Bullets On Ice?

U.S Putting Missile Defence Talk On Ice (Ambassador Says)

Alexander Panetta, The Canadian Press
Published: Friday, February 24, 2006

OTTAWA -- The United States has no current plans to reopen missile-defence negotiations with Canada, U.S. ambassador David Wilkins said Friday.

"I know of no overture or effort being made by either side to begin the discussions,'' Wilkins said.

The former Liberal government, faced with intense public pressure, abandoned missile-defence discussions last year.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said he would be willing to reopen talks if the Americans make a formal offer.

But the White House appears satisfied to let the status quo reign for now, the ambassador suggested.

"That issue came up and Canadian officials decided,'' Wilkins told reporters after a speech to law students.

"And we move on from there and continue to work together on other issues and in other areas.''

Wilkins said Canada won't necessarily remain divorced from the project forever, but added in the next breath that the issue remains off the table.

"I'm not saying there won't ever be (discussions), but I know of no effort from either side,'' he said.

The U.S. stand could appear to be a stunning about-face for a Republican administration that has been all too eager to see Canada participate in the missile shield.

Barely a year ago, U.S. President George W. Bush was in Canada putting public pressure on Paul Martin to join the project.

Martin, who initially supported missile defence, capitulated to public sentiment and announced months later that Canada would remain out.

But the reality of the current U.S. stand carries a highly practical dimension.

The Tories could see their minority government destabilized by a debate on missile defence.

A vote in Parliament could very well backfire on the Tories. And if Harper proceeded without consulting Parliament, the opposition would likely threaten a confidence vote and could certainly use the issue to make political hay in the next election.

To boot, Canada's formal participation would be largely symbolic at this point anyway.

While they did not offer their political backing, the Liberals did agree to modify a Canada-U.S. agreement that puts the binational Norad system in charge of operating the missile shield.

Which means a joint Canada-U.S. system is in charge of monitoring for incoming missiles. Only the Americans at Norad headquarters in Colorado would be involved, however, in launching a counter-strike against them.

The U.S., which wants to build a global missile system, was hoping for Canada's symbolic backing to help sell the project internationally.

The current system consists of missile platforms in Alaska and California. Early test results have been spotty, but the eventual goal is to build a system that could knock incoming missiles out of the sky from any point on Earth.

The project has widespread support from both major political parties in the U.S.

In Canada, all parties except the Conservatives oppose it.

Wilkins' remarks came after he delivered a highly personal speech to law students about his impressions of Canada.

In his folksy southern style, the ambassador joked about embarrassing himself trying to skate on the Rideau Canal.

He joked about French lessons: "I'm taking them. They're not taking to me.''

He spoke of his pride at being able to call president Bush a personal friend.

Wilkins cracked that Nunavut is the only place in Canada where he doesn't get asked about softwood lumber. "There are no trees.''

He fielded almost a dozen questions from students. With equally colloquial grace, he sprinkled his answers to the often-difficult questions with diplomatic generalities.

The students cheered when one of their own cast same-sex marriage as a human rights issue and asked Wilkins how he felt about it.

The ambassador simply replied that South Carolina's legislature opposed gay marriage and introduced a law to that effect.

Then he urged the students to respect the opinion of U.S. voters and their legislators on that issue, even if they disagree, just like he respected the Canadian decision on marriage.

"That's what living in a free democracy is all about.''

© The Canadian Press