The apparent death of yet another Canadian peacekeeper, Major Paeta (Wolf) Hess-von Kruedener, in Lebanon this week will undoubtedly fuel debate in this country over how far our armed forces can and should go to help stabilize war-ravaged nations around the world.Â
Major Hess-von Kruedener, a Kingston resident, was one of four United Nations observers stationed in a U.N. post in Khiam, a town on Lebanonâs eastern border, that was hit this week by an Israeli air strike. Three are dead and one missing and presumed dead. Hess-von Kruedener was there to report violations of the (now abandoned) ceasefire along the Lebanese-Israeli border.Â
The missile strike has raised a host of questions.Â
Not only was the Khiam outpost clearly marked but the U.N. officers stationed there called the Israeli military to complain they were under fire 10 times before the fatal bomb fell, according to the Associated Press.Â
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has asked both Israel and the U.N. to explain why the post was attacked and why the peacekeepers were not evacuated despite the âobvious dangerâ? posed by the bombings that day.Â
In fact, bombing strikes from both sides have been ongoing since Hezbollah abducted two Israeli soldiers two weeks ago including bombs that fell close to the compound where Major Hess-von Kruedener was stationed.
The U.S. is attempting to broker a ceasefire and at some point, most likely after the Israeliâs are returned, a ceasefire will prevail.Â
At that point the international community will turn to consider a U.N. proposal to establish a buffer zone between the two countries, manned by peacekeepers.Â
Harper has said itâs not his âfirst choiceâ? to have Canadians take part in a new U.N. peacekeeping force that would police a buffer zone between Israel and Lebanon and retired major-general Lewis MacKenzie has called the proposal âa dumb idea.â?Â
However, international observers suggest the insertion of such a force into the region has become almost a forgone conclusion.Â
Major Hess-von Kruedener made his home in Kingston with his wife and two children. News of the bombing has been gut-wrenching for his family, that city and the nation.Â
There have been 19 Canadian soldiers killed keeping the peace in Afghanistan, the bodies of the latest two â Cpl. Francisco Gomez, 44, of Edmonton and Cpl. Jason Warren, 29s, of Montreal â were flown home this week.Â
Our logistical capacity to join peacekeeping efforts in the Middle East may be more symbolic than realistic, at least not without significant new federal expenditures.
It is also unclear how prepared we are as a nation to engage on a new front that will, as a consequence, endanger the lives of a great many more young men and women.Â
There is no question, however, that once Israel and Lebanon slip back into an uneasy peace, that we shall face international pressure to do so.Â
Post script:
Major Hess-von Kruedener was missing and presumed dead following the attack but his remains have now been positively identified.Â
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has issued the following statement.Â
âI am deeply saddened to confirm today that Major Paeta Derek Hess-von Kruedener was killed in Lebanon last week following the attack on a United Nations Observation Post,â? Harper said.Â
âOn behalf of the Government of Canada, I extend my profound sympathy to the family, friends and loved ones of this brave soldier, who served our country with distinction and honour.â?Â
âI join with Canadians who grieve the passing of Major Hess-von Kruedener, and I am proud of the contribution he made to bring assistance and hope to citizens in countries far from our shores.â?Â
âI commend Major Hess-von Kruedener for his selflessness in the face of danger and my prayers are with him.â?Â
 James Wallace – Osprey MediaÂ
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Phantom: I find that interesting. That is not the case for me. I also had to register when I first began to re-post on the new site. I was given a password after providing my email address.
Now under Leave a Reply it says: Logged in as rose. Logout >>… and I do not have to reenter my password so I have just filed that away for future reference. Are you saying that you have to enter that each and every time you come online ? that would be a pain… I did wander through by accident .. the hockey blog and noticed your posting…
If that is the case, I guess my question would be why is it working that way for you and a different way for me ????
I read an interesting comment in an editorial today. The author wrote that George W. Bush isn\’t a complete idiot. I had a good laugh when I read that. Nothing that the man has done during the last 6 years would indicate otherwise. Anyhoo, it\’s amazing to me that our illustrious Prime Minister could be so stupid as to call Israel\’s killing of innocent Lebanese civilians a \”measured response to Hezbollah\’s attacks.\” What a moron. I voted for you Stevie, but never again. Israel sucks, the US sucks, and now Canada sucks. Fortunately, we don\’t have the resources, money, or power to meddle in Middle Eastern affairs like the US, otherwise I\’m sure we would be in there like a dirty shirt.
rose, this is reported. should be deleted by tomorrow.
rose Says:
August 8th, 2006 at 10:23 am
I think it works that way for me because I logout, before I leave the site. But, its not a big problem, when I want to log in my pseudonym and password is saved, so I just login and post.
B.D. as you can see…I now too have a following…
Phantom…don’t know if you read what I wrote on the other thread or not, but just wanted you to know that I feel that you have always been upfront with me – if one can trust anything said on here. I hope this thing gets worked out because I, for one, am getting sick and tired of whoever is doing this crap. B.D. doesn’t trust that I am who I say I am, now he doesn’t trust what you say. You and I do not trust Wally Keeler. I suspect that Wally Keeler doesn’t trust anyone. Nobody believes any of the other alias’s. I do not know who you don’t trust but, being a woman, I don’t trust anyone on here, especially a man – how can one know who is a man ? Its ridiculous !
We come on here, chat up a subject, start to develop a kinship, learn a bit about each other, turns into a friendship, banter about a topic, find out we have differences or sameness, maybe even grew up together but the point is … the world keeps spinning and we keep losing.
Losing because nobody wants to come into an open forum wherein there is mistrust and deceit, losing because Osprey will eventually close this forum down also, losing just because we are closing ourselves off to the ability to have more friends around us and Lord knows that you cannot have enough friends. Whats the old saying…
At the end of the day, a person is not measured by how many they love but by how many love them.
Right now, I am not feeling the love.
Think I’m going to take my toys and go play in my own sandbox
Thank you, rose for your vote of confidence. I too, believe you have been upfront with me in our exchanges. rose, your comment about whether or not it is possible to trust a man on this site, especially since it is impossible to know the gender of all the posters. BTW – I am a man. I too, don’t trust almost anyone on this site. “We come on here, chat up a subject, start to develop a kinship, learn a bit about each other, turns into a friendship, banter about a topic, find out we have differences or sameness, maybe even grew up together but the point is … the world keeps spinning and we keep losing.” I agree with your sentiments, rose.
Part of the friction that has developed between B.D and myself, I think, revolves around my desire to remain anonymous (even when e-mailing) until I feel confident enough to reveal my actual name. B.D. says I haven’t been upfront, however I have told him things I haven’t revealed to anyone and which makes the accusation strange, to say the least. Apparently, from his post, he is displeased because I have disagreed with his point of view. With all the shenanigans that have been/are occurring on this site it is difficult to figure out who is whom.
rose, for what’s its worth, don’t leave. I enjoy reading what you have to say it is often very thought-provoking.
Phantom/Rose:
I can not ignore these posts. They pull at my heart strings as I have, on whole, had very positive relations with you both. However, this is my last post for a while.
Both your previous posts have very cogent points, with Rose’s “Nobody believes any of the other alias’s.” and Phantom’s “With all the shenanigans that have been/are occurring on this site it is difficult to figure out who is whom.” How true. These are the central issues for me.
To add my own sentiment. Rose started getting “the real rose” identity but I get a new identity posting either under my name or similar to – every day. That even confuses both of you, causing you to question what I post or don’t. Even before I came back, there were BD posts that weren’t mine and you guys were puzzled. I’m sick of it. I didn’t come here for this, I came here for the same reasons decribed aptly described by Rose.
It’s seems I am paying the price of stepping forward and asking Osprey to put a stop to the sexual innuendo, bla bla … you both know the history.
Rose is right to say it’s harsh of me to ban Ph~ from emailing. Perhaps so. But “Thank you” for respecting that request Phantom, it restored a little trust that I had lost. To tell the truth, I had read your post incorrectly and I should’ve given it more time to respond.
Rose, you are bang on when I say I can’t even trust you in emails. Why? Cuz phoney emails have been created just to harrass me, and defy Osprey’s effort to stop the nonsense.
I am fortunate that Osprey’s senior manager of new media is working with their Sudbury office and responding to my emails. In fact, they have indicated they are taking measures to block Mr. Ahole even beyond the Registration. But I’m at the point I don’t trust anyone, and both of you are asking me, “What’s going on.”
Usually, there’s nothing wrong with that question at all … but I can’t tell who my friends are or who is using me for information so they can bypass Osprey’s effort. Hence, I shut up and pull away.
So, in closing, Phantom, I apologize to you for being too harsh. I hope you now understand the reason.
Rose, I truly regret we can’t freely talk via email … but I feel, for me, it’s better not to post in order to allow time to harness Mr. Ahole.
If you wish, since I have both your emails … I’m willing to send P~’s to Rose or visa vera. Whatever you feel comfortable with if you guys want to talk to each other. If I get an “ok” from both of you, I will send them on. But I will not participate in any discussion here or elsewhere. And yes Rose, I lose because of that (although it sure would help if you’d lower your guard and give me your ex’s last name or that of your dearly departed dad – it would give me somthing to work with) .
Also, P~ knows what I’m doing in the legal realm and I’m in absolute war mode, losing sleep, diminished appetite, bla bla … I’m under a lot of stress. I’m learning a tremendous amount too, so there’s a positive.
So please guys, I ask both of you to just ‘relax’ … post on subjects you’re interested in … and enjoy the rest of the summer. After all, in the course of a lifetime … this is incidental.
Bye for now.
Barry D. In case you still read this blog on occasion. Thank you for your honesty. Enjoy the rest of the summer, and hopefully this blog will be much better in the fall. I also hope things go well for you in the legal realm.
Yes, you my give rose my e-mail address.
Take Care
Phantom
Ditto…
Just testing……