Stop Criticizing US Over Iraq, Canadian PM Says

Post-9/11 Era Forum

Prime Minister Jean Chretien, trying to clamp down on a wave of anti-American comments by his administration, urged Canadians on Thursday not to criticize the United States for attacking Iraq because this could be construed as supporting Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

In recent days several members of the ruling Liberal Party -- including Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal -- have blasted the United States, which is by far Canada's closest ally and trading partner.

Canadian business executives are increasingly worried that the lucrative trade relationship between the two countries could be hurt if the criticisms do not stop. In particular, they say any clampdown on the border could be crippling.

Chretien, who said on Tuesday that an attack would be unjustified, did not criticize Washington on Thursday and said he hoped the war would be short with a minimum of casualties.

"At this point I think there is no use debating the reasons why some people think war is necessary and some people think it is not. We should not say anything that would comfort Saddam Hussein," he told reporters.

A government official said Chretien was "asking people to cool down the rhetoric" and added: "That is the time not to step up any personal attack."

Dhaliwal said on Wednesday that President Bush had let Americans and the world down by not acting as a statesman. He later issued a statement saying he had not intended to be disrespectful of the president.

Chretien came under fire from both Washington and right-wing opposition parties this week after saying Ottawa would not commit troops to the Iraq war because it had not been authorized by the U.N. Security Council. Opinion polls show that 75 percent of Canadians support his view.

"I want to assure everyone that we are continuing to take all necessary measures to protect Canadians and ensure our security. We are working closely with American authorities to ensure that our border and crossings remain safe and efficient," Chretien said on Thursday.

Transport Minister David Collenette said that security had been tightened at airports, ports and major railway stations.

The main opposition Canadian Alliance party, which has long insisted Ottawa should back Washington over Iraq, said the government's "embarrassing and gutless decision" not to send troops could damage Canada-U.S. relations.

"This government's position...has been guided simply by its reading of polls and a juvenile anti-Americanism," Alliance leader Stephen Harper told reporters.

Chretien's top spokeswoman resigned in November after calling Bush "a moron." Liberal Member of Parliament Carolyn Parrish blasted the U.S. administration last month saying she hated "damned Americans" and calling them "bastards."

Some 87 percent of Canadian exports go to the United States and Canada's economy is uniquely vulnerable to delays at the border, prompting some executives to rap Ottawa's Iraq stance.

Derek Burney, the head of flight simulator firm CAE Inc., said on Tuesday that the relationship was "too important for vacillation and too vital for detachment" and expressed frustration that Canada had not joined the U.S.-led coalition against Iraq.

The chairman of gold mining company Goldcorp Inc. sent Chretien a letter on Wednesday saying his stance on Iraq would "transform our once longest undefended border in the world into a formidable barrier to trade, capital, travel and friendship with our largest trading partner."

Trading relations are already strained in the wake of U.S. decisions to impose punitive duties on shipments of Canadian softwood lumber and wheat.

Source: Reuters

well....canada was the last I would expect to say that.

Dreamzwalker...

Despite our government's stance, I, and many many other Canadians support our American/British brothers and what they are doing for the world. I used to live in a communist country and compared to now, my life and my family's life was ****. Everyone in North America should be grateful for what we have here, bought at the cost of American blood over the past centuries. I still can't believe our government backstabbed our closest friend and ally like this. Nonetheless, many of us here support you guys and pray for the safe return of all of your soldiers and those of the UK.

The only reason I said that Mr. MikeXXL is - I assist Canada's citizens with computers and have for 2 years and many (not all) are nice UNTIL they find out I'm in the states. My statement was not directed towards ALL of you. I have friends from Canada - and one of them is on the front line.
I would be there but a car wreck stopped me from being able to pass entry test when he entered.

I thank you for your prayers for our men.

Canada is a true ally

i don't stereotype all canadians because a few make rude comments

most of canadians tell me they love america and the people, they just hate bush

i don't blame them LOL

i've said this before, but my friends from canada brought a tape from a canadian media program, and a bunch of americans were apologizing to the canadian people because of george bush

that says it all

we have to apologize to other countries, because of GWB

21,356 is a few?

Of course we all pray for your men and women combatants. Just as we pray for the anti-Saddam Iraqi citizens. We understand that there is no way to turn this war around and go back to the UN amid diplomatic talks. But, we also hope that your US Foreign Policy does not continue to bully other nations and bring hatred to your country.......we are a peacekeeping nation first and foremost (as made famous by our beer commercial 'I Am Canadian' , by Molson) and I don't see that changing any time soon. Basically, I think that pre-emption scares us.

If you really want to understand Canadians, check out that commercial here (its a little over the top, but hits home)http://www.videoclipstream.com/akamai/therant/rant.html

LOL - cpq, I understand canadians. I work with some, am friends with some and when I lived in PA visited canada.
My statement was directed towards the Government, not you as a people - my other statement was towards 40 percent of the people that I help every day. Your people are not much different then us - or at least that's what my friends show. One has only lived here for 2 months. I don't think they could conform that quickly.

I'm Canadian, and I am pissed that my Government is acting like it is morally superior in regards to Iraq war.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think war had to happen, at least not yet. And I don't buy the reasons for the war. HOWEVER, now that is has started, I think Canada should back the US.

Why? I look it at in a simple way. If I went to a bar, and my buddy was about to get into a fight, I would try to talk him out of it. And if no matter what I did, my buddy still got into that fight, I would back him up. I may not think he is right, but he is still my friend, and you should always back your friend. And if you don't back him, you better have a damn good reason.

I think my government is using the UN as an easy excuse, and it should be backing it's neighbour.

You have a very nice point. That's the same thing I would do in a bar with a buddy.