Monday, March 10, 2014

Three New Thoughts du Jour

Thoughts du jour:

1) Provincial Parti Quebecois and federal Conservatives seem to both be cruising toward majority governments. Harper makes the perfect foil for Quebec separatists, given his low popularity in that province. He contributes to their "winning conditions".

2) "It is essential to understand that the main challenge for our electoral democracy is not voter fraud  but voter participation" --Marc Mayrand, Chief Electoral Officer of Canada.

3) If Russia successfully annexes Crimea and succeeds in violating international law and international treaties, three groups of actors will be encouraged and emboldened:

 First, China and Russia and some American conservatives will be encouraged to continue their traditional  "spheres of influence" thinking.

Second, Iran, North Korea and all rogue regimes will be encouraged to obtain and keep nuclear weapons, and not to foolishly surrender them as Ukraine did under the terms of the 1994 Budapest Treaty, to which Russia was a signatory.

Third, both prospective separatists in Quebec and actual occupiers in Israel will be encouraged by the trumping of international law by "facts on the ground".

3 comments:

The Mound of Sound said...

"International Law" became meaningless and there are upwards of 400,000 Iraqi dead to prove it.

Russia has at least a thread of legitimacy to its claim on Crimea.

Canada is now poised to buy a stealth, first strike (Google "Operation Chimichanga"), light attack bomber. If it is ever used for its intended purpose it will not be with the blessing of the UN Security Council on which both intended targets, Russia and China, hold vetoes. We don't give a toss for international law. That goes out the window when you fly the F-35.

Bill Tieleman said...

Good points on bad news indeed Mark!

Mark Crawford said...

Well, they are perhaps obvious observations, but remarkable nonetheless, so I remarked upon them.