Posted on 02/24/2005 12:09:15 PM PST by Pikamax
Ottawa says 'no' to missile defence
CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA - Canada's announcement that it won't join the U.S. missile shield provoked an immediate warning that it has relinquished sovereignty over its airspace.
From now on, the U.S. government will control any decision to fire at incoming missiles over Canadian territory, declared the top U.S. envoy to Canada.
"We will deploy. We will defend North America," said Paul Cellucci, the U.S. ambassador to Canada.
"We simply cannot understand why Canada would in effect give up its sovereignty - its seat at the table - to decide what to do about a missile that might be coming towards Canada."
The response came just moments after Prime Minister Paul Martin ended months of ambiguity today by announcing that he would not sign on to the controversial missile-defence program.
The warning was no slip of the tongue: Cellucci repeated several times that Canada's decision had in effect handed over some of its sovereignty to the United States.
"I personally don't think it's in Canada's sovereign interest to be outside of the room when a decision is made about a missile that might be incoming towards Canada."
Cellucci said he understood the political "challenge" that made it difficult for Martin's minority government to accept missile defence - and agreed it was Canada's right to make a decision.
The formal announcement completed a lengthy retreat for Martin, who expressed support for the project last year in his early days in office, then qualified his support, and finally fell almost silent on the issue.
Still, even the final announcement was not without confusion.
Martin said he would expect to be consulted on what to do about any missile passing over Canada.
Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew, however, seemed to indicate the ultimate decision lies in U.S. hands - whether or not Canada ever joins the missile shield.
"Would it have been otherwise?" he replied when asked whether Canada's refusal to join means the country now officially relies on the United States for protection.
"Canada . . . must act in its own interests and must determine where its priorities lie," Pettigrew said as he made the formal announcement in the House of Commons. "After careful consideration of the issue, we have decided that Canada will not participate in the U.S. ballistic missile defence system."
He said the decision is based on sound policy principles rather than emotion.
Martin insisted the move won't hurt relations with the U.S.
"Canada and the United States remain one another's staunchest allies and closest friends . . . and we will continue to ensure that our overall relationship grows stronger and that our people enjoy increased security and prosperity."
He said though Canada remains deeply committed to security, ``ballistic missile defence is not where we will concentrate our efforts."
Instead, Canada will work on border security, reinforcing coastal and Arctic sovereignty and expanding the military.
"As part of this, Canada remains steadfast in its support of Norad," he said.
Martin noted that the $13 billion in new military funding announced in Wednesday's federal budget is "a tangible indication that Canada intends to carry its full share of that responsibility."
Pettigrew said he told his U.S. counterpart of the decision Tuesday at the NATO summit in Belgium attended by both Martin and U.S. President George W. Bush.
"Of course the U.S. is disappointed, but they recognize our decision," Pettigrew said.
Neither Martin nor Pettigrew explained precisely why they oppose missile defence, but opponents, including the NDP, argue it may trigger a new arms race.
The NDP immediately hailed the decision.
Critics also question why the elaborate plan is necessary in a post-Cold War climate where the U.S. government is fighting low-budget terrorist operations, not state-run communism.
Supporters of the scheme contend Canada will sit on the sidelines without any say over how the system is used, without any access to billions in related research contracts, and without any political credit from Washington.
Any plans to join the project were buried under a wave of political resistance - from the NDP, the Bloc Quebecois and many Liberals - that Martin's minority government did not risk trying to overcome.
Polls have suggested most Canadians oppose the project and Martin might even have faced a revolt within his own Liberal caucus.
Coming on the heels of Canada's refusal to join the U.S.-led war in Iraq, today's announcement marked a second major break with the United States over a military project.
Martin had promised a new era of Canada-U.S. relations after bitter divisions over the war in Iraq. But U.S. officials had warned it would be an inauspicious start to any new era if Canada refused to join the missile plan.
They privately expressed befuddlement, frustration and even mild amusement at how long it took for Martin to make an announcement.
Bush raised the issue repeatedly during a trip to Canada late last year and, against all expectations, publicly requested Martin's support with the prime minister sitting by his side.
Martin's waiting game became increasingly untenable in recent days.
The Conservatives had not budged from their silence on the issue in an attempt to isolate the Liberals, who also faced a bruising battle over missile defence at its March convention.
The final straw came this week when Frank McKenna, Ottawa's ambassador-designate to Washington, triggered a flood of attacks on the government by saying Canada was already effectively part of missile defence.
Canadian soldiers are part of the Colorado-based Norad program that monitors the skies for incoming missiles.
But the Canadian government has repeatedly insisted their agreement last August to amend the longstanding Norad pact so that Canada will pass information along to U.S. officials didn't mean Canada had joined the project.
Missile defence supporters said the program wouldn't have cost Canada a dime, nor would it have placed missiles on Canadian soil.
U.S. officials have indicated they didn't really need Canada's help, but would have appreciated political support from their neighbour as they attempted to sell the plan abroad.
An ally without bullets is not an ally; more like a dependency.
Me too.
Bingo..
Instead of just insulting Canadians (and French, etc.), can't we come up with a way to convince them it's in their best interest to support missile defense and our other policies? Aren't we smarter than just resorting to being bitchy when we don't get our way?
The majority of Canadians are not for missile defense apparently. Frankly I don't think Canada is worth wasting a ballistic missile for.
Let Canada go its own way, but let Canada also know this: That President Bush has reached out his hand sincerely to Canada and Canada has rejected it with scorn. Why don't you guys pack up and leave NORAD while you're at it?
They don't look at it that way.
You may be right. But I wonder whether the possibility of a mis-aimed missile ever occurred to them.
Through the magic of cable we get Canadian news now, and it couldn't be more depressing. They endlessly find new injustices that somehow their government hasn't found time to deal with, and with tears welling up in their eyes, a catch in the voice, demand to know what government is going to do about it.
What profoundly silly people, locked in their juvenile world, determined never to graduate to adulthood.
They don't have to deal with missile defense, they know we'll do it, and they can sit on the side and criticize how we do it. It sounds simplistic but they are becoming more simplistic by the day.
I think that President Bush has been more than conciliatory and accomodating both to Canada and to Europe since his re-election. His gracious Canadian visit late last year and his now-ended, pleasant European visit go to show those lengths. In my view, friendship canbe a one-way street for only so long before it slowly descends into something less.
Earlier thread here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1350291/posts
I would say we simply use Manifest Destiny to go in an occupy them.. but then I'm afraid of what that would do to our Tax base.
Much better to just build a fence around the borders and charge entrance fees. Biggest Zoo north of Texas.
I apologize to any Canadian Freepers here, this is not an attack on you, but your country needs an Enema in the worst way.
That's a nice thought.
How'd it go with France and the Iraq trade embargo? The Oil for Food and the investment in Iraqi oil fields by France?
When a country decides what's in their best interest conflicts with a previously stated and agreed upon mutual best interest, then they cease to be capable of any meaningful agreement. Full steam ahead with the boycott of French products.
End of story.
The majority of Canadians are almost certainly FOR the system. The current Liberal government if just trying to hold onto a few votes from the extreme left (NDP). Just like the Democrats, power above all else!!!
Problem is that the US will shoot down missiles when they are flying over Canada.
ok Thirsty I'm not insulted as a Canadian because I realize I live in a country with fucked up leadership, and sadly no opposition party standing ready to take over - Harper has screwed up the shot he may have had......
now there are a few ways to change the mind of Canadians - change in government, the Conservatives are already on record as supporting the missile defence system etc so rather than an invasion, maybe Karl Rove could send in some of his best strategists and teach the Conservatives how not to fuck up and to win the next election........
of course if a wayward NK missile ended up hitting Ottawa (wink wink nudge nudge) that would do it, you see all those silly Canadians (all the ones that haven't heeded the warnings of those of us with insight, like myself) running to the US like chickens with their heads cut off, since the "chicken" strain seems to be running rampant here.......
mad cow disease indeed, all the beef eaters must be the ones voting in the gutless Liberals into power time after time, just imagine Americans, a party full of John Kerry's or Bill Clinton, where they put their finger in the wind to make every single decision,
and of course the US is right when it says Canada is giving up its sovereignty
I just heard Paul I'm the Biggest Con Artist Martin (whose whole latest budget was a scam, smoke and mirrors, but most Canadians won't understand that, even stupid Stephen Harper was praising the budget, someone help us please) say that Canada isn't giving up its sovereignty that the US will have to ask permission if they are going to put any missiles in Canadian airspace
I had to laugh, Paul, you asshole, Canada gave up its sovereignty once the Federal Government, accelerated by Chretien dismantled the Canadian military, Canada gave up its sovereignty then, I keep telling that to all the Canadians who are happy we don't spend any money on defence, which is precisely why they aren't supporting the missile defence program, why, when they can reap the benefits for free
so I hope some American senator or congressman has the brains to introduce a bill whereby Canada shall be billed for the free protection it has been receiving for low these many decades and this Canadian would support the US wholeheartedly
if you think the Pentagon et al waste money, you've never seen the Liberal government so go ahead and charge us, you'd spend the military dollars better and more wisely anyway.....
yeah or just invade us, please.....
I'm so fed up I don't know if I should get into politics or journalism or start up some blog except I don't think the
Canadian blogosphere or media for that matter has any teeth, not like the American media or blogosphere.....
I mean this current budget - guess what Americans, we are getting a tax cut of $16.00 whopping dollars this year, yee haw! and that 13 Billion dollars they say is going into the military over 5 years, first of all the Canadian military needs at least 25 Billion dollars now, all at once, and what most Canadians won't realize is the asshole Liberals have promised all this money, but it isn't coming for a year or two, in other words, if they lose the election which is coming, in a year or two, they don't have to keep their promises, if they get elected again by a majority, at which point, I'll be as suicidal as those Dems in Nov 2004, they'll just break all their promises and cut out all that promised funding........
gang, the Liberals in Canada make the Democrats in the US look like frigging saints, I'm beginning to think the Liberals are the Yassir Arafats of the Great White North, lining the pockets of all their friends and getting away with it, year after year.......
why does it take a billion dollars to run a gun registry when they haven't even able to register all the guns in Canada yet and there aren't that many - we have an inquiry to investigate a scam involving $100 million dollars and it is costing 70 million (more than the 9-11 commission???????????)
invade us please......
OK I am even more angry and perplexed as a Canadian
from the article
Missile defence supporters said the program wouldn't have cost Canada a dime, nor would it have placed missiles on Canadian soil
OK the cheap on defence feds apparently weren't even expected to kick in any money, which I figured was one of the main reasons the feds passed, all the Americans wanted was support
and the cowards couldn't even do that because little Paulie waited all his life to be PM (think the Canadian Kerry) and he's going to do anything but be a real leader to ensure he gets reelected when his minority government goes down in the next 12 -18 months......
aya carumba.....
I try to tell my ignorant Canadian friends, I believe someone coined the phrase and correct me if I am wrong, sovereignty isn't worth the paper it is written on if you aren't prepared to defend it........
Does Martin understand that the United States WILL NOT consult him over an incoming missle we regard as a threat to OUR national security when we blow it out of the sky OVER CAnada. I mean what's he gonna do, INVADE US?
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