Bush sparred with Canadians on missile defence

President George W. Bush tried to bully Canadian officials on missile defence during his visit last month by linking Canada's participation to future protection from the U.S., the Washington Post reported Sunday.

The newspaper quoted an unidentified Canadian official who was in the room as saying Bush waved off their attempts to explain how contentious the issue is for Prime Minister Paul Martin's minority government.

"(Bush) leaned across the table and said: 'I'm not taking this position, but some future president is going to say, Why are we paying to defend Canada?' " the official was quoted as saying. "Most of our side was trying to explain the politics, how it was difficult to do," he said. But Bush "waved his hands and remarked: 'I don't understand this. Are you saying that if you got up and said this is necessary for the defence of Canada, it wouldn't be accepted?' "

The White House refused comment on the surprisingly pointed remarks.
"I'm not going to comment on an unnamed source in a newspaper," spokesman Ken Lisaius said Sunday. "The president has been quite clear about the strong relationship with Canada." Amy Butcher, a spokeswoman for the Prime Minister's Office, said she couldn't talk about the particulars of the missile defence discussion. "Our position is clear. We'll make a decision based on Canadian interests," said Butcher, adding that the House of Commons will participate in the debate.


http://www.canada.com/news/world/story.html?id=f518b91d-f5f6-4799-bd3c-0e6aa5d9d3cb

same article different title
Bush tried to bully Canada on missile defence
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050123.wbush0123/BNStory/National/

china is buying canadian oil and gas companies. so who is the big boy on the block?

Bush being completely petulant, with the Canadian officals trying not to laugh in his face.

Seeing as we are completely bankrupt, fighting against missile defense is probably a waste of time as it will eventually be canceled on its own to keep up the war in Iraq or whomever else we pick a fight with.

Where might the attack come from? The North Pole? The only invasion they have to worry about might be from the South.

The missile defense system will ensure no other nation can come to Canada's defense.

Lots of them from North Korea. They're both a terrorist organization with Al Qaeda links and a secret part of the axis of evil. :eyes:

"ammo" to fight against it. Keep talking, bush, the more you open your big mouth, the more you deep-six the very point you are trying to make.

in the world? Well, wasn't that intelligent.


Dear God, The Idiot tried to bully Canada. The people who have a surplus and healthcare.

Nobody's pissed at Canada like they are at us.

Everyone likes Canada. Many of us even envy Canadians their freedoms and especially their national health coverage.

The only one threatening Canada is Big George the Cowardly Scion.

Canadians feel pretty confident that they can defend themselves from those vast armadas heading for our shores.

Canada has only ever had one serious invasion threat and that is the U.S. - that is just an obvious fact of geography.

The only country they'll liable to need protection from is the US.