[RoyalHighlander]

I've been reading through all the posts here, (which i really do as part of my responsabilties as Mod here), and have been thinking over the last few days about my countrys stance over the issues of Iraq. I had a thought today, concerning a parallel here in history. Rev Blair, im sure you will see where from im coming with this train of thought. During the Great War, Canada's defining moment was Vimy Ridge. That fact is pretty much a given. I see similarities here between Vimy Ridge, and Canada's refusal to join America in the conflict in Iraq. Vimy was a turning point in our history many say it was the birth of Canada in a sense. Well I view our refusal to be pushed into this conflict by the American govt as another turning point in Canada's history. We stood up to US opinion and stood fast our ground.
I think that maybe the world will be more apt to see us as an seperate nation now and not so much as a puppet of the U.S which it seems many think of us as the 51st state of America. I take back my earlier sentiments that I was ashamed to be Canadian, and realise I was wrong. I am proud to be Canadian, allways will be, and now that I have taken a good hard look at whats happening, am even more so now..

[klassenl]

[The sound of applause fills the stadium]

LK

[Johnny-Canuck]

Your right! By us not going to war it will show people that we can make our own decisions and that were not the damn 51st state!

[RoyalHighlander]

Mr Prime Minister,
I had a thought today, concerning a parallel here in history. During the Great War, Canada's defining moment was Vimy Ridge. That fact is pretty much a given. I see similarities here between Vimy Ridge, and Canada's refusal to join America in the conflict in Iraq. Vimy was a turning point in our history, many say it was the birth of Canada in a sense. Well I view our refusal to be pushed into this conflict by the American government as another turning point in Canada's history. We stood up to US opinion and stood fast our ground.
I think that maybe the world will be more apt to see us as an separate nation now and not so much as a puppet of the U.S which it seems, many think of us as the 51st state of America. I am proud to be Canadian, always will be, and now that I have taken a good hard look at what's happening, am even more so now. I applaud you Sir, in your decision not to involve us in their war. This action , I'm sure will be part of your great legacy you leave to the is great country that we both love.

Respectfully

[HollywoodHitman]

I still say that Chretien should be gone sooner than later. He's a national embarassment. I'm proud to serve my country and my community, but like a drug addicted alcoholio relative, Chretien is better left locked in the loony bin and out of public view.......

Again, I don't agree with the premise of the war, but now that its on, I still feel that even if we don't send troops, we should still publicly support the US.

[TheDarkCanuck]

I don't think we SHOULD respect their decicion or we SHOULD support their stance just because they are our niebours. Let's support what's right. And this invasion is not right.

[Rev_Blair]

How can you support the war if you don't support the war's premise, Hollywood? I've heard many with your opinion, but couldn't comprehend the contortions needed to justify it. Maybe you can clear things up for me.

[Lachdanan]

Your joking right?


Jean Chretien did nothing but cower behind the UN during this whole deal.
Canada did nothing to voice it's opinion on Iraq or take any action of it's own, except to say "let the UN decide". Pathetic. And just when JC was about to be faced with a real decision about Iraq he announces the huge peacekeeping mission to afghanistan. A mission that was put forth without any military consultation or briefing. A mission that the current CF can't even execute on it's own. But it now serves a great excuse not join the iraq invasion. WE CAN'T! On top of all that we have caucus members as well as liberal backbenchers spewing insults after insults towards the US and threatening to dispel the US ambassador while refusing to kickout Iraq diplomats.
Your right, perhaps this will be another turning point for Canada, I fear it will be our doom.

[Rev_Blair]

Saying that the UN has to decide is taking a stand, Lach. It's saying that international matters have to be solved by international bodies following international laws.

I don't think the Chretien government has taken a strong enough stand against this invasion...they should have been out there saying, "We are not going because the UN isn't going and the UN isn't going because..." It all should have been very public and we should have been very critical of the Bush administration's record of unilateralism since they came to office.

I think that Chretien was told to shut up, probably threatened by Bush, and listened. I think he was wrong to do that.

[RoyalHighlander]

Dear Mr XXX XXXXXX:

On behalf of the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien, I would like to
acknowledge receipt of your e-mail regarding the conflict in Iraq.

The time you have taken to write is appreciated, and you may be assured
that your comments have been noted. As you may be aware, the Canadian
government made it clear over a period of several months that Canada
would require the approval of the UN Security Council if we were to
participate in a military campaign. When military action proceeded
without a new resolution of the Security Council, Canada announced that
it would not participate.

We have ships in the Gulf region as part of our participation in the
fight against international terrorism. Our troops will continue to
perform indispensable tasks as part of Operation Apollo.

Canadian policy towards Iraq continues to be motivated by our concerns
about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and the humanitarian situation
of the Iraqi people. Canada has already begun to contribute to
humanitarian assistance for the people of Iraq and is working closely
with international partners to determine how best to support a
multilateral effort of post-conflict reconstruction.

Again, thank you for writing the Prime Minister.


L.A. Lavell
Executive Correspondence Officer
Agent de correspondance
de la haute direction

[mike_van_raay]

i totally agree with you RoyalHighlander

[polemarch1]

TO HELL WITH THE UN! The UN has allowed for the continued occupation of Tibet by China, the Genocide against the Christians and Animist in the southern Sudan, the slaughter that occured in the former Yugoslavia, the Rwandan Genocide and the continuing chaos in the Congo. The UN is a club for tyrants who wish to blame Jews and Americans for all there problems. I am ashamed Canada is part of this orginization.

[Guest]

Rev_Blair Rev_Blair:

Saying that the UN has to decide is taking a stand, Lach. It's saying that international matters have to be solved by international bodies following international laws.

I don't think the Chretien government has taken a strong enough stand against this invasion...they should have been out there saying, "We are not going because the UN isn't going and the UN isn't going because..." It all should have been very public and we should have been very critical of the Bush administration's record of unilateralism since they came to office.

I think that Chretien was told to shut up, probably threatened by Bush, and listened. I think he was wrong to do that.

But thats not what Chretien did, all JC did was avoid the hard decisions and hope the UN would solve it for us. How is deligating the UN to make our decisions any different than having the US make them for us? It's the same wussyness that has permeated our federal politions. Fact of the matter is, Iraq NEEDS to be delt with, and perhaps a more active foreign minister and PMO in the UN and Washington could have achieved a resolution that is both in the interest of Canada and the freedom of Iraq instead of sitting on the sidelines with our thumb up our ass talking trash about US policy when we are too chickenshit to come up with a policy of our own.