In Times Of Need

"Israel needs strong, reliable partners, [of] which Canada is certainly one. I would argue they could not find a more supportive country on the planet. The steps that we're taking today are in fact bringing our countries closer together. And they are also allowing us to further build on a strong foundation of co-operation that will build tangible results, not just to our two militaries, but to Canada and Israel more broadly. The defence cooperation details will be disclosed when we sign." Canada's Defence Minister Peter MacKay

Now that's quite the set of statements. But on the face of what has been occurring of late under the Conservative-led government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, increasingly true; Canada has become an extremely supportive ally of Israel. And not to forget; Canada, much pre-dating this current government, has had a history of quite awful relations with Iran. As a free country what Iran represents is anathema; the subordination of its people to a fanatical theocracy.

Canadian citizens have come to grief in Iran, most famously the Canadian-Iranian photographer, Zahra Kazemi, who was falsely accusing by Tehran of being a spy, incarcerated, tortured and murdered. Canada has denounced Iran's regime repeatedly within the halls and the general assembly of the United Nations. Whereas Iran has returned the compliment, turning reality inside out and accusing Canada of human rights violations.

The UN's IAEA's report on Iran's nuclear industry and what it has gleaned from its inspections has alerted the world to the living reality of the Islamic Republic of Iran's nuclear ambitions. Which were no great surprise to begin with, since its president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has stood in the United Nations, defending his country's right to acquire nuclear sufficiency.

And speaking of the need to annihilate Israel and the world's Jews, offering to complete the mission that Adolf Hitler almost succeeded in. Though not as a result of the Holocaust, which according to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, never actually occurred. But will, at the reappearance of the Hidden Imam, when Armageddon will occur, and Iranians taken to Paradise while the world is wasted.

Israel has claimed for many years that Iran was working full steam ahead with the assistance of Russian state scientists, Pakistan, and North Korea, in building nuclear facilities and refining uranium to weapons-grade potential. Erroneous reports were issued by U.S. security agencies that Iran had set aside its nuclear ambitions to launch nuclear warheads and was simply working toward domestic energy use and medical isotopes.

The IAEA report has re-adjusted that rosy view. "We said all along the way that we recommend to all friends around the world not to remove any option off the table. And I'm glad to notice that many leaders in the world recently just repeating this very phrase." Thus spoke Israel's Minister of Defence, Ehud Barak. To wit: sanctions against Iran's ambitions, and if they do not work, then military attacks to destroy its nuclear infrastructure.

It is now widely acknowledged that Iran represents the greatest threat to global stability. Military action may be required. Of course Iran is not the only problem the world faces with respect to the critical issue of nuclear proliferation. There is, of course, Pakistan, and there is North Korea, both problematical states, each of which is a militant, threatening belligerent, both supporting terrorism. With the spectre of spreading nuclear formulae to non-state terror groups.

So it is beyond merely interesting that Canada and Israel are in the throes of completing a number of defence co-operation agreements resulting in tight military bonds between the two countries. Particularly at this time of great world tension. Israel's expertise in security intelligence gathering, and its scientific success in designing advanced, new military hardware and IT advances place it in an outstanding position to help Canada move forward with her own.

And having the assurance of a security and military set of treaties between the two countries gives Israel the assurance that a friendly peer-country which shares its values and concerns is there and will be there when needed, to aid and assist in its times of need.