Section: Ottawa Citizen (Canada)
Cohen: A new wave of Jew-hating
A cautious friend asks whether it is safe to go Europe these days. He is a seasoned traveller, who has made many trips to India and other hard places. He is also a Jew, and his faith makes him nervous about visiting the continent. An esteemed diplomat is laid to rest with Christian rites. He was born a Jew in the reaches of the Empire, and that...
The U.S., Syria and international law
Adhering to international law (and the pivotal nostrums of state sovereignty and the law of armed conflict) is not something that states are supposed to pick and choose to do whenever it serves their interests. But that is precisely what U.S. President Barack Obama is doing in Syria. Last month, western countries (including Canada and the United...
Russian ship played key role in Canada’s Franklin expedition even as Harper denounced Russian government
A Russian-flagged vessel played a key role in Canada’s recent discovery of a sunken ship from the missing Franklin expedition, the Canadian Press reports. More from the Canadian Press report: Prime Minister Stephen Harper has billed the Franklin search as an expression of Canadian sovereignty in the North — particularly in light of the...
NATO can’t change its Cold War “genetic code” says Russia’s Foreign Minister
The Russian foreign minister issued a blistering attack on the West and NATO on Saturday, accusing them of being unable to change their Cold War “genetic code” and saying the United States must abandon its claims to “eternal uniqueness,” the Associated Press reports. More from the AP article: Sergey Lavrov’s assault appeared to be an...
HMCS Toronto completes Black Sea mission
HMCS Toronto has completed its 19 day participation in joint NATO operations in the Black Sea and will continue to take part in Operation REASSURANCE by participating in Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR under Standing NATO Maritime Group 2, the DND says in a press release. More from the release: HMCS Toronto was in the Black Sea from September 6 to 25....
Crowley: Canada must equip armed forces to face unforeseen threats
Events in Syria, Iraq, Ukraine and elsewhere show yet again why Canada cannot be short-sighted about its military. Moments of international calm must never make us complacent or we will not be able to respond when circumstances sour again, as they inevitably will. Not so long ago, Ottawa was being made fun of by those who claimed that attempts to...
Stephen Harper focuses on child health, avoids world hotspots in UN speech
William Marsden and Robert Sibley Postmedia News NEW YORK — Prime Minister Stephen Harper used the opportunity of his first appearance before the United Nations’ General Assembly in four years to burnish Canada’s reputation as a global leader while sidestepping issues of terrorism, Ebola and climate change that have preoccupied the...
The UN becomes the setting of a frightening game
It has not been a bad week for either Barack Obama or the United Nations. Monday evening, Obama caught the world off guard by launching disruptive airstrikes against ISIL (aka ISIS, IS, or Caliphate) assets in Syria. Warplanes from the Gulf States participated in the strikes, which are continuing. The activity at the UN shows serious U.S....
Will RCAF CF-18s take part in the bombing campaign against Islamic State forces?
By David Pugliese Defence Watch The U.S. wants Canada to contribute more to the military effort in Iraq and Syria to deal with the Islamic State, aka ISIS, aka ISIL. Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Wednesday he would not rule out a direct military contribution to the unfolding conflict. “I haven’t ruled out — we haven’t ruled out...
Canada talks tough on Russian sanctions but goes easy on those affecting oil industry
For all its much-touted toughness in imposing economic sanctions against Russia, Canada has been significantly more timid against one particular target: the oil industry, the Canadian Press news service reports. More from the article: A database of sanctions compiled by The Canadian Press suggests Canada has been almost three times less likely to...
