Mark Steyn: Democracy fells yet another anti-American government

An Act of Hygiene

. . . John Kerry pledged that, under his leadership, "America will rejoin the community of nations"--by which he meant Jacques Chirac, Gerhard Schroeder, the Belgian guy . . .

. . . John Kerry may have wanted to "rejoin the community of nations." Instead, "the community of nations" has joined John Kerry, windsurfing off Nantucket in electric-yellow buttock-hugging Lycra, or whatever he's doing these days.

Aw, but the Canuck government wasn't so all-fired anti-American, now, were they? you ask. Well, I have to say, yes, but even more so, anti-militaristic:

In April 2002, the Pentagon wished to confer the Bronze Star on five snipers from the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in Afghanistan for their service in . . . killing the enemy. Ottawa put the request on hold, relenting grudgingly only after the matter was made public. It seems the Canadian government's main objection was a reluctance to let it be known that our military still, er, shoots people, and extremely accurately. [Steyn's ellipsis, for emphasis]

Canada has amazing soldiers who are pathetically underequipped. I hope they start getting the funding they need and deserve -- and I hope young Canadians really begin answering the call to follow in this proud service to their country.