Russian Bomber Intercepted on eve of Obama Visit

The Toronto Star
February 27, 2009

Hours before US President Barack Obama visited Ottawa last week, Canadian fighter jets hastily scrambled to intercept a Russian bomber jet, which was discovered just outside of Canadian airspace. Canadian Defence Minister Peter Mackay believes that it is difficult to determine if Russia was up to no good or whether the incident was pure coincidence. He added that the entire world would have known that Canadian security efforts were completely centred around the nation's capital for the visit of Obama on February 19. This was obvious to everyone. All in all, Mackay believes this is a "strong coincidence" and is holding a news conference this morning, February 27, with the chief of the Canadian defence staff and the commander of Norad. He will be briefing them on the issue at hand, and likely ordering them to tighten up security. The CF-18 Canadian fighter jets took off from Cold Lake, Alta., immediately after Norad detected the Russian bomber coming into Canadian airspace. The Russian bomber abruptly turned back before entering Canada's airspace by fighter jets. These fighter jets used internationally recognized signals, which were understood by the Russians. Mackay further reported that Russian planes have been trespassing on Canadian land more and more frequently in the past several years. However, Mackay also stated that he spoke with authorities in Moscow and told them to give Canada advance warning in future when such "trips" are scheduled. In the past, specifically during the Cold War, Russian aircraft regularly probed North American airspace, and have frequently been escorted back into international airspace by Canadian and American fighters. These flights were suspended for years, mainly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but have recently been resumed by Russia as the country reasserted its claim on the Arctic and boosted its military spending. Overall, this intercepted flight into Canadian airspace was believed to be a coincidence that should only reoccur if notificiation is received from the Russian authorities.

In my opinion, this incident is both unacceptable and a danger sign from a rapidly changing and increasingly militarized Russian state. Russia has certainly had its share of diplomatic incidents in the past year including the military stand-off in Georgia. Russia should certainly have had the foresight not to send such bomber "flights" into Canadian airspace at the same time as President Obama's first official state visit to Canada. Many see the newly elected President as a prime international target and fear assassination attempts. While Canadian security was increased for this event, the Russian bomber jets in Canadian airspace was a blatantly bold and undiplomatic move. While we view this instance as simply a coincidence and something that has happened purely by chance, it must be taken as a warning sign for what may be an increasingly difficult and controversial issue: international claim to the arctic. While we cannot be too territorial or protectionist in this area without international criticism, we must protect our own national security and integrity in the Arctic.

Taliban Stalked at Night

The Toronto Star
February 23, 2009

Two CH-146 Griffon Canadian helicopters took off into the dusk above the Kandahar Airfield one night last week. They made straight for the mountains, chasing a new objective in their pursuit of victory in the Afghan war. This mission of the new "air wing" of the Canadian military is possibly one of the most important duties that it will see, and will save many lives. The running lights on the aircrafts were switched off "once they cleared the wire", allowing the grey and black helicopters to camoflage with the night sky in their bleak surroundings. Their mission here was to stalk the taliban, searching and hunting for them in the night sky. The crew of both helicopters were equiped with night-vision goggles and darkness-piercing sensors, allowing them to survey the ground beneath them. The crew of each aircraft included two gunners, leaning their weapons through the open doorways and searching for any sign of motion in the mountains above Kandahar city. Outside of Kandahar city, the helicopters must pass volcanic peaks, the desert, and many other unique landforms before being enveloped in complete rural darkness. Originally, in December 2008, these helicopters were relegated as escorts for the new CH-47D Chinook transport helicopters. Now, however, they have been given a more dangerous and stealthy role - to hunt terrorists who deploy homemade bombs on the streets outside Kandahar. These roadside bombs have caused a deadly toll on Canadian soldiers, and have caused half of the 108 Canadian deaths on Afghan soil to date. It has long been recognized that the Griffon could be useful in reducing these casualties, but only recently has the air force taken action. The Griffons continually look for the road, which is two kilometers below them. They are on the lookout for bombers who are digging into the road or tunneling under highways, and hope to catch them in the act of planting these bombs. The electronics within the Griffon helicopters are very powerful, and greatly assist their search for the bombs. These Griffons were, in fact, made for the purpose of surveillance and combat and are therefore extremely useful to missions of this nature. There was a great debate as to whether they should be deployed, but were finally sent on this mission as there were not enough of the older model helicopters to go around. In this particular mission, the Griffons proved to be very helpful indeed, as they discovered two roadside bombs and defused them before any harm could be done. "If every time we go out, we can catch a few of those ahead of time, it makes you feel good," said Ben Massicotte, commander of the second Griffon. "Definitely."

In my opinion, the new CH-146 Griffon Canadian helicopters are extremely helpful and vital to the success of the Canadian mission. I believe that these technoilogically advanced machines have only begun their work with the Canadian military forces, and will continue to aid our country's military efforts in future years. They will continue to help us not only in battle, but also on stealth missions such as these to increase the safety of our peace keeping forces. While the fixed gun emplacements and open windows fit for gunners suit its use in battle, its camouflage colour, low noise, and high-tech electronic equipment is particularly useful in stealth missions. This electronic equipment is particularly helpful in situations where the military is required to defuse bombs since the helicopter's high-tech, new equipment can easily detect hidden bombs for the army's bomb-technicians to defuse. There was originally a debate as to whether these CH-146 Griffon helicopters would be deployed, as National Defence were strongly against deploying these modified utility helicopters that had not been proven in the field. However, when NATO allies reported that there were not enough AH-64 Apache helicopters in Kandahar to be distributed, the combat and surveillance helicopters were deployed to the Canadian forces without further question. Overall, I believe that these CH-146 helicopters are a vital addition to this and many future missions in increasing the safety of our Canadian troops and the peace effort as a whole.

Fetal Stem Cell Injections cause Tumours in Ill boy

The Toronto Star
February 19, 2009

A family desperate to save their child from an incurable brain disease sought help. They decided to use highly "experimental injections of fetal stem cells" to try and cure their sick child. These injections have reportedly caused tumors in the boy's brain and spinal chord, according to the top Israeli scientists. Stem cells are the building blocks for the other cells in the body, and can be used to regrow damaged tissues and treat otherwise incurable diseases. Scientists are furiously attempting to harness these cells and use them for good. However, for all of this promise, scientists have warned that they first must learn how to control these stem cells, in order to use them properly. This 13-year-old boy is now suffering because of the unknown problems associated with stem cell therapy. These stem cells were used without enough knowledge for the purpose of curing his brain disease.Tuesday's report of this fatal case emphasizes the need for further research into the world of stem cell therapy.

This young boy's case is truly sad. Because of his search for treatment, he is now faced with brain and spinal tumors that will plague him until the day that he dies. There are two main issues with respect to stem cell research and treatment. The first of these is that no medical therapy such as this can safely be used until extensive research has been undertaken to prove their safety in humans. Most medical therapies go through phase 1, phase 2, and phase 3 testing prior to being used on the general population. The trouble with stem cell research is that there are not enough centres conducting it, and being a new technology, it is very costly and time consuming to perform research in this field. This leads us to the second point. There is great controversy regarding the use of stem cells in medical therapy in general. This is thought to be the reason why inadequate stem cell research centers exist today. The controversy lies in the fear that stem cells will be used improperly to create genetic cloning of humans towards the aim of creating, for example, a higher and more supreme race. I feel that this danger may be a real one, but that we should not limit the development of stem cell technologies in medical research for the good of human kind. We can be vigilant and at the same time develop this technology for the greater good. The case of the young boy that we have just read about emphasizes this debate, but also the need for further research into the world of stem cells, until which time these stem cells should not be used.

Nuclear Sub Collision

The Toronto Star
February 17, 2009

Two Nuclear submarines collided earlier this month deep in the Atlantic Ocean. These submarines were from Britain and France, respectively. Yesterday, authorities reported that one expert called this unusual accident the gravest in nearly a decade. Officials said, however, that this crash was not as dangerous as it appeared to be as it was very low-speed. The nuclear vessels' reactors and missiles were not damaged in any way, and no radiation was leaked. Despite this, anti-nuclear groups believe that this incident is a frightening reminder of the obvious risks of submarines powered by radioactive material and "bristling with nuclear weapons" roaming the oceans freely. This incident was first reported by France on February 6, but was reportedly said to have simply been a collision between a French vessel and a shipping container. Confirmation that this was in fact a collision between two nuclear vessels was delivered later by the British media. This collision was said to have occured as the two subs, Le Triomphant (the French vessel) and the HMS Vanguard (Britain's oldest nuclear vessel), were on routine patrol. The French media disclosed little else about the incident, not mentioning when, where, or how the accident occured. France said that the Triomphant suffered damage to its navigation and detection equipment in the sonar dome, before travelling back to its base, damaged. Britain said that the HMS Vanguard moved back to its Submarine base in Scotland with small dents and scrapes. It was said that it was "an absolute one in a million chance" that the two submarines collided, and that it was truly a freak accident.

I believe that this incident is truly what it was reported to be - a freak accident. The odds of the two submarines being in the same place at the same time are very slim. There is truly no way to predict the collision of the two submarines, and there was nothing that the two countries could have done to prevent it. In future, however, the world's countries must be more aware of the chances of submarine accidents in the depths of the oceans. Greater must be given to those ocean-going vessels carrying such high-risk nuclear material. Countries must develop more accurate technologies and give their best efforts in detecting oncoming submarines and objects, in order to create more success in under-water safety, particularly where nuclear material is concerned.

Tsvangirai Sworn in as Coalition PM

CBC News
February 11, 2009

Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the official opposition party in Zimbabwe, was sworn in Wednesday as the country's new prime minister. This comes after months of confusion over a coalition government with Mugabe. Mugabe, who Tsvangirai has accused of committing many political crimes, attended the ceremony in the presidential palace in Harare, the Zimbabwean capital. All of the regional leaders along with the rest of the country watched as the 56-year-old Tsvangirai swore to "well and truly serve Zimbabwe in the office of prime minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe". Those remaining cabinet members will be sworn in on Thursday. The security portfolios will still be controlled by Mugabe's ZANU-PF party, while the Movement for Democratic Change party under Tsvangirai will take control of two very important portfolios: health and finance. These portfolios are so important in this time as there has been a countrywide cholera breakout that has killed thousands and water and sanitation infrastructures are breaking down. Zimbabwe is in a very harsh and poor economic time, with a booming unemployment rate and a near worthless Zimbabwean dollar. Countries nearby have been pressuring the two parties to come together and work to form a power-sharing government that will greatly benefit the country as well as the region as a whole. This new unity government is expected to hold new elections in the upcoming two years. Tsvangirai has a truly difficult task ahead of him. Many of his allies have commented that he should never have agreed to serve as prime minister with Mugabe continuing as president of the country.

I believe that Tsvangirai is faced with a truly difficult task. He is faced with a country that is impoverished and in dire economic straits. He has been forced to form a partnership with a truly dishonest leader, Mugabe, whose powerful supporters threaten Tsvangirai's personal safety . Tsvangirai must step up to the plate and lead the nation in the best way he can without ruffling too many feathers of the Mugabe regime. This will be a difficult task indeed given Mugabe's track record of deceit and deception. Many worry for his personal safety and for the safety of his supporters. Tsvangirai's resolve and political integrity will be crucial in bringing Zimbabwe through this era of uncertainty. If he can do this, I believe that he can truly bring this country out of its economic and political crisis.

Israeli Election Crisis

Candidate Tzipi Livni

The Toronto Star
February 9, 2009

The election in Israel is too close to call at this point. It will be very interesting to see who will come out on top after Tuesday's national election. The eventual winner of the election will have little to celebrate over, however, as there will be a coalition government and "a period of political paralysis". International efforts to create a Palestinian state have complicated this further. The Israeli political race is between two popular candidates. First, the former prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who is strictly opposed to giving away land and creating a Palestinian state. The second candidate is the current Foreign minister Tzipi Livni, who would be the first female leader in nearly 40 years. For months now, opinion polls have predicted a crushing victory by Netanyahu's Likud party. However, new polls show that the gap is being closed by Livni's Kadima party. Either way, the winner would have to form a coalition government with smaller parties because of the split in popular vote. Netanyahu does, however, seem to be in a better position to lead the country because of his prior political experience, right wing stand and new popular platforms. One of his newest platforms, influenced by a former protege, Avidgor Lieberman, calls for all Israeli Arabs to swear loyalty to the state or lose citizenship. Although Livni may still win this election, she would have to form a coalition with a smaller party, meaning that she could no long pursue her promised peace agreement with the Palestinians. This strength of the Israeli political right truly reflects the turmoil within the country. Recently, Israel has completed a three-week offensive against the Hamas in Gaza, and two years ago, they fought against the Hezbollah guerillas in Lebanon. These conflicts have led to a sense that the Jewish state is surrounded by enemies and have left the world community skeptical about whether peace will ever be achieved in the Middle East.

In my opinion, I believe that the right choice of voters in Israel is Tzipi Livni. She is far more left wing than Netanyahu, but I believe that she would do the best job in creating peace in the country by acting in a conciliatory way with respect to the Palestinians. She truly is the better candidate in this situation. While Netanyahu does not believe in withdrawing the Israeli settlements in Gaza and the Left Bank, Livni proposes a more peaceful solution. She intends to create an agreement with the Palestinians regarding land divisions, under peaceful terms. While this agreement may not be created due to the coalition government likely to be formed, I believe that she could evoke the greatest change in the middle east and bring about true peace.

Church Leaders Speak Out Against Mugabe

The Toronto Star
February 5, 2009

Members of the Anglican clergy will be meeting in Egypt this week, and will call on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to step down from power. Around the world, they expect a "choir of voices" to pressure the discredited leader to step down. At a press conference in Alexandria, Egypt, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba said that he, along with the rest of South Africa, appreciated international support greatly, when "number of voices sang with one tune and added pressure to the apartheid regime". Desmond Tutu, a former South African archbishop, was a central figure in the fight to conquer the apartheid in South Africa. Makgoba believes that it was because of international pressure that South Africa's system of racial discrimination was brought to an end in the 1980s, and that this same solution could work in Zimbabwe. Furthermore, Makgoba believes that all who believe in the sanctity of life, and who want human rights to be respected, should join the fight for equality. In this meeting of the Anglican leaders, there was a motion passed stating that there would be stiffer trade and travel sanctions in Zimbabwe. They determined not to militarily intervene as it would cause the death of many innocent citizens. This statement recognizes that there is a total disregard for the life of civilians in Zimbabwe as demonstrated by Mugabe's regime, and that the Zimbabwean economy has collapsed. Most importantly, it calls upon President Mugabe to step down to respect the 2008 elections. Makgoba called for this quick action, saying that it is their Christian duty to intervene before this situation truly escalades. The Anglican Primates have been "behind closed doors" since Sunday, but the meeting will end today. This statement represents the first time the Anglican Communion leaders have condemned Mugabe as one.

I truly believe that the situation in Zimbabwe is unacceptable and intolerable. I wholeheartedly agree with the actions of the Anglican Leaders who demand thet Mugabe resign as President of Zimbabwe. I also believe that the international community must intervene and do their part in supporting this statement issued by the Anglican church demanding Mugabe's resignation. It is morally the right thing to do. The metaphor of the world "singing out in support" and "joining the international choir of voices" is a moving analogy which each of us must support. Countries around the world must, therefore, listen to the Primate and pressure Mugabe to resign as President of Zimbabwe. We must as a world community, impose trade sanctions aimed at pressuring Mugabe and his government to comply with these demands. Only then can Zimbabwe's economy grow and the quality of life improve for the citizens of Zimbabwe who continue to suffer under the tyranny of the Mugabe regime.