Where Does the Conservative Party Stand on the War in Iraq?

The upsurge in violence in Iraq over the past week has been alarming. We're seeing the convergence of both Shia and Sunni Muslim attacks against the American occupation, and suddenly a lot more people on all sides are dying.

While I abhor all the violence, I am frustrated. And what frustrates me is not only the majority of the Canadian press coverage, but also what seems to be the general Canadian public attitude toward the war in Iraq. Many Canadians I've talked to seem to distance themselves from the whole subject. We seem to conclude that because we were lucky enough to avoid participation in the war, largely due the stance of former PM Jean Chretien and his refusal to participate without UN sanction, we no longer need to deal with our stance on the issue. Instead we can merely play the part of casual observers, clucking our tongues at all the carnage.

But we have a federal election coming, whether in the fall or spring. Issues that have dominated election related press, such as the sponsorship scandal, and the federal budget, are important. But what shape our foreign policy will take under the party that takes power is also vitally important to Canadian interests. The foreign policy decisions of other countries have had immense impact on their societies. We've been witness to the bombings in Madrid, a horrible terrorist response to Spain's participation in the war in Iraq. We've seen the kinds of casualties the Americans have been subject to as they attempt to pacify the Iraqi "insurgents". We've also heard of the carnage suffered by Iraqis, particularly innocent Iraqi civilians, as they get caught in the deadly crossfire. The direction the next Canadian federal government takes with its foreign policy could have deadly serious consequences for the Canadian public. It is vital that the stance each party is going to take be examined and debated so that Canadians can make an informed decision when they go to the polls. Foreign policy is, however, an issue that has remained largely unexamined by the mainstream media.

So here I'll try to do my small part to begin examining this issue, with particular focus on what the stance of various parties and party leaders have had in the past, if they have not made their stance clear at present. First the Conservative Party of Canada.

I think it is very important to remember that, Steven Harper, the current leader of the federal Conservative party, was very much in favour of participating as an ally of the US in the war on Iraq. He made it very clear repeatedly in parliament that Canadians should be aiding the Americans in the Iraqi invasion. He commented on numerous occasions that he considered it disgraceful that Canada would not support its closest ally.

Since becoming the leader of the federal Conservative party, and as the situation in Iraq has worsened, Steven Harper has been remarkably silent on the issue of Iraq. He has either refused to comment, or he has skirted the issue, even in those rare instances that the Canadian press has raised it at all.

On the Conservative Party website, they have a link to an interim policy paper. It is a very short document, as policy papers go, and for the most part the language it uses is about as vague as language can get while still appearing to say something. Here is an excerpt that contains the entire foreign policy platform of the Conservative Party:

The Conservative Party of Canada supports a foreign policy that protects Canada's sovereignty and independence, promotes our national interests (political, economic and strategic), contributes to collective security and defense, promotes democratic principles and human rights, and assists in international development.

A Conservative government will recognize the importance of an ethical dimension in foreign policy and will advance the values broadly supported by Canadians.

A Conservative government will coordinate Canada's international relations, trade and foreign policies to advance the country's economic interests while promoting human rights and individual freedom.

Parliamentary Role in Foreign Affairs
A Conservative government will make Parliament responsible for exercising effective oversight over the conduct of Canadian foreign policy and the commitment of Canadian Forces to foreign operations.

Other than various platitudes that just about every Canadian across the political spectrum could agree to, the Conservative Party foreign policy position clearly takes no stance on any foreign policy issue. Canadians are essentially left to determine on their own what position the Conservative party would take.

I think it is vital that Steven Harper come clean on his and his new party's position on the war in Iraq. Given that had he been in power last year, he clearly would have taken Canada to war with the United States. Our troops would be embroiled in a quickly deteriorating quagmire, suffering casualties, and likely inflicting them on innocent Iraqi civilians as well as "insurgents". He would have taken Canadians many steps closer to potential terrorist reprisals, which it is very easy to say should not be tolerated as a factor in our decision making, as long a you are not the one to suffer the consequences.

It is vital Canadians consider the consequences of having to further militarize and police our society, because we have to beware of terrorist actions that are a direct consequence of Canadian violence in foreign nations. Macho posturing has no place in weighing such important decisions.

The costs in Canadian lives and treasure for such actions will fall directly on the public, not on the politicians. It is the politician's responsibility to carefully consider the implications of their actions. But they still will be far safer than the average Canadian. The political elite will have the advantage of hiding behind a wall of security.

I think the Canadian press has a responsibility to make the foreign policy stance of every federal political party a major component of electoral coverage. Canadians need to be able to make an informed choice about their political leadership and the direction they will take Canada in the world should any particular party gain power.