Posted on 12/16/2004 5:43:45 PM PST by Libertas aut Mortis
Prime Minister Paul Martin said Tuesday he does not believe the U.S. ballistic missile shield will succeed in shooting down incoming rockets, as he threw up new roadblocks to counter President George W. Bush's strong appeal for Canada to join his continental defence plan.
Canada will not put any money into building the missile shield and it will not allow Washington to station rockets on Canadian soil as the price of participation in the multibillion-dollar program, Martin told Global National in a year-end interview.
In another issue that could cause friction with Bush, Martin said Canada was prepared to accept U.S. citizens who do not want to serve in the war in Iraq.
"In terms of immigration, we are a country of immigrants and we will take immigrants from around the world. I'm not going to discriminate," said Martin, when reminded that former prime minister Pierre Trudeau opened Canada's doors to draft dodgers and deserters during the Vietnam War.
'AN ILLEGAL WAR'
When asked whether the prime minister was referring to ongoing attempts by Jeremy Hinzman, a 26-year-old U.S. deserter, to gain asylum in Canada after refusing to serve in what he calls "an illegal war," Martin spokesman Scott Reid said the prime minister "was not commenting on any individual case and certainly was not sending a signal to the immigration board."
Canada will not put any money into building the missile shield and it will not allow Washington to station rockets on Canadian soil as the price of participation in the multibillion-dollar program, Martin told Global National in a year-end interview.
In another issue that could cause friction with Bush, Martin said Canada was prepared to accept U.S. citizens who do not want to serve in the war in Iraq.
"In terms of immigration, we are a country of immigrants and we will take immigrants from around the world. I'm not going to discriminate," said Martin, when reminded that former prime minister Pierre Trudeau opened Canada's doors to draft dodgers and deserters during the Vietnam War.
'AN ILLEGAL WAR'
When asked whether the prime minister was referring to ongoing attempts by Jeremy Hinzman, a 26-year-old U.S. deserter, to gain asylum in Canada after refusing to serve in what he calls "an illegal war," Martin spokesman Scott Reid said the prime minister "was not commenting on any individual case and certainly was not sending a signal to the immigration board."
Martin was emphatic Canada's participation in the missile defence program would depend on a key decision-making role in the U.S. command and control structure that operates the shield.
"The decision as to whether or not we participate in the ballistic missile defence system is going to depend on whether, in fact, Canada can have a voice in the structure," Martin said in the interview, to be broadcast Christmas Day.
"I'm not going to put money into it. I'm going to put money into our priorities ... Having missiles on our territory is not one of those priorities."
The conditions laid out by Martin are the clearest indication to date the Liberal government is increasingly disinterested in the missile defence program despite Bush's public appeal during his visit to Canada on Dec. 1.
Martin has been under heavy pressure from the Liberal caucus and the party's grassroots to reject the defence shield, which he admitted may not even work to knock down incoming missiles from rogue states or global terrorists.
"Do I believe it could work tomorrow? I suspect there are very few people out there who testify that it could. Do I believe eventually technology could bring it to that point, in all likelihood, but I'm not a rocket expert," he said in another TV interview.
Martin said Canada is not even close to negotiating a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. on missile defence, but added any document must include guarantees that it would not lead to the weaponization of space.
Canada would immediately pull out of the defence shield if it were to join and the U.S. subsequently put missile weapon systems in space.
"I don't believe space belongs to any country," Martin said. "We will not engage in the weaponization of space."
Martin acknowledged for the first time that next year's budget will pump money into Canada's hard-pressed military, including funds to allow the Armed Forces to recruit 5,000 more troops over the next five years.
Martin admitted he struggled over his personal belief in the traditional marriage but finally decided same-sex weddings were a right entitled to all citizens regardless of their sexual orientation.
Martin was emphatic Canada's participation in the missile defence program would depend on a key decision-making role in the U.S. command and control structure that operates the shield.
"The decision as to whether or not we participate in the ballistic missile defence system is going to depend on whether, in fact, Canada can have a voice in the structure," Martin said in the interview, to be broadcast Christmas Day.
"I'm not going to put money into it. I'm going to put money into our priorities ... Having missiles on our territory is not one of those priorities."
The conditions laid out by Martin are the clearest indication to date the Liberal government is increasingly disinterested in the missile defence program despite Bush's public appeal during his visit to Canada on Dec. 1.
Martin has been under heavy pressure from the Liberal caucus and the party's grassroots to reject the defence shield, which he admitted may not even work to knock down incoming missiles from rogue states or global terrorists.
"Do I believe it could work tomorrow? I suspect there are very few people out there who testify that it could. Do I believe eventually technology could bring it to that point, in all likelihood, but I'm not a rocket expert," he said in another TV interview.
Martin said Canada is not even close to negotiating a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. on missile defence, but added any document must include guarantees that it would not lead to the weaponization of space.
Canada would immediately pull out of the defence shield if it were to join and the U.S. subsequently put missile weapon systems in space.
"I don't believe space belongs to any country," Martin said. "We will not engage in the weaponization of space."
Martin acknowledged for the first time that next year's budget will pump money into Canada's hard-pressed military, including funds to allow the Armed Forces to recruit 5,000 more troops over the next five years.
Martin admitted he struggled over his personal belief in the traditional marriage but finally decided same-sex weddings were a right entitled to all citizens regardless of their sexual orientation.
Wonder if that guy has figured out how Canada is going to prevent "their fallout" from landing in the US?
Maybe we ought to conduct a "pre-emptive" clearance project so that they are no longer such a tempting target.
Next time FReepers plan a vacation, I hope these forums have convinced you to keep your money in THIS country. Period.
What gets me is it doesn't sound like he has put much thought into the issue at all "rocket expert" or no. The article gives the impression Paul Martin is deciding on the basis of pure partisan expedience. As for the deserters and draft dodgers, he can have them and welcome. It's up to us to make sure they can never, ever come back.
And if they want to grant our deserters political asylum, I’m sure there’s some class of Canadian criminals we can grant asylum to until they change their minds.
Hey, fine by us, but when Iran or North Korea start sending missiles over, we're going to knock them out. If Canada isn't participating, they might just land in Canada. Thems the breaks.
Without essential funding from Canada, the US will need to develop a cheaper plan.
Rather than outright shoot missiles out of the air, it will be cheaper to "trick" the missile into falling short---somewhere in Canada.
That way the US and Canada can both cut back funding.
Screw Canada. If they don't want an umbrella, fine. And they can take our bums and traitors - good riddance.
I've often thought of applying for refugee status in the U.S. on the basis of being a Canadian gun owner, and therefore subject to persecution on that basis. I may soon be able to add religious persecution on the basis of being a Bible believing Christian.
So, said the little red hen, I'll build it myself.
Pretty soon, a big nuclear missile headed to the US from
North Korea, and the little red hen's shield worked perfectly.
It didn't blow up anything...Just diverted the incoming
to Ottawa, or Vancouver, or Regina.
OF course, the big Canuck dumbhorse couldn't do anything about it
except...sue for damages.
And preferably in red states. Florida could use the money, y'all, given the four hurricanes' impact on its economy. And it's mostly cleaned up in tourist areas, anyway.
Pretty idealistic! Is it denial? Or extreme naivete?.
Objection, your honor, prejudicial! Plaintiff is glowing in front of the jury!
Canada was already nuked at least once and survived. That is, you can't tell the difference, but being Canada that wouldn't come as a surprise.
Wonder if the PM knows that before we intercept an incoming ballistic missile, we know where it's gonna land. It's ballistic - it travels on a predetermined course.
So the question is, do we give them the option of buying a "shootdown" for, say, $20B (US) when the time comes ("you have 15 seconds to decide, $20B (US) and we'll attempt an intercept; or not, your choice - 10 seconds left"), or just let it land on Canadian soil.
We really need to start getting tough on Canada. If it wasn't for their oil, maybe even cutting off diplomatic relations...........?
When the missiles do start to fly, we should send them an account number. We should then tell them that they have 5 minutes to wire $100B into that account, if they want any protection. After 5m, the price goes up by $20B/minute.
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