Michael Ignatieff: Intellectual hypocrisy

"ttruscott" said
Michael who????

Derrick O'Keefe is a Canadian writer and social justice activist. He has written widely on Canadian and international politics and has written Michael Ignatieff: The Lesser Evil? (Verso Books), and has co-authored with Afghanistan's Malalai Joya, A Woman Among Warlords: The Extraordinary Story of an Afghan Who Dared to Raise Her Voice.

Follow him on Twitter: @derrickokeefe

The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial policy.

This excerpt is from Michael Ignatieff: The Lesser Evil?

Copyright © Derrick O'Keefe 2011
Published by Verso Books
Reprinted here with permission.

"Curtman" said
I suppose its too much to ask people here to actually read the article, but just so you guys know they printed an excerpt of a new book about Iggy.

"OnTheIce" said
I suppose its too much to ask people here to actually read the article, but just so you guys know they printed an excerpt of a new book about Iggy.

"Curtman" said


So don't. Just don't go spouting off about something when you can't even be bothered to see what it is you're spouting off about.

"OnTheIce" said


So don't. Just don't go spouting off about something when you can't even be bothered to see what it is you're spouting off about.

"RUEZ" said
Wow, an Aljazeera article criticizing Israel. That's wierd.

Three years ago, Canada refused to utter a word of criticism about Israeli war crimes committed during Operation Cast Lead against Gaza. Before that, back in 2006, the first year of the Harper government, Canada insisted that Israel's attacks on Lebanon were "a measured response" - even after a Canadian family and a Canadian UN peacekeeper were among the victims killed by the intensive Israeli bombing.

So it was no surprise that when, in November, a Canadian boat with the Freedom Waves Flotilla to Gaza was hijacked in international waters by Israel's navy, there was not a word of concern uttered by the Harper government for the Canadians detained in an Israeli jail. That same month, Defence Minister Peter MacKay met with his counterpart Ehud Barak to announce new military co-operation between Israel and Canada. The Harper government also obliged with some saber rattling and the announcement of new, strengthened sanctions against Iran.

Although Canada never deserved its reputation as a "fair broker" in the Middle East, there has been a marked shift in recent years culminating in loud, explicit support for Israel's wars of aggression and its occupation. But Canada's ignominious status as enabler of Israeli occupation on the world stage has also been facilitated by rampant political cowardice among opposition politicians. In many cases they know better, but remain silent for fear of bearing the brunt of an organised and well-funded lobby that defends Israeli policies.

The case of Michael Ignatieff, who resigned as Liberal leader in May 2011 after a devastating electoral defeat, is exemplary. Ignatieff came to Canadian politics after a long career as a public intellectual in the United Kingdom and the United States. And although he was a high profile supporter of war and empire, prior to returning to Canada his work still featured occasional, but sharp critiques of Israeli occupation.

As Liberal leader, he became an uncritical supporter of Israel, even joining in the now routine attempts by the Harper government to demonise and criminalise Palestine solidarity activism in Canada.

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