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Bush snub no oversight
Toronto Sun ^ | Friday, September 21, 2001 | Bob MacDonald

Posted on 09/21/2001 9:28:46 AM PDT by Grig

U.S. President George W. Bush's non-mention of Canada in his historic speech last night may have been much more than a thoughtless oversight.

It just might have been deliberate -- a highly noticeable-to- Canadians way of indicating he is not getting the kind of all-out cooperation from Prime Minister Jean Chretien that he feels the present crisis demands.

For starters, Chretien has been dithering about including Canadian fighting soldiers in a U.S.-led force to go after international terrorists. And U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci got a kind of brush-off Wednesday by Immigration Elinor Caplan when he urged the U.S. and Canada work out a common system of handling visitors, immigrants, refugees or terrorists at our border. Caplan mumbled something about Canadian "sovereignty" possibly being threatened.

Perhaps Bush was trying to send a wake-up jolt to Chretien, despite Canada's contributions of help after last week's disaster and the loss of Canadian lives. His message: We are in a tough, real war against international terrorism and we want you to be with us 100%.

For instance, in contrast to Chretien, Canada's far-off sister Commonwealth nation, Australia, has promised full military support, including fighting troops to back the U.S.-led forces.

"There is no point in a situation like this, being an 80% ally," declared Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

He contended that an all-out effort had to be made at this time or people in free and democratic societies such as Australia (and Canada) will be forced to live in an increasingly fearful and threatened world.

Now, that's the kind of determined attitude Bush was talking about last night when he declared: "Every nation in every region now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists."

Bush made it very clear that the enemy in this war will be terrorists like Muslim terrorist Osman bin Laden and his global network of mass murderers.

"The enemy of America is not our many Muslim friends; it is not our many Arab friends. Our enemy is a radical network of terrorists and every government that supports them," said the president.

"We will direct every resource at our command -- every means of diplomacy, every tool of intelligence, every instrument of law enforcement, every financial influence and every necessary weapon of war -- to the disruption and defeat of the global terror network."

And that's the only way it will be accomplished.

However, Chretien keeps hanging back in making a commitment of fighting troops to the cause despite a national opinion poll this week that showed 79% of Canadians want a full military effort to disable the armies of countries that give safe haven to such terrorists. And 77% said Canada does a poor job of preventing terrorists from operating here.

However, Chretien may be afraid of offending the leftist, anti-American voters that have voted for him or the increasing number of Muslim voters.

If so, maybe that's why the federal government has been so zealous in not releasing the names of the estimated up to 60 Canadians killed in the attacks. And why Chretien didn't go to New York to view the disaster area -- or to Washington to see Bush as such leaders as British PM Tony Blair.

The foreign affairs department says their identities are "private" and media inquiries are referred to the U.S. government. So far, the names of only 11 of the Canadian victims have been filtered out by the media.

You get the feeling that the Chretienites don't want them known because media coverage about so many individuals and their suffering families might infuriate their fellow Canadians -- and increase demands for full military support.

And, on another front, Chretien is looking worse daily -- especially when he made the nutsy statement that there were no terrorists in Canada. That flew in the face of his own Canadian Security Intelligence Service that reported 50 terrorist groups and 350 individuals existed in Canada.

Now we have the report yesterday by Sun reporter Tom Godfrey that revealed a Middle Eastern man by the name of Nabil Al-Marabh lived in Toronto until six weeks ago and is believed to be the same man that the FBI agents arrested in Chicago in connection with last week's attacks. Unfortunately, Canada's longstanding reputation as "sucker nation of the world" in running a sieve-like immigration and refugee system is still intact.

But the heat is on to get with it 100% in going after bin Laden. And also in toughening our weak immigration system.

The blood of the 6,333 killed in the American attacks demands it. So does the blood of those nameless, anonymous Canadians.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
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To: maica
bttt
81 posted on 09/21/2001 1:55:46 PM PDT by Travis McGee
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To: Travis McGee
Where is Trudeau when you need him?
82 posted on 09/21/2001 1:58:46 PM PDT by Publius6961
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To: Grig
a national opinion poll this week that showed 79% of Canadians want a full military effort
to disable the armies of countries that give safe haven to such terrorists.
And 77% said Canada does a poor job of preventing terrorists from operating here.


Thank goodness...I'd been wondering where our good neighbors stood on the
defining issue of our time.
Of course, their will can be seriously thwarted by a fellow like Chretien.
83 posted on 09/21/2001 1:59:40 PM PDT by VOA
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To: DEADROCK
I am the only in my large family that is pro-US. The Sunday dinners of late
have been bitter. I am one of a handful who are pro-US at office. I don't talk
to them about it any more I'm sick of arguing with morons.


Stop the masochism!
Go "Due South".
It's what two of my cousins from Edmondton (really, Sherwood Park) did when
they graduated high school.
Both happy and prosperous in Dallas, TX.
But if you like decent weather, try Los Angeles or San Diego...plenty of ex-pat
of every nation here!
84 posted on 09/21/2001 2:05:21 PM PDT by VOA
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To: Grig
Grig, thanks for your support. I just came back from 2 weeks vacation( was supposed to be only 1 week, but could not fly back)in beautifull Vancouver Island. The Canadians I meet were all very supportive of the USA. It's too bad your PM does not reflect the feelings of most Canadians, and it's still 3 years to the next election.
85 posted on 09/21/2001 2:09:32 PM PDT by desertcry
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To: Great Dane
Canadians hate America and Americans.As an American you should never forget that. Don't let their suto flag waving fool you. F#$k Canada!!
86 posted on 09/21/2001 2:13:09 PM PDT by smithson
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To: sinkspur
Mexico was not snubbed- Ahhh Colin Powell on CNN is now praising Canada - Manley now speaking as well
87 posted on 09/21/2001 2:20:15 PM PDT by Oldtory
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To: smithson, Travis McGee
I beg to differ, smithson. Canadians have a younger brother/older brother relationship with the US. They love to see Americans take a hit in the eye, but they do not want to believe that the older brother is really vulnerable.

BTW, Colin Powell and Canadian diplomat on Foxnews as I type. Damage control or scheduled appearance?

*******

Chretien is a toad!!!

88 posted on 09/21/2001 2:22:20 PM PDT by maica
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To: smithson
Check out post 75. That sums it up.Canadians are not are friends, never have been, and never will.
89 posted on 09/21/2001 2:22:30 PM PDT by smithson
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To: Mamzelle
Isn't Canada part of Great Britain? Was Bush's exclusion simply that he didn't say "United Kingdom?"

Er, you just stepped in it, with respect to our Canadian friends.

Canada is most assuredly not part of Great Britain. It is an independent nation, a member of the Commonwealth of Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand (Canadians help me out here).

The United Kingdom is a reference to the United Kingdoms of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. I.e. synonymous with, but less chauvinistic than, Great Britain.

90 posted on 09/21/2001 2:23:30 PM PDT by okie01
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To: maica
Who the he!! said we think of you as a little brother. I think of Canadians as something else, and it ain't no kin of mine.
91 posted on 09/21/2001 2:25:45 PM PDT by smithson
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To: Grig
Canadian Foreign Minister Manley just appeared on a live statement (actually, I think a non-statement), with Colin Powell. Didn't catch the beginning, but something about how they were going to "liase" (new word?) with the U.S. A reporter stated that he had said our "lives would change," and exactly what did he mean. Manley looked dazed and didn't answer, so Powell launched into some canned rhetoric about how we have to go about our business and get back to normal.
92 posted on 09/21/2001 2:30:40 PM PDT by browardchad
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To: Grig
You know, I've watched coverage of these events very closely and, until I saw this thread, it never occurred to me that I haven't heard any response from the Canadian government expressing sorrow, much less outrage. Now, I'm sure they had something to say, but, to this U.S. citizen, the overall silence has been deafening. Don't get me wrong, I've been to Canada and enjoyed my time there. But now that I see this thread it hits me that the official response has been so underwhelming. Sounds like y'all definitely need a new PM.
93 posted on 09/21/2001 2:45:22 PM PDT by Nashphil
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To: smithson
I was referencing the Canadian perception of the relationship, not the American perception. Please don't yell or cuss at me. I posted here because the discussion has been about how Canadians were feeling, and I had a perspective to share with FR readers as an American with very close ties to Canada.
94 posted on 09/21/2001 2:53:11 PM PDT by maica
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To: Mamzelle
Isn't Canada part of Great Britain? Was Bush's exclusion simply that he didn't say "United Kingdom?"

That was in the 19th century.

95 posted on 09/21/2001 3:10:34 PM PDT by rightofrush
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To: DEADROCK
So you automaticly think the whole nation is just like the people where you have been? Disagreeing with the US and poking fun at them is not being anti-american, especialy when we are just as critical of our own nation.
96 posted on 09/21/2001 3:13:11 PM PDT by Grig
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To: browardchad
When you don't see something clearly don't comment. Powell and Manley by name were asked the question about lives changing, Manley responded after Powell and gave a thoughtful response. Not that it makes him special but Manley was a Rhodes scholar and a former law clerk to a Supreme court Justice- he is not a dumb man.
97 posted on 09/21/2001 3:15:50 PM PDT by Oldtory
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To: Publius6961
I am embarrased and saddened to be Canadian, and that hasn't happened often.

I am with you on that one, I once wrote to a reporter that Chretien should have duct tape over his mouth, to be removed three times a day for eating, and only for fifteen minutes at the time........ reporter agreed. :-}

98 posted on 09/21/2001 4:28:32 PM PDT by Great Dane
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To: Publius6961
Where is Trudeau when you need him?

Dead and and gone to heaven.......... MAYBE.

99 posted on 09/21/2001 4:30:28 PM PDT by Great Dane
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To: smithson
Canadians hate America and Americans.As an American you should never forget that. Don't let their suto flag waving fool you. F#$k Canada!!

LOL, But I am Canadian.

100 posted on 09/21/2001 4:33:48 PM PDT by Great Dane
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