In my previous post, I excerpted criticisms of Mr. Carney's endorsement of the United States' embrace of international lawlessness. Sid Ryan, Lloyd Axworthy and Justin Ling offered their responses to this betrayal of Canadian values.
arguing Canada “cannot endorse the unilateral and illegal use of military force” while insisting its own sovereignty must be respected.
In a weekend social media video that was “liked” by a handful of other Liberal MPs, rookie Victoria MP Will Greaves said Carney’s support for the strikes, which killed Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei and sparked an escalated Middle East conflict, “feels different” from the prime minister’s Davos declaration of a Canadian foreign policy rooted in “independence, consistency and principled pragmatism.”
“We can be clear-eyed about Iran’s human rights record and its abuses and the destructive role that it has played in the Middle East, and still insist on consistency, restraint and the protection of civilians, because that’s what credibility looks like in a fracturing world,” said Greaves, who was an associate professor of international relations at the University of Victoria before his election last spring.
“But Canada cannot endorse the unilateral and illegal use of military force, the killing of civilians or the kidnap and assassination of foreign heads of government while also insisting that our sovereignty, our rights and our independence must be respected.”
This refreshing and principled candour stands in sharp contrast to Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, who
dodged questions about whether the U.S. and Israeli strikes were consistent with international law, following a condemnation from United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, who said the attack on Iran and its retaliatory actions “undermine international peace and security.”
Apparently, she was taking a cue from boss Mark Carney, who
cancelled a scheduled news conference in India on Monday, came out in support of the military operation Saturday, arguing Iran was “the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East, has one of the world’s worst human rights records, and must never be allowed to obtain or develop nuclear weapons.”
As I said in yesterday's post, this is quite a departure from both the tone and substance of his Davos speech, which has been rendered hollow and meaningless by his craven support for Amerika's and Israel's illegal actions.
And Canadians are joining in the criticism:
Reaction time
Re “Carney picks a realpolitik side on Iran war” (March 2): I am so terribly disappointed with Mark Carney.
I voted for him because I believed he would be a person with principles, experience with important people in world affairs and firsthand knowledge of how to be honest and pragmatic.
I am now experiencing my first bad taste of Mr. Carney’s actions because of his support for Donald Trump’s action against Iran. I see no rational reason for bombing the country.
I am disgusted. I implore Mr. Carney to have the courage to reverse his statements on Iran giving support to Mr. Trump.
Jim Jeffs Parksville, B.C.
I can only guess that Mark Carney’s support for the attack on Iran is based on his desire to bring financial success to our country, understandable considering his background. I find it just plain wrong, for many reasons.
I will only cite one: Donald Trump did not go to U.S. Congress to ask for support for this war, nor did he seek the support of the United Nations. I believe the United States and Israel are beginning a major upset to Middle East stability, and even to safety and security in the world.
I had such high hopes for Mr. Carney when he became our Prime Minister.
Brian Skerrett Guelph/Eramosa, Ont.
While the Iranian people have suffered horrendously for decades, let us not delude ourselves, or them, that the “regime change” desired by Donald Trump will bring about meaningful democracy for the average Iranian.
It is clear to me that what he wants is a puppet government and further expansion of the American corporate empire.
Christopher Levenson Vancouver
I wish Mark Carney had thought to touch base with Jean Chrétien, who is known to be cautious in such matters, prior to cheering on the United States for another military attempt at regime change in the Middle East.
Glen Schaefer North Vancouver
I expect more servility to come. My elbows are done.
