XPost: can.politics, ont.politics, bc.politics   
   XPost: ab.politics   
   From: gregcarrsober@gmail.com   
      
   On 04/03/2014 6:02 PM, ConɀƦConɀ wrote:   
   > They certainly are beating the war drums from the PMO's office, aren't   
   > they? Seems they smell a new customer for Canadian oil and gas and will   
   > stop at nothing to lie about and diminish Russia in the process.   
   >   
   > It's nothing less than disgusting - and more along the lines of   
   > warmongering.   
   > ______________________________________   
   > CBC News Posted: Mar 03, 2014   
   >   
   >   
   > John Baird compares Russia's actions in Ukraine to Nazi invasion of   
   > Czechoslovakia   
   >   
   > Russian troop presence in Crimea compared to what Germans did in   
   > Sudetenland in 1938   
   >   
   >   
   > Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird has compared Russia's troop presence   
   > in Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula to Hitler's invasion of Sudetenland, a   
   > part of the former Czechoslovakia, in 1938.   
   >   
   > Baird, speaking to host Evan Solomon on CBC News Network's Power &   
   > Politics, accused Russia of invading and occupying Crimea, a part of   
   > Ukraine. "If it's not war, it's akin to war," he said.   
   >   
   > At first, Baird said the situation was "right out of the Cold War." When   
   > Solomon pointed out Putin claims he is protecting Russian rights in   
   > Crimea, which has a majority of Russian-speaking citizens, Baird said,   
   > "The Sudetenland had a majority of Germans. That gave Germany no right   
   > to do this in the late 1930s."   
   >   
   > Asked by Solomon if he was making a comparison to the Nazis, Baird   
   > replied, "When you have one country invading one of its neighbours, and   
   > using this type of outrageous and ludicrous rhetoric, it's hard not to."   
   >   
   > Baird noted that no Russian in Crimea has been killed during the   
   > protests in Ukraine.   
   > Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird 20140128   
   >   
   > Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird accused Russia of invading and   
   > occupying Crimea, a part of Ukraine. "If it's not war, it's akin to   
   > war," he said. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)   
   >   
   > In 1938, Hitler sent in troops to occupy Sudetenland, a region on   
   > Germany's border populated largely by Sudeten Germans. The takeover was   
   > one of the precursors of the Second World War.   
   > Government monitors Ukraine crisis   
   >   
   > Baird's comments came after a series of events that show the Canadian   
   > government is actively monitoring the crisis in Ukraine, with Prime   
   > Minister Stephen Harper speaking to Arseniy Yatsenyuk, the interim prime   
   > minister of Ukraine, this morning.   
   >   
   > The Prime Minister's Office released a statement about Harper's phone   
   > conversation. "He expressed to Prime Minister Yatsenyuk that Ukraine’s   
   > sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected and that the   
   > Ukrainian people must be free to determine their own future."   
   >   
   > Harper was referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to   
   > send Russian troops to Crimea, part of Ukraine, and surround its   
   > military bases.   
   >   
   > Pointedly referring to the G7, rather than the G8, which includes   
   > Russia, the statement said Harper assured Yatsenyuk, "Canada is working   
   > closely with partners and allies and drew attention to the strong   
   > statement issued by G7 leaders on March 2 on this matter. He reiterated   
   > Canada's continuing offers of assistance to Ukraine during this   
   > important period of transition, including related to the upcoming   
   > elections."   
   > Harper on phone with interim Ukraine prime minister   
   >   
   > Prime Minister Stephen Harper spoke by telephone with Arseniy Yatsenyuk,   
   > the interim prime minster of Ukraine, Monday morning. (Prime Minister's   
   > Office)   
   >   
   > Elections are scheduled in Ukraine for May 27.   
   >   
   > Meanwhile, Canada is considering taking part in a special observer   
   > mission to Ukraine to determine whether Russia's claims that Ukrainians   
   > are at risk there are actually true, according to a Canadian Press report.   
   >   
   > Moscow has insisted that Ukrainians want Russian troops present in the   
   > Crimea for their protection. The claim has been used to justify the   
   > massing of Russian soldiers in the mainly Russian-speaking and   
   > semi-autonomous region.   
   >   
   > But Ukrainian Ambassador Vadym Prystaiko told the Canadian Press that   
   > Canada is in talks to examine the situation in Crimea and "take this   
   > pretext from the Russians."   
   >   
   > At a mining conference in Toronto Monday afternoon, Harper talked   
   > briefly about Ukraine before sitting down for an interview with a   
   > conference spokesperson about the economy.   
   >   
   > "Canada has suspended our engagement in preparations for the G8 summit   
   > planned in Sochi. We have also recalled our ambassador to Russia. [We]   
   > cancelled any government representation at the Paralympic Games and I've   
   > instructed officials to review all planned bilateral interaction with   
   > Russia," Harper announced.   
   >   
   > Harper has also spoken to U.S. President Barack Obama and British Prime   
   > Minister David Cameron, but has not yet had a conversation with Putin.   
   > 'Does a G8 actually exist?'   
   >   
   > In question period Monday, Liberal House leader Ralph Goodale asked   
   > about the status of Russia in the G8. "Does a G8 actually exist at this   
   > time?"   
   >   
   > The parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs, Deepak Obhrai, did not   
   > directly answer. When deputy NDP leader Megan Leslie asked about what   
   > the government is doing to help Canadian citizens in Ukraine, Obhrai   
   > said they are being asked to contact the embassy to ensure their safety.   
   >   
   > Conservative MP Ted Opitz introduced a motion in the House of Commons,   
   > jointly supported by Goodale and NDP MP Peggy Nash, condemning Putin's   
   > actions in Ukraine and supporting the government's recall of the   
   > Canadian ambassador in Russia. The motion was adopted unanimously.   
   >   
   > In the foyer of the House of Commons, Opitz, whose background is Polish   
   > but whose Toronto riding of Etobicoke Centre is heavily populated with   
   > Ukrainian-Canadians, said "there are other embassies on the ground,"   
   > when asked by reporters whether it would be useful to retain an   
   > ambassador in Moscow to gather information.   
   >   
   > Opitz said Putin's actions are "all out of the old Soviet playbook,"   
   > dismissing Putin's claim of protecting Russian minority rights in Ukraine.   
   >   
   > Opitz has just returned from Ukraine, where he was part of a delegation   
   > accompanying Foreign Minister John Baird. The Liberal Party has just   
   > sent MP Chrystia Freeland to Ukraine, where she will attempt to meet   
   > with members of the transitional government.   
   >   
   > Freeland, who speaks Ukrainian and Russian, plans to stay with her uncle   
   > in Kyiv.   
   > Harper consults with NDP's Tom Mulcair   
   >   
   > Harper also called Opposition leader Tom Mulcair about his decision to   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)