Very true.
Canadians seem to enjoy believing that Americans are just too stupid to realize Canada exists. That's why we "forgot" to name them our closest friend.
In fact, Canada has made the news in the U. S. with regularity since 9/11, building toward the following impression: In matters of international importance, Canada prefers to side with France over the U. S. and Britain. The refusal of France to participate in Iraq left a greater impression than Canadians seem to realize. Especially considering the heated anti-U. S. rhetoric the Chretien government tossed in for good measure.
Canada would no doubt prefer that Americans remained ignorant about her. Because, in the past couple of years, the more we learn, the less we like.
Whoops! Freudian slip. That should be "The refusal of Canada to participate..." See how easy it is to confuse Canada and France anymore? ;-)