Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - November 6, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba A10 world Winnipeg free press monday november 6, 2006 . Elections republicans fret about their future on Capitol Hill by Sheldon Alberts w Ashington ? political Grid lock. Congressional investigations. Rumours of impeach ment. The possibility of a Democrat con trolled Congress after tuesdays . Mid term elections has republicans fretting about their political future ? and warn ing american voters they risk two years of liberalism gone wild on Capitol Hill. The potential for a divided Congress with a narrow majority for either party could also give Canada headaches on thorny issues such As Border identification and the War in Afghanistan. But no one has More cause for concern than president George w. Bush say analysts who could become a lame Duck president Long before he would normally be sidelined by the 2008 presidential race. It could end up being a really bad final two years for Bush right at a time when he wanted to achieve some significant legacy says Mark Rozell a Polit ical scientist at George Mason University in Fairfax a. Democrats will be knocking Down Bush a proposals left and right and quite possibly initiating legislative investigations and a variety of hearings into allegations of wrongdoing in the executive while republicans publicly cling to the Hope they will retain control of both the Senate and House of representatives on tuesday election analysts predict democrats stand a Good Chance of Seiz ing the majority in at least one congressional chamber. If they pick up 15 seats in the House democrats would return to Power after 12 years in the political wilderness. With memories of Republican impeachment hearings against Bill Clin ton still fresh in the minds of Veteran democratic lawmakers the White House May quickly learn the meaning of payback already senior democrats who would chair congressional oversight commit tees Are promising a Bevy of investigations. Rep. John Conyers potential chair Man of the House judiciary committee wants probes into the White houses Domestic wiretapping program and alleged abuses of the Patriot act. Other democrats Are vowing investigations into Pentagon contracts awarded in Iraq to Halliburton the company for Merly headed by vice president Dick Cheney. Look for a thorough invest it could end up ligation of the being a really War in Iraq says pollster bad final two John Zogby. Years for Bush look for some increased right at a time pressure for when he wanted some signify to achieve some cant Cabinet Heads to Roll. If significant democrats win legacy there will be ? political scientist that immediate Mark Rozell in the Senate responsible for con firming White House nominees a demo cratic majority would make it extremely difficult for Bush to appoint conserva Tive judges and possible new members of his Cabinet. Some Liberal democrats have even whispered about the Granddaddy of All investigations ? bringing Bush to trial for High crimes and misdemeanours Over the War in Iraq. California rep. Nancy Pelosi who stands to become speaker of the House has downplayed the possibility of impeachment proceedings fearing a voter backlash that could Hurt democratic chances at the presidency in 2008. But rep. Charlie Rangel a new York Democrat says there a another Good Rea son to keep Bush in the White House. If you know Dick Cheney you would it think about impeaching or. Bush Rangel told an interviewer alluding to the the presidents second in command. Oversight does not mean impeach ment. But if you want to avoid mistakes in the future you have to know what went wrong in the democrats would almost certainly try to influence Bush a policy on Iraq whether by making it More difficult to fund reconstruction with contracts to Halliburton or opposing the presidents military policy. Canadians should to expect a democratic controlled Congress to be any More Friendly or hostile than the Republican run government but Ottawa could still get blindsided by the fallout of a divided Congress at loggerheads with the White House. There is going to be a lot of scrutiny on . Commitments overseas and the feeling that some . Troops should come Home says Christopher Sands a senior analyst with the Canada project at the Centre for Security and International studies. Canada is really heavily committed in Afghanistan but if the . Is going to try to draw Down and shift Burden onto other nato allies Canada May Bear the Brunt of american policy on the biggest Bilat eral Issue affecting Canada-. Relations ? the looming requirement for a passport or other form of Border identification ? is not Likely to shift much whether republicans or democrats Are in control. There is really not a big partisan split on Canada says Sands. Usually the people along the Border Are going to be helpful on something like Border i whatever their party is because they can feel the Impact of that he says. But gridlock in Congress could Hurt efforts to fund projects such As Border infrastructure that could help keep Trade and tourism flowing after the implementation of the new Western Hemi sphere travel initiative. ? can West news service afghan army has Long Way to go Trainer Kabul ? it will be at least 10 years before afghan troops can handle nation Al Security without help from canadians and other foreign soldiers says a top military Trainer Here. British col. Paul Farrar Deputy com Mander of the International assistance Wing of the Kabul military training Cen tre says the four year old afghan National army is making real but painfully slow Progress. Its superficial he said in a candid interview. Its wafer thin ? that a the Way i describe it. But its better than it was last year and the year before that. Its really been struggling on to its feet and its prob ably not even now its better fully on them. But than it was there is last year and his assessment the year in to exactly Good news for coun before that tries including ? British col. Canada who pin Paul Farrar their exit Strate Gies from Afghanistan on the ultimate hand Over of Security duties. The challenges Are monumental. American British Canadian and French soldiers Are helping to build a modern Force almost from scratch after the Tal iban a Iron fist Rule. Comparison with Western military standards is simply unfair they say. Most afghan recruits can to read write or add some officers left Over from the vestiges of a class based army system think they re entitled to a Job and the rate at which soldiers desert go absent without leave or decline to renew their three year Volunteer contracts hovers Between 20 and 50 per cent depending on circumstances. Afghans clearly have a mind of their own. One thing we be Learned is they Don to work on time says Canadian warrant officer Todd Hunt. They show up when they show at 7 of clock on a saturday morning Hunt was searching in vain for a very late sergeant major and doing his Best to Herd cats. I have work to do. You have work to do. You have to disperse he told a crowd of trainees that was More inter ested in a couple of foreign visitors than in preparing for live fire exercises. ? Canadian press ;