Canadian Prime Minister Seeks Clarification On Bush Nuclear Policy

CNSNews ^ | 3/13/02 | Jim Burns

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien said he will ask President Bush to clarify the United States position on the use of nuclear weapons when he meets with the president at the White House on Thursday.

Radio Canada reported that Chretien decided to act after news reports over the weekend said the U.S. has considered a nuclear option against states such as Iraq and North Korea, but only as part of routine contingency planning.

Chretien said he doubts the Bush administration is seriously considering the use of nuclear weapons, but he wanted to receive clarification in any case.

The Los Angeles Times reported over the weekend that a U.S. Defense Department study has outlined a contingency plan for using nuclear weapons against at least seven countries -- China, Russia, Iraq, North Korea, Iran, Libya and Syria.

Senior U.S. officials have played down reports about the policy review, saying it is nothing more than prudent planning by Pentagon strategists.

Secretary of State Colin Powell, speaking on the CBS network Sunday, said, "We should not get all carried away with some sense that the United States is planning to use nuclear weapons in some contingency that is coming up in the near future. It is not the case."

However, North Korea's government said Wednesday that Washington would be "grossly mistaken" if it tried to attack North Korea with nuclear weapons.

"The DPRK will not remain a passive onlooker to the Bush administration's inclusion of the DPRK in the seven countries, targets of U.S. nuclear attack, but take a strong countermeasure against it," it said.

DPRK is the acronym for the country's official title -- the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

North Korea did not spell out what form the countermeasure might take.

[UCANSEE2]

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien said he will ask President Bush to clarify the United States position on the use of nuclear weapons when he meets with the president at the White House on Thursday.

When asked for a response by this reporter, Bush said "No, we have no plans to use Nuclear Weapons on Canada, yet!"

[RoseofTexas]

Canadians don't need to know SQUAT!!

[StriperSniper]

Don't worry Chretien, we won't need overflight rights.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

The rest of the world, Rats included, needs to start getting used to the fact that America is the most powerful country. They can take their complaints and suck rocks.

[Dog Gone]

Chretien already knows what the policy is, and if I'm wrong about that, then he's even more stupid than I thought.

This isn't about asking a question (which is what embassays are all about). It's about posturing in front of the whole world. It's about looking concerned. It's about a not-so-subtle putdown of Bush.

Yep, this concerned socialist prime minister from Canada is going to go down to Washington to meet with that whippersnapper cowboy from Texas, and get him to explain himself so that the civilized world can understand. Bush needs to realize that nuclear weapons are dangerous.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

The world is going to understand if anyone isn't serious about weapons, we are going to prevent the flow to terrorists who intend to harm us. Sounds more like this guy wants a say in what happens. Too bad!

[Snowyman]

SHAH-E-KOT, AFGHANISTAN - Canadian soldiers embarked on a new offensive on Wednesday to hunt down and destroy a pocket of Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters in the eastern mountains of Afghanistan. Canadian and American soldiers launched the land and air attack, called Operation Harpoon, near Bagram north of Kabul. "The land component is a battalion-sized force led by the Canadian battlegroup commander who has both Canadian and American soldiers under his tactical command," said Vice-Admiral Greg Maddison, the deputy chief of defence staff. Maddison confirmed there have been no Canadian casualties. A total of 2,484 members of the Canadian forces are engaged in the U.S.-led action in Afghanistan. On Wednesday morning, Canadian soldiers went on their first offensive mission and took control of the snow-capped mountains south of Gardez in eastern Afghanistan. Chinook helicopters dropped off an undisclosed number of Canadian soliders in the area dotted with caves. Dozens of al-Qaeda fighters were thought to be in the area but the Canadians encountered no resistance. U.S. Marine Cobra gunships supported the assault by providing cover for the helicopters. The area had been heavily bombed before the mission began. On Wednesday, U.S. and Afghan forces said they had taken control of the Shah-e-Kot valley in eastern Afghanistan. Troops are searching for remnants of al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters who are thought to be fleeing toward the Pakistani border. U.S. officials said Operation Anaconda has yielded al-Qaeda training manuals, bomb-making equipment and other intelligence.

"Canadian battlegroup commander who has both Canadian and American soldiers under his tactical command."

I wonder if he knows SQUAT?