From the department of redundancy department (I stole that from Bob McCown of the FAN) comes the news that PM Martin's trip Sri Lanka was for a photo opportunity (hat-tip NealeNews):
...The whole visit was a photo opportunity -- with cameras set up for the PM in designated spots: Martin on the beach looking out to sea, Martin amid the wreckage, Martin with a homeless kid, Martin taking a token drink of water produced by the DART (Disaster Assistance Response Team) water purifier.
He met with the Canadian commander, Lt. Col. Mike Voith, and a small medical team but didn't visit the camp of the 200 Canadian military people here for tsunami victims.
Martin's handlers wanted no one but their people taking photos. The padre was even shoved out of the way.
And then Martin was gone -- helicoptered out. Maybe 90 minutes in the area. Embarrassing. I'm in Sri Lanka with the DART men and women and, as Canadian soldiers always do, they're working miracles -- but the PM didn't have time to visit them.
I found it a slap in the face.
...I find myself wondering how much worse things would be if DART weren't here. These guys are wonderful. I know there are those who criticize the DART program, but it works and is essential right now for Sri Lanka.
Like I said, they perform miracles every day. And the people know it. When all this is over, what Sri Lankans will remember is DART, not the PM's visit for a photo-op.
Can PM Martin play this thing any worse than he has?
