Thursday, July 06, 2006

Harper Does Washington

PM Stephen Harper, in DC for his first official visit with Bushco, gave the president a stetson and belt buckle for his birthday.

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Surprisingly, Harper reporetdly didn't plunge right into supporting the US BMD program, although he had suggested during the spring that Canada's parliament would hold a free vote on the issue.

While agreeing that North Korea's missile tests were a provocative act, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who appeared with Bush at the news conference, said Canada was not ready to reopen discussions about joining the U.S. missile shield. The shield involves basing missiles capable of taking out incoming missiles launched by terrorists or rogue states — although the system isn't designed to foil a mass attack by a major power.

Opponents of the missile scheme — including Canada's former Prime Minister Paul Martin — say it won't work and risks kicking off a new international arms race. Bush said he did not broach the issue with Harper.

"I didn't bring it up," Bush said. "I figured if he was interested, he would tell me."
link

Oh c'mon now... do you really expect us to believe that? Or did you just leave it to Darth Cheney to twist Harper's arm?

And here's a choice quote from Bush in response to the N Korean situation:

"And it's just really important for, for the American president to see the world the way it is, not the way we would hope it would be."

Right. It's not like America is out there imposing its version of freedom/democracy via war or anything.

(Photo credit: AP)

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