Peter MacKay still playing "whose is bigger" with the Soviets, err, Russians

Our defence minister, Peter MacKay, must be an aficionado of Cold War-era movies and Tom Clancy novels, because he still seems keen on playing a game of "whose is bigger?" with the Soviet Union, er, with the Russians:

Federal Defence Minister Peter MacKay has issued a decidedly cool response to the Russian military's planned paratroop drop at the North Pole next spring, suggesting Canadian fighter jets would scramble to "meet" any Russian aircraft "approaching" Canada's airspace. "We're going to protect our sovereign territory," MacKay said Friday in Halifax, a day after a Russian embassy representative tried to play down the parachute mission as a "solely symbolic" event aimed at celebrating the 60th anniversary of a Cold War achievement by two Soviet scientists.

I wonder if Peter is aware of the major Arctic military exercise his own department is planning, some details of which began to be revealed last week:

...but media will “likely” have to leave before the meeting ends to transfer to HMCS Toronto to take part in Operation Nanook, an Arctic sovereignty mission...

A reporter asks for more information on Operation Nanook, and is told that there will be a full briefing by Defence at some point before the trip takes place; Peter MacKay will be there, as will some media who are covering the operation in its entirety — again, betting not ITQ — which means there may be some limits for photo ops – one pool, not two.

I'm sure Peter would love if the Russian defence minister held a presser to insist they'll defend their sovereign territory, and maybe channel Kruschev with a little "we will crush you" rhetoric. Then Peter can invite him to Geneva for talks, and then they can invite Superman to throw all their missiles into the sun.

But it's possible though the Russian defence minister has better things to do than shamelessly pander to a domestic audience with empty saber rattling and statements of the obvious, particularly given neither countries' "sovereign territory" is likely to be impacted by either exercise.

Of course, Peter MacKay is no stranger to the Wag the Dog technique.

Good to know Peter will be on the front-line in person for Operation Nanook, hopefully with a C-7 in hand, defending our sovereigty from those dastardly Russians. I want him on that wall. I need him on that wall.

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Tomorrow's stories today

The Daily Look-ahead from CP often offers an interesting sneak-peak into the stories the media will be covering. Here's a look ahead at some likely political stories we'll probably be reading about over the next few days, starting with weekend events.

LAVAL, Que. _ The Quebec caucus of the federal Liberals meets through Sunday. (8 a.m. at Sheraton, 2440 Autoroute des Laurentides)

Get a large group of Quebec Liberals together and it's always a party. Wonder what Denis Coderre will have to say? Hopefully they'll leave the drama to the Conservatives, who seem to have it well in hand.

OTTAWA _ More than 100 delegates from across the country attend NDP federal council meeting. Party Leader Jack Layton speaks at noon Sunday. Marshall Ganz, a Harvard lecturer and Obama organizer, gives keynote address at 11 a.m. Sunday. (9 a.m. at Marriott Hotel, 100 Kent St.)

Get a large group of NDPers together and its always ... a large group of NDPers. Will Jack take heat from the faithful though for the spate of troubling polling? Will he signal a change in strategy? Maybe the Obama organizer will talk some sense into them.

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. _ Prime Minister Stephen Harper gives keynote address at annual general meeting of Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters.

Wonder what the door prize will be?

WINNIPEG _ Manitoba Liberals hold their annual general meeting. A vote on whether to open up the leadership and effectively oust leader Jon Gerrard is expected Sunday morning. (Canada Inns Polo Park)

Nothing to do with his blogging career, I trust?

And on Monday:

OTTAWA _ Statistics Canada releases February leading indicators. (8:30 a.m. at www.statcan.ca)

Will they be positive or negative? Place your bets now. Either way, Stephen Harper will assure us he's totally not surprised, this is exactly what he expected all along, please send him money because some Liberal girl is making videos that use facts and stuff to make him look bad. It's not fair!

OTTAWA _ Special Senate aging committee meets in camera. Subject to change without notice. (12:30 p.m. at Room 705, Victoria Building, 140 Wellington St.)

Aren't all Senate committes aging?

Thank-you. Tip your waitresses.

OTTAWA _ Commons defence committee hears witnesses on Russian military aircraft approaching Canada's airspace. Subject to change without notice. (3:30 p.m. at Room 362, East Block, Parliament Hill)

Really, commons defence committee? I hope you've at least got Dustin Hoffman and Robert DeNiro as witnesses. Hopefully O'Malley gives this live-blogging priority.
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