Politics from North of the 49th Parallel
Published on March 21, 2004 By IanGillespie In Politics

With no weapons found in Iraq, 74 percent of Canadians now support former Prime Miniter Jean Chrétien's decision to oppose the U.S. lead war in Iraq. Even at the time 69 percent of Canadians supported the decision.

So, it's not knock-you-on-your-ass surprising that Canada's new Prime Minister, Paul Martin, hasn't rushed in to join George W. Bush's war.

But comments by Colin Powell -- before the war began -- inform us that the U.S. considers several countries secret members of their 'coalition of the willing':

"And there are many other nations that for a variety of reasons don't want to be publicly identified, but are also a part of the coalition of the willing."

It was clear when the war began that Canada would not be considered such a country. But while Prime Minister Martin has publicly supported his predecessor's opposition to the War in Iraq, Mr. Martin has also promised 'improved relations' with the Bush administration after several snits that arised during the run up to war.

In keeping with these 'improved relations' -- and in stark contrast to comments he made while the War in Iraq was beginning -- Ambassador Paul Cellucci made some stunningly positive comments about Canada's participation Iraq on this Friday's Politics with Don Newman:

"So, Canada is pulling it's weight... It's the responsibility of every civilized government to work to defeat this threat. That's exactly what the Canadian government is doing and we're very grateful for that."

--emphasis in original

Does the Bush administration now consider Canada to be one it's 'secret allies' in the War in Iraq?

Better yet, will the Prime Minister unequivocally reaffirm that his opposition to the war stands? Will he unequivocally state that Canada is not now, nor has ever been, a member of the 'coalition of the willing'?

It's also odd that the U.S. press isn't giving Powell's comments more play considering that, as Atrios points out, they are completely at odds with comments Powell recently made about John Kerry. Well it's not odd since the U.S. press are a bunch of hacks, but you know what I'm saying.


Comments
on Jan 24, 2005
In Finland there was a local political scandal as the then Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen was revealed to have secretly joined Finland in the Coalition of the Willing, without proper authorization from Finnish parliament. Due to media suppression atypical to a Eastern Europe country the scandal caused no long lasting implications on Lipponen's career.
on Jan 24, 2005
Better yet, will the Prime Minister unequivocally reaffirm that his opposition to the war stands? Will he unequivocally state that Canada is not now, nor has ever been, a member of the 'coalition of the willing'?


I know Chretien strongly opposed the war, but I'm not so sure about Paul Martin. He seems to be more on the Conservative side of the Party, as opposed to Chretien and (especially) Sheila Copps who were closer to the NDP. Paul Martin also has a hard enough job as it is, with the current state of Canada-US relations, and trying to get rid of tariffs on softwood lumber and opening the border to Canadian beef. It could be worse, though. Prime Minister Stephen Harper?