Canada has defended every country harmed by the conflict except the victim of aggression. It’s part of Ottawa’s longstanding support for war on Iran.
After the prime minister released a written statement and made a public declaration expressing “support” for US/Israeli aggression, foreign affairs minister Anita Anand released two more statements criticizing Iran on Saturday. Late in the evening she posted, “Canada stands with the United Arab Emirates as it defends itself against Iran’s attempts to escalate the conflict.” After it was confirmed Iran’s leader and multiple family members were killed, as well as a 165 at a girls’ school, Anand posted “Canada strongly condemns the targeting of the State of Qatar by Iran. Canada stands with Qatar and all partners in the region in efforts to safeguard security and prevent further escalation.”
On Sunday Anand followed those statements up with a broader condemnation of Iran’s strategy of targeting countries housing US bases used to launch the aggression. She stated, “We condemn the Iranian Regime’s indiscriminate attacks against civilian infrastructure across the region, including in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Jordan. These attacks are a dangerous threat to regional stability and civilian safety.”
According to Anand, Iran is responsible for the US/Israeli aggression that has already hit more than 1,000 targets in the country. Ottawa’s support for the war is stronger than many other members of the US-led NATO alliance. Spain and Norway criticized the US/Israeli aggression while UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an “immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation.”
In support of the US war drive, Anand recently announced a new set of sanctions against Iran and said “regime change” would be required for restarting diplomatic ties. In 2012 Canada broke off relations with Tehran and listed the country as a state sponsor of terror. A year and a half ago Ottawa listed part of Iran’s military as a “terror” organization.
While boasting about seeking to weaken and isolate Iran, Carney claimed Canada was not directly involved in the war and “not party to the military buildup or planning.” Yet Canadians forces likely assisted in carrying out US/Israeli war crimes, as noted in CBC’s “Canadian military members likely involved in planning U.S. strikes on Iran, retired general says.” The Canadian Forces website says there are “approximately 18 CAF members deployed” to “support a variety of United States headquarters” in West Asia. They list U.S. Air Forces Central (AFCENT) in Qatar, U.S. Naval Forces Central (US NAVCENT) in Bahrain and U.S. Army Central (USARCENT) Combined Joint Operations Centre in Jordan. When Iran responded to Israeli/US attacks in June by launching missiles at the US’ Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar Carney said there were Canadian soldiers stationed there.
Soldiers deployed at Canada’s base in Kuwait may also have assisted the aggression. Ditto for Canadians contributing to the Bahrain-based Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), a United States-led naval coalition of 47 member nations to monitor the region. Through the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) hundreds of Canadian soldiers assist the US with monitoring West Asia, likely providing intelligence assistance for US/Israeli strikes. In the past NORAD has drawn Canada into assisting the 1958 US invasion of Lebanon, 1973 Ramadan/Yom Kippur War and 2003 invasion of Iraq (as well as wars Canada formally participated in such as the first Iraq conflict, Afghanistan and Libya).
Canada has hundreds of military accords with the United States. According to Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND), there are “eighty treaty-level agreements, more than 250 memoranda of understanding, and 145 bilateral forums on defence” between the two countries’ militaries. Canada also has a military cooperation agreement with Israel and sells that country arms. The majority transit through the US, which receives several billion dollars in Canadian arms every year.
The US may be the greatest purveyor of violence in the history of humanity. Since retaking the presidency Donald Trump has launched hundreds of strikes on Somalia, Venezuela, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Syria, Nigeria and boats in the Caribbean.
On a per capita/size basis no country has committed more violence in its short history than the genocidal Jewish supremacist state. Last year Israel bombed Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Iran, Qatar as well as the territorial waters of Tunisia, Malta and Greece.
Israel wants to deliver a mortal blow to the only country in the region that checks its power and “Greater Israel” project. Many in the Jewish supremacist state have territorial ambitions several times greater than what they’ve already stolen.
Unfortunately, force appears the only language Israel and the US listen to. So, Iran has little option but to strike back as hard as possible even if that gives the aggressors further justification for expanding their bid to destroy hospitals, schools and other infrastructure that might precipitate the balkanization of the country.
In this climate Ottawa must withdraw all Canadian soldiers from US bases in the region. Otherwise, they’ll be considered legitimate targets.
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