canada-u.s.relationsthegood,thebadandtheugly.pptVIP

Canada-U.S. RelationsThe good, the bad and the ugly Sukumar Periwal Canada-US Fulbright Visiting Chair, Canadian Studies Center, University of Washington Presentation at Western Oregon University November 8, 2006 The ugly first PATRICK BUCHANAN (former U.S. presidential candidate) “For most Americans, Canada is sort of like a case of latent arthritis. We really don’t think about it unless it acts up.” (1992) “Soviet Canuckistan.” (2002) The repeated canard (not true, by the way) “Canada is a favoured destination for terrorists and international criminals.” (Library of Congress research report 2004) “Far more of the 9/11 terrorists came across from Canada than from Mexico.” (former U.S. Speaker Newt Gingrich, April 2005 – later retracted and apologized). “We’ve got to remember that the people who first hit us on 9/11 entered this country through Canada.” (then U.S. Senator Conrad Burns, December 2005 – later said he ‘misspoke’). The ugly continued… FRAN?OISE DUCROS (former communications director to Prime Minister Jean Chrétien) “What a moron.” (about President Bush, 2002) PM Chrétien: The President “is a friend of mine. He’s not a moron at all.” Ducros resigned shortly after. More ugliness… CAROLYN PARRISH (Liberal Member of Parliament 1993-2006) “Damn Americans. I hate the bastards.” (overheard after invasion of Iraq, 2003) “We are not going to join a coalition of the idiots.” (2004) Ugliest… Carolyn Parrish MP performing ‘voodoo’ on the head of a doll of President Bush “where it would do least damage”. (2004) Will it ever stop? Canada can take care of North Korea. They’re not busy.” (TV ad run by Republican U.S. Senate campaign in Tennessee, October 2006) FACT: 45 Canadian casualties in Afghanistan since more than 2000 troops deployed in 2002; 37 deaths in 2006 alone) Why so much misunderstanding? Global context Policy differences Trade disputes Divergent values Global context Concerns about U.S. approach to global security Invasion of Iraq as distraction