"Military action . . . is
very dangerous for the long-term security in the Middle East. It is very
dangerous even for the survival of the United Nations. Of course, our
force, if there is no war, should stay there because our forces are present to
enforce the embargo and the sanctions. . . . If there is war, our troops should
be called back."
This is not merely an affront to parliamentary democracy: It reveals a deeply ingrained habit of thought. Stung by criticism, Mr. Chretien's people put it about that the reason he did not meet with Cabinet was that he regarded this as "grandstanding." Which is true enough, in its way. Grandstanding means an insincere display, put on more for public consumption than any practical relevance. Mr. Chretien appears to believe that that is what a meeting of Cabinet has become, and there's no reason to doubt him."
~ Jean Chretien,
1991
"It was widely noted, not only that Mr. Chretien did not
recall Parliament immediately after the attacks, but that he did not even meet
with Cabinet. His major speeches since then have been delivered, not to
Parliament, but to Liberal fundraisers. And now troops have been put in
harm's way, again without consulting Parliament, but simply by edict of the
Prime Minister. This is not merely an affront to parliamentary democracy: It reveals a deeply ingrained habit of thought. Stung by criticism, Mr. Chretien's people put it about that the reason he did not meet with Cabinet was that he regarded this as "grandstanding." Which is true enough, in its way. Grandstanding means an insincere display, put on more for public consumption than any practical relevance. Mr. Chretien appears to believe that that is what a meeting of Cabinet has become, and there's no reason to doubt him."
~ Andrew
Coyne
THE END
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