimes i think my head will fall off from constant shaking. anyway, here's to all the other 'shakers' out there and mind the medical community does say that such actions have a detrimental effect on our health!
  53. k st-pierre from toronto, Canada writes: Clive- No 'IF'. According to the 15 yr old caught by ISI over Bhutto's assassination a few days ago he spent time in afghanistan getting 'practical training' before doing the hit. So again, no difference. While I agree how other nations run themselves is up to them, we should not be there militarily to support a govt our troops took an oath to protect Canada from. Thats it, thats all. They either work with us to do things how they would be done in Canada or we withdraw and they do what they want by themselves.
  54. Prairie Boy from Canada writes: Being sentenced to death does not mean they will execute him. Remember the British teacher sentenced to death? A lot of it is optics but he is thier citizen.

    As to why we are there doesn't this strengthen the case? Maybe they will see another way that can satisfy their beliefs.
  55. Cuban Cigar from Canada writes: The country was ruled by the Taliban who took the most extreme view and performed summary executions and imposed whatever laws they thought was appropriate in the name of religion.

    It will take time for the society to shed its religious authoritarian past. The good news is that this journalist received a semblance of a trial and has some options (as little as they may be, are still better than under the Taliban).

    If we (as most of you have stated) believe in law, order, justice and all that good stuff that makes us a more advanced and civilized society, why do we not fight to get our citizen out of Gitmo - who was a child when captured and has had no trial for the past 4-5 years? Send an innocent person to be tortured in Syria?

    At least this journalist is getting a trial - much more than we afforded our citizens in our advanced society.
  56. Jack Robertson from Toronto, Canada writes: It's time to withdraw the troops and let the Afghans fend for themselves. They have been killing one another for centuries and will continue to do so long after the last NATO soldier departs the country. Neither the Afghan people nor the residents of many of the other Third World backwaters and cesspools are worth the sacrifice of our young men and women. It is also time to turn off the wasteful foreign aid tap and shut the immigration gates to people from such regions. We are better off without them.
  57. The NeoCynic from Sierra Leone writes:

    Of course, Canadians would be the very last people on the face of the planet to know:

    Karzei and his cronies are the Taliban, save for a change of clothes and a good ole American Goodhousekeeping Seal of Approval.

    Sheesh, what a bunch of rubes.
  58. All Canadian All American from The Canadian sector of America, Canada writes: We need to send more troops and more military hardware into afghanistan and pound the taliban and al qaeda into the dust. Stay until the job is done, even if it takes 10 more years.
  59. Richard Roskell from Naramata, Canada writes: How much more evidence do Canadians need that our efforts to bring Western-style democracy to Afghanistan are not bearing fruit? Nor can those efforts bring fruit, because Afghanistan cannot legally be a democracy such as ours.

    I quote the new Constitution of Afghanistan, signed into law in 2004:

    Chapter One - The State

    Article One

    Afghanistan is an Islamic Republic, independent, unitary and indivisible state.

    Article Two

    The religion of the state of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is the sacred religion of Islam.

    Followers of other religions are free to exercise their faith and perform their religious rites within the limits of the provisions of law.

    Article Three

    In Afghanistan, no law can be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam.

    .....

    There it is, in black and white. Afghanistan is an Islamic state. It's law is sharia law, the law of Sunni Islam. And it can never be otherwise, unless the Constitution is changed.

    We in Canada are horrified by stories such as this one, but strict Islamic law (as determined by Afghans) is how they have chosen to run their country and administer justice. They've done so under our watchful noses, in 2004.

    You don't like it? No one asks you to live under such a legal system. But it's the legal system Afghans have chosen to live under, according to their long-standing customs. It's harsh and it's not going to be anything else by our standards in your lifetime or mine.

    It's not a miscarriage of justice by Afghan standards; it's the LAW by Afghan standards. And that's what Canadian soldiers are dying to protect.
  60. Kevin Desmoulin from TO, Canada writes: Richard Roskell from Naramata, your article saids it all, I know about the Afghan Constitution, I say to you, If we can not support this type of behavior here, there is no way we can support Sharia law over there, We did our bit and lets get out, We got to rethink in the ways we interact with countries.
  61. Roop Misir from Toronto, Canada writes: Anything that doesn't lend itself to scrutiny and discussion is not likely to be taken seriously?

    Is there anything to hide here?
  62. Sir Laifalot from Victoria, Canada writes: Manley is wrong , this verdict is wrong, Afghan is wrong, bring home the troops now!
  63. evelyn robinson from Canada writes: Canada does not need to accept or prop up this type of government.
    Get our troops out now.
  64. F H from Canada writes: 'Don't worry this is how Afghanistan has been for hundreds of years even before there was such a thing as Canada or Canadian soldiers.'

    And, apparently, before the Internet. How on earth can there be a ruling based on a branch of religion that existed before electricity, let alone the Internet?

    And yes, I think NO religion has a place in law, especially those laws involving human rights.
  65. Henry B from Galtabad, Canada writes: What no outcry from the masses in Afghanistan? This again shows that Afghans are at best Taliban-lite deep down inside. Last year the country was lining up behind their imams to have apostate Abdul Rahman executed in a Sharia compliant manner. The real worrisome concern is what happens to people who think this way at home and are encouraged to maintain their traditions and customs when they join our multicultural mosaic. That mosaic of course is held together only by the super-glue of political correctness.
  66. Gizella Oehm from Toronto, Canada writes: This sort of thing used to happen in the Middle Ages under Christendom, not invariably, but from time to time. People with opinions that went against accepted dogma were called heretics, and sometimes paid a terrible price for independent thought. It was primitive, and western civilization has since evolved (without interference from an outside body). Perhaps in time, the kind of rabid dogmatism we see in some Islamic socieities will similarly evolve. Until then, the 'Western' world and these societies are NOT speaking the same language; thus I do not see the utility of our being in countries like Afghanistan. Nothing but time will interpret this morass, and cliched though the expression is, Western exhortations are definitely 'falling on deaf ears', while our young men continue to be blown up.
  67. J Cox from Vancouver, Canada writes: Cultural relativism only goes so far. There are Universal Human Rights. Never say that anyone, anywhere in the world should be allowed to behave however they like. If it means that individuals or groups are persecuted then it should be condemned. Canadians must condemn this act, do everything we can to prevent the Afghans courts from carrying it out, and condemn other acts of a similar vein.
  68. L.B. MURRAY from Canada writes: After being told by Mr Bush ad nauseam that Karzai and his govermint were ''democratically'' elected.... Well, is this the Sharia Law or some 2000-year-old Afghan practice being ''enforced'' here??

    Is that Karzai and Warlord corrupt govermint worth even one more Canadian soldier's life?? How many more Canadian soldiers will die or get maimed for this corrupt, US-''friendly'' Karzai govermint??

    As far as the Manley Report goes, we all know that Manley was hand-picked by Harper because he agreed with Harper and his Puppetmeister Boooosh.

    Enough.

    I'm going back to reading Voltaire ... yes, vitriolic Voltaire.
    Plus ca change, plus c'est pareil.
    -
  69. Clive Gingell from Canada writes: 'There are Universal Human Rights'.

    Afraid not.

    I get the impression that many posters here haven't really had too much experience with the Third/Muslim World.
  70. Balboa R. from Toronto, Canada writes: What do you think is going to happen here in 10 years. As we bring more and more of the muslims to Canada and once they realize they can muscle people around, if anyone insults Islam they will resort to violence. It is just a matter of time. We can all thank the great Trudeau for this. I like to thank people like Trudeau who shook hands with Mao - a killer and butcher.
  71. The Wight from Canada writes: 'There are Universal Human Rights'

    Having a piece of paper, in this case the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, means zip unless those rights can be defended. If the main signatories of that declaration, including the USA, can't even be bothered to ratify them into law in their own countries, they will never make it on an international scale.
  72. B to the A to the R to the T from the left coast., Canada writes: If we're going to send our soldiers and tax dollars into this hell hole we may as well do it in defense and support of our values. Afterall, wasn't this exercise an attempt to find Bin Laden, bring peace, stability, rule of (secular) law, and Tim Horton's to middle Asia? Well, so far we're 1 for 5. The Canadian gov't is delusional. No matter how much money we spend and how much soldiers we or NATO sends in the culture and history of the region will make sure our fight is for naught.

    Seriously, even our so called friends in the Karzai government will scrap democracy and start bowing down to the guy with the biggest militia as soon as the last western soldier has left the country. Then it's a steep slope to more religious killings and subjugation of women and minorities.
  73. The Wight from Canada writes: 'No matter how much money we spend and how much soldiers we or NATO sends in the culture and history of the region will make sure our fight is for naught. '

    Amen. Even a world-renowned warrior and general like Alexander the Great bypassed the region when he saw how warlike the tribes were. If he had sense enough to avoid it, why can't we?
  74. Clive Gingell from Canada writes: The Wight says 'If he had sense enough to avoid it, why can't we'?

    If they hadn't permitted al Qaeda to plan & train for terrorist attack(s) on the West that's exactly what we would have done, let them rot in their 7th century squalor.
  75. True North from Canada writes: What are our soldiers fighting and dying for again??
  76. True North from Canada writes: Clive Gingell: the Taliban offered to hand over Osama bin Laden if the US could provide any proof. The US flat-out refused then later found that their intelligence services were fatally flawed resulting in the formation of Homeland Security. We are still waiting on this 'evidence' to this day.
  77. West Coast from Don't Tase Me, Bro!, Canada writes: L.B. MURRAY from Canada writes: After being told by Mr Bush ad nauseam that Karzai and his govermint were ''democratically'' elected.... Well, is this the Sharia Law or some 2000-year-old Afghan practice being ''enforced'' here??

    Is that Karzai and Warlord corrupt govermint worth even one more Canadian soldier's life?? How many more Canadian soldiers will die or get maimed for this corrupt, US-''friendly'' Karzai govermint??

    As far as the Manley Report goes, we all know that Manley was hand-picked by Harper because he agreed with Harper and his Puppetmeister Boooosh.

    Enough.

    I'm going back to reading Voltaire ... yes, vitriolic Voltaire.
    Plus ca change, plus c'est pareil.

    ---------

    When you are done reading Voltaire, send a donation to Ezra and Steyn who may be silenced by the islamists, and Geert Wilders in the Netherlands who is releasing a movie on Friday that might cause the Netherlands to explode.
  78. West Coast from Don't Tase Me, Bro!, Canada writes: Balboa R. from Toronto, Canada writes: What do you think is going to happen here in 10 years. As we bring more and more of the muslims to Canada and once they realize they can muscle people around, if anyone insults Islam they will resort to violence. It is just a matter of time. We can all thank the great Trudeau for this. I like to thank people like Trudeau who shook hands with Mao - a killer and butcher.

    ------

    Watch the news feeds out of the Netherlands for the next week or so. Could get interesting. Google news 'Geert Wilders'. Fortunately, here in Canada they are only using our own laws to shut down freedom of the press (in the Ezra and Steyn cases).
  79. Clive Gingell from Canada writes: True North: The Taliban offered to turn Osama over to a THIRD country, (not the US), or to (ha ha), 'put him on trial in Afghanistan'.

    Re 'evidence', the request for this was to find out what the US knew, since, I guess, Osama's claiming credit for 9/11 didn't qualify.
  80. F/A josquin from van, Canada writes: THERE IS NO GOD

    And anyone who uses a 'god' as an excuse to harm or abuse another is not a human being.

    A pox on all religions and a greater pox on hypocrites.
  81. Counterspinner tells the truth from Canada writes: While at the same time here, Ezra Levant is sentenced to slow death by human rights commission interviewing.
  82. West Coast from Don't Tase Me, Bro!, Canada writes: This death sentence is not so unique. If I recall, cartoonists are in hiding in Europe as we type and policians in Europe are under 24-hour guard for criticizing Islam. Even in Canada we have 2 journalists (ezra and steyn) up against tribunals to silence them. The sooner people realize that Islam should be immune from ALL forms of criticism and satire the sooner we can have peace. LOL.

    Actually, the case in Afghanistan would be more shocking to me if I didn't see the same nonsense brewing in the West due to idiotic, short-sighted immigration policies. Since I never voted on these policies, I am allowed to resist them. Since no single fool asked whether radical Islam was compatible with Western democracy, I am still a free man to question their wisdom. Yup, Afghanistan is a mess but the same problems and intolerances that fester in the Middle East are now growing in the West. But, I shall close my eyes and sing happy songs so I don't rock the boat.

    The irony and the charge against the journalist? He is being tried for death for saying that Mohammed was not a feminist leader. Really.
  83. West Coast from Don't Tase Me, Bro!, Canada writes: Counterspinner tells the truth from Canada writes: While at the same time here, Ezra Levant is sentenced to slow death by human rights commission interviewing.

    ---------

    The irony, as Ezra is the only Canadian fighting for the freedom of the press against the same islamists that seek to persecute the journalist in Afghanistan. If multiculturalism is so good, who amongst us would enjoy Canada being 51% Muslim? Where are all those moderate Muslim voices demanding that Ezra be left alone and have his freedoms? All I head is silence. A sick, deafening silence.
  84. globefan EH from Canada writes: And anyone who uses a 'god' as an excuse to harm or abuse another is not a human being.

    Exactly.
  85. Religion and You from Canada writes: The Wight : 'Amen. Even a world-renowned warrior and general like Alexander the Great bypassed the region when he saw how warlike the tribes were. If he had sense enough to avoid it, why can't we?'

    To fight with those in that region is like trying to fight with the wildlife in Africa, hoping to turn them into something similar to modern civilization. There are only two choices: wipe them all off or avoid them like Alexander did. Alexander did the right thing.
  86. Charles Martel from From Low Earth Orbit, Canada writes: Are we any better than the Taliban for charging Ezra Levant with a thought crime? Soon Mark Steyn will be in court as he too is charged with a thought crime.

    ========

    Religion and You from Canada writes: The Wight : 'Amen. Even a world-renowned warrior and general like Alexander the Great bypassed the region when he saw how warlike the tribes were. If he had sense enough to avoid it, why can't we?'

    ========

    Alexander and the tribes he could have fought against had very close technological skills. We have weaponry hundreds of years more advanced than our adversaries today. The only thing we lack is resolve. The analogy, IMHO, is not correct.
  87. Larry Robinson from white Rock, Canada writes: Western democracy is not necessarily accepted as 'the way' by many peoples on this Earth.

    Some countries have law and constitutions based upon religious principles to the exclusion of other religions.

    Western legal procedure, rights of the accused, and requirements of evidence are not in practice in most countries on the Earth.

    Afghanistan was a monarchy until 1973 and it was their idea of stability until a whole series of invaders and extremist sects took various levels of control. Even as a monarchy, it was an Islamic state.

    That's the way it is in the big world.

    So, why are we there, and I ask that of myself because I am more 'for' than 'against'.
  88. Gabriel Solomon from Halifax, Canada writes: There must be more to this story than what is written.
    I refuse to believe this is the WHOLE story.
  89. GlynnMhor of Skywall from Canada writes: At least it's only Hanafi code, and not Wahabbi.
  90. Religion and You from Canada writes: Charles Martel : Alexander and the tribes he could have fought against had very close technological skills. We have weaponry hundreds of years more advanced than our adversaries today. The only thing we lack is resolve.

    No, I wouldn't choose to wipe them out. It's better to preserve them & their way of life as another chapter in history. Like a museum show piece : )
  91. Larry Robinson from white Rock, Canada writes: Quote from 'Reporters Without Borders' web site, Jan. 17, 2008

    'A reporter for the newspaper Jahan-e Naw ('The New World') and a journalism student at Balkh University, Kambakhsh, 23, was arrested on 27 October and detained in Mazar-i-Sharif. Articles on the role of women in Muslim society were found at his home.'

    RWB goes on to request the international community intercede on behalf of Kambakhsh and a former journalist named in the above article.
  92. Jimmy Jensen from Toronto, Canada writes: It is not possible to humiliate Islam furthur than it humiliates itself everyday with this never ending torrent of disgusting violence and vitriolic hatred which seems to define Islam in the world today. What an unforgiving religion!! Allah must be incapable of defending his own honour in order to have all these blood thristy hit men working for him. Such a disgrace!!
  93. James Young from Brantford, Canada writes: No mention of this in the Manley Report! He could have mentioned that 'The Mission to Afghansitan 'defends freedom of religion'.

    That is about the only trite phrase that hasn't been dangled before the Canadian Public in the forlorn effort to gain public support for this 'Mission to Afghanistan'.

    Durgan.
  94. Religion and You from Canada writes: If something like a written text which has nothing to do with anyone on earth, and wasn't even written by that student, can lead to his death, God must be thinking: 'If nobody is willing show any compassion and forgiveness on something that doesn't even concern them, even I couldn't do much about it. Change and learning have to come from within. I can't make learning happen'
  95. Larry Robinson from white Rock, Canada writes: And now the big question: Will Muneeza Sheikh, Khurrum Awan, Daniel Simard and Naseem Mithoowani, authors of today's Comment, be filing a complaint with the Human Rights Commission against the Globe and Mail, and every commenter on this board?

    Quick, change your moniker.
  96. B to the A to the R to the T from the left coast., Canada writes: Charles Martel - are you as dylusional as our government? We are not fighting a military enemy so our techological advantage is pretty mute. We've won that war before 2001 ended. However we will never win the philosophical campaign that is trying to pacify and develop the region. Because we can not win this our technological military victory is meaningless.

    We are fighting against a culture of struggle rooted in religion and we are also fighting against external influence in the region ( the Pakistanis, Iranians, old soviet neighbours, Saudis all pull strings here) . You say we need resolve. How many decades or centuries of resolve does the west require in, your opinion, before Afghanistan can be at least as developed and democratic as Egypt or even Pakistan? Countries that by our measure are still pretty violent and oppressive.
  97. Khalid Rahim from scarborough, Canada writes: Hi Everbody on this coloumn list:
    You can lead a horse to a trough,but you cannot make'em drink. Most
    of you have been trying that since 09/11, including the mules and the
    asses amongst your religious groups. Just as the sane Muslims are not only fighting to keep their radicals at bay, but also hoping sanity
    prevails amongst you. For all your rhetorics of democracy and freedom of expression; You all remain self-concieted.
  98. Jean Malice from Calgary, Canada writes: In Canada the guy would have received the visit of the Human Rights Commission...
  99. Roop Misir from Toronto, Canada writes: By sending our troops to keep the current Afghani government in power, can we expect more of the same--like sentencing to death of journalists?
  100. brian silva from Canada writes: ha ha ha ha...Islam at its best. this is what is heading our way. and as far as i'm concerned, i don't mind. i'm a guy - i'll take my 72 virgins upon death, have 4 wives while i'm alive, and make them walk behind me. so to all the losers who defend Islam and try to silence those who attempt to expose the REAL islam, be careful what you advocate, because 50 years from now you'll be watching public executions at the skydome...ha ha ha ha