Posted on 02/27/2005 7:43:56 PM PST by RWR8189
OTTAWA -- The United States will decide when to fire missiles over Canadian airspace whether Canada likes it or not, says America's ambassador. The blunt warning from Paul Cellucci came minutes after Prime Minister Paul Martin announced yesterday that he will not sign on to the controversial U.S. missile defence program.
"We will deploy. We will defend North America," Cellucci said.
"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 toward Canada."
The warning was no slip of the tongue -- Cellucci repeated several times that Canada's decision had handed over some of its sovereignty to the U.S.
Cellucci said he understands the political issues that made it difficult for Martin's minority government to endorse an unpopular American plan. Polls have suggested most Canadians oppose the project and Martin might even have faced a revolt within his own Liberal caucus.
While the Conservatives support missile defence, the NDP, the Bloc Quebecois and many Liberals oppose it.
News of Canada's decision quickly appeared on news websites around the world. Many countries oppose the American plan. Opponents argue the scheme could trigger a new arms race, question why it's necessary in a post-Cold War climate, and note that the anti-missile technology is unproven.
Supporters of the program 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.
Yesterday's announcement by Ottawa completes a slow 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.
Martin insisted Canadian sovereignty remains intact.
"Canada is a sovereign nation," he said, "and we would expect and insist on being consulted on any intrusion into our space."
But critics scoffed at that, saying it's unrealistic to expect the U.S. to phone Ottawa before shooting down a high-speed missile.
Martin's own foreign minister acknowledged that reality.
"Would it have been otherwise?" Pierre Pettigrew replied when asked whether Canada's refusal means the final say now belongs to the U.S.
"Listen, the command of making a decision within eight minutes is a very, very rapid one anyway."
Pettigrew said Canada's decision is based on sound policy principles rather than emotion. But members of the same Liberal government have said privately that the announcement has more to do with politics than principle.
Pettigrew said he told U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice of Canada's intentions Tuesday at the NATO summit in Belgium, and phone calls quickly went out to Cellucci and U.S. deputy defence secretary Paul Wolfowitz.
Martin personally informed Cellucci by telephone and also planned to speak with U.S. President George W. Bush.
The prime minister insisted the move won't hurt bilateral relations.
"Canada and the United States remain one another's staunchest allies and closest friends," Martin said.
He said Canada remains deeply committed to security, noting the $13 billion in new military funding announced in Wednesday's federal budget.
Instead of joining missile defence, Canada will work on border security, reinforcing coastal and Arctic sovereignty and expanding the military.
Neither Martin nor Pettigrew explained precisely why they disagree with missile defence or how the decision changes Canada's role in continental defence on a practical level.
Canadian soldiers are already part of the Colorado-based Norad program that monitors the skies for incoming missiles and will continue on in that role.
The NDP immediately applauded Martin's decision, but leader Jack Layton said the prime minister clearly would have preferred to involve Canada.
"Absolutely everybody knows that if we had a majority government in the last election we would be in Star Wars all the way," Layton said.
Now what we have is a half-way picture where we are half-way in and half-way out and nobody can figure out the dithering on this one."
Martin had promised a new era of Canada-U.S. relations after bitter divisions over the war in Iraq. But U.S. officials warned it would be an inauspicious start if Canada refused to join the missile plan.
They privately expressed befuddlement, frustration and even mild amusement with 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 prodded Martin for support while the prime minister sat by his side.
The 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 government, and the Liberals also faced a bruising battle over missile defence at their March convention.
Hosers!
LOL....take off,eh
missle aye over aye canada aye?
Opponents argue the scheme could trigger a new arms race
Triggered by nations seeking to do us harm.
I said "lunch" you hosehead, not "launch!"
if the US govt could fix the NHL problem, the canucks would let us fire rosie o'donnell over canada if we wanted to
We can shoot missiles into their airspace, and if they like, they can shoot them down.
Gee, ya think. What an incredibly short-sighted and pointless gesture it was on the part of Martin.
Perhaps we should inquire of the knucks just how, exactly, they intend to prevent us from violating their air space with an anti-ballistic missile? Have they developed an anti-anti-ballistic missile? I think not.
I'm tempted to say to the US command: if the missile's target is Toronto, hold your fire.
It is Obvious that, Sharia-Laws,....al-Canada expects to 'see' a Nuclear War!
/'Swiss' non-interventions
Canada,....an al-Qaeda bank?
OK,so like we will let you hosers shoot missiles over toronto for all the free moosehead beers we want, eh.
Canada is so 9/10.
""We will deploy. We will defend North America," Cellucci said."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 toward Canada."The warning was no slip of the tongue -- Cellucci repeated several times that Canada's decision had handed over some of its sovereignty to the U.S."
I think thats great. Makes me laugh..Ah, I love America.
So, does Canada announce it will develope a anti-anti-missile program to shoot down US anti-missile missiles? Does Cananda have a anti-anti-anti-missile gap??? Paging Doctor Strangelover Martin of Frogs.
Canada, goofy as only Canadian idjit politicians can be.
With what, hockey pucks?
Too bad our anti-missle technology doesn't give us the option of shortening an incoming's trajectory, as opposed to destruction.
If we can detect that the missile will land in Toronto, then no interference will be required. Boom!
Well there you go there then, eh?
Well, that might be an option if the NHL were is session.
God, I miss hockey...
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