IWantToTellYou
Mar 17, 2003, 04:48 PM
I am so glad that Jean Chrétien stepped up to the plate today in the House Of Commons! It was one of the smartest things he has done!
graemlins/peace.gif
Here is the link (story follows)
CBC.ca (http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/03/17/chretieniraq030317)
PM says lack of UN resolution means Canada won't fight in Iraq
Last Updated Mon, 17 Mar 2003 19:18:05
OTTAWA - Ottawa has rejected any Canadian participation in a U.S.-led assault on Iraq.
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien made the announcement on Monday, as the House of Commons resumed sitting after a two-week break.
Chrétien says without the backing of the United Nations, Canada can't go along with any war initiative.
Critics have accused Chrétien of wavering and waffling on his position. There is now no doubt where Canada stands.
"If military action proceeds without a new resolution of the Security Council, Canada will not participate," the prime minister said.
Key Documents: Full text of Jean Chrétien's statement
Applause from Liberal backbenchers was sustained and loud. Members of the NDP and the Bloc Québécois joined in, but not the Conservatives or the Canadian Alliance.
The government position remains weak says Alliance leader Stephen Harper.
"I can tell you that in this political party we will be cheering for success of the allies. If the Liberals are staying neutral, or cheering for Saddam Hussein, they should have the guts to say so. My guess is they don't."
The leader of the NDP, Jack Layton, says the Liberals should now join France and Germany in speaking out against the war.
Yet there still are questions about whether Ottawa is supporting the war through the back door.
There are 31 officers now with the U.S. troops as part of an exchange program, and a handful of Canadian frigates deployed in the region.
Minister of Defence John McCallum says the exchange officers are only involved in logistical and support functions, and he says the ships are still needed to fight the wider war against terrorism.
"The terrorist risk will, if anything, be greater than before as a consequence of war. So for us to cut and run when the terrorism risk is greater would not be compatible with Canadian traditions," he said.
Chrétien says he had informed U.S. President George W. Bush one year ago that Canada wouldn't go to war without a UN resolution, and that he had always been consistent.
With the final collapse of diplomatic moves at the UN he says he's just making it official.
But while the prime minister was distancing Canada from any involvement in a war, both Australia and Poland announced they would commit troops to help in the fight.
Written by CBC News Online staff
graemlins/peace.gif
graemlins/peace.gif
Here is the link (story follows)
CBC.ca (http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/03/17/chretieniraq030317)
PM says lack of UN resolution means Canada won't fight in Iraq
Last Updated Mon, 17 Mar 2003 19:18:05
OTTAWA - Ottawa has rejected any Canadian participation in a U.S.-led assault on Iraq.
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien made the announcement on Monday, as the House of Commons resumed sitting after a two-week break.
Chrétien says without the backing of the United Nations, Canada can't go along with any war initiative.
Critics have accused Chrétien of wavering and waffling on his position. There is now no doubt where Canada stands.
"If military action proceeds without a new resolution of the Security Council, Canada will not participate," the prime minister said.
Key Documents: Full text of Jean Chrétien's statement
Applause from Liberal backbenchers was sustained and loud. Members of the NDP and the Bloc Québécois joined in, but not the Conservatives or the Canadian Alliance.
The government position remains weak says Alliance leader Stephen Harper.
"I can tell you that in this political party we will be cheering for success of the allies. If the Liberals are staying neutral, or cheering for Saddam Hussein, they should have the guts to say so. My guess is they don't."
The leader of the NDP, Jack Layton, says the Liberals should now join France and Germany in speaking out against the war.
Yet there still are questions about whether Ottawa is supporting the war through the back door.
There are 31 officers now with the U.S. troops as part of an exchange program, and a handful of Canadian frigates deployed in the region.
Minister of Defence John McCallum says the exchange officers are only involved in logistical and support functions, and he says the ships are still needed to fight the wider war against terrorism.
"The terrorist risk will, if anything, be greater than before as a consequence of war. So for us to cut and run when the terrorism risk is greater would not be compatible with Canadian traditions," he said.
Chrétien says he had informed U.S. President George W. Bush one year ago that Canada wouldn't go to war without a UN resolution, and that he had always been consistent.
With the final collapse of diplomatic moves at the UN he says he's just making it official.
But while the prime minister was distancing Canada from any involvement in a war, both Australia and Poland announced they would commit troops to help in the fight.
Written by CBC News Online staff
graemlins/peace.gif