Canada Closes Embassy in Iran

[Guest American Woman]

Canada has closed its embassy in Iran and will expel all Iranian diplomats in Canada within five days, Foreign Minister John Baird said on Friday, denouncing Tehran as the biggest threat to global security.

"Diplomatic relations between Canada and Iran have been suspended," Baird said.

He cited Iran's nuclear program, its hostility toward Israel and Iranian military assistance to the government of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, which is locked in civil war with rebels. He also said Iran was a state sponsor of terrorism.

Canada's move was swiftly applauded by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has strongly warned of the danger of a growing threat from Iran.

link

Canada has joined the United States in choosing not to have diplomatic ties with Iran. Israel seems quite pleased by the move. I would say this is definitely an indication of the direction Iran is heading in, and I can't help but wonder how it is going to all play out.

[eyeball]

Canada has joined the United States in choosing not to have diplomatic ties with Iran. Israel seems quite pleased by the move. I would say this is definitely an indication of the direction Iran is heading in, and I can't help but wonder how it is going to all play out.

Biblically in all likelihood.

By the way, haven't we all been headed in this direction for just about forever now? Heck even the Mayan's seemed to know the jig was always up.

[waldo]

huh! There already is a thread on this.

Canada has joined the United States in choosing not to have diplomatic ties with Iran.

well... considering your countries formal diplomatic ties were severed in 1980... Canada's a bit slow on the take-up - yes? In any case isn't your countries diplomatic tie severing more symbolic in that Switzerland still represents American interests/citizens in Iran... after all, this described Baird/Harper Conservative bluster has just left Canadians/Canadian interests in Iran twisting in the wind - yes? Your country needs to get with the Baird/Harper times - yes?

[Guest American Woman]

huh! There already is a thread on this.

well... considering your countries formal diplomatic ties were severed in 1980... Canada's a bit slow on the take-up - yes? In any case isn't your countries diplomatic tie severing more symbolic in that Switzerland still represents American interests/citizens in Iran... after all, this described Baird/Harper Conservative bluster has just left Canadians/Canadian interests in Iran twisting in the wind - yes? Your country needs to get with the Baird/Harper times - yes?

Didn't know that there was already a thread - seemed to be a "world" issue to me, and I didn't see a thread when I started mine.

As for the rest of your post - I have no idea what you are on about, and for that I thank God.

Carry on.

[waldo]

As for the rest of your post - I have no idea what you are on about, and for that I thank God.

hardly fair... I'm sure we could come together on this... if only you could see fit to give me the same opportunity you're advocating for Honey Boo Boo!

[Guest American Woman]

hardly fair... I'm sure we could come together on this... if only you could see fit to give me the same opportunity you're advocating for Honey Boo Boo!

I'm going to respond to you the same as I respond to Honey Boo Boo - and choose not to view your posts, just as I choose not to view her show. Before I do that, however, I want you to know that I do "see fit to give [you] the same opportunity [i'm] advocating for Honey Boo Boo," as I support and applaud the admin for giving you the same opportunity to post that intelligent people have.

Edited September 7, 2012 by American Woman

[waldo]

oh snap, AW! It's unfortunate you stumbled over the timing and tried valiantly to tie this BairdBlunder to the U.S. diplomatic position on Iran... you know, the American position that's over 30 years old. You missing that there already exists a thread on this subject in the Canadian Politics Federal forum is no biggie... why... it affords another opportunity! One that, I'm sure, could prove useful to focus this thread around some of those like past MLW discussions on the most significant influence the U.S. had in bringing forward the Iran of today - an opportunity in itself, right... a U.S. meddling opportunity, right?

[Topaz]

In a poll of 1002 Canadians, most agreed with closing the embassy in Iran but when asked about military force, the polls dipped and most didn't agree with invasion, with regime change. So where does this put the Tories if NATO gets involved in miltary force? http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/46801/canadians-support-governments-decision-to-cut-ties-with-iran/

[Shady]

Didn't know that there was already a thread - seemed to be a "world" issue to me, and I didn't see a thread when I started mine.

As for the rest of your post - I have no idea what you are on about, and for that I thank God.

Carry on.

You need a lexicon for all of the.wingnut jargon that Waldo creates in his posts. He forgets that the rest of us don't speak his looney language.

[scribblet]

I'm going to respond to you the same as I respond to Honey Boo Boo - and choose not to view your posts, just as I choose not to view her show. Before I do that, however, I want you to know that I do "see fit to give [you] the same opportunity [i'm] advocating for Honey Boo Boo," as I support and applaud the admin for giving you the same opportunity to post that intelligent people have.

Have to say I too have W. on ignore, he is otiose

[Jiblethead]

Terrible move by the Canadian government. Now they will simply hate the West more than they already do (if that is even possible).

[eyeball]

Terrible move by the Canadian government. Now they will simply hate the West more than they already do (if that is even possible).

Laugh their asses off at us is more like it. Unfortunately we decided to get all ethical about dealing with this one particular dictator at the same time Harper was playing pig-on-a-spit with Putin and Jintao.

[Wild Bill]

Terrible move by the Canadian government. Now they will simply hate the West more than they already do (if that is even possible).

You are implying that it is somehow our fault, that we have insulted them.

If we look at your argument from the other end, how on earth could we have avoided insulting them?

What would we have to do to make them LIKE us?

Could we live with the price?

[Guest Manny]

I heard about this when it happened a few weeks ago. What specifically prompted this decision at this point in time?

[Guest American Woman]

It's rather odd, because from everything I've read, Harper refuses to talk about his stand regarding Iran, except to say that Canada recognizes the danger and threat Iran presents to the world and that he wants a peaceful resolution to the problem.

Harper urges ‘peaceful resolution’ to Iran

[Guest American Woman]

I heard about this when it happened a few weeks ago. What specifically prompted this decision at this point in time?

The Canadian government cited Iran's support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and failure to comply with UN inspectors as the reason for the move. link

This pretty much explains it: Canada Closes Embassy in Iran, Expels Iranian Diplomats from Canada

Canada’s position on the regime in Iran is well known. Canada views the Government of Iran as the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today.

The Iranian regime is providing increasing military assistance to the Assad regime; it refuses to comply with UN resolutions pertaining to its nuclear program; it routinely threatens the existence of Israel and engages in racist anti-Semitic rhetoric and incitement to genocide; it is among the world’s worst violators of human rights; and it shelters and materially supports terrorist groups, requiring the Government of Canada to formally list Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism under the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act.

[Jiblethead]

I heard about this when it happened a few weeks ago. What specifically prompted this decision at this point in time?

There are many reasons Harper cut ties with Iran. The main one being the fact that he believes them to be the single biggest threat to global security on earth. If this is true, wouldn't you want to be their friend? You don't go pissing off the biggest bully in the playground on purpose do you?

[bud]

There are many reasons Harper cut ties with Iran. The main one being the fact that he believes them to be the single biggest threat to global security on earth. If this is true, wouldn't you want to be their friend? You don't go pissing off the biggest bully in the playground on purpose do you?

the biggest bully in the playground is israel and harper's actions are mostly due to the pressure of the israeli lobby which wants to isolate iran.

[Mr.Canada]

the biggest bully in the playground is israel and harper's actions are mostly due to the pressure of the israeli lobby which wants to isolate iran.

If Israel didn't have a strong military they'd be wiped out a long time ago. if you were surrounded by Muslim nations tha twhated to wipe yo uoff the map you'd be a bit jumpy too.

[Signals.Cpl]

There are many reasons Harper cut ties with Iran. The main one being the fact that he believes them to be the single biggest threat to global security on earth. If this is true, wouldn't you want to be their friend? You don't go pissing off the biggest bully in the playground on purpose do you?

There is not much that they could do to Canada directly and I see no reason for us to give them a chance to hurt us by leaving potentially dozens of Canadians in Iran at the mercy of the Iranian government.

[Guest American Woman]

If Israel didn't have a strong military they'd be wiped out a long time ago.

I agree; strong military and strong allies. There's a reason why Canada and the U.S. are staunch allies of Israel.

There is not much that they could do to Canada directly and I see no reason for us to give them a chance to hurt us by leaving potentially dozens of Canadians in Iran at the mercy of the Iranian government.

The Canadians in Iran were warned to get out. I would guess any Canadians in Iran were at the mercy of the Iranian government, anyway, even when Canada had an embassy there. What do you think the Canadian government could do for a Canadian in trouble with the government in Iran? The U.S. hasn't had an embassy there for years.

[GostHacked]

The Canadian government cited Iran's support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and failure to comply with UN inspectors as the reason for the move. link

This pretty much explains it: Canada Closes Embassy in Iran, Expels Iranian Diplomats from Canada

Canada’s position on the regime in Iran is well known. Canada views the Government of Iran as the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today.

The Iranian regime is providing increasing military assistance to the Assad regime; it refuses to comply with UN resolutions pertaining to its nuclear program; it routinely threatens the existence of Israel and engages in racist anti-Semitic rhetoric and incitement to genocide; it is among the world’s worst violators of human rights; and it shelters and materially supports terrorist groups, requiring the Government of Canada to formally list Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism under the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act.

And what of the west arming the rebels?

[Guest Manny]

And what of the west arming the rebels?

Yeah there's always a bit more to it. But thank you AW and giblethead for posting some info. Although it makes some sense, at least, to isolate Iran it seems like they ar enot as big a threat as North Korea. Both countries engage in lots of sabre rattling but Korea has a bomb now, of some sort and is openly threatening to use it against us/Canada/US/Western alliance. But despite this we've seen prominent leaders like Hillary Clinton trying to "reach out" to the koreans, their old enemies in war. I would say reaching out is better, in principle. Not always a viable option of course. Iran hasn't done much lately, except mouth off.

[Guest American Woman]

And what of the west arming the rebels?

Yes, what of it?

[GostHacked]

Yes, what of it?

I asked you the question.