Bush: Canada can bid on Iraq contracts

Yahoo.com ^

[SB00]

MONTERREY, Mexico - President Bush (news - web sites), seeking to mend relations with America's northern neighbor, said Tuesday that Canada will be eligible for a second round of U.S.-financed reconstruction contracts in Iraq

In a breakfast meeting with new Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, Bush said he had told Martin of the shift in policy. Martin "understands the stakes" in rebuilding a free and peaceful Iraq, Bush said. He offered no details of what the contracts would be worth.

Martin is eager to patch up the cross-border relationship after his predecessor, Jean Chretien, abstained from the Iraq war, angering Bush.

Martin said he was pleased by the new U.S. stance toward Canada, and the lucrative contracts that could come Canada's way. U.S. policy in the first round was to shut out Canada and other countries that opposed the war.

"It does show that working together, we can arrive at a reasonable solution," Martin told reporters after the breakfast.

[SB00]

It's the second round of contracts, not the first. Sounds like a fair compromise.

[excalibur1701]

>President Bush, seeking to mend relations with America's
>northern neighbor, said Tuesday that Canada will be eligible
>for a second round of U.S.-financed reconstruction contracts
>in Iraq

Ummmmm.....shouldn't Canada be seeking to mend relationships with the United States??? Why does the US always give in to crap like this. We don't need Canada.

[Smedley]

It's the second round of contracts, not the first. Sounds like a fair compromise.

Compromise? Respectfully, there's no compromise here as Canada got something for nothing. On the other hand, Canada DID get rid of Chretien.

[SB00]

Canada still didn't get the prime contracts.

[princess leah]

GO AHEAD AND BID, OH CANADA, but it doesn't mean that you'll GET the contract!

[Phlap]

Ummmmm.....shouldn't Canada be seeking to mend relationships with the United States??? Why does the US always give in to crap like this. We don't need Canada.

We are glad you don't need Canada because if you did you would surely try and take it but if you think the insurgents in Iraq are bad well ... bring it on porkchop!!

[nathanbedford]

Right you are. This is well described by the Brits as a "climb down."

First we pander to the Mexicans who stabbed us from behind and now the Canadians.

Why?

Was our intitial policy wrong? That's the way Europe will lsee it.

[hchutch]

Chretien was the problem. Since he is gone, and the new PM seems like a reasonable guy, why not try to get to a good start with our neighbor to the north after Canada's regime change?

[bushfamfan]

That is why the insults to this President and defiance to the US will continue because this President always finds a way to allow those people to disrespect us and be rewarded in the end.