À Canadian university prof went to Iran when the recent troubles started, because his wife and children were there.
Now upset that the Canadian government has limited ability to communicate with him, due to internet blackouts, and isn’t able to do much to get him out of a war zone.
I’m sorry that he has worries about his family, but it’s not like the Canadian government can call a timeout on hostilities to let Canadians get out of Iran.
It’s not uncommon. My brother-in-law was over there with a friend from Mexico, and Mexico told his friend to get out of Iran then contact them to get him home. My B-I-L is still there but he is choosing to stay, at least for now.
But he’s not calling out the Mexican government for not being able to pull him out of à war zone. Their advice sounds the same as the Canadian government: get yourself over the border into another country and we may be able to help.
Remember, Canada hasn’t had diplomatic relations or consular service with Iran since the Canadian Caper in 1980. Relations with Iran have been frosty ever since.
I really don’t see what he expects Canada to do. Send Mark Carney over wearing a CFL referee jersey and blow à timeout whistle?
It’s a start. Although it would be better if he could send all the players into the penalty box. Elbows up, eh!
Not going to lie at this point I think the Canadian Military can just all go over and rescue him with minimum fuss.
My wife is originally Iranian, born in Tehran. Her family emigrated to the US just ahead of the Islamic Revolution (her father is a university professor, and recognized the danger signs; the academics are among the first against the wall when the religious crazies take over), and later naturalized as American citizens.
However, they still have family and other connections back in Iran, as do all émigrés. A few of their Americanized friends happened to be visiting Iran, and are now stuck, unable to exit.
My wife has a nightly ritual where she goes down the list of contacts, both Iranian residents and the current set of visitors, checking in with everybody to verify their safety. It was initially very upsetting, but it’s settled into a sort of grim routine now.
You want Canada to invade Iran, on top of all the other mess going on in and related to that area right now?
Could? Yeah, I’m sure they could. Should is a whole different story, because that would have a ton of side-effects, most of which would be decidedly bad for Canada as a whole.
I’m always amazed at how entitled some people feel. It’s like, “Whoa, excuse me! I’m here now, so you’ll all have to simply stop while I check on my family and then let us peacefully leave together.”
Yeah, what’s with the whole “But, we’re Canadians!” exceptionalism thing? I thought that was just for us real 'Murricans!
Maybe they can do an armed incursion to rescue their citizens better than the last time a North American nation tried it. Or maybe they can’t.
Well, historically speaking, Canada has proven itself quite adept at sneaking people out of Iran.
Jannesar says he managed to call a Canadian government emergency line but after hours of conversation was initially told to fill in an online form, despite the lack of internet connection.
“Finally one of the agents kindly did it on phone for me. But after so many back and forth talks they told me that there is almost nothing they can do,” Jannesar said.
“Their answer to my question of ‘what service (do) you exactly provide in this emergency line?’ was something in lines of: ‘we are answering your questions! And calls! And if you were not a Canadian we were not answering your questions!”
Jannesar says in his email that the Canadian officials he spoke with “were nice and respectful” and he did not want to be “harsh” about them.
“But there are actually no managerial plans behind it and (it’s) not clear what they offer. It’s not even clear in the wording of their emails that what they do they do or can do,” he said.
The dude is more calm then I would be. Stick me in a war zone and you’d better believe that I’d be cursing at any amount of government red tape.
For the second time in a month, I find my self quoting Rick from Casablanca: *
Ilsa, I’m no good at being noble, but it doesn’t take much to see that the problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you’ll understand that. Now, now… Here’s looking at you kid.
His problem isn’t so much red tape as it is the Canadian government literally having no capacity to help him out.
He probably thinks Argo is a service like Uber.
What do you think the Canadian government should be doing?
The Canadian government can’t improve the internet and telco services in a far away country under bombardment.
The Canadian government has no diplomatic or consular services in Iran.
In fact it’s warning Canadians not to travel to Iran:
If the government is warning Canadians not to travel to Iran, saying that they have no ability to aid Canadians in Iran, and a Canadian voluntarily travels to Iran, well … it’s red tape at fault?
Ultimately; yes. My issue would be at all the red tape surrounding the events (having to fill out an online comment form, etc.). If I were in a surprize war-zone situation I don’t think I would be coherent at the offer/suggestion. I’m just not built for that level of stress and fortitude.
Legit anything they can. Me and my family are now in a warzone. Whatever level of diplomacy Canada has, use it.
Hell, I find his calmness to be quite impressive. I find us mocking him from the safety of our homes (in Canada) to be crass.
Canada has no level of diplomacy with Iran. Italy talks to Iran on Canada’s behalf, but Iran can’t answer the phone right now; please try again in a few moments.
Am I going to connect the dots here. Canada should get Italy on the phone and if they are coordinating an evacuation allow them passage. This isn’t rocket science.