Canada shuns missile defense
Though decision rankles Washington, Ottawa marches to a different drum as it increases defense budget.
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin
announced Thursday that his government will not participate in a US missile defense system.
The decision by Mr. Martin, who had earlier signaled he favored signing on to the system, was an acknowledgement of the "
deep unpopularity among Canadians of President Bush and his administration's project to try to shoot down missiles headed toward the United States," reports
The Washington Post.
'We will continue to work in partnership with our southern neighbors on the common defense of North America,' Martin said. 'However, ballistic missile defense is not where we will concentrate our efforts.'
His decision has more political than practical effect, because Canada agreed last August to allow its operators at the North American Aerospace Command [
NORAD] center in Colorado to share information on incoming missiles, a key concession sought by the United States.
Paul Cellucci, the outgoing US Ambassador to Canada, said he was "
perplexed" by the decision, reports the
Associated Press.
Acknowleging that Martin heads up a minority government that "could fall over such a contentious debate," nevertheless Mr. Cellucci said the decision effectively "allows Washington to decide what to do if a missile was headed toward Canada," says
AP.
'We simply cannot understand why Canada would in effect give up its sovereignty - its seat at the table - to decide what to do about a missile that might be coming towards Canada,' said the outgoing ambassador, who had vigorously urged Canada to sign onto the plan.
Had Canada joined missile defense, reports
The Globe and Mail, it would have had a say in the "
evolution of the technologically challenging project, and would have had a role in the day-to-day anti-missile operations."
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew said that Ottawa is not convinced that there is a real threat of a missile strike against Canada "in the near future," reports the
Globe and Mail.
'We respect the United States for having identified [missile defense] as one of their priorities but we have other priorities,' Mr. Pettigrew said. 'We have another way of looking at it and I think it reflects our interests and our Canadian values.' Both Martin and Mr. Pettigrew said that Canada remains committed to the defense of North America, as shown by this week's $12.8-billion increase in funding for the Canadian Forces, reports the
Globe and Mail.
'Canada recognizes the enormous burden that the United States shoulders when it comes to international peace and security,' Martin said. 'The substantial increases made yesterday to our defense budget are a tangible indication that Canada intends to carry its full share of that responsibility.' Ottawa's decision marks the second time in recent years that Canada has refused to back US military plans. In March, 2003, former prime minister Jean Chretien refused to join the US-led coalition in Iraq.
CTV's chief political correspondent Craig Oliver says Ottawa's latest decision not to join in North American missile defense is of
tremendous significance.
'To me it's far more important than our decision not to participate in the war in Iraq because we have broken with the Americans on the issue of continental defense,' Oliver said. 'Mr. Martin can say all that he wants about NORAD, but essentially on the issue of who fires at these missiles, who knocked them down, the whole idea of the sharp end of continental defense, Canada is opting out.'
Oliver said American taxpayers have essentially subsidized Canada which has for years been spending far less on defense than a country of our size should be. 'We're getting away with that because the Americans give us a nuclear umbrella and then a military umbrella in other ways.'
Among longtime Canada watchers in Washington, there was an almost universal judgment that Martin had
damaged his efforts to build close ties to Bush, reports the
Montreal Gazette.
The decision itself was not entirely unexpected. Martin had raised concerns about the political difficulties he faced in selling missile defense during his summit with Bush in Ottawa last November, says the
Washington Post.
Canada's
public has long opposed any move toward the weaponization of space, and critics have contended that the antimissile program would lead to putting weapons aboard satellites to shoot down other missiles. Opponents also contend that the system is unproven, costly, technologically flawed and based on outdated assumptions about attacks by air. But Martin's reluctance to even try to sell Canadians on missile defense - after initially signalling his personal support - is being viewed as "a betrayal of sorts," says the
Montreal Gazette. "Bush's personal view of Martin may also diminish. The US president has far more affinity for leaders, such as Russian President Vladimir Putin, who are straightforward and blunt when they disagree with a US policy."
Retired Canadian lieutenant-general George MacDonald and former deputy chief of NORAD, told the
National Post that
Canada's interests lie, at this stage of national defense planning, to "remain engaged in other elements of defensive co-operation and collaboration" - namely anti-terrorism and Canada's historic role of sea and air surveillance.
'One would hope that the bilateral defense relationship will become even stronger, although the lack of our participation in ballistic missile defense does create some uncertainty.'
Also...
•
Wobbling on missiles follows familiar pattern (
The Star)
•
A review of the US missile defense system (
CTV
•
'Star Wars' missile defense system fails again (
The Christian Science Monitor
•
World population report (
Associated Press)
• Feedback appreciated. E-mail
Jim Bencivenga
.
|
RSS feed
