The Khan Defection

Liberal MP Wajid Khan has crossed the floor to officially join the tories - a move not wholly unexpected considering his recent and controversial history in the Liberal party.

From August 2006:

OTTAWA — Liberal leaders were put on the defensive Wednesday by MPs in their own party for allowing Wajid Khan to take on the role of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's special adviser on the Middle East and Afghanistan.

Some Liberal MPs also called on Mr. Khan to either quit the post or the party.
[...]
Mr. Harper's parliamentary secretary, Jason Kenney, said Tuesday that Mr. Khan has had discussions with the government since May, when he expressed concern that the government was not explaining Canada's role in Afghanistan well enough.But some Liberals believe Mr. Harper is hoping to use the appointment of a Muslim-Canadian Liberal MP to deflect criticisms of his early strong defence of Israel's actions in Lebanon — a position he has recently sought to soften.

Khan's comments today:

“I must say that I did not come to this decision lightly,” Mr. Kahn said. “But quite frankly, the Liberal Party has moved away from people like me.

“People who believe in free enterprise, support for families and a stronger, more assertive Canada on the world stage.”

Mr. Khan also cited party leadership as an important factor in his decision, describing Mr. Harper as “the best leader for Canada.”

There's a difference between an 'assertive' Canada and an 'aggressive' Canada, Mr Khan. And it's also quite interesting that you seriously criticized this tory government back in July 2006, whose foreign policy you have now come to see as being 'assertive':

Stumbling on the world stage-Harper and the Middle East

The events of the past week in Lebanon have been troubling for some Canadians and tragic for others. The deaths of eight Canadian citizens in the Israeli bombardment have caused widespread consternation, especially given that in Harper’s view, Israel is simply taking a “measured response”. Let’s be clear, the taking of civilian lives, whether by Hezbollah terrorism or by Israeli military action, whether by design, or as part of what today’s politicians euphemistically call “collateral damage”, can never be justified.

I strongly believe that in the current period of global instability, especially in the context of the Middle East, Canada has a unique opportunity to assert itself as a moderate and engaging voice on global and regional issues and to solidify and expand its influence on the world stage. With that influence however, Canada also has a responsibility to be the voice that stresses diplomacy and opens lines of communications with world leaders.

We should be taking it upon ourselves to open up lines of dialogue with nations such as Iran, Israel and Syria, whatever their past or future intentions, in order to follow a path of constructive engagement and to look for positive ways of resolving conflict.

From the machinations of the past week however, it has become obvious that Canada’s attempts to create its own strong and independent voice in the global arena, and the chance to act as the honest broker, are in danger of being squandered by the foreign policy manoeuvres of the Conservative government. At the G-8 leaders meeting, Mr. Harper unequivocally wrapped himself around the US policy of unqualified support for Israel’s military actions. While it has always been important to maintain good relations and where appropriate, support the actions of the United States, the Conservative government’s inability to articulate its own policy in the Middle East and attempts to curry favour with the Bush administration cannot and should not supplant Canada’s existing foreign relations capital, nor our potential to be a sober and moderate voice of reason in the world.

How did you arrive at this new found support for the Conservative government now after having written such a stinging attack just 6 months ago?

Enjoy your brief stint in the ruling tories with the so-called bestest leader while it lasts Mr Khan because you and he will be gone when the elections are held later this year and any influence you may have hoped to have regarding Canada's foreign policy will have been squandered.

This move, of course, now gives more power to the NDP who have the numbers to act in concert with the tories to get their regressive legislation passed and if Jack Layton continues pandering to Steve, he won't last long on the national stage either.

It promises to be an interesting year.