Thursday, September 04, 2014

All Hat And No Cattle


                                                       http://www.windsorstar.com/

Stephen Harper is in Wales today, bellowing at the Russian bear. NATO will discuss the necessity of increasing defence spending to meet the challenge from Russia -- something which Stephen Harper has flatly rejected. He has an election to win and tax cuts to deliver. Jeffrey Simpson writes:

Mr. Harper has cut defence spending hard in the past two years, attempting to balance his budget so that he can offer Canadians tax cuts and targeted spending in next year’s pre-election budget. He’s not going to take on any potential spending commitments, however vague, that might be used against him politically.

By now, the international community knows who Mr. Harper is:

Traditional allies are getting accustomed to Canada being an outlier under Mr. Harper’s leadership. But they are especially frustrated at the gap between the Prime Minister’s rhetoric about countering Russian aggression and Mideast terrorism while his government slashes military spending.

He came to power promising to end a "decade of darkness" for Canada's military. What he didn't say was that he would spend money in praise of Canada's past battles -- like the War of 1812:

To put matters aphoristically, Mr. Harper’s government likes the idea of the military more than it likes the military itself.

The idea of the military means history, monuments, medals, ceremonies, parades and repeated rhetorical praise. The military itself means buying equipment, deploying it, dealing with veterans and wrestling with a budget that always seems to go up unless the political masters get tough.

NATO is discovering what Canada's veterans and First Nations have known for a long time. Mr. Harper takes perverse pleasure in serving up warm rhetoric. But the Cowboy from Etobicoke is all hat and no cattle.


8 comments:

thwap said...

He's too stupid to know he should be embarrassed.

Owen Gray said...

The self centred can't see themselves as they are, thwap.

Anonymous said...

Even with the disdain many Canadians had felt for Mulroney, I do not recall them referring to him as Chickenhawk. Steve, however, owns the title Great Chickenhawk Leader. If Putin goes after him, he'd be yelling for big brother Obama/NATO to help him out. Putin may be disageeable but he is no Chickenhawk, eh?

Owen Gray said...

Putin is no chickenhawk, Anon -- and he knows that Harper is no warrior.

Beijing York said...

The Kainai Tribe of Alberta should take back that Indian Feather they bestowed on Harper and pluck a chicken for a replacement.

This is probably the only time I'm a wee bit thankful for his obsession with tax cutting - at least it keeps him from going full on warring.

Owen Gray said...

If it were only a war of words, Bejiing, he'd be leading the charge.

Anonymous said...

Harper never does anything that doesn't benefit him. Harper's only interest in the Russia, Crimea and Ukraine crises is? Harper is trying to drive a wedge between Russia and Europe because, he wants to sell Europe his oil and NG. Harper still sells arms to Russia.

Harper doesn't even want to do, his NATO obligations. Harper also encouraged Israel, to make war on Palestine. I was very suspicious of Harper taking, a planeload with him to visit Israel.

Harper has nothing to lose when, he shoots his mouth off. If we can easily see through Harper? I can't believe the other countries don't.

Owen Gray said...

My hunch, Anon, is that other countries see through Harper.