Tin soldier

"I am a little tin soldier who wants to jump into your fight" -- Tin Soldier, The Small Faces

There are so many reasons to dislike the current Canadian federal government, under Prime minister Stephen Harper.  The bullying of opponents....the evisceration of social programs...the mindless fiscal austerity.  At times, though, it's foreign policy that rankles the most, and this is one of those times.

Canada's stance toward the rest of the world has encompassed at least two honourable phases.  In time of war, Canada was a reliable ally: in both world wars, the allies were always happy when "Johnny Canuck" showed up, well equipped, well trained and ready to fight.  In more recent times, Canada became one of the most effective peacekeepers in the world, always ready to commit well-trained soldiers to the hottest trouble spots.

And now? Canada has neglected its military to a remarkable degree.  The forces have shrunk in numbers, and thanks to unimaginably incompetent procurement, the army, navy and air force are all stuck with obsolete (and in some cases downright dangerous) equipment.  You'd think it might behoove the government of the day to keep a low profile.

That's not Harper's style.  He's become a one-man wrecking crew on the world stage, a bit like the kid in the schoolyard who tries to goad others into fighting each other.  Look at the Ukraine crisis.  Motivated by the fact that as many as a million and a half Canadians can claim Ukrainian ancestry, Harper has taken a fiercely pro-Kyiv stance.  Fair enough, except that he's in no position to back it up: Canada's contribution to the NATO buildup in the region is....seventy-five soldiers!

And this week, Harper has made an even bigger fool of himself and the country.  Ahead of the D-day gathering in France, Harper let it be known that he was opposed to any of the G-7 leaders talking with President Putin.  So much for that. President Obama spent a few minutes with the Russian leader, and Chancellor Merkel appears to have brokered a meeting between Putin and new Ukrainian President Poroshenko that offers the best chance yet of resolving the crisis peacefully.  Apparently nobody has told Harper that you don't need to negotiate with your pals, but you have to talk to your enemies if you want to sort out your differences.

Maybe, as well, nobody has told Harper that if it wasn't for the sacrifices made by Russia and Ukraine during what those countries refer to as the Great Patriotic War, there wouldn't have been any D-day ceremonies for him to attend in the first place.