"delenda est" well, I don't remember much from my Latin years, but I do think it's time "Hamas must be destroyed" there is no way this murderous group of terrorists & murderers can be allowed to regroup & rearm. No cease fires, no pauses. Just get it done & destroy Hamas.
A day after the anniversary of the 1938 Kristallnacht. Two days after Brian Mulroney received a prestigious award for his lifetime support of Jews. Mulroney used his acceptance speech to toss a truckload of shade on the longest serving Prime Minister in Canadian history. Clearly stating Mackenzie-Kings antisemitic views and his refusal to help Jews in front of an international audience must surely be a thinly veiled rallying cry for our political leaders to shape up and strive to be firm allies to our Jewish friends and neighbours.
If the PMO and Global Affairs are paying attention to all these synergies coming together at this moment in time, you would never know it. Clearly in the deep end of diplomacy with no lifejacket, Minister Joly is floundering around with earnestness but it is pretty clear that she has no influence with our allies in developing a cohesive plan to support Israel and find a path in the days ahead to a peaceful solution. Like a conductor, she waves her hands around amplifying off-sounding notes of foreign policy on the fly. It is a national embarrassment.
The favourite Liberal talking point for days has been a “pause” in the Israeli offensive in Gaza. Let’s call a pause for what it is: a unilaterally imposed ceasefire by third parties to allow humanitarian assistance to civilians.
Let’s also be clear about the reasons for the humanitarian crisis: Hamas imbeds itself amongst civilians and could care less about their misery. Capitulation of enemy forces is always accelerated by cutting off supply lines, but our official policy is to restock a terrorist group. Perhaps pressuring Egypt and other neighbouring countries to accept refugees from Gaza would bring the crisis to a faster conclusion than continuing to supply Hamas with food stocks and fuel to continue their terror amongst Palestinians and Israeli’s.
It’s too early to tell if Justin Trudeau will outdo Mackenzie-King on support for Israel, but early signs suggest improvements are required.
May your Remembrance Day be a day of reflection and peace.
In assessing the Prime Minister’s commitment to Israel, I forgot to mention that Justin Trudeau never misses an opportunity to busy himself in world affairs, and he has accumulated the frequent flyer reward points to prove it.
Having said that, it is curious that CAN Force 1 hasn’t headed toward Israel yet. Is domestic politics keeping Trudeau from getting involved?
It seems like a lot of people can’t fathom how loathsome and evil Hamas is, and how culpable they are for the current plight of the residents of Gaza. When Israeli forces cleared Hamas fighters and opened evacuation corridors between north and south Gaza earlier this week, there was suddenly a flood of civilians fleeing the fighting. They’d been prevented from leaving by Hamas because it suited Hamas to have more civilians killed and maimed by the crossfire with the Israelis. If we were talking about a gang who’d taken a poor family hostage in their own house, had been stealing their food for weeks, was using their house as a base to burglarize and terrorize the neighborhood, and had started taking potshots at passing police cars, there’d be far less criticism when a SWAT team stormed the house even if it wrecked the house and put the family at risk.
I have just finished watching the video on YouTube [great to have the CC option!].
First off, yes, yes, yes, Hamas must be destroyed. Period. End of story.
Now, as for the rest of the content of the video. As always, you are both so, so good and very clear in what you see and hear and the implications of all of that. Further, I have read the material of both The Line editors for quite a few years in various publications and, quite honestly, I feel that I really do think that you are both very well centered and thoughtful individuals.
I have to say that all of your commentary, including your conclusions, pretty much mirror my own thoughts [whoops! watch for confirmation bias!] and, quite truthfully, your video this week truly depresses the Hell out of me because I see pretty much the same things that you do and I worry about the same progression.
On a personal note, in one sense I am not so worried and in another sense I am terrifically worried. I am not so worried because I am next month to be seventy-three and demographics and family history suggest that I have perhaps - perhaps - another ten years and then I won't care about anything. I am very worried because I have two adult children and three young grandchildren and I won't be here to help them when they will all need whatever help they can get.
Yeah, your video this week is bloody depressing if you are at all thoughtful.
On Friday I was at a school speaking to its grade 7 and 8 classes. I showed them a picture of me in 1990 freshly out of Navy Basic training. The Berlin Wall was newly fallen and the best selling novel “End of History”. I wanted to say, “Sorry kids, we tried, we blew it. It’s your mess to clean up now.”
The librano caucus is conflicted. While it has Israeli supporters it also has a wack on the 'other side'. Ms Joly is one.
Her comments may be endorsed by the PMO though just to send a mixed message to the base. 'We support Israel but we also support Palestine'. I would not put it past this government to speak out of both sides of it's mouth at the same time on this matter.
The other matter is, perhaps Ms Joly is simply not up to the job. She has yet to display any foreign affairs deftness or understanding. Her department displays uncertainty on most matters.
15-20 years ago, young grads couldn't even dream about getting a job with the police or even the armed forces. They were fully staffed. Now we don't have enough police officers.
If those folks were hired entry level 20 years ago they would be mid career, mid level right now ready to fill the gap. But instead Gen X and millenials are grossly under employed while there aren't enough Gen Z to fill the gap.
My hypothesis is that the huge boomer generation and it's impacts are the apex problem in Canada. From health to real estate to even staffing. When they move on many facets of Canadian life will settle down and sort itself out.
At the start of the “Boomer” generation in 1946 the population of Canada was 12M. At the end in 1962, the population was 18M. Today it’s 40M. Don’t think the Boomers are the problem.
Read my comment again. I commented on the sheer size of that generation compared to those before and since. A 50% population gain in 16 years is a huge demographic bulge no matter how you look at it.
15-20 years ago, young grads couldn't even dream about getting a job with the police or even the armed forces. They were fully staffed. Now we don't have enough police officers.
If those folks were hired entry level 20 years ago they would be mid career, mid level right now ready to fill the gap. But instead Gen X and millenials are grossly under employed while there aren't enough Gen Z to fill the gap.
My hypothesis is that the huge boomer generation and it's impacts are the apex problem in Canada. From health to real estate to even staffing. When they move on many facets of Canadian life will settle down and sort itself out.
Perhaps journalistic integrity is behind you being seemingly the only podcast* that doesn’t hawk merch, but if that ever wavers, put me on the list for buying a coffee mug, “Your expectations are the problem” on the front, The Line logo on the back.
(I know it’s not primarily a podcast, but still—podcast.)
when the kids come 'round selling chocolates for their school, I'd rather give the $$ directly to the school instead of it being shared with a shady chocolate company who uses children to better their bottomline
Just listened to this pod - can't say I "enjoyed" it, given the main topic, but I got a lot to think about.
One speculation that Ms. Gerson raised which makes a ton of sense to me - that there are big differences between how each generation sees Israel's experience in the Middle East (my gen and older remember Israel as the smaller, surrounded underdog; today's youth see Israel as richer than its immediate neighbors, strong, nuclear and oppressing while maybe ignoring the almost-nuclear Iranians two countries over).
For another day - are there polls in Canada and the US that discuss support of Israel by age group?
15-20 years ago, young grads couldn't even dream about getting a job with the police or even the armed forces. They were fully staffed. Now we don't have enough police officers.
If those folks were hired entry level 20 years ago they would be mid career, mid level right now ready to fill the gap. But instead Gen X and millenials are grossly under employed while there aren't enough Gen Z to fill the gap. Same could be said about health care, education and even in some industries such as utilities and oil&gas.
My hypothesis is that the huge boomer generation and it's impacts are the apex problem in Canada. From health to real estate to even staffing. When they move on many facets of Canadian life will settle down and sort itself out.
"Hamas delenda est" is a little bit rough, considering Carthage was levelled and salted, which is what I'm terrified is going to happen to Gaza and the West Bank. Pithy, but maybe not the exact association you're going for.
“Hamas,” not “Gaza”, for that reason. Completely destroying the organization and putting in place conditions that make a recovery impossible?! Works for me.
"delenda est" well, I don't remember much from my Latin years, but I do think it's time "Hamas must be destroyed" there is no way this murderous group of terrorists & murderers can be allowed to regroup & rearm. No cease fires, no pauses. Just get it done & destroy Hamas.
Had to become a paid subscriber after that terrific podcast. Thanks for your work.
I’m writing this on Remembrance Day.
A day after the anniversary of the 1938 Kristallnacht. Two days after Brian Mulroney received a prestigious award for his lifetime support of Jews. Mulroney used his acceptance speech to toss a truckload of shade on the longest serving Prime Minister in Canadian history. Clearly stating Mackenzie-Kings antisemitic views and his refusal to help Jews in front of an international audience must surely be a thinly veiled rallying cry for our political leaders to shape up and strive to be firm allies to our Jewish friends and neighbours.
If the PMO and Global Affairs are paying attention to all these synergies coming together at this moment in time, you would never know it. Clearly in the deep end of diplomacy with no lifejacket, Minister Joly is floundering around with earnestness but it is pretty clear that she has no influence with our allies in developing a cohesive plan to support Israel and find a path in the days ahead to a peaceful solution. Like a conductor, she waves her hands around amplifying off-sounding notes of foreign policy on the fly. It is a national embarrassment.
The favourite Liberal talking point for days has been a “pause” in the Israeli offensive in Gaza. Let’s call a pause for what it is: a unilaterally imposed ceasefire by third parties to allow humanitarian assistance to civilians.
Let’s also be clear about the reasons for the humanitarian crisis: Hamas imbeds itself amongst civilians and could care less about their misery. Capitulation of enemy forces is always accelerated by cutting off supply lines, but our official policy is to restock a terrorist group. Perhaps pressuring Egypt and other neighbouring countries to accept refugees from Gaza would bring the crisis to a faster conclusion than continuing to supply Hamas with food stocks and fuel to continue their terror amongst Palestinians and Israeli’s.
It’s too early to tell if Justin Trudeau will outdo Mackenzie-King on support for Israel, but early signs suggest improvements are required.
May your Remembrance Day be a day of reflection and peace.
In assessing the Prime Minister’s commitment to Israel, I forgot to mention that Justin Trudeau never misses an opportunity to busy himself in world affairs, and he has accumulated the frequent flyer reward points to prove it.
Having said that, it is curious that CAN Force 1 hasn’t headed toward Israel yet. Is domestic politics keeping Trudeau from getting involved?
It seems like a lot of people can’t fathom how loathsome and evil Hamas is, and how culpable they are for the current plight of the residents of Gaza. When Israeli forces cleared Hamas fighters and opened evacuation corridors between north and south Gaza earlier this week, there was suddenly a flood of civilians fleeing the fighting. They’d been prevented from leaving by Hamas because it suited Hamas to have more civilians killed and maimed by the crossfire with the Israelis. If we were talking about a gang who’d taken a poor family hostage in their own house, had been stealing their food for weeks, was using their house as a base to burglarize and terrorize the neighborhood, and had started taking potshots at passing police cars, there’d be far less criticism when a SWAT team stormed the house even if it wrecked the house and put the family at risk.
I have just finished watching the video on YouTube [great to have the CC option!].
First off, yes, yes, yes, Hamas must be destroyed. Period. End of story.
Now, as for the rest of the content of the video. As always, you are both so, so good and very clear in what you see and hear and the implications of all of that. Further, I have read the material of both The Line editors for quite a few years in various publications and, quite honestly, I feel that I really do think that you are both very well centered and thoughtful individuals.
I have to say that all of your commentary, including your conclusions, pretty much mirror my own thoughts [whoops! watch for confirmation bias!] and, quite truthfully, your video this week truly depresses the Hell out of me because I see pretty much the same things that you do and I worry about the same progression.
On a personal note, in one sense I am not so worried and in another sense I am terrifically worried. I am not so worried because I am next month to be seventy-three and demographics and family history suggest that I have perhaps - perhaps - another ten years and then I won't care about anything. I am very worried because I have two adult children and three young grandchildren and I won't be here to help them when they will all need whatever help they can get.
Yeah, your video this week is bloody depressing if you are at all thoughtful.
On Friday I was at a school speaking to its grade 7 and 8 classes. I showed them a picture of me in 1990 freshly out of Navy Basic training. The Berlin Wall was newly fallen and the best selling novel “End of History”. I wanted to say, “Sorry kids, we tried, we blew it. It’s your mess to clean up now.”
My speculation is that JT and MJ have been bedding.
The librano caucus is conflicted. While it has Israeli supporters it also has a wack on the 'other side'. Ms Joly is one.
Her comments may be endorsed by the PMO though just to send a mixed message to the base. 'We support Israel but we also support Palestine'. I would not put it past this government to speak out of both sides of it's mouth at the same time on this matter.
The other matter is, perhaps Ms Joly is simply not up to the job. She has yet to display any foreign affairs deftness or understanding. Her department displays uncertainty on most matters.
One more note on my comment above.
When the Allies were bombing Germany into rubble in WW11, who among countries called for a pause, a humanitarian pause?
The pause came when the job was finished.
15-20 years ago, young grads couldn't even dream about getting a job with the police or even the armed forces. They were fully staffed. Now we don't have enough police officers.
If those folks were hired entry level 20 years ago they would be mid career, mid level right now ready to fill the gap. But instead Gen X and millenials are grossly under employed while there aren't enough Gen Z to fill the gap.
My hypothesis is that the huge boomer generation and it's impacts are the apex problem in Canada. From health to real estate to even staffing. When they move on many facets of Canadian life will settle down and sort itself out.
At the start of the “Boomer” generation in 1946 the population of Canada was 12M. At the end in 1962, the population was 18M. Today it’s 40M. Don’t think the Boomers are the problem.
Read my comment again. I commented on the sheer size of that generation compared to those before and since. A 50% population gain in 16 years is a huge demographic bulge no matter how you look at it.
15-20 years ago, young grads couldn't even dream about getting a job with the police or even the armed forces. They were fully staffed. Now we don't have enough police officers.
If those folks were hired entry level 20 years ago they would be mid career, mid level right now ready to fill the gap. But instead Gen X and millenials are grossly under employed while there aren't enough Gen Z to fill the gap.
My hypothesis is that the huge boomer generation and it's impacts are the apex problem in Canada. From health to real estate to even staffing. When they move on many facets of Canadian life will settle down and sort itself out.
Why are so many delusional cretins in positions of grave responsibility in this country?
Perhaps journalistic integrity is behind you being seemingly the only podcast* that doesn’t hawk merch, but if that ever wavers, put me on the list for buying a coffee mug, “Your expectations are the problem” on the front, The Line logo on the back.
(I know it’s not primarily a podcast, but still—podcast.)
Not about integrity at all. Pure laziness.
keep it up (the laziness)!
when the kids come 'round selling chocolates for their school, I'd rather give the $$ directly to the school instead of it being shared with a shady chocolate company who uses children to better their bottomline
(plus, face it: we could all do with less stuff)
Just listened to this pod - can't say I "enjoyed" it, given the main topic, but I got a lot to think about.
One speculation that Ms. Gerson raised which makes a ton of sense to me - that there are big differences between how each generation sees Israel's experience in the Middle East (my gen and older remember Israel as the smaller, surrounded underdog; today's youth see Israel as richer than its immediate neighbors, strong, nuclear and oppressing while maybe ignoring the almost-nuclear Iranians two countries over).
For another day - are there polls in Canada and the US that discuss support of Israel by age group?
15-20 years ago, young grads couldn't even dream about getting a job with the police or even the armed forces. They were fully staffed. Now we don't have enough police officers.
If those folks were hired entry level 20 years ago they would be mid career, mid level right now ready to fill the gap. But instead Gen X and millenials are grossly under employed while there aren't enough Gen Z to fill the gap. Same could be said about health care, education and even in some industries such as utilities and oil&gas.
My hypothesis is that the huge boomer generation and it's impacts are the apex problem in Canada. From health to real estate to even staffing. When they move on many facets of Canadian life will settle down and sort itself out.
"Hamas delenda est" is a little bit rough, considering Carthage was levelled and salted, which is what I'm terrified is going to happen to Gaza and the West Bank. Pithy, but maybe not the exact association you're going for.
“Hamas,” not “Gaza”, for that reason. Completely destroying the organization and putting in place conditions that make a recovery impossible?! Works for me.