Canadian Minister: Bush Failed to Act as Statesman

Reuters ^ | March 19 | Randall Palmer

[jwalburg]

OTTAWA (Reuters) - In the latest barb from a member of Canada's ruling Liberal Party against President Bush as he gears up for war with Iraq, a minister said on Wednesday that Bush had failed to act as a statesman.

"The world expects someone who is the president of a superpower to be a statesman," Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal told reporters, insisting that war against Iraq is premature.

"I think he has let not only Americans but the world down by not being a statesman as people expect of someone who is president of a superpower."

Dhaliwal's comments may boost tensions with a U.S. administration that is already disappointed with Canada's refusal to commit troops to an attack on Iraq.

Prime Minister Jean Chretien's top spokeswoman resigned in November after calling Bush a moron in what she thought was a private conversation.

Liberal Member of Parliament Carolyn Parrish, in remarks directed against the U.S. administration, said in February she hated "damned Americans" and called them "bastards."

The State Department voiced its disappointment on Wednesday "that some of our closest allies including Canada do not agree on the urgent need for action" in Iraq.

Relations have always been cool between Bush, a staunch conservative, and Chretien, who is proud to say he's liberal.

Chretien has chosen his words carefully this week, saying that war was not justified but declaring he respected Bush's authority to act in defense of Americans.

Deputy Prime Minister John Manley, one of the most ardent defenders of the United States in the Canadian cabinet, sought after Dhaliwal's remarks to smooth over relations.

"I think that it's important for us to maintain our consistent and principled position...and to avoid as much as possible any characterization of the U.S. or its motives," he told a crush of journalists.

"They are dealing with issues that are difficult for them as well as the world, and I think we can disagree very respectfully."

A whopping 87 percent of Canadian exports go to the United States, and Canada buys 25 percent of U.S. exports. Opposition politicians and some Liberals have cautioned against jeopardizing that relationship.

"I think we have to be very careful not to be kicking sand in the face of George Bush," said former Defense Minister Art Eggleton, who is still a Liberal member of Parliament.

Bush is scheduled to pay a state visit to Ottawa on May 5.

[jwalburg]

Daschle's almost a Canadian.

[dodger]

I wish the US were making it more clear that all this is a continuation of the 1992 war due to Iraq's violation of hthe Armistice .... they were and remain the 'belligerents' and this is NOT a pre-emptive action.

[dodger]

I wish the US were making it more clear that all this is a continuation of the 1992 war due to Iraq's violation of hthe Armistice .... they were and remain the 'belligerents' and this is NOT a pre-emptive action.

[TheDon]

Actually, it was the "Worm" who failed to act as a Stateman.

[danneskjold]

Canadian Minister: Bush Failed to Act as Statesman Is Displaying Leadership

Fixed it for him...

[trebb]

"The world expects someone who is the president of a superpower to be a statesman,"

No, we expect him to be a leader - statesmen are the ones who waste hours and days in inane reparte with words and either don't get anything done or just bollix things up.

[cincinnati65]

Bush failed to act as a statesman? How about Canada failing to act as an ally?

[Andiceman]

What's this talk of "...the leader of a superpower..."? "A" superpower? Don't they mean "THE" superpower? Is there another? I don't think so.

[glennaro]

What the leadership of Canada thinks about the leadership of the United States is irrelevant ... doesn't matter ... no one cares.

[Shermy]

Daschle's worse. He's just shameless and power hungry. The Canadian elites at least have a philosophy. They're having a temper tantrum that their post-modern/globalist/corporate-left vision of the world is being challenged. They're in a tizzy.

[uncbob]

"The world expects someone who is the president of a superpower to be a statesman," Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal told reporters, insisting that war against Iraq is premature.

Canadian version of Daschles "Failed Diplomacy"

Latest left inane mouthing

It's all about oil " petered out

[headsonpikes]

Herb Dhaliwal is the machine Liberal in B.C.'s Sikh community.

He's not left-wing; he's just venal and without principle.

Oh, that was redundant; I already said he was a Liberal.

[Inspectorette]

Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal

Why should we care what this nobody thinks? Why does he merit a headline article? Oh! Silly me - I forgot: it's Reuters :-(

[DeuceTraveler]

"Bush failed to act as a statesman? How about Canada failing to act as an ally?"

Bingo.

[hawkaw]

As a Canadian who lives in a liberal riding in Central Canada ... all I have to say is what a F@#%ing dickhead.

Bush and Blair have done an outstanding job of leadership. They have taken their countries who were completely against the war a few months ago and now a majority is fully behind their effort. Bush is doing what is right in this case. Period.

This minister should be jailed by the USA in Cuba with the rest of the terrorists.

I now have a big paper bag over my head.

hawk

[spald]

Ever notice Chetrien speaks out of one side of his twisted mouth?

Well, that just about does it. I'm not ever going to purchase anything Canadian again.

Hmmmmm. This is a problem because I don't buy anything Canadian NOW.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Bush and Powell were the only statesmen and Chirac is a lover of dic taters

[Conspiracy Guy]

Statesman my arse, in this situation I prefer a Texas Cowboy. Months and months of statesmanship yielded squat. Canaduh can kiss my big old butt.

[nicmarlo]

Bush Is Displaying Leadership

There, even better now! : )

[JeepInMazar]

"The world expects someone who is the president of a superpower to be a statesman," Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal told reporters, insisting that war against Iraq is premature.

America expects someone who is president of the United States to be the president of the United States (and not a statesman who meets the expectations of Canada).