I am attaching a request for input to Prime Minister Jean Chretien from the Head of Policy for the Liberal Party of Canada (Our ruling party) below my signature. I am on the Party e-mail list. While this may be of primary interest to Canadians, I thought many of you would be interested (and perhaps hopeful) that the feedback of the general public is being sought from our leaders. I offer this to those Canadians who are not on this e-mail list to have the opportunity to have your views heard. If you wish you can hit delete now. There are also links. If you think others are interested, forward it on. La version française de cette lettre est disponable aussi. Michelle
Michelle Cooper, RN, MScN The Cooper Group Consultants 200 Crestview Avenue Ancaster, Ontario Canada L9G1E2 Telephone - (905) 648- 4633 Fax - (905) 648-1763 E-mail coop...@interlynx.net The paradox of control is simple. The more we try to control life, the less control we have. Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., Minding The Body, Mending The Mind From: Akaash Maharaj, LPC National Policy Chair <http://www.Maharaj.org/> <aka...@maharaj.org> To: National Policy Development Participants Subject: Canadian and NATO Briefing __________ Dear Colleagues, I hope this letter finds you well, and in reasonable spirits. The tragic events of this week have led me to write to invite your views, as the Liberal Party of Canada's National Policy Committee prepares our brief to the Prime Minister and to our counterparts in the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council (PJC), on responding to the terrorist assaults in the United States. The actions in New York and Washington have not only shocked the conscience of our nation, but also created a rare unanimity in the international community. There is a clear recognition in all major capitals that if our compassion for the fallen is to be meaningful, and our duty to the living to remain true, then our response must be swift and resolute. However, any effective response must grapple with the reality that the terrorists responsible for these crimes have likely taken shelter in the midst of unarmed civilians whom they or their political patrons are able to repress. This raises the profoundly troubling ethical question of how it is possible for civilised nations to effectively combat terrorists, without succumbing to the very terrorist tactic of sacrificing the lives of the innocent in the pursuit of a political objective. I invite your comments on what you feel would be the most strategically effective and morally sound stance for Canada and the member states of the NATO-Russia PJC. I should particularly value your thoughts on the questions below: * Historically, Canada and NATO have dealt with countries sponsoring terrorism by isolating them economically and politically. If it emerges that a state has given succour to the terrorists responsible for the assault in the United States, should NATO escalate to direct military action (e.g., bombing and land invasion)? What should be the strategic objectives of such action (e.g., simple reprisal, neutralisation of its military capacity, overthrow of its government)? * Should Canada's decision on whether to participate in such a military strike depend on whether the action is likely to result in the deaths of substantial numbers of unarmed civilians? How should this vary if the foreign state in question were to intentionally use civilians as "human shields" in an attempt to blackmail NATO into staying its hand? * If NATO proceeds with military action, should Canada commit our troops to combat roles and be prepared to suffer casualties? * If the American Congress legalises assassination by its armed forces or intelligence services, should Canada consider itself bound under Article 5 of NATO's Washington Treaty to support the United States in an attempt on the life of an individual identified as responsible for or complicit in the recent terrorist attacks? * Does the government of Canada need to take steps to ensure that, as the terrorists responsible for the attacks are identified, innocent Canadians do not become the victims of public derision or hysteria merely because of their religion or ethnicity? Our need to answer these questions suggests something of a loss of innocence, but I hope you will agree that we can not allow questions of state to be answered only by those who are at ease with death and destruction, or by inaction allow passion to triumph over reason. If we are judged in politics by our ability to hold on to our ideals even as we are being stripped of our illusions, then at this juncture more than any other, we can not allow ourselves to be found wanting. Given that the gravity of these questions demands our patriotism before our partisanship, I should be grateful if you would share this invitation broadly, both within and without the Liberal Party. With events developing at a precipitous speed, I should ask for responses no later than the end of day, Wednesday 19 September. As ever, I remain at your disposal if you have any questions or concerns, or if I can be of any assistance to you, and invite you to contact me via my web site <http://www.Maharaj.org/> or e-mail <aka...@maharaj.org>. On behalf of the National Policy Committee, I thank you for your time and effort. Yours sincerely, Akaash Maharaj National Policy Chair, Liberal Party of Canada <http://www.Maharaj.org/> <mailto:aka...@maharaj.org> __________ If you have received this letter in error, please forgive the intrusion. To be removed from my mailing list, you need only send me a note to that effect. __________ Additional Resources: * Liberal Party of Canada <http://www.liberal.ca/> * Liberal International <http://www.liberal-international.org/> * NATO <http://www.nato.int/> * Have Your Say <http://www.orbitcanada.com/akaash/have.html> * Akaash Maharaj <http://www.Maharaj.org/> __________ * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu, Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
