kAcknor Sez:
I'm no Buchanan fan, but "Canuckistan" will just have to be remembered...
"tIqIpqu' 'ej nom tIqIp" (Hit them hard and hit them fast.)
Posted on 03/28/2003 12:25:57 PM PST by quidnunc
The intensity of U.S. ambassador Paul Cellucci's remarks about Canada on Tuesday came as a surprise to professionals in international relations. The ambassador publicly expressed disappointment over Canada's refusal to support his country's war against Iraq. Many Americans, he noted, are "upset" by Canada's position.
"They're extremely undiplomatic and direct comments," said Brian Tomlin, director of the Centre for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution at Carleton University in Ottawa.
"To me, they indicate the level of pique the Bush administration feels about Canada now."
Tomlin says that it's impossible to assess the duration of that American pique. But in the short term, he warned, "U.S. administrations, when they don't want to co-operate with you, can be quite edgy."
In particular, he points to Section 110 of a border law that the U.S. passed in 1996. Under that law, any Canadian entering the United States would have had to fill out a lengthy form. Highway lineups would almost certainly have stretched for miles. But Section 110 was never implemented and in 2000, after strong Canadian pressure, it was scuttled.
Now, with an angry U.S. administration for whom national security is the highest priority, no amount of Canadian pressure would be likely to have much effect.
"The Bush administration is not made up of forgive-and-forget people," said Barry Cooper, a professor at the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies in the University of Calgary. "We're going to get hosed."
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at canada.com ...
Troy praises Cellucci for introducing an element of doubt into the plans for Bush to visit Ottawa in May. If Bush decides to stay home, Troy suggests, it may in fact be better for Canada.
Any such decision would be a calculated diplomatic snub. But far worse, in terms of Canada-U.S. relations, would be open discourtesy to the president.
And — apart from the likelihood of hostile demonstrations — the anger felt by almost all NDP and Bloc Québécois MPs at the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq means that Bush is unlikely to receive a warm and fuzzy reception on Parliament Hill.
And the Liberal MPs wouldn't utter a cross word to Dubya?
Bullbleep!
Once again, 'Experts' go out on a limb to make such a daring prediction! This time the experts are right :)
kAcknor Sez:
I'm no Buchanan fan, but "Canuckistan" will just have to be remembered...
"tIqIpqu' 'ej nom tIqIp" (Hit them hard and hit them fast.)
March 27, 2003
By Maureen Boyle and Elaine Allegrini, Enterprise staff writers
When a group of Brockton youth-hockey players and parents reached the American border after a Canadian tournament, cheers broke out on the bus.
After witnessing anti-American protests on the street, hearing their national anthem booed at a professional hockey game and enduring insults toward the children playing on the ice, members of two Brockton Youth Hockey teams were glad to be back in the United States.
"At one point there, some parents considered leaving early," said Bill Carpenter, one of the parents. "We were concerned about the safety of the kids."
Anti-American sentiment has been heating up as a U.S.-led coalition wages war in Iraq to topple the regime of Saddam Hussein.
Tens of thousands of people have demonstrated in cities around the world and outside U.S. military bases on recent weekends, including in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Australia and other locations. More protests are expected in coming days.
American college students studying abroad have been told to avoid demonstrations, street corner debates on U.S. foreign policy and clothes that identify them as Americans. To be on the safe side, some students are passing themselves off as Canadian.
And even in Canada, a neighboring country long considered a friend to the United States, anti-American fervor has erupted over the Bush administration's mission in Iraq.
Rick Reid, a parent on the Brockton youth-hockey trip, said several players and parents went to a Montreal Canadiens-New York Islanders game and were stunned when the crowd erupted in boos when the U.S. national anthem was played.
"It was a sick feeling," Reid said. And protests marred the youth-hockey events as well.
The two hockey teams, comprised of 12- and 13-year-olds, were in Montreal last weekend to compete in a youth hockey tournament, a trip many thought would be a fun experience.
But that quickly changed.
One bus, emblazoned with the name "Coach USA" and filled with players and parents, drove past an anti-American protest near their hotel where the Iraqi flag was cheered and the American flag burned.
"They were dragging the American flag on the ground," Carpenter said.
Stunned children were kept on the bus as police waited until the protest passed before allowing them to head into the hotel. Each time the group went out on the bus, they were met with insults.
"The bus would be going through the city and people would give us the middle finger, they would make obscene gestures," Carpenter said.
"It made us angry," said Peewee B team coach Ernie Nadeau. "As parents, we couldn't react because we had to be concerned for the kids."
During the game, the Canadian team taunted the Brockton team with swears and anti-USA comments, Nadeau said.
"Our kids were starting to react to what they were saying," he continued. "I asked my kids to refrain from retaliation."
He said they had a playoff game and he feared they would be disqualified if they behaved inappropriately.
Reid said his son, Zachary, was uneasy on the subway ride back to the hotel after the NHL game.
"My son was very nervous after the game," Reid said. "That was the thing, not feeling comfortable in being there at that time."
Carpenter said some players fielded insults on the ice from players in Canada and everyone was happy to leave.
"As soon as the game was over, we left right away," Carpenter said.
The Peewee A team also had an unpleasant experience in Montreal, according to Richard Sliney and Bob Stewart, who have sons on the team. They were in the stands when the National Anthem was booed at the NHL game between the Canadiens and Islanders.
"It was a very upsetting situation to be sitting in the stands and have the people behind you, in front of you and beside you booing," Sliney said. "It was outrageous."
Said Stewart, "I couldn't understand it. We've done so much for the Canadians. The kids were shocked and upset. It's going to be a long time before I go back."
Reid said the most recent trip convinced him to stay away in the future. "They like our money, but they don't like us," Reid said.
Carpenter said he is canceling plans to go to Quebec City this summer with his family as a result of the treatment this weekend.
"Forget it, we won't go back," he said.
Nadeau agreed.
"I may go to another province, but I would never go back to Montreal," he said.
I would think I wouldn't have to remind anyone in FreeperLand that we had to survive eight years of Bubba and Miss Piggy. So? I don't blame the Canadian people.
As for the French Canadians, well they are a peculiar group to begin with.
The Canadian forces are honorable and have served along America and Brits honorably in the past. Please do not lump all Canadians with Chretien. It isn't fair and we should all pray that they have their own regime change soon. The new guy isn't going to be much better. However, Le Worm, Jr (Chretien) will be gone soon.
Ehhh, We are going to get hosed?
Blame Chretien the hoser!
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