No Say On Missile Defence?
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Are Canadians Being Forced Into A Deal On NMD?
“The main benefit Canada will derive from joining is the ability to have a voice in how North America will be protected against the missile threat.”
Barry Cooper, director of the Fraser Institute’s Alberta office.
The above is dangerous in its outright simplicity. Cooper in his haste to sign on to this deal ignores the very obvious flip side of missile defence. One in which by signing on, leaves us completely devoid of voice. Sadly, it is also the same voice we have used effectively numerous times – the voice of sanity, and reason. We will no longer have a welcome seat at the table of non-proliferation and disarmament.
But to Cooper and others who are pushing the majority of Canadians who are against missile defence into the deal anyways, sanity and reason have no place in the national arena.
This push against the will of the majority, which is being conducted outside the democratic sphere, is now also being championed by our very own, next in line, Ambassador to the USA. Frank McKenna caused an instant uproar today by suggesting, “We’re part of it now and the question is, what more we need. There’s no doubt, in looking back, that the NORAD amendment has given, has created part – in fact a great deal – of what the United States means in terms of being able to get the input for defensive weaponry,”
Championing missile defence as “defensive weaponry” only sells to some at home in Canada and the United States. For Russia and China are seeing American moves as offensive in nature. They truly believe that the NMD system is for first strike capability. It would allow the United States to attack anyone without fear of missile reprisals. Considering the United States under George Bush still employs a pre-emptive policy, while sabre rattling with a host of nations, it is easy to understand Chinese and Russian feelings.
So in direct response to American moves to employ a missile shield, Russia, China, and soon others, have already started researching improved ballistic missile technology, while building up their already large nuclear stockpiles. Clearly their defence is to go on increased offence to overwhelm any American system.
Earlier in the week the Canadian Press was reporting that during George Bush’s state visit to Canada, he not only tried to persuade PM Paul Martin to go along with missile defence, he also is claimed to have told Stephen Harper, “I would hope you’re looking at this in Canada’s national interest and not in terms of partisan politics.” We would hope the same thing. Harper is a consummate politician, and we would hope he has caught wind of the overall displeasure of Canadians for missile defence and just about anything connected to the Bush Whitehouse.
The Canadian Democratic Movement calls on all Members of Parliament to listen to their constituents, to remember the history of the Cold War, to hear their own conscious, and not support NMD. NMD is already leading to a new arms race, and there are no winners in that game.
“If Canadians choose to contribute to likely destruction of the species,
they should at least do it with eyes open, not under the illusion that
they are defending themselves.”
Noam Chomsky
@ February 22, 2005