[headsonpikes]

Mark Kingwell is a smarmy, dressed-in-black, fashionably left-wing Philosophy prof in Toronto.

The Post tries to provide balance to its normally conservative viewpoint, and there just aren't a lot of eloquent and intelligent lefties to publish.

Come to think of it, there aren't any. ;^)

[quidnunc]

Here's what I believe is going on.

For decades Canada has and continues to be partnered with the nations of Old Europe in an attempt to hobble U.S. power through the United Nations and a series of entangling treaties like Kyoto.

In short, Canada has been one of the Lilliputians trying to tie down Gulliver.

Fair enough, but what makes Canada hypocritical is that while all this was going on America was constantly being reassured that Canada was our bestest friend in the whole wide world.

Fortunately for our side Dubya was elected and he began undoing some of damage done by the Gulliver-killing treaties.

Then came 9/11 and America began making a list of her friends and checking it twice.

Americans began scrutinizing the actions our putative allies and to many of us Canada has fallen short; her rhetoric doesn't square with her actions.

Canadians are quick to point to the hospitality extended to air travellers grounded in Canada on 9/11.

For this you deserve thanks, but the fact is that you would have done the same for Ethiopians.

The old adage is that when you shoot at the king you must kill the king.

Canada took her shot and missed.

Now you must be prepared live on our terms with the consequences.

[dighton]

Mark Kingwell is a smarmy, dressed-in-black, fashionably left-wing Philosophy prof in Toronto.

He needs a goatee and bongos.