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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?

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.

"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?"

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.

You know what? I said I was sick and tired of the Canadians and that they're just like the French, I didn't insult anyone. Maybe you just assumed that or replied to the wrong person. If I wanted to insult them believe me I would not be short on adjectives. Now lets pretend that you asked me why I'm sick and tired so I can babble on for a page or so? I could have told you that they're obstructionists and anti-american. Again, those aren't insults, they're opinion and what many Americans believe to be FACTS. We've been talking to Canada about missile defense for over 1.5 years so I think we've tried to convince them, and we're still trying to convince them. Its not like we're going to invade them...yet;)

In addition to being sick and tired of the Canadians and French I'm sick and tired of my fellow Americans always thinking its the citizens of the US that resorts, "to being bitchy when we don't get our way?". I don't mean that as a personal attack, seriously, a lot of my fellow citizens believe that exact thing. I'm just mystified, I wonder if it ever occurs to people of this opinion that maybe our national interests are in our nation's interest?
Those interests don't coincide with France's and Canada's? Why aren't they the bitchy ones when they disagree with us, why are we the bitchy ones. In other words why do some of our citizens identify with France or Canada, or Germany when they're Americans? Do they think these countries hold themselves to some higher principle? Sometimes I think people assume the word "Ally" equates directly to the word "Friend". Its simply not the case. Sure we can be on friendly terms, sometimes very friendly terms, but other allies are our allies because we share a common enemy, like Communism and fascism. When we aren't fighting a common enemy we aren't necessarily allies. Historically speaking the French have always resented us since we got the bomb and became the only world super power. They resent what they see as the Americanization of the world, they resent English being the language of the world. Prior to 9/11 everyone knew the French looked down their noses at us. Now it seems people want to assume the French are just good people who are more worldly and intelligent than Americans.
Lastly, Why is it okay for the Democrats and the Left to whine, and cry, and say the most disgusting things possible, but when someone in this country questions or comments on the motives of another country or the actions of the left, we're "bitchy"?
The world is not a group of friends, Canada and France do not take our interests and our wellbeing into consideration when forming their policies, and they shouldn't. We shouldn't be taking their interests into consideration when figuring out how to defend ourselves either. Frankly I think France cozies up to the Arabs because they don't have the Atlantic Ocean to protect them. It doesn't make it right, it just makes it understandable. Canada has no excuse for their anti-american sentiment. They have gotten nothing but rewards for just being lucky enough to be on the same continent and hemisphere.

Canada has enjoyed a very nice existence with the United States to their south. They don't have to maintain a large defense, they don't have to research their own prescription drugs, and NAFTA just to name a few I can think of. Tell me, what has Canada ever done for us? I'm serious too, what have they ever done to make this relationship good for us? Right now I can't think of a single thing, they're simply in the right place at the right time...and they know it and show no appreciation. Almost like a spoiled child.
We simply want to make a missile shield to cover our ass AND THEIRS as a byproduct. Whats wrong with that? I hear this line about being afraid of another arms race and I have to laugh. Just because we don't enter the race doesn't mean there is no race. Do Canadians seriously think that if they obstruct the US from making this missile shield that other countries like China or Russia from making their own, or making missiles that a shield might stop? Its just stupid nonsensical crap. The worst is that its obviously not even thought through, its thinking in the shallow end of the pool. I leave you with my best attempt at paraphrasing something I heard from the guy covering for Rush. He basically said that the people who love peace the most need to be the most armed because its those people who have to defend peace. Poland loved peace, and they go invaded by Hitler. Kuwait was peaceful, they got invaded by Iraq. China was peaceful and they got invaded by Imperial Japan. Basically, you may want peace but you still have to be able to defend yourself, and it that means you need to update your defense because others are updating their offense than so be it.

Peace has NEVER begot Peace