Martin to say 'no' to U.S. missile defence plan

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Paul Martin will reject Canadian participation in the U.S. missile defence program.

Martin plans to announce in the House of Commons as early as Thursday that the country will not partake fully in the controversial program.

snip

And just two months ago, U.S. President George W. Bush pressed Martin publicly to sign on, saying on a visit to Halifax that he hoped the two countries would soon move forward to co-operate on ballistic missile defence.

But federal officials, who wished to remain anonymous, told the CBC's Radio-Canada that domestic considerations may have outweighed pressure from Washington.

more

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/02/22/mckenna-missile050222.html

The chimp gets slapped again.

"It is a firm No. I am not sure it is an indefinite No"

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1845&ncid=1845&e=1&u=/cpress/20050223/ca_pr_on_na/missile_defence_no_3

Good for them!

Looks like Chimpy is running out of pals.

our cattle to cross the border again....Bush is such a bully!

retaliation by the Bushies. He said something like "We'll know by March" whether or not Canada will be able to sell cattle to the U.S..

He said Cretien should have supported Bush on the Iraq invasion.

exports, it equates to giving in to blackmail. MDS is more important to Canadians' as it relates to our values and beliefs, imo, to give in to blackmail.

Another thing, before MDS became a big issue, we have had softwood lumber issues, potato issues, etc. NAFTA, cross-border trade will always be used as a hammer regardless of our position on MDS.

Tue Feb 22,11:40 PM ET

ALEXANDER PANETTA

OTTAWA (CP) - Prime Minister Paul Martin will deliver a firm No to Canadian participation in the U.S. missile defence plan and break a lengthy silence that fomented confusion on both sides of the border.

The announcement, first reported by a radio station and confirmed by federal officials Tuesday night, will come Thursday and end a streak of obfuscation where Martin refused to state Canada's position.


News of the announcement follows a day of confusion on Parliament Hill after Frank McKenna, Martin's choice to be the next ambassador to the U.S., sparked a political firestorm by saying participation in the controversial continental missile defence system is a done deal.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1845&ncid=1845&e=1&u=/cpress/20050223/ca_pr_on_na/missile_defence_no_3

"who wished to remain anonymous, told the CBC's Radio-Canada"...

It was the French CBC-Radio with the exclusive and the 'leak' have been quickly arranged to push out the Frank McKenna comment from eariler in the 'news cycle'. This is a very volatile issue esp. in Quebec and the BQ has more or less made it a 'govt breaker'.

Actually the McKenna thing was quite a bit more serious and raises some interesting questions...the most important being, why this issue is being injected into Canadian politics so forcefully by the US?

1) Mckenna's previous employment with Carlyle
2) Bush Admin admonishing Opposition politicians like Harper to get behind the issue
3) The unsubstatiated accounts that Bush dressed down Martin on the issue privately in no uncertain terms
4) Bush breaking protocol by mentioning the issue in Halifax

Smells like meddling and if Martin wants to be taken serious, he should act decisively and get rid of McKenna immediately.

re No to missile defense, there is no doubt.

Re McKenna, totally agree, he is tainted by his serving on a Carlyle Group board and should NOT be our ambassador to the US. His breach, yesterday on MDS, was a prime example of why he is a very bad choice. If I remember correctly, he had 'foot in mouth' problems when he was Premier as well.

they will have clearly told the American fascists to go fuck themselves.

Evidently he's been trying it on.

You vill be punished. Freedom bacon. Booing of Canadian National Anthem at hockey games-if there ever is an NHL again.

Canada won't join missile defence program
Last Updated Thu, 24 Feb 2005 13:13:49 EST
CBC News

OTTAWA - Canada has said no to the U.S. missile defence program, Prime Minister Paul Martin announced Thursday.

The prime minister said the decision was made following extensive discussions with Foreign Affairs and National Defence.

"Let me be clear: we respect the right of the United States to defend itself and its people," said Martin.

Canada will continue to work with the U.S. for the common defence of North America, but our efforts won't be concentrated on missile defence, the prime minister said.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/02/24/missile-canada050224.html

Saying no WEAKENS our sovereignty. ROFLMAO, what is it with these neocon repubs, they cannot resist saying the opposite of what the reality is.

This is strengthening our sovereignty on weakening it. I CANNOT wait till that shill is gone, too bad it isn't until March.

then FINE have it that way but you listen there mister when you never need this system that doesn't work don't come crying to us you hear?