Gen. Rick Hiller
National Post, Mar. 19, 2022
“I’ve said many times this week that sanctions, economic punishments, financial constraints and restrictions on powerful Russian people are wonderful, and for Ukraine, right now, useless.”
If platitudes were air defence missiles, praise was anti-tank rockets, applause was fighters, and wishes and prayers were weapons, after this week’s address to Canada’s Parliament, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would have been able to plan his country’s victory parade over Russia. Sadly, what was on display Tuesday was Canada’s unrelenting drive to provide Zelenskyy and Ukraine with complete assistance short of real help. A close friend, who believes in prayer, says that if you actually do something to give wings to that prayer you can achieve something greater. President Zelenskyy has given us an opening, a chance to put wings on our prayers for Ukraine, to achieve something greater.
I had the privilege to be in the gallery at Parliament during President Zelenskyy’s address to, not just a joint session of Parliament, but indeed, all of Canada. I was much less privileged to be there for the words, fanfare and self-congratulations when our own elected politicians spoke.
I was inspired by Zelenskyy, and embarrassed for my country.
Rick J. Hillier is a retired Canadian Forces general who served as the chief of defence staff from February 2005 to July 2008.
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