Posted on 01/10/2003 7:58:49 PM PST by Clive
(CP) - Canada's ambassador to the United States phoned Hillary
Rodham Clinton to ask what was bothering her about security on the Canada-U.S. border and the New York senator said she didn't mean to find fault with Canada.
A Canadian Embassy official in Washington said Friday that Ambassador Michael Kergin wanted to "have a word with the senator" after she was reported to have blamed ineffective border controls for letting five suspected terrorists enter the United States from Canada.
Her reported comments drew a sharp response from Canada, including a demand from Immigration Minister Denis Coderre for an apology for having "unfairly tarnished" Canada's reputation.
Kergin did not ask Rodham Clinton for an apology in their conversation Thursday evening but briefed her on what Canada has done about security while keeping the border open, said the Canadian official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"She responded by indicating that her remarks had been misinterpreted," the official said.
"In her mind she was clearly addressing U.S. border security agencies, and in particular her concerns were addressed to the FBI and the way they had managed the information."
Even though she insisted she was not talking about Canadian actions or institutions, Rodham Clinton acknowledged her statement touched a sensitive issue, the Canadian official reported.
"She indicated she had a very high regard for Canada ... she was aware of the work that was being done by the two governments to strengthen the border."
That being the case, Kergin asked whether the senator would say so publicly in the near future. "And she said she would do so."
It was "a very cordial conversation," the official added.
Prior to the chat with the Canadian envoy, Rodham Clinton's office in Washington had issued a statement reiterating her concerns about the security on the Canadian border.
"I take very seriously my responsibility to speak out about the U.S. government's responsibility to allocate increased resources to the protection of our northern border, and I will continue to do so," the statement said.
The senator's spokesman, Philippe Reines, said she and Kergin agreed in their conversation that improved co-ordination and communication was in the common interest of both countries.
Following days of issuing security alerts, the FBI called off its search for the five suspects this week after deciding that the source of its information was unreliable.
The Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington have dramatically heightened the sense of vulnerability and vigilance among Americans.
U.S. politicians routinely call for tighter security and have repeatedly pointed fingers northward, alleging that Canada is a haven for terrorists who can easily slip through a porous border to do harm to the United States.
Like the FBI alert on the five men, many of these claims were unsubstantiated. For example, the belief that some of the Sept. 11 hijackers entered the United States from Canada was proved untrue.
An exception was the case of Ahmed Ressam, an Algerian resident of Canada caught in December 1999 as he tried to enter Port Angeles, Wash., with explosives in the trunk of his car. He was convicted of plotting to bomb the Los Angeles International Airport during millennium celebrations, and is to be sentenced in March.
Since Sept. 11, Canada and the United States have been working on a new border strategy intended to allow trade to flow smoothly while increasing security. Canada has tightened tightened screening of immigrants and refugees.
It's never their fault. The Clintons ALWAYS blame someone else.
Dem talking point. This is the same exact think Osama Mama said about her stupid remarks. See, all you have to do when you're a democrat is claim you were misinterpreted.
ROTFLMAO!!!! Oh no kidding....
You mean when Vladimir Lenin, or Joseph Stalin died....right???
What she meant to say that "If Jean Cretien had been elected Prime Minister in 1948, we wouldn't have had all these problems." The Canadian press liaison concluded that she was a moron.
Last fall the Toronto Argonauts football team had a fundraiser for Parkinson's and honoured Mohammed Ali at halftime. After all the dignitaries had been introduced, the MC directed everyone's attention to the JumboTron for a special video message before the introduction of Ali.
It was Bill. The reaction from the over 30,000 present: rollicking laughter. CBC cut off the feed of the audio from the crowd and just showed the video, but the point had been made.
I was encouraged! A little sign of hope for my country.
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