Telling the United Arab Emirates "where they can stick it"

And other musings on Canada's diplomatic fight for runway space.

One of the major difficulties in fighting a war in Afghanistan is that Afghanistan is really, really far away. So far, that Canada had to set up the Camp Mirage airbase in the UAE to use as a stopover point for our military aircraft travel to and from the conflict. But Canadian Forces will soon lose the use of that base, as the UAE said this week we’ll be kicked out by Nov. 5 in retaliation to Transport Canada’s refusal to allow UAE airlines more landing slots at Canadian airports.

Stephen Harper’s government has refused to budge on the landing slot issue, and although the National Post’s Jeff Jedras should probably brush up on his diplomatic lingo, he agrees: “my answer would also have been to tell the UAE to stick it.” And how would he react to the UAE’s decision to ban Defence Minister Peter MacKay from flying over its airspace? “I would call them up and remind them, once again, where they can stick it.” Firm but fair, Mr. Jedras.

The Globe and Mail blames both sides for the diplomatic debacle. “Canada’s proneness to preach free commerce when it suits us, but then throw up protectionist barriers at the first opportunity, has been on full display,” the editors write. And the UAE decision “to link the use of airspace for trade with the use of airspace for security” is, at best, “a dubious proposition.”

Much attention has been paid to Canada’s failure to win a seat on the UN Security Council this week, but the Calgary Herald’s Don Martin says the Camp Mirage issue is actually more important. “Long after the red faces fade over Canada's smackdown at the UN … the negatives from losing Camp Mirage and resulting economic tensions with this tiny, but fabulously wealthy sheikdom will linger on.” Not only will Canada’s trade with the Middle East suffer, but the military now has to find a new midpoint airbase through which to withdraw our entire Afghanistan mission next year.

Somebody get Cyprus on the phone!