The Canadian Way: tear down your heroes

It seems that some of the political and bureaucratic gremlins that infest Ottawa have been whispering in Bob Fife's ear: Chief of Defence Staff General Rick Hillier has become too powerful, and must be brought down. As expected, the government is denying the rumours - which they'd do no matter whether the story was accurate or not.

I know it might be asking too much of such an insular and self-involved group, but I wish our political class could stop being political for a moment and look at what's in the country's best interests instead of looking after their own little pissing patch.

Because what they'd see is an officer that the soldiers love, a man who could say "Follow me!" as he kicked down the gates of Hell, and have every man and woman in the CF at his back. They'd see a leader, a rare and once endangered species at National Defence Headquarters.

If the politicians and the parasites who live off of them in Ottawa are indeed intent on tearing this man down, it's because they've decided it's in their own personal interests to do so, because by any objective measure, Rick Hillier has been the best CDS this country has had in my lifetime. Pushing him out might help them, but it certainly wouldn't help the country.

If you'd like to help remind them of that, and of where their duty lies in this matter, feel free to participate in the poll we've set up right here on the question. I'll be sure to forward the results to the appropriate in-boxes in Ottawa.