Mulroney -iraq, Uno Reform, Canada

[Craig Read]

Mulroney gave a speech at Texas A&M last night. It is a great statement about the cowardice of Canada and Cdn. political leaders in the face of Militant Islam and terror. Free riding and sneering are indeed wearisome.

Comments on this welcomed. I copied only extracts.

=================================

Although the reality of pre-emptive action is new, so was the terrorist strike on America. What is also new is the suggestion that Security Council approval is -- and has been -- a sacrosanct precondition to action against a hostile state. The historical record is to the contrary. In any event, I would never have agreed to subcontract Canada's international security decisions and our national interest to 15 members of the Security Council. This would be a surrender of national sovereignty to which I'd never consent.

In fact, a coalition of nations -- including France, Germany and Canada -- mounted a massive air war against Serbia a few years ago without Security Council authorization, under President Clinton's leadership. There was no "imminence" of attack on any allied nation, nor did Serbia represent a threat to anyone outside her own borders. Why the reversal of policy when Iraq was involved, with the same nations piously insisting that Security Council approval had to be obtained before any military action could be initiated -- and that the absence of any such approval had rendered illegitimate any military action against Saddam Hussein?

Some Security Council members opposed intervention in Yugoslavia, where many innocent people were dying, on the grounds of national sovereignty. Quite frankly, such invocations of the principle of national sovereignty are as offensive to me as the police declining to stop family violence simply because a man's home is supposed to be his castle. We must recognize that there are certain fundamental rights that all people possess -- and that, sometimes, the international community must act to defend them. This is precisely what happened in Iraq and no amount of Monday morning quarterbacking will change the fact that the U.S.-led coalition acted in defense of the values contained in Security Council Resolution 1441, and the previous 17 resolutions, all of which Saddam had flouted.

..........................

Nothing is gained from non-participant allies smirking on the sidelines, whispering "I told you so." The recent Security Council resolution marked a promising beginning, introducing both realism and support into the equation at the council level for the first time since hostilities began. America now greatly needs allies who can re-establish a basis of mutual trust and candor. Not fair-weather friends who are on its side when times are easy but invisible when the great challenges come. True allies must now -- in spite of some legitimate misgivings -- come to the assistance of the U.S.-led alliance by showing cooperation both at the U.N. and in Iraq. After all, the U.S. has come frequently to the assistance of these very same countries in the past, and as Canada's founding prime minister, Sir John A. MacDonald, once said, only partly in jest: "I need friends with me not when they think I'm right but when they think I'm wrong."

.....................

In my judgment, the U.S. should instigate and lead a "San Francisco II," a major reform effort to establish new multilateral approaches that respect the principles of the U.N. Charter. It is vital for Europe, for Japan, for Canada and the world as a whole that the U.S. remains fully engaged as the bulwark for multilateralism. Without U.S. engagement, there can be no truly effective multilateral effort. But, without close support and unvarnished counsel from its key allies, the U.S. will inevitably exercise its own will and choose the course of least resistance.

==============

[Neal.F.]

GST aside, I don't , for the life of me , understand why he is so hated by so many.

Even the GST, when properly understood, was not a new tax, but a replacement for the old manufaturer's tax, which was hidden. The problem with the GST was that it is there, in your face, every time you buy something.

I would not be surprised that if Brian Mulroney was to run for the Conservative leadership, he could not only win it, but his charisma could actually win the party the election again, as this man of substance could expose the would be emperor, Paul martin, as being buck-naked when it comes to ideas.

Mulroney could rightly stand there and take credit for putting the economic fundamentals in place, without which, martin could not have pulled off his smoke and mirrors charade as finance minsiter.

I think people will also recall how Mulroneyb cut a respected figure on the international stage, and how Canada was a player. He could invoke the EH 101 contract cancelled by Crouton, that has endangered our armed forces personnel.

The list goes on. I truly hope Brian Mulroney can be persuaded to run again.

[dnsfurlan]

I just read the speech as it was posted on opinionjournal.com.

This is one of the best speeches I have read in a long time. Wow!

This is the kind of role Canada should be playing in the world - as a conduit between the States and the rest of the world. But also providing some moral leadership. I guess the Wall Street Journal thinks so too.

Instead, we got Johnny Cruton giving the States the finger any chance he gets.

About the general dislike of Mulroney:

1) It is not as pronounced as you might think. The media hated him, so they tend to give the impression that everyone else does too.

2) I have heard him say countless times that you can't govern to be popular but to do what is in the interest of the people - regardless of what they might think of it.

This is a horrendous definition of political leadership. And one that will fail unless you're Churchill facing the onslought of the German Luftwaffe across the English Channel.

And, for Mulroney, the bad luck and political judgement never seemed to end.

Bad image in the press; GST advertised on every purchase made in the country; ongoing constitutional wrangling; alienating a true political base out West by trying to cater to a shallow one in Quebec; perhaps unwise handling of patronage scandals, singing with Ronald Reagan; leaving things to Kim Campbell; trusting Lucien Bouchard, etc, etc, etc.

At some point, any political leader has to look at the political implications of his actions and exercise judgement to that effect. I don't think Mulroney did. And I still think he denies that.

The problem with the Liberals is that's all they do: look at the political implications of their decisions without displaying any kind of leadership, in my humble opinion.

[Mr. Chater]

i'm with him, not a bad speech at all, especially from Mulroney

[KrustyKidd]

Nothing is gained from non-participant allies smirking on the sidelines, whispering "I told you so."

And this is just what those oposed to the war do now. The US is ever so slowely succeeding in Iraq yet every step taken back recieves glee from these childish opponents. Iraqi policemen die in an accident; sorrow, pain, condolences or anger? Nope, just glee and chuckles at the US flopping around trying to make something of this magnitude work and encountering problems.

The prize is a chance at world peace but if Iraq fails then there will be devastation across the middle east with a union of Terrorist Sponsering States from Iran to Lybia. The repercussions will be all out war with the Middle East within ten years or withdrawl into east/west hemispheres. France and it's buddies think this is some sort of political game but it's not. It is survival of our way of life. A way of life we are trying to bring these people who are living in poverty into. A way of life that gives health care, clean water, food, goods to make your life above the stone age, a say in your future and a life free from crime and torture. France and the rest would deny them this to play a joke on the US?

Anyhow, Mulrooney was a dishonest rat. He ripped this country off for so much money he makes Cretien look like an amatuer. Cretien is the one who always get's caught, Mulrooney didn't. However, Mulrooney did do one thing right, he ran the country properly.

BTW, good speach.

[Craig Read]

I would agree that Mulroney was rather corrupt and showed a lack of judgement on many issues - Charlottetown and that imbecile Kimbo Campbell are 2 notables. He was a realist, a pragmatist and a convert to Free Trade [before 1988 he was against the idea].

At least Mulroney believes in something. Chretien and many Canadians believe in nothing more than their smarmy sanctimoniousness.

Witness Chretien shaking the hands of Mahatir of Malaysia, after said leader slandered the Jews.

This is leadership ?