Chrétien's Stand Makes the World Safe for Canadians

The Montreal Gazette ^ | April 28, 2003 | Joseph Heath

[quidnunc]

With all of the hand-wringing over Canada's decision not to get involved in the American-led invasion of Iraq, one little detail has almost escaped public notice. By refusing to participate, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien has done more to protect Canadians against terrorist attacks than George W. Bush has done for the United States by attacking.

After the Bali nightclub bombing that killed more than 200 people, including 88 Australians, it started to look as though any and all Westerners could be the target of Al-Qa'ida attacks. Now, thanks to our government's decision to stay out of the war, we can be confident that Canadians are much less likely to be selected as targets by Islamist terrorists.

Everyone seems to take it for granted that tourists around the world can sew little Canadian flags on their backpacks and get treated to a much warmer welcome. We sometimes forget that this love of Canadians isn't part of the fabric of the universe. And it's not because we're such nice folks and everyone in the world somehow knows it. The reason people like Canadians so much is that we refused to participate in the Vietnam War. The moral standing that we enjoy in the world today stems almost entirely from this decision.

When the U.S. starts throwing its military weight around, Canada's resistance makes us very popular with the rest of the world. Setting aside the pros and cons of the American invasion of Iraq, the fact remains that the overwhelming majority of the world's population opposed it. Canada is very closely associated, in people's minds, with the United States. Thus, the fact that we refused to knuckle under to American pressure greatly improves our moral standing.

So regardless of whether one agrees with Chrétien's decision or not, everyone should recognize that he has, in effect, made the world a much safer place for Canadians. He has helped to ensure that future generations of backpackers will be able to display their little Canadian flags and once again be received with greater kindness by strangers.

Cynical? Maybe, but still true. Our puny military contribution to the war would have had no effect whatsoever upon its outcome. Yet the impact of Chrétien's decision to stay out has been enormous and has done far more to enhance our security. All the footage of tanks and explosions should not lead us to forget that political action can be vastly more influential than military.

-snip-

[white trash redneck]

You may be inadvertently right!

Inadvertently right. Sort of like a clock that has stopped tells the correct time twice a day?

[Sunsong]

"France will pay its price. Canada will pay its price. And the fool who wrote this article will be first in line to complain about economic and social consequences for Canada. As the saying goes, "Wake up and smell the coffee." "

Absolutely. Don't travel to or vacation in Canada.