now lets not get into how much of my money via taxes you have spent on this war that you "VIEW" as necessary ..my god the idiocy!

Abolish religion and educate the masses, and the world will just get along fine

I wasn't aware that Canada had military committments in Iraq? Sheesh, and you accuse others of idiocy while spouting off a transparent political agenda in a thread dedicated to supporting members receiving military medals. Well done, Amber.

Thank you Phillip

Jameson , we may not have troops in iraq , but you are naive to think we are not involved there...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_and_the_Iraq_War

Canada, despite not joining the invading coalition, still participated in the conflict in Iraq, joining a number of non-belligerent nations in helping to rebuild the country post-invasion, including the training of Iraqi police and army officers, and contributing approximately $300 million towards this effort. Also, a group of Canadians, including ... See Moreformer Ontario Premier Bob Rae, were sent in the summer of 2005 to help compose the new Iraqi constitution, and Jean-Pierre Kingsley served as head of the international team observing the Iraqi legislative election of January 2005. Due to security concerns, both of these groups were based in Jordan.

300 million tax payer dollars went there Jameson.

Amber, you may not be familiar with proper academic citations but generally-speaking if you're using Wikipedia as a point of reference with legitimate intent I'm not going to waste my team by clicking on a link I've already viewed. Particularly when I myself have been involved with numerous edit wars related to Iraq and Afghanistan issues in the past. So no thank you, although your patronizing commentary about naietivity will spouting off first year sociology colloquialisms is amusing.

And a little more for jameson , things he should know if he plans on joining

Though no declaration of war was issued, the Governor General-in-Council did order the mobilization of a number of Canadian Forces personnel to serve actively in Iraq.[1] On 31 March 2003, it was reported in Maclean's that in the previous month Canadian officers, aboard ... See Morethree frigates and a destroyer, had been placed in command of the multinational naval group Task Force 151, which patrolled the Persian Gulf region. A further 30 Canadians worked at the US Central Command in Qatar, and 150 troops were on exchange with US and British forces in proximity to combat.[2] North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) stationed Canadian Air Force pilots also flew combat missions with the US Air Force E-3 Sentry, and exchange officers fought with US units. In all, 40 to 50 Canadian military members participated in the conflict.

"Canada, despite not joining the invading coalition, still participated in the conflict in Iraq, joining a number of non-belligerent nations in helping to rebuild the country post-invasion."

How terrible of us helping a third world nation ravaged by war. THE NERVE of Paul Martin!

hey jameson , since you sheep like to say wiki's not right , heres another , and I will get you some more

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8110

I think it's great that you're getting something done despite the difficulties of our system.

but jameson , I thought we were there?

iraq third world ...hahahahaha

I'm sorry but 40-50 military advisors or personnel on exchange with allied forces in a conflict is hardly condusive to claiming that the country itself was involved in the invasion. In military terms that typically requires active combat personnel on the ground actively participating in non-peaceful missions. Otherwise there would have been a major... See More problem with United States military involvement in Vietnam prior to 1965 (before which they merely tutored South Vietnamese military units). Active participation is required to make the claims you are making.

And since this would be quite possibly the easiest political points possible to score by one of the opposition parties (the Tories at the time, in addition to the strongly pacificist NDP and Bloc parties) and it never once came up as a serious discussion in the House, you can rest assured that you are the only one that considers Canada to have any major military involvement in Iraq. But enjoy the tinfoil hat!

Why do you people feel the need to feel sorry for Canadian soldiers? Most of us contrary to most belifes CHOOSE to go. We are all aware of what we are getting into when we join, especially the guys on the front lines. Secondly, a good chunk of us volunteered to go when our units told uis that we needed to go. IT IS OUR PROFFESSION its a career, so stop with your own little woah is me pitty party for us troops and let us get the job done. We like it here!

Great job Steven Harper.. Your a good man

Why did we let some nit-wit hijack this? I for one honour those that serve, have served and will come after with a quiet thank you as I see myself to work in the morning in a free country. Because I know someone somewhere stands guard for me.
I am glad the PM and the country are honouring the sacrifice of those in uniform.
Ubique!

my probelem is they used 300 million tax payers dollars .I have a problem with that , when , as someone pointed out earlier , and I think it was you , we need so much here .......

Thank you Phillip. Unfortunately many uninformed individuals are not aware that most Western states have all-volunteer forces.

And for the record, the last accurate data on Iraq prior to the invasion (the 2000 UN Human Development Index) gives Iraq an HDI ranking (measuring quality of life) at 126th in the world, behind such national powerhouses as Gabon, Myanmar (Burma), Botswana, and Swaziland. Sounds like a third world/developing nation by any rational measurement.

Right on Phil well put...and Amber while you have some good points. I think your energy is being seriously misallocated seeing as how youre not really doing much other than completely spamming this thread. If you're so serious about creating change and being such a humanitarian get off your ass and do something.

oh I do Bj , all the time , and I was not spamming , a few people wanted to discuss , I was merely discussing , not spam ...spamming would be me going

WAR IS BAD , BAD BAD , BAD

over and over .... I am just debating some facts ...if just one person is reached , that is an accomplishment in its self.... See More

oh And I am happy for Philip , that he likes it there , I hope he makes it home in one piece , for his families sake.

and I am glad he has choice and that if he wanted to be sent home today and quit the army he could ....without punishment , right? great!

So long as he completes his contractual term of service, yes he can quit. Otherwise it's like any other contract you sign.

except that it goes before a military court and judge right? and he could go to prison , not just pay a fine?

Well yeah, lol. The military is volunteer but it's like most contracts in that you are obligated to fulfill your terms of agreement or face sanctions (unless there are legitimate extenuating physical or mental circumstances).

Because in all realaity we swear allegence to to queen so in all technicallities we are the crowns troops, so we get stuff from the GG and all those roylaty type people. Just ontohter reason to abolish the monarchy.

Amber if you really want to change people views about the rightness or wrongness of the mission.... do you really think a thread about Steven Harper giving sacrifice medals to soldiers is the proper forum? There are better places to get your message out.

do the soldiers in the states swear allegiance to the queen as well ? is that why they have to go before a military judge? and is that why the penalties are so stiff? Just curious , because although there are prices to be paid in the non military world for breaking a contract , its hardly the same as or as hash as in the military world .... why can't a soldier just wake up one day and say , I quit? without threat of jail ?

if you go right to the top ... it started with one remark ...people engaged , so I engaged back , what does it matter , people communicating is a good thing , no matter where. I am sorry I cant listen to people tell me we were attacked when we were not , or that we are defending ourselves , when we are not .

So proud to have such a great country and great Prime Minister!!

Because there would be no point in having professional armies with health and employment benefits, funding for post-secondary education and apprenticeship programs, etc. if soldiers could pick and choose when they felt like participating. A well-organized military apparatus is one based on discipline. What you are referring to sounds more like a ... See Moreparamilitary organization or local militia than a first-world, modern army. This isn't the 15th century. People sign up and they're bound by their obligations. As it should be for anything.

Amber and Rafael, you can have all the power within you or eduation you want, but when you get a disease such as terminal cancer, no power within you or education will help you--only God.

Well that and radiation/bone marrow.

I love Stephen Harper! He's the best! after Syd that is

We have a great Prime Minister
God Bless Prime Minister Steven Harper.
God Bless Canada.

It can all be summed up as this...support the troops does not mean one has to support the war. The troops are people who are willing to fight for the freedom of people. Whether or not you agree with the war is a strong personal opinion that will not be changed; but do not judge those who are willing to die for freedom.

Being a Canadian citizen who belongs to the conservative party just makes me feel positive in anyway i think about it :) Keep the good work Mr. Prime Minister.

Well said! Thank you to all troops, to all those training, to all those who sacrificed their today or our tomorrow, and to all those who are willing to fight for our freedom :)

We should just be giving more VCs and ignoring the treasonous lamentations of the Bloc, NDP, and LPC

This is why we vote for you , respecting our soldiers

your the man stephen

Congrats on the wins in QC and NS!

I'm glad that a medal has finally been produced to indicate those that have been wounded or died. I realize that there were some issues wrt how far back they were going to go with this one and whether or not this would be an all inclusive award (both in theatre or in training). Bottom line its a start. To those who have served and to those who are currently serving...thanks.
Sgt(ret'd) Loesch R.S. CD
Perseverance!

We need real accountability that supports our brave men and women who risk their lives to protect people from having their faces stepped on and the resulting suffering and dying of children, women and men in conflicts. When we look at the end results of military equipment and services and conflict zone reconstruction contracts, the least affected by the nastiness of these conflicts receive the largest amounts of the compensation. CEO's, VPs, Board of Directors, Upper level Managers and the no-work shareholders of these military equipment and services and conflict zone reconstruction contractors receive inordinate amounts of compensation, with no dirty, dangerous and psychologically straining effort. This amounts to a failure of accountability and shows no support for our troops or the children, women and men suffering and dying to provide the overcompensation for a few.
Thinking that Mr Stephen Harper had instituted a streamlined process to ensure accountability measures be swiftly implemented as we Canadians provide the solutions. I provided a solution to the former secretary minister of defense. Because of the existing problem of overcompensation of all these military equipment and services and conflict reconstruction zone contractor's executives, managers and shareholders continues to plague our societies, we would have our leaders talk to the leaders of our allies and start to take back these organizations. When you look at how their financing, you will find that the principles and those in the upper positions assume actually no risk with the risk borne by the tax payers, the brave women and men, their children and families as well as the children, women and men caught in the conflict zones. He mentioned that those are private firms and we could not do that. I then mentioned, "What about accountability?" and said here is my card and "if you're brave and courageous like our brave men and women give me a followup." The brave women and men, I spoke with preferred these solutions, now if only our designated leaders would listen, then we would have a safer world. This happened also when Stephen Fletcher visited the University of Manitoba, when I provided a solution to the accountability with the Senate, Patronage Appointments. No implementation of a Canadian Citizen accountability fulfilling solution. For the Senate we would cull from the Canadian Population, like jury duty, Senators, randomly using our lottery randomization technologies, ensuring a sober second thought with the training of decision making protocols eliminating the damage caused by partisan decision making.
No followup ever came or implementation of accountability in either instance.
So in this situation, we need to insure that we will not overcompensate anyone for comfortable work with our shared resources (tax dollars given to ensure a better Canadian Community). We need to look at the organizations we give money to and if we have to, we should either take them in house and just manage things effectively with rotational self-managed teams, using all the decision making protocols we have already learned from all the global organizations previously created. Co-operatively managed organizations with rotational self-managed teams, directed through the maturity of deferral of leadership without expectation of excess compensation over other members of the organization have proven to function and fulfill tasks effectively throughout the world as well as at home in Canada. Overcompensation continues to damage our organizations and societies and we need to fix this problem immediately. Reductions in through Salary Caps, recognizing the majority of tasks fulfilled that keep the economy moving come from the energies of Canadians earning less the $60,000 per year. The excessively compensated have a tendency, in this economic climate, to horde or find offshore investment opportunities. Hardly Patriotic.
If we have issues with people making too much at the lower end of the pay scale, then we have to delegate better and work on increases levels of knowledge of people so that no one lives in destitution. All our religions say"Do unto others as you will have done unto yourself", we have to do it. With the Global financial Crisis, brought on by the overcompensation model and the continued nastiness in our world brought on by the resulting deprivation of resources for the large majority of the children, women and men, we need to revamp our societies, Now.... See More
By failing to come together as People of this Planet we fail to consider the quality of life for our children, and their children. The Indian People (When the Pirate Columbus came over, India had been known as Hindustan, not India) always ensured their societies followed the principle of ensuring the quality of life for the Seventh Generation, and we would do well to follow that. To do that we have to move beyond trying to shore up the Middle Class, we should move to eliminating Class distinctions altogether, since we do live in this new millennium, according to this calender.
We need more discussions on how to fix our world and we need to move beyond the gangs for adults (political parties) and set a real example for the current "Me to WE" (phrase coined by Craig Keilburger) generation. Apparently they seem faster on setting the positive example of flipping the current status quo of lemmings.
On the Tim Hortons issue, Tax cuts amounts to low balling because one has no capability of selling on quality, stereotypical comedic foil of the used car salesmen, in the plaid jacket from the seventies. Who benefits by the tax cuts the overcompensated executives of the Tim Hortons organization. We have to stop the hostage taking of low quality jobs, that stifle the brilliance of our people and we have to get creative on creating co-operative organizations that allow for innovation and creativity that fulfills the goods and services we need without destroying everything that sustains us. When we overcompensate, the organizations tend to have their safety and environmental considerations cut adding to the poisoning of ourselves resulting in dramatically rising of our energies diverted to trying to fix healthcare problems.
People of Canada, we have to change from the "Me to We" to show our children that we care for their future. Let's do it now and work co-operatively immediately and set an example for the whole world.
Cheers and thanks,
Chris Curpen

Just one question - If you aren't a conservative and don't support Harper, why oh why are you on his page? You will never convert a conservative to being a hippie, because we have our morals grounded in logic and reality.

Good Job Thanks