How will Canada react to its Terrorist Attack?

[JailBush]

Al Qaeda is determined to punish nations that ally with the U.S. in Iraq. Australia was punished in Bali. The Italians have been punished, and Turkey and the UK were both punished during George W. Bush's trip to London. Canada is likely next.

So, if Canada is targeted by a major terrorist attack - one that kills hundreds of people or targets important institutions - how will the country react? Will it become more right-wing, like the U.S., or are Canadians intelligent and strong-willed enough to realize that they dug their grave when they allied with the U.S.?

[Maple]

1. Canada

isn't part of the coalition, and isn't likely to be attacked.

[Spazito]

2. We are not allied with the US re Iraq...

we said NO! With regard to Afghanistan, we are there as part of NATO and our soldiers are very much in harms way. Do I expect a terrorist attack on home soil, no, but if it did happen, I would blame Bush.

[mzmolly]

3. Canada was a critical of the pre-emptive US attack on Iraq...

as they should have been.

[pink_poodle]

4. Canada is not an ally. We're just unfortunate enough to be a neighbour...

but we have "distanced" ourselves from the Bushco regime. So far.

[eleny]

5. How about your new leader, Taylor?

I heard that he wants to be friendlier to the Bush* administration than Chrtien. Is this true? If so, in what ways do you figure he'll be more aligned with GW?

[Maple]

6. The new leader

is named Paul Martin.

And he is a centrist.

He'll do the same things...pleasant chitchat, friendly gatherings, smiling photo ops, sitting on committees....then say no.

But in a polite Canadian way, you understand. ;-)

[eleny]

7. I am so sorry for getting the name wrong...

Just the other evening, I saw coverage of Chretien's and Martin's speeches. I guess that today the wrong name stuck in my mind. My apologies!

Thanks for your correction and the clarification of where Martin stands. It's reassuring.

The speeches at the convention were so emotional. The commentator pointed out how the two men didn't always get along. But the peaceful transition of authority is always very moving to me. I have to admit that the whole thing had me misted up more than once.

Thanks again!

[izzie]

8. I hope Canada does not get hit but.......

I lived in SA and they just grouped us all as Americans. A friend and I kept telling then it is two different countries and all we would get back is, well you look and sound alike and it is in the same place.

[this_side_up]

9. I guess I will

be odd and pick Mexico.

I saw Texas Perry on tv with Fox the last time
he was here yammering about developing Mexico's
oil.

[Lisa]

10. well, um, we kind of already had one ...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/airindia/

Relative to the population, the number of people who died in the Air India bombing was similar to the level of casualties in the Sept 11 attacks (given that we are a tenth the size of the US). If that second bomb had gone off in midair as planned, it would have been higher.

There was a federal investigation and a criminal trial (now unfolding in Vancouver). This would likely serve as the template for any response to terrorist acts on Canadian soil.

Given that there is a growing amount of outrage in Canada about the way in which Maher Arar was treated ... handing terrorist suspects over to the US or anybody else would meet with protests. A few highly-publicized incidents (Sampson in Saudi Arabia, and the "friendly fire" deaths in Afghanistan) have sensitized Canadians to the idea of any response that would get people hurt or killed, I suspect.

[Skip Intro]

11. How can bushco. stage another attack on the US without attacking the US -

yet still achieve a newly terrified, largely obeidient US populace?

Anybody remember reagan's "communism at our back door" bs?

How would "terrorism at our front door" go over for the cowardly murderer parading as some dragonslayer?

Just saying...

[Hippo_Tron]

12. Canadian prime minister is smart enough to not...

Meddle in foreign affairs. No terrorist attacks for them and no big military needed to stop them either.