Can PM, Bush outperform protesters?

http://www.thestar.com/

Nov. 30, 2004. 01:00 AM


Can PM, Bush outperform protesters?


JAMES TRAVERS

Ottawa—If it has a sense of humour, history will remember today's meeting between George W. Bush and Paul Martin as the truth, lies and videotape summit.

The truth is not much is expected to happen; the lie is that Canada's role in North American missile defence no longer matters to the U.S. and, in the end, the video beamed across America and around the globe will largely determine this session's success or failure.

First, there is the truth. Senior officials on both sides insist Bush and Martin won't make contrived announcements and will instead test the worn cliché that no news is good news.

A U.S. president facing international problems the size of Texas and a Canadian prime minister clinging to minority rule will spend their brief time together talking about issues too complex for simple, headline- grabbing solutions. During Bush's less than 30 hours in Canada, leaders and their inner circles will noodle about international security, preserving and promoting continental prosperity and, yes, even clean air and water.
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"During Bush's less than 30 hours in Canada, leaders and their inner circles will noodle "

I never realized "noodle" was a verb!