09 March 2005

Oh, Canada!

[source, source]

During the cold war, Canada cooperated with the US on air defense, making missile defense seem a natural successor. And Canada had recently agreed to cooperate with the US at the NORAD air defense command in Colorado, tracking not only traditional threats from aircraft but possible missile launches against North America as well.

But Canadians, who have followed the American missile defense debate closely since Ronald Reagan’s “star wars” Strategic Defense Initiative, did not hear Bush’s request in such innocuous terms. They know what is in the Pentagon’s long-term plan for missile defense systems. It isn’t simply a pragmatic and modest defense against possible North Korean or Iranian threats, of the type now being deployed in California and Alaska. Although not yet formalized, it also envisions the possibility of a land-based and sea-based system that might be large enough to challenge China’s deterrent (and even make some Russians nervous). And perhaps most controversial of all, it speaks of space weapons - be they small interceptor missiles or lasers to shoot down threats from wherever they might be launched.

Beyond the inability to take this seriously because we know it’s purely posturing for the rabidly anti-American set in Soviet Canuckistanl note what is considered a key problem: challenging the growing military might of a brutal, nuclear armed Communist regime. I bet they would take back the challenge to the deterrent of the Atlantic Wall at Juno beach if they could.

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What was your first clue?

[source, source]

Bolton’s nomination took many on Capitol Hill by surprise. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.), who will preside over the confirmation hearing, declined to voice support for Bush’s choice. Lugar wants to meet with Bolton “before discussing his support,” Lugar spokesman Andy Fisher said.

Democrats criticized the choice.

“This is just about the most inexplicable appointment the president could make,” said Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.). “If the president is serious about reaching out to the world, why would he choose someone who has expressed such disdain for working with our allies?”

Actual insight from Senator Ferry!! Typically, Though, he is apparently constitutionally unable to follow through to The conclusions that

  • Nations like France aren’t our allies
  • President Bush isn’t interested in us working with them, only them working with us.
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