Elite blast U.S [VIPs' letter opposes military attack on Iraq]

Toronto Sun ^ | 2002-09-26 | Ian McDougall

[Lorenb420]

The United States was labelled a rogue superpower yesterday by a group of artists and intellectuals opposed to military action against Iraq.

"Not just a rogue nation, but a rogue superpower," author Linda McQuaig said at a press conference yesterday.

A letter, signed by about 100 people -- including Margaret Atwood, Pierre Berton, Bruce Cockburn and Senator Doug Roche -- states they are opposed to a military attack on Iraq.

"The Americans are demanding we legalize aggression," said Osgoode Hall law professor Michael Mandel, also one of the signatories.

The group hopes the letter will spur the prime minister to persuade U.S. President George W. Bush to back down on his aggressive stance.

"Canada has an important voice in the world community," McQuaig said, adding Canada's leaders should deny the U.S. their support and try to influence other countries not to back the U.S.

The letter was organized by the Vancouver-based peace group, End the Arms Race.

[smith288]

These people would welcome communism and they would be the first in the coup attempt to accomplish it since they are "intellectuals".

They are overaged hippies.

[11th Earl of Mar]

Ohhhhhh.... I'm sure Bush has called for an emergency cabinet meeting to deal with these remarks from a Canadian group of artists and itellectuals.

[mewzilla]

What's Canada?

[Thane_Banquo]

Blame Canada.

[dennisw]

(Lyrics Bruce Coburn) If I had a rocket launcher...Some son of a bitch would die/


And it would be Saddam and his henchmen.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Margaret Atwood, Pierre Berton, Bruce Cockburn and Senator Doug Roche

Now there's a star-studded list. My basic approach to the Iraq situation has been to wait until Pierre Berton weighs in and then to sort of go from there. I guess the wait is over and we can all breath easier.

[Marauder]

Just curious ... why are these socialist jerks endowed with such titles as "elites" and "intellectuals"? It would seem to me that the real intellectuals are the ones who love this country and strive to defend it, not those who would tear it down.

[doc30]

"The Americans are demanding we legalize aggression," said Osgoode Hall law professor Michael Mandel, also one of the signatories

Amazing they aren't calling for Iraq to stop producing WMD! Perhaps these people want a fission enema. Any nuclear attack on the northern U.S. will cause fallout in Canada to some degree. These people need to realized that not being American isn't protection.

[dighton]

Linda McQuaig, Margaret Atwood, Pierre Berton, Bruce Cockburn, Doug Roche, Michael Mandel, Osgoode Hall -- wait, that one's a building.

[general_re]

It's okay - they have the real answer....

[BlueLancer]

I'm sorry, but I don't recognize any of these names. These are elite ... what? Types of roses? Breeds of pekinese?

[Orual]

A Canadian is someone who knows how to make love in a canoe.---Pierre Berton

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.---Yogi Berra

Stick to what you are good at, Pierre.