Chrétien tells U.S. not to go it alone
Last Updated Thu, 13 Feb 2003 22:16:11
Posted on 02/13/2003 8:51:03 PM PST by mhking
Chrétien tells U.S. not to go it alone
Last Updated Thu, 13 Feb 2003 22:16:11
 PM Jean Chrétien in Chicago |
CHICAGO - Prime Minister Jean Chrétien made a major foreign policy speech in Chicago on Thursday evening, and he used the occasion to tell the United States that when it comes to dealing with Iraq it is better served "by acting through the United Nations."
The speech before the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations came just hours before chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix is scheduled to deliver another report to the UN Security Council. Chrétien took pains to outline the long and close ties between the two countries before moving on to the subject of a possible war with Iraq. Chrétien appeared to be moving Canada closer to the views of several European nations that have been asking the United States to give the UN weapons inspectors more time. "Today's United Nations needs a committed United States, and I would argue that the world needs an effective United Nations," he said. The prime minister told his American audience that in spite of U.S. frustration with the UN "the long-term interests of the United States will be better served by acting through the United Nations, than by acting alone." Acting without international support, said Chrétien, could make any war with Iraq a war of East versus West, or the strong versus the weak. "It is imperative to avoid the perception of a 'clash of civilizations.' Maximum use of the United Nations will minimize that risk." Chrétien said decisions made now will have "profound consequences for the future." The Canadian government has been under pressure to make a firm decision on whether it will go to war alongside its long-time allies, the U.S. and Britain. Chrétien's speech did not commit Canada one way or the other, but it appears to put Ottawa on the side of those nations urging caution and a second UN resolution. Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham says the government sees problems ahead if the U.S. pushes ahead on its own. "I see a destabilized Middle East. I see problems in Indonesia, in India, in Pakistan. These problems might happen even if there is a UN authorized resolution," Graham said earlier in the day in Ottawa. Deputy Prime Minister John Manley was also clear that Canada will not be pushed into taking sides until after the UN inspectors deliver their report. "It's very hard for us to say definitively this is what Canada's view is going to be when we don't have his (Blix's) report, and I would defend our right to be unclear about it until we've got the facts." For the Opposition, the question is still whether the government intends to join the U.S. in any military operation in Iraq. "Is it engaged in the Iraq crisis, and if so, how?" asked Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper.
He is just a transflanted frog, maybe he should the De Gaulle to patrol his waters with their aircraft.
We're not going alone!!!!
Repeat till you have a heart attack: WE'RE NOT GOING ALONE!!!
That cartoon had it right, where a mushroom clowd looms over Paris and the French politician says "that does it, now we send 4x as many inspectors!"
Idiots in Europe and Canada haven't had their 9/11s yet, and when they do I hope they don't turn to us for help...
Why?
That is certainly true provided the UN acts, but if the alternative is not acting at all, then Cretian is well cretian. And I suspect he favors no action, and is a cretian, or more accurately put, a chap that won't act until he is punched, and then will think about it.
Oh really? Seems to me like the UN has been ignored for that past 12+ years or so.
Opps, sorry. He's French right?
WHO has joined the ALLIES FOR LIBERTY & FREEDOM?
THESE ARE the 25 ALLIES for IRAQI people’s (women & children included) FREEDOM
U.S., Britian, Australia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Italy, Portugal, Turkey, Lithuania
Slovakia, Denmark, Czech Republic, Spain, Quatar, Jordan, Albania, Kuwait, Israel, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Macedonia, Croatia, and Japan
FREE the IRAQI people!!!
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and ... Putin est un cretin?
Jesus wept.
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