Martin on missile defence: No means no

[J-10]

Martin on missile defence: No means no
Thu, March 24, 2005
KATHLEEN HARRIS, SUN OTTAWA BUREAU

WACO, Texas -- Canada's door is permanently shut to a joint missile-defence shield with the U.S. "On BMD, the file is closed," Prime Minister Paul Martin announced bluntly when asked if Canada might revisit the controversial decision in future.

"But our co-operation, in terms of defence, in terms of our borders, in terms of the defence of our common frontiers, is not only very clear, but it is being accentuated," he added.

Martin waded into yesterday's trilateral talks amid lingering tension over Canada's sudden decision to opt out of missile defence. But U.S. President George Bush, who was reportedly miffed over Martin's decision, took a conciliatory approach and suggested it's water under the bridge.

"Look, we've got differences. I don't know if you'd characterize them as differences that would prevent us from finding common ground," he said.

"I don't view it that way. I can understand why people disagree with certain decisions I have made, but that doesn't prevent us from co-operating on intelligence-sharing, for example."

Bush skirted the question of whether Canada would still be welcome at the table if there was a decision to revisit the issue at a later date. Conservative Leader Stephen Harper has said he would reopen talks on missile defence if he becomes prime minister.

Martin stressed that while Canada isn't joining missile defence, the country is committed to continental defence.
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/EdmontonSun/News/2005/03/24/970972-sun.html

[shrek]

Until they need it; then who do you think they'd call?

[vampireuk]

Ghostbusters!

[Midav]

http://www.ecto-web.biz.be/gui/gb1logo.gif

;)

[EvanL]

Until they need it; then who do you think they'd call?but the thing is. right now we dont need it. DUring the cold war, when there was an imminent threat, we were right there with you guys. But frankly right now, we dont deem it as an imminent threat.
By all means i would rather we did participate. But it doesnt bother me that much that we arent. It just bothers me the way in which our government piddle paddled with the issue.

[bloddyaxe]

Imagine someone who is pretending to nuke Canada, but then the missiles change course unto the US, when it is too late to launch these interceptors. So it probably wont matter if they partake or not, the US will try to shoot down anything remotely approaching them.

[n.ignomo]

Since nothing will, useless !

[Johnny_H02]

Imagine someone who is pretending to nuke Canada, but then the missiles change course unto the US, when it is too late to launch these interceptors. So it probably wont matter if they partake or not, the US will try to shoot down anything remotely approaching them.

Touche, Ill be ****ING pissed if they blow a nuke up over a canadian City and kill those people to save somwhere else, not that i think that would happen but it was a instant impulsive thought while reading your comment.

[Scagel]

Imagine someone who is pretending to nuke Canada, but then the missiles change course unto the US, when it is too late to launch these interceptors. So it probably wont matter if they partake or not, the US will try to shoot down anything remotely approaching them.

Touche, Ill be f*** pissed if they blow a nuke up over a canadian City and kill those people to save somwhere else, not that i think that would happen but it was a instant impulsive thought while reading your comment.

I thought the defense system blew the nukes up in space, where the fallout wont hurt anyone on earth

[EvanL]

Imagine someone who is pretending to nuke Canada, but then the missiles change course unto the US, when it is too late to launch these interceptors. So it probably wont matter if they partake or not, the US will try to shoot down anything remotely approaching them.

Touche, Ill be f*** pissed if they blow a nuke up over a canadian City and kill those people to save somwhere else, not that i think that would happen but it was a instant impulsive thought while reading your comment.

I thought the defense system blew the nukes up in space, where the fallout wont hurt anyone on earth
if it blows up in space, debris still falls to earth.

[memphiz]

Until they need it; then who do you think they'd call?but the thing is. right now we dont need it. DUring the cold war, when there was an imminent threat, we were right there with you guys. But frankly right now, we dont deem it as an imminent threat.
By all means i would rather we did participate. But it doesnt bother me that much that we arent. It just bothers me the way in which our government piddle paddled with the issue.
It woudl make more sense to participate in this if Canadas population was evenly spead across the country, but since most of our population is close to the US border I dont see much of a point.

[Abolith]

Until they need it; then who do you think they'd call?but the thing is. right now we dont need it. DUring the cold war, when there was an imminent threat, we were right there with you guys. But frankly right now, we dont deem it as an imminent threat.
By all means i would rather we did participate. But it doesnt bother me that much that we arent. It just bothers me the way in which our government piddle paddled with the issue.
It woudl make more sense to participate in this if Canadas population was evenly spead across the country, but since most of our population is close to the US border I dont see much of a point.

so your saying that you should just let us foot the bill while you get to reap the bennifets without having to pay?

[EvanL]

Until they need it; then who do you think they'd call?but the thing is. right now we dont need it. DUring the cold war, when there was an imminent threat, we were right there with you guys. But frankly right now, we dont deem it as an imminent threat.
By all means i would rather we did participate. But it doesnt bother me that much that we arent. It just bothers me the way in which our government piddle paddled with the issue.
It woudl make more sense to participate in this if Canadas population was evenly spead across the country, but since most of our population is close to the US border I dont see much of a point.

so your saying that you should just let us foot the bill while you get to reap the bennifets without having to pay?where did he mention that?
All along it was you guys saying that thats how it would be anyways. We wouldnt have to pay anything and we could reap the benefits. But we still turned it down.

[memphiz]

Until they need it; then who do you think they'd call?but the thing is. right now we dont need it. DUring the cold war, when there was an imminent threat, we were right there with you guys. But frankly right now, we dont deem it as an imminent threat.
By all means i would rather we did participate. But it doesnt bother me that much that we arent. It just bothers me the way in which our government piddle paddled with the issue.
It woudl make more sense to participate in this if Canadas population was evenly spead across the country, but since most of our population is close to the US border I dont see much of a point.

so your saying that you should just let us foot the bill while you get to reap the bennifets without having to pay?where did he mention that?
All along it was you guys saying that thats how it would be anyways. We wouldnt have to pay anything and we could reap the benefits. But we still turned it down.
I think you answered that nicely

[von_Moo142]

I don't even understand how this system would benefit the US, let alone Canada. I hope that our government comes to it's senses and refuses to participate (unlikely, IMO).