Casting Bones and Reading Entrails

Baird, Unlock the Doors to the Mens' Room and the Janitor's Closet

John Baird has resigned from the Harper cabinet and from his seat in Parliament. It seems no one knew about it much more than 24-hours before the public announcement.

The punditry allowed that it was a natural move, one of Baird's choosing.  He'd done as much as he could in politics.  20-years is a lifetime.  Baird was at the zenith, the perfect place from which to enter the private sector.  Yada, yada, yada.

I can't say why but I'm getting the sense that there's more to Baird's resignation than we know.  I suppose he could have wind that Harper is going to call a snap election and wants to be well out of the way first.  Perhaps Baird knows of something going on in the prime minister's life that he doesn't want to be around for.

I'm pretty sure there's something in play.  I just don't know what it is yet but I'm trying to find out.

NATO Went to War for America, Why Not Turkey?

Like the United States, Turkey is a full member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.   Article 5 of the NATO charter obliges all members to come to the aid of any other member under attack.   For the second day running, Turkey has received artillery barrages fired by Syrian government forces.

So, what's the hold up?

Turkey is the only Muslim member state of NATO.   Maybe it's because we have a Muslim state being attacked by a Muslim neighbour that accounts for our apparent indifference.

I can't help thinking about John Baird, Harper ForAffMin, slamming the U.N. for failing to act on Syria.   I wonder if that loudmouth is railing on against NATO for doing precisely the same thing.

The Turkish government has authorized its military to enter Syria in response to the shelling.