I believe this is the first time I've seen the Liberal government acknowledge so openly that there are serious operational problems with the proposed Ballistic Missile Defence system.
Prime Minister Paul Martin said yesterday he does not believe the U.S. ballistic missile shield will succeed in shooting down incoming rockets, as he threw up new roadblocks to counter President George W. Bush's strong appeal for Canada to join his continental defence plan.Canada will not put any money into building the missile shield and it will not allow Washington to station rockets on Canadian soil as the price of participation in the multibillion-dollar program, Mr. Martin told Global National in a year-end interview.
Since PM the PM is now admitting that the thing doesn't work, one is left wonder why he's still even contemplating a role in it. But given the condition he's putting on it, it sounds like a non-starter anyway.
Mr. Martin was emphatic Canada's participation in the missile defence program would depend on a key decision-making role in the U.S. command and control structure that operates the shield."The decision as to whether or not we participate in the ballistic missile defence system is going to depend on whether, in fact, Canada can have a voice in the structure," Mr. Martin said in the interview, to be broadcast Christmas Day.
"I'm not going to put money into it. I'm going to put money into our priorities ... Having missiles on our territory is not one of those priorities."
The conditions laid out by Mr. Martin are the clearest indication to date the Liberal government is increasingly disinterested in the missile defence program despite Mr. Bush's public appeal during his visit to Canada earlier this month.
I don't believe the U.S. would grant Canada "a key decision-making role" and I certainly don't see that kind of concession coming from the Bush White House now that Martin is acknowledging the elephant in the room: the silly thing doesn't work.
I'm pleasantly surprised. I didn't think he had it in him.
I'm pleasantly surprised. I didn't think he had it in him.
Neither did I. However, I'm a bit puzzled by this statement:
"The decision as to whether or not we participate in the ballistic missile defence system is going to depend on whether, in fact, Canada can have a voice in the structure,"
I would have thought any considerations regarding Canada's 'voice in the structure' would be superceded by the fact that the damn thing doesn't work and never has. It's a titanic waste of money for a program that doesn't do what it's supposed to do and seems to exists for the single purpose of enriching Republican donors in the defense industry. Think of it as an American Sponsorship program.
Which, when I think about it, may be kind of appealing to certain Liberals...
NMD is not really about shooting down incoming missiles. That's just the cover story for the U.S. public, as WMD was the rationale settle upon for making the invasion of Iraq palatable.
The main purpose of NMD, or so I think, is to shoot down enemy spy satellites. This is something Canada, rightly, opposes. Nevertheless, we can be on the outside or, perhaps, have some influence, however small, as Japan, GB and Denmark have chosen. And it's doubtful that the Bush Administration is willing to give Canada that say.
Actually, I think the Liberals are attracted to programs that don't work.
Just wait pogge. Martin can change his mind faster than Britney Spears changes husbands.
I notice that PM the PM has more backbone than the entire US Democratic party. Good for him.
But I also notice that the polling data indicates that the Canadian public is about 80% against the NMD, so it's not like this is an act of political courage.
He's playing duck and cover with Bush and I wonder why he bothers, it's not like anything he does is going to matter to W.
Woo Hoo!!
Go Canada!!
What a smart, sensible country you've got up there. Good for you.
Never give in to stupid American ideas like missile defense. Never ever ever!!!!
And I loved that comment about the Democratic party above.
At a time when my country is turning stupider and more dishonest by the day, you folks up North give me hope.