Lloyd Axworthy: Time to redefine ties to US.

[JohnyCanuck]

Time to redefine ties to US.
by Lloyd Axworthy (Fomer Canadian foreign affairs minister)

<snip>

The reality is that we are dealing with an American political system currently steeped in the ideology of "empire." It recognizes few rules, adheres only to those treaties that are expedient to basic interests, and believes that the only political currency that counts is the exercise of raw power.

In its mildest form, it practises a la carte bilateralism, co-operating only when it wants to, and when it suits short-term domestic or international objectives. In its bad days, it simply follows a strategy of "take no prisoners," "damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead," "don't tread on me," "America First," or any other of the clichés used by ultra-patriots. These are the extant policy directives from the White House.

While most Canadians responded with dismay to the U.S. invasion of Iraq, few could quite grasp that the same cavalier, imperial attitudes exemplified in Washington's rejection of various agreements on disarmament, its fierce opposition to the International Criminal Court, its indifference to climate-change warnings, and its undermining of the U.N. would prevail in our continental relationship as well.

There is a chronic and dangerous failure to fully appreciate the shift going on in the political demographics of the U.S. and how this change affects attitudes not only toward Canada but also to the broad U.S. approach to its international role.

http://www.vivelecanada.ca/article.php/20050822142313258

[katsy]

1. WAIT MR AXWORTHY!

Can you redefine Canada's ties AFTER you annex the Northeastern States?

Our National Guard won't threaren you because they are presently engaged elsewhere.

[David__77]

2. Canada should align with China-Russia-India to develop multipolar world.

A unipolar world is dangerous to peace and development. Only with a "peace alliance's" emergence can the threat be kept in check. Canada has much to gain by becoming more independent and neutral with regard to the US, regardless of which party is in office in the US.