Canada Says It Won't Join Missile Shield With the U.S.

NY Times ^ | February 24, 2005 | CLIFFORD KRAUSS

[neverdem]

TORONTO, Feb. 23 - The Canadian government has refused to take part in a planned North America missile defense system despite personal lobbying by President Bush here last November, United States diplomatic officials said Wednesday.

The long-awaited decision from Prime Minister Paul Martin was a symbolic setback for the Bush administration when it is trying to heal rifts with allies that emerged from the invasion of Iraq.

It was conveyed privately to senior United States officials this week in Ottawa and at the NATO summit meeting in Brussels, United States diplomats said. Asked about the issue on Wednesday in Parliament, Mr. Martin would not confirm that a decision had been made, but according to newspaper reports here quoting anonymous sources, an official announcement will be made this week.

Bush administration officials said the Pentagon had long expected that Canada would not sign on to the missile defense system, adding that the decision would not deter the United States.

Before he became Liberal Party leader in 2003, Mr. Martin repeatedly said Canada should participate in a missile defense program with Washington. In recent months, his defense minister, Bill Graham, also publicly voiced his support for the program repeatedly.

But Mr. Martin reversed his position amid strong opposition from backbench Liberal Party members in the House of Commons, and polls have shown the system to be unpopular with the public particularly in Quebec, where Liberals hope to make a comeback in the next parliamentary elections.

It was never made clear what Washington hoped to gain from Canada's support, although Canadian military specialists speculated that warning stations and cables might be placed on Canadian territory.

Ottawa signed an agreement with Washington last summer to expand the mission of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or Norad, to allow the transmission of satellite and radar data about incoming missiles to the United States Northern Command, which will operate the missile defense system.

When Mr. Bush visited Ottawa last year, he privately urged Mr. Martin to join the system and said at two public appearances that it was important to the continent's security.

The Canadian position has been confusing at times, with critics noting that it is one of several issues in which Prime Minister Martin seemed to drift until pressed to decide by one interest group or another.

Speaking of missile defense on Tuesday, Frank McKenna, the designated Canadian ambassador to the United States, told reporters in Ottawa, "We are part of it now, and the question is what more do we need to do?"

But in trying to clarify the government's position shortly after, Mr. Graham said: "Norad evaluates a threat. Making a decision to launch a missile is a whole other story."

The mixed message led opposition leaders to harshly criticize Mr. Martin and the Liberal cabinet for being indecisive on the floor of the House of Commons two days in a row. "They are trying to have it both ways," Bill Blaikie, a leader of the New Democratic Party, said Wednesday. "When is the prime minister going to put himself out of his misery?"

While American officials were disappointed by Mr. Martin's decision, they expressed satisfaction that the government announced a considerable increase in defense spending in the budget released Wednesday - something Bush administration officials have pressed for since the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

The government announced that it would raise military spending by $9.8 billion over the next five years, in the biggest investment in the military in two decades. The money will be used to recruit 5,000 troops and 3,000 reservists. More than $2 billion will go for helicopters that can be deployed in Afghanistan, Bosnia and other trouble spots where Canadian troops are deployed.

An administration official said the United States was pleased by the budget announcement but still hoped that Canada would finance the acquisition of large transport planes to move troops quickly in a crisis.

[axes_of_weezles]

Time to chuck the canucks. Bar any contracts or bids for US Military or Government contracts and see how long this lasts.

[Mamzelle]

LOL--Hey, Canada. Alright by me,,,

[maestro]

Islamic Sharia Canada Says It Won't Join Missile Shield With the U.S.?????

....figures.

/Sarcasm in 'Public' schools?

[llevrok]

In attempting to imitate Chirac, by trying to embarrass GWB, Paul Martin looks like the original loonie! Sad.

[axes_of_weezles]

I should have added - no foreign military sales of US surplus goods to the canucks; no export of cryptosystems. They are no longer an ally.

[goodnesswins]

OKAY....then US says....NO missile defenses for Canada, if attacked.....you're on your own, stupid blokes.

[BerniesFriend]

"Oh take off you hoser..if we are nuked..we will live on ale and bacon eh...we have a lot eh"..

[rebel_yell2]

Better yet, Canada provides a nice buffer zone where we can let the debris fall after our interceptor knocks out the incoming missile.

[CAOHCAUCSB]

Must we really expect Canada to join us? In short we are trying to make Canada our little puppet and this is just another instant of that happening. If they want to continue to be "wussies" then let them be, but we should not expect them to be at our disposal.

[SandRat]

Then we won't shield them. Easy enough and the border is closed to casualty assistance.

[Just Lori]

These people are nuts. "VICTIM HERE! VICTIM HERE!"

[NorCalRepub]

when the ICBM is inbound, then maybe they will change their minds........

[longtermmemmory]

why do we waste time with them? Just let the provinces join the USA and dissolve the Canadian Confederation.

http://www.unitednorthamercia.org

Canada serves no purpose.

[opinionator]

Why, exactly, does Canada need a missile shield? Is it to protect that mall they got up there?

[Just Lori]

Welcome to Free Republic.

[maestro]

?.......Sharia Canada now plans to.......'launch' on the U.S.A.?

[TruthConquers]

As a nautralized Canadian(now a US citizen), I am sad to see them go this route.

But, they work so hard to have an identity separate from the states, I fear that this will continue.

I agree, if they don't want to be covered, don't.

Can we get some of the Mid-west provinces to join the states if the Frenchy-Quebec issue heats up again?

[hinckley buzzard]

What hypocrisy. Does "Mr. Martin" expect that if the US should detect a North Korean missile aimed at a Canadian city, we would let it go, or shoot it down(assuming defenses are in place?)

[Major_Risktaker]

Better yet, Canada provides a nice buffer zone where we can let the debris fall after our interceptor knocks out the incoming missile.

LOL! Really, the irony of a Canadian fallout zone is quite funny at first. However, very chilling for the Canadians that realize there living in the ZONE.