Huron Expositor, 2006-11-01, Page 4Page 4 November 1, 2006 • The Huron Expositor
Editorial
Tourism in
Opinion
Proprietor and Publisher, Bowes Publishers Limited, 11 Main St., Seaforth, ON, NOK 1WO
Iustry
por'
farmers, trails
open or closed
While they didn't receive the backing they'd
hoped -for from their provincial federation, Huron
farmers have decided to continue to fight for the
same support farmers in the U.S. and Quebec
receive from their governments by closing local
snowmobile trails.
But, even that county -wide united front has been
eroded down to a voluntary closure involving the
land of farmers who still feel strongly enough to
fight for a risk management program
Huron farmers, feeling increasingly more desper-
ate as the record low grain and oilseed prices con-
tinue for the fourth year, passed a resolution in
September encouraging the expansion of last win-
ter's trail closures.
Far from wanting to punish snowmobilers, farm-
ers hoped that by closing the land they allow snow-
mobilers to use for free all winter, the ripple effect
would spread outward until the tourism industry,
gas stations, snowmobile dealers and others not
directly affected by the farm income crisis would
join the cause.
However, as the protest becomes fragmented and
snowmobilers draw maps that will allow club mem-
bers to find their way around whatever land
remains closed, it's doubtful the protest will create
the hoped-for affect.
However, just because snowmobilers will likely
be mostly unimpeded in their travel throughout the
countryside of Ontario this winter, it doesn't mean
they can't show their gratitude for the free. use of
local farmland while enjoying the great outdoors.
Now that they're informed of farmers' desperate
straits caused by the farm income crisis, those who
benefit from the $1 billion . a year snowmobile
industry could pay a voluntary "toll" for the use of
farmland by writing a few letters to both the
provincial and federal governments pushing for the
needed risk management program.
Successful or not at. closing trails, farmers have
certainly sent 'the message that without -farmland,
snowmobiles have nowhere to ride.
Susan Hundertmark
Bush's doubts about Iraq
a hopeful sign for future
It seemed highly unlike-
ly that U.S President
George W. Bush would
ever willingly put doubt
into the minds of
Americans (and
Canadians, British and
the rest of the free world
for that matter) over his
decision to invade Iraq.
Yet, last week during a
news conference, nearly four years since fight-
ing commenced, President Bush acknowl-
edged that the war in Iraq has -not gone as
planned.
"I know Americans are notsatisfied with the
situation in Iraq," he said. "I'm not satisfied
either."
And while this is something thousands of'us
have already known for quite some time, in a
strange way, it was reassuring to hear it from
the man who decided to .invade Iraq in the
first place.
"The ultimate accountability rests with me.
If people are unhappy about it, look right to
the president," said Bush.
Which, thousands of Americans, including
even some Republican candidates in the
upcoming congressional election, have been
doing.
In a recent poll, 19 per cent of Americans
agreed the U.S. is winning the war in. Iraq,
while just 14 per cent of Iraqis surveyed .said
the U.S. impact on their country is positive.
The relationship between President Bush
and Iraq president Nouri al-Maliki appears to
be becoming more strained
as the war goes on as well.
Al-Maliki recently criti-
cized the U.S. for saying
his government needed to
set a timetable for curbing
the violence in Iraq and
also for the U.S. raid on a
Shiite militia stronghold,
since the militia's leader is
a man Al-Maliki relies on
for political support.
President Bush has admitted to a "miscom-
munication between the U.S and Iraqi offi-
cials."
He said the U.S. will be changing tactics to
deal with circumstances in Iraq, but that they
would not change their overall direction, stat-
ing, "Absolutely we're winning."
I guess that depends on your rle finition of
winning.
The 2,800 U.S. troops that have died since
the invasion of Iraq - 96 alone in October -
would suggest otherwise.
Remarkably, soon the United States'
involvement. in Iraq will have lasted longer
than their involvement in the Second. World
War - a war they joined only after being
attacked.
I hope the president's recent bout with hon-
esty is much more than just that.
Hopefully it was the first small step in the
long process of eventually pulling troops out
of the Middle East. And I really hope it
doesn't take the deaths of a couple hundred
more troops before he begins.
Ron & Dave
5.4.cse
When I grow Really? .= I feel that it's my duty to help
up I think I'll That's very people. I think God put me
be a doctor. noble. ;' here for some great purpose.
To find a cure for the great
• scourge of mankind.
No. My calling
will be to cure
the world of....
Ugly!
by David Lacey
1
There's n
fortune to be Physician
made in Heal. Thyself.
plastic surgery.
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