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But I guess from a Canadian Government (and taxpayer) point of view ... and I think it is valid ... the USA has requested and received over 100 million dollars from the Canadian Government for the reconstruction of Iraq and lets not forget the few thousand soldiers the Canadians have in "Halfganistan" and the millions of dollars spent there by the Canadians to help the Americians in that country. That is a lot of support for such a small country like ours - no matter what certain Americans think of the military.

I supported the war effort all the way as did many millions in Canada too (not the majority though). Canadians were also involved in the war effort in quiet ways as well but our two faced PM (that leaves Friday) would not recognize the help we gave.

I understand the American government attitude in all of this especially seeing it is their troops losing their lives - the utlimate giving. And I understand the American government's point of view on the absolutle shameful politics that is going on at the UN and Europe never mind with our soon to be former PM. It's so damn bizzard to me watching a Socialist PM supporting all of this Iraq stuff and a conservative USA president while a conservative French president does not for selfish industrial reasons.

I think all in all the American Government can have their cake and eat it too whether certain governments/people do not like it or not) for the simple reason that it is their show, their massive expenditure and they have lost the lives. But in the same breathe, if Canadian financial help is "preceived" as not enough to at least allow certain top notch Canadian companies bid on Iraqi projects, then that sends a clear signal to me as a Canadian taxpayer that we should remove ourselves from all AID to rebuild Iraq and stop all military operations in the Central area of Asia immediately since the USA Government is telling us, in a quiet way that they handle it on their own.

hawk

The Canadian government hasn't given money to the U.S. at all. That's money that Canada is contributing directly to Iraq.

What we're talking about here is the expenditure of U.S. taxpayer funds. I can't fathom the concept that Canada or any other country would claim it had some moral right to compete for contracts financed by American taxpayers. It's nuts.

The U.S. is spending truckloads of money on Iraq reconstruction, by far dwarfing the combined contributions of the rest of the world. What's wrong with reducing our costs a bit by giving a higher percentage of taxpayer financed contracts to American companies that pay U.S. taxes and hire more American workers?

You can get subcontracts just not prime contracts. However a small group, a hundred or so troops would put you in line for anything. That's all, go to the south with the Brits and Poles and Spaniards. South Korea has a few hundred..

". But in the same breathe, if Canadian financial help is "preceived" as not enough to at least allow certain top notch Canadian companies bid on Iraqi projects, then that sends a clear signal to me as a Canadian taxpayer that we should remove ourselves from all AID to rebuild Iraq and stop all military operations in the Central area of Asia immediately since the USA Government is telling us, in a quiet way that they handle it on their own."

That's cool. I would rather not have your $190 million than listen to you whine. Canada can't have it both ways. Either you're with us or you're not. And token support is just plain offensive, imo.

I guess your government can take this as a warning to support what we're fixin to do in Iraq and Syria, too.

Besides, you guys can always sub-contract. That way you can skip the 1000-page guv RFPs.