"Harper is at his finest in standing up to Moscow"

It's rare that I agree with Michael den Tandt, but with this excellent column he's dead on!

... on the Ukraine file, since Russia’s illegal, duplicitous and reckless invasion of Crimea, the Prime Minister has been at his best. Both he and Foreign Minister John Baird deserve credit for the clear, principled and authoritative position they have taken, up to and including championing Russia’s indefinite suspension from the G8, now again the G7.

 Most of the critics of Stephen Harper's tough stand on Putin and Ukraine come off sounding like cheerleaders for the Chamberlain school of foreign policy.

It should quite obvious to everyone, as it most certainly is to Stephen Harper, that Canada alone does not carry a stick big enough (either economic or military) to threaten Vladimir Putin.  But that does not mean it is inappropriate for Harper to advocate for strong measures by members of our military and economic alliances. And many of them need all the help they can get to stiffen their spines. Tough talk (and action) aimed at constraining an obvious aggressor like Putin is exactly what is called for.

The UN’s ‘utterly regrettable’ decision to recognize Palestine

Baird hits out at UN’s decision:

Foreign Minister John Baird said today that Canada was “considering all available next steps”

... Palestinians erupted in wild cheers, hugging each other and honking car horns after the vote of 138 in favour, nine against and 41 abstentions.

... Baird said the resolution will set back any two-state negotiations in the Middle East.

... Israel, the United States, Canada and a handful of other members voted against what they saw as a largely symbolic and counterproductive move by the Palestinians...

  Good show Canada!  Most of the rest of the world ... Booooo!


Update 9 (Nov 30): Defiant Israel approves 3,000 new settlements after UN vote

Climate change - sanity in a sea of stupidity

"Back in the real world, if what many scientists say is true, climate change will not be a media-generated, one-year or one-election wonder. It will be a centuries-long struggle..." - Lorrie Goldstein

Lorrie Goldstein, in today's Toronto Sun, lends some much needed rationality to the media and environmentalist driven climate hysteria:

This is serious, long-term stuff. It's not about whether Dion names his dog "Kyoto" or Baird wears a green tie.
[...]
...I doubt the Liberals, Tories or anyone else in Ottawa believe a word of their own rhetoric on global warming these days. If they did, they'd be calling for a national unity government to address what could be an unprecedented crisis, not taking cheap shots at each other and insulting our intelligence.

[h/t]