More on the unknown Belinda
Dear Republic:
Thanks for the article on Haider and Stronach, a connection I wasn't aware of before [Issue 80].
There is an added dimension to the connection you might find interesting.
Are you aware of Warren Kinsella, the veteran political strategist who worked on the federal Liberal campaigns in the 1990s? (He was so effective the Reform/Alliance called him the "Prince of Darkness." He was the one who took a Barney doll on national TV to make the point Stockwell Day believed human beings and dinosaurs once shared the earth).
According to a National Post article reprinted on his website the firm he belongs to (or owns?) has been hired by both the Clement and Stronach campaigns for the Conservative Leadership.
You are probably also aware that Warren Kinsella is also an expert on and campaigner against organized hate in Canada
having even published a book, "The Web of Hatred" about it. In this regard, he is not an armchair liberal, his crusade against hatred, neo-Nazism etc seems to be an integral part of his public identity. He is also very public in his adoration of anti-Nazi icons like Joe Strummer (see his website).
It isn't clear if Kinsella is working directly on the Stronach campaign, but certainly his company is involved in it. Given his uncompromising stance on neo-Nazism, it seems odd that his company is taking money (and Belinda Stronach is no doubt using some of the Stronach fortune) that was made with the help of neo-nazis in Austria. A little cursory research revealed this website.
As The Republic pointed out, Magna's connection to the Freedom Party in Austria goes beyond the general business-political power nexus-Haider's finance minister became an employee of Magna. There would seem to be a little taint then on the money Stronach made in Austria.
The headline; "Warren Kinsella takes neo-Nazi money" might be a bit extreme, (not to mention an invitation to a libel suit)-but you get the idea.
-Simon Pole, Vancouver BC
What's a fact checker?
Dear Republic:
I was going to email you myself, but Mr Mair did the job for me. I like your publication but you could use a good fact checker. An accurate date may seem a minor point but it detracts from the good stuff you have to say. Mr Potvin could have also mentioned that before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the US was already involved in the war between China and Japan, in effect, already killing Japanese before December 7th.
An American airman, Claire Chennault, and a group of American pilots were training Chinese pilots in China with the unofficial (read secret) approval and funding of the US government. They were called the American Volunteer Force (AVF) and later became the more famous "Flying Tigers". The US aided the Chinese with $100 million (this during a depression). A shipment of warplanes were enroute to China when the pre-emptive Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor took place. And of course, an oil embargo against a nation at war can be seen as aid and comfort to its enemy. The US attacked Iraq with less (true) reason.
-Vern Huffman, Burnaby BC
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