Canada Has No Call on Iraq Contracts

The Globe and Mail ^ | December 12, 2003 | Marcus Gee

[fiscally_right]

I think its right what Washington is doing, they just need to be more tactful about it. If I were a Canadian, I wouldn't be offended that Canada couldn't take part in contracts, I'd be offended that the Wolfowitz called by country a "national security risk."

[fiscally_right]

by=my

[Destructor]

"Let me try to understand this: Canada sat on the sidelines as its greatest friend went to war against a vicious tyranny in Iraq, and now it's offended that Canadian companies might not get to take part in Iraq's reconstruction?"

Aw, go put some vinegar on your fries, and shut up!

[MegaSilver]

You have a point. But I don't think Wolfowitz called Canada/France/et. al. "national security risks"; I believe he merely said that allowing nations who had not helped us out with troops in Iraq would be exposing ourselves to national security risks. (Correct me if I'm wrong on this.)

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I have heard that if the nations do NOT forgive Iraqi debt that was run up under Saddam, they will not receive the contracts.

If they erase the debt, they will be welcome to the contracts.

Anyone else hear about this?

[vanmorrison]

Both you and FiscallyRight are dead wrong! Canada is, indeed, a GREAT "security risk". Wolfowitz' remarks were DEAD NUTS ON!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Somebody gets it.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

Istead of seeking genuine reconciliation with the US and lending support, Canada bombarded us with lobbyists interested in separating us from our money while their politicians call the president a Nazi and Americans ignorant.

Screw the Canadian government. We are not their bit**.

[fiscally_right]

But Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia and Turkey are not security risks because they're in the Coalition of the Willing?

[Shermy]

It's a bargaining point.

REad these stories together with the ones about Baker making the tour to get Iraqi debt relief.

France, Germany, etc. have got an ace up their sleeve...they can go after the billions of Iraqi funds tied up in Euro banks via the UN Food for Oil program.

[Orblivion]

But Canada DID help out in Afganistan a LOT. Not to mention they suffered severe casualties due to a friendly fire incident caused by an American Pilot. Granted canada is a socialist loser country. They did sacrifice some and should be included to some degree. France and Germany, they can piss off. We destroyed their defense industry when we removed Saddam from power and now they are just pissed.

[azhenfud]

Better yet, coalition forces shouldn't be placed in a position of having to protect civilian contractors who come from countries that have no means nor costs of providing a means of protecting them while they make money during the rebuild.

[vanmorrison]

What kind of straw man argument are you trying to lay on me to muddy the waters illogically? I was specifically addressing the fact that the Canucks are a security risk. It is also true that Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are security risks, as well. But two wrongs don't make a right, as they say. And trying to obfuscate the issue with the Canucks by throwing in these others is perpetrating a logical fallacy.

[SJackson]

You’re right that security was the deciding factor.

Uzbekistan and Turkey were coalition members, however Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Quatar, and the UAE were all NON coalition members added to the list. Maybe the Saudis and Egyptians can help run the schools.

Determination and Findings

Coalition members

[philosofy123]

I believe he merely said that allowing nations who had not helped us out with troops in Iraq would be exposing ourselves to national security risks

If Canada, France, and Germany are not a security risk in fighting along side our troupes in Afghanistan, what logic do you or Wolfowitz have that they would be a threat to security. The threat to security is the Moslem fanatics who are blowing up the oil pipelines, and the power lines. Do you suppose if a Canadian firm sent a bunch of engineers to do some work in Baghdad, they will go out and blow things up? Do you remember the American soldier that tossed a grenade at his colleagues’ tent in Afghanistan? That was a Moslem American soldier. We need to be honest with our selves as far who our friend is, and who our enemy is. I know for damn sure that our (all the West) common enemy is fanatical Islam. If we are to get FULL cooperation from our allies, we need to start to learn not insult them.

[MegaSilver]

Both you and FiscallyRight are dead wrong! Canada is, indeed, a GREAT "security risk". Wolfowitz' remarks were DEAD NUTS ON!

Read my post again. I wasn't criticizing Wolfowitz, nor was I denying that Canada's policies make it anything short of an open floodgate in the river of illegal North American immigrants.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Hiya!

[NeoCaveman]

But the media does seem to enjoy creating panic.

Canadians have no balls!