Bush ices meeting with PM

Toronto Sun ^ | 2003-10-20 | CP

[Lorenb420]

BANGKOK -- Prime Minister Jean Chretien got only stony silence yesterday after his request for a meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush during the two-day APEC summit. The two were expected to bump into each other during the summit of 21 world leaders, but U.S. officials shrugged off a Canadian request for a formal meeting between the two.

"We told them that if we can, we should sit down," a senior Canadian official, who requested anonymity, said. "If not, we'll meet in pull-asides (informal meetings)."

Bush has already met with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, Chinese President Hu Jintao, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Thailand's king and queen in the run-up to the summit that begins today.

"According to the White House interpretation of Mr. Bush's visit, he doesn't have any bilaterals planned, per se. He has one or two meetings specifically about Korea," the official said.

Bush has yet to visit Canada in the nearly three years since he was sworn in as president. His relationship with Chretien soured when the prime minister refused to send Canadian troops to Iraq to support the U.S.-led invasion.

Chretien didn't help redeem himself in the president's good books when, in a candid exchange with reporters, he later poked fun at Bush's handling of the economy.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Good. Mr. Chretien deserves to be in timeout.

[ClearCase_guy]

Bush is a class act. He should not criticize Chretien, but he should very assiduously avoid meetings. Bush will be in office longer than Chretien, and he can always meet with the next Canadian PM.

[bert]

There are several 1st rate and 2nd rate powers to meet and third rate just can't be fit into the schedule.

[TomHarkinIsNotFromIowa]

The one thing that createn looks forward to after his term of PM is over is gettin stoned.

[Broadside Joe]

Yeah I think if he were to meet with a third world nation it should be Mexico. Where's Canada?

[nuconvert]

"U.S. officials shrugged off a Canadian request for a formal meeting between the two."

Good. Waste of time dealing with Chretien.
And he doesn't deserve the President's time.
Send a flunky for photo op.

[Liberty Valance]

Send Barney :o)

[Fierce Allegiance]

The quiet form of:

[vanmorrison]

The Detroit News had an article today about the decrease in cross-border traffic between Detroit and Windsor that has resulted in over a hundred million dollars in lost revenue for local Windsor businesses. Curiously, though, the article failed to mention the primary reason for this traffic decrease. That is, many Americans, like myself, have refused to continue to support these America-hating Canucks with our hard-earned money. These people are no different than the French or Germans. Forget Canada!

[Just mythoughts]

"that createn" doesn't appear to be waiting until after his term, letting the world know that the leader of the world's only "superpower" doesn't have time to "meet" you was not well thought out. Probably short term memory loss.

[BluH2o]

These people are no different than the French or Germans. Forget Canada!

U.S. travel to foreign countries has diminished significantly since 9-11. Combination of many factors contributed to this, hassle at airports & borders, economy, SARS, etc.. In fact, just recently, a major international travel agency filed chapter 9 bankruptcy ... this company was a viable entity for over 50 years. One other thing that seems to get lost in the bash Canada tirade ... Canada has a contingent of troops on the ground in Afghanistan. This army contingent recently took casualities near Kabul. Perhaps a reminder is in store concerning the Canadian casualities in the friendly fire incident over a year ago near Kandahar.

[Astronaut]

Jean Cretin is a lame duck who is out of office (finally) in February. He is a socialist 1960's throwback, and would simply be a waste of President Bush's time.

[prairiebreeze]

He is a socialist 1960's throwback,

With familial ties to French Total Fina ELF. Cretins actions are predictable.

I will say though that I know Canadians who don't support in any way what their government has done and how it's slapped at America. Maybe we could annex Alberta.

Prairie

[vanmorrison]

I grew up in Detroit. I have always loved Hockey. I used to travel to Windsor and Sarnia to shop and eat regularly. I've traveled to Sault Ste. Marie frequently to cross to WaWa for fishing trips. Not anymore! I've had enough of Canada and Canucks! I've grown increasingly disgusted through the years with the change in attitude that Canucks have exhibited toward America and Americans. Their blatant America-hating they've shown lately is only a recent manifestation of a festering problem they've had for years. The border guards have been getting increasingly surly for a long while; this has been noted many times in the local papers. This trend did not begin with 911. The political changes in Canada have not reflected well on the judgment and character of the average Canuck. They've let themselves be duped over and over by European leftists, primarily the French. Do you hate political correctness? Imagine what the average Canuck has allowed himself to live with in this regard. Canucks prefer the idiocy of the UN over having to establish a mature foreign policy. The New York City Police Department is larger than the entire Canadian military establishment. These people have gone nuts! I'll say it again; Forget Canada!

[kanawa]

That is, many Americans, like myself, have refused to continue to support these America-hating Canucks with our hard-earned money. These people are no different than the French or Germans. Forget Canada!

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[bushfamfan]

It's great to see President Bush is not going to go out of his way to acknowledge Chretien. The real story is how rude the Canadians are and undiplomatic. They have taken verbal shots at our country for the longest time and played on their image as polite and friendly, when in truth they are phonies. Their government has shown their ugly face and it is really surreal the levels of nastiness Chretien and the Canadian government have repeatedly shown this country.

[kanawa]

Could say we're a bunch of Mooselims?