Canada has earned America's suspicion

National Post ^ | Saturday, November 02, 2002 | David Frum

[NorthernRight]

Canada has earned America's suspicion

David Frum
NationalPost Saturday, November 02, 2002 Canada just won itself an expensive victory in the United States. On Thursday, the Americans agreed to exempt Canadian passport-holders from a new rule requiring all persons born in Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq and Sudan to be fingerprinted and photographed before entry into the United States. Foreign Minister Bill Graham extracted this concession with some very noisy diplomacy: Canada even posted a travel advisory warning Canadian citizens born in those five countries against traveling to the United States. From now on, naturalized Canadians born in the member states of the axis of evil will be treated just like all other Canadians. Except of course that they won't. As Graham himself acknowledged, according to a National Post report, "Canadians who hold dual citizenship and travel to the United States on a foreign passport may still be subject to increased scrutiny by U.S. immigration officials. Canadians may also receive increased attention at the border if they have travelled to countries that the Americans believe pose a security risk to the United States." As for the Syrian-born Canadian whose deportation by the Americans back to Syria triggered this spat -- well, he remains in Syrian custody. The Lebanese-born Canadian arrested in Israel for terrorist activities remains in Israeli custody. The Kuwaiti-born Canadian terrorist captured in Oman remains in U.S. custody, as does the Canadian captured with the al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan. In other words: the Americans have dropped the obnoxious procedures that reveal their mistrust of Canada's immigration and security procedures. But they have not ceased to feel mistrust. And no wonder. On the very same day Graham announced his big diplomatic win, he informed the House foreign affairs committee that Canada would continue to permit the so-called political arm of Hezbollah to operate freely in Canada. He explained, "We don't believe it would be appropriate to label as terrorists innocent doctors, teachers and other people who are seeking to do charitable and other good works in their communities." My first reaction to this statement was a kind of awe. How can anyone manage to be such a fool as that? OK, so maybe Graham doesn't listen to his intelligence briefings or look at the documents in his dispatch box. But does he not even read the newspapers? Is it possible to be the foreign minister of a country supposedly allied with the United States in the war on terror and not have the faintest understanding of how the world's second-deadliest terror organization does its murderous work? No, I don't believe it. Not even Graham could achieve so perfect a degree of ignorance. There must be another explanation. And Graham himself provided it to those who listen carefully. For at the same time that he was exculpating Hezbollah, he was conceding that Canada might after all be compelled to join -- or at least refrain from opposing -- an American military action in Iraq unblessed by the Security Council. "In the event of an ambiguous resolution or a divided Security Council, we may very well be called upon to chart a course based upon the circumstances and conditions at hand, which takes into consideration global security interests, questions of regional stability and, of course, Canada's own interests. Doing nothing about Iraqi defiance poses grave risks." Translated from the original Mandarin, that means: "We're stuck fellows." Graham and Jean Chrétien are trying to walk a narrow defile. On the one hand, they want to seem supportive enough of the Americans that they can ask for favours -- like the exemption from normal security procedures for Canadian passport-holders. On the other hand, they are plainly terrified of taking a tough line on terror and possibly provoking a terrorist attack against Canada. So they waffle. But waffling has its price. The old English-speaking alliance inherited from the Second World War and the Cold War -- the United States, U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand -- is breaking in half. The U.S., U.K. and Australia now sit at the alliance's adults' table, where the decisions are made. Canada and New Zealand sit at the children's table where their noises won't disturb the grown-ups. From time to time, when the kids really yell, the adults remember to send over a cookie, as the Americans did last week. On the merits of the dispute about the treatment of naturalized Canadians, Canada is surely right. In both Canada and the United States, foreign-born citizens are entitled to be treated as citizens, plain and simple. Even on its own terms, the fingerprinting program makes little sense. If we're trying to predict terrorist sympathies from place of birth, surely the people we would want to fingerprint are people born in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, not Iraq? Yet for strategic reasons, those two most dangerous nations are exempt. I am sure that Canadian diplomats quietly raised these points a month ago. Nobody in Washington seems to have listened, because in Washington attention and respect are earned. What Jean Chrétien and Bill Graham have earned for Canada instead is suspicion and disregard. dfrum@aei.org © Copyright  2002 National Post

[NorthernRight]

Ping, FYI -

[NorthernRight]

Ping! FYI

[sheik yerbouty]

Canada is becoming Canuckistan.

[n2002duke]

How long will it be before Canada is unable to support the US on any significant issues because of the immigrant riots that would result?

[Seruzawa]

Intersting, isn't it, how so many people are terrifed of the porous border with Mexico? Why then is it that we see these terrorists coming throuhg Canada instead?

If caught in Canada thay have little to fear.

If caught in Mexico...... ever seen a Mexican prison?

[SkyPilot]

I was reading some WWII history on how brave the Canadians were during the invasion of Normandy. Many were maimed and killed storming a German machine gun position that was firing on Allied troops.

The weirdos in charge of Canadian foreign policy now mock their bravery and their sacrifice by their cowardice.

[Cicero]

Canadians themselves are decent people, but you have to wonder why they have elected such a string of liberal losers to national office, notably Chretien. Yes, Americans twice elected Bill Clinton president, which I'm afraid is an indelible blot on our country's history. But at least clinton was elected by bare pluralities. Chretien has enjoyed comfortable majorities.

One explanation in the case of both countries, of course, is the trahison des clercs. When the intellectuals, opinion leaders, school and college teachers, entertainment moguls, church bureaucracies, and the media have all been corrupted by left-wing ideology, it's understandable that whole countries will catch the contagion. Somehow or other, the leftists who have seized the levers of power must be pried loose and discarded where they will do no more damage with their sleazy lies.

[albertabound]

Cretien only attracted 43% of the popular vote. Unfortunately the balance of the vote was fragmented similar to what Ross Periot's Alliance party did which allowed Clinton to win his second term.Cretien was elected by the citizens of Ontario and Quebec.In Western Canada, the liberals only won two seats while the Canadian Conservative parties won 62. This country is badly regionalized and without Political reform could break apart. Alberta would make a great Republican State.

[Brian Allen]

<< [Many] Canadians are decent people -- but you have to wonder why they have elected such a string of liberal losers ... >>

Post Mulroney the emergence of the [Unfortunately half-baked] Reform/Alliance Party Balkanized Canada's conservatives into unelectable effective cult movements.

That said, however, on the basis of its aggressively-activist support for Cuba, which has included that the USSR's Cuban troop transports all routed through the Canada of the loathesome and fearsome totalitarian, Pierre Trudeau, enroute to murdering our allies in Africa and elsewhere; that Trudeau and the Cretin did deals with Castro that involved Canadians ending up "owning" Billions of Dollars of Americans' property in Cuba for pennies on the Dollar -- and on the strength of a fifty-year-long united nations' voting record that is very heavily weighted against American Interests -- it has not, for around fifty years, been possible to rank Canada, as a state, among Our Nation's friends!

Canada is an unfriendly foreign state.

[mafree]

Thanks for the flag.

[RightWingConspirator]

Perot was responsible for Klintoon getting elected BOTH times, 1992 and 1996. Whatever good Perot had ever done was instantly erased by those actions.

[watcher1]

Canada is becoming Canuckistan.

Well said (and better you than me;)

[badfreeper]

"The U.S., U.K. and Australia now sit at the alliance's adults' table, where the decisions are made. Canada and New Zealand sit at the children's table where their noises won't disturb the grown-ups."

Sad but true.

[ServesURight]

Ever see a Russian prison? They'd make Mexico's look like Club Med.

[ContentiousObjector]

The Canadian Rightwing is an utter and complete joke, the Tories are just a bunch of blue haired wasps who are still celebrating their victory in 19th century elections, and the Canadian Alliance is a dysfunctional slurry and of losers and whiners lead by a dude named Stephen Harper who has the social and communication skills of a “cat lady”, previously the party was lead by one Stockwell Day who, well, was probably a Liberal operative out to destroy the Alliance, the party sorta functions like Afghanistan. There is no loyalty to the leader of the party, just regional warlords usually with some bizzare agenda

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

Canada is nothing more than an American ejaculation!

[calenel]

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=2383

[tessalu]

Canada has been sowing the wind, and it will reap the whirl wind.

[Edward Watson]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, we Western Canadians HATE the Liberals. Blame Ontario, not all of Canada.

Frankly, I want BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon and perhaps Manitoba to leave Canada and join the US - thus am praying for Quebec to secede and begin the process.

We will never be rid of the Liberals while the Right is divided (may eternal curses be upon the heads of the leaders of the PC and CA for putting their petty idealogies ahead of defeating the Libs).

[Bedford Forrest]

"Frankly, I want BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon and perhaps Manitoba to leave Canada and join the US - thus am praying for Quebec to secede and begin the process."

Right, but why British Columbia??? Aren't they just a bunch of collectivist wankers like the sod, I mean sad lot up in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes? All descended from Quisling Tory verminous sods who headed north during the Revolution, just like all the fricking cowardly draft dodgers did during the VietNam War. The fact is that the Canadian gene pool is no different from those of the UK and Froggie Land. Truly a bunch of back-stabbing, whining, collectivist wankers. They do Meech Lake and we do Antietam, as someone once observed. And such it shall be, always and evermore.

[NorthernRight]

It's Time To Storm The Bastille On Sussex Drive.
By Howard Galganov	11/4/2002

 
The fact that our Canadian government has jailed Canadian farmers for the "crime" of selling their products outside of the Canadian Monopoly, referred to as the Canadian Wheat Board, is only that much less revolting than the silence of the Canadian people.

What the hell is wrong with the people in this country? Why are we not "Storming The Bastille"?

In the Maritimes, the federal government is single handedly responsible for allowing the Cod industry to totally collapse, and then they penalized the fishers who lost their major source of income.

In Quebec, the federal government not only allows, but aids whichever ethnocentric Québécois government which happens to be in power, to suppress the rights of anyone who wants to be treated as an equal citizen.

In Ontario and the rest of Canada, the federal government is insidiously pressing for more bilingualism through the offices of the Language Commissioner, who otherwise couldn't give a damn about minority rights within Quebec.

In Western Canada, the federal government pretends that Canada ends at Thunder Bay, while at the same time, they're as quick as greased lightning to grab all the tax money they can from the Westerners, so they can pump more fortunes into Quebec's failed economy.

Canadians, from far and wide, have accepted all of this, including more double standards and federal cronyism than we can list. But this? This jailing of Western farmers for wanting to be FREE to grow and sell their grains wherever they want, and at whatever price they want, is unacceptable to the highest degree.

Where are the voices from the bleeding heart left, who are so quick to stand up for the little guy? In reality, these phony pieces of uselessness hate individual initiatives and love the biggest and most controlling government apparatus possible. Therefore; they're silent.

Where's the voice of the Canadian Alliance; the champion of individual rights? If they're speaking out, it must be in whispers.

Where's more than just a few jabs at the feds from Premier Ralph Klein of Alberta, whose farmers are the ones in jail? A few shots at the federal government for political effect is not sufficient.

But more than that. Where the hell is the voice of the Canadian people? Why are Canadians NOT taking to the streets in the millions?

Good hardworking Canadians are in jail for God's sake.

Not because they stole from someone. We have captains of industry to do that.

Not because they lied and cheated. We have politicians to do that.

Not because they are welfare frauds. We have the NDP to do that.

They're in jail because they want to have the same right as Quebec farmers, who are free to sell their grains to whomever they wish. And at whatever price. If it's good enough for Quebec farmers. Then why isn't it good enough for Prairie farmers?

Being proud to be a Canadian is becoming more and more difficult every time the Canadian government makes a decision. And every time the USELESS media stands silent, or is politically correct.

But worse than all of that; is the silence of the lambs. The Canadian idiots who take all of this lying down: without an opinion, without a voice, and seemingly without a care.

Not to get religious. But the day of judgement will soon be upon us.

Pretty soon the Americans will have had enough of our ingratitude and let us know it in real terms.

Pretty soon the economic bubble is going to explode. We don't manufacture very much of anything any longer. Especially since we can buy it for much less in China. Our High Tech industries are in the tank. And Canada's "Blue Chip" companies are not all that Blue without the financing of Canadian tax payers.

Pretty soon Parliament will be replaced as law makers by the appointed Supreme court, where there will be a different set of laws, rules and justice for every Canadian, depending upon whose society happens to be distinct in one fashion or another.

And pretty soon, various regions are going to say enough is enough. This country is just not worth keeping together. And that's where I'm headed. I too have had enough. Ottawa, much like any other useless entity will eventually disappear if it can not prove its value. And perhaps - the sooner the better.
 

Howard Galganov:  howard@galganov.com

[Paulus Invictus]

Send that Commie Canuck Peter Jennings back and we won't miss him a minute!

[TheyConvictedOglethorpe]

Frankly, I want BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon and perhaps Manitoba to leave Canada and join the US.

Those five plus the studio where they produce The Red Green Show and we'll be all set.

[NorthernRight]

Send that Commie Canuck Peter Jennings back and we won't miss him a minute!

We don't want him either. Maybe he'd be happier with his little Iranian squeeze Christiane Amanpour. They can go canoodle togather in Ramallah.

[jordan8]

If Canada had the same sort of population that it had in 1950 this article wouldn't have to be written, nor would we need much in the way of border control in the north. Invite the world's population to colonize your nation and you get the world's criminals, lunatics, and wars. Islamic terrorism and crime in the West is just a symptom, self-loathing hatred and anti-white genocidal racism by the leftist elites is the disease. Whining about border tiffs or the treatment of Hezbollah in Canada is a case of swallowing the camel (to use an apt phrase) but straining at the gnat.

[KneelBeforeZod]

"Canuckistan"

I like that. I'm going to use it for canada from now on

[Canadian Outrage]

Thank you Cicero. We ESPECIALLY FROM the West are decent people and genuinely CONSERVATIVE. We DESPISE, I tell you, DESPISE AND LOATHE, Creepien and his party. We are a totally different species here and he garners virtually neglible votes from the 4 Western Provinces especially B.C., (mine) and Alberta. We know that Creepien is a Dictator, a thoroughly corrupt person and a bonefide idiot. Furthermore, he's dangerous and a national embarassment as well as an international Joke. Except maybe with his Arab buddies, you know the ones he smooches on their butts - eg Arafat!! It's mine and many others opinion from the West that we should separate from Canada. Canada is no longer the Country that it used to be. It has been reduced by the current Dictator, whose brother could well be Mugabe, to a third world place. If Ontario would grab a brain, we just might have a chance to turn things around. The West has a lot to offer, great folks, loads of resources and an intelligent population. We simply do not have the seats to win if Ontario keeps supporting Federal Liberals!! K'beck would be toast if Ontario would smarten up. I won't hold my breath tho. My apologies to the few Conservatives there are in Ontario and my SINCERE apologies to my American friends.!! Regards, Lynn

[KneelBeforeZod]

The worlds worst prisons trifecta, Russia, Mexico and Brazil

[KneelBeforeZod]

I like how some folks from Canada like to troll random internet boards and say "ha ha we burned down the white house!!" forgetting that they were still British subjects when that happened.

[Bogolyubski]

Why don't the decent folks in the Western provinces secede from the Canadian union? I don't know a great deal about the Canadian Constitution, but it seems from my superficial knowledge that if the provincial legislatures of BC, Alberta, SK, and Manitoba voted to leave the union, there would be very little that the Marxists in Ottawa could do about it. Honestly, with the horrible news of the triumph of leftist PC poilcy that's been coming out of Canada lately, I've been wondering if the moronic government in Ottawa should be destabilized and overthrown - by force, if need be. Of course, one of the key tactics the leftists employ is to dilute the native electorate with immigrants from all sorts of 3rd world places - who will always vote for the leftists who keep on handing them welfare and other benefits.

[hinckley buzzard]

"...in Washington, attention and respect are earned..."

Seems to me that above all, GW demands good faith and loyalty.

If the leaders of Canada want to try to F* with GW like Chirac is doing with Blair, I believe they will live to regret their miscalculation.

[July 4th]

That's okay. If things get too crazy up there, it won't be too hard to conquer. Hell, Alberta already thinks they're part of Texas.

[MissAmericanPie]

9-11 ripped the mask from the face of both our neighbors to the North and the South and gave us a good look. We shouldn't ignore or deny the revelations.

[Edward Watson]

"why British Columbia?" Because I *LIVE* in BC! Besides, the only real lefties out here are predominantly concentrated in the Vancouver/Vancouver Island and coastal regions. Everyone else, including the vast majority in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley are CONSERVATIVES! Why do you think the CA overwhelmingly wins outside the Vancouver/southern Vancouver Island regions?

Its sad that we've had the wacko NDP leftists in power for the past decade that besmirched our reputation and made everyone think we're a bunch of left wing nuts. In case you didn't know, they were ousted pretty badly, only retaining two seats in the last provincial election and the moderate/conservative pro-business anti-union BC Liberals with their 88 seats are now running the show.

[MHT]

Those guys from South Park must have been absolute prophets--Next thing you know, we might be at war with Canada. Then again, Blame Canada. They would have no one to blame but themselves.

[Edward Watson]

"Why don't the decent folks in the Western provinces secede from the Canadian union?"

Those of us familiar with the issues WANT to but "we need to prime the pump." In order for Western Canada to secede from the union and join the US, we need:

(1) An invitation or opportunity to do so from the United States. We've not even been given the opportunity of examining if it's in our best interest to become Americans. I know it's preferable because I've studied the issues but the general populace hasn't. If President Bush gave a speech inviting all Canadian provinces to join the United States, this will cause an enormous effect within Canada, especially if it is accompanied by negatives if the status quo is continued (travel restrictions, trade sanctions, visa requirements). General discourse will come to the fore and we can finally weigh the pros and cons of remaining in Canada or joining the US.

Let's not kid ourselves. Our prime minister Jean Chretien and his cabinet have dug themselves into a hole by their constant attempts to upstage, demonize and oppose the Bush administration. It's baffling as to why, but there it is. Chretien won't be invited to dinner in the White House anytime soon - President Bush isn't going to forgive and forget.

Why then doesn't President Bush play hardball with Canada and weaken its raison d'etre? Make us an offer and we'll line up to join the great US of A.

(2) If the question were asked to Western Canadians if they want to stay within Canada or become part of the US, most would prefer the former. Why? Because the majority have been conditioned into believing Canada is the best country in the world, we're morally superior to the globally hated Americans, our universal health care would be lost, guns would flood the province, and our "we're not Americans" sense of self is important to cling to.

All of these objections are spurious when examined honestly, hence the need to bring the issue to the forefront.

"Of course, one of the key tactics the leftists employ is to dilute the native electorate with immigrants from all sorts of 3rd world places - who will always vote for the leftists who keep on handing them welfare and other benefits."

Hence why the Liberals want to INCREASE immigration to above 500,000/year (IIRC the figure Chretien cited was 650,000/year - MOST of these will come from the Third World ESPECIALLY Arab and Muslim countries).

Seriously, can the US afford to have a hostile, rapidly becoming Islamic, nation along its undefended northern border, the longest undefended border in the world?

[Snowyman]

First, the western provinces, or any province , are not going to leave Canada. Those that make that suggestion have no real understanding of the loyalties, politics or economics that bind Canada together. Praying that Quebec leaves and thus facilitate the Western provinces leaving is not a plan of the brave. Even Galganov uses half truths to make his point. Quebec is not a export grain producing province of any significance nor are any of the Eastern provinces But the huge quantities of pork, milk, tobacco, beans, poultry, eggs, that they produce are all marketed in someway ,by a marketing board, mandated by voting farmers . To suggest that the Western farmer is being driven to serftom without telling the whole story is wrong. Damning the CWB and ignoring the role played by the Crow and Crow benefits is nothing more than propaganda

And to the two thirds of my family that live in Alberta and ,if it is true, blame me because I live in Ontario, never mind the fact that they themselves grew and were educated here, they should call home. Collect. We have things to discuss. Personally I would be pleased to pay my taxes to Toronto rather than Ottawa and the thought of the Republic of Ontario is intriguing, but as a Canadian I know better and so do they.

The American press does not report, to any great degree, on what is happening in Ottawa. Wheels turn slowly, it takes time but things do change. Today there is a vote in Parliament which will take power from Chretien. Under threat of Martin looking good and being put in a postion of apparent non- support from his own members he has declared it an open vote. The Liberal back benchers voting with the Opposition against their own government! A beginning. Klein and the rest of the Premiers , denied a conference over Kyoto by Chretien , may plan a meeting anyway. The support for Kyoto dropping from 79% to less than 45 in the last non liberal poll. The suggestion being the chair normally occupied by Chretien be occupied by a duck. http://www.bourque.com/

[canuckwest]

That is the problem Snowey, easterners think that there is some sort of "glue" that binds this nation together. For us out west, there used to be but it has been replaced by eastern liberal policies such as forced bilingualism, multiculturalism, metrification, diversity, inclusiveness, employment equity etc. ad nausium, all designed to appease Quebec because they live next door . We do not give a damn about Quebec or the rest of that nonsense. The true glue, the Monarchy, has been deemed irrelevant and the Liberals want to do away with it. The fact is,culturally, we in Western Canada have more in common with our brothers in western U.S.A. than we do you easterners. Sorry but thems the facts.

[xJones]

Alberta would make a great Republican State.

Welcome, welcome, welcome! Alberta has oil fields, farming and ranches. Wonderful people. Banff is incredible, the whole province is. Some people say British Columbia is more beautiful, but they haven't spent time in Alberta, the Texas of Canada (don't choke, pardner, that's a compliment).

You know, maybe we in the U.S. could slice off the blue zone areas and join up with western Canadians. We'll dig a huge moat and keep out everybody from Toronto, Quebec, any eastern seaboard state north of the Mason-Dixon Line, and anyone with "Kennedy" or "Mohammed" in their names. Suggestions to the list are welcome. :D

[Snowyman]

The true glue, the Monarchy,

That's interesting. I've never heard that before. I suspect the influence of the Monarchy as glue is next to nothing. And Manley not wanting the Monarchy hardly means the Liberals want to do away with it. It's demise might come as a bit of a shock to the GG and his Excellency, her pink footed footman.

As for bilingualism and the rest do you really think Easterners haven't figured it out or have less resentment than anyone in the west. Those of us with connections in Ottawa see it's rotten core. I await the day they erect a Trudeau statue on the hill. The birds will have honourable and meaningful place to crap. Less than 2 months ago, in Ottawa, I was reminded to whisper at the dinner table lest someone in the restaurant over hear my criticism of the liberals. Sheesh, now you're saying the only thing that bound this country together was the Monarchy. Leave if you choose, but you will have difficulty trying to take a piece of the country with you. I believe the Clarity Act allows a province to leave, but it puts all the cards in the hands of Ottawa. Chretien and his bunch got 37% of the vote. I'll stay with the other 63% and fight.

[albertabound]

I am not saying that the Monarchy is relevant today. What I am saying is that over the course of our history, it was the prime definer of Canadian allegence and underlying culture and what differentiated us from America. 120,000 of us died fighting in support of the Crown.The Liberals tried to replace that with a bunch of Socialist horsesh*t based on European and U.N. based models to combat the cultural influence of our southern neighbours. It did not work and the balkanization of Canada goes on. By all means fight, however without a huge fundamental change in it's structure, Canada is doomed as a cohesive nation. If the Liberals try to ram Kyoto down it's throat, Alberta will appeal to Bush for entry as the 51st state and he will most likely grant it.That is the price Ontario and Quebec will pay for not supporting senate and constitutional change and leveling the political playing field.

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list