Commander-in-Chief Reportedly Rejects CF Truce During Olympics

[The Bread Guy]

This from the Globe & Mail:

Shortly after signing on as official patron of the Olympic Truce for the 2010 Winter Games, Governor-General Michaëlle Jean rejected a suggestion yesterday that a truce be imposed on Canadian military action in Afghanistan for the 17 days of the Olympics.

"I think we must build peace in Afghanistan, and that's what our soldiers are trying so hard to achieve," Ms. Jean told reporters, after a lengthy student forum on the Olympic truce, attended by the Governor-General and John Furlong, CEO of the Vancouver 2010 Organizing Committee.

Canadian troops are "working so hard" to help build a civil society in the worn-torn, mountainous country, Ms. Jean added before being whisked away by her team of handlers.

(....)

Canada, which has had 131 of its troops die during eight years of conflict in Afghanistan, will submit an Olympic Truce resolution to the United Nations General Assembly on Oct. 20. Wording of the resolution is being kept under wraps until its presentation to the UN....

 

[helpup]

If I said it once I will say it again.  Alot of people were very leary of the GG when she was first proposed.  Full disclosure I was raised eyebrow leary.  But this lady has earned my respect and does a credit to her postition.

 

[OldSolduer]

I find this somewhat interesting.

These people propose we cease ops in Afghanistan during the Olympics. Presumably, perhaps these people would be willing to "negotiate" with the Taliban to cease murdering the people of Afghanistan during the Olympics.

Or does it only apply to the CF? ???

 

[GAP]

I was liking the GG until I heard this....is she reverting to her former CBC personna? :

Oooops, just reread it....I still like her!!  ;D

 

[Roy Harding]

I was also one of the nay sayers when Her Excellency was appointed.

I felt the same way when her predecessor's appointment was announced.

I was completely wrong twice in a row, and I'm ecstatic to eat crow in both cases.

Maybe Her Majesty should check with me prior to making appointments to this office, and then appoint the one I am most vehemently opposed to.

 

[kratz]

That's alright, GAP's comment made me look up the GG's biography. I knew she was new to the country, but I was not aware she had also been with the CBC.

I agree with her sentiment of not ceasing operations during the Olympics.

 

[gcclarke]

I like the trend of ex-CBC people. I suggest Jian Ghomeshi next.

 

[The Bread Guy]

...from the only reporter to cover this angle of the GG's event, shared in accordance with the "fair dealing" provisions, Section 29, of the Copyright Act.:

There will be no stilling of Canadian guns in Afghanistan, even as Canada urges all nations in the world to observe an Olympic truce while the 2010 Winter Olympic Games go on.

Canada's awkward plea for Olympic peace was the cornerstone of its resolution introduced yesterday at the United Nations General Assembly. The motion was passed unanimously by delegates, many representing countries with long histories of military conflict.

Afterwards, VANOC head John Furlong said he saw no contradiction in Canada's position, despite continuing hostilities in Afghanistan.

"I have always felt that Canada is fighting for peace, and doing what it can for peace, wherever it can, and this is an extension of that spirit," Mr. Furlong said in an interview from New York.

"This is about something bigger in many ways than one thing," he said, noting, for instance, the "heartbreaking" fact that Afghanistan has never had a women's athletic facility. "Hopefully, we can change the course of events for that country."

Since the early 1990s, an Olympic truce resolution has been passed every two years by the UN on behalf of each Summer and Winter Games.

Canada's motion called on all UN member states "to observe the Olympic truce, individually and collectively, during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and the Paralympic Winter Games."

But few, if any, countries pay attention to the idea of an actual military ceasefire for the Olympics, forcing proponents to stress, instead, the concept of building a better, more peaceful world through sport.

"We appeal to UN member states ... to use sport as a tool to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation in areas of conflict during and beyond the Olympic Games period," said Mr. Furlong, who spoke passionately - albeit nervously - in favour of the resolution from the General Assembly's famous podium.

In the interview, he said he is under no illusions about the power of the Olympic truce to stop wars.

"We know what the truce can do and not do, but this is really about letting sport be what it can be and influence behaviour in different parts of the world. Doing some good is better than not trying at all," Mr. Furlong said.

During a mostly mind-numbing series of speeches backing the motion, however, two countries referred to incidents that illustrated the world of sport is far from perfect, no matter how many Olympic truces are approved.

The representative from Cuba complained that too many sports are based solely on money. In a clear reference to Cuban ballplayers being lured to the United States for huge major league contracts, he condemned the fact that "talented athletes are being stolen from developing countries."

Israel's representative, meanwhile, accused too many countries of paying mere lip service to the ideals of sport.

He singled out Dubai's refusal earlier this year to grant a visa to Israeli tennis player Shahar Peer, and recalled the "hatred" that led to the deadly terrorist attack on Israeli athletes and coaches at the Munich Olympics in 1972.

"Reverberations from Munich are still being felt today. They reflect a dangerous trend to the politicization of sport."

Still, this is a big week for Vancouver's Olympic Games on the world stage.
First, they take Manhattan, then they take the flame.

Later today, Mr. Furlong, along with B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, will board a plane for Greece, where the Olympic torch will be lit Thursday at a simple but elegant ceremony in Olympia, ancestral home of the Games.

"This is an enormously positive and reflective time for us," he said, following the passage of the UN resolution

"I'm glad we're there [on the international stage]. After looking down the road for so long, thinking events are so far away, that they'll never take place ...

"Now, they're here. Our moment is now. When the flame comes home from Greece, the Games are on."

For his big UN moment, however, Mr. Furlong confessed to a slight case of the nerves.

Approaching the same podium that has featured so many of the world's great leaders and statesmen, the Olympic chief was surprised to find himself with a little tremble.

"I went over there today, thinking this would be fairly straightforward exercise, but I was shaking. It's quite a compelling room. There's a lot of drama. It was very special."

 

[MikeL]

Do these people just assume you can call up the local Taliban leader an have a time out for a couple weeks ?

Here you go Taliban, you are free to do whatever you want for the next 2 weeks, we won't do anything.. enjoy the time to re-org an plant IEDs.. 

 

[Redeye]

Jian Ghomeshi would be an alright choice.

I think The Voice from The Current would be better though.  I'd love Throne Speeches.  Problem is the effect is sort of lost if you see him.  Though not really, he's a rather intimidating individual.

What about Rex Murphy?

I like the trend of ex-CBC people. I suggest Jian Ghomeshi next.

 

[Dennis Ruhl]

Constitution Act 1867

15.  The Command-in-Chief of the Land and Naval Militia, and of all Naval and Military Forces, of and in Canada, is hereby declared to continue and be vested in the Queen.

I am confused.  Is Jean the Queen?  I guess I missed that one.

 

[RangerRay]

Constitution Act 1867

15.  The Command-in-Chief of the Land and Naval Militia, and of all Naval and Military Forces, of and in Canada, is hereby declared to continue and be vested in the Queen.

I am confused.  Is Jean the Queen?  I guess I missed that one.

Rideau Hall thinks she is...

 

[Colin Parkinson]

I for one had my doubts about her, I will happily admit that my doubts were unfounded, considering her background, I say she is doing an excellent job and has grown into the role nicely.

 

[zipperhead_cop]

Who is the idiot that suggested Canada declare a cease fire in the Sandbox anyway?  The suggestion is so stupid, it should not have to even have been dignified with an answer.  Certainly not from the Gov. Gen! 

 

[Rheostatic]

Who is the idiot that suggested Canada declare a cease fire in the Sandbox anyway?

Nobody. The idea of the Olympic truce is part of an ancient tradition, revived by the IOC in 1992 and adopted by the UN as a resolution to promote peace. It is not specific to Afghanistan or the CF. It should come as no surprise that, in light of such a resolution, the news media of any country at war would seek a reaction from their leaders.

 

[PPCLI Guy]

I like the trend of ex-CBC people. I suggest Jian Ghomeshi next.

Christie Blatchford.

That would put the cat amongst the proverbial pigeons.....

Dave

 

[GAP]

I can just see her pointing out the similarities between the opposition and a bag of hammers.....  ;D

 

[PPCLI Guy]

And when she is done, she can be Colonel-in-Chief of my favourite English-speaking regular force Infantry Regiment.

 

[GAP]

And when she is done, she can be Colonel-in-Chief of my favourite English-speaking regular force Infantry Regiment.

Is that The RCR?  ;D

 

[helpup]

And when she is done, she can be Colonel-in-Chief of my favourite English-speaking regular force Infantry Regiment.

geesh now that you guys have an ex one as a honorary Col you want to keep the tradition going.  Is there something about Cougars you prefer?