Canada's Lebanon stand sparks domestic criticism

[Spazito]

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.

snip

"Mr Harper has said today in Paris that it's too early to send an international force to the region. I say to you Mr Harper -- it's never to early to demonstrate the resolve of Canadians to bring peace and stability to those who are suffering," Layton told a news conference in Ottawa.

more

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060718/wl_canada_nm/canada_mideast_canada_politics_col

[daleo]

1. Remember "Stand Up for Canada"?

That was the Harperites campaign slogan. It's even more ironic now than it was before.

[tuvor]

2. When are the next poll numbers supposed to come out?

If the calls are being made this week, I'd be very interested in seeing the results.

[tuvor]

3. Ottawa's pro-Israel tilt could take political toll: Arab critics

OTTAWA (CP) - Arab-Canadian critics say Prime Minister Stephen Harper will pay a political price for what they're calling an unabashed pro-Israel shift.

"It has left a bad taste in everybody's mouth," says Hani Faris, a professor of political science at the University of British Columbia who grew up in Lebanon.

"There is basically no concern for the sentiments or the feelings of the hundreds of thousands of Arab-Canadians or those who sympathize with (them)."

Israel supporters counter that Harper has taken a laudable stance on a growing Middle East crisis and maintain his actions were shaped far more by principle than politics.

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=8b500192-5eea-411f-a260-4ee02c28ac81&k=193

[Spazito]

4. I suspect the Israel supporters cited in the article would not see

Harper's actions being "shaped far more by principle than politics" had he gone the other extreme and came out and totally blamed Israel without any mention of Hezbollah.

Taking an extreme side in this, no matter which side, imo, is pure politics over principle. There is plenty of fault to be found on both sides, that of Israel and Hezbollah, in this current crisis.

[HEyHEY]

8. I know

It's unbelievable how much of a "two to tango" issue this thing is. And Harper just bypasses all of that.

[Spazito]

12. Exactly! I can only hope he pays a very dear price for this n/t

[CHIMO]

5. I Would Expect

That Stevie will be a lot less confrontational about having a vote this fall. I think that his numbers in Quebec have just tanked.

So I would then expect a great amount of flag waving on softwood and some sort of backdown by Stevies' party on the issue.

My, one week in politics.

[Spazito]

6. LOL, in one of the article there is a tidbit about Harper asking Putin

how to keep his popularity numbers high. Hmmmm, maybe not shooting one's mouth off and trying to "out-bush bush" would help, lol.

Here is the actual paragraph from the article:

During the two-day summit, Harper asked Putin at a bilateral photo opportunity to "explain to me how to maintain my popularity at high levels."

[CHIMO]

7. Had Seen

That.

Took it as small talk and if I had been in Putin's shoes my reply would have been a smile.

But now to the important stuff in Russia.

'Stylish' Harpers light up St. Petersburg night

St. Petersburg — Stephen and Laureen Harper, in their first foray on the international stage, are being talked about in Russia as the most stylish couple at the G8 Summit.

Commentators at the Russian television network, NTV, called the young Canadian couple "elegant" and "stylish" as they had their first look at the rookie 47-year-old Prime Minister, the youngest leader here, and his 43-year-old wife.

Mr. and Mrs. Harper made an impression, walking hand-in-hand along a long red carpet to make their entrance to the welcoming dinner at the spectacularly lavish Great Palace in Peterhof. The palace is just outside of St. Petersburg. It was originally modelled after Versailles in France and its gardens are full of golden sculptures and water dancing from fountains.

Russia's NTV television network, one of the country's largest, noted that Mr. Harper's blue tie matched the colour of his wife's jacket. Mrs. Harper wore a teal blue jacket over a black dress, black stockings and strappy, high-heeled black shoes. The television station did not discuss the other leaders' outfits, except to say that Ms. Putin had nice pants.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060717.wharpers17/BNStory/International/home



Shh! Stevie is expecting! Don't let anyone know I told you. Just a flash.

[tuvor]

10. Thanks a lot, CHIMO.

I'm having mulroney flashbacks.

And that was BEFORE I saw the photo.

[Spazito]

11. To continue with the "real" issue, I have to admit, after seeing all

the wives lined up in a photo, Mrs. Harper was, indeed, the best, most appropriately dressed among the G8 wives, imo. Now, steve is another question, having one's over generous paunch hanging out as it is in the above pic is....well....sigh....gauche, simply gauche.

:rofl:

[tuvor]

9. He could start

by representing Canadian interests.

[Spazito]

13. Yep, that too but, sadly, he doesn't know nor care about Canadian

interests, he only cares about two things, imo, how to be re-elected to a majority government and how to become blair's replacement as bush's poodle. He is failing on the first and seems to be gaining ground on the second.