American ambassador tells Martin to stop dragging U.S. into federal election - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Daval · 12-14-2005, 07:49 AM

American ambassador tells Martin to stop dragging U.S. into federal election

OTTAWA (CP) - The Bush administration issued a sharp, public rebuke Tuesday to Prime Minister Paul Martin for dragging the Canada-U.S. relationship into federal electoral politics.

Ambassador David Wilkins' unprecedented, mid-campaign sortie drew an immediate, flag-waving riposte from Martin, who came to office in 2003 promising a more mature relationship with Washington. "I will defend the Canadian position and I will defend our values and I will defend our interests against anybody," the prime minister said on the campaign trail in Surrey, B.C.

Wilkins' diplomatic message was about as subtle as a sledgehammer, suggesting maturity in cross-border relations remains in short supply two years after Martin became prime minister.

"It may be smart election-year politics to thump your chest and criticize your friend and your No. 1 trading partner constantly," Wilkins said in a speech to the Canadian Club at the historic Chateau Laurier Hotel, next door to Parliament Hill.

"But it is a slippery slope, and all of us should hope that it doesn't have a long-term impact on the relationship."

With Jonathan Fried, Martin's chief foreign policy advisor, and Peter Harder, the powerful deputy minister of Foreign Affairs, seated to his right, Wilkins took issue with the barrage of criticism that has been directed at U.S. policy by Martin and his Liberal cabinet.

"What if one of your best friends criticized you directly and indirectly almost relentlessly?" asked Wilkins.

"What if that friend demanded respect, but offered little in return?"

The United States may be an easy target for "political expediency," he said.

"But the last time I looked, the United States was not on the ballot for the Jan. 23 election," Wilkins added to scattered applause.

If the intent was to extricate Washington from the election campaign, the speech was counter-productive.

It appears that Martin's campaign team, which is often given to bare-knuckle politics, considers a dust-up with the Bush White House as ballot-box gold.

The prime minister used Wilkins'rebuke Tuesday to insist that he hasn't made American relations an election issue - even as he repeated his criticisms of American policy on softwood lumber and global warming.

And he seamlessly, and without prompting, spun the issue around to bludgeon Conservative Leader Stephen Harper.

"If the thesis of Mr. Harper is that the only way to have good relations with the United States is to concede everything to the United States, then I do not accept that at all," said Martin.

If anything, the Conservative leader has been doing everything possible to distance himself from Washington after feeling the sting of Liberal claims in the 2004 election that he was too closely allied with the Bush Republicans.

Harper sent an open letter this week to the right-wing Washington Times newspaper, repudiating much of a recent glowing commentary that painted a potential Harper election win as "a rare foreign event that manages to put a smile" on President Bush.

Curiously, Martin didn't seem to mind that association himself when he unseated Jean Chretien as prime minister in the fall of 2003.

"I'm sure they're doing high fives somewhere in the bowels of the White House," James LeBlanc, a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said when Martin assumed office.

"Martin is going to blow off a lot of negativity in the atmosphere and present a fresh view."

Not according to Ambassador Wilkins in his commentary Tuesday.

Wilkins, a long-time Bush supporter and confidant, did not name Martin directly but left absolutely no doubt the U.S. administration was sending a message directly to the prime minister.

Less than a week after Martin raised hackles in Washington by specifically citing the United States for lacking a global conscience on climate change, Wilkins threw the words back at the prime minister.

He pointed out that the U.S. record is far superior to Canada's on curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

"I would respectfully submit to you that when it comes to a 'global conscience,' the United States is walking the walk," said the ambassador.

Wilkins also mentioned the softwood dispute, noting that the U.S. Commerce Department cut the contentious tariffs on Canadian lumber in half last week.

He defended the continuing American occupation of Iraq, saying "freedom is on the march."

And on looming passport requirements for Canada-U.S. travellers, Wilkins said the two countries can work together to mitigate the impact but that Canadians have to appreciate the new American mentality.

"Canada should understand that 9-11 forever changed my country," Wilkins said of the September 2001 terrorist attacks.

His blunt message got a muted reception.

After getting hearty laughter with an opening quip about "beer and popcorn" - a deft aside aimed at Martin's communications director and his insulting reference to a Conservative pledge of child-rearing money for Canadian parents - Wilkins' 20-minute speech was mostly greeted with silence.

Nancy Hughes Anthony, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, was among the several hundred who attended the luncheon speech and said she hopes it spurs all the party leaders to talk honestly about their plans for cross-border relations.

"You can't say on one hand that your government, if elected, is going to be enhancing trade and diplomacy and all those good things with the United States, while you're indulging in bashing the U.S. side during an election campaign," she said.

That rhetoric is bound to hurt the relationship, Hughes Anthony warned.

American observers said Martin is getting exactly what he deserves.

"Those of us who've been watching the election know there aren't many issues out there, so you pull out the old anti-American card," said David Biette, director of the Canada Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars.

"It always works."

Chris Sands, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that in the 2004 federal election the Bush administration "ignored little snipes from Canada.

"Now there's a pro-active strategy. They're almost like referees, setting a tone of not cheating."

The upside, said Sands, "is that the administration, despite all the distractions, is paying attention to Canada."

Source

Daval · 12-14-2005, 07:51 AM

Alls I can say to this is Fuck you Mr. Wilkins, and Fuck you Mr. Bush. I cannot wait untill he is out of the White House.

Good for you Paul Martin, I may just vote liberal this time around. It's about time you started to stand up for our national interests, and I hope you continue to do so.

Charlatan · 12-14-2005, 08:01 AM

Very amusing...

"But the last time I looked, the United States was not on the ballot for the Jan. 23 election," Wilkins added to scattered applause.

No, the US is not on the ballot but the issue of US relations is a huge policy issue.

It would have been unexpected and troubling if Martin had criticized say, Singapore. But to mention the US, our largest trading partner and the 100 pound gorilla in the room? Hardly surprising.

highthief · 12-14-2005, 08:35 AM

Pfft - silly US ambassador did just what Martin would want. Anytime a Canadian politican stands up to any US bullying real or perceived, he gets a boost in the polls.

Leto · 12-14-2005, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daval

Alls I can say to this is Fuck you Mr. Wilkins, and Fuck you Mr. Bush. I cannot wait untill he is out of the White House.
.

careful! You may get what you wish for. I think that Cheney in the white house would be worse than Bush...

Leto · 12-14-2005, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlatan

Very amusing...

"But the last time I looked, the United States was not on the ballot for the Jan. 23 election," Wilkins added to scattered applause.

No, the US is not on the ballot but the issue of US relations is a huge policy issue.

It would have been unexpected and troubling if Martin had criticized say, Singapore. But to mention the US, our largest trading partner and the 100 pound gorilla in the room? Hardly surprising.

ticks me off. that was my first impression. I thought the last ambassador was an ass. now this guy. Can we get a refund?

If I was at that dinner, I would have either 1) stood up and called him out on it or 2) stood up, folded my serviette, tossed it on the table and stalked out of the room.

Daval · 12-14-2005, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leto

careful! You may get what you wish for. I think that Cheney in the white house would be worse than Bush...

I don't think the republicans have a chance of winning again. But, I also thought that GWB would be a one term president. Shows you how good my predictions are.

Cheney would indeed be a scary thought.

Charlatan · 12-14-2005, 12:12 PM

Cheney has already said he won't run for President. Besides, he has a comfy CEO job with Haliburton waiting for him.

feelgood · 12-14-2005, 01:13 PM

Another reason not to vote for the conservatives

Ace_O_Spades · 12-14-2005, 01:47 PM

Jeez, who knew martin would show traces of balls... shocked.

I think this may bode well for the Liberals.

Does anyone think a majority is possible in the face of such dramatic exchanges? What will the political fallout be?

james t kirk · 12-14-2005, 04:00 PM

I have to laugh at the Americans getting all upset over Martin's very politically correct comment about Kyoto.

They (the yanks) are so thin skinned.

It's ok for them to constantly threaten Canada (and every other country in the world save Britain), but criticize them, and you get an earful from some guy from South Carolina who is in bed with W.

skier · 12-15-2005, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Less than a week after Martin raised hackles in Washington by specifically citing the United States for lacking a global conscience on climate change, Wilkins threw the words back at the prime minister.

He pointed out that the U.S. record is far superior to Canada's on curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

"I would respectfully submit to you that when it comes to a 'global conscience,' the United States is walking the walk," said the ambassador.

Ouch. Yeah i'm angry at the Libs for this. Last I heard we were up 43%, compared to 16% or so that the U.S. is at.

Put a leash on emissions already!

Leto · 12-15-2005, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skier

Ouch. Yeah i'm angry at the Libs for this. Last I heard we were up 43%, compared to 16% or so that the U.S. is at.

Put a leash on emissions already!

I think that to do that, you will have to put a leash on the growth of industry, and the economy. From what I hear (Charl?) the growth in emmissions is due in large part to the gross increase in actual manufacturing.

skier · 12-15-2005, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skier

Ouch. Yeah i'm angry at the Libs for this. Last I heard we were up 43%, compared to 16% or so that the U.S. is at.

Put a leash on emissions already!

I realized I didn't know much about what was going on, so I did some reading.

Canada is basically in the implementation stage of emission controls, having started in April of this year. It's been about 7 months since those initiatives have been implemented, and the results from them will begin to show soon, with a snowballing effect once the majority of industry, residential, and government systems come online with the programs.

So I guess Canada is still on track with the kyoto accord, maybe in a few years we'll be able to show off some decent improvments in our emissions.

And something I found interesting from the Alberta Gov. site:

Quote:

Alberta gov. site
Alberta has already made significant progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in relation to Gross Domestic Product. The ratio of carbon dioxide equivalent to Gross Domestic Product, or CO2e/GDP, has decreased by 15% overall from 1990 to 2002. Alberta is more than one quarter of the way to meeting its target of reducing CO2e/GDP by 50% below 1990 levels. Furthermore, Alberta is half way to meeting its interim, 2010 target of a 30% reduction.

snowy · 12-15-2005, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james t kirk

I have to laugh at the Americans getting all upset over Martin's very politically correct comment about Kyoto.

They (the yanks) are so thin skinned.

It's ok for them to constantly threaten Canada (and every other country in the world save Britain), but criticize them, and you get an earful from some guy from South Carolina who is in bed with W.

Hey now...watch your language. You're painting all of us Americans with the same brush, and it's not accurate. For my part, I applaud Martin for having the guts to publicly criticize the United States. Between the tariffs on Canadian lumber to our refusal to abide by the Kyoto accords, Canada has every right to thumb their noses at us. We deserve the criticism--SOMEONE needs to do it (someone besides me). But please, distinguish our government from our people. Thank you.

12-14-2005, 07:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
Daval Junkie Location: The True North Strong and Free!	American ambassador tells Martin to stop dragging U.S. into federal election American ambassador tells Martin to stop dragging U.S. into federal election OTTAWA (CP) - The Bush administration issued a sharp, public rebuke Tuesday to Prime Minister Paul Martin for dragging the Canada-U.S. relationship into federal electoral politics. Ambassador David Wilkins' unprecedented, mid-campaign sortie drew an immediate, flag-waving riposte from Martin, who came to office in 2003 promising a more mature relationship with Washington. "I will defend the Canadian position and I will defend our values and I will defend our interests against anybody," the prime minister said on the campaign trail in Surrey, B.C. Wilkins' diplomatic message was about as subtle as a sledgehammer, suggesting maturity in cross-border relations remains in short supply two years after Martin became prime minister. "It may be smart election-year politics to thump your chest and criticize your friend and your No. 1 trading partner constantly," Wilkins said in a speech to the Canadian Club at the historic Chateau Laurier Hotel, next door to Parliament Hill. "But it is a slippery slope, and all of us should hope that it doesn't have a long-term impact on the relationship." With Jonathan Fried, Martin's chief foreign policy advisor, and Peter Harder, the powerful deputy minister of Foreign Affairs, seated to his right, Wilkins took issue with the barrage of criticism that has been directed at U.S. policy by Martin and his Liberal cabinet. "What if one of your best friends criticized you directly and indirectly almost relentlessly?" asked Wilkins. "What if that friend demanded respect, but offered little in return?" The United States may be an easy target for "political expediency," he said. "But the last time I looked, the United States was not on the ballot for the Jan. 23 election," Wilkins added to scattered applause. If the intent was to extricate Washington from the election campaign, the speech was counter-productive. It appears that Martin's campaign team, which is often given to bare-knuckle politics, considers a dust-up with the Bush White House as ballot-box gold. The prime minister used Wilkins'rebuke Tuesday to insist that he hasn't made American relations an election issue - even as he repeated his criticisms of American policy on softwood lumber and global warming. And he seamlessly, and without prompting, spun the issue around to bludgeon Conservative Leader Stephen Harper. "If the thesis of Mr. Harper is that the only way to have good relations with the United States is to concede everything to the United States, then I do not accept that at all," said Martin. If anything, the Conservative leader has been doing everything possible to distance himself from Washington after feeling the sting of Liberal claims in the 2004 election that he was too closely allied with the Bush Republicans. Harper sent an open letter this week to the right-wing Washington Times newspaper, repudiating much of a recent glowing commentary that painted a potential Harper election win as "a rare foreign event that manages to put a smile" on President Bush. Curiously, Martin didn't seem to mind that association himself when he unseated Jean Chretien as prime minister in the fall of 2003. "I'm sure they're doing high fives somewhere in the bowels of the White House," James LeBlanc, a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said when Martin assumed office. "Martin is going to blow off a lot of negativity in the atmosphere and present a fresh view." Not according to Ambassador Wilkins in his commentary Tuesday. Wilkins, a long-time Bush supporter and confidant, did not name Martin directly but left absolutely no doubt the U.S. administration was sending a message directly to the prime minister. Less than a week after Martin raised hackles in Washington by specifically citing the United States for lacking a global conscience on climate change, Wilkins threw the words back at the prime minister. He pointed out that the U.S. record is far superior to Canada's on curbing greenhouse gas emissions. "I would respectfully submit to you that when it comes to a 'global conscience,' the United States is walking the walk," said the ambassador. Wilkins also mentioned the softwood dispute, noting that the U.S. Commerce Department cut the contentious tariffs on Canadian lumber in half last week. He defended the continuing American occupation of Iraq, saying "freedom is on the march." And on looming passport requirements for Canada-U.S. travellers, Wilkins said the two countries can work together to mitigate the impact but that Canadians have to appreciate the new American mentality. "Canada should understand that 9-11 forever changed my country," Wilkins said of the September 2001 terrorist attacks. His blunt message got a muted reception. After getting hearty laughter with an opening quip about "beer and popcorn" - a deft aside aimed at Martin's communications director and his insulting reference to a Conservative pledge of child-rearing money for Canadian parents - Wilkins' 20-minute speech was mostly greeted with silence. Nancy Hughes Anthony, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, was among the several hundred who attended the luncheon speech and said she hopes it spurs all the party leaders to talk honestly about their plans for cross-border relations. "You can't say on one hand that your government, if elected, is going to be enhancing trade and diplomacy and all those good things with the United States, while you're indulging in bashing the U.S. side during an election campaign," she said. That rhetoric is bound to hurt the relationship, Hughes Anthony warned. American observers said Martin is getting exactly what he deserves. "Those of us who've been watching the election know there aren't many issues out there, so you pull out the old anti-American card," said David Biette, director of the Canada Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars. "It always works." Chris Sands, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that in the 2004 federal election the Bush administration "ignored little snipes from Canada. "Now there's a pro-active strategy. They're almost like referees, setting a tone of not cheating." The upside, said Sands, "is that the administration, despite all the distractions, is paying attention to Canada." Source __________________ "It is impossible to obtain a conviction for sodomy from an English jury. Half of them don't believe that it can physically be done, and the other half are doing it." Winston Churchill

12-14-2005, 07:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
Daval Junkie Location: The True North Strong and Free!	Alls I can say to this is Fuck you Mr. Wilkins, and Fuck you Mr. Bush. I cannot wait untill he is out of the White House. Good for you Paul Martin, I may just vote liberal this time around. It's about time you started to stand up for our national interests, and I hope you continue to do so. __________________ "It is impossible to obtain a conviction for sodomy from an English jury. Half of them don't believe that it can physically be done, and the other half are doing it." Winston Churchill

12-14-2005, 08:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	Very amusing... "But the last time I looked, the United States was not on the ballot for the Jan. 23 election," Wilkins added to scattered applause. No, the US is not on the ballot but the issue of US relations is a huge policy issue. It would have been unexpected and troubling if Martin had criticized say, Singapore. But to mention the US, our largest trading partner and the 100 pound gorilla in the room? Hardly surprising. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

12-14-2005, 08:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
highthief Junkie Location: Ontario, Canada	Pfft - silly US ambassador did just what Martin would want. Anytime a Canadian politican stands up to any US bullying real or perceived, he gets a boost in the polls. __________________ Si vis pacem parabellum.

12-14-2005, 12:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	Cheney has already said he won't run for President. Besides, he has a comfy CEO job with Haliburton waiting for him. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

12-14-2005, 01:13 PM	#9 (permalink)
feelgood Free Mars! Location: I dunno, there's white people around me saying "eh" all the time	Another reason not to vote for the conservatives __________________ Looking out the window, that's an act of war. Staring at my shoes, that's an act of war. Committing an act of war? Oh you better believe that's an act of war

12-14-2005, 01:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ace_O_Spades The Death Card Location: EH!?!?	Jeez, who knew martin would show traces of balls... shocked. I think this may bode well for the Liberals. Does anyone think a majority is possible in the face of such dramatic exchanges? What will the political fallout be? __________________ Feh.

12-14-2005, 04:00 PM	#11 (permalink)
james t kirk Junkie Location: Toronto	I have to laugh at the Americans getting all upset over Martin's very politically correct comment about Kyoto. They (the yanks) are so thin skinned. It's ok for them to constantly threaten Canada (and every other country in the world save Britain), but criticize them, and you get an earful from some guy from South Carolina who is in bed with W.