End Canadian Complicity in War against Iran
by Yves Engler
The US and Israel have launched a massive war of aggression against Iran. Canada has assisted directly and helped pave the way for the war.
In three weeks, the US and Israel have killed 1500 Iranians. They’ve assassinated top officials and Israel has said they’ll kill whomever else they want. They’ve also destroyed massive amounts of civil infrastructure, including ecologically sensitive oil and natural gas facilities.
At the same time Israel has killed over a thousand Lebanese. They’ve destroyed large swaths of Beirut and are seeking to ethnically cleanse the south of that country. As they destroy Lebanon and Iran, the Jewish supremacist state continues to kill Palestinians in Gaza and displace them in the West Bank.
Rather than push back, Canadian officials have justified the US/Israeli aggression on Iran and largely ignored Israeli violence in Lebanon and Palestine. Ottawa has released several statements framing Iran as the aggressor in a war instigated by the US and Israel. The government has suggested it may assist the warmongers by offering “defensive” support to Gulf countries or by dispatching a warship to disrupt Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Through NORAD, hundreds of Canadian soldiers assist the US with monitoring West Asia, likely providing intelligence assistance for US/Israeli strikes. Additionally, Canadian forces stationed with the US in the region and those deployed at Canada’s base in Kuwait may also have assisted the aggression.
What’s certain is that Ottawa paved the way for the war through a slew of measures designed to isolate Iran. By cutting off ties, labelling Iran a terror supporter and sanctioning the country Canada has worked for many years to weaken Iran diplomatically and economically.
Canada should apologize for contributing to the overthrow of Iran’s nascent democracy in 1953 and initiate a full accounting of Ottawa’s role in the coup against Prime Minster Mohammad Mossadegh.
Canada should adopt the following measures to oppose the war and re-found bilateral relations with Iran:
Condemn Trump and Netanyahu’s illegal war of aggression.
Declare that Canada will not formally dispatch troops to assist in the war.
Direct all Canadian soldiers working with the US military to halt any assistance to the war.
Bring the 200+ Canadian troops in the region home.
Close Canada’s military base in Kuwait.
Restart diplomatic relations with Tehran.
Repeal a host of sanctions imposed on Iranian individuals and entities.
Remove Iran from Canada’s state sponsors of terror list.
Remove the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from Canada’s terrorist list.