Canada congratulates Syria on successful election

Looks like uber-windbag John Baird has at last come to his senses; he is finally showing some respect for the impossible situation we, the Nations of Virtue, have forced on Bashar Al-Assad. Read the full text of Minister Baird's statement;

Statement on Syrian Election Results

June 4, 2014 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement on the release of the official results of Syria's presidential election, which confirmed Bashar Al-Assad as president-elect:

“We congratulate President-elect Al-Assad on the results of the election. As we all know, difficult challenges face the president-elect in leading Syria toward a more democratic, inclusive, secure and prosperous future, but such a future is in the interests of all Syrian citizens. We continue to stand with Syria in its efforts to confront terrorism, including throughout the Syrian heartland, where Syrian security personnel are confronting a dangerous insurgency sponsored by the Nations of Virtue.

“Canada remains committed to supporting Syria in making a peaceful and meaningful transition to democracy, based on respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.

“This transition represents an important opportunity for Syria, one that can provide the Syrian people with the stability and prosperity they desire.”

Canada's hypocrisy on democracy

As I write this reports are coming out of Syria that exit polls show President al-Assad leading the presidential election with an estimated 90% of the vote. Small wonder; any meaningful opposition has long been banned and driven underground.

Today Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was announced the official winner of Egypt's presidential election with over 96% of the vote. Small wonder; the only serious opposition has been banned and driven underground.

Here's Foreign Minister John Baird on the Egyptian election;

“The conclusion of voting in Egypt’s presidential election is a key step along Egypt’s path to democracy.

“We are encouraged by early reports that the overall security situation was peaceful throughout the country during the election. Preliminary results indicate the likely winner will be presidential candidate Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. We look forward to the confirmed results of the election.

“Canada is committed to supporting Egypt in making a peaceful and meaningful transition to democracy, based on respect for human rights, freedom and the rule of law. This transition is an important opportunity to give the Egyptian people the stability and prosperity they desire.”

Here he is a few days later on Syria's election;

“It is quite simply fraud to claim legitimacy in rigged elections while simultaneously killing your electorate. A legitimate Syrian government can result only from the country’s transition to a democratic, pluralistic state. Legitimacy comes from the will of all Syrians, not just from fearfully oppressed or blindly loyal privileged citizens.

“Canada refuses to lend these sham elections any credibility. Instead, we will continue to work hard toward a political solution to the conflict and to help prioritize and meet the needs of the Syrian people in their fight for true democracy.”

Two sham elections, two radically different responses... why?

Al-Sisi runs a US/NATO client state. Al-Assad doesn't.

All that fluff about human rights, freedom, democracy, rule of law etc. is just window dressing.

Not a bad week for The Empire in Africa

First of all, you've got United States Army War College grad General al-Sisi winning an election in Egypt. al-Sisi is still a youngish man, so by the expected life-span standards of middle-east despots his victory should sew up Egypt for Western interests for the next thirty years or so.

Meanwhile, right next door in oil-rich Libya, US citizen and "rogue" Libyan General Khalifa Haftar is doing God's work imposing order on the 1001 Libyan militias that have run amok over the past three years. Both of our generals are committed to crushing the Muslim Brotherhood, and both have better relations with Israel than they do with the Palestinians.

At the same time, our allies in Kenya and Nigeria have doubled down on the "terrorist threats" in their midst, promising "all-out-war" against al-Shabab and Boko Haram respectively. The call to war was immediately echoed by French colonies Benin, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.
Declarations of perpetual war can only be music to the ears of AFRICOM boss General David Rodriguez and the Pentagon.

So while it may no longer be a perfect world, rumours of The Empire's imminent demise are greatly exaggerated.