There's a Need, Stupid

 "The deployment of RCMP resources are dictated by operational requirements, including public and officer safety considerations, and a threat assessment of the events environments.  For security reasons, details on the security plans will not be discussed."
Cpl. Lucy Shorey, RXMP media relations officer

An astute observer would realize they somehow happened to miss all the kudos tripping Prime Minister Stephen Harper's way in the House of Commons after he successfully passed legislation that saw him in particular as prime minister (and all succeeding him in that post) receive far less on retirement than he was previously entitled to. 

Of course, other Members of Parliament similarly saw their entitlements shrink so they looked more gold-plated than pure gold, and perhaps that left a sour taste in many mouths.

All his critics, primarily those of the opposition parties in Parliament are clamouring for his blood, claiming that he is now wasting taxpayers' money because while he is in India, the RCMP for reasons related to security best known to them decided to ship out armoured vehicles for his use while on his five-day trip to that eastern country of a huge and diverse population. 

India has certainly turned on the security and VIP treatment for Canada's prime minister. The great crowds that usually attend world-famous heritage sites were temporarily cleared so that the prime minister and Laureen Harper could amble about in peace and security.

India, it should be recalled, which refers to itself as the largest democracy in the world, population-wise, also suffers more than its share of violence from disparate sources, from its own Marxist, Naxalite rebels who create security concerns, to militant Sikhs creating violent Khalistan confrontations, to Pakistani-sourced Islamists intent on mayhem.

The RCMP is tasked with the security of Canada's prime minister and his wife, along with any other Canadians accompanying them on this trade trip of some significance to the future of trade between the two countries.  And although Public Safety Minister Vic Toews pointed out the obvious to critics of the government, that the deployment of RCMP assets is entirely based on operational considerations, that hardly stopped the complaints.

"Austerity doesn't seem to apply to the prime minister" sniped the NDP finance critic Peggy Nash; she could understand taking the limousines overseas to Haiti or Afghanistan, but not India.  Which only serves to underline her ignorance of world events.

ctv.news

Liberal leader Bob Rae clamoured right on cue: "I think flying the cars over seemed quite unnecessary. They do have cars in India.  They do have protected vehicles in India.  They do have all that stuff there.  I don't know why it would be necessary for us to add that additional expense."

Precisely.  He doesn't know why.  Those with limited knowledge, expertise and imagination should make an effort to observe, and once they are in possession of the requisite knowledge, hold their tongues.  But that isn't the game that's played so endlessly in the House of Commons.  Those in the opposition benches trip all over one another in their acrobatic zeal to catch the government out on issues that could prove embarrassing.

In the process this exercise serves only to embarrass themselves, though perhaps they're a trifle too dense to realize it.  If the Department of External Affairs and International Trade can routinely ship out extraordinary amounts and tonnage of personal household accoutrements, including in some instances, vehicles, for the use and comfort of their foreign service officers serving in posts abroad, surely the RCMP, tasked with securing the safety and well-being of the country's prime minister can do likewise.
Leader-Post.com