In his January speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney gave the impression of a banker turned soothsayer, a Daniel coming to judgment.  Here was a born-again man of international relations who would rally the middle powers (from the middle) and try to assert influence and power in a way deemed fit for this rule-torn world.

So far, the middling powers have not gotten far.  In fact, they have shown themselves despicably fawning and incapable of taking a stance on the legality of the US and Israeli strikes on Iran.  Even worse, acts of predation and villainy in breach of the United Nations Charter have received the seal of approval.  Suggestions that they can also do things separately from the United States in some fictional coalition of law-abiding states are risible.  It’s rather difficult to talk about sound and sober independence when your real estate is essentially part of a foreign imperium.

During his official visit to Australia earlier this month, Carney did little to address this corrupting blight on a program of independence that is compromised before it begins.  He expressed admiration for the role played by Canada and Australia in developing a structure of international order after the Second World War without conceding that they had been complicit in undermining it.  Cowardice can never be officially accepted........

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