Canada’s Extremely Worthwhile Iran Initiative
Among journalists, there’s an old joke:
What’s the world’s most boring headline?
“Worthwhile Canadian Initiative.”
Except, never mind the old jokes, Canada’s foreign policy initiatives are getting awfully interesting these days — and in a good way. Canada’s Foreign Minister John Baird just announced that Canada is closing its embassy in Tehran and kicking Iran’s diplomats out of Canada. Why? Because, explained Baird, “Canada views the government of Iran as the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today.”
Among Canada’s reasons:
The Iranian regime is providing increasing military assistance to the Assad regime; it refuses to comply with UN resolutions pertaining to its nuclear program; it routinely threatens the existence of Israel and engages in racist anti-Semitic rhetoric and incitement to genocide; it is among the world’s worst violators of human rights; and it shelters and materially supports terrorist groups, requiring the Government of Canada to formally list Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism under the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act.
The Canadian government says that all Canadian diplomatic staff have already left Iran, and all Iranian diplomats in Ottawa have been told to clear out within five days.
What a bracing contrast to the recent gathering in Tehran of the 120-member erstwhile Non-Aligned Movement, headlined by the attendance of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and more than two dozen heads of state.
I am an Iranian American and this news made my DAY! I’m glad those smelly Hezbollahi terrorist pigs with diplomatic immunity got KICKED OUT! LMAO! One of the diplomats is an Iraqi and is one of the Larijani brothers
I agree. One of the major issues of this decision shouldn’t be underscored by the fact that Canada has been closely paying attention to Iranian-expats and their serious grievences concerning the current regime of Iran.
Yes, good iniative from our gov. Yet it’s been thirty-three years since these blood worshipping death cultists have been in power and showing/saying what they are about.
I have always used it as a litmust test, whether or not leaders mean what they say, if they still allow thugs to be represented in their countries.
This is a great piece of news from Canada, and I am duly impressed.
In fact, a few weeks ago there was a little reported piece of Islamic brutish behavior, which few cared about. And whether the dhimmifying police is a direct result of Iran’s belligerence is hard to quantify, surely CAIR and the hydra tentacled Muslim Mafia is operating behind the scenes. But every step taken towards Islamic thugs is a good thing!
See -
http://adinakutnicki.com/2012/08/05/islamists-have-reason-to-cheer-westerners-not-so-much-but-it-is-not-over-until-the-final-submission-how-close-are-we-commentary-by-adina-kutnicki/ (8/5/12) and whither the US goes, so too does Canada and the rest of the west,
‘http://adinakutnicki.com/2012/08/20/western-dhimmis-bow-again-to-islamic-supremacists-when-where-will-this-end-the-jury-is-out-on-said-results-brief-commentary-by-adina-kutnicki/ (8/20/12) and having many friends who live in Toronto & other Canadian provinces, this piece of news made me sick.
On the other hand, the latest news re Iran caused me to have a little hope too, maybe some leaders are getting a backbone. A woman can dream…..
Things change with time. Even the Liberal party.
Expelling Iran is a start, but Iran is no better than Saudi Arabia, and I argue that the Sunni terrorism of Saudi Arabia poses a far graver global threat – most mosques and imams in the West are funded by Saudi Arabia and the other Sunni Arab regimes of the gulf. Therefore most Islamic Jihad, including the 9/11 atrocity and the vast majority of the more than 20,000 murderous terror operations since 9/11 were funded by Saudi and other Arab Sunni terror money. We should not have cozy relations with any of these verminous totalitarian hell holes.
And as soon as we develop our vast energy reserves (maybe five years, assuming the Moron-in-Chief is not re-elected), we can dispense with any “friendship” with the Sharia state!
I’m proud of Prime Minister Stephen Harper today. It’s a long road and the left is going nuts over every little thing but incrementally he’s making the necessary changes.
I am Canadian, and I’m very pleased with this decision.
With the Conservative party, we seem to have have some clear, careful thinking. That is not to say that clear, careful thinking is not without its own set of risks and responsibilities.
Unlike our Ontario school system, the C’s seem to value “product” over “process”.
I still remember with gratitude how Canadian embassy officials in Tehran sheltered many Americans after our embassy was taken over by Iranian “dissidents.” That was a gutsy move – if the Iranians found out about it, they would’ve overtaken the Canadian embassy as well.
Good on you, Canada, again.
The Canadian Caper! Yes – I remember it well. The only bright spot on that entire dreary affair.
Larry J beat me to it.
The Canadians’ brave efficiency under extreme stress during that confused time with assistance and quiet protection of our Embassy Staff in Teheran literally saved their lives….literally saved their lives.
We Americans must never, ever forget that.
I, too, am Canadian and continue to be proud of our Conservative Government, under the able — perhaps unexciting! Who cares? — leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
He doesn’t court the MSM — they hate him — and simply proceeds quietly and relentlessly to tackle the real and difficult problems facing Western nations today, unlike his counterpart Stateside who likes to blame others for all of America’s woes.
When Stephen Harper comes to a fork in the road, he simply walks straight ahead. He and a number of the Ministers in his Cabinet mean business and despite the opprobrium and dirty tricks of the lamestream, aka consensus, media, they’ve so far been able to stay the course and are incrementally improving Canadians’ futures.
BTW, before the last election, in which PM Harper and his CPC (Conservative Party of Canada) won a majority, the media polls said that they and their near competitors (then, the Liberals, who were actually decimated) were “neck and neck.” Don’t be discouraged when the U.S. media says the same thing about Obama/Biden and Romney/Ryan. The media are carrying water for the Dems and will word their polls to make it look as though the Democrats are doing better than they are. Everyone loves a winner, right? Don’t be deceived!
Wow. One big move from the Hezbollahi and we could come even closer to replicating the election of 1980. Sorry for slightly jacking the thread, but with the Sword of Obamacles hanging over America I think of every issue in terms of November 6.
So I’m curious: would an Iranian/Israeli war help, or hurt Obama? People give him high ratings on foreign policy, I guess because “he got” bin Laden.
the Sword of Obamacles hanging over America
Good one!
Go Canada. I’m proud.
Channeling Michelle O : “I’ve never been more proud to be … ” But no, I am, and always have been proudly Canadian !
Mr. Harper, Thank You for being our Prime Minister.
This American would love to buy some more Canadian oil.
Dont let the Saudis and their friends funding the Environmental Commies shut you down.
Actually it is your President that shut out our oil not the Saudi’s.
He isnt my president. And soon my president Romney, will truly fast track and green light energy production and distribution channel expansion. A real all of thee above strategy.
This chump pretender that stated that his policies have led the US to be less dependent on foreign oil was telling the truth. However the reason that is, is because our economy is so kaput and gas prices so high, that people are using less, not be choice, but by necessity and desperation.
58 days and counting.
Oblahblah had the nerve to say in his speech the other night that the U.S.A. would soon be oil- and gas-independent. What a crock.
He nixed the Keystonhe XL Pipeline, which would transport Canadian natural gas to the U.S., on the grounds that it endangered clean air and water supplies, as well as harming migratory birds and other wildlife.
TransCanada is fully committed to the construction of the 1,897-km (1,179-mile) Keystone XL Pipeline from Hardisty, Alberta to Steele City, Nebraska. We will re-apply for a Presidential Permit and expect a new application to be processed in an expedited manner, making use of the exhaustive record compiled over the past three plus years of regulatory review to allow for an in-service date of 2015. TransCanada anticipates approval of the Presidential Permit application – which is required as the pipeline will cross the Canada/U.S. border – in the first quarter of 2013, after which construction will quickly begin.
http://www.transcanada.com/keystone.html
God-willing, Mitt Romney will be the POTUS, as he says he will support this initiative. It will create thousands of new jobs for out-of-work Americans.
I’m afraid that Mr. Obama’s nose is growing longer by the second.
He covered that in the Environmental Commies.
Extremely badass move by the Canucks.
Could they know that the IDF is about to take action?
Is there anything to prevent the US from bringing the UN to a slow boil, by selectively and very publicly revoking diplomatic credentials from the ambassadors of a (rather long) list of third-world thugocracies and tyrannies?
Put through the best and most long-winded diplomatic waffle maker, it shouldn’t be hard to make the point that absent a change in attitude, the termination of the gravy train for the unlucky losers would be best seen as the start of a much longer and more painful process that could very well lead in a direction third-world filth would find counterproductive. Bluntly: there’s no point in having power if you don’t use it.
Bonus: the contortions at State would be more instructive than any administration of badly needed loyalty oaths. The culling, in other words, would then be quicker, easier and permanent.
If nothing else, the entertainment of watching the lefty crowd in Canad after this announcement, do a complete Chimp Out was worth it
“If nothing else, the entertainment of watching the lefty crowd in Canad after this announcement, do a complete Chimp Out was worth it”
Fell outta my chair laughing so hard! LOL!
Well done, Canada! After this, I may even forgive you for the last two Olympic hockey tournaments!
Crosses the blue line… Slap shot! He scores!
As an Australian, who views Canadians almost as cousins [except they have snow and we have deserts], I always thought they were slightly weird in their leftish thoughts and sentiments. Perhaps it is the lingering whiff of Trudeaism or something.
Canada and Australia have always been competitors in the global market for mines and minerals. Almost always, Australia has won the competition.
But they have now turned it around.
I found out yesterday that amongst our competitors for mining Canada now beats us hands down.
The difference is that Canada after many years turfed out their socialist governments, and we here in Australia are still suffering under one; albeit it will be thrown from office within the year.
As for the US, it disheartens us here in Australia to see stories of its supposed demise. It needs to be strong, though I don’t know how it can do that if it has to face another four years of Obama.
Best wishes cousins.
Hi, cousin James!
Yes, federally we Canadians have “licked” the socialists—for the time being: they’re like termites still in the basement—but we still have lots of provincial socialist governments, one of which has bankrupt what used to be our most prosperous province, Ontario. (And, yes, like most countries in the West, our left-wing, public system schools—some classrooms openly sported Obama posters—are incubators for brainless, OWS types.)
However, as kjh has written above—I altogether agree with this analysis—PM Harper and his government are leading from in front, quietly, but surely. (I’d love to know what Harper really thinks of Obama, who, among other gaffes, said, when he was in Ottawa, “I’m happy to be here in Iow . . . Ottawa.” No wonder he only stayed for a few hours: our PM was statesmanlike, off teleprompter, and Zer0 couldn’t even hold it together when scripted. WHAT an empty chair or, as someone wittily observed, “The clothes have no emperor”!)
I’ve written our fine PM and Minister John Baird, congratulating them on this bold and principled move. And thank you, Claudia, for writing about this: Canada now pulls well above its weight and is usually quite ignored. I appreciate the well-deserved credit where credit is due.
lookout,
For this American living abroad MANY of my friends are Canadian and other commonwealth countries, respectively.
As you know Canada Day and the U.S.A.’s Independence Day, the 4th of July are VERY close to one another whereas we celebrate the 2 holidays simultaneously/ together.
Others have echoed difficulties with the present decision of the Keystone Pipeline and I hope the present decision on the matter is changed altogether.
If only Canadian hockey players were as ‘accommodating’ when playing U.S. hockey player’s/ teams…!
I’ll try posting this comment again:
C’mon, paul! We’re a country of 33,000,000 to your 333,000,000, sort of like having an elephant for a neighbour when you’re the size of a mouse!
Let us, at the least, have a few moments of glory on the hockey arena!
Cheers!
The US has been so hamstrung by Environmentalist Communists, that our mineral mining (like Uranium for example) has been crippled. (Not to mention they shut down Nuclear Energy plant construction by the early 1980s). And then people wonder why we are on the ropes.
58 days and counting…
Thanks bro for the warm sentiments…
American
“The Iranian regime is providing increasing military assistance to the Assad regime; it refuses to comply with UN resolutions pertaining to its nuclear program; it routinely threatens the existence of Israel and engages in racist anti-Semitic rhetoric and incitement to genocide; it is among the world’s worst violators of human rights; and it shelters and materially supports terrorist groups, requiring the Government of Canada to formally list Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism under the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act.”
Well, OK, but aside from that, what else are the Iranians guilty of? Yet if you listen to the Obama administration, the Iranians seem to be nothing more than a minor annoyance. You never hear Obama talk about the Iranian problem, and even less about their nuclear program. And then there’s that usual holy grail of “international sanctions” against countries like Iran, which never, ever, work. Iran’s economy may take a hit because of the sanctions, but they will still get their nuclear bomb and still threaten Israel with extermination. Who knew that the Canadians would be at the cutting edge of a foreign policy push against the Iranians? Now THAT should embarrass Obama more than anything else, that he is being shown up by CANADIANS.
“. . . shown up by CANADIANS”? Why not Canadians, LS 46?
As I said in my post above, we punch well above our weight and have for the longest time, especially during WWI, where Canada, in effect, came of age. Since then, our soldiers have provided courageous and kick-serious-butt service around the world.
Now, if you’re talking politicians, I can see your point: the Liberals—your Democrats—ran this country (into the ground) like a private fiefdom for decades. Thank God Canadians finally rejected these Obama wannabes’ divide-and-conquer, identity politics rule.
(And the Liberal’s latest leader, the PM-Pretender-in-Waiting, Count Michael Ignatieff, after losing his own seat in the 2011 election, when the Liberal Party had its worst showing in its history, has gone back to—guess where?—HAH-VAHD: good riddance to posturing, entitled rubbish! Let’s hope our American cousins do the same to Zer0 in 2012.)
Why not Canadians, eh? The world of sycophantic, craven Western poseurs, who pander to identity politics and its decrepit enablers and enforcers, can sure learn a thing or two from PM Stephen Harper and his government. Go for it, guys and gals!
All carrot and no stick…
Proud of the Great White North on this one and how well their soldiers have performed overseas.
Roger, that!
Canuck secret weapons training: HOCKEY.
It’s all very simple: the Canadian government is presently run by honorable men who seek to do the right thing.
The American government is run by a cabal of commie thugs and jackasses who, when they’re not stoned or getting laid (and it does seem that’s all they ever discuss, isn’t it? I guess they’re obsessed by it.)still believe in that “have a conversation instead of a fight” BS, which has never, ever worked in the entire history of mankind going back 20,000 years. If they’re so frikkin’right, why don’t they know this?
Oh. That’s right. They only listen to the stupid voices in their own tiny little heads. Facts are soooo Republican! Therefore, facts are BAD!In addition, Dems aren’t very brave unless they’re in a group. Individually, they are all chicken. Indeed, they’re all weenies! If it weren’t for the lesbians, there wouldn’t be a man among them!
Just like their fact-free convention last week.
Why don’t American conservatives emigrate to Canada? Perhaps that would “encourage” Canadian libs to come here…Voila – bloodless two-state solution to the problem…
How about you Leftwingers move to Russia…where you can keep working on your Socialist Dreams.
I’d rather that both countries be conservative!
No thanks, we’ll keep our Liberalism, Americans can stay where they are.
As usual our Canadian media and diplomatic elites are crying over this move. We have our fair share of useful (useless) idiots.
My guess is that Israel dropped Canada a diplomatic note saying that things are about to become hot and heavy in Iran in a short while, and it might not be a safe place for Israeli allies.
Add to that point that Canada has a large ex-pat Iranian population—and Arabs and Pakistanis too–among whom there are likely to be a few bad apples: sleeper agents (what the Ruskies call “illegals”) buried among them.
This gives the authorities ample space to monitor them more aggressively and quietly (they are CANADIAN after all) put them “on ice”.
Recall that the “millenium bomber” was an Arab Canadian out of Montreal who crossed into Washington state. Recall that 9/11 had a Toronto, Canada connection with respect to the source of all the false documents used. What else DON’T we know about anti-American hostiles in Canada?
One of the only things Stephen Harper and the Conservatives have done right.
Is that why so many countries these days point to Canada and say “Why can’t we be run that well?”
Apparently the world has really low standards and doesn’t care how he does it.
Uh huh. You’re right about one thing, Observer92 (reference to your age by any chance? It shows …): The world does have low standards.
Have you ever lived in a third-world country, where one of the biggest problems facing the people, aside from famine, war, earthquake, disease, is the corruption of their (un)elected officials? We’re talking about 80% of the world.
Canadians have it good now that we finally have a Prime Minister who makes decisions based on principle, not just selling out to the highest bidder. Liberalism has proven to be fatal in most of the countries where it’s triumphed. Maggie Thatcher was right: “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.” And that’s where liberalism leads — straight to socialist policies and bankruptcy.
Observer92
Wow if you think Harper is bad now wait 3 more years and he gets done dismantling Trudeaumania. You will just love it here. Go Harper.
Don’t worry, just like modern Western democracies always do, your countrymen will hand power back to the leftists again in a few years time and all progress will be out the window – it never fails.
Let’s see: Obama leads with his behind. Harper leads with his conscience.
Canada = +1
Obama = a big fat Canadian goose egg
Let’s not forget why Obama keeps begging Iran to negotiate: He wants to be the one who opened Iran to the West. He’s thinking Nixon and China. He wants Iran to be his legacy.
Of course, Iran will be Obama’s legacy but for the opposite reason he thinks: For his ‘Iranian’ legacy, he has sold out the Iranian people. For his ‘Iranian’ legacy, he has sold out Israel and the Israeli people. For his ‘Iranian’ legacy, he has sold out America and the American people.
Iran strikes me as a modern, liberal country held captive by a medieval regime. I have hope that its theocracy will one day crumble.
Iran has vowed severe “retaliation”.
Well I guess this is really going to hurt Canada’s chances of getting an invite to the Iranian International Hockey Tournament this year.
Not to mention those Maple Syrup carrying supertankers that are going to be sitting unloaded in Iranian harbors when the sanctions kick in.
One more thing to add to the long list of “The Axis of Stuff the Iranian Government Hates”. Lets see…Canada goes somewhere between Barbie dolls and Denmark.
I nominate Steven Harper as Leader of the Free World.
I second.
I think he already is sort of. Guys all over the place. Doesn’t say much; does alot however.
Thank you for all the thumbs up sent to Canada. Yes, I remember the Canadian Caper (I was in High school at the time), and could not have been happier when I saw the news of the freed Americans touching down in the US, on that January day in 1981.
I say that some are quicker to learn this, than others: It is always the right time to do the right thing.
Plus, who else caught the interview of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, yesterday, on, of all places, the CBC.
It has always been a puzzle to me how any country that bases its Constitution on islam/koran/Sharia can be allowed a vote in the UN.
islam without a doubt is contrary to all of the stipulations of the UNDHR.
If the UN would only enforce adherence to not only its charter, but make the UNDHR a prerequisite as a basis for any countries laws it might then regain some legitimacy. For it has none now. In its current form it should not exist as it has proven to have been a wasted effort.