Posted on 11/23/2001 8:47:19 AM PST by Jean S
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's admission that Canadian ground troops will not be sent to Afghanistan if their deployment entails fighting casts serious doubt -- to put it at its mildest -- about his government's commitment to waging liberal democracy's war against terrorism. Canadians have often been militarily unprepared for war, but until now no Canadian government has pretended to be at war when it is not.
Five days after the terrorist attacks on the United States, John Manley, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, declared "Canada is at war against terrorism" and will "unambiguously" join the U.S. military action against terrorism, a stand 81% of Canadians agreed with in a poll taken shortly thereafter. If the United States requires our military assistance, said Mr. Manley, it need only "let us know." On Oct. 7, Mr. Chrétien underlined his putative commitment to the just war now being undertaken when he said Canada is "part of an unprecedented coalition of nations that has come together to fight terrorism." All this seemed to be so as Mr. Chrétien dispatched six naval ships, six planes and almost 2,000 military personnel to assist two U.S. Navy carrier battle groups spearheading the war on the Taliban and Osama bin Laden's terrorist network in Afghanistan.
But on Monday, Mr. Chrétien told the House of Commons that the mission of nearly 1,000 Canadian ground troops waiting to go to Afghanistan is "to bring peace and happiness as much as possible." Worse than this mumbo jumbo was the Prime Minister's more precise statement that, "of course," the Canadians are going "not to have a big fight there." Tony Blair, Britain's Prime Minister, is waiting to send 4,000 British troops to Afghanistan once arrangements can be made with Northern Alliance commanders in Kabul. In addition to opening routes for humanitarian relief with the Canadians, Mr. Blair said his troops are prepared play an "offensive front-line" role to help destroy the Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters, a battle that may also be waged by 1,500 U.S. Marines who are preparing to go to Afghanistan. Yet Mr. Chrétien is implying that troops from this country are really social workers in camouflage.
As with the ground forces, so with our naval mission. On the flagship of each of the two U.S. battle groups, a Canadian liaison officer will be on hand to inform the U.S. commander whenever his orders violate the Canadian government's rules of engagement, which do not permit offensive action in the war. It does not sound much like the helpful relationship in which the Americans need only ask our help and we will give it. Ottawa wants our sailors only to defend U.S. ships against attack, but it does not want them to wage war. Why not? Does the government not actually believe what it says about the need to defeat international terrorism?
Another indication of Mr. Chrétien's tepidity in this fight was his declaration on Tuesday that he needed evidence linking the Sept. 11 attacks directly to Iraq's President Saddam Hussein before he was prepared to widen the conflict to its next obvious and necessary target. This suggests a wilful blindness about Saddam's well-known sponsorship of terrorism. Saddam operates a terrorist flying school in the suburbs of Baghdad, and his secret service met the Sept. 11 ringleader shortly before the attack. What sort of smoking gun does Mr. Chrétien require? -- a cheque signed by Saddam with Mohammed Atta as the payee? This stand drives a wedge between Canada and the United States on this issue and is not a token of Canadian sovereignty but of spineless obstructionism in the face of a real threat. "From this day forward," said Mr. Bush in his address to a Joint Session of Congress on Sept. 20, "any nation that continues to harbour or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime." One of those regimes is Iraq. This is surely a position a serious developed democratic nation should adopt.
If not, then the government is waging a phony war. The public supports decisive military action -- there should be no other kind -- against terrorists and the states that harbour and sponsor them. Mr. Eggleton says the Canadian military's mission is to "help people." Canadians have historically helped people by fighting for their freedom. They have not hitherto told their allies that they will contribute soldiers only if nobody shoots at them and they are used not for fighting but to drive ambulances and hand out packets of rice.
"Let's hope that Osama bin Laden and his accessories don't catch a flight to Canada because they would automatically be granted refugee status and given medical care, housing and welfare.
Even worse, Canadian taxpayers would be forced to pay for a Legal Aid lawyer to help them fight extradition to the United States on the basis that they may be put to death."
Of course Canada is fighting a "phoney war." How can a country that would defend the chief terrorist and pride themselves on defending him, expect to actually try to kill him in cold blood by military force. Canada is such a country of contradictions. Its population centers and politicians have all the worst properties of England and major US cities. It's rural areas have all the best properties of the best of the US, but they have no political clout. Such a shame!
I am 1/2 Canadian, and it's embarrasing.
however, think of the damage the canadians could inflict with some hockey sticks and a few pucks. better than any bunker buster we could drop from the sky... (smile, eh?)
Don't feel too bad, someday, Canada will wake up. Every now and then their leaders have a moment of sanity. Personally, I am enjoying the civil disobedience aspects (which seem to be highly respected in Canada)being discussed nationally in regards to Canadian gun control laws. Canada's self image seems to contain a large portion of allowing for Ethical pasion and following one's core values.
Other Yank: Hey! My wife is a Canadian.
First Yank: Oh, yah, what team does she play for?
Canada - Home of the 52 letter English Alphabet:
A, A, B, A, C, A, D, A, etc.
LOL, He was like this even when he was young.
The Liberal government (and you in the States have no clue how appropriate that name is for these clowns) has systematically gutted our once proud and strong armed forces. If you think Klinton used the U.S. Military for social experimentation you would be positively appalled at what we've been witness to in Canada. To top it off, we have a Defense Minister whose greatest qualification for the job is that he used to be Mayor of Toronto (read: no qualification at all!). Our Imigration minister is a shrill vacant headed woman who accuses anyone who questions our outrageously open refugee policy of being a racist of the worst order, and I'm not exaggerating. These people have no clue and only care about their own political skins, regardless of the damage they do to the country. To make matters worse, our system of parliamentary democracy has none of the checks and balances in your system so the Prime Minister of a majority government can operate effectively as an elected dictator.
Our armed forces personnel are furious at these developments. They are proud and extremely well trained which does go a long way to make up for our equipment and numeric shortfalls. We do in fact have some people in theatre now, likely members of our commando force as well as some naval assets. The only good that may come out of this on our end is that the vast majority of sleeping Canadians have finally had our lack of military preparedness laid bare and we don't like it one bit.
Canadians, with the exception of some aging draft dodgers that can't seem to get over their hatred of thier homeland, have a great deal of affection for America and Americans and have no illusions about who is really protecting our great land mass. It is embarrassing and frustrating that when America asks for our help our stupid, venal, oh-so politically correct Liberals are defying the will of the population and humiliating us in front of our absolute best friends. I guess they just can't bear to risk losing any of the "peaceful moslem vote."
You have our apologies and admiration. We will correct this problem at the next election, G-d willing.
Just prior to my return to the US, an "individual" had successfully convinced authorities to allow him access to the women’s change room at the university sports arena, after he produced a note from his doctor stating that he was undergoing estrogen injections, on the road to becoming a "woman".
One of the last straws for me was a note from the "Office of Equity" requesting my sensitivity in consideration of the rights of alternative faith practitioners. Specifically, the missive informed me that practicing witches, neopagans and druids should be given time off for "their” holidays- and no, I’m not making this up either!.
So, unfortunately, that pretty well sums up the situation in Canada. ‘Nuf said.
And we know the fate of contradictions!
God save us all!
Unfortunately, the government teat-suckers and friends are a permanent majority in Canada. There is little hope for reform
I'll drink to a U.S. of North America. ;^)
when are you folks going to do something about your slumping dollar? $1.57canadian for $1.00us is a little embarrassing to me.
Your embarassed? We're mortified. Actually no need to be embarassed at all. Canada's a lovely vacation spot, friendly folks, clean cities, little crime, great beer. And your real money goes a long long way!
Cheers!
how true! btw -- my wife was born in toronto so you do not need to sell me on the wonderfulness of canada
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