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Participant: danf
Date: 2003-04-21 16:10:03
April 19, 2003
The aim of any country s foreign policy should be to enhance the security and the prosperity of its citizens. Unfortunately, some heads of state believe those goals are best obtained at the expense of other nations. Canada s diplomatic posture should take that into account.
Security: I applaud the stance taken by our Prime Minister and the Department of Foreign Affairs during the recent Iraq war. It took courage to differ with our powerful friends on a matter of principle. All countries, but especially less powerful ones like Canada, benefit from the supranational authority provided by the UN for the settlement of differences within accepted international law. However, although our security may be increased by the UN and through strategic alliances, the defence of a nation depends ultimately on its own military resources. Those who rely on the good will of others, it has been demonstrated time and again throughout history, may find that former friends and allies have deserted them in time of need or, in numerous examples, have actually turned against them.
Membership in NATO has made a useful contribution to Canada s security in spite of our limited participation. The combined NATO force including the might of the US, held the expansionist ambitions of former Soviet leaders in check until that country imploded politically beneath the unsustainable burden of an enormous military force. Our NORAD cooperation with the US also, was a successful counter to the menace of attack by Soviet bombers. Happily both those threats are greatly diminished if not totally eliminated with the replacement of the former Communist regime by a more friendly, more democratic Russia. NATO should become an even more valuable alliance for Canada with the expansion of its membership, even though that may present added potential for drawing us into conflicts which are not in our best interest. In that regard, it should not be forgotten that Canada s participation in foreign disputes may have an impact on our growing unassimilated ethnic populations with resulting threats to our internal security. Our loose association with the British Commonwealth and La Francophonie, for all their nostalgic appeal, carry a lot of imperialist baggage with them, have the potential to involve Canada in a wide range of disputes, and contribute less to our safety.
Ironically, perhaps the greatest threat to Canadian sovereignty comes from our closest friend and ally. The USA does not yet recognize Canadian title to the Arctic Archipelago and the adjacent seas and channels, nor has she been forthcoming with prior announcements of penetration of Canadian waters by USN submarines. If we do not commission an icebreaker to open those channels and find effective ways to patrol them, we may be sure that the Americans will. In the event of an upheaval on the Canadian political scene such as attempted secession by Quebec or some other province, I have no doubt that the US would use military force to protect its Canadian energy sources and any other American interests they deemed to be in peril. Once they crossed our border in force, I doubt if we could persuade them to leave.
For all its faults, and they are many, the UN provides a forum wherein less powerful nations such as Canada may exert a restraining influence on the ambitions of the mighty. Canada should maintain her historic support for the UN and make efforts to strengthen both that organization and the rule of international law, through bodies such as the World Court.
Canada should also maintain her alliance with NATO but guard against becoming embroiled in disputes of individual members; in other words, play with the team but don t support internal feuds or get involved in off-ice brawls initiated by unruly players. We should try also, to minimize our defensive alliance with the US, relying more on a broad-based association with countries sharing Canada s concerns. The US has intruded frequently in the affairs of other nations in support of its own perceived interest. As a result America has earned great enmity. By identifying Canada too closely with the US we risk tarnishing our reputation for impartiality and our usefulness in resolving disputes peacefully.
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