Legacy of Inaction

Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Robert Mugabe

Legacy of Inaction

St. Boniface - Thursday, March 7, 2002 - by: Mike Reilly

world
leader
Since the January cabinet shuffle which anointed John Manley as deputy PM, Mr. Chretien has spent much of his time out of the county, meeting with foreign leaders. The Little Guy from Shawinigan is attempting to remould himself as a world leader, looking for conflicts to resolve with a "Made in Canada" solution. This weekend in Australia, our Prime Minister revealed his plan to force fair elections in Zimbabwe by delaying any decision on sanctions to see what happens. He hopes this do-nothing approach will solve everything, despite clear evidence that Mr. Mugabe's supporters have beaten and killed opposition forces, even while the Commonwealth leaders where debating the Chretien proposal.

spineless
Canada's foreign policy must be one of aggressively influencing the adoption of real democracy around the world. Canada has a direct interest in a less turbulent, less dangerous, more secure world. This can only happen when each person has the ability to fairly participate in the electoral process. Doing so successfully, however, cannot be done with a combination of spineless warnings and wishful thinking.

wait for
polls
Canada needs to be represented internationally by leaders of vision and conviction, not a man who makes policy by waiting to see the latest poll results. The path of history is littered with leaders who tried to broker peace through inaction. Waiting to see if a brutal dictator will change his ways on his own has only lead to more suffering and bloodshed. Mr. Chretien wants to add his legacy of inaction on foreign issues to his heritage of watching the Canadian standard of living slide.

Mike Reilly


	Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Robert Mugabe

Legacy of Inaction

St. Boniface - Thursday, March 7, 2002 - by: Mike Reilly

world leader	Since the January cabinet shuffle which anointed John Manley as deputy PM, Mr. Chretien has spent much of his time out of the county, meeting with foreign leaders. The Little Guy from Shawinigan is attempting to remould himself as a world leader, looking for conflicts to resolve with a "Made in Canada" solution. This weekend in Australia, our Prime Minister revealed his plan to force fair elections in Zimbabwe by delaying any decision on sanctions to see what happens. He hopes this do-nothing approach will solve everything, despite clear evidence that Mr. Mugabe's supporters have beaten and killed opposition forces, even while the Commonwealth leaders where debating the Chretien proposal.

spineless	Canada's foreign policy must be one of aggressively influencing the adoption of real democracy around the world. Canada has a direct interest in a less turbulent, less dangerous, more secure world. This can only happen when each person has the ability to fairly participate in the electoral process. Doing so successfully, however, cannot be done with a combination of spineless warnings and wishful thinking.

wait for polls	Canada needs to be represented internationally by leaders of vision and conviction, not a man who makes policy by waiting to see the latest poll results. The path of history is littered with leaders who tried to broker peace through inaction. Waiting to see if a brutal dictator will change his ways on his own has only lead to more suffering and bloodshed. Mr. Chretien wants to add his legacy of inaction on foreign issues to his heritage of watching the Canadian standard of living slide.

	Mike Reilly