CREDIT: The Canadian Press Stephen Harper: What really happened is 'almost as stunning as Senator Kenny's fantasy.'
Posted on 03/03/2005 11:50:37 AM PST by NorthOf45
PM's confusion on deal with U.S. is breathtaking
The Ottawa Citizen
March 3, 2005
CREDIT: The Canadian Press Stephen Harper: What really happened is 'almost as stunning as Senator Kenny's fantasy.'
Re: Harper sells out for votes in Quebec, March 1.
(Liberal) Senator Colin Kenny has discovered an amazing conspiracy -- that I, not Paul Martin, am actually prime minister and that it was my decision not to take Canada into missile defence, to ingratiate myself with Quebec.
What has actually happened on missile defence in the past few days is almost as stunning as the Senator's fantasy. Prime Minister Paul Martin broke his word to Parliament that there would be a debate on missile defence. He also broke his private commitments to the Americans.
Last week, we heard three different answers from the Liberals: an ambassador saying we're in missile defence; a prime-ministerial spokesman saying we have an "understanding," and a prime minister saying "we're out."
Then, on Friday, Paul Martin said that any missiles travelling through our airspace will require Canada's approval. S0, does that mean we're back in? Paul Martin's confusion on this file is breathtaking!
Since Senator Kenny is so interested in the Conservative party's position, here are the facts. It was the Conservative party that urged the government to enter into negotiations with the United States on BMD in the first place. We supported the decision to be involved in missile defence through last summer's amendment to the Norad treaty. And we urged the government to put any further proposals for involvement to Parliament for a vote.
Not only has Paul Martin refused to do this, but he has also denied that the Americans have made any specific proposals to Canada. A Conservative government would take any such proposals seriously and would subject them to a public debate and a vote in Parliament.
Stephen Harper,
Ottawa,
Leader of The Official Opposition and MP for Calgary Southwest
Mr Dithers is getting an earfull. He deserves it.
Ping
The link leads to a registered sigh and is therefore provided for verification only.
If Harper can't smack Martin and his minority government down to the ground and kick them with this, he should step aside for someone with fire in their belly.
Oops ... "sigh" should be "site" ... don't ask.
That should read in 'his' belly.
My grammar has been deteriorating lately. Must remember to read own post!
Did someone say 'grammar'?
How exactly would this work. Assume an alarm is sounded that there is an incoming missile headed for New York City and it will come through Canadian air space. Who in their right mind thinks anyone is going to ring up the Canadian government to see if we can shoot it down?
OK, that's easy! And, brave Canuckistanis, we really appreciate your participation or, rather, lack of participation. By you opting out, we've much less territory to cover and a lot of convenient blank space over which to intercept and destroy inbound missiles. All the residue, of course, falls pretty much in accordance with the laws of gravity.
Not having to worry about you guys really, really saves us a lot of planning and organizing. And yes, we'll try to intercept as far north of our territory so the fall out (in all regards) will be as far away from your population areas as possible. Waiting for your approval, naturally, comes out of your, the non-participant, time allowance. And, while it may be hard to reconcile saving Cleveland and Detroit from destruction against the certain destruction of Toronto or Ottawa, Cleveland and Detroit are participating while Ottawa and Toronto are not.
RE: grammarianism, vegetarianism, and their cognates...
How does one live on grammar alone?
<< RE: grammarianism, vegetarianism, and their cognates...
How does one live on grammar alone? >>
Ask Grammpar. He can!
Ha, ha, politics... Defense continues.
Ask Grammpar. He can!
I'm not as old as you think I am, you know.
As for how one lives on grammar alone, the best answer is that man lives on every word of God (to paraphrase Jesus), and that there is a divine grammar in how God speaks.
-
Who should replace Harper? Belinda Stronach, Bernard Lord.
If Harper steps down then the red Tories will get what they want pro-SSM leaders. Harper is the best we got for now. I couldn't and wouldn't stand being a member of a party who's leader is a liberal in a conservative clothing. Sorry, right now, any body but Harper is unacceptable for me.
How Canadian of us! LOL!
I just wish there was a charismatic(or at least aggressive) Conservative leader.
Crosbie was my man in '84. ;^)
Crosbie is aggressive, however he is a red Tory as well.
In 1984, Crosbie was a fiscal hawk.
He would not have, like Mulroney, turned the Tories into a replica of the Liberals.
Therefore, there would have been no need for a Reform Party to purge the Tories, and no Liberal hegemony.
JMHO.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.