Ruminations of a lap dog

FM John Baird is in a tizzy over the visit by Big Dog John Kerry:

Baird Discusses International Security with Secretary Kerry in Ottawa

October 28, 2014 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today welcomed his U.S. counterpart, Secretary of State John Kerry, to Ottawa to commemorate the two Canadian soldiers killed in the attacks last week and to discuss further cooperation on a number of international issues.

Baird and Kerry visited the National War Memorial, where Corporal Nathan Cirillo was murdered while standing guard. “It is always special when we meet with our closest friends and allies, especially on our home turf,” Baird said, “but I am sorry that this meeting comes in the shadow of such a tragic week.”

In their bilateral meetings, they discussed cooperation on a number of international issues, including tackling the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the situation in Ukraine, market access for the energy sector, and the concerning spread of the Ebola virus.

“Canada and the United States have been partners, allies and friends through good times, as well as through some of our most tragic moments in history,” Baird said. “We also stand shoulder-to-shoulder in our response to the great challenges around the world.”

“These attacks only make our resolve stronger to do our part in the global fight against terrorism,” said Baird. “We cannot allow there to be a safe haven for ISIL’s medieval savagery or a launch pad for attacks on our own soil.”

“We stand together in solidarity with the Ukrainian people as they seek a future that embraces freedom and democracy,” he added. “Canada will continue to stand with Ukraine and our allies in a robust response to these reckless actions.

----

Hokey doodle, Martha, just imagine Big John flying all the way up here to the Great White North to talk mano-a-mano with Little John!

We're in the big leagues now!

Especially now that we've finally had our very own terrorist attack! Yup, some Towel-heads of Terror done cut down a couple of our boys right here in the Homeland! Yes, I know the fact that our terrorists were Canadian white people with mental health issues does diminish our victims-of-terror cred somewhat, but hey, Big Steve called it Terrorism, and that's good enough for me and both the Johns.

After all, you don't imagine Big Steve woulda turned up at that funeral in Hamilton today to talk about our woeful neglect of the mentally ill, do you?

That's a problem that won't be solved with photo-ops...

BBC refers to Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers as "security guard"

That's a bit of a blooper for the Beeb.

After all, we got our parliamentary traditions from Mother England.

We normally know Mr. Vickers as the guy who opens every session of parliament with this silly hat and a ceremonial mace over his shoulder.



Turns out the dude also keeps a very un-ceremonial Glock in one of those pockets!

Was Malala the intended target of Ottawa terror attack?

Today was the day youthful human rights phenom and Nobel winner Malala was to get her honorary Canadian citizenship.

You'd pretty much have to scour the fine print to know that said ceremony was going to happen in Toronto, not in Ottawa.

Honorary Canadian citizenship? You can forgive an aspiring martyr for assuming that would happen in Ottawa. So maybe Malala dodged another bullet.

While you can bet that the warmongers in the government of Canada can be counted on to milk today's events to the the max, it might be wise to bear in mind that it's not an unprecedented occurrence. In 1984 a gunman barged into the Quebec Legislature and shot down three people.

That was a more innocent age, however. That attack didn't result in an abrogation of civil liberties or a vilification of certain minorities.

Times have changed.