On a visit to Mexico, Chretien told the United States to limit its ambitions in Iraq to disarmament. Posted on 03/01/2003 8:24:02 PM PST by mhking
Fri Feb 28, 8:07 PM ET
By Pav Jordan
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Prime Minister Jean Chretien on Friday criticized U.S. calls for "regime change" in Iraq (news - web sites) in the latest episode of friction between the North American neighbors over U.S. foreign policy.
On a visit to Mexico, Chretien told the United States to limit its ambitions in Iraq to disarmament.
"If you start changing regimes, where do you stop, this is the problem. Who is next? Give me the list, the priorities," a visibly agitated Chretien told reporters.
He said there was nothing about ending Iraqi President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s rule in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441, the legal and diplomatic basis for much of the international pressure on Baghdad.
"I think that if I read 1441, it's talking about disarmament of the government of Saddam Hussein. That is the resolution that we are working on. If you read it, it is not talking about a regime change," said Chretien, whose country is not a Security Council member.
Speaking to reporters at his hotel, Chretien clenched his fists in the air. He said Iraq's promise to destroy al-Samoud 2 missiles in line with U.N. arms inspectors' requests was "a positive development."
His remarks were in reaction to comments earlier in the day by White House spokesman Ari Fleischer (news - web sites) that President George W. Bush (news - web sites) wanted disarmament and a regime change in Iraq, meaning the end of Saddam's government.
Reached by Reuters, Fleischer said: "The president has made it clear his policy remains to settle this peacefully. He hopes it can be done peacefully, but the goal remains disarmament and regime change."
U.S.-CANADA TENSIONS
After Chretien met Mexican President Vicente Fox (news - web sites) on Thursday, Mexico gave partial backing to a Canadian proposal that Baghdad be given a March 28 deadline to complete certain disarmament tasks or face the possibility of military action. The United States poured cold water on the plan.
Differences over Iraq have led to tensions between Canada and the United States.
A junior member of Parliament for Chretien's Liberal Party, Carolyn Parrish, who opposes conflict with Iraq, said on Wednesday she hated American "bastards." She said later she deeply regretted the comments.
Chretien, commenting on the incident, said: "Well, she apologized, she said she was sorry. We should have somewhat the right to have a personal reaction toward something."
In November, Chretien's director of communications resigned after telling a reporter during a NATO (news - web sites) summit that Bush was "a moron."
It's understandable the way you all feel down there, about the public insults our Liberals are heaving at you. It just doesn't reflect all of us up here.
Our Libs and your Dems are one in the same, and CNN content attests to this. The whole of Canada should not be confused with this continent-wide group of 'nation-seller's'.
That's the way it sadly is.
So while you guy's are in the mood for regime change's, you could consider......
Chretien and Co. are not Canadians......they are traitor's.
Cheers to you, fellow patriot.
They're known as the United Empire Loyalists who chose to remain loyal to England and were driven out, often with nothing more than what they could carry. They lost their property, some even parts of their families , for what they believed . And then , thirty some years later, they fought back and along with those cowardly French Canadiens and savage Indians , beat the crap out of 4 American invasions. Amazing how gutless they were.
They created a socialist empire. They rely on the United States and Britain for protection because they won't build their own military. They might actually have to stand up for something if they did apparently. But many of them spend lots of time and energy critizing our systems--health care, for instance.
Here's a thought: if the Canadians want to help us improve our health care system, let them build a military and protect themselves. We'll use some of our defense money for our health care system.
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