Ottawa let down two nations(Former Canadian amb. to US says)

Allan Gotlieb, Canada's ambassador to Washington from 1981 to 1989, explains how the Chrétien government's conduct has alienated both the United States and many Canadians.

As Canadians share a continent with the United States, share the same language, flock to Florida in winter, love (and make) the same movies and television programs, one would think that we know and understand our neighbours. But the evidence is strong that some of us do not -- especially our political leaders in Ottawa. On September 11, 2001, the United States was invaded for the first time in modern history. Terrorists not only caused unprecedented destruction of life; they created an unprecedented sense of vulnerability and insecurity among the American people. The United States post-September 11 is not the same place as it was pre-September 11. This fact should be self-evident to the Canadian government. It seems that it is not.

The United States is now fighting to remove an evil regime that has invaded its neighbours, committed atrocities on its own people, used weapons of mass destruction and long defied the United Nations. Our Prime Minister, calling the war unjustified, announced that Canada would sit this one out. Many Canadians asked what will be the reaction of the Americans. "Nothing to worry about," we were told. "They won't retaliate."

They won't retaliate. But can any rational person believe there will not be costs?

The American people will be deeply affected by the fact that, unlike Britain and Australia, we have not declared our support for them.

It is true that belatedly the Prime Minister has spoken of America's "right and privilege" to wage this war, comments now echoed by his Foreign Minister. But the reality is we have decided to sit this one out.

We justify this inaction by "the Chrétien Doctrine -- no UN sanction, no Canadian involvement." But the Chrétien Doctrine is based on the flimsiest of foundations. Sometimes the Chrétien government agrees to go to war without UN blessing, as we did in Kosovo to stop ethnic cleansing.

When leader of the Opposition, the same Mr. Chrétien was against Canadian participation in the first Gulf War even with full UN blessing. Some doctrine.

The plain fact is that our government has chosen not to be at the side of the United States in this epoch-defining conflict. The plain fact is that a number of members of the Chrétien government and party are saying ugly things about the Americans. The plain fact is that these comments are not being dismissed or denied by the Prime Minister. The plain fact is that our leaders have failed to grasp how deeply our stance wounds Americans. The plain fact is that our leaders fail to understand how injurious our stance is to our national interest.

So we shouldn't be surprised that U.S. ambassador Paul Cellucci has put aside diplomatic restraints and has spoken out about our refusal to support the United States in Iraq.

That Washington is "disappointed and upset" should come as no surprise to the Canadian government nor should the fact that the ambassador said it.

It is difficult to recall so outspoken a statement by any U.S. ambassador to Canada in our history. In the past, U.S. ambassadors have been publicly critical about a variety of our policies, for example FIRA, the NEP, cultural protectionism, defence spending.

Canadian ambassadors in Washington have also spoken out at U.S. policies that were damaging to us. Acid rain and softwood lumber are notable examples. But rarely, if ever, has so disturbing a statement been made regarding the state of our relationship.

Americans are wondering why, according to the ambassador, "Canada is not there for us now." These remarks cannot be taken as personal or unauthorized. There is no way to mitigate their significance.

It is, however, possible to ask if the ambassador's statement is true that "Canada is not there for us now." It is certainly true of the Government of Canada. But it is far from clear that it is the opinion of the Canadian people.

According to a new public survey opinion by the Liberal party's pollster, "the fact is that Canadians expected that we would be standing beside the Americans. The majority of Canadians were willing to accept that to happen." According to the same poll, 90% of Canadians also want the Chrétien government to improve relations with the United States.

One wonders what the polls would show if the Canadian Prime Minister, like the British and Australian Prime Ministers, had set out to explain the reasons why Canada should be standing beside the United States in support of this cause, rather than hiding behind the threat of a French or Russian veto in the UN Security Council.

In the face of the chorus of anti- American utterances in government circles, the degree of support of Canadians for the U.S. action in the Gulf is impressive.

If the interests of the Canadian people are not to suffer, what is necessary is for the Canadian government to align its policies to its history, its values, its humanitarian vocation and the endeavors of its traditional allies -- and to do so as quickly as possible.

I don't buy the "the Canadian people" basically support us claim. If they did, they wouldn't be loudly booing our national anthem at various sporting events lately.

I don't buy the "the Canadian people" basically support us claim. If they did, they wouldn't be loudly booing our national anthem at various sporting events lately.

Those were the Qebecois, the French Canadiens. The English Canadians cheered our anthem at the next hockey game, there wasn't the booing.

3 posted on 03/26/2003 3:43:37 AM PST by xm177e2 (Stalinists, Maoists, Ba'athists, Pacifists: Why are they always on the same side?)

Sorry Mr. Gotlieb, but you assume a great deal. The only evident thing you share with us in geography.

I'm extending my middle finger toward Canada. ALL Canadians are represented by their anti-American government. If the majority there supported the U.S., they could and would act to remove their government as their parlaimentary form of government could be changed with a "no confidence" vote. We should stop kidding ourselves. The government of Canada DOES reflect its people's feelings. Canadians are now mainly anti-American.

Sorry Mr. Gotlieb, but you assume a great deal. The only evident thing you share with us in geography.

Indeed we share geography with Canada, and Gotlieb goes on to say this:

"But the evidence is strong that some of us do not -- especially our political leaders in Ottawa"

6 posted on 03/26/2003 3:54:55 AM PST by saluki_in_ohio (Gun control is the ability to hit your target!)

Lots of Canadians are great guys, eh?

But, especially from the time of the loathesome and fearsome utopian totalitarian, Trudeau, their's has long been an unfriendly state and it is time we began to accept that.

And to treat it like one!

7 posted on 03/26/2003 3:57:44 AM PST by Brian Allen (I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny ....)

"I don't buy the "the Canadian people" basically support us claim. If they did, they wouldn't be loudly booing our national anthem at various sporting events lately."

I don't either. I work overseas with many Canadians and they defecate on US every chance that they get.

8 posted on 03/26/2003 4:01:30 AM PST by bucephalus (Why was I happier when I didn't know where Tariq Aziz was?)

It's gonna take a long time, if ever, for us to consider Canada a friend again.

A friend is not someone who wants to share the wealth in the good times, but one who will guard my back when the times are rough. Canada failed the test miserably, and it will not be soon forgotten.

If the majority there supported the U.S., they could and would act to remove their government as their parlaimentary form of government could be changed with a "no confidence" vote.

From what I see right now, Canadian conservatives are starting to turn the tide away from the Chretien liberals. If we Freepers can "stir the pot" of already simmering American frustration with the Chretien Liberals, we can help our conservative brethren north of the border.

10 posted on 03/26/2003 4:04:11 AM PST by saluki_in_ohio (Gun control is the ability to hit your target!)

Put the Canadians on the same list with,France, Germany and Russia. The US attitude for Canada from now forward, should be one of contempt, plus we should understand that Canada does not mean us well.

Put the Canadians on the same list with,France, Germany and Russia. The US attitude for Canada from now forward, should be one of contempt, plus we should understand that Canada does not mean us well.

France, Germany and Russia are hopeless, however, I think with a little pressure from us, Canada can come around.

Many Canadians define themselves as a nation due to the fact that they are not American. However, Canadians are also very sensitive about how they are perceived by their American cousins.

12 posted on 03/26/2003 4:22:07 AM PST by saluki_in_ohio (Gun control is the ability to hit your target!)

Thanks for your post, great article. We share the same continent but philosophically Canada might as well be a province of France.

Was the Canadian government so anti-American toward us during the Clinton administration?

I don't recall if Canada had the same love of our "pervert", as the socialist governments of Europe, Russia and China.

What seems to be lining up is not only a physical battle in Iraq, but a political battle of socialism against "Free people" of the world.

Fingers can be pointed to so many countries, however, the socialist liberals right here seemed to have been the first responders to all of these anti-American actions.

Chretien and Clinton seemed like old chums. Heck, even Chretien went out and said he endorsed Gore for president!

15 posted on 03/26/2003 4:47:13 AM PST by saluki_in_ohio (Gun control is the ability to hit your target!)

A lot of Canadians loved Clinton.l loathed him and has such an argument with a friend that l asked him to leave my house.l have 2 daughters in their twenties, one is very pro the US position the other is anti-American.They are not speaking at the present time because they get too angry with each other.

Too sad to hear about not speaking to each other, however, totally understand, have a liberal tree huggin, hollywood idol worshiping sister myself, stir clear of speaking, so not to provoke lunatic utterings.

So maybe he and algor had grand plans, with Hillary in the Senate and Bill traveling the world to lead the charge of what now seems to be the workings of "GLOBAL VAST LEFT WING CONSPIRACY".

The Canadians were absolutely obnoxious when the WWE (wrestling) was up there last month. They booed an otherwise popular wrestler simply because he had a #1 insignia on his pants that was red, white and blue.

They can all bite me. I wouldn't go to Canada in general but now that they are so blatantly anti-American I won't cross the border even if I was paid.

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