Not by name, but there is no doubt that the Taliban are rooting for Smilin’ Jack to be snuggly ensconced at 24 Sussex Drive when the dust settles after the October 14 federal election.
As reported by Canadian Press, Qari Mohammad Yussuf, a recognized spokesman for the terrorist group, expressed the Taliban’s views on the upcoming Canadian election. Although Yussuf acknowledged that while he knows who Stephen Harper is, he is unfamiliar with the other parties and leaders, there is no doubt that he has Layton in mind as to who the Taliban would like to see as prime minister of Canada. It can’t be anyone else. Both the Liberals and now the Conservatives want to continue the Afghan mission until 2011; Layton’s the only leader of a major Canadian party (with the exception of Gilles Duceppe who cannot become PM even if his party won all of its seats) that is prepared to withdraw troops immediately upon assuming power. And he can’t be talking about Green Party leader Elizabeth May; even if she did have a chance at becoming prime minister, the Taliban would never want a sub-human (ie a woman) to become our leader. No, no matter how you look at it, the Taliban are clearly endorsing Jack Layton for prime minister.
Yussuf was quoted as saying,
“When any of these party leaders come to power, the first thing they must do is ask the Canadians to come from Afghanistan to Canada”.
Just like Jack and the NDP, the Taliban want us to bring our troops home. He also stated that Canada needs to stop following US foreign policy. Hmm, it makes you wonder whether he thought that up all on his own or read it in the NDP playbook. Not following US foreign policy, especially when it comes to “George Bush’s war”, has been a constant theme of the NDP for years (although Jack seems to have a soft spot for all things Obama). Yussuf went on to say,
“I repeat what I said before, that I warn Canadians again to leave Afghanistan if you don’t want to have more casualties here.”
Jack Layton’s reason for wanting an immediate withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan is to protect our soldiers from death and injury in the Middle Eastern country. This is Layton’s way of “supporting our troops”. It seems that the Taliban are equally supporting our troops when Yussuf states that the troops should be withdrawn to reduce casualties.
When Layton heard about his “endorsement” by the Taliban, he said that it was “reprehensible” that the Taliban was commenting upon the Canadian election. Reprehensible, Jack? The Taliban, who Layton thinks our government should sit down and talk with, kill and maim innocent civilians such as aid workers and then brag about it but somehow commenting on who should be the next prime minister of Canada is “reprehensible”. By making that comment, Layton is giving them the legitimacy that should be reserved for non-terrorist foreign leaders of recognized governments for whom making comments about our internal matters could be classified as reprehensible. Layton’s comments are like saying that Paul Bernardo should be locked up forever because he once smuggled cigarettes.
After Yussuf made his comments, Liberal leader Stéphane Dion was quoted as saying,
“We will not be intimidated by the Taliban”.
Although the Liberal Party too has its anti-war, anti-US faction, the Taliban won’t be rooting for the Libs to win power. And Jack should be thankful for that- at least the Taliban leader won’t be seen standing on a stage next to Stéphane, all decked out in a Liberal Party jacket.
NDP supporters can take solace in the fact that a vote for Jack Layton will make a group of third world country cave-dwellers extremely happy. But things could be worse; the Taliban could invade Canada – and vote.
