helicopter

Wednesday May 22, 2024

The demise of Ebrahim Raisi, the notorious "Butcher of Tehran," in a tragic helicopter crash provides a sense of justice for his victims, yet signifies no end to the ongoing oppression within Iran's governing structure.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday May 22, 2024

Ebrahim Raisi’s Demise: Justice for Victims, but No End to Oppression in Iran

Canadian inquiries into foreign interference highlight the challenge of maintaining transparency without aiding adversaries, emphasizing the importance of careful oversight and accountability in protecting democratic processes.

April 6, 2024

The recent demise of Ebrahim Raisi, often dubbed “the Butcher of Tehran,” has sparked a mix of emotions across the globe. For many, it serves as a form of comeuppance for the countless murders and atrocities inflicted upon innocent people during his tenure as a key figure in Iran’s oppressive regime. However, we must also recognize that his death does not mark the end of the suffering endured by the Iranian people under the rule of the Islamic Republic.

Raisi’s legacy is stained with blood, stemming from his alleged involvement in the mass execution of political prisoners in 1988. As part of a “death commission,” he played a pivotal role in carrying out the orders of Ayatollah Khomeini to purge Iran’s jails of dissidents. Thousands of lives were unjustly extinguished under his watch, leaving families shattered and communities scarred.

Furthermore, Raisi’s leadership during the investigation into the downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 in 2020 only added to his legacy of injustice. By absolving the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of any wrongdoing, he perpetuated a culture of impunity within the Iranian government, denying closure and justice to the families of the victims.

Opinion: Do not weep for the Butcher of Tehran 

October 18, 2022

His ascent to the presidency in 2021 sent shockwaves through the international community, highlighting the resilience of a system built on oppression and fear. Despite widespread condemnation and calls for accountability, Raisi remained defiant, openly proclaiming pride in his actions and vowing to defend the regime at any cost.

Tragically, Raisi’s demise came in the form of a helicopter crash in Iran’s Eastern Azerbaijan region on May 19, 2024. The crash, which occurred in a fog-shrouded mountainous area, claimed the lives of all nine individuals on board, including Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

While some may view this as a twist of fate or a stroke of karma, it does little to alleviate the pain and suffering inflicted upon countless individuals by his ruthless regime.

December 18, 2020

While his demise may bring a sense of relief to some, we must not lose sight of the harsh reality that awaits the Iranian people. Raisi’s replacement, likely to emerge from the same ruthless governing structure, offers little hope for meaningful change or reform. The machinery of oppression that has plagued Iran for decades continues to operate unabated, casting a dark shadow over the country’s future.

As we reflect on the downfall of Ebrahim Raisi, let us remember the countless victims whose lives were cut short by his tyranny. Let us stand in solidarity with the Iranian people as they strive for freedom, justice, and dignity in the face of adversity. And let us remain vigilant in holding accountable those who perpetuate oppression and deny basic human rights to their own citizens. (AI)

 

Thursday December 19, 2019

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday December 19, 2019

‘Historic rebuke’: what the US papers say about Trump’s impeachment

There was not much debate on the top story in the US on Thursday morning, with the two votes to impeach Donald Trump getting near universal coverage.

August 23, 2018

“Trump impeached” is the headline in one of the president’s least favourite papers, the Washington Post. It devotes its entire front page to coverage, under a picture of speaker Nancy Pelosi. One headline reads: “An impeachment that mirrors his presidency: Disruption and division”. Alongside a picture of the president at the rally he hosted at the same time as the House vote, the Post runs the headline: “Unclear path to a virtually certain Senate acquittal”.

Andrew Johnson

On Twitter the paper also posted its front pages for Clinton’s impeachment (1998) and that of Andrew Johnson (1868).

The New York Times carries exactly the same headline (“Trump impeached”), saying after “fierce arguments, House approves a charge that he abused power”.

The paper’s editorial says Republicans are “following him (Trump) down” and that “ignoring facts and trashing the impeachment process is no way to protect democracy”. It says there is plenty of blame to go around, “but the nihilism of this moment – the trashing of constitutional safeguards, the scorn for facts, the embrace of corruption, the indifference to historical precedent and to foreign interference in American politics — is due principally to cowardice and opportunism on the part of Republican leaders who have chosen to reject their party’s past standards and positions and instead follow Donald Trump, all the way down.”

November 2, 2019

USA Today splashes with one word: “Impeached”, and says the Clinton impeachment is a “study in contrasts”. The paper’s editorial headline is: “Donald Trump’s impeachment defenders set a dangerous precedent”.

“The Republicans have engaged in a whole pattern of behavior that will undermine Congress’ ability to serve as a check on presidential overreach,” it writes, adding that the Senate jurors like Lindsay Graham, who has said he will not pretend to be fair in the impeachment trial “are colluding with the defense lawyers to help ensure a favorable outcome at trial”.

Bill Clinton

Politico magazine’s front cover also has a one-word headline: “Impeached”, over a picture of Trump. It says the house has delivered a “historic rebuke” and describes Trump’s conduct as “A bruised ego, a Twitter eruption and a winding rally”.

The paper reports that although the White House was keen to suggest this was just a normal day for the president, and that Trump was “busy working and only ‘between meetings’ catching snippets of the action on the House floor, his Twitter feed belied that claim and showed a president obsessed with the historic nature of this day.”

November 16, 2019

Politico said that through four dozen tweets and retweets, “Trump did not shy away from weighing in on his favorite medium. “SUCH ATROCIOUS LIES BY THE RADICAL LEFT, DO NOTHING DEMOCRATS. THIS IS AN ASSAULT ON AMERICA, AND AN ASSAULT ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!!!!, he tweeted around lunchtime Wednesday.” (The Guardian)  https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/19/historic-rebuke-what-the-us-papers-say-about-trumps-impeachment

 

Thursday November 15, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Thursday November 15, 2012

Fallen acorns a threat to kids with allergies

A York Region mother is fighting to have oak trees removed near her child’s school, fearing that acorns could pose a deadly threat to students with severe allergies.

Donna Giustizia said the young trees on property owned by the City of Vaughan next to St. Stephen Catholic Elementary School are littering the area with acorns. The school, meanwhile, is nut-free to protect students with potentially life-threatening anaphylactic allergies.

“A false sense of security is putting a sign on the door that says nut-free and there’s nuts all over the place,” said Giustizia, who has two teenage children with anaphylactic food allergies, one of whom attends St. Stephen.

“I’m not a crazy mom, I’m not asking for anything that’s not already there.”

Giustizia appeared before Vaughan’s committee of the whole last week to plead for the removal of the trees.

Several councillors at the meeting questioned the precedent that removing the trees might set. Thornhill/Concord Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco wondered whether removing these trees would mean having to remove oak trees from other public properties where children with allergies might be exposed.

Councillors referred the matter to staff to prepare a report on the issue. City communications manager Ted Hallas said in an email that staff wouldn’t release details of the report before it is presented to councillors. (Source: Toronto Star) 

 

Friday November 2, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Friday November 2, 2012

Flying over Hamilton in a counterterrorism chopper

Downtown councillor Jason Farr says he’s been given assurances by the military that he and other councillors will be told of training exercises in advance of them happening so he can prepare his constituents for disturbances.

Farr made the comment Wednesday night after receiving dozens of complaints from residents over an exercise by a helicopter squadron buzzing the former Stelco Tower on King Street West in the downtown core Tuesday evening.

He initially called for the 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron to halt the operation “immediately” because of the complaints, but has accepted it continuing. The squadron is set to take part in the exercise Thursday night after cancelling Wednesday night due to the weather.

“I am pleased that the folks involved in this operation have assured me there will be better communication well in advance of any training exercise,” Farr said.

“That to me is key. They have reassured me that in the future there will be much better communication, much earlier when these training exercises occur.”

The training over the Stelco Tower caused all kinds of consternation, even though it had been publicized in The Hamilton Spectator. Farr said he received about 40 complaints. He said he heard from “old ladies who were scared, children trying to sleep. It was the whole bit. Some of them were very irate.”

Mayor Bob Bratina was happy with the event and noted Hamilton’s ties to the military.

“I’m proud we can host an exercise like this,” he told reporters. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) 

 

Thursday November 1, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday November 1, 2012

Romney tones down Obama attacks

Mitt Romney campaign affected by hurricane damage

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney pledged Wednesday to deliver the “real change” he says his Democratic opponent promised but has not achieved.

With President Barack Obama in New Jersey surveying storm damage, Romney softened his line of attack against the president. He did not mention Obama’s name in his first two rallies in Florida — a third was planned in the evening — but in a race that polls show to be extremely close, he found an avenue to challenge Obama nonetheless.

“I don’t just talk about change,” Romney told an estimated 2,000 supporters at an airport rally before outlining general plans to improve the nation’s economy. “I actually have a plan to execute change and make it happen.”

Romney aides concede that the political balancing act is not over as the nation continues to focus on Hurricane Sandy’s aftermath. The day before, Romney canceled some rallies and converted one into a storm relief event aimed at collecting donations for those in need.

Back on the campaign trail Wednesday, Romney encouraged Floridians to donate “a dollar or two” to storm victims across the East Coast.

“Today we wanted to make sure we kept a positive tone and talked about what the governor would hope to do on Day One of his presidency,” adviser Kevin Madden said aboard Romney’s campaign plane.

That’s exactly what Romney did in campaign speeches in Tampa and Coral Gables that were stripped of his standard anti-Obama political jabs (Source: CBC News)