| Author |
Message |
Hitchhiker
Rear Admiral
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 3514
Location: Ontario, Canada
|
 Thu Dec 02, 2004 5:35 pm PM's position on Missile Defence |
|
| Quote: | PM dismisses missile plan concerns
By STEPHEN THORNE
OTTAWA (CP) - The prime minister says he's been assured by President George W. Bush that the U.S. missile defence plan does not necessarily involve the weaponization of space.
But Paul Martin added Thursday that Canadian negotiators will continue to press for answers on the issue from their U.S. counterparts. "I have talked to the president about the whole question and the president says it does not imply the weaponization of space," Martin said after a weekly cabinet meeting.
"We will continue our discussions with the Americans. We want to make sure that there is no weaponization of space. We want to make sure that whatever decision is taken is one that is going to benefit our own security."
Martin's comments came after NDP Leader Jack Layton said Bush told him Tuesday during a meeting in Ottawa that he would not rule out weapons in space.
Martin has maintained Canada's opposition to space-based weapons and said in the Commons on Thursday that he reiterated that position to Bush.
During question period, opposition parties peppered Martin with questions on the issue.
"It's not just about the weaponization of space," said New Democrat Bill Blaikie. "It's also about the prospect for a new arms race.
"This can happen with or without the weaponization of space. Is (the prime minister) not concerned that by entering into missile defence . . . Canada will be legitimizing a new arms race?"
Martin said Canada has no interest in creating a new arms race and has been at the forefront of the fight against nuclear proliferation.
Canada has been discussing the issue with the Americans for 18 months, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said. He pressed Martin for details, saying the U.S. must have made some solid proposals by now.
"What we want to know is the nature of our proposed involvement, the costs of any obligations that we would incur, the nature and value of any benefits," Harper said.
"When does the prime minister intend to tell Parliament and tell Canadians about these things and about where the government's at in this program?"
Martin said no specific proposals are on the table, but as soon as his government reaches some conclusions, it will bring them before Parliament.
Outside the Commons, Harper said he doesn't trust the Americans or Martin's government on the issue.
"I'm not going to give this government a blank cheque on Canadian-American relations," he said. "I don't trust them on these matters.
"I'm certainly not going to give the United States government a blank cheque because that's not the role of any responsible Canadian political party."
The prime minister said he "wasn't a bit surprised" that Bush used a speech in Halifax to push for Canada to join the program.
"The president's position on missile defence has been known for quite some time. In the kinds of discussions we were having, I wasn't a bit surprised that he raised it nor, in fact, that he spoke his mind in the speech."
In a speech Wednesday in Halifax, Bush deviated from his formal agenda and asked for Canadian participation in a continental missile defence program, a request successive Liberal governments have been ducking for years.
"I hope we'll also move forward on ballistic missile defence co-operation to protect the next generation of Canadians and Americans from the threats we know will arise," Bush said.
With Martin sitting on the podium with him, Bush couched his pitch in the wartime rhetoric of former prime minister Mackenzie King, who said Canadians must confront their enemies before they reach Canadian shores.
" 'We cannot defend our country and save our homes and families by waiting for the enemy to attack us,' " Bush said, quoting comments from King early in the Second World War.
" 'To remain on the defensive is the surest way to bring the war to Canada.'
"Mackenzie King was correct then and we should always remember the wisdom of his words today," added Bush.
Martin said he made it clear to the president that "Canada will make a decision in Canada's interest and the timing of that decision will be made in Canada's interest."
|
Interesting . . . weapons in space. Now why would anyone want to put weapons in space . . .
|
|
|
Jeremy
J's Guy
Joined: 03 Oct 2002
Posts: 7823
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
|
| Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:42 pm |
|
I presume they are talking about the Star Wars system. If people don't know what it is then it is a satallite system that uses lasers to destroy ICBMs (Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles). Perhaps this could be used to fire lasers through the earths atmophere to a country. Rather a scary thought, although the power to actually be used would be phenominal.
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
Star Trek �, in all its various forms, are trademarks & copyrights of Paramount Pictures
This site has no official connection with Star Trek or Paramount Pictures
Site content/Site design elements owned by Morphy and is meant to only be an archive/Tribute to STV.com
|
Search
FAQ
Log in
