Well Ken, I do not feel threatened. However, i am sure it makes a few people in Seoul feel rather unconfortable. I guess you hit it on the nail: as an individual of a rather conservative (read right wing) nature I am in favour of a strong approach a la GWB with Iraq. I do happen to think that the old way of doing things (appeasement, self-defence) need to be re-considered.
It would appear clear that dictators with nuclear bombs is a recipe for disaster. As far as Carter is concerned, i have to admit that he is an embarrasment to the US, just like our Prime Minister (da little guy from Shawinigan) is a HUGE embarrasment to Canada. As I wrote a few days back: BEWARE OF THE LITTLE GUY WITH THE BIG JOB.
NOW, ON BEHALF OF CANADA, I WISH TO APOLOGIZE TO ALL AMERICANS FOR HAVING A PRIME MINISTER WOULD MEETS TERRORISTS. HE DOESN'T REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF CANADIANS: WE ARE FIRMLY BEHIND YOU GUYS.
<<Oct. 19, 08:32 EDT
PM shares stage with Hezbollah chief
Chrétien seated near leader of group called `A-team of terrorists'
Tonda MacCharles
OTTAWA BUREAU
Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah
BEIRUT — Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, head of an organization identified by the American government as "the A-team of terrorists," sat just metres away from Jean Chrétien yesterday, invited as an honoured guest to the Francophonie summit.
Nasrallah's rare public appearance caused dozens of cameramen and photographers there shooting the summit leaders to swivel and focus their bright lights on the powerful religious and political leader.
The Prime Minister was later caught off-guard by questions about Nasrallah's presence and what message it sent, claiming he didn't know he was there, or even who he was.
"Who is (he)? I don't know," Chrétien told reporters.
Told Nasrallah is the head of Hezbollah (Party of God), which the United States deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage last month called "the A-team of terrorists" ahead of Al Qaeda, Chrétien said gruffly "I didn't know. Thank you for telling me."
Pressed on the matter, Chrétien dismissed it as a decision that was up to the Lebanese government, and not his to question.
"You know we're in a country. So they invite people. We're civilized. You know I'm not asking passports and CVs of anybody so I look at them. And if they shake hands I shake hands."
Hezbollah has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States government, and Canada has frozen the assets of its military wing.
It sponsors terrorist attacks in Israel, and is blamed as well for attacks on American interests, including the suicide truck bombings of the U.S. embassy in Beirut in April, 1983, and the U.S. Marine barracks here in October, 1983. It's also suspected in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish centre in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people.
However, the federal government is trying to tread a fine line, and officially distinguishes between its military and political wings. Canada retains diplomatic contact with the parliamentary branch of Hezbollah. Canada also spends $2 million a year in aid to Lebanon, some of which is spent in the Bekaa Valley, where much of the area is controlled by Hezbollah militia.
Chrétien did not directly meet Nasrallah, and during a brief speech, the Prime Minister refrained from any outright criticism of any side in the Middle East conflict.
But Nasrallah, seated between Orthodox Christian bishops, listened as Lebanese President Emile Lahoud launched a blistering attack on Israel for glorifying "state-sponsored terrorism."
Later, Chrétien distanced himself from Lahoud's remarks, saying the summit "is a platform for people to express their views."
But he denied any lapse in Canadian diplomacy in the failure to advise him of Nasrallah's presence in the audience, allowing Chrétien to address him like any other dignitary.
Asked directly if Hezbollah is a terrorist organization, Chrétien avoided a direct answer.
"I don't know. Perhaps some say. He was the guest of the government here. So it's not for me to decide who they should invite or not."
A senior official in the Canadian delegation later said that official inquiries were made following reporters' questions, and the Lebanese hosts told the Canadians that Nasrallah was there as a religious leader.>> |
