An attack on them is an attack on us! (Who's "them"?)

You may remember when Peter Kent was a bingo-caller [newsreader, surely. ed.] for TV network. Now his experience being able to stick to a script which someone else wrote is paying off in spades, as Junior Foreign Affairs Minister in the Canadian government. He plays Robin to Lawrence Cannon's Batman. [Don't go there. ed.]

Today he is doubtless waiting for a phone call summoning him to Steve Harpoon's office right sharpish to be dressed down for an interview he gave to Shalom Life, a magazine for the Jewish community, in case you didn't guess.

Kent appears to have got a bit ahead of the Tory plot to buy the Jewish vote at any cost plot. He suggested that in case of a military confrontation between Israel and, say, Iran, Canada would rush to Israel's defence! "An attack on Israel," he said, "would be considered an attack on Canada."

Wow! Strong stuff! The last time such sentiments were expressed in Canada, it was being said by the Colonel Blimps in Victoria and Rosedale and old soaks in Legion branches across the ROC. Of course they referred to Mother England, not Israel. Ah yes, ready aye ready! When the British lion is attacked, her cubs will rally to her defence!

But now it seems the Tory government's true allegiance belongs to the Chosen People who are occupying the Promised Land. According to Mr. Kent, "Prime Minister Harper has made it quite clear for some time now and has regularly stated that an attack on Israel would be considered an attack on Canada."

What both Harper and Kent will be regretting this morning is that Mr. Kent's statement appears to go much farther than Mr. Harper's previous pro-Israel comments. Could it be that they have in mind Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which says "an armed attack against one or more [parties] in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all." The only problem with that is that Israel isn't a member of NATO.

Mr. Kent told the Globe and Mail, “There is no military treaty but I think the Prime Minister's…commitment is quite clear: We don't pay lip service to our commitments to friends and allies.”
No "lip service" perhaps, but what about playing the skin flute?

What would be the benefit to the Conservatives in all but promising to send more Canadian men and women to be killed in a conflict in a faraway land which holds no gain or even interest for the majority of Canadians? Oh... wait... There is one minority group, a very rich and influential one too, which would be happy to hear Mr. Kent's brave words.

"Israel is not in any doubt…as to the degree of Canada's commitment," said the Junior Foreign Affairs Minister. Let's hope that if Canada is called on to back up its fighting words with some fighting actions, Mr. Kent will be called on to lead the charge.