Paul Salucci is Disappointed

[patricia]

Huge kafuffle here in Canada over a speech which Paul Cellucci, the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, made, chastising Canada for not marching off to war in Iraq, behind their friends, the Bush administration.
He seems to have a very short memory.
We fought shoulder to shoulder with Americans in both World Wars, both of which Canada was engaged in the conflict, years before the Americans were.
There was a thinly veiled threat that the U.S. would not look kindly at Canada in future trade agreements.
I find that interesting, considering that much of the U.S.'s gas, oil and power are supplied to the U.S. by Canada.
Many Canadians feel as though they were being scolded for not marching, lock-step, behind the U.S. in this war, in which our official position has been that without worldwide support and an agreement by the U.N., it is an ill-advised decision.

[Pete C]

Pretty soon some people in the states are going to start calling Canada "the enemy."

[Tanager]

It's about high time that all those timber resources were returned to their rightful owners, the Canadian people. People of Canada, your day of liberty is near! We will free you from the oppressive bootheel of your dictatorial just-a-little-too-left-for-Bush's-tastes government!

[walto]

fwiw, that's "Cellucci"

[Dr Dave]

Patricia, forget about it. The Bush Administration appears to be taking its cues from The Sopranos. They want what they want when they want it, and if you don't give it to them, threats follow.

[patricia]

Originally posted by walto
fwiw, that's "Cellucci"

A pox on my mother, who taught me to spell, by sounding out the word. I only heard and saw Mr Cellucci and had never seen his name written. My apologies. I don't think I can edit the thread title. OOPS.

[patricia]

Originally posted by Dr Dave
Patricia, forget about it. The Bush Administration appears to be taking its cues from The Sopranos. They want what they want when they want it, and if you don't give it to them, threats follow.

Dr Dave,
It sure seems that way to me. "A Coalition Of The Willing" would seem, on it's face, to be a suggestion that we have a choice.
Mr Bush doesn't seem to realize that we DO have a choice, unlike his own people.
"Gently" threatening us with trade problems later, seems petulant to me. Mr Cellucci was just the messenger. The message came directly from the White House for Canada to fall into line.

On the business front, we're already experiencing economic problems because of the upheaval this has caused. What is the point of destroying people's world-wide economic confidence in business and trade? When the Iraqis finally surrender, and they will, and Mr Bush looks around at the wreckage in both our countries, will he realize there is a connection? Then what happens? How many years will it take for the recovery of an economy which was perking merrily along, coincidentally about two years ago?

Tananger,
I know you're joking, but a 40% tarrif on our softwood lumber is a little much.
There was a not quite joking mention of our slapping a 70% tax on the oil and gas that the U.S. imports from Canada. I don't blame our exporters from being pissed off already.

[HenryMc]

My country, Australia, has joined the coalition of the willing. Our Prime Minister little Johnny Howard, has been striding around like a midget with a hard on in a Barbie factory since he committed Australian troops. The country is split 50-50.

What really is sad is the wedge politics. It is a sin in Australia to criticise our fighting man (the myth of the noble digger). Lil John has made any war criticism seem a criticism of our troops and thus 'un-australian'.

Meanwhile, Blair and Bush argue over who's going to control Iraq (Read as : Control the Oil) after the war.

If it wasn't so sad.....

[patricia]

Originally posted by HenryMc
My country, Australia, has joined the coalition of the willing. Our Prime Minister little Johnny Howard, has been striding around like a midget with a hard on in a Barbie factory since he committed Australian troops. The country is split 50-50.

What really is sad is the wedge politics. It is a sin in Australia to criticise our fighting man (the myth of the noble digger). Lil John has made any war criticism seem a criticism of our troops and thus 'un-australian'.

Meanwhile, Blair and Bush argue over who's going to control Iraq (Read as : Control the Oil) after the war.

If it wasn't so sad.....

I'll complete that thought. If it wasn't so sad, it could be the basis for great satire. But, THIS IS REAL. I feel sick.