-Caveat Lector-
Anti-StarWars Politics, Canadian-style?
UK: London Telegraph February 23, 2001
Chretien causes confusion over US space defence plan
by Benedict Brogan, Political Correspondent, Ottawa
AMERICAN plans for a space-based missile defence system were called into
question yesterday after claims that President Bush is prepared to dump the
project if other countries object.
Doubts about Washington's intentions surfaced after Jean Chrétien, the
Canadian Prime Minister, surprised Nato members by claiming that the White
House might be willing to give way on its National Missile Defence scheme.
Tony Blair flew into Washington late last night for his first meeting with
Mr Bush 24 hours after Mr Chrétien had assured the Canadian parliament that
America would want to avoid a split with its Nato allies.
British officials with the Prime Minister admitted privately that they were
"baffled" by Mr Chrétien's remarks. The missile scheme, designed to protect
America from ballistic missile attacks launched by rogue states, has drawn
criticism from {HYPERLINK
"http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/et?ac=000647321007942&rtmo=psI
SN4he&atmo=99999999&pg=/et/01/2/13/wfisc13.html"}European countries led by
France, and from {HYPERLINK
"http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/et?ac=000647321007942&rtmo=psI
SN4he&atmo=99999999&pg=/et/00/12/5/wnato05.html"}Russia and China, which say
it would destabilise global security.
NMD is one of the most contentious issues on the agenda for Mr Blair's first
meeting with the new President at Camp David today. Mr Blair has refused to
endorse the scheme until more details are known. His negotiations with Mr
Bush have been complicated by Mr Chrétien's decision to disclose the
contents of his talks on NMD with the President a fortnight ago.
Mr Chrétien was asked by Alexa McDonough, Canada's opposition leader, on
Wednesday to "condemn" NMD when he had talks with Mr Blair, and to make
clear that Canada would oppose a proposal that "would not have been
acceptable during the Cold War". He told Canadian MPs: "I have had
discussions with the Americans who have decided they will not proceed if it
will cause a lot of problems for Nato and if they cannot find an agreement
with the Chinese and the Russians."
At a joint press conference with Mr Blair yesterday Mr Chrétien said he had
not meant to suggest that Nato would have a veto over NMD. It would
ultimately be a military decision for America the United States. But Nato
members, as well as Russia and China, would "insist" on being consulted by
Mr Bush, and would expect to be listened to. Otherwise there would be "big
problems" within Nato.
However, an official from America's National Security Council said it
appeared that Mr Chretien had either misinterpreted or misrepresented Mr
Bush's position. "President Bush had stated in the past his determination to
field a National Missile Defence system. Those are the president's words and
he has repeated it several times."
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