Posted on 12/01/2004 11:01:39 AM PST by docbnj
OTTAWA - George W. Bush rode into town on a world-reconciliation tour offering kind words for Canada but not a shred of contrition for his unilateralist foreign policy Tuesday.
He was unrepentant, however, when asked about Canadian distaste for his policies and cited his recent U.S. electoral triumph as justification for his invasion of Iraq.
"I'm the kind of fella who does what I think is right and will continue to do what I think is right," Bush said.
"I'll consult with our friends and neighbours, but if I think it's right to remove Saddam Hussein for the security of the United States, that's the course of action I'll take."
It was not exactly the message many had been expecting from a second-term president reputed to be eager to win back allies alienated by his decision to invade Iraq.
It also did nothing to soothe the anger of protesters who scuffled with police after being blocked from marching down the main thoroughfare in front of Parliament.
But protests were smaller than expected. Police estimated the demonstrators numbered 5,000 as Bush met with Martin.
Bush is in Canada for just over 24 hours to road-test a message aimed at moving beyond the question of whether the invasion of Iraq was justified. He's hoping to persuade Canada and European allies that it's in the world's interest to work together toward establishing democratic institutions in Iraq.
He conceded some Canadians and Americans disagree with the war, and he drew chuckles with his suggestion that he was grateful to all those who waved at him on his way into town - particularly those who waved using all five fingers.
But there was no moderating his administration's unilateralist rhetoric on the path to war.
(Excerpt) Read more at herald.ns.ca ...
This is the type of news reporting many Canadians consume every day. They badly need more variety in their news sources. The CBC (tax supported) was just about as bad, calling in local professors to comment. You can imagine what that sounded like.
Bush's speech was very good: friendly, clear, forthright, emphasizing common ground, but uncompromising. The Halifax Herald did note that the protestors were less numerous than expected (and probably less numerous than they had hoped).
Was this reporter even listening to the same speech I heard? You'd never know it from this article.
BTW kudos to the speechwriters for doing their homework- quoting McKenzie King to justify the WOT was priceless.
This has to the quickest I have ever stopped reading an article. Sorry to the author but we are not trying to "reconcile" with Canada. At least I hope not.
Why is it that everyone suddenly expects Bush to start changing his mind on foreign policy, make apologies for this or that etc...
How about the rest of the world respond to the will of the American People by saying "Maybe your right. Let us rethink our policies and what we believe".
Crap like this artice drives me up a wall.
Winning the election means never having to say you're sorry.
What would you have him say? Would any words change the way you feel about his actions? He said what he was going to do, then he did it. Why does that leave you deserving an apology.
I'm reading Richard Miniter's book, THE SHADOW WAR, about the progress we're making in the war on terror. Miniter points out that the US either has troops or intelligence personnel in 70 nations around the globe, and comments that Pres. Bush has constructed the widest, broadest, and most diverse coalition in the history of the world in the current fight against Islamist terror. Because of the nature of this war, the actual "battles" and strategic alliances we've built remain in the "shadows" (hence the title of the book). These people who simply state the lie with a wave of the hand that Bush's policy is "unilateralist" can go *f-* themselves.
Are these people paying attention?
Who in the world is telling them that GWB is on the verge of coming around to their way of thinking?
Yeah, he's not Bill Clinton, for crying out loud. Clinton's diplomacy amounted to touring the globe (at our expense), apologizing for every perceived slight the US has made to other nations.
We're working on the media coverage in Canada. Right now we seem to be hovering just before Fox News and talk radio in the US (both which will be available here in January '05). Just keep in mind that this sort of garbage reporting repulses us on a daily basis. We just consider the source and filter through all the smuck to get to the facts.
Pretty sick, hey? That was classic liberal slant that I saw on the front page of the Globe and Mail a few years ago, the first and only time I picked it up. In fact, it was almost identical - the use of 'unrepentant' and those sorts of things. You have to wonder if there's a common strategy.
President Bush gave an EXCELLENT speech.
The man makes his opponents look so very small, because he is so very big.
He was brilliant, passionate, and far more gracious than the liberal government of Canada deserved.
He was genuine in his appreciation of those wonderful Canadians who selflessly came to the aid of Americans in need.
He was good-natured, warm, honest and stood tall, like the leader he is, laying out his vision with conviction and certainty.
The man will go down in history as one of the greatest.
Plus he's a hunk.
We don't read the NYT editorial page and assume that the entire US feels the same way, so why do so many Americans take our far-left leaning media views as face value for all Canadians.
The coverage in the midwest was favorable. No doubt we will get the lefty negative snarly spin as soon as they can figure out something to say.
Bush slammed the UN good as well, "We need a United nations that acts, not endless debate. We don't need another League of Nations."
Local media even slammed the "professional protestors" who will "protest anything and everything anywhere". They said half of them were protestors from the USA, some of their goofy costumes looked familliar from those protests in the USA. Not that this could be called a "protest" with only about 1200 max by most estimates. Probably press crew that put down cameras to join in in order to make the crowd bigger.
letters@herald.ca
OUCH! What a terrific statement.
Believe me.
We don't.
The 'Canadian bashing' is no more an attack on all Canadians as 'liberal bashing' is on all Americans.
Some people are just very 'eloquent' in stating it.
Take heart neighbor!
'Some people are just very 'eloquent' in stating it. '
Sorry!
Meant to say 'Aren't very 'eloqeunt' in stating it.
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