News

IRAQ: Senate Takes 1st Step In Repealing Iraq War Authorizations

Published

2 years ago

2023-03-16

Kiara Grace

IRAQ, Washington, D.C. To terminate this authority as the U.S. approaches the 20th anniversary of the Iraq War, the Senate took a first step toward removing two laws on Thursday granting unlimited approval for military action in Iraq.

Senators approved legislation to repeal the 2002 law authorizing the March 2003 invasion of Iraq and the 1991 law authorizing the U.S.-led Gulf War to drive Saddam Hussein’s forces from Kuwait by a vote of 68-27. Democrats and 19 Republicans both backed the repeal.

The bipartisan initiative comes when politicians from both parties attempt to reclaim congressional control over American military operations and deployments. They claim that the war authorizations are no longer required and might be abused if they are still in effect. The initiative has the support of President Joseph Biden, and the White House released a statement on Thursday endorsing it.

The White House stated that repealing these authorizations will promote the administration’s commitment to a solid and thorough engagement with its Iraqi partners while not affecting the country’s present military operations.

Senators. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) expressed their opinion that the 68 votes in favor send a strong message to citizens who believe their voices should be heard on issues of war and peace. The repeal campaign has been spearheaded by Young and Kaine, who have been working on it for a while.

“Congress needs to speak up on these issues, and I think this will set a significant precedent going forward,” Young said.

Even if the package passes the Senate, it needs to be clarified whether Republican-led House leaders will put it to a vote. Two years ago, when then-majority Democrats held a vote on the measure, 49 House Republicans voted in favor of it; however, current House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has rejected it.

They claim that the Iraq war authorizations are no longer required and might be abused if they are still in effect.

Republicans in the Senate had differing opinions on the proposal. Opponents claim that the repeal may give the impression of weakness to the United States’ enemies, despite the support of 19 GOP senators. They have referenced the fact that the administration of President Donald Trump used the 2002 Iraq war resolution as part of its legal argument for a 2020 drone strike by the United States that resulted in the death of Iranian General Qassim Soleimani.

While the nation debated whether a military assault was necessary, the votes in October 2002 to grant President George W. Bush wide power for the invasion — occurring just one month before the midterm elections that year — were a defining event for many members of Congress. When the 9/11 attacks occurred, Iraq had no involvement, and Afghanistan, where the al-Qaida plotters were housed, was already at war with the United States.

Before the vote on Thursday, Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat who was a senator at the time and cast a no vote on the measure, said on the Senate floor, “I look back on it, as I’m sure others do, as one of the most important votes that I ever cast.”

According to Durbin, the elimination of this authorization for the use of armed force does not indicate that the United States has turned into a pacifist country. It implies that the United States will be a constitutional republic and that the founding principles of our forefathers will be upheld.

The Bush administration used false intelligence allegations concerning Saddam’s WMDs to gain support for the invasion of Iraq among Congressmen and Americans.

Car bombings, murders, torture, and kidnappings became commonplace in Iraq for many years

American combat forces swiftly learned following the initial invasion in March 2003 that the claims of the existence of nuclear or chemical weapons programs were untrue. Yet, the U.S. takeover of Iraq war’s security forces sparked a vicious sectarian conflict and violent campaigns by Islamic extremist groups. Car bombings, murders, torture, and kidnappings became commonplace in Iraq for many years.

Almost 5,000 American soldiers perished in the conflict. There have likely been hundreds of thousands of deaths in Iraq war.

Because the Iraq War caused “such much hatred” in the past, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, a Democrat from New York, expressed his happiness that the repeal is a bipartisan endeavor in the hours leading up to the vote.

People are weary of the Middle East’s ongoing battles, Schumer added.

The proposal will be debated in the Senate the following week, with potential changes from both sides.

One of the changes that can be considered would abolish a different authorization of military force passed soon after the 9/11 attacks. Although it did not mention any nation, it provided Bush with broad authorization to use force “against any nations, organizations, or persons” that helped organize or carry out the attacks on the United States. This included the invasion of Afghanistan and the battle against terrorism.

Nevertheless, eliminating the broader authority has less support in the Senate and Congress. In the future, changing or amending that authority is something that Biden and some politicians have backed, but “not right now,” according to Kaine because the military is still using it.

Biden “remains committed to working with the Congress to ensure that outmoded authorizations for the use of military force are replaced with a narrow and specific framework more appropriate to protecting Americans from modern terrorist threats,” the White House stated in its statement of policy, appearing to refer to the 2001 authority.

iraq

SOURCE – (AP)

News

Trudeau Rocks to Taylor Swift While Montreal Burns

Published

2 days ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under fire yet again after a video surfaced on X, showing him dancing at a Taylor Swift performance while anti-Nato protestors ransacked downtown Montreal.

Trudeau attended Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto on Friday night. Before Taylor Swift approached the stage, X shared a viral video of him dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me.”

The image of Trudeau dancing amid violent protests in Montreal generated widespread indignation online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to the ancient Roman dictator Nero, known for “fiddling while Rome burned.”

Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.

Lawless protestors run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest.

The Prime Minister dances.

This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.

Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved. pic.twitter.com/PVJvR6gtmf

— Don Stewart (@donstewartmp) November 23, 2024

“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” Stewart wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”

“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” the MP added.

On Saturday, the day after Taylor Swift’s concert, Trudeau condemned the anti-NATO protests, calling them “appalling.”

Anti-NATO activists set off smoke bombs and marched through Montreal’s streets waving Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters set fire to automobiles and battled with police.

Pro-Palestinian protests

Protesters also tossed tiny explosives and metal objects at officers. At one point, the mob torched an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the gathering, and three persons were arrested for attacking officers and impeding police operations.

Masked protesters were seen burning flares and bashing storefront windows in videos and photographs shared on social media. Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.

Critics have lambasted Trudeau for doing nothing to stop the violent pro-Palestinian marches, with some claiming he has fueled anti-Israel sentiment in Canada.

On Friday, Trudeau stated that Canada would respect the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime leader on Canadian soil.

Trudeau Called the Greatest Threat to NATO

Trudeau Called the Greatest Threat to NATO

News

Calgary Zoo Admits Human Error in Death of Baby Gorilla

Published

2 days ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

The zookeeper's negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla

The Calgary Zoo has admitted in a public statement that a zookeeper’s negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla. Eyare, a newborn gorilla, died last week after being slammed in the head by a hydraulic door.

The accident occurred when a zoo worker attempted to separate Eyare from the rest of the gorilla tribe for a solitary training session.

The gorilla died from significant head injuries, according to the zoo’s statement.

“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said during a news conference. “Eyare’s brief but meaningful existence gave so much joy to our community, and all will sorely miss her. We will do everything possible to prevent repeat accidents.”

According to Baird, the staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo. The Calgary Zoo stated that it would take preventive steps, such as specialist personnel training and animal behavioral training, to avoid a similar incident.

Calgary Zoo Questioned

It is not the first time an animal at the zoo has died from negligence at the Calgary Zoo. A capybara was accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door similar to the one that killed Eyare in 2019.

An otter died in 2016 after being entangled in an “unauthorized” pair of jeans that a zookeeper had dropped in its enclosure. In 2013, a penguin died in “a freak accident” after swallowing a stick.

Animal Justice, a Canadian group that promotes animal welfare, has called for an independent investigation of animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.

“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” according to Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice.

The Calgary Zoo refuted that it has more animal deaths than other zoos, emphasizing that it adheres to operating requirements and has maintained accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission since 1978.

“We love and care for more than 4,000 animals representing over 100 species that call our zoo home,” stated a Calgary Zoo representative.

“Human error-related deaths in animals are quite infrequent. We have lost two animals in the last ten years: a North American river otter in 2016 and ‘Eyare’ this week.

While rare, even one human-caused death is too many. These unfortunate instances have served as vital learning experiences, prompting us to examine and tighten protocols to provide the greatest level of care.”

Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” adding that the facility will consider switching to alternate doors to improve safety.

The Calgary Zoo, which established the Wilder Institute in 2021, caters to nearly 4,000 creatures, including six more western lowland gorillas.

Beluga Whales Dies at Canada’s Marineland

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News

Canada’s Lotto Max Jackpot Climbs to $80M

Published

2 days ago

2024-11-24

Geoff Brown

Lotto Max in Canada has reached $80 million for only the second time in Canadian lottery history. Friday’s draw sought a winner for a $75 million pool, but the top reward remained unclaimed as of Saturday, increasing the jackpot.

Only once did the jackpot reach $80 million in September, when it broke the previous record. Before that, the prize was $75 million, a record.

The Lotto Max prize maximum was boosted earlier this year, enabling for jackpots of more than $70 million. The cap is now at $80 million.
While a greater fee may encourage more people to play, the odds of winning the lottery remain extremely low.

According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the odds for a $5 ticket are around one in 33,294,800.

While there was no jackpot winner in Friday’s draw, someone did match six of the seven winning numbers, plus a bonus, earning them a payout of more than $320,000.

Lotto Max History

Lotto Max is one of three national lottery games in Canada, overseen by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. The game was introduced on September 19, 2009, and its inaugural draw occurred on September 25, 2009. It replaced Lotto Super 7.

The odds of winning the Lotto Max are 1 in 33,294,800. This is correct to a point but misleading.

Let’s have a look at the rules:

Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
Numbers cannot be repeated
Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
Each play buys 3 lines
Each play costs $5

Seeing that players choose 7 out of 50 non-repeating numbers, the equation for the total number of possible combinations (this is different from permutations where the order in which the numbers appear is significant) when playing the Lotto Max is 50! / (7! x 43!)