Skip to content

The Beaver and the Bear

Why is the Beaver poking the Bear with a twig? Do Harper and Baird think the twig of power that Canada wields will do anything but annoy Putin, the Russian Bear? Granted, we should all be annoyed and alarmed with the Russian invasion of the Ukraine,

Why is the Beaver poking the Bear with a twig? Do Harper and Baird think the twig of power that Canada wields will do anything but annoy Putin, the Russian Bear? Granted, we should all be annoyed and alarmed with the Russian invasion of the Ukraine, but being first off the mark to condemn and even threaten Russia with unknown consequences is a little absurd. Does our PM and his mouthpiece think we are back at Sochi competing in the hockey arena, the curling venue or the half-pipe?

When Obama the Eagle, who actually has a good-sized stick with which to poke the bear, waits a moment to gather his thoughts before telling Putin that there may be consequences to his incursion onto his former property, should we not take a more guarded and measured stance? Canada has assumed a leading role in world politics not because of our military of financial might but because of our steadfast use of diplomacy. And our willingness to send in our military if needed. But threatening to boycott the G8, pulling out ambassadors and sending the Mouth to the Ukraine (western side) is not in keeping with our proven method of diplomacy first.

If anything, I imagine Putin would find the twig scratching his ribs a little humorous. With 50% of our navy supply fleet under tow by the Americans, our few old CF-18s hardly able to make it to the pole let alone confront the Russian air force, our troops tired and exhausted from Afghanistan, we are certainly no military threat. Financially, the Loonie is weak and at the mercy of the American dollar. Our grain export is tied up by the lack of rail transport and strikes at the ports; our oil is unable to get out of Alberta and the maple syrup not yet running because of the long cold winter. Yes, we are a real economic powerhouse compared to Russia.

The answer to the problem facing Ukraine is whether they want closer ties with the Bear or with the European community. A free vote might be the answer but the division of the country along ethnic lines may make a country-wide solution untenable. One might suspect that the Crimea would go back to Russia and indeed the land-grab by Putin may be the end result he, and the eastern part of the Ukraine, want.

In the meantime, maybe our would-be world leader should harness his attack dog and take a more measured stance on how to approach the problem in the Ukraine. It is up to the people of the Ukraine to determine their future, not us.





Bill Walton

About the Author: Bill Walton

Retired from City of North Bay in 2000. Writer, poet, columnist
Read more
Reader Feedback