"I would hope that it wasn't merely a sop to the notoriously short-sighted Quebecois."
It seems to be the consensus up here that this is exactly what it was.
On a personal note, I'm married to a Quebecois and like you, melancholy, we cannot discuss politics. :) And a year ago at Christmas, after a bit too much holiday cheer, I got into a serious argument with someone in his family who insisted the U.S. was itching to send young Americans to die in Iraq only "pour le petrol."
*insert eye-rolling smiley*
On an interesting note, the provincial premier of Quebec, Jean Charest, is taking part of a group of influential Canadians and Americans who are concerned about the relationship. They recently issued a report stating that Canada should join BMD.
It would be nice if Charest or some other Quebec leader could *lead* and try to change public opinion here.
It started way back. My wife and I went to my brother's wedding where his Quebecois bride and her family told us how "great" a man Stalin was!!
They said that because my wife is born in America of RUSSIAN parents!!
Et voila la(e) etiquette! (pardon my French)
Charest used to be a cabinet minister for Brian Mulroney's conservatives, here there's no surprise that he's pro-American however, he did a stupid thing and joined the liberal party of Quebec and is currently our premier.