The Ugly Canadian - Stephen Harper's Foreign Policy by Yves Engler

Author:Yves Engler [Engler, Yves]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: History, Americas, Canada, Politics & Social Sciences, Politics & Government, International & World Politics, Canadian, Post-Confederation, Relations
Amazon: B009TCKXZC
Publisher: RED Publishing
Published: 2012-10-18T04:00:00+00:00

6. At War with Lebanon and Iran

The foreign policy that flows from being Israel’s best friend and one of the main cheerleaders of the neoconservative world order is more militaristic than what most Canadians are comfortable with. This has included extreme belligerence and support for other countries’ wars, which is clearly seen in their positions on the invasion of Lebanon and the threatened attack against Iran.

Lebanon

Because of his “principles” Harper defended Israel’s summer 2006 invasion, Israel’s fifth, of Lebanon. When he told reporters that Israel’s military assault on Lebanon was a “measured response” to Hezbollah incursions, Harper probably regretted it. Two days later, Israel wiped out an entire Lebanese-Canadian family, including four children aged one to eight. Harper’s comment brought the kind of publicity even a staunchly pro-Israel prime minister could not like. But, with 1,100 (mostly civilian) Lebanese dead and much of the country’s infrastructure destroyed, the Conservatives continued to endorse Israel’s aggression. Three months after the conclusion of hostilities, Harper vetoed a 55-member Francophonie statement that “‘deplored’ the effect of the month-long conflict on the Lebanese civilians it endangered.” For Harper the statement was too one-sided, even if the 33-day war caused more than ten times the deaths on the Lebanese side, in a country with a little more than half of Israel’s population. In December 2011 the UN General Assembly again called on Israel to compensate Lebanon for the damages caused during the 2006 war. One hundred and sixty five countries voted in favour of the resolution. Eight, including Canada, voted against while six abstained and 14 nations were absent.

During its bombing of Lebanon Israel destroyed a UN compound, killing Canadian Major Paeta Hess-Von Kruedener. At the time of the bombing Harper publicly questioned the UN for keeping its forces in the war zone and demanded answers. When a UN inquiry concluded that on the day of the fatal bombing, Hezbollah fighters were nowhere near the UN post the “pro military” Conservative government ignored the report. In fact, internal documents uncovered by The Dominion refer to a letter Harper wrote Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert soon after the incident accepting that country’s account of the incident.

After the war protests erupted against the Lebanese government’s close ties to the US and Saudi Arabia and general indifference to the Israeli assault. Lebanon was split into two broad political camps: the Saudi/Western backed March 14 coalition and the Iran/Syria supported March 8 group. The Conservatives strengthened their relations with the Lebanese groups least resistant to Israel’s aggression. Canada followed Washington’s lead in arming the Lebanese army as a counterweight to Hezbollah’s military force, reported the New York Times in October 2008.

Ottawa repeatedly declared its support for the pro-Western anti-Hezbollah faction during the political crisis that followed the war. In November 2006 Foreign Affairs noted: “Canada stands firmly by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and his government in these challenging times.” Another release seven months later explained: “Canada applauds the leadership of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora at this critical juncture in Lebanon’s history.

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