[Canadaka]

This is an interesting article, and i think it does speak a lot of truth.



Mulroney blasts PM's U.S. policy
Blames Chrétien for losing status as prime U.S. ally

David Vienneau
Global National

Canada has lost its clout internationally and with the Americans because of the Chrétien government's insistence on taking cheap shots against the United States, former prime minister Brian Mulroney says.

"The reality is you can't get from here to across the street in international affairs with any influence unless you have direct access to the president of the United States if you're the prime minister of Canada," Mr. Mulroney says in a Global Television special to air tonight. "If you don't have that, nothing happens."

Facing the Century, which will be hosted by Global National's Kevin Newman, examines some of the military, political and economic issues facing Canada in the 21st century, one year after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

Mr. Mulroney, who served as prime minister from 1984 to 1993, is among a number of prominent Canadians featured in the 60-minute special. He says it's OK to disagree with the Americans, provided it is done professionally.

Mr. Mulroney said his government disagreed with former U.S. president Ronald Reagan's administration on some "foreign policy dearest to his heart," such as South Africa, Cuba, Central America and the Star Wars defence initiative, without impairing the relationship.

"And why? Because we didn't showboat about it. We didn't say we're going to go down and tell you 'you're a bunch of nitwits and we're going to show you how to do this.'

"'We're going to get a cheap thrill back home in Canada by convincing people how virile we are by kicking sand in the Americans' face and trying to humiliate them.' If you do that, you go nowhere."

Mr. Mulroney is a friend of U.S. President George W. Bush and his father, former president George Bush.

Mr. Mulroney's foreign policy successes with the United States were the Canada-U.S. free trade and the North American Free Trade Agreements, which Mr. Mulroney claims are responsible for four of every five jobs created during Mr. Chrétien's term in office.

He predicted Britain will be a big winner because of Prime Minister Tony Blair's unabashed support of the U.S. since last year's terrorist attacks.

"Look what happened in the days, in the hours after. Who was sitting in the gallery when the president addressed Congress in the wake of the attack?" Mr. Mulroney asks. "How come we're not there and some fellow overseas is 6,000 miles away?"

In that speech, Mr. Bush called Great Britain "a true friend" of the U.S. and went on to thank Mr. Blair for supporting the U.S. during its time of need. The president then thanked several other countries, but Canada was not mentioned.

Many Canadians have criticized Mr. Chrétien for his slow response to the terrorist attacks.

In a segment of the interview that is not televised, Mr. Mulroney said: "Blair pre-empted the role normally reserved for the prime minister of Canada.

"In terms of support and visibility, and so in many ways, and not malicious ways necessarily, we'll pay a price for that. Blair will be, and the United Kingdom will be, the beneficiary of that. I know that having heard it from the Americans at the highest levels.

"There's no question about it. It's not that they're going to punish Canada, but they remember who was there right at the beginning, instinctively."

[RoyalHighlander]

Canada has nev7ebr been a bully like the US and I dont think we have lost any respect, actually I think we may have gained some by the fact we didnt go blindly rushing in, and are not prepared to jump every time the US says to..

[Lachdanan]

Normally I'm pretty anti american, I even think that they are mostly to blame for the attack they suffered.
However I also think that, even though the US treats us like shit sometimes (ok most of the time), it would have been the right thing to be fully in support of the US. It's a question of morality and principle even though I'll bet half of us secretly believe the US would hardly notice a terrorist attack on canada We're supposed to be allys after all and Cretien REALLY dropped the ball last year.
Blair picked it up and look how fast Canada's status with the US fell.

[me]

Hey, I don't know it we lost anything from the US or not. And in all honesty, I don't really care. The only slightly good thing that Canada ever got from the US has been Hollywood and since production companies are taking advantage of the low Canadian dollar, Canada is getting more and more Hollywood.
Chretien was slow to respond to 9-11? Well, considering there was a scare up in the Yukon that he had to dealt with, I think he made the better choice. Considering Canada's airports were jammed with foreign travellers and security was tightened, where would you want your leader to be?
Would it have been better it he was at an elementary school far away reading a story about a pet goat? That was what Bush was doing even though he knew about all the attacks before arriving at the school? Besides, how quick would you visit a country that had just been hit by terrorists? Think about that. Even now, I don't want to and never intend to travel to the US.

[Guest]

its been a year now and nothing has happened, and your still afraid to travel down here??? its quite safe here i promise

[me]

Overall it is probably safe but I don't know. I have heard mixed reactions. That's all I mean.

[jmjinks]

While I understand the need for diplomacy and fair trade to other countries, I totally agree with the fact that Chretien was acting in the interest of his country by not jumping on the first plane out of here to show his support to the U.S. How many dollars do you think Canadians spend every year to help victims in other countries for disaster relief and peace-missions and hunger relief and any number of other humanitarian conditions? Now imagine if you took that money and put into education, into our hospitals, into our workforce, created new programs to help the poor and starving people in Canada? As I said, I understand why those dollars go where they do, but doesn't the old saying go, charity starts at home?

Just my two cents.

[me]

Well said. We need to put more into Canada. I guess, indirectly, this is one reason for this site.

[jmjinks]

Exactly, me.

This site is a great vehicle to spread the word of...um...Canada. What it means to be Canadian, and supporting Canadian causes.


BTW me, I'm waiting to see you with a shiny flashy avatar to reflect your personality (in my case, ego). What's up with that?

[Canadaka]

Well it seems like Bush after being in office for more than 2 years is finaly coming to visit Canada.. geesh, kinda late dont ya think. But even though late, this visit Will hopefully bring positive results. Maybe the US is finaly going to settle the softwood dispute. Also i think the visit will help our relations with the US.

[RoyalHighlander]

CanadaKA CanadaKA:

Well it seems like Bush after being in office for more than 2 years is finaly coming to visit Canada.. geesh, kinda late dont ya think. But even though late, this visit Will hopefully bring positive results. Maybe the US is finaly going to settle the softwood dispute. Also i think the visit will help our relations with the US.

Ya hes coming up to lookaround a bit and finalise his invasion plans

OF US!!!!!

[Johnny-Canuck]

I remember some people were critisizing Bush because on the news it said that Bush refers to Mesxico as the US border rather than Canada. Can't blame him though, being from Texas and all.

[Twila]

$1:

Mr. Mulroney is a friend of U.S. President George W. Bush and his father, former president George Bush.

I think this says it all. It's odd to think that our Prime Minister is receiving flack for waiting for the UN's decision. The fact is, this is a form of bullying. Although, typical.

This makes me glad everyday to be Canadian.

[HollywoodHitman]

Canada's position on the world stage is questionable........The current government is an embarassment to our military, to our people and in the international community..........

Canada is becoming redundant in world affairs and other countires no longer take us seriously, because as a country all we do is sit on the fence..............Our troops are ready, willing and able.........War is inevitable, we may as well get on board and take part.........If we don't, we'll lose most of our ties with the US and Britain, and like it or not, we need 'em..........We need 'em because our government and the Canadian people have castrated our military and coast guard to the point where WE'RE virtually useless to defend our own country from any credible threat.......How many Canadian citizens would take up arms to defend this country? I honestly don't think many would.............

[Canadaka]

Some of what you say is valid, but i have a different opionion on some of it.

Sure our military is not as it once be, and the much deserver more funding and better treatment. But who would Attack Canada? Very few countries have the capability to stage an attack over the oceans. And if anyone ever tried such a thing, the UN would stop it before it happened, so would the US. Plus i think were at a point in time where such territoryial wars will no longer happen. The world has changed. I hope that it changes more, so no country will need a military to feel safe. Sure we should have a collective force under the UN to keep peace around the world. but i dream of the day where national armed forces will not be needed. It will happen one day, maybe not in our live time though.

I dont think Canada is becoming redundant in world affairs, just because we don't take a hard line like the US doesn't mean were not heard and respected in the world community.

I do agree that our current government has done some questionable things for the Canada internationl relations, but they have also done many positive things.