Harper is drowning in the Mid-East mire of turmoil

Governments, like the one created by Orwell love to change history. More interestingly still, they sometimes totally re-create it.

Last month, Stephen Harper's starting point for the mid-east crisis was Hezbollah's seizure of two Israeli soldiers as bargaining chips and its periodic cross-border rocket attacks. Now, as events accelerate forward, the prime minister has taken out his sharpie and began editing.

This week's startling move to appoint a Muslim Liberal as a special Middle East and South Asia adviser follows last week's subtle "adjustments" in Harper's original approval of the Israeli assault on Lebanon as "measured." Both are, of course, just political BS.

Instead of admitting he has no clue what he is talking about, the prime minister went shopping for someone knowledgeable in mid-east affairs. That man was Wajid Khan. His job now is to is to be Harpers "mind speak" editor and readjust the dates for the first salvoes of war. Harper now has an adviser who can be either ignored or used to embarrass Liberals. The later will not happen, but should. Harper will maintain his carefully crafted image of a leader who isn't afraid to make unpopular decisions.

This is the prime minister's public persona. In contrast to his progressive Conservative election campaign performance, Harper in power is the Reformer.

Ruling as if he has a majority and from within a closed inner circle, he is simultaneously trying to change the country and secure a second mandate. Spring saw that process advance surprisingly effortlessly while summer is proving hard work.

By beginning his Middle East history in early July, the prime minister forgot a lot of things Canadians remember. He skipped Israel's earlier invasion and 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon.

Was it amnesia or the more severe problem of myopia. Had Middle East events not followed their predictable course, Harper might have scored a hat trick by defining his leadership, moving Canadian foreign policy to the political right and wooing Jewish support away from Liberals.

Instead, in the Middle East as well as in Afghanistan, Harper is now on the other side of the peace issue to most Canadians and particularly Quebecers with the power to deny a majority.

If it wasn't for war Americans wouldn't learn geography. It's now as apt to say that foreign affairs are a way of teaching new Canadian prime ministers history. It's time for Harper to sink or swim.

Later,
Kenaz