All we had to do was be a good friend(Canada noticeably absent from the list of U.S. allies thanked)

National Post ^ | March 27, 2003 | Christie Blatchford

[saluki_in_ohio]

All we had to do was be a good friend (Canada noticeably absent from the list of U.S. allies thanked)

Christie Blatchford National Post

Thursday, March 27, 2003

George W. Bush delivered a speech yesterday at the U.S. military's central command headquarters in Florida.

There was little unusual about it, except perhaps for the clear emotion Mr. Bush showed when he came to that point, as he has done repeatedly in the week since the war in Iraq began, to give thanks for America's allies.

The British came first, of course -- their ground forces, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy. Then came Australia, for her navy gunfire support and fighter aircraft. The President went on, thanking the Polish military forces who have secured an Iraqi oil platform in the Persian Gulf; the Danes for the early intelligence provided by a submarine crew; the Czechs, Slovaks and Romanians next. Soon, said Mr. Bush, Bulgarians and Ukrainians would be joining them.

The absence of a bow to Canada, for her contribution, was stark and awful for anyone with a memory that goes back 64 years or a decent enough grasp of history to recognize that Poles and Czechs, and Brits and Aussies and Yanks and Canucks have fought together before and that there is a rightness about it.

But it was in Mr. Bush's last thank you -- to Spain, for its "important logistical and humanitarian support" -- that the real message lay.

Canada never had to send soldiers, you see. Canada never had to become a slavering warmonger to maintain her neighbour's respect and affection. Canada never had to drop bombs on innocent Iraqi children, as goes the cant of the Left despite abundant evidence that coalition forces are doing -- imperfectly, alas, as is inevitable -- everything they can, including taking more casualties themselves, to avoid doing just that.

To be deemed a reasonable ally, Canada only ever had to offer moral support and to do a little something that was do-able within the bounds of her own political realities. Canada failed to meet even this modest test.

To put it in Don Cherry terms, Canada did not have to grab a chair and crack it over the head of the guy her American pal was pummelling in the bar, she had only to refrain from actively cheering the other fellow on -- oh, and maybe buy the Yank a drink when the mess was over.

It is this national failure of nerve that is, as the modern lingo has it, the root cause of the wildly deteriorating state of relations between the two countries; why the U.S. ambassador to Canada, Paul Cellucci, said what he said this week (and why Mr. Bush, his close personal friend, gave him the go-ahead to do so) and why it now appears Mr. Bush's first visit to Ottawa, slated for this spring, may be in jeopardy.

Why would the U.S. President want to go there when collectively -- and there is little need to review each of the telling statements that have been made, from Jean Chrétien on down to the lowliest of his backbenchers and everyone in between -- official Canada has made plain not only its distaste for his war, but also its disdain for the man? Why would anyone be surprised that Mr. Bush and Mr. Cellucci -- who lives in the nation's capital, after all, and had to bear the potshots aimed at his friend and his country up close -- would take personally the bitter personal remarks?

Better men -- of both sexual orientations -- have heckled Mr. Bush than Svend Robinson: It's not fear of protesters that will keep him from Ottawa.

What is tragic is that, as is becoming more evident by the day -- in the growing number of pro-America rallies spontaneously being organized by Canadians (Winnipeg's is now slated for this Saturday, starting at the cenotaph and moving to the legislative buildings), in my own in-box, in the bumper sticker an Albertan friend mailed me this week that reads, "I like Americans; Liberals -- I Hate The Bastards" -- is that there is a great disconnect between the shrill anti-American tone of the Chrétien government and the view of many ordinary Canucks, particularly those in the heart of the West.

There are Canadians who support the war in Iraq and believe this country should be there. There are others who at least credit Mr. Bush with honourable motives, even if they disagree with the war. And there are many more who are bewildered by their government and shamed by the puerile invective coming out of the Liberal Cabinet -- if unsurprised, because this thing has been a very long time in the coming, and it has been nourished every step of the way by these same Liberals and their predecessors.

This is why this moment in history may be every bit as profound and defining for this country as it is for America. What sort of Canada do we want, do we have? Is it worth fighting to reclaim? Is it even possible?

I found a book yesterday that was among the things left to me by my late Uncle Tom, who died this year. It's called Between Friends and was one of Canada's official gifts to the United States on the occasion of the American Revolution Bicentennial in 1976.

It is a celebration of the long and lovely border we share with our neighbours, a picture book mostly, with big photos of each nation's attractive citizens, with a quote every page or two, and a foreword by the late Pierre Trudeau, who was then the Canadian Prime Minister.

At first, as I flipped through the pages, I found it a touching relic of a more innocent time (and it is that, of course), and grew a little teary looking at all the shots of intertwined flags and funny little border signs and the like.

But when I examined it more closely, and read Mr. Trudeau's words, I realized that what it really marked was the beginning of the end of the Old Canada.

Mr. Trudeau's foreword was a blather of easy platitudes about what the two countries have to teach one another in the great community of nations; the pictures were of sweeping geographical vistas and in the main more pretty than anything else; the book was properly bilingual, duly representative of the then-evolving multicultural patchwork, and produced by the National Film Board. It was not only the product of Canadian government, it was its very vision.

The quotation I found the saddest is on Page 65, from the British writer J.B. Priestley: "The Canadian is a baffled man because he feels different from his British kindred and his American neighbours, sharply refuses to be lumped with either of them, yet cannot make plain the difference."

[saluki_in_ohio]

Very good editorial article regarding the Canadian Liberal government's Iraq policy, or lack thereof.

[Mike-o-Matic]

Bump for pro-US Canucks!

[lindsay]

i want one of those car stickers

[Timm]

Thanks for posting the whole article.

I can't read from the National Post. The page freezes, and instead of scrolling down the text smears. What the h*ll is going on? Anyone know?

This happens to me only with the National Post, and no other site. Weird.

[headsonpikes]

Christie Blatchford is a pistol!

[saluki_in_ohio]

Timm,

Try blocking all banner ads and pop-up ads. Those are the ones that are causing all of the problems. I had that problem too until I did just that.

[saluki_in_ohio]

Christie Blatchford is a pistol!

Indeed she is!

[what's up]

It's the French-Canadians who are infecting the national spirit.

Question is, why don't the Anglo-Canadians have the spine to deal with it?

[SAMWolf]

(((Ping)))

Vote the Cretin out.

[Let's Roll]

A post on another thread re who has most to gain by keeping sodamn in power said that cretin's family is a major shareholder in a French oil company that controls 23% of Iraqi oil - or did hehehe. This needs much more exposure.

[samtheman]

Good dichotomy:

Americans vs. Liberals

[xJones]

Now that is verrrry interesting, how can we find out if it's true?

[saluki_in_ohio]

It's the French-Canadians who are infecting the national spirit. Question is, why don't the Anglo-Canadians have the spine to deal with it?

I don't believe that it is just the French-Canadians. It is the Socialist/Leftist/Liberal intellectuals in Central Canada who are anti-American and morally bankrupt that are causing the problems in Canada.

I do believe that conservative Canadians, irregardless of national origin, will win the day.

[ClancyJ]

Gee - maybe the anti-war peaceniks are correct - IT IS ABOUT OIL! About the French and Canadian-French keeping it.

[Let's Roll]

Here's the thread - it's from the Heritage Foundation. They are credible I believe.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/877546/posts

[Let's Roll]

Here's the thread showing who all benefits:http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/877546/posts

You're right ClancyJ - my first thoughts too - well, looky here, surprise, surprise, surprise. Check link - many things will be clarified for you.

[what's up]

I do believe that conservative Canadians, irregardless of national origin, will win the day.

I hope so. I agree with you that it's the socialists who are the culprits and this definitely includes Anglos. However, I feel that it would be fairly rare to find French folks in Canada who are conservatives.

I'm wondering if most of the French in Canada are looking to their counterparts across the sea for direction. They certainly were able to get their French guy in office up there in the far North.

[F16Fighter]

Good post...

It's a shame Canada's liberals have confiscated most of it's media along with any 'official' common sense toward supporting it's good neighbor to the south.

However it is nice to hear that some Canadians recognize that America is indeed her tradition ally and cousin, and NOT France.

[saluki_in_ohio]

It's a shame Canada's liberals have confiscated most of it's media along with any 'official' common sense toward supporting it's good neighbor to the south.

That is why conservative Canadians wanting to take back their country need our help. The socialists controlling their government have manipulated the system almost to the point that conservatives are nearly marginalized in their society.

One time I was in Canada on buisness for my company, In my hotel room, I decided to watch the Edmonton, AB affiliate of the CBC just to see what it was like, and they were talking about how wonderful communism was. I quickly switched the channel. Fortunately, the cable system the hotel used had the Spokane, WA affilates of CBS,NBC,ABC, and Fox. (They are bad enough, but CBC really is a leftist cesspool!)

[B4Ranch]

Have you noticed how Mexico is being left out of the list for discussion? They support more American social services for illegal aliens, not the support of American foreign policy.

[Wavyhill]

Actually, Canada seems to fit in nicely with the US--if you cut out Quebec, and all the left-wing politicians who spend their lives on bended knee to Quebec.

[Joe 6-pack]

Although I do not have the numbers, I would have to believe that Canada lost the second highest number of citizens on 9/11. While I'm truly grateful for their participation in Afghanistan, they will be shamed when the links between 9/11 and Baghdad are brought to light.

[I'm_With_Orwell]

Same questions might be asked about France, Germany, etc.

Why in the world would any Western democracy endanger their relationship with one of their oldest friends and allies on behalf of a psychopathic, inhuman pissant dictator in the Mid East?

No matter how much you disagree (and friends will always disagree, from time to time) with the reasons for a fight, you don't sit back and watch your friends taking on a thug and hope the thug whips your friend's ass. You get in and help out!

[jokar]

Sad Ping to "The Funniest Woman" on the web.

Darlin you and your husband need to make another documentary.This is IMHO tragic.

Maybe you could begin doing a segment on Unspun "From occupied Canada" w/a live guest from Free Dominion. Just a thought.

[HanneyBean]

I think this is the best editorial I've read on the Canadian situation. The author makes some good points.

If I were a conservative Canadian, I'd be BOILING mad and ready to do whatever it took to take back control of my country. The door appears open to do it, but it's closing mighty fast. You can no longer be silent.

[VOA]

Very good editorial article regarding the Canadian Liberal government's Iraq policy, or lack thereof.

Their media has inflicted some wounds on the friendship (hopefully not fatal).

If I'd had a brick at hand, I would have destroyed my TV when Heather Mallick
(a reporterette) with a major Toronto newspaper snarled that "the death of four Canadians
from American friendly fire was the top news story in Canada this year...
because it showed that Americans just don't give a damn about dead Canadians."

That one got my blood pressure through the roof!

[saluki_in_ohio]

If I'd had a brick at hand, I would have destroyed my TV when Heather Mallick (a reporterette) with a major Toronto newspaper snarled that "the death of four Canadians from American friendly fire was the top news story in Canada this year... because it showed that Americans just don't give a damn about dead Canadians."

Her attitude is a reflection of the literal "brainwashing" that has been done to Canadians over a generation as a result of constant exposure to Canadian socialist/liberal dogma generated by their socialist/liberal hegemony staring with Trudeau, and further propagated by his lapdog Chretien.

We as American conservatives need to help our conservative Canadian cousins take their country back.

[Happy2BMe]

I worked closely with Canadian AF in Alaska.

That was 14 years ago.

I never dreamed I would be ashamed to stand by a Canuck!

[optik_b]

Canada has a 3 party system so you really only need like 34% of the vote to win the election, and Frenchie Quebec is about 7 million people in a country of a little more than 30 million. Do the math.

I wish that Canada had a friend of American in leadership like Brian Mulroney was.

[Cuttnhorse]

I've read a lot of articles lately on the deteriorating relationship between the USA and Canada, but this is just about the best.

Good find Saluki

[HanneyBean]

Then I say to you, good luck!

Hey, we withstood 8 years of Clintoon and I know it made conservatives stronger and more determined. I hope it will be the same for you.

[kanawa]

I drive for a living and so get to listen to many radio call-in shows. Our government has grossly misread the Canadian public (east and west of Quebec anyways). Watch for large Friends of America rallies in the coming weeks

[kanawa]

My cherished belief in an unified Canada is being ripped from my heart. When reality confronts dreams, reality wins.

FWIW My maternal grandparents were French speaking

[Canadian Outrage]

Western Canadians have been trying to vote the b@astards out for years. Ontario will NOT cooperate and they have a HUGE number of seats. Simple as that!! The voting system is rigged in favour of Quebec and Ontario Liberal dare I say trash, except for the Conservatives in Ontario. There are none in Quebec.

[Swampmarine]

Canada's underpopulation is a clear danger to North America's future. Perhaps a free-pass corridor from over-populated Mexico to underpopulated Canada is in our best interest.

[AmericanVictory]

She's certainly exactly right about the Clintoneque Trudeau (at least Clinton stuck to little girls) who hated America and helped the USSR whenever he could get away with it.

[SevenofNine]

Are they still tick off because we keep send them our Draft dodgers back in late 1960s to early 1970s hey we got Wayne Gretsky later on the decade in 1980s

I call it deal

Canucks got screw

[TBall]

"What is tragic is that, as is becoming more evident by the day -- in the growing number of pro-America rallies spontaneously being organized by Canadians" Thats where I quit reading.

[George W. Bush]

It's unlikely Prez Bush will bother to visit Canada, at least in the next two years. One would hardly expect to be treated so shamefully by one's primary trading partner, regardless of war participation.

A day of reckoning is coming. Those who stood against us and aided and abetted Saddam will rue the day they did it, thinking they'd get away with it scot-free.

[McGavin999]

As long as the Canadian people don't bother to register, and take the time to actually vote, they can expect the French-Canadians to continue to ruin their great country.

It's really just that simple. We have the same problem here.

[ScholarWarrior]

Fair article.

Here's to the hope that all liberals move to Canada.

[Maven]

Since you're a Canadian, I need to ask you something. We sell philatelic items on Ebay. I'm about to exclude sales to France, but was reluctant to cut out Canada - mostly because I don't believe most Canadians' thinking on this coincides with their government.

What if I just refused to sell to Quebec? Would that suffice? Would the rest of the stamp collectors in Canada get our message - it's not Canadians we're protesting, but your government?

Thanks in advance,

Maven

[Maven]

I really don't know how to answer that Maven and that is unusual for me. I almost always have an opinion LOL.

I've decided to just ban the French for now, and take a wait-and-see over the weekend about Quebec - see how the rallies in Canada go.

Thanks!

Maven