PAGE 6
News Advertiser
NOVEMBER 2, 2016
www.
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Gwynne Dyer
Even a stopped clock is right twice a day. Donald J.
Trump’s record is not that good, but he does get it right
once in a while. He got it right on Tuesday, when he
said that Hillary Clinton would be dangerously agres-
sive in Syria if she wins the presidency.
What Trump actually said was that the United States
should focus on defeating ISIS. “We should not be
focusing on Syria. You’re going to end up in World War
Three over Syria if we listen to Hillary Clinton.”
The Clinton policy in question is her promise to
declare a no-fly zone in Syria to protect non-combat-
ants. But what if the Syrians – and the Russians who
back them – don’t accept that the United States has the
right to set up no-fly zones on Syrian territory just
because it feels like it? What if they send their planes
into those zones and dare the US air force to shoot
them down?
Then the US has to choose between backing down – or
shooting down Russian aircraft and (according to
Trump) starting World War Three. “You’re not fighting
Syria any more, you’re fighting Syria, Russia and Iran,
all right?” Trump explained. She would be asking for a
war with Russia, he said.
She would indeed be asking for it – but she knows that
she probably would not get it. The Russians might shoot
down a few American planes in response, but they
know that they could not
win an all-out war
with the United
States.
Russia
is
simply not in the same league any more: it has half the
population of the former Soviet Union, and an economy
one-tenth the size of the United States.
So Clinton would not really be courting World War
Three if she did what she has promised. She would,
however, be doing something very reckless and stupid.
The United States really does not need to get more
deeply entangled in another unwinnable war in the
Middle East.
What Trump is advocating is actually the policy
that Obama has followed over the whole five years of
the Syrian civil war: concentrate on eliminating ISIS,
and do not get involved in the rebel military cam-
paign to overthrow Bashar al-Assad’s regime. No
more moral crusades.
Whereas Clinton, by declaring no-fly zones, would
effectively be creating safe areas for the rebels to oper-
ate out of. However, the great majority of the active
anti-regime fighters belong to ISIS, or to the equally
extreme group that used to be called the Nusra Front
and is now changing its name every week or so in an
attempt to conceal its true origins as a breakaway part
of Islamic State and an affiliate of al-Qaeda.
Most of the smaller rebel groups that Washington calls
“moderates” are actually less extreme Islamists who are
either voluntarily allied with the Nusra Front, or in
thrall to it. But the fantasy still lives in Washington that
it can bring together enough genuine “moderates” to
create a “third force” that defeats both the Assad regime
and the extremists of ISIS and the Nusra Front.
This has been the official position of the “Washington
consensus” on foreign policy for five years now, and
Hillary Clinton is a paid-up member of that delusionary
group. If she carries through on her promises, she prob-
ably will trigger a crisis with the Russians, and she will
certainly involve the United States much more deeply
in the Syrian civil war.
It’s almost enough to make you vote for Trump. But
not quite.
Gwynne Dyer is an independent journalist whose
articles are published in 45 countries.
90 Years Ago – November 3, 1926
O.D. Cunningham asked town council, that the town consider tak-
ing over his property in Mountlawn because of the town having
sunk wells in the lane and street adjoining. It was intimated that
further development of water supply might make it advisable for
the town to acquire the property; the matter meanwhile to be
taken under consideration.
H.R. Johnston asked that the town provide salary in lieu of holi-
days to employees of the Electric Light Plant who had not received
holidays at the time the plant was taken over by the Utilities
Corporation. This matter was left with the secretary to take up with
the Sec.-Treas. of the North-Western Utilities.
Considerably more than one million bushels of wheat are now
lying in cars at Calgary sidings waiting to move westward. This is
about half of what had been loaded at country points by the
Canadian Pacific before the Vancouver embargo came into effect
at midnight on Saturday. No word had been received yet as to
whether the company will consent to the introduction of the per-
mit system, and grain men are now inclined to the opinion that
there will be no letting up of the embargo until some of the con-
gestion, at any rate, has been worked off at Vancouver.
75 Years Ago – November 5, 1941
Corp. Frank Zuliger RCAF returned to Edmonton on Tuesday after
spending a few days leave at his old home at Lavoy.
On Friday morning, October 31st an explosion occurred in the
Brazeau Collieries No. 3 Mine at Nordegg, Alberta, caused the
death of 32 men, according to last reports. According the A.A.
Millar, chief mines inspector, this is one of the worst disasters to
occur in the Alberta mining industry. A full investigation will be
held. Mr. Millar said that the mine had a very good safety record,
all miners using electric safety lights.
The 1941 list of approved hospitals in the United States and
Canada was released on November 3rd and noted thereon are
Vegreville General Hospital and Lamont Public hospital, both of
which have held places on the list for many years. As is well known,
hospitals which meet the conditions imposed by the American
College of Surgeons, have to maintain a high standard of excel-
lence in plant, equipment and service. There are only 12 hospitals
in Alberta on the fully approved list and 10 others on qualified
approval.
50 Years Ago – November 3, 1966
The farm of Alex Seniuk, north-east of Vegreville, was the scene
of vandalism on Halloween evening. Damage to a stack of hay was
done and it is estimated that the hay is worth $2,000. Mr. Seniuk is
asking for your help for information leading to the apprehension
of the parties responsible and is offering a reward of $100.
October of course always brings Halloween. This year the
Vegreville Lion’s Club Halloween Party held on October 31st, saw
many witches and goblins arrive to join in the fun for games and
Halloween treats. The party, held at the Vegreville Armouries, com-
menced at 6:30 p.m. for the pre-schoolers and children from
grades four to seven arrived later at 7:30 p.m. Prizes were awarded
for the best costumes.
Roland Rocque, chartered accountant in St. Paul has been
appointed returning officer of the electoral district of Vegreville.
St. Paul, previously in the Athabasca Constituency was taken in by
Vegreville in the new distribution of federal constituencies made
official earlier this year.
25 Years Ago – November 5, 1991
Freezing weather on Halloween night brought over 150 children
and their parents to the town Halloween party at the Vegreville
Aquatic and Fitness Centre on Thursday, October 31. Some of the
activities were bobbing for apples, bag toss, a fortune teller, a
haunted house, a piñata pumpkin and a costume judging contest.
Ground breaking ceremonies held on Sunday, October 27 at St.
Martin’s Roman Catholic Church marked the beginning of con-
struction on phase one of the extension and expansion of the
church.
Retired teacher Nick Seniuk received a token of appreciation from
Bill Triska, the Town of Vegreville board of Education representa-
tive. Leola Nawrot also received a retirement gift. They were both
honoured at the ATA Induction and Retirement Ceremonies held
on October 26 in Mannville.
An Art award was presented to Ernest Ferguson by Mr. Daviduk.
The award is a cash donation to a student who shows the most
artistic talent. The award is sponsored by Kay Daviduk Family in
memory of Kay Daviduk.
Larry Jackson representing Alberta Power presented Carrie
Stoyko and Tiffany Hnydyk the grade nine science award at St.
Mary’s Awards Night held on Friday, October 25.
One role of the
Vegreville News Advertiser
is to promote dialogue on various
issues of concern to area residents. We accomplish this by welcoming Letters
to the Editor and allowing various issues to be debated through our pages. All
letters must contain the writer’s name, address and phone number. Anonymous
letters will not be printed, however the writer’s name may be withheld from pub-
lication in special circumstances deemed appropriate by the Publisher.
The
Vegreville News Advertiser
reserves the right to edit letters for length,
clarity, spellingandgrammar, tasteor for reasonsof potential libel. The
Vegreville
News Advertiser
reserves the right to withhold letters from publication.
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Sometimes Trump Is Right
