dagblog - Comments for " Canada closes embassy in Iran, gives Iranian diplomats in Canada 5 days to leave"

Two excuses, or reasons, were

A Guy Called LULU — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 02:19:32 +0000

In reply to Canada closes embassy in Iran, gives Iranian diplomats in Canada 5 days to leave

Two excuses, or reasons, were given to sever ties and withdraw the diplomats; Iran being a state supporter of terror being one and that the diplomats were in danger being the second.

Here is my first reaction. It is very possible that it is believed that the diplomats are, in fact, in danger because Iran might be attacked and everybody in the country would be in danger but especially Westerners who are allies of the government[s] that did the attacking. We got weapons inspectors out of Iraq before we shocked and awed the livin' shit out of them.

Another thing is that If Canada's leadership decided that the diplomats were in danger because an attack on Iran was likely imminent they might very well offer an alternate reason, one that supported their allies, for getting their people the hell out of there. They might say that they just cannot have diplomatic relations with a state sponsor of terrorism.

If anyone, seriously, anyone here, believes that the United States is not a state sponsor of terrorism I would like to hear it. Is Canada likely to break off relations with us for that reason?

Former ambassador Ken Taylor,

acanuck — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 23:12:56 +0000

In reply to Canada?s move on Iran could

Former ambassador Ken Taylor, who led the "Canadian Caper" that smuggled six U.S. diplomats out of Iran during the 1979 hostage crisis, thinks closing the embassy is hasty and counterproductive. I agree.

http://video.ca.msn.com/watch/video/ken-taylor-on-iran-rift/16aq4fhn0?cp...

Canada?s move on Iran could

artappraiser — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 20:14:48 +0000

In reply to Canada closes embassy in Iran, gives Iranian diplomats in Canada 5 days to leave

Canada’s move on Iran could complicate relations with Russia
By Matthew Fisher, Montreal Gazette, September 7, 2012

LADIVOSTOK, Russia — Having denounced Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism and severing all diplomatic ties with the oil-rich Gulf nation on Friday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper may get a frosty reception from Russian President Vladimir Putin when they meet privately Saturday at a summit of Pacific Rim leaders.

Russia has maintained good relations with Iran and with its close ally, Syria. The stance has seriously complicated its relations with the West.

Canada made the move against Iran now because it feared for the lives of the “skeleton staff” of diplomats it still had in Iran, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said Friday.

“Our diplomats serve Canada as civilians and their safety is my number one priority,” the minister said. “They don’t sign up to be put in harm’s way…

In what may be a prelude to talks between Harper and Putin, Baird strongly denounced Iran at a meeting Friday with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. Baird told journalists that he had informed Lavrov “in no uncertain terms” why Canada had pulled its diplomats out of Tehran and gave Iranian diplomats in Ottawa five days to comply with an expulsion order.

“There are a lot of reasons why” Canada has moved against Iran now, Baird said before describing the action as a “made-in-Canada decision.” [....]