Posted on 02/24/2005 11:01:28 AM PST by Unam Sanctam
TORONTO - Prime Minister Paul Martin said Thursday that Canada would opt out of the contentious U.S. missile defense program, a move that will further strain brittle relations between the neighbors but please Canadians who fear it could lead to an international arms race.
Martin, ending nearly two years of debate over whether Canada should participate in the development or operation of the multibillion-dollar program, said Ottawa would remain a close ally of Washington in the fight against global terrorism and continental security.
He said he intended to talk to President Bush (news - web sites) later Thursday and that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) had been informed of the decision earlier this week.
A State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States had been informed beforehand of the decision, adding that Washington expects that cooperation with Canada will continue on a wide variety of issues.
Talking to reporters several minutes after his foreign minister first announced the move in the House of Commons, Martin said Canada would instead focus on strengthening its own military and defense in proposals laid out Wednesday in the federal budget.
"Canada recognizes the enormous burden that the United States shoulders, when it comes to international peace and security," Martin said. "The substantial increases made yesterday to our defense budget are a tangible indication that Canada intends to carry its full share of that responsibility."
The federal budget presented to the House of Commons calls for $10.5 billion in the next five years to increase the country's beleaguered armed forces — including an additional 5,000 soldiers and 3,000 reservists — the largest commitment to defense in two decades. It also called for another $807,950 to improve Canada's anti-terrorism efforts and security along the unarmed, 4,000-mile border with the United States.
When Bush visited Canada in December, he surprised Ottawa by making several unsolicited pitches for support of the defense shield, which is in the midst of testing interceptors capable of destroying incoming missiles targeted at North America.
Martin, who leads a tenuous minority government, has said Ottawa would not support what he called the "weaponization of space." Though he initially supported joining the program when he was a candidate for the Liberal leadership, Martin has retreated, since polls indicate that a majority of Canadians oppose it. Many believe that the umbrella, when fully implemented, could lead to an international arms race.
The Bush administration has tried to make a public show of understanding that Martin heads up a minority government that could fall over such a contentious debate.
But U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci told reporters Wednesday that he was perplexed over Canada's apparent decision to allow Washington to make the decision if a missile was headed toward its territory.
"Why would you want to give up sovereignty?" he said. "We don't get it. We think Canada would want to be in the room deciding what to do about an incoming missile that might be heading toward Canada."
Your lengthy post about your country took a lot of fortitude and I admire you for it.
I have been reading the Canadians' views on the popular forums (I assume the liberal ones), and they are quite adamant the PM made the right choice.
You stand a proud man among few and somehow I think the US understands and will never let Canada be without aid if it comes to that.
I'm a Canadaina. Stop whining! You are pathetic.
Oh that was mature...
I guess you don't get it do you?
Here's something else you won't get.
"Over the years, the U.S. has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return, is enough to bury those that did not return". Colin Powell
Right, which is why in WW2 you didn't send troops till you got attacked by the Japanese. You don't do anything until it affects you or if you want something.
In case you didn't understand, I was laughing at the Canadian Military...not mocking the American one...
This reminds me of the Hollywood friends of Charleton Heston. They opted out of guns but came running to him when the L.A. Riots hit and they were frightened. Too bad, he told them.
Re your #25: Don't despair, as long as Canada can still produce citizens like you all is not lost. Keep the faith...
No longer. 911 proved to all the West that we're ALL endangered by these islamonuts. Did Canada or Europe learn the lesson?
NO. WHY SHOULD THEY FIGHT THESE NUTCASES WHEN AMERICANS CAN SPILL THEIR BLOOD TO DO IT????
As far as I'm concerned, 90% of Canada's population are nothing but a bunch of self-centered pussies who are FAR more concerned about what they can gouge out of their government in the way of medical benefits and being fashionably politically correct, than they are in protecting this continent.
To paraphrase: Damned Canadians! I hate those bastards!
Sucks when it's turned around, doesn't it?
For me, decadence is when a people are more interested in their lifestyle than they are in their defense. CANADA'S DECADENT!
you'd realize that we laugh at pathetic military and economy
While still doing nothing about it. That's insanity.
It's not like much would be required from Canada to participate.
The point is you guys could at least attempt to protect yourselves from the ballistic missile threat (or potential threat) but know deep down you can give us the finger now and still be protected when the sh!t hits the fan.
It's neither here nor there to me if they're EVER found. Removing the madman from power and holding democratic elections is enough for me.
However, Saddam and his cronies had 101 *TONS* of VX nerve gas and over 33,000 artillery shells of mustard gass in inventory during Gulf War I.
If you think they gave up that habit, you're mad.
Just because they haven't been found, doesn't mean they didn't/don't exist.
So, just out of curiosity, are you blaming Canada's populace for our government's mistakes?
Do you mean the populace who keeps electing the same morons time after time? The same morons who keep running the country into the ground year after year after year?
The same morons who've dumped a billion dollars into a gun registry that could have been done here in the States for about 50 million?
The same morons who've made sure that Canada has absolutely zero relevance in the international arena because they only have to rely on 'soft power' now instead of a real military?
The same morons who keep dumping billions upon billions upon billions into a national health care system so that everytime people get a scrape their first thought is, "Let's go see the doctor. What the hell? It's FREE!!"
What have you got in Afghanistan and Iraq? A couple hundred? Sure you can spare them? We have over 200,000. Thanks for nothing.
There was a time when Canada could have and would have fielded tens of thousands. Back in the days when it's moral compass hadn't been shattered. The fact that Canada has opposed the US taking out Afghanistan and Iraq just shows me that it's as morally blind as Europe, Russia or China and would rather coddle dictators than depose them. And 8 million Iraqi votes and even more Afghani votes won't sway Canada's opinion that we were right and Canada was wrong for just one reason: because the average Canadian's self-centered attitude of moral superiority and anti-Americanism won't allow it.
America is as strong, robust and innovative as it's ever been. Canada on the other hand is a wussified, feminized, socialized, self-centered country that is a pale shade of what it was 20 years ago.
Canada is a 9-10 country in a 9-11 world. And THAT is the difference between Canada and the US nowadays.
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