Walkom: Do opposition MPs still laud Canada’s ludicrous Libyan war?

In the waning days of the last Parliament, Canada’s opposition parties — New Democrats, Liberals and Bloc Québécois — casually and unanimously approved Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s decision to make war on Libya.

At the time, all MPs chose to pretend that they were acting solely for humanitarian purposes — that the aim of the war would be limited to protecting Libyan civilians.

Three months later, the war stumbles along. The NATO forces that Canada joined no longer claim to be merely protecting civilians or enforcing a no-fly zone above Libya. The stated aim now is regime change, as NATO jets bomb Tripoli (a city full of civilians) in an attempt to assassinate dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

So it will be instructive to see how the opposition — and particularly the official opposition, the NDP — reacts when Harper’s government asks MPs next week to approve a 3 ½-month extension to Canada’s participation in the war.

Because in this conflict, there are no good guys.

Gadhafi’s record is well-known. He’s been a tyrant since taking power in 1969.

The International Criminal Court (which neither the U.S. nor Libya recognizes) is looking into allegations that Gadhafi authorized war crimes — including, possibly, systematic rape.

And the rebels? Let’s just say they are a mixed lot who include ex-jihadis from the Al Qaeda camps of Afghanistan, as well as former senior Gadhafi officials who, until a few weeks ago, were happily taking part in the tyranny.

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Source: Toronto Star