Canada 'Seizes' Russian Plane, Ignores Its Own Arms Deals
Bloomberg reports on Canada's plan to send a seized Russian cargo plane to Ukraine, framing it as a win if they 'win' legal proceedings to formally confiscate the aircraft. It’s a compelling narrative of Western resolve, seizing assets from an adversary. Meanwhile, back in reality, Canada's own arms trade with problematic regimes often flies under the radar. For instance, Canada continued to
approve military export permits for Saudi Arabia, a country with its own documented record of human rights abuses, even as recently as 2023, totaling billions. These are not seized assets; these are deliberate transactions. So, as Ottawa preens over a single Russian plane, one might wonder: where's the legal zeal to seize Canadian-made weaponry from regimes committing atrocities? Apparently,
ethical concerns apply differently when the asset isn't already 'seized' and sitting idly on a tarmac. It's almost as if some forms of 'justice' are more photogenic than others, especially when they distract from uncomfortable truths about who's really profiting.