Canada Will be Left Out of First Contracts in Iraq: Powell (Payback is a…)

The National Post ^ | April 26, 2003 | Anne Dawson

[quidnunc]

The U.S. and its allies who fought in and supported the war against Iraq will get priority over countries such as Canada who opposed the war when it comes to getting contracts to rebuild Iraq, Colin Powell, the U.S. Secretary of State, said yesterday.

Mr. Powell has previously expressed disappointment in Ottawa's decision not to join the U.S.-led coalition, but this is the first time he has said Canada will pay a price for its decision.

"Let's be candid," said Mr. Powell. "It was a coalition of the willing, with the United States and the United Kingdom in the lead and Australia and other nations involved, that took on this task in the face of direct political opposition from a number of nations around the world and frankly, from Canada," Mr. Powell told CBC-TV's The National last night.

"And so we paid the political price, the price in blood and the price in treasure to bring about what I think is a historic result — and the Iraqi people believe it's a historic result. And so I think we have some equity, some standing at the head of the class, so to speak, to make sure that this goes in the right direction so that our investment pays off, pays off not with a military victory but pays off with a political victory."

Mr. Powell said Canada, Mexico and Chile believe their governments are being punished by the Americans for their stand at the United Nations before the war, but insisted the United States intends to work through these differences.

"With respect to Canada, with respect to Mexico, with respect to Chile, these are close friends of ours — all three — and we are going to work our way through this. We are not plotting in the basement of the State Department or the Pentagon or the While House of anywhere else, how to get even with these three friends.

"Were we disappointed — yes. Was there tenseness — yes. Will we get over it, sure we will."

Canada's decision not to join the U.S. has already been attributed to a decision by Mr. Bush to cancel a planned May visit to Ottawa.

Mr. Powell said Canada must decide what role it wants to play in rebuilding Iraq.

Jean Chrétien, the Prime Minister, who has previously suggested Canada is prepared to offer RCMP officers and humanitarian aid to Iraq, said yesterday no final decision has been made. But senior government insiders have said Canada will not get involved until the war is officially over, despite a U.S. request for a Canadian police or a military ground force within 30 days.

-snip-

[Dog Gone]

Sorry, Canada. You're in the penalty box, and I don't want to hear any whining.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Actually, I wouldn't think there would be much call for maple syrup in Iraq anyway...

Kidding. Kidding.

[Mears]

God,these countries make me sick.

They wanted nothing to do with thr war but now that money can be made they are whining that they are not included.

Only the countries that supported us should have any say in the rebuilding of Iraq.

[green team 1999]

no more frozen burritos.

[solo gringo]

The white house should use the same power to put the democommies in thier place

[steveegg]

Until we finish completing the 'tit-for-tat' cycle, they can go stay in the penalty box.

[NewYorker]

Canada, Mexico and Chile believe their governments are being punished

WAAAAAAAAH! Big babies. What did they expect?

[Parley Baer]

Good for Colin Powell. I love the straight talk from this administration. Parley

[Sunsong]

The American people can also help Canada "pay a price" for their anti-Americanism and back-stabbing by just not traveling there. Don't travel to or vacation in Canada. If you're not there you won't be spending your hard earned money there.

[honeygrl]

"The American people can also help Canada "pay a price" for their anti-Americanism and back-stabbing by just not traveling there. Don't travel to or vacation in Canada. If you're not there you won't be spending your hard earned money there. "

With SARS in Toronto, I doubt too many will visit there anyway. They seem to want to blame us for the W.H.O. telling people not to go there as well. I heard a guy from Canada on TV talking about(or aboot)it and several times referred to Americans when he should have said W.H.O.

[Great Dane]

but this is the first time he has said Canada will pay a price for its decision.

And so we should, you won't hear any whining from me.

[Dog Gone]

The Canadians who post here, like yourself, have been marvelous. I think most, if not all, people here are angry at Canadian national policy, and those who articulate it.

Unfortunately, it's extremely hard to do anything diplomatically to some of the people in a country but not all of them. That means conservative Canadians who opposed their government's actions are going to suffer the consequences as well. Sorry about that.

[Grampa Dave]

No vacations in Canada, no Canadian beer or whiskey and no Canadian Maple Syrup are good beginners until Cretian is removed with his anti American cabinet.

[Southack]

It will be interesting to see just how effective Bush's carrot & stick treatment becomes at influencing the *future* conduct of nations.

Especially if, say, North Korea suddenly provokes the world to such an extent that it requires a military solution, even if the Chinese veto such actions via the "approval process" of the UN.

I certainly think that GWB's actions will be effective. I also suspect that we'll have an opportunity to test this theory in the next 6 years, too.

[Dog Gone]

I find it deliciously ironic that the World Health Organization whacked Toronto. It is Chretian who always asserted that the "global community" had to approve any action in Iraq.

Well, his cherished UN, and its health agency, just suckerpunched him.

[Sunsong]

"With SARS in Toronto, I doubt too many will visit there anyway. They seem to want to blame us for the W.H.O. telling people not to go there as well. I heard a guy from Canada on TV talking about(or aboot)it and several times referred to Americans when he should have said W.H.O."

Jeez, I didn't know they were blaming us for the WHO advisory not to travel to Toronto. "When in doubt, blame America" is a Canadian thought process I guess.

I did notice that they immediately asked America for help when things started to go bad for them -- and, of course, we did help them.

Yeah, maybe SARS will cause Americans to think twice before making travel plans to Canada.

[Grampa Dave]

I'm glad that WHO did what they did.

There is no way that I would trust these Watermelon/Pro Islamofacists who control Canada to do what is right.

[NewYorker]

I love the straight talk from this administration.

Totally agree - particularly when it comes from the State Department.