Posted on 09/13/2002 6:57:25 AM PDT by Lorenb420
OTTAWA - Brian Mulroney yesterday condemned as "false, shocking and morally specious" a statement by Jean Chrétien in which he appeared to say perceived Western greed and arrogance were among the underlying causes of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Mr. Chrétien's office issued a statement criticizing some media reportage of his comments and said it was a "gross misconstruction" to conclude he was blaming the United States for the attacks.
A transcript of his full remarks released by the Prime Minister's Office revealed Mr. Chrétien also said he believes the growing disparity between rich and poor countries was an "inspiration" for the terrorists.
The controversy erupted following a CBC-TV documentary broadcast on the anniversary of the terrorist strikes, in which Mr. Chrétien told the interviewer, Peter Mansbridge, that the attacks made him realize Western powers, including the United States, must be careful not to humiliate people in poorer nations.
While the interview took place in July, Cynthia Kinch, the executive producer of The National, said yesterday that both sides agreed the comments would not be aired until Sept. 11.
"That was the whole point of it. To do a historical documentary on the events of that day to run on September the 11th," she said.
In the interview, Mr. Chrétien related a story about a speech he gave on Wall Street and said: "It is one of the problems. You know, you cannot exercise your powers to the point of humiliation for the others. And that is what the Western world -- not only the Americans, the Western world -- has to realize, because they are human beings too, and there are long-term consequences, if you don't look hard at the reality, in 10 or 20 or 30 years from now."
Mr. Chrétien said he believed the West is growing too rich and poor countries "necessarily will look upon us as being arrogant, self-satisfied, greedy and with no limits. And the 11th of September is an occasion for me to realize it even more."
The Prime Minister's Office released an unaired portion of the interview yesterday in which Mr. Chrétien further responds to a question about how the world had changed since the Sept. 11 attacks.
"But I've said that it is a division in the world that is building up. And I knew that it was the inspiration for it," Mr. Chrétien said. "For me, I think the rest of the world is a bit too selfish, and that there is a lot of resentment."
Mr. Mulroney, Conservative prime minister from 1984 to 1993, issued a statement condemning Mr. Chrétien for remarks he interpreted as laying blame for terrorism on Americans and U.S. capitalism.
"This is a uniquely disgraceful statement, even by Mr. Chrétien's worrisome standards. On the day the world solemnly recalls the death and destruction brought by cold-blooded murderers, our Prime Minister says that American economic strength and success was in part the provocation for such action," Mr. Mulroney said.
"This is a false, shocking and morally specious statement. It is essentially the case the terrorists have tried to make."
But Mr. Chrétien received unexpected backing from Joe Clark, the current Tory leader and former external affairs minister.
"I don't think there is any doubt that if you are sitting in the Third World and you are looking at the squalor around you and you are looking at the prospects for your kids and you compare them with what you see on television, or know of what is happening in Canada or the United States or other countries, that can create an envy that can lead to extremism," Mr. Clark said. "I don't think the Prime Minister was blaming any society. I don't think he was blaming the United States or blaming Canada for that."
Mr. Clark added that "there is a direct relation between the roots of terror and the existence of poverty and despair. It is not the only cause obviously. But it is a cause."
Mr. Chrétien's office strongly denied the Prime Minister believes any blame for the attacks lies with the United States. His aides criticized media reportage of the Prime Minister's comments and sought to clarify his remarks.
"In response to a question about how he thought the world had changed on September 11th, the Prime Minister took the opportunity to point to the need for all Western developed countries to reflect on the long-term consequences of the growing divide between rich and poor nations -- a divide which has clearly been used by fanatics to fan resentment toward the developed world," his office said in a statement. "It is a gross misconstruction of his remarks to suggest that he was blaming the United States for the attacks."
Françoise Ducros, the Prime Minister's director of communications, said the Prime Minister's remarks had been misconstrued.
"An accurate portrayal of what the Prime Minister had said would have been a call upon the Western world to reflect on the disparity between rich countries and the developing world," said Ms. Ducros.
"He in no way suggested -- in fact went out of his way to deny on several occasions -- that anything excused any acts of terrorism."
Stephen Harper, the Canadian Alliance leader, issued a statement calling on Mr. Chrétien to apologize to the families of the two dozen Canadians killed in the World Trade Center attacks.
"Mr. Chrétien's comments, particularly coming on the anniversary of 911, blaming the victim, are shameful," Mr. Harper said. "What was behind the events of September 11 are the forces of evil and hatred."
At the United Nations, Bill Graham, the Foreign Affairs Minister, noted Canada has been a steadfast ally in the war on terror and does not believe the United States or the West is responsible for the attacks.
"Canada has stood solidly beside the United States since the day after this [attack] occurred. We went to war with the United States. We still have 1,200 of our men and women serving in the Afghan theatre," Mr. Graham said. "We wouldn't be there if we thought we were responsible or the United States were responsible."
Not just disappointed....... raging mad.
Excellent...I find I must swipe this and use it at work.
Yes, there are anti-social acts, when these poor people- egged on by leftist agitators, take action. Tent cities have been set up. Squatters have occupied vacant and crumbling dwellings.
What was the reaction of the authorities? First, politicians, appearing decent souls, remonstrate and make promises. Next, a sympathetic press- especially the leftist Toronto Star, put a human face on the whole business.
Then what happens when things get a little rough? Yes, the unfortunate boys in blue are called in,obviously they would rather not have to clear the area.
Moral: Even in tolerant Canada- even the slightest bit of anarchy, is eventually clamped down on- cracked heads and all.
What price 3000 innocent souls, Prime Minister? You and your people do not tolerate minor protests too long. Yet, it must be the poor against the rich in these cases. What is their excuse?
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