Was there a sign at the Brisbane Airport last week barring diplomacy or diplomats entry to Australia? The way Vladimir Putin was treated at the G20 conference there was a disgrace. He is the leader of the Russian people and as their representative he deserves to be treated with courtesy. How would Canadians feel if the world leaders treated the Canadian Prime Minister so discourteously? And where does the Hair get off, thinking he can kick the school yard bully when he is down?
The world has over many centuries developed a code of diplomacy. It is designed to help prevent your emissaries being needlessly butchered before they have delivered their message of peace and friendship. And there are even diplomatic ways of informing the overly aggressive leader that his intentions in a neighbouring state are not reciprocated. Sure diplomatic sanctions might seem slow and less effective than a well-aimed kick but that kick can earn its own consequences.
The Hair needs to learn diplomacy. And he has to stop playing to numbskulls back in Canada who think Canadians can make enemies of the Russians. Sure the Americans will protect us from the wrath of the Russian bear but what price will the Americans exact for the aid? Being friends with the Americans is hard enough already.
The Hair has to stop making enemies for Canada. He is busy alienating much of the Muslim world. He has annoyed many at the United Nations. His government’s mistreatment of refugees is spreading alarm. The Americans are tired of him pandering to them while pushing pipelines for his highly polluting tar sands bitumen. And they hardly want his bitumen polluting south of the border.
It is not as though the Hair does not have a Minister of Foreign Affairs—such as he is. John Baird might be something other than competent but the Hair picked him and he might as well use him.
And there would be something poetic about John Baird getting in Mr. Putin’s face. This would be particularly if Mr. Baird explained to Mr. Putin that we are less discriminatory. Canadians are more tolerant of gentlemen who prefer other gentlemen for company.
-30-
Copyright 2014 © Peter Lowry
Complaints, comments, criticisms and compliments can be sent to [email protected]