So you want to talk..

From the Star

NDP Leader Jack Layton has made several requests for a meeting with the Afghan leader ( President Hamid Karzai, who arrived in Canada Thursday) and has had no reply.

So I ask the question. Why should he meet with you Jack?

Being the leader of the perennial third party of Canadian politics does not grant you the right to get 1 on 1 time with any foreign leaders for chats and tea; it might get you some pull in getting a seat at a Karzai event or speech, but that is about it. We also cannot forget the little fact that with your recent rants on Afghanistan you are not only trying to tell our PM how to do things, you are also telling the Afghan President how to conduct matters and policy in his own country; which also might be having some effect on Karzai not wanting to give you the time of day.

I have a better idea. If you do indeed want to speak to the Afghan President may I suggest you set up a meeting in Afghanistan. There you can see for yourself what is really going on with the current UN mission, meet President Karzai and other government officials, see first hand some of the rebuilding efforts, and of course meet the troops. A smart man does his research before reaching a conclusion on any issue, and this would make not only make for great research, but it could all be done with cameras rolling.

And lets face it, you have never met a camera you didn't like.

Oh, and please bring Olivia along as well, so she might get a better understanding of the situation that Afghan woman face. I am sure they would all be glad to hear how the NDP policies would be beneficial to all women of Afghanistan.