We weren't going to do it before...

[Kontiki]

Originally posted by lord of the mark



Yeah, and we'll cut a deal to get you to accept the arctic is international waters in exchange for going your way on softwood lumber, and we let the oil industry and the timber industry fight it out on K street. Or vice versa, you get the arctic and we win on softwood lumber. Or a hundred other issues. Thats how we work things out, not with gunboats. I mean thats at least as farfetched as the hypothesized Chinese seizure of the Alberta Tar Sands. (though the latter would mean that it would make sense to visit Alberta for the cuisine)

Yes, I suppose that is typical American diplomacy: you'll concede something that we're right about if we concede something you're wrong about.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by lord of the mark

Yeah, and we'll cut a deal to get you to accept the arctic is international waters in exchange for going your way on softwood lumber, and we let the oil industry and the timber industry fight it out on K street. Or vice versa, you get the arctic and we win on softwood lumber. Or a hundred other issues. Thats how we work things out, not with gunboats. I mean thats at least as farfetched as the hypothesized Chinese seizure of the Alberta Tar Sands. (though the latter would mean that it would make sense to visit Alberta for the cuisine)

You haven't lived til you've had pemican.

[KrazyHorse]

PEMMICAN

They sell beef jerky in the States branded as "Pemmican"



Where is the suet? Where are the blueberries?

[PLATO]

Originally posted by Kontiki


Yes, I suppose that is typical American diplomacy: you'll concede something that we're right about if we concede something you're wrong about.

Hehe...Isn't America great!

[notyoueither]

It is pretty funny when people who leave the administration say the Yank position on softwood is full of ****.

We'll build our icebreakers. We'll tell you to stuff your ambitions for the arctic, and you'll like it.

[notyoueither]

You've got to hand it to your current administration.

A conservative (more pro US than against) gets elected, and it's a single day til Bush's rep says the first stupid thing that gets the Tories to tell them to piss off.

[notyoueither]

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/01/27/wilkins-harper060127.html

Wilkins says Arctic comment old news
Last Updated Fri, 27 Jan 2006 15:59:25 EST
CBC News
The U.S. ambassador to Canada is downplaying his comments on the status of Arctic waters that made him the target of criticism by prime minister-designate Stephen Harper.

FROM JAN. 26, 2006: Harper brushes off U.S. criticism of Arctic plan

David Wilkins, Friday.
David Wilkins said on Friday that his statement earlier in the week, that the U.S. and other countries don't recognize Canada's claim to Arctic waters, was not news.

"I simply restated the longstanding and well-known position of the United States on the legal status of the Arctic waters," he said.

He has repeated that many times in Canada, Wilkins told a Quebec City audience.

The Conservatives promised during the recent general election campaign to beef up Canadian forces in the Arctic.

Talking to students at the University of Western Ontario on Wednesday, Wilkins apparently took issue with that plan. "There's no reason to create a problem that doesn't exist," he said.

On Friday, he insisted that decisions about Canada's military are an "internal decision for the Canadian government."

Harper's criticism of Wilkins came Thursday during his first news conference since winning a minority government.

"It is the Canadian people we get our mandate from, not the ambassador of the United States," Harper said, raising the topic on his own.

Wilkins said Friday that the disagreement over the Arctic water would not harm U.S.-Canada relations.

Washington views the Northwest Passage, the mostly frozen water between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans across the far north of Canada, as an international strait. Canada has claimed the passage as territorial waters, where Canadian law would apply.

No country has made any claim on Canada's northern lands, except for Denmark, which disputes Canadian ownership of tiny Hans Island.


FROM SEPT. 19, 2005: Canada, Denmark agree to resolve dispute over Arctic island

Wilkins also said he hoped the softwood lumber dispute could be resolved this year.

[Tuberski]

Originally posted by Krill
But that is just from logic. If you get to piss off the average American, do it

Speaking as an average American, I can honestly say that My gives a **** is broken.

If the American ambassador can get Canada to waste $5.3 billion with just a statement of disagreement, I want him for President.

ACK!

[techumseh]

Originally posted by Flubber


Well we kinda rely on them and NATO to be there and protect us if anyone every got frisky with us. IN a crazy scenario-- Say China decided to invade Canada to grab the oilsands, do you think we are protecting ourselves.

Note that this scenarion is ludicrous mainly BECAUSE everyone knows the US would not allow it.




Guard them for us?? nope but I'm betting part of the reason they play up there is to check to see if anyone else is up there.

I don't think they would mind too much generally if we beef up our military spending. Its not like they expect us to shoot at them and if they get another somewhat competent opponent for their subs to test their capabilities so be it.

I just believe generally, the US likes to see its allies increasing their military competence. The fact that its aimed at asserting some claims they reject is mildly annoying to them but I frankly can't see them getting too fussed.

There is no military threat to Canada, EXCEPT from the US. We are so distant from any other potential enemy, that it's just silly to contemplate.