- Reaction score
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- Points
- 410
This was in the Toronto Sun this morning...
A new, honest face at the table
Mr. Bush, meet Mr. Harper
By BOB MACDONALD, TORONTO SUN
It's fascinating to watch all the pro-Liberal and anti-Conservative commentators scratch around for new ways to attack prime minister-elect Stephen Harper. Such as the CBC and the Toronto Star.
No matter what stance this brilliant young leader takes, his critics try to punch holes in it.
For instance, this past week Harper -- who doesn't take office until Feb. 6 -- told U.S. ambassador David Wilkins to keep his hands off Canada's Arctic sovereignty. Canadians -- duly elected by our people -- will run the Arctic. Yes, we will do it while co-operating with other sovereign nations such as the U.S., but we will not take orders from any other countries.
After decades of Liberal regimes squabbling with the Yanks over Arctic sovereignty, defence and natural resources development, Harper has made it simple: He and his elected government will decide on Canadian policy and negotiate any deals that are necessary. There will be no bullying from either side -- just honest bargaining and mutual respect.
Canada's defence forces will be designed and built to do that job. And, where possible, those forces will work closely with our American neighbours.
Now that sounds straightforward and workable -- as long as good North American common sense is allowed to come into play.
But if we allow all those back-room dealings of European-type politics to take over, we can look to a sneakier, mistrusting future -- the kind of deals that French President Jacques Chirac liked to make with Liberal PM Jean Chretien and former German chancellor Gerhardt Schroeder.
Or the kind of money-grubbing deals that Chirac, Schroeder and even Russian President Vladimir Putin made with genocidal dictator Saddam Hussein. You remember the deals over exchanging Iraqi oil for food?
No, what President W. George Bush is going to find out is that he can do honest business with Harper. For instance, it wouldn't take long for those two straight-talking leaders to complete the necessary negotiations to settle the long-standing softwood lumber and mad cow disease disputes.
The same will go for any other trade and military differences.
The only time nasty disputes became nastier was when Chretien or Paul Martin started publicly sniping at Bush and his people part way through negotiations. Bush is not much for public sniping, but that doesn't mean he's soft. Martin and his ministers have had to learn that the hard way.
However, if you prove a loyal ally of the Americans, you will soon learn that there are dividends. Such as those Australian PM John Howard earned for his backing of the U.S.-British-led coalition that put the boots to Saddam and his sadistic forces.
Chretien, Martin and Canada sat that one out, but Canada has been given full backing by the Americans as allies in Afghanistan. And no matter how you slice it, democracy and freedom are slowly and surely taking over in Afghanistan and Iraq.
So when Harper actually takes over in Canada I expect some very welcome changes. Especially in rebuilding our armed forces and border security, plus recognizing Americans as trusted friends with whom we can negotiate honest deals.
Now that will be a breath of fresh air between democracy's two closest trading partners, allies and, yes, friends.
A new, honest face at the table
Mr. Bush, meet Mr. Harper
By BOB MACDONALD, TORONTO SUN
It's fascinating to watch all the pro-Liberal and anti-Conservative commentators scratch around for new ways to attack prime minister-elect Stephen Harper. Such as the CBC and the Toronto Star.
No matter what stance this brilliant young leader takes, his critics try to punch holes in it.
For instance, this past week Harper -- who doesn't take office until Feb. 6 -- told U.S. ambassador David Wilkins to keep his hands off Canada's Arctic sovereignty. Canadians -- duly elected by our people -- will run the Arctic. Yes, we will do it while co-operating with other sovereign nations such as the U.S., but we will not take orders from any other countries.
After decades of Liberal regimes squabbling with the Yanks over Arctic sovereignty, defence and natural resources development, Harper has made it simple: He and his elected government will decide on Canadian policy and negotiate any deals that are necessary. There will be no bullying from either side -- just honest bargaining and mutual respect.
Canada's defence forces will be designed and built to do that job. And, where possible, those forces will work closely with our American neighbours.
Now that sounds straightforward and workable -- as long as good North American common sense is allowed to come into play.
But if we allow all those back-room dealings of European-type politics to take over, we can look to a sneakier, mistrusting future -- the kind of deals that French President Jacques Chirac liked to make with Liberal PM Jean Chretien and former German chancellor Gerhardt Schroeder.
Or the kind of money-grubbing deals that Chirac, Schroeder and even Russian President Vladimir Putin made with genocidal dictator Saddam Hussein. You remember the deals over exchanging Iraqi oil for food?
No, what President W. George Bush is going to find out is that he can do honest business with Harper. For instance, it wouldn't take long for those two straight-talking leaders to complete the necessary negotiations to settle the long-standing softwood lumber and mad cow disease disputes.
The same will go for any other trade and military differences.
The only time nasty disputes became nastier was when Chretien or Paul Martin started publicly sniping at Bush and his people part way through negotiations. Bush is not much for public sniping, but that doesn't mean he's soft. Martin and his ministers have had to learn that the hard way.
However, if you prove a loyal ally of the Americans, you will soon learn that there are dividends. Such as those Australian PM John Howard earned for his backing of the U.S.-British-led coalition that put the boots to Saddam and his sadistic forces.
Chretien, Martin and Canada sat that one out, but Canada has been given full backing by the Americans as allies in Afghanistan. And no matter how you slice it, democracy and freedom are slowly and surely taking over in Afghanistan and Iraq.
So when Harper actually takes over in Canada I expect some very welcome changes. Especially in rebuilding our armed forces and border security, plus recognizing Americans as trusted friends with whom we can negotiate honest deals.
Now that will be a breath of fresh air between democracy's two closest trading partners, allies and, yes, friends.