Peace group talks about Obama

There was some hope and a fair amount of worry at the Moose Jaw Peace Coalition's monthly vigil on Sunday afternoon.
A group of four citizens met at the Moose Jaw YMCA and discussed a wide range of topics including the wars in the Middle East, the environment, the economic situation, child soldiers, and famine.
Member Dale Holmberg said new U.S. President Barack Obama, offers some promise for peace.
"There's no question Obama is head and shoulders above (George W.) Bush," he said.
And although the president's newly announced plan for withdrawal of troops in Iraq is encouraging, Holmberg said questions still abound.
"Even after Obama's pullout within the next couple of years it's questionable whether they will be withdrawing entirely."
He added that history shows that, regardless of who is in power, the U.S. seems to be perpetually in a war somewhere.
The group also exchanged ideas on the current economic problems.
The current predicament had Marion Tolley reminiscing about another troubled time - The Great Depression.
"Things were so bad," she said, "But everybody was so good. You didn't have to lock your door, and you shared with everyone else. Everybody helped and co-operated so well."
Another topic raised was the recent report that a Russian plane approached Canadian airspace before Obama visited Canada.
Holmberg chalked the federal government's subsequent reaction up to a case of patriotic fervour, and said the government was simply "sabre rattling."
He said there is no real threat and Ottawa's reaction was made to take attention away from more important things.
"Realistically, the Russians weren't planning to bomb Canada," he said.
Tolley expressed concern that the issue of Arctic sovereignty takes attention away from environmental concerns, and fellow attendee Annette Goffinet said the fervour was created to give Canada an excuse to revamp its military.
"There are so many things behind their real reason to do this," said Goffinet.

Myles Fish can be reached at 691-1258.