Angry in the Great White North

The furor over Borys Wrzesnewskyj's confused comments over how to deal with Hezbollah have cost him his job in parliament:

Liberal MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj has resigned as associate foreign affairs critic for his party after controversial comments he made about the conflict in the Middle East.

Wrzesnewskyj offered his resignation Tuesday night, he told CanWest News Service, and it was accepted by Liberal Leader Bill Graham.

Wrzesnewskyj, who will meet with reporters this afternoon, came under fire earlier this week for suggesting he favoured removing Hezbollah from Canada’s list of terrorist organizations. In some media reports, the MP was quoted as saying that Israel was responsible for "state terrorism" in the conflict with Lebanon.

Wrzesnewskyj has denied making some or all of the comments in question at different times, it seems.

This isn't about the morality or wisdom of dealing with terrorists. This isn't about whether it is reasonable to expect terrorists to change their behaviour, or whether there are some terrorists so steeped in blood that no negotiations can be considered.

This is about the effect on the Liberal Party. This is about being a liability. This is about a failure on the part of Wrzesnewskyj to control the situation he had created. This is about a failure on the party of interim leader Bill Graham to react quickly and decisively, a failure whose cost will be paid by Wrzesnewskyj.

It is a happy coincidence that it is also the right thing to do.

Interim Liberal Leader Bill Graham said Wednesday he asked Mr. Wrzesnewskyj to meet with him to explain his comments.

"He did that and in the course of doing that, he tendered his resignation as associate critic (of foreign affairs), which I accepted in the circumstances," Mr. Graham told reporters. "Therefore, I consider that matter closed."

No time to discuss the deeper issue of terrorism? But then Bill Graham just wants the problem to go away.

It has gone away inasmuch as Wrzesnewskyj s concerned. But for the Liberal Party as a whole, the underlying problem remains -- incredible tension within the Liberal Party over the Middle East, especially as the Conservative Party has staked out an uncompromising position in support of Israel and against terrorists. An example of this tension appears on Jason Cherniak's blog:

Boris Wrzesnewskyj has resigned his post as Liberal Associate Critic for Foreign Affairs. I called for this when I first read his comments and a number of bloggers have accused me of being part of a "witchhunt". I also happen to know that some of them have used this as excuse to attack me by sending private emails to the Dion campaign.

I will admit that all the vile directed my way made me begin to second guess myself. However, since even Borys recognizes that he could not continue in his position after having made the comments that he did, I feel vindicated. Clearly, it is those who attacked my position that do not represent the values of the Liberal Party. [emphasis added]

With all due respect, Jason, I think the jury is out on that last statement. Those people who sent the private emails, the ones who are publicly castigating you, the ones who hate you and your position on Israel (and who hate Israel itself) but who have not said anything yet -- they are still in the Liberal Party. As long as they are members, they help mold the values of the Liberal Party. So do you, but your capacity to affect change is limited, as you admit yourself:

I am not an MP. I was not in a position to call Borys or hear "his side of the story". I am a lowly blogger who could do naught but voice my concerns publicly.

Yes, you came out on top on this one, and an MP went down. But Wrzesnewskyj was clumsy. Worry about the clever ones. They are still in the party, and I'd be willing to bet they are represented at every level, from lowly blogger to the highest executive and elected positions. And they are still gunning for you and anyone like you.

Once the foolish ones like Wrzesnewskyj are gone, the rest are going to be that much harder to root out. See, the problem is this -- people like Jason Cherniak and Warren Kinsella are entirely forthcoming with their opinions. Those who harbour animus towards Israel, or to Jews in general, or feel that Hezbollah has been treated unfairly, almost always work in the shadows. With what happened to Wrzesnewskyj, the rest will retreat further into the shadows, fully aware of the price to pay for being too honest with their opinions.

They'll stay in the shadows, ready to take down Cherniak and others like him when the opportunity presents itself. It won't even be about Israel or terrorism. But regardless of the apparent reason, it will be payback for this, should it ever happen.

It's politics as bad as it can be.