http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040108.wmissile0108/BNStory/National/Ottawa set to map out role in U.S. missile plan
'Ottawa — The Canadian government is about to take a big step toward joining the controversial U.S. missile shield to protect North America as Prime Minister Paul Martin and U.S. President George W. Bush are set to hold their first bilateral meeting, sources say.
The Canadian and U.S. governments will launch formal negotiations toward a Canadian participation with an exchange of letters between Defence Minister David Pratt and U.S. Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld.
While there had been informal discussions previously, the letters will allow for the sharing of sensitive information on the project between Canadian and U.S. officials.
Sources said the letters will be sent in coming days. Mr. Bush and Mr. Martin will meet for the first time on Tuesday in Mexico, where the leaders hope for a thaw in Canada-U.S. relations. "We're looking to signal interest to the Americans beyond just discussions, to actual mapping-out negotiations for a Canadian participation," a senior Canadian official said yesterday.'
I don't want this shield, it's Star Wars II. Who is it protecting us from? It wouldn't have stopped the WTC attacks, or any al-Queda plot, so who is the intended enemy? NK? China? Russia?