Majority at cross-border conference urge Ottawa to back missile defence

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

(plan)

HARRIMAN, N.Y. (CP) - It's time for Canada to stop dithering and join the U.S. missile defence plan so it can move on to issues like co-ordinating maritime defence and trans-border emergencies, a major conference on Canada-U.S. relations concluded Sunday.

A majority of government officials, academics, diplomats and others from both sides of the border said the missile project has been wrongly linked to "science fiction scenarios" of weapons in space and that there would be ample opportunity for Canada to get out if the U.S. ever moves in that direction.

"A positive Canadian decision would get the issue off the table and end the debate which has unfortunately obscured more than it has enlightened," said an initial draft report from the American Assembly at Columbia University.

"Even though Canada does not share the U.S. assessments of external threats to the same degree, it has no alternative but to adjust to U.S. perceptions of what menaces North America," said the draft, which will see a number of revisions.

Story: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2005/02/06/922417-cp.html

Ahhh, the humility of the American hawks.

[Minstrel Boy]

1. Toronto Star: The NDP "Won't let Canadians be taken for granted"

"In this Parliament, New Democrats will not let Canadians be taken for granted," Layton told a meeting of the NDP's federal council, according to a text of his speech.

"We know majority Liberal governments don't deliver. And we will work to make sure a minority Parliament does."

...

While Martin insists the government hasn't yet made up its mind, Layton says the Liberals have already decided to join the controversial project.

"What we hear is that there may be a lot more going on behind the scenes to move us into position on this missile defence issue than should be happening without a vote in the House of Commons," Layton said.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1107126609120&call_pageid=970599119419

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

2. You can bet your bottom dollar that if this admin (Bushco) is involved

that there is at least "a lot more going on."

[High Plains]

3. As a part-time BC resident

I think my Canadian neighbors have the good sense to tell the US war- and fear-mongers to bugger off, eh?

[Lisa]

4. welcome to DU, High Plains!

I live in BC too. A lot of people are concerned about what might be ahead (especially since learning that the province is planning on outsourcing our medical records to a US company).