With “friends” like former Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chretien, current contender Justin Trudeau doesn’t need enemies. Chretien uses his well reasoned opposition to Stephen Harper’s decision to send Canadian fighter aircraft to fight ISIS in Iraq as “support” for Justin Trudeau’s position on the issue.
But what position? Justin doesn’t have one, relying on his caucus colleagues to present their own, confusing Canadians.
Drawing on his own popular decision to oppose the George Bush war on Iraq in the past, Chretien argues that Harper’s move to send a few aircraft and support staff to participate in the US –led air war strikes against the Islamic State is “marginal” at best. Many Canadians, including myself, would agree.
Instead, Chretien proposes a major humanitarian effort by Canada, absorbing 50,000 refugees from the war zone and committing $100 million to restock the rapidly depleting food sources available to feed the thousands fleeing the conflict. Again, many Canadians would applaud this alternative to military action.
But by stating he supports Justin’s “position”, is Chretien saddling the new Liberal leader with a program that would bring its own problems of processing, transporting and resettling thousands of refugees to Canada, and ensuring that major new funding would achieve the elusive objective of feeding the hungry?
Poor Justin. He can’t say no, and he can’t say yes. But he better say something. Soon.