Despite Chretien, Canadians back U.S.

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | April 04 2003 | Don LeBlanc

[knighthawk]

I am among millions of Canadians embarrassed at Prime Minister Jean Chretien's decision not to support our long-standing close friend, neighbor and ally, the United States of America, as well as Great Britain and Australia. Canada couldn't contribute much to the Iraqi situation, given the sorry state of our armed forces. But we could have offered moral support and perhaps a field hospital or a destroyer. Most important, we could be standing with our friends.

Canada agreed with the UN Security Council resolution demanding that Iraq disarm its weapons of mass destruction or face serious consequences. Then, Chretien sat on a fence of indecision for months as Canada continued to vacillate into irrelevance on the world stage. When he finally fell off the fence, he landed in the Camp of the Unwilling created by France.

Chretien and his government have seriously undermined our close relationship with the United States. After Sept. 11, 2001, British Prime Minister Tony Blair flew the Atlantic to visit Ground Zero and attended President Bush's heartfelt address to the joint session of Congress. Chretien, on the other hand, waited some three weeks to take a 90-minute flight to New York. I viewed that as an insult to me, to the American people and to the families of every Canadian lost in the World Trade Center attack. Yet, some Canadians were offended when President Bush failed to mention Canada among friends of the United States in his speech to Congress. I wasn't offended, nor did I blame the president. Chretien may have been front and center with the U.S. ambassador when 80,000 Canadians crowded Parliament Hill in Ottawa in sympathy over 9/11, but that's not good enough.

This doesn't mean I want war. Nobody wants war. I pray for the young people in the U.S. military and for the innocent men, women and children of Iraq.

However, I believe Canada should stand solidly with our American friends in times of crisis, as we have in the past and as we would expect of Americans. In this, Canada has failed. The Canadian people have not failed. The prime minister has failed Canada and its allies. For the first time in our lives, many of us in Canada feel ashamed.

A recent survey showed that a majority of Canadians expected Canada to join the U.S.-led coalition. After all, we have warships in the Persian Gulf fighting the war on terrorism alongside Americans. The U.S. ambassador to Canada, Paul Cellucci, recently pointed out that Canada's commitment in the Gulf is indirectly contributing more militarily to the war in Iraq than most members of the coalition. It also has been disclosed that 31 members of Canada's armed forces are directly serving with coalition forces in Iraq. Such is the hypocrisy of the Chretien government.

Canada and the United States have a proud history of living together in peace and friendship. We are family. Many of us have relatives living on either side of our long, common border. Hopefully, Americans will realize that Canadians cherish this relationship. Millions of us on the Canadian side of the border regret that, through no fault of our own, we have been left on the sidelines at a critical moment in time. Millions of us remain firmly behind the American people--in spirit, in hope and in prayer.

Don LeBlanc,

Richmond, British Columbia

[knighthawk]

Ping

[keri]

ping

[Lucas1]

Here...Here

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

Now if only we would get a letter like this from a *real* (read: non-Arab Muslim) French citizen

[Lexington Green]

"I am among millions of Canadians embarrassed ....."

He should be. While American, British, and Aussies are fighting and dying, Canada cheers for their enemies. This will forever be a stain on Canada.

[samtheman]

What is your system of government? Heriditary monarchy? One-party dictatorship?

I appreciate your vote of support for the US war effort.

It would be more encouraging to see you vote the rascals out of office in your own country.

[Beck_isright]

Two bad Canada has become two nations. There is "Canada" our traditional friend and ally consisting of most citizens. Then there is Al-Qanada the U.N. sponsored Chretien socialist nation. Too bad latter is in charge of the entire country.

V

[OldFriend]

President Bush due to visit Ottowa in May.......wonder if he'll go.

[saluki_in_ohio]

Excellent post.

Too bad the Canadian government doesn't represent the Canadian people.

[TheLion]

"Too bad the Canadian government doesn't represent the Canadian people"

Kinda like democrats around here!

[headsonpikes]

Chretien played it this way for partisan political reasons related to the current political balance in Quebec.

It's really a shame that the British were so liberal with the conquered Quebecois, and permitted responsible government, with French as a legal language. All this would have been nipped in the bud.

We'd all have been better off, including Quebeckers, if Quebec was english-speaking.

IMHO.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The French-Canadians would just be more morose.

[saluki_in_ohio]

Many Quebecers, as we all know, want to separate from Canada.

Suppose tomorrow, Quebec did separate and form their own country. With all of the anti-American feeling spewing from Quebec lately, they can forget joining NAFTA. There will be tighter border controls between a Quebec nation and the US. Their economy will suffer greatly.

Quebecers should be careful what they wish for, because they may get it...

[river rat]

The apology of a few, doesn't excuse the betrayal of the majority..

Canada has been shamed by their ELECTED assholes..
If Canadians want to show remorse....they should "hang" the bastards...

In the meantime.....I'll shun Canada...

Semper Fi

[headsonpikes]

"The French-Canadians would just be more morose."

C'est impossible!!!

My theory is that speaking and thinking in French MAKES them morose.

These people laugh at Jerry Lewis, and think Marcel Marceau is entertaining; what is there to say?

It's so ineffably sad that even I am close to tears.

;^)

[headsonpikes]

"Quebeckers should be careful what they wish for..."

BINGO!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I'm not an expert on this but I understand the Indians in Quebec have largely settled this. They're not going anywhere and so neither is French Canada.

[marron]

Canada couldn't contribute much to the Iraqi situation, given the sorry state of our armed forces. But we could have offered moral support and perhaps a field hospital or a destroyer.

Special Forces. You could have sent special forces. Australia did that. Poland did that. We didn't need a Canadian destroyer, but some additional guys out doing the grunt work would have been appreciated.

But Canada's in the doghouse now, certainly as long as Chretien is in office, probably as long as his party is in power. There is no way around it. I won't forget. I doubt many people will.

Of course the US was only a handful of inmate votes away from a Chretien-like Gore presidency, so I don't want to overdo the superiority-routine. We have, both sides of the border, a lot of work to do if we are going to save ourselves from the cretins.

[headsonpikes]

"But Canada's in the doghouse now..."

I immediately thought of Hank Williams' 'Move It On Over'

'She told me once, she told me twice; but I won't take no one's advice, so Move It On Over, the Bad Dog's movin' in.

LOL!
And that SOB Cretin deserves it!