A report out of today's Toronto Star from Canadian Press says that George Bush wasnt only pressuring Prime Minister Martin to accept missile defence.. but Conservative opposition leader Stephen Harper as well.... In fact.. the report says that Bush "scolded" Harper:
George W. Bush scolded Conservative Leader Stephen Harper for his silence on missile defence and asked him to help secure Canadian involvement in the U.S. plan...The U.S. president used his trip to Canada late last year to bluntly voice irritation with Harper's enigmatic position on missile defence, sources on both sides of the border say.
'I would hope you're looking at this in Canada's national interest and not in terms of partisan politics,' Bush reportedly told Harper.
The report goes on to say that the President made the decision to "scold" Harper a couple of weeks in advance of the meeting.. because of US officials increasing concern with opposition in Canada growing to joining US missile defence.
The trip of course.. didnt help that cause.. it increased the opposition to it.. in the last poll taken 2 weeks ago, only 1/3 of Canadians support joining the missile defence initiative, while 54% oppose it.
Bush Chided Harper on Missile Defence
The Liberal Policy Convention is due in March.. it is expected the youth, Quebec and possibly women's wings of the party are going to table motions rejecting joining the missile defence program.. The thing may get killed before it even gets to Parliament if the Liberals bow to public and internal party opposition.
That of course has some of the conservative editorialists whining up here about how Martin "dithered" and allowed public opposition to grow.. and now it will be another black mark on Canadian/US relations...
You know what? I say so be it.. Its a foolhardy and waste of money plan... we stood up for our principles in not going to Iraq.. we should do the same here.. Bush is only going to be here for 3 years, 9 months.