Canada not prepared to send troops to Iraq, says Martin

[lovuian]

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=7227e806b35811a6
Canada not prepared to send troops to Iraq, says Martin
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Big News Network.com Friday 15th October, 2004

Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin is not prepared to commit troops to Iraq despite pressure on international leaders to support the country.

'There's a limit to our resources,' Martin said Thursday in Paris after a meeting with French President Jacques Chirac. 'I'm putting our focus on Afghanistan and Haiti,' he said
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[HEyHEY]

1. Damn skippy!

[tuvor]

2. Martin's leading a minority government

for a country that hates bush.

Some "stand," Paul. Took real guts.

[Maple]

3. Oh we'll help

...if Bush loses.

[daleo]

4. If he cooperated with Bush, he could easily lose the support of the NDP

The NDP is our somewhat left-wing party. This could result in the Liberal government falling, an election being called, and a fair amount of Liberal support pealing away to the NDP. This would actually cause a centre-left vote split, which might well help the Conservatives a lot, possibly even allowing them to form a minority government. The Conservatives, under their current leadership, would probably love to help out Bush, by sending at least a token force to Iraq.

So, basically Martin would be nuts to help out Bush. It is hard to say how things will go in Canada (and around the world) if Kerry wins the U.S. election and he asks for help. I suppose it will depend on how Iraqis seem to react, and how sincere Kerry seems about withdrawing from the current unilateral and quasi-imperialist strategies of the U.S. leadership.

I suppose it will also depend on how much room Kerry actually has to maneuver. The possibility of a repetition of the JFK assassination, should Kerry try to buck the unelected power too much, is all too real, in my opinion. But that's a whole other subject.

[lovuian]

5. Its pretty obvious Martin is getting INTENSE PRESSURE

from Bush to send much needed troops

but its hard to send troops when Canadian troops were friendly fired upon in Afghanistan

that was ugly!!!

[daleo]

6. Yes, killing your allies in one place tends to dampen their enthusiasm

For helping out at the next place.

[sweetheart]

7. Good for him

It is an easy decision, and the right one.

Godspeed to Paul Martin.

[Moderator]

8. DUplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=905799