Perhaps the biggest story of the past few weeks other than the conventions, is Canada severing ties with Iran.  This is a big, bold step and one that says much about the despotic regime in power in Iran.  Canadians are a great people and have unlimited tolerance.  It would not be a decision that would be made lightly and without weighing all of the alternatives. There are those in the world that would claim the US to be an imperialist, war mongering country.  But it would be difficult to find any country or anyone, that would say that about our friends to the north.  The reason for this decision was explained as Iran’s continuing behavior of belligerence.  On Friday, Canada announced the expulsion of Iran’s diplomats and gave them five days to leave the country; (now that’s a punishment, having to leave Canada for Iran).  Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, John Baird, referred to Iran as “the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today”.   He continued, “Iran refuses to comply with U.N. resolutions pertaining to its nuclear program; it routinely threatens the existence of Israel and engages in racist anti-Semitic rhetoric and incitement to genocide; it is among the world’s worst violators of human rights; and it shelters and materially supports terrorist”.  Baird concluded, “Moreover, the Iranian regime has shown blatant disregard for the Vienna Convention and its guarantee of protection for diplomatic personnel. Under the circumstances, Canada can no longer maintain a diplomatic presence in Iran. Our diplomats serve Canada as civilians, and their safety is our number one priority.”  The Canadians should be given much credit for taking such steps that will certainly place it higher on the priority list of terrorist targets.  So to the Canadian Government, I applaud your brave actions.  It is the correct decision and one that should be an example for all peace-loving, democratic societies around the world.