Sajjan learns a lesson

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has corrected his boast about his role in defeating the Taliban in Panjwai province 11 years ago. He no longer claims to be the architect of Operation Medusa but attributes that role to David Fraser, the Canadian major-general who was in charge of the multinational force carrying out the operation.

The opposition parties in Parliament, smelling blood, are now questioning Sajjan’s character and demanding his resignation.

The case does not call for dismissal or resignation. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau might, however, leave Sajjan twisting in the wind for a little while, as an example to others. The wages of boasting are mockery.

The spectacle of the defence minister facing his critics in Parliament after he has already admitted his fault should help encourage other cabinet ministers to think twice about enhancing their accounts of past triumphs.

This is not a minister the country should get rid of. This is a minister with enough hard-earned scars and bruises to serve the government and the country well.

Don’t fire him. Stand him up in Parliament in front of his accusers. Let him take the flak, explain himself, lick his political wounds and then return to work.

Let the rest of the government watch his self-induced ordeal and learn from it. Let them learn to back down immediately when they are caught, because the gradual, reluctant retreat just makes matters worse.

Better still, let them learn to imagine the viral video of what they were about to say and hold their tongues.