Chrétien's Stand Makes the World Safe for Canadians

The Montreal Gazette ^ | April 28, 2003 | Joseph Heath

[quidnunc]

With all of the hand-wringing over Canada's decision not to get involved in the American-led invasion of Iraq, one little detail has almost escaped public notice. By refusing to participate, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien has done more to protect Canadians against terrorist attacks than George W. Bush has done for the United States by attacking.

After the Bali nightclub bombing that killed more than 200 people, including 88 Australians, it started to look as though any and all Westerners could be the target of Al-Qa'ida attacks. Now, thanks to our government's decision to stay out of the war, we can be confident that Canadians are much less likely to be selected as targets by Islamist terrorists.

Everyone seems to take it for granted that tourists around the world can sew little Canadian flags on their backpacks and get treated to a much warmer welcome. We sometimes forget that this love of Canadians isn't part of the fabric of the universe. And it's not because we're such nice folks and everyone in the world somehow knows it. The reason people like Canadians so much is that we refused to participate in the Vietnam War. The moral standing that we enjoy in the world today stems almost entirely from this decision.

When the U.S. starts throwing its military weight around, Canada's resistance makes us very popular with the rest of the world. Setting aside the pros and cons of the American invasion of Iraq, the fact remains that the overwhelming majority of the world's population opposed it. Canada is very closely associated, in people's minds, with the United States. Thus, the fact that we refused to knuckle under to American pressure greatly improves our moral standing.

So regardless of whether one agrees with Chrétien's decision or not, everyone should recognize that he has, in effect, made the world a much safer place for Canadians. He has helped to ensure that future generations of backpackers will be able to display their little Canadian flags and once again be received with greater kindness by strangers.

Cynical? Maybe, but still true. Our puny military contribution to the war would have had no effect whatsoever upon its outcome. Yet the impact of Chrétien's decision to stay out has been enormous and has done far more to enhance our security. All the footage of tanks and explosions should not lead us to forget that political action can be vastly more influential than military.

-snip-

[quidnunc]

Quote:

The fact is the United States is currently practicing what one American commentator described as "foreign policy by snit." And like most snits, it will all blow over soon. … Besides, Chrétien never had a chance with George W. Bush. Bush's attitude toward the French — and that includes anyone who speaks French — is straight out of the Howard Stern school of international diplomacy.

This must be some of that vaunted Canadian moral superiority we hear so much about these days.

[alnitak]

I think I'm going to throw up.

[prairiebreeze]

OH. MY.GOD. We live next to a country governed and reported on by idiot morons.

Prairie

[curmudgeonII]

If all Canadians felt this way [and it's necessary to remember that Montreal is the second largest French speaking city in the world], the Canadian flag ought to be changed to solid yellow.

[IvanT]

Man, this is the dumbest article I've ever read. Keep in mind, it's from the French Canadian Montreal Gazzette. I don't feel one bit safer because of Chretien's decision, after all, how are terrorists abroad going to be able to distinguish us from you?

[arkfreepdom]

These morons better worry more about SARS and its effects on their puny pissant country's economy and less about how their ineffectiveness and irrelevance affects the US.

[FairOpinion]

"With all of the hand-wringing over Canada's decision not to get involved in the American-led invasion of Iraq, one little detail has almost escaped public notice. By refusing to participate, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien has done more to protect Canadians against terrorist attacks than George W. Bush has done for the United States by attacking."

Maybe he should read this news item about the suitcase full of anthrax heading for Canada and having been discovered because a sailor died, and how many others haven't been discovered?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/901851/posts

Is Chretien admitting that he is gave in to terrorist blackmail to not support us?

I wonder what's in the Iraqi dossiers about him.

[Desecrated]

Riiiight...and I wonder how Creatin's (sic) association to TotalFinaElf played into his "moral superiority." I'm sure Al-Queda will be sure to look for tiny canadian flags on backpacks before their next attack. These folks just don't get it.

[Nonstatist]

Canada is very closely associated, in people's minds, with the United States. Thus, the fact that we refused to knuckle under to American pressure greatly improves our moral standing.

But not with the United States, it doesen't. You will pay, you feckless Canuckians... How about we make border crossings very unpleasant? Oh, and Don't pat youself on the back too hard, you might get hurt.

[white trash redneck]

Quintessentially French Canadian.

[IvanT]

Maybe he should read this news item about the suitcase full of anthrax heading for Canada and having been discovered because a sailor died, and how many others haven't been discovered?

Indeed, it's ironic that there also happen to be some Canadian Frigates in the immediate area as well. This article is just about the dumbest thing I've ever read, what a totally lame spin.

[NYDave]

Canada? Where's Canada? How many countries might ban Canadian travellers because of the SARs situation? I travel a lot to the Dominican Republic where there are a lot of Candian ex-pats and tourists. I'll wave my American passport around so that I am not confused with someone bringing in SARs from Toronto. Nothing against Canadians, but I think the article is extremely lame.

[Cachelot]

Hey, Cretin - your candy shipment is ready..

[river rat]

My long held suspicion that Quebec was inhabited by hopeless and clueless clymers -- has been confirmed...

It MUST be in the French genetic footprint - to be back stabbing cowards.

They wish to be loved by the world --- and angry at no one - so long as they are killing non-Canadians...
They mistake being irrelevant with being admired.

These Canadians bear CLOSE watching.

Semper Fi

[js1138]

the Canadian flag ought to be changed to solid yellow.

The color of the quarantine flag. Dual purpose color.

[IvanT]

In follow up, I mention our patrol vessels, because their mere presence there means the gov't considers the ship a threat, so right there, that discount this idiots article.

[IvanT]

In follow up, I mention our patrol vessels, because their mere presence there means the gov't considers the ship a threat, so right there, that discount this idiots article.

[laredo44]

By refusing to participate, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien has done more to protect Canadians against terrorist attacks than George W. Bush has done for the United States by attacking.

The thing that ultimately protects Canadians more than anything else is America's military might and her good will towards her neighbor to the north.

The ability of (some) Candians to suckle at America's teat while pretending the rest of the world respects them confirms the difference in the two countries' paths to independence. America won hers. Canada whined for hers.

[skeeter]

What a pathetic, snivelling pultroon.

[HitmanLV]

Bush's attitude toward the French — and that includes anyone who speaks French — is straight out of the Howard Stern school of international diplomacy.

What kind of crack is that? Dubya displayed no animosity to the French before their recent antics in shilling for Saddam. This articule is very dishonest.