CANADIAN PM: IRAQ'S MISSING WMDs IN TERRORISTS' HANDS...

Drudge Report ^ | 5/11/04 | STEPHANIE RUBEC,

[The South Texan]

May 11, 2004

WMD threat: PM

SADDAM'S MISSING WEAPONS IN TERRORISTS' HANDS: MARTIN

By STEPHANIE RUBEC, OTTAWA BUREAU, SUN MEDIA

Prime Minister Paul Martin addresses a luncheon in Montreal. (CP PHOTO/Andre Pichette)

Prime Minister Paul Martin says he believes Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction and they've fallen into terrorists' hands. Martin said the threat of terrorism is even greater now than it was following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, because terrorists have acquired nuclear, chemical and biological weapons from the toppled Iraqi leader.

"The fact is that there is now, we know well, a proliferation of nuclear weapons, and that many weapons that Saddam Hussein had, we don't know where they are," Martin told a crowd of about 700 university researchers and business leaders in Montreal. "That means terrorists have access to all of that."

'NOT OUT OF IT YET'

The PM's comments run counter to opinions expressed by leaders in such countries as France and Germany who have accused the U.S. and Britain of fudging evidence of WMDs to justify the war against Iraq.

When asked to assess the threat level since Saddam was captured by U.S. troops, Martin said he believes it has increased.

"I believe that terrorism will be, for our generation, what the Cold War was to generations that preceded us," he said. "I don't think we're out of it yet."

Martin disagreed with former prime minister Jean Chretien, who publicly blamed poverty for terrorism and the Sept. 11 attacks. "The cause of terrorism is not poverty, it is hatred."

He said he'll lead the charge to convince countries to join forces to combat terrorism and make sure the Third World has the tools to stamp it out.

Martin said he's lobbying the international community to set up an informal organization to tackle world issues such as terrorism.

GETS NOD FROM BUSH

He said he got the nod from U.S. President George Bush during his visit last month to Washington, D.C., and will take his idea to the European Union and Latin America next.

[The South Texan]

Interesting ,considering Canada opposed us in the war effort.

[gilliam]

I like this guy :)

[billorites]

Keep a sharp eye King!

[jackie_treehorne]

nice thought

[Rutles4Ever]

These are extremely strong words from a country that derided us for our War on Terror. (I sit with great wonder if this will be picked up by the major news services in America, and/or the networks)...

Make note.

[jackie_treehorne]

so we'll find out if this is correct if there turns out to be enough proof ... they'll be shouting it from the highest mountain tops.. if not, well then its just a nice dream that we can tell ourselves... then there will be no more critisisms about false premise.

[dirtboy]

I predicted several weeks ago, regarding the silence of the media and the left regarding the chemical weapons that were to be used in the attacks on Jordan, that the left would remain silent on this issue until they could spin it into a negative against Bush, by claiming that our invasion of Iraq made us less safe, not more. Looks like that time is here.

[kellynla]

IMO the WMD were discovered when we captured Saddam Hussein.
With Hussein captured even the threat of WMD has been eliminated.

If Hussein had given up his WMD he would have still be able to manufacture some more if he had been allowed to remain in power. Hence with Hussein captured even the threat of WMD has been eliminated.

[Hodar]

If I were Saddam; this is exactly what I would do.

I would know that if I used them, the response would be lethal (to me). So, you just hide out, surrender and stay alive.

Meanwhile, you give your weapons to those who can strike with (near) impunity. Because terrorists represent no goverment, wear no uniform, and have no rank; they will be able to do what Saddam could not.

[mudblood]

Thoughts:

1) he's just saying this to get into our good graces - good idea. Lets see if he keeps it up or if this was just a quick statement followed by 20 America-bashing statements so that his friends will forgive him.

2) he still hasn't come clean with the truth about Canadian bacon: its really just plain ol' ham and he knows it.

[JennysCool]

Fox News needs to give this some play.

[motzman]

"That means terrorists have access to all of that."

'NOT OUT OF IT YET'

The PM's comments run counter to opinions expressed by leaders in such countries as France and Germany who have accused the U.S. and Britain of fudging evidence of WMDs to justify the war against Iraq.

"I believe that terrorism will be, for our generation, what the Cold War was to generations that preceded us,"

"The cause of terrorism is not poverty, it is hatred."



Welcome to the party, pal!

[Liberatio]

Maybe the Canadians are growing a pair.

[canuck_conservative]

I should point out that Canada's previous anti-US actions occurred under Jean Chretien's reign; Paul Martin has been our PM for only the last 6 months.

Almost everyone now agrees that Chretien was, um - let's be charitable here - really "out of it", as far as sensible world-views go.

[Shermy]

By "nuclear" does he mean "radiological"?

By "weapons" does he mean "precursors?"

I've tried to read between the lines of too many David Kay statements not to know these questions relevant.

[Shermy]

Maybe the Canadians are growing a pair.

On the other hand, he might be buttering up Bush for a free hand to deal with Denmark.

Just a week or so ago he discounted the former Canadian position of unquestioning deference to UN dispute mediation.

And he promised Bush that he will vehemently protect the "northern half" of North America.

That would include Hans Island.

[hchutch]

New Prime Minister, new policy.

Note that the terrorists in Jordan were caught with a lot of chemicals...

[Bonaventure]

It is encouraging that Martin thinks Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, but is it possible he means to criticize the U.S. for letting them fall into terrorists' hands?

[El Conservador]

Hey, Paul Martin is quite an improvement compared to French Guy Chretien.

But there's a sponsorship scandal going on over there now. And elections might be called for June, so he's attracting voters that would go Conservative otherwise.

But it's refreshing to see a Canadian PM who doesn't have his head up his ass.

[NC28203]

Martin said the threat of terrorism is even greater now than it was following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, because terrorists have acquired nuclear, chemical and biological weapons from the toppled Iraqi leader.


So does this mean that the War on Terror has actually made the situation worse?