Missle program - Canada says no

[Red Squirrel]

I think it was a good decision that he did. And for making it drag, I think he was just making his decision. It's a tough situation since if we say no, will the US say no when we need something. But he worded it right by saying "An evolving project is good for those who control it. It's not Canada that will control it".

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories

Denying allegations he flip-flopped on Canada's participation in the U.S. missile defence program, Prime Minister Paul Martin said he never committed because there's never been anything substantial to commit to.

Talking to reporters at a news conference following his party's policy convention in Ottawa Sunday, Martin said that neither he, nor anyone in his government, ever signed on to the American work-in-progress.

"An evolving project is good for those who control it. It's not Canada that will control it," Martin said in French.

"And we know well that when you participate in something, the demands can come. There's no one who can explain or quantify them today...

"We didn't want to get involved in something today only to find the situation would be different in two or three years."

Martin's comments came in response to a charge by outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Canada Paul Cellucci -- that Martin had, for some time, sent clear signals he would take part in the missile defence plan.

"We were given that impression in a very direct way for a long time," Cellucci told CTV's Question Period, describing Americans as "perplexed" by Martin's announcement last week that Canada would not take part.

Watching the prime minister in Ottawa, CTV's Mike Duffy said the confusion may have stemmed from the type of mixed signals one might expect, considering the issue.

"It's all your friends saying 'yeah, yeah, trust us, don't worry about it,'" Duffy said, referring to the diplomatic dance. "But at the end of the day, the decision isn't made until the decision's made."

Nevertheless, in his comments Cellucci said the decision was still Canada's loss, "because they will not have a seat at the table."

"We have this odd situation where the Canadians will participate at NORAD, detecting when the missile is launched, determining where it's heading, and even if they determine it's heading towards Canada, it's at that point they will have to leave the room, because they're not participating.

"In the United States we'll decide what to do about the missile."

Cellucci's interview was recorded last week, before Martin and U.S. President George Bush quieted speculation of strained relations with a phone call Saturday.

More than a week after Martin's phone call to the White House ad first gone unanswered, the two chatted for 15 minutes about defence issues as well as the delay reopening the U.S. border to Canadian cattle.

And when it was over, both sides said they still saw eye-to-eye on cooperation in Norad, the almost-50-year-old air warning command system now set for expansion into maritime and land security.

The pair will get their next chance to hold face-to-face talks on March 23, when they and Mexican President Vicente Fox meet in Texas.

Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:1821, old post ID:24907

[MrSelf]

Yeah, it's good for Canada, let America develop this for a while longer and see if it's worth putting money into. Right now, it's not worth it, it may never be worth it, and Canada really has nothing to add other than money. It's the smartest thing for Canada.

Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:1821, old post ID:24917