Safety/Security First

Some of Canada's Foreign Affairs former high-ranking diplomats were quick to question and condemn the government's decision to yank its diplomatic mission out of Tehran, and to declare Iranian diplomats persona non grata in Canada.  Opposition critics did likewise, insisting that this represented an ill-thought-out move, that having some diplomatic leverage was better than none, as though relations between the two countries have been mildly functional when they have long been in turmoil.

Not much of that nature has been heard of late.  The critics have been silenced.  None of them have been quoted in the news as criticizing the seemingly logically extemporaneous decision by the Government of Canada to temporarily close down Canada's embassy in Cairo, as a too-hasty reaction to the mob violence that has erupted there as a result of a clumsy amateur film produced by an American Coptic Christian invested in the idea of provoking Islamic ire.

"As a security precaution, and to ensure the protection of Canadian staff, we have closed our embassy in Cairo for the day.  We take the safety of our personnel and our mission overseas very seriously.  We are monitoring events closely and taking appropriate security measures."  Rick Roth, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird's spokesman.

A somewhat more lengthy extension may yet become necessary due to circumstances beyond anyone's guess.  That Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi saw fit to thunder against the horror of some mischief-maker filming his version of the character and personality of the Prophet, rather than to firmly disavow and make apologies for the storming of the U.S. embassy is telling enough. 

Particularly following the reality that Egyptian police and military did nothing to hold back the rioters.  The decision of the Canadian government relayed through Foreign Affairs seems downright prescient at this very moment.  In Iran as well, as throughout the balance of the Muslim world, clerics have thundered their contempt and fury against the infidels who sought to defame the Prophet, propelling their followers out onto the streets in a savage swirl of avengers.

Monitoring the situation means that all involved are now acutely aware that the passion of mob violence has spread across the Muslim world, and other violent attacks against American diplomatic missions have erupted; even a German embassy was attacked in Sudan. And more, far more is expected.  It is anticipated that the viral spread of rage against the collective revilers of the Prophet Mohammed will not readily dissipate.

"...the standards that we used when we built the embassy [in Cairo] were those that were in play at the time, and they wouldn't be what we would build now.

"And the bottom line is there's no such thing as an embassy that can be protected whether it's an American embassy or a Canadian embassy.

"If there's a crowd that's big enough in a given capital, that embassy will be overtaken."

Daniel Livermore, former head of security and intelligence, Foreign Affairs