From Le Devoir (Montreal):
A further step towards the antimissile shield
Ottawa accepts amending its accord with the United States on NORAD
Édition du vendredi 6 août 2004
Ottawa---The government of Paul Martin has made a further step yesterday towards participation in the American project for an anitmissile shield.
Canada has in effect accepted amending its accord with the USA on the North American Aerospace Defense Command(NORAD) at last allowing that binational organization to contribute to the functioning of the controversial project.
During a press briefing, the minister of defense, Bill Graham, explained that the amendment permitted the American authorities to have access to strategic data received by NORAD to guide the future shield.
Mr. Graham held that, without this modification, the American- Canadian command, which has existed for more than 40 years, risks becoming "outmoded"."This decision has been taken with the aim of preserving NORAD", he declared during a press briefing in Ottawa. "It was clear that the United States had the intention of constructing a parallel system if they couldn't use NORAD for the antimissile defense," he noted. "We had to take this decision now, before the USA began to erect this other system, which would have eventually rendered NORAD obsolete. But, this is an extremely important institution for the defense of North America."
Even if this announcement is the second since January to draw Canada nearer to participation in the American antimissile shield, Minister Graham assured everyone that the government would not take the final decision in that regard until Autumn, after consultations with parliamentarians of both parties. "This accord does not prejudge in any manner an eventual decision to participate in a system of antimissile defense.", he repeated.
It remains that, even without officially participating in the project, Canada will soon begin to share with the United States intelligence which will serve to deploy the shield. "We already share such information with the secret services of allied countries", he said in defense.
Steve Staples, military analyst at the Polaris Institute, a no-profit public interest organization, did not wait to characterize the arguments of the minister as "crazy".
"Each step that we take makes it more and more impossible for Canada not to take part in the shield", he said.
Alexa McDonough, Neo- Democratic critic in matters of foreign affairs, accused the Liberals of having betrayed the population in taking this decision which, according to her, will contribute to the arsenalization of space.
"The suggestion of Bill Graham according to which the future of NORAD will be threatened with the inclusion of the antimissile shield is dangerous, deceptive, even perfidious", affirmed Ms. McDonough.
"Where is the assurance on the part of the Bush Administration that the data provided by Canada will not serve to arsenalize space", asked Mr. Staples in recalling that, during the last federal electoral campaign, Prime Minister Paul Martin was opposed to the idea.
On the side of the Bloc Quebecois, the deputy Claude Bachand deplored that Ottawa had modified the NORAD accord with having first revised its defense policy which dates back 10 years. He beliees however that it is still possible for Canada to not participate in the antimissile shield. The ruling party moreover offers to hold a vote in the Commons on the question.
As for the Conservatives, the are still undecided over supporting or not Canada's participation in the American project. The Party spokesman in matters of defense, Gordon Connor, has meanwhile admitted that the announcement yesterday left a belief in the favorable decision of Ottawa.
Created in 1958, NORAD is the binational organization responsible for the aerospace defense of North America. It detects attacks from aircraft or enemy missiles and warns the two governments.
Besides the Bloc- ists and the Neo- democrats, several Liberal deputies oppose the antimissile shield, which plans the installation of launch missiles on land and sea in order to shoot down missiles in distress or coming from a rogue country.
Ottawa replies that Washington will launch its project with or without its support. It is worth more to take part in putting in place the shield, and in its supervision than to remain on the sidelines, early on.
ledevoir.com |
