I delayed saying anything about this because I thought I’d give the man a chance to explain himself and to see the actual words myself. But Liberal Prime Minister Paul (“we lead the world”) Martin hasn’t explained himself except to say oh, um, that’s what I meant, and after reading the actual words, I’m now convinced he’s clueless about foreign affairs, and Canada’s foreign policy is a joke. No direction, no plan. No policy. No clue.
The bitter irony here is that the main reason I call Paul (“we lead the world”) Martin what I call him, is that he claimed during the last election campaign that Canada “leads the world” in world peacekeeping (among other things which if I remember correctly included just about everything). Yes I know it’s too funny for words, and it was an excellent example of Liberals selling Canadians a bill of goods. That’s why I call him that. So you’d think he’d always, always, get this sort of this just exactly right.
I listened patiently to yesterday’s Question Period in Parliament and after ample opportunity to officially backtrack and restate his words or apologize, he repeatedly failed to do so. Yet again he’s dithering.
Fri, February 18, 2005
Martin ‘dumb’ to call Syria a peacekeeper, says MP
STEPHANIE RUBEC, SUN OTTAWA BUREAUOTTAWA—Prime Minister Paul Martin was under fire yesterday for a diplomatic gaffe that saw him defend Syria’s presence in Lebanon. Opposition parties roasted the PM for comments he made after meeting with cabinet, touting Syria’s peacekeeping role in the Middle East country.
“It’s clear that if the Syrians are in Lebanon it’s because they must keep the peace,” Martin told reporters before marching away.
Syria has been blamed for Monday’s car-bombing in Lebanon that killed former premier Rafik Hariri, the country’s most influential politician.
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper called the PM’s comments “shocking and irresponsible” and demanded an apology.
“Given that the very presence of the Syrian army in Lebanon is an illegal threat to peace, how could the prime minister commit such a gaffe so out off step with international opinion?” Harper asked.
NDP MP Bill Blaikie called the PM’s comments “dumb things” and said Martin was “being even dumber and not retracting them.”
Bloc Quebecois MP Gilles Duceppe said Martin was as confusing in his French answers as he was in his English ones.
But Martin brushed off demands that he apologize for his gaffe, insisting he was misunderstood.
“I said it in French and I said in English that the Syrians should withdraw from Lebanon,” the PM said in the Commons, accusing the Opposition of stirring the pot in the Middle East.
PTBC was founded by Mr. Johannesen in 2000.
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