Not Interested.

Pierre Pettigrew, the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, wants to give the country renewed "international influence." Normally, one does not think of Canada and international influence in the same sentence: not since the Suez Crisis, perhaps; not for a generation. So what might be the impetus of his foreign policy that will, as he claims, restore Canada's influence?

"Our foreign policy," he said, "is not based on ideologies or on our national interest. We have a foreign policy based on principles such as human rights, the promotion of peace and respect for others."

In essence, his ideology is to give up on our interests, to renounce the national interest. With no interests to guide us, Pettigrew is telling us that Canada will pursue peace and human rights at its own expense. We'll do "whatever it takes," said Paul Martin.

There is plenty of experience among them in the exercise of a limp form of power. The Liberal Party of Canada has been practicing a respectful and disinterested policy within the country for years. In domestic politics, one can see how Liberal influence has increased manifold: Disinterestedly, they have been vigorously funneling hundreds of millions out of the public purse for the protection of the human rights of all those friendly marketing agencies in Quebec.