[IvanT]

You make good points. There is always pressure on Canada to 'integrate' which we have done to a great extent both culturally (we get alot of American products and television up here) and economically, hence the free trade agreement. Of course, the socialism BS I agree with you 100% on. Believe me, I am dismayed with Canada today, especially what the Libs have done to our military, and the behaviour they've exhibited towards America since GWB came to power. As for WMD, let's hope they dig something up, otherwise we'll never hear the end of it. That said, simply deposing Saddam is good enough reason for me, and I'm not quite sure why Bush and Blair felt the need to harp on the WMD issue so much.

[gcruse]

I agree. It would be so good to find the WMDs. If there are none, one is at a complete loss to explain Hussein's behavior during the last ten years of inspections. Yes, I think GWB hyped WMDs and it may come back to destroy our credibility. Pre-emption will be next to impossible next time...which may or may not be a good thing. My biggest regret in all this is for Canadians alone. That they may be having to live under Liberal rule as far as the eye can see is dismaying.

The good thing, of course, is the nature of parliamentary government. Unlike the deadening effects in modern times of a forest of checks and balances, your form of government can turn on a dime, if enough people want it. The means are there if only the desire can be fostered.