Wednesday, October 03, 2007

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.

2 Comments:

Blogger Mark, Ottawa said...

Latest from CTV (with lots from Scott Taylor):

'Any talk of the Conservative government replacing Gen. Rick Hillier as chief of defence staff is just speculation, says Defence Minister Peter MacKay.

"There's no basis to this discussion. We're at war with respect to terrorism. Gen. Hillier has shown great leadership and we have tremendous confidence in his ability," MacKay told reporters in Halifax on Wednesday.

"He serves at the pleasure of the prime minister, and the prime minister is pleased with the work he is doing."..

However, Hillier may have personally decided not to stay on as the Armed Forces' chief of defence staff when his term expires.

Robert Fife, CTV's Ottawa bureau chief who broke the story, said a source told him late Tuesday that Hillier had decided against an extension to his term.

"We'll see if that in fact is the case. All his office will say is that his reappointment is the prerogative of the prime minister," Fife told Canada AM on Wednesday.

Hillier, appointed by the previous Liberal government in 2005, wouldn't answer reporters' questions on Tuesday....'

CBC adds this quote from the MND:

"This speculation that's out there is really just that. There is no basis to this discussion right now."

But "There is no basis to this discussion right now" sounds a mite slippery.

Mark
Ottawa

1:25 p.m., October 03, 2007  
Blogger Mark, Ottawa said...

Sixty-five comments so far on the CTV story.

Mark
Ottawa

1:28 p.m., October 03, 2007  

Post a Comment

<< Home