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Page 5 - The Battlefords, Thursday, November 26, 2015

Regional Optimist

w w w. n ew s o p t i m i s t . c a

Things are getting out of control in Syria “This business will get out of control. It will get out of control and we’ll be lucky to live through it.” That quote was from the movie The Hunt for Red October. The recently deceased Fred Thompson, playing the American admiral commanding an aircraft carrier battle group, is looking out on the deck of his ship where a fighter plane has just crashed and burned. The American F-14 had bumped into a Russian bomber over the North Atlantic during a time of heightened tensions. That was fiction, filmed in 1989 and set in the early 1980s. This morning, while eating my toast, I saw a Russian fighter-bomber, very much like the F-14, go down in flames on the TV news. Turkey had just shot down a Russian plane at the Turkish/Syrian border after supposedly giving it several warnings not to intrude on Turkish airspace. This was fact, filmed in 2015 and set today. Turkey, our formal ally, has apparently called for a meeting of NATO this afternoon. If they invoked Article 5 of the NATO charter, we would be at war before this newspaper hit the presses. Article 5 stipulates an attack on one in Europe or North America is an attack on all NATO members. It has been invoked only once, after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It’s why Canada found itself deployed to Afghanistan until 2014. Events in Syria are getting out of control, and one might wonder if we will be lucky to live through it. Consider in the space of a few short weeks, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad flew to Russia. Shortly thereafter, Russia deployed its largest military presence beyond its immediate borders in a generation and started bombing. ISIS, in return, snuck a bomb on a Russian airliner full of Russian tourists. Then ISIS attacked Paris in spectacular fashion, and Beirut in what was a footnote in Western media coverage. Russia amped up its bombing campaign to include bombers that were designed to hit us, here in North America. France, another NATO ally, declared war on ISIS, but, to this point, has not invoked Article 5. Within days, France deployed its own aircraft carrier battle group to the eastern Mediterranean to reinforce its already-deployed forces in the theatre. Then Turkey shot down a Russian plane. It’s hard to keep track of who is currently bombing in Syria right now. The list includes Canada (currently), Russia (recently), France (increasingly), United States (continually), Jordan (very angrily, after one of its pilots was burned alive), Turkey (selectively, against Kurds), Australia (really?),

rom

the top of

the pile By Brian Zinchuk

Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers

Association 2012 Columnist of the Year Saudi Arabia (menacingly), Bahrain and United Arab Emirates (I’ve run out of things ending in “ly”). Across the border in Iraq, bombs have been dropped by Denmark, the Netherlands and United Kingdom. Iran might even be involved, too. Up to this point, everyone has been of a like mind and only shooting at people on the ground, and not each other, but that ended today. Seeing the nations of the world gather in battle

is unnerving, because there is no real common enemy. Most are targeting ISIS, but some are hitting the Kurds, others (Russia) going after anti-Assad forces. No wonder Europe is now being overrun by refugees. About the only country in the area not involved in bombing is Israel, but they get their pot shots in as needed. Russian president Vladimir Putin raised a valid point about ISIS, namely, who is buying their oil? Is it

the same countries that are currently bombing it? It has to be, because every country surrounding ISIS-held territory is bombing it. Now Putin is calling the shooting down of his aircraft a “stab in the back.” This is not good. What most people forget is the hottest days of the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, were not just about Russian missiles in Cuba. The Russians were placing missiles in Cuba because America had already placed Jupiter nuclear missiles in Turkey, aimed at Moscow. The resolution of the Cuban missile crisis involved the quiet withdrawal of those missiles in Turkey. If all of this isn’t enough to give you the willies, remember this gathering of warring nations is not that far from this little place called Megiddo, also known

as Armageddon. It’s just a hop, skip and cruise missile launch away from the current area of operations.

— Brian Zinchuk is editor of Pipeline News. He can be reached at brian. zinchuk@sasktel.net.

JEANINE’S COIFFURE at Discovery Co-op Christmas Sale November 27 - December 12, 2015 All Perms

Colors and/or Highlights

(Does not apply to Wed. Seniors Prices)

5 Off reg. price

Jeanine, Krystal, Diane & Roxanne look forward to seeing you this holiday season.

For the Look that Says It All! CALL 306-446-0722 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Jeanine and staff

The Man with The Cow on his Head

Dates set for City 2016 budget deliberations By John Cairns Staff Reporter

The dates have been set for the City of North Battleford’s budget deliberations for 2016. Three nights of deliberation sessions are planned and those will take place in council chambers. After those are complete a final debate and vote is set for a regular council meeting Dec. 14. The first budget deliberation session is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 2, dealing

with selected third-party grant applicants. Applicants will appear before council that night from 7 to 10 p.m. Then come two nights of City departmental presentations to council. The first of those is Monday, Dec. 7 between 6 and 10 p.m. and will include leisure services, fire and protective services, waste management and general governance. Dec. 9, there will be more presentations featuring planning and development, operations and maintenance,

water and sewer. Director of Finance David Gillan presented the deliberation schedule to council. He indicated the 2016 budget document is nearing completion and should be ready for the Dec. 2 deliberations.

December 6 - 10:30 a.m.

“White Gift Sunday” with Communion

December 13 - 10:30 a.m.

“One Silent Night” Senior Choir Cantata with Sunday School Pageant

December 20 - 10:30 a.m.

Monday, Nov. 30 through Saturday, Dec. 5 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.

(Poems & Songs)

Wayne Hoffman 306-441-1411

Brian Lampitt 306-441-6433

1541 - 100th Street

Phone 306-445-5555 or 306-445-6666

at Third Avenue United Church “Hanging of the Greens” Service with Community Youth Choir

Co-op Territorial Place Mall

Weekend Sales Team

Advent Season Services November 29 - 10:30 a.m.

Will be at

U HO

Sunday, November 29 1:00 - 3:00 pm

281-34th Street, Battleford

Immaculate Battleford home features large beautifully landscaped yard, deck & concrete patio with gazebo and storage shed. Tastefully decorated. Upgrades include newer laminate flooring, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths. Basement is fully developed. Attached single car garage. Air conditioning, central vac, all appliances and window treatments remain. Donna Ray in attendance. MLS®549306

West Side Condo

Quiet, 2 bedroom condo in a great area. Nice big open living area, wheelchair accessible, air conditioned unit. Has underground parking for cold winter months. Central location in city, close to all city needs. Don’t miss out! Call Marc to view MLS®555356.

“Lessons and Carols” Service

Christmas Eve Service

December 24 at 7:00 p.m. EVERYONE WELCOME

1301 102 Street North Battleford

Great Potential

Cozy mobile home in Battleford

This 1,296 square foot mobile home on a leased lot offers 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom and 2 large living rooms. There was a new metal roof installed approximately 4 years ago and vinyl skirting with Stryofoam insulation behind it. All appliances will remain as well as some of the furnishings. The deck has a fresh look with a new coat of paint and comes with the BBQ. If you are looking for affordable living in Battleford, here is your chance! Call Tracy Voigt at 306-441-1981. MLS®553482.

Executive Home in Kildeer Park!

Third Avenue

UNITED CHURCH

With this duplex with 2 bedrooms on the main on each side. Open living room with lots of light. Good sized kitchen/dining. Deck off dining rooms. Side “A” has basement development. Side “B” has newer flooring & upgraded bathroom. Both sides have EE furnaces & newer water heaters. Long term tenants. Call Karen on this great opportunity. MLS®555777.

Excellent Family Home

On the south side of Battleford, close to walking paths and playgrounds! This is a well constructed home with 2x6 construction and a large entrance way welcoming you into this home. Newly installed birch hardwood floors throughout the main level, new paint, new water heater, triple glazed windows, maple kitchen with large eating area. Living room has a gas fireplace and an entrance outside to a covered deck to relax and enjoy the summer. There are 3 large bedrooms upstairs with a jetted tub in the Master. Double car garage with direct entry into the house. Excellent basement development with in-floor heating, 2 large bedrooms, a jetted tub in the bathroom and a family room and lots of storage. Call Tricia Heidel @ 306-441-5219 on MLS®537494.

This quality home features all the top building products & innovations. Spacious 1, 595 sq. ft. of living area both up & down. Main floor boasts an open floor plan with an abundance of alder cabinets in the kitchen area, ceramic tile flooring throughout kitchen & dining areas. There is plush carpeting in the adjoining great room. The master bedroom and ensuite, dressing area is every woman’s dream; marble shower, huge corner tub, lots of alder cabinets, 3 closets, makeup area and washer & dryer. There is a spacious 2nd bedroom on the main floor. The basement development includes 2 spacious bedrooms, 4 piece bath, games area, family room & office/exercise area. Outside features a nicely fenced and landscaped yard complete with UGSS, non-maintenance deck with a closed in sitting (3 season) area. Many more extras - too numerous to be included in the space, so call Brian on MLS®538974 for all the details & your personal viewing. 306-445-5555.