Monday, January 5, 2009

Daily Digest January 5, 2008


The DAILY DIGEST: INFORMATION and OPINION from ST. JOHN'S to VICTORIA.
ARCHIVED at http://cdndailydigest.blogspot.com/

EDITORIAL PAGEs

CORNER BROOK WESTERN STAR -
Make up your own mind
http://www.thewesternstar.com/index.cfm?sid=206955&sc=30

CAPE BRETON POST -
It's time to let go
http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=206511&sc=151

OTTAWA CITIZEN -
Well-rounded intelligence
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/editorials/Well+rounded+intelligence/1142288/story.html

Our shared knowledge
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/editorials/shared+knowledge/1142289/story.html

KINGSTON WHIG STANDARD-
Ontario better if Tory stays on
http://www.thespec.com/Opinions/article/490877

GLOBE & MAIL -
Private saving, collective loss
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090104.weConsumers05/BNStory/specialComment/home

A wing will not suffice
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090104.weQuebec05/BNStory/specialComment/home

NATIONAL POST -
Keeping the Tigers out of Canada
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=1141930

ST. CATHARINES STANDARD -
 Harper's legacy will be defined during this crisis
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1373135

NIAGARA FALLS REVIEW -
On Canada's military role in Afghanistan
http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1372798

K-W RECORD -
Premier must change to beat this recession  
http://news.therecord.com/Opinions/article/467153

Don't hesitate to tell your MPs what you think 
http://news.therecord.com/Opinions/article/467150

WINDSOR STAR -
Sharing the sacrifice
http://www.windsorstar.com/opinion/editorials/Sharing+sacrifice/1142067/story.html

WINNIPEG SUN -
New roads, bridges not enough
http://www.winnipegsun.com/comment/editorial/2009/01/05/7918346-sun.html

SASKATOON STARPHOENIX -
Time to rethink Afghanistan
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/forum/story.html?id=49261ea9-b2f6-4246-8f19-965a6f406e13

REGINA LEADER-POST -
Sorting out the seating arrangements
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/viewpoints/story.html?id=7664919b-492a-4596-86eb-7b39a76c7a14

VICTORIA TIMES-COLONIST -
Auto bailouts are a bad idea
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=c7f1b8cc-4078-465d-943c-4e172baa12c3


ISSUES

AFGHANISTAN -
Counterinsurgency Field Manual: Afghanistan Edition
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4587&page=1

New US Military Strategy In Afghanistan: Focus On Tribes
http://www.reportworldnews.com/asia/afghanistan/new-us-military-strategy-in-afghanistan-focus-on-tribes.html

Playing with Fire: Arming the Southern Tribes Against 'Taliban'
http://hazaristantimes.wordpress.com/2009/01/03/playing-with-fire-arming-the-southern-tribes-against-taliban/

Petraeus Says Afghanistan Progress Requires 'Sustained' Effort
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aBXZcnBzVh.Y&refer=home


CANADIAN FORCES -
Semrau case no Somalia, at least from PR perspective
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1099094.html

 Give car buyers incentives to crank up Big Three sales 
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/561115


CANUSA/USACAN -
Obama's team familiar to Canada
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=43b8f3e9-ab32-4859-939a-8e5c77460f92

Thousands stripped of quick passage cards across border
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Thousands+stripped+quick+passage+cards+across+border/1141537/story.html


ECONOMIC AFFAIRS -
 Slight problem with job retraining 
http://www.thestar.com/Opinion/article/561113


FOREIGN AFFAIRS -
Gaza: The game is politics, the dead are pawns
http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/opinion/article/529815

More at The Jerusalem Post and:
Casualties Mount as Fighting in Gaza Escalates - Voice of America
 Israeli Forces Push Deeper Into Gaza Strip - Washington Post
 Israeli Attack Splits Gaza; Truce Calls Are Rebuffed - New York Times
 Israeli Tanks, Troops Cut Off Gaza City - Los Angeles Times
 Israeli Troops Amass Outside Gaza City - Washington Times
 Israel's Rain of Fire on Gaza - The Times
 Israeli Tanks Divide Gaza in Battle Against Hamas - Daily Telegraph
 Israeli Troops and Tanks Slice Deeper into Gaza - Associated Press
 Israeli Army Moves into Gaza Capital - Agence France Presse
 4 Brigades Deployed in Northern Gaza - Jerusalem Post
 Hamas: We're Using PA Arms to Battle IDF - Jerusalem Post
 Gaza Incursion Halts Aid Convoy, Commerce at Egypt Border Crossing - LA Times
Cheney Says US Did Not Authorize Gaza Invasion - Voice of America
 Cheney: Israel Didn't Ask OK for Gaza Invasion - Associated Press
 Europe Sends Two Missions to Promote a Cease-Fire - New York Times
EU Sends Team to Middle East for Gaza Truce - Voice of America
Envoys Race to Halt Gaza Carnage - BBC News
 Gaza Crisis Spurs Turkish Diplomacy - Washington Times
 Diplomatic Efforts to Halt Offensive Make Little Progress - Los Angeles Times
 Hamas to Send Delegation to Egypt - Agence France-Presse
Arabs React With Anger to Israeli Invasion of Gaza - Voice of America
 Residents Doubt That Rocket Fire Can Be Stopped - Washington Post
 Gaza City Residents Hunker Down - Los Angeles Times
Pope Benedict Appeals for Peace in Gaza - Voice of America
How Israel, Hamas Define Victory in Gaza -


HEALTH CARE RELATED -
Obama's health care pledge may hurt Canada: Doctor Shortage
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1141872


JUSTICE SYSTEM -
Defence to begin calling witnesses in trial of man accused of murder by HIV
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090105/national/crime_hiv_trial

Experts worried about buses wired for surveillance
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090104/video_bus_090104/20090104?hub=Canada


POLITICS IN THE PROVINCES -
Tory's support showing cracks
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/561647


FEDERAL POLITICS -
NDP threatens legal action over taped meeting
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/561560

Ignatieff is a man of magnitude. So where is he?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090104.wcomart05/BNStory/specialComment/home

Ignatieff's dilemma: fight or fold
http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/opinion/article/529788


OPINION AND INFORMATION -
Is Canada ready for bioterrorism?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090104.ecosinger05/BNStory/specialComment/home

Time to rethink Afghan strategy
http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/opinion/article/529787

The battle to define 'hate'
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1141870

Note to Parliament: Stop scrapping and get to work
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1099160.html

Sinking sands?
http://www.torontosun.com/comment/2009/01/05/7918636-sun.html


INFOS -
Le Hamas promet «la victoire»
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/international/moyen-orient/200901/05/01-814773-le-hamas-promet-la-victoire.php

Enregistrement: le NPD veut des noms
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200901/04/01-814700-enregistrement-le-npd-veut-des-noms.php

Ottawa appelle a un cessez-le-feu à Gaza
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200901/04/01-814672-ottawa-appelle-a-un-cessez-le-feu-a-gaza.php

Le débat sur l'avortement ne sera pas rouvert, dit Harper
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/200812/30/01-813999-le-debat-sur-lavortement-ne-sera-pas-rouvert-dit-harper.php

Listériose : Ottawa n'a encore nommé aucun enquêteur spécial
http://www.ledevoir.com/2009/01/05/225763.html

Des caméras de surveillance vidéo sont installées dans des autobus scolaires
http://info.branchez-vous.com/graphics/textecomplet.gif

Impuissance diplomatique à Gaza
http://www.ledevoir.com/2009/01/05/225783.html
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From: Lorimer Rutty
Subject: rockets

Joe
Charles Krauthammer of the Washington Post Writers Group said that in 
the last three years some 6,464 mortar and rockets were launched from 
Gaza.

The launchings took place from urban locations; aimed towards an 
Israeli populace.

If, for the sake of argument, weapons such as these were fired from 
the western side of the Ottawa River towards the eastern side of the 
Ottawa River, would anyone notice;would anyone care?

Would there be a reaction? Would it have merit?

Lorimer

===================================
From: Ron Thornton
Subject: Re: Daily Digest January 3 - 4, 2008

Hi Joe:

Your comments in the Jan. 3-4 Digest remind me of one difference you and I have.  Your believe that our politicians, and even beyond that to include ordinary folks like you and me, should think and act as "Canadians first and foremost" is actually laudable. It ranks up there with being human first, Canadian second, but the reality is that our first loyalty is to those closest to us. I am first a husband, father, son, brother, and uncle to those who make my life worth living, who bring me the greatest joy, love, and contentment. I am an Albertan, a western Canadian, and finally a Canadian, if I am being honest as to the order of my priorities. It is human nature. That said, while I might think some of my fellow Canadians, a few in Ontario for example, might be idiots, they are my idiots, and I take offense to foreigners making such an observation.

Meanwhile, some seem rather upset at the "over the top" reaction by Israel to a few rockets that killed 4 of its citizens by their response to killing more than 400 (and climbing) Palestinians. They forget that what the Israelis are seeking is for the rocket attacks to stop, not whether or not their response is proportionate or not. I mean, if you walk up to the biggest black man you can find and call him the "n" word, I suggest his response might be disproportionate to your action, but you sure in hell won't ever want to do it again. After the Holocaust, after the wars of 1948, 1967, and 1973 where Israel fought for its very survival, we shouldn't be surprised it just doesn't take sh*t from anybody. If you kick them in the head, they will attempt to remove yours. So, might I suggest that one way to stop the violence is to stop kicking them in the head.

We make our observations from within the confines of a peaceful culture, something much of the world does not enjoy. It comes to us as the legacy of centuries of evolution (and even violence), insulating us from the realities that are very present throughout the globe. It is not that I wouldn't love the whole world to be a pastoral landscape that allows us to be one, at peace with each other and the planet we inhabit, but a dose of reality would be helpful when we make our observations.

Ron Thornton

===================================
From: Ray Strachan
Subject: Regarding The News Media on Ignattief

DD

I am so amused by the media of all stripes ,who are speculating what great
things Ignattief will do for Canada if he were to shed the stigma of The NDP
and become Prime Minister of Israel,  pardon me I mean of  Canada. When you
have a person who uttered the truth in regards to Israel's flattening part of
Lebanon, by  the way costing Canada approx one hundred million dollars to get
the dual citizens out of there (We are not bombarded by questions of that
expenditure are we?.) But the next day, down on his knees, maybe even hands
and knees apologizing to those organizations who in fact run ALL Canadian
Federal politics by controlling what our Canadian politicians can say.  They
are controlled by Israel through the Israeli cells.     What can IGGY possibly
do?   He threw away anything Canadian while down on his knees.

Ray Strachan

One thing I would like to say in regards to someone on a personal basis who
contributes regularly,,,

"May The Gods That Be, Bless Rebecca Gingrich.  It is evident that she
possesses all things human. A Heart, A Soul,A Brain and Courage.

My wish would be, that there were more of her type in this world of So-called
Humanity.

===================================
From: Larry Kazdan
To: sunletters@vancouversun.com
Subject: Letter to Editor re: Tax-fee savings accounts a New Year's gift for seniors, Meaghan Fitzpatrick, Jan. 2
 http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=2fca283f-8326-4e54-829c-3e74509a1dc8&k=26578

                    Tax-fee savings accounts a New Year's gift for seniors, Meaghan Fitzpatrick, Jan. 2
The Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) is certainly a New Year's gift to some seniors, those with excess cash.  But as less tax is paid by affluent Canadians with more and more savings in tax-free accounts, the less money Government will have to disperse on health, education and social welfare.  So rich and poor seniors will both be impacted by the introduction of TFSAs, just in different ways.

Larry Kazdan C.G.A,
Vancouver, B.C.
===================================
Subject: RE: Daily Digest January 3 - 4, 2008
From: "Efstratios Psarianos"
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"To this day, a number of Conservative officials continue to identify themselves based on their provincial allegiances,
to the dismay of senior party officials who call on everyone to be "Conservatives first and foremost."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081231.wquebec0101/BNStory/politics/home

The senior party officials who "call on everyone to be "Conservatives first and foremost." are not the brightest lights on the Christmas tree.
The "Open federalism" they advocate promises a flow of decision making powers to the provinces, strengthening Provincialism at the expense of Canadianism. With party policy placing individual provinces ahead of Canada as whole it is natural for individuals  ro "identify themselves based on their provincial allegiances,"
Is thinking and acting as "Canadians first and foremost" above municipality, region, province and political party to be fostered?
I think so, how about you?
         Joe
Personally, I'm all for "whatever's appropriate" . When thinking of that bloody tree that's about to fall on my power line, I'm a Montrealer interested in city maintenance. When I'm annoyed at that 'City Repository' next door catching fire again and giving new chemical tastes my BBQed steak, I'm a Quebecer interested in my provinces better regulating garbage dumps. When I'm annoyed at Ontarians upstream of me dropping dirty diapers that winds up on my beach in Montreal, I'm a Canadian interested in multi-provincial issues. And when Our Secret Masters descend from the firmament, I'll be an Earthling interested in Martians not dictating us what to do.
 
What I'm saying is that I change my political clothes depending on who I'm off to visit. domestically. Overseas, I'm a Canadian.
 
As concerns being 'Conservative first and foremost': that's actually an idea that can be upheld (and enforced) in some cases but not in others. Any member who's interested and/or active in a provincial party of whatever political leaning will necessarily identify with both the CPC and the provincial party. The issue is then one of how to manage conflicts between the two interests.
 
A member in a position of responsibility within the CPC must necessarily be Federal Conservative First. This means they have to be loyal to the CPC EVEN WHEN THAT PROVES ANNOYING to a provincial party that that person sympathizes with or is a member thereof. More indulgence can be granted to a member who isn't in a position of responsibility, since that member can reasonably expect to be free to do what he wants as long as he doesn't sow excessive discord in the CPC, doesn't make a public ass of himself, and otherwise doesn't bring the CPC into disrepute. If that member starts getting out of hand, a warning yank on his chain is appropriate. If the member goes beyond the bounds of propriety, he should be booted out.
 
'Ordinary' members who identify themselves with provincial parties (including ones opposed to provincial 'Conservative/conservatives' should feel free to do so as long as they behave themselves in public. But as soon as they're vested with some sort of authority or they're employees of the CPC, their over-riding loyalty must be TO the CPC.
 
All that to say: it's OK for federal Conservatives grunts to identify themselves with provincial Liberal parties, the PQ (!), Progressive-Conservative parties, and whatnot, if said grunts behave themselves. Officers are another story.
 
 
P.S. As for me, I'm blissfully oblivious to provincial parties here in Quebec. I vote Quebec Liberal on a pretty continual basis since there's no provincial party Conservative party here, that the PQ's can't make up its mind on what it aims to do (short-term or long-term separation excluded, for now), and that right now the ADQ's main defining feature is part-vacuity, part-intellectual-nullity, and part (stupid, ineffective) crassness.
 
From: "Rebecca Gingrich"
Subject: The truth dare not be spoken?
Subject: RE: Daily Digest December 30, 2008
From: "Efstratios Psarianos"
Harper promises to remain staunch ally of Israel as he helps light menorah
http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/Canada/article/158649
Harper a 'staunch ally of Israel--but is he a staunch defender of Canada?
Israel is a genocidal state and Canada should not be defending them while
killing in Afghanistan to 'allow girls to go to school and bring them
democracy'! The stated mission of Afghanistan is in direct opposition to
what Canada defends in Israel.
 
Yikes! To anyone who's forgotten what I wrote, I said nothing like what's said above of below. I was actually (very) annoyed by Mr. Harper's stating that 'Canada is a defender of the Jewish faith'. I even remarked that Our Sovereign likely disapproves of his saying this: she IS the head of the Anglican Church of England, after all (but neither of Wales nor of Scotland, surprisingly).
 
Personally, I'd be all too happy to have Israel and its enemies beamed over to the far side of Pluto. Unfortunately, that's not possible (right now), so I'll have to settle for more Earthbound thinking. And that despite my feeling, viscerally, a 'Let the sods rot in HELL!' disgust.
 
While defending Israel he is signing away Canada with military agreements
and NAU moves. Harper defends the HRTs and therefore is against free speech
in Canada. So, who is a staunch ally of Canada? Certainly not the PM.
Harper will not open the abortion debate--something petitioned for by
Christians. But then, could it possibly be because Morgenthaler, a Jew, was
awarded the OoC by stealth for criminally doing abortions? Harper defends
the Jewish faith--but not Canadian children?

I'd be curious to know if Canada's being sold as a package deal or piece by piece. If the latter, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland could have been sold off easily 30 years ago (we weren't doing anything useful with them at the time, and we even considered saving paper by cutting them out of Canadian maps, right?), but I can't think of any that isn't being used for SOMETHING these days. For example, we use Quebec here to make make hockey players, right?
 
(NOTE IN RED: The above's ALL irony, folks. Get in the spirit and substitute your favourite provinces (and territories) of derision).
 
As for Dr. Morgentaler, the last I'd heard, the Supreme Court said that the 'no government-paid abortions' laws in 1986 (year?) were invalid for some reason and that Parliament then held a free vote that made abortion legal. So, his championing what he believed to be right, his having done so knowing full well that their might be penal consequences, and his turning out to be legally 'right' and sanctioned, deserves respect. And that even if one doesn't agree with what he was pushing for.
 
(And now, please pardon the digression that follows).
 
Ole Stratos here has given a decent amount of thought to the whole abortion issue, and he's of the opinion that the only arguments and conclusions that can be upheld logically are those of the Roman Catholic Church and those diametrically opposed. (So much for compromise ...)
 
And my apology: the reasoning can be a little gruesome, and the language icky. I can't help it if I want to be precise. You've been warned ...
 
First, think of conception, pregnancy, and giving birth as a single operation, black-box style. (For those to whom 'box' brought up dirty thoughts ... 'shame on you!'; or 'that's just natural .. carry on'). It follows that the baby-manufacturing process consists of (*ahem* ... I'll call it) insemination; baby-manufacture and delivery; and baby-packaging (dressing), operation (feed, listen to 'waaaaaah!'), and maintenance (change diapers).
 
Abortion consists of interrupting the baby-manufacturing process. The result: no baby. (Here I set aside the psychological pain of parents aborting a potential life, etc. This can be debated, but I see this as an issue that's subsidiary to the abortion issue. Same thing for the 'foetus feels pain' issue ... if one DOES choose to discuss it, then one can argue that the foetus can be administered some sort of anesthesia).
 
Now, what happens when one chooses to use a contraceptive? The result: no baby. Same thing for abstinence.
 
It follows that abstinence and contraception yield the same result as abortion: no baby.
 
The question thus becomes: is the abortion PROCESS morally wrong, or is the RESULT? If one chooses to argue the process, one has to argue inductively based on hypotheses, and the conclusions drawn will necessarily come with varying degrees of uncertainty as to their validity (which is OK ... that's what inductive reasoning is all about).
 
If the RESULT is morally wrong (dirsregarding the 'pain to the baby' argument) ... then what BRINGS ABOUT the result is necessarily wrong, too. And that means abstinence and contraception are wrong. For that matter, one can argue that not doing one's best to keep all of the ladies around oneself pregnant is also a sin.
 
I understand that the Roman Catholic doctrine runs along the line of the result being wrong, therefore, etc., etc., except perhaps for some of the details (i.e., abstinence not being a sin, perhaps). Personally, the 'getting all the ladies (or just my wife) pregnant all the time' is what gets me: I just can't wrap my head around that making any sense. Thus, if I believe the premise to be false (I don't believe that there's a Gawd out there who insists on my inseminating all the women around me), then the conclusion of the 'result is morally wrong' argument is necessarily false, too. As for the 'process being morally wrong' argument ... again, disregarding the 'parents' psychological pain' and other issues, I just don't relate to the arguments of 'abortion should be avoided for the sake of the parents' mental health' or whatever.
 
In essence, the RESULT argument puts one in line with the Roman Catholic Church, and the conclusion just makes no sense to me. The only way I see that abortion could be argued as being bad is based upon the PROCESS argument. And personally, process side-effects aside (psychological pain, again), I find that it's RESULTS that matter.
 
Hamas is trying to defend itself.
 
More precisely, Hamas is out explicitly to destroy Israel, and it continually tries to do so in manners that can't give it (Hamas) victory.
 
Israel bemoans the rockets in Sderot--a place not even inhabited by Jews.
As for what Harper should say in public--is Stratos suggesting that he should
only support genocide in private? It is bad enough that if he says this in
public we know he has gone further in his defence of Israel than he says.
When a politicians lips are moving you know he is lying.
becky
Well, no ... I can't prevent Mr. Harper form thinking what he wants in private. My argument is that Mr. Harper should:  1. NOT declare that 'Canada is a defender of the Jewish FAITH', or whatever. One can support PROTECTING Jews as individuals, but 'defending a faith' (whatever that means) is waaaay beyond the bounds of propriety for a country not directly involved in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
As for supporting Israel diplomatically: that can be justified (and counter-argued), too. The point is that Hamas is a non-government whose methods and aims (i.e., knock off the neighbours) are NOT those of a government. If Hamas will neither negociate nor keep its peace, then there's not a whole lot any government can do other than condemn it. Witness what the governments of other 'sympathetic to Palestinians' countries have said and done ... Egypt is right atthe edge of an armed struggle with Hamas, for example.
Becky
===================================
From: Larry Kazdan
To: Letters@globeandmail.com
Subject: Letter to Editor re: Political will is more than hopes and prayers, Peter Raymont, Jan. 2
Re: Political will is more than hopes and prayers, Peter Raymont, Jan. 2
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090102.wcoalbright02/BNStory/specialComment/home
The United Nations also requires its own troops to deploy rapidly as a 'first responder'.  Canada could make an invaluable contribution by backing the creation of a standing UN Emergency Peace Service (UNEPS).  Aside from providing a robust military presence to establish security immediately, the proposed service would also contain police to restore law and order as well as an array of civilian teams specializing in humanitarian, human rights and peace-building activities.  By championing its creation, Canada could also help restore its own traditional reputation as a global peacebuilder and UN supporter.
Larry Kazdan,
Vancouver, B.C.
I'd be all for some miracle power being available to calm down and settle all of the World's conflicts. As things are, though, that's extremely unlikely; and where it IS conceivable, the UN need not be the intervenor that dispatches troops.
 
The two UN councils (or whatever) primarily involved would be the Security Council and the Human Rights Council (or whatever it's called). The Security Council's majority resolutions can be vetoed by any one of the Big Five. The Human Rights Council has no vetoing members and is dominated by Third-World countries, many of which are less-than-shining exemplars of human rights and which have significant incentive to squelch any initiative aimed at sending troops to clean up some place. (With Israel being a noted exception: some UN council(s) or other frequently passes resolutions condemning Israel).
 
Thus, on the one hand we'd have immobility in the face of human-rights violations (the Security Council's Big Five would veto inconvenient motions, or the HR Council would vote it down) combined with occasional flare-ups of HR Council resolutions aimed at unpopular countries (Israel, again). Immobility would be a waste of time, the HR Council would be free to pass resolutions aimed at embarassing the SC (the Big Five, in particular) would be distracting and annoying, and actually sending troops would be impossible unless a targetted country is inconsequential, or unpopular, and completely outrageous in its domestic behaviour.
 
Somehow, putting a lot of diplomatic effort into setting up a UNEPS force that would be used only against South Sea cannibals, or whatever, just doesn't seem worth the bother.
 
Cheers!
Stratos
===================================
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