Canada's Lebanon stand sparks domestic criticism

[tocqueville]

By Allan Dowd
5 minutes ago

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - The Conservative government was criticized at home on Tuesday for siding too closely with Israel over the fighting in Lebanon, where Canadians have been among the casualties.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is costing Canada credibility, and preventing it from playing its traditional role of neutral broker in any Middle East peace effort, acting Liberal Party leader Bill Graham said.

"There are greater geopolitical considerations in the region that mean that Canada has to take a balanced approach... Will we be a credible force in the region in the future? That's a question we must ask ourselves," Graham said.

Graham said that even President Bush, a strong supporter of Israel, has expressed concern the fighting will destabilize Lebanon's government.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060718/wl_canada_nm/canada_mideast_canada_politics_col;_ylt=AlwIRiK9doppRrrS2Y7o1MoHcggF;_ylu=X3oDMTBjMHVqMTQ4BHNlYwN5bnN1YmNhdA--

[Spazito]

1. I believe he will pay a price for "out-bushing bush" as coined by

Graham. Canadians, by past practice anyway, have wanted our government to avoid taking sides in crises like this and expect them to work toward trying to bring about a peaceful resolution. Also, as pointed out in the article, speaking strictly in political terms, the two Provinces Harper needs, even to hold onto a minority government, are Ontario and Quebec. They both have large communities of Canadians of Lebanese decent as well as Canadians of Palestinian decent who are outraged by both his unilateral support of Israel and the slow response to help those who need to evacuate.

[tuvor]

2. Harper is more concerned with two kidnapped Israelis

than he is with his own constituents.

My American friends, it may soon be time to unstitch those maple leaves from your backpacks.