Canada Shows Balls!

[gnosis]

...and then loses them!

Our nation put Israel and the USA on the watch-list of nations that practice torture on prisoners.

Rightly so.

But, due to "ally-pressure", Canada has rescinded, and removed these High-Profile nations from the torture list.

I just sent off an email to the ministry of foreign affairs expressing my anger at the about-face.

_JUST_ when I felt a surge of pride in my governing officials in standing up and independently "calling a spade a _spade_", they sheepishly back down under international brow-beating.

DAMMIT!

At the very least, Canada should be doing MORE to distance itself from the USA, on all fronts!

After all, who, in their right mind, would swim towards and cling to a sinking ship?

Frosty
(needed to vent)

[azazel]

apple bottom jeans

[mithridate]

Originally Posted by azazel

apple bottom jeans

what are apple bottom jeans?

[Big R]

boots with the fur

[Senior]

politics are usually bullshit and this is another example of why.

[decypher]

Also Gordon Brown was bending over for China today saying that they were a beacon of peace because their Olympic slogan is "1 world, 1 dream." Economics always comes first for these guys.

[thebobman]

Potential positive impact from having US & Israel on Torture list: Canada looks like it has a pair on the global scene in the eyes of all countries not politically aligned with the US & Israel. Which, honestly, isn't that many places Canada trades with; Russia & China are really the only big trade partners who wouldn't have negative views on Canada's statements. But hey, Russia & China are squeaky clean human rights wise, aren't they?

Potential negative impact from having US & Israel on Torture list: A brand new cloud is cast over our relations with our largest trading partner in the world: the US.

A lot of people write off the amount of trade with do with the US and think that Canada should show more backbone and push more issues over trade. However, the US accounts for more than 75% our Canada's trade. Think of trade with the US as a job with a crappy boss that accounts for 75% of your income and is located in the office building immediately in front of your home. Since there is no other economy in the world better suited to buy Canadian exports than the US, its probably not in our best interests to push the point on issues that Canada can't impact. Its all fine and dandy if one of the European nations wants to take a stand on US torture policy because they don't risk such a enormous trade relationship.