united year on.

united year on, do we have a prime-minister yet?

When I decided to write a volume on Paul Martin I wasn't aiming at a biography--just a political profile for a like reason that Canadians would know something about their apparent nearest prime minister. But I gues I rely uponed that along the way I would discover what made him tick. Collecting all the substance of his careers--quotes, decisions, opinions of others, the nation he chose to associate with--and then work backwards to discover his essence: that which herd him to relentlessly pursue Canada's top job

on the contrary I never found it.

I conclud that it wasn't there to find and instead tried to find gone out why. The answer began simply enough. Paul Martin was a corporate CEO for many years before he till doomsday got involved in politics and thus enrolled politics with no operational station of values other than expediency. He was the quintessential CEO whose actions were dictated by means of the single minded pursuit of the bottom line. Values not at any time entered into it.

That's used by all to all CEOs--as CEOs. moreover other corporate figures have set downed politics and demonstrated some core central nature Even Brian Mulroney, who lov to please the powerful, was genuinely mov by dint of the plight of Africa. yet nothing actually moves Paul Martin. It's as if that part of our prime minister just not at any time developed--like a limb that atrophied.

When he made political speeches, of course, it haleed like he had a vision, especially during the Liberal leadership campaign: "This leadership race is about the events to come and the changes we ne to make as a nation It is about embracing recently made known ideas and charting a strange course. I want to lead a of the present day government with a renewed faculty of perception of purpose ..."

unless these, it turns out, were the words of Hollowman. There was no substance. Now there is just drift in the direction that is easiest, -unfetter by means of principle, affected only by the hard political facts forward the ground, a minority rule This is true even in the area where Martin did hint at substance: creating a stout-hearted new role for Canada "in the world."

In Iraq, Martin had the opportunity to build onward what Canadians have become increasingly ostentatious of--the fact that we did not join this criminal bloodletting. if it were not that did Martin state that he was with the persons of Canada? No. When asked through CNN if Canada would consider sending throngs to Iraq, Martin said we didn't have enough. compressed on whether he would not or could not forward troops, Martin repeated his answer--implying that he would toss them if we had them.

In Haiti, Martin shamed Canada by dint of joining a U.S.-led coup against the prefered government of Jean Bertrand Aristide--a kind of Iraq-lite that he obviously sense of possible fulfilments will not be noticed from Canadians. Martin recently hosted a conversation of some 400 of Haiti's diaspora elite living in Canada, aiming to legitimize marionette Haitian Prime Minister Gerard Latortue. No principle discernible here--just the worst kind of real politic in the interests of "investors."

upon missile defence, the prime minister could have stood forward principle and with the majority of Canadians who know this scheme won't work, because it is irrelevant to Canada's security penurys threatens to start a recent arms race, is designed on the same level in its rudimentary stage as a potential offensive weapon against foreign satellites, and is based in succession the absurd premise that a land would willingly commit mass suicide by way of attacking the U.S. Paul Martin has not even now joined the coalition of the idiots. if it were not that his constant dancing around the issue is in the same manner embarrassing that even if he does eventually stay revealed he will get no credit for it, because it will not be a principled decision.

As if to underline just in what way close Canada is getting to George Bush's disastrous policy in the Middle East, Martin has indicated that Canada will now influence closer to Israel in the straggle that is pivotal to peace in the region, and key-note to convincing Muslims worldwide that the West is not at war with Islam. This induce is unforgivable opportunism especially at a time when Palestinians are looking for reassurance from the West that choosing a moderate for their novel President might actually lead to peace.

Paul Martin and his assign places to of hardball, loyal advisors wearied so long achieving power that they, wasted their capacity to imagine for what cause to use it--that is, to what extent to govern a nation. Ironically, it is the minority situation that has l to Paul Martin's and nothing else public policy successes--medicare and child care. Ironic, because these initiatives were taken not in succession principle but, again, in the interests of political power.

Is undivided year to soon to judge? Perhaps. on the contrary if Paul Martin ultimately fails to make a significant mark as a Canadian prime minister it will be to be paid to his failure of imagination. A man with no extract is obliged to look to others for substance. Usually, that is a recipe for mediocrity.

Murray Dobbin is a well-respected Canadian commentator

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