Prime Minister Harper is getting universally good reviews for his maiden speech at the United Nations yesterday. CBC, CTV, The Globe and Mail, report that his defence of the Afghanistan mission was articulate and well reasoned. Craig Oliver (CTV) reported that New York based ABC colleagues had called him to say the PM’s performance was spectacular. It’s probable that the expectations were set low and by surpassing them the PM looked very good, but give him credit when he earns it.
The PM reminded the international community that Canada, NATO and other countries are in Afghanistan, at the request of the United Nations, to secure and rebuild the country. Afghanistan is not some independent action by a few countries imposing their sense of democracy and morality on another. The international community agreed that the Taliban had to be deposed if human rights and social order were to be restored in Afghanistan and foreign terrorism curtailed. Harper urged the international community, represented in the UN, not to renege on its commitment to the men, women and children of Afghanistan. He urged them not to undermine the military effort by second-guessing the military personnel carrying out the mission.
The various correspondents have noted that Harper was speaking to Canadians at home as much as to the UN. Increasing support for the military mission and boosting the morale of the troops in Asia and their families back home were among his objectives. If the morning-after reviews grip the domestic audience’s conscience, Michael Ignatieff and Scott Brison will be beneficiaries in the Liberal Party leadership race. Bob Rae and Stephane Dion will have to scramble to explain their near alliance with the NDP and Bloc Quebecois and their stop the fighting/only engage in peaceful rebuilding stance. Rae and Dion will have to hope the PM’s UN speech is forgotten by the end of the weekend. But watch for more today as the president of Afghanistan makes a state visit to Ottawa.
The PM reminded the international community that Canada, NATO and other countries are in Afghanistan, at the request of the United Nations, to secure and rebuild the country. Afghanistan is not some independent action by a few countries imposing their sense of democracy and morality on another. The international community agreed that the Taliban had to be deposed if human rights and social order were to be restored in Afghanistan and foreign terrorism curtailed. Harper urged the international community, represented in the UN, not to renege on its commitment to the men, women and children of Afghanistan. He urged them not to undermine the military effort by second-guessing the military personnel carrying out the mission.
The various correspondents have noted that Harper was speaking to Canadians at home as much as to the UN. Increasing support for the military mission and boosting the morale of the troops in Asia and their families back home were among his objectives. If the morning-after reviews grip the domestic audience’s conscience, Michael Ignatieff and Scott Brison will be beneficiaries in the Liberal Party leadership race. Bob Rae and Stephane Dion will have to scramble to explain their near alliance with the NDP and Bloc Quebecois and their stop the fighting/only engage in peaceful rebuilding stance. Rae and Dion will have to hope the PM’s UN speech is forgotten by the end of the weekend. But watch for more today as the president of Afghanistan makes a state visit to Ottawa.
