Beyond Misunderstanding

"It is necessary for all of us to keep the pressure on Mr. Putin and his regime, and to do so over the long term. To make it clear that it will not be business as usual. We cannot have a major power in this day and age seize the sovereign territory of another country and simply move on as if nothing happened. That kind of action whets the appetite, which is why the world community has to respond strongly."
"I noticed the reaction of the Russian government, which denied its presence in Ukraine. Even though they have annexed a part of that territory."
"They are ashamed. If they were proud of their actions, they'd acknowledge them. They haven't done that."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Thủ tướng Canada Harper và ông Putin lại quay mặt với nhau

Prime Minister Harper is such a stalwart visionary for decency and goodwill it is beyond him to believe that Russians could conceivably find pride in bullying, threatening and violently upturning a neighbouring country's security to bestow part of its territory upon themselves. They not only are proud of accessing and now owning Crimea, but triumphant that it has been 'returned' to Mother Russia, where it belongs.

Attributing shame to Russia over its brutality is extremely generous of the Prime Minister, but that kindly interpretation is misplaced. There is that about people of decency and conscience; they cannot bear to think that others are devoid of those attributes. That they would themselves be ashamed were they ever to commit such travesties is sufficient to have them believe anyone would be.

When, during the G20 economic summit that took place in Australia, Mr. Putin advanced his hand in approaching Mr. Harper, the immediate instinct of a decent man is to extend his own hand in a sign of friendship, of collegial acknowledgement. This Mr. Harper did do. But he also chastised a man whom he sees as an overbearing tyrant prepared to pull his considerable weight and bully a vulnerable target unable to defend itself.

So his response was that he would shake hands, but he also advised the man to "get out of Ukraine". The unctuously innocent Vladimir Putin went into denial mode, something he has had long and accomplished practise at: "impossible because no Russian troops had had anything to do with Moscow's seizure and annexation of Crimea, or with more recent events in eastern Ukraine."

Moscow's critics have obviously suffered an erroneous impression because of their combative, critical attitude toward Russia and its president; innocent of all unfounded charges. Russian journalists are so State-centric and uninformed they had no idea who was addressing their leader in such an obnoxious manner. Taking to their computers to update their lack, to discover this was the Canadian prime minister.



Canada has been the recipient of some of Moscow's little peek-a-boo games. As when Russian aircraft carried out incursions into Canadian Air Defence Identification Zones in May and June. As when Russian strategic bombers in the Labrador Sea near Canada practised cruise missile strikes (on the U.S.) in September. As when HMCS Toronto was buzzed by Russian aircraft in the Black Sea, the plane within 300 metres of the warship.



As when again in September Canadian RAF Typhoons intercept Russian aircraft in international airspace. As when in October a Canadian CF-18, part of Baltic Air policing intercepted Russian surveillance Il-20 aircraft in international airspace. Not to mention Russian interference with Britain, American, Lithuanian, Swedish, Dutch, Baltic, Estonian, Danish, Latvian, naval and air units taunted by their Russian counterparts.

Spreading goodwill and cheer.