Americans Behaving Badly

The U.S. ambassador to Canada rebuked Canadian politicians who criticize the United States for their own political gain, in remarks that appear to be aimed at Prime Minister Paul Martin.

It is a brave, or stupid, ambassador who gets himself involved in the election campaign of another country. Ambassador Wilkins' little foray has done little to warm Canadian hearts towards the Bush administration.

Wilkins kicked off his remarks, to the Canadian Club in Ottawa, by cracking a "beer and popcorn" joke at the expense of Scott Reid, Prime Minister Martin's director of communications, who is in hot water for a derogatory comment he made about parents and child care.

Wilkins quotes:

"It may be smart election-year politics to thump your chest and constantly criticize your friend and your No. 1 trading partner. But it is a slippery slope, and all of us should hope that it doesn't have a long-term impact on our relationship.”

"It's easy to criticize the United States; we're an easy target at times...”

"I would respectfully submit to you that when it comes to a global conscience, the U.S. is walking the walk. And when it comes to climate change, we are making significant progress, greater progress than many of those who have been most critical of the U.S."

"…a toxic attitude that I fear can't help but hurt the relationship unless all of us make a concerted effort to simply tone it down."

Is this the new diplomacy? It sounds more like the bully threatening and whining in turn.

There are two salient points here:

1/ Martin’s offending comments were made, not in an election speech but in the context of an International forum on climate change. Is the US so insecure that they must bully leaders of other countries to their way of thinking?
As a side comment, most Canadians would have missed Martin’s comments if the Ambassador had not highlighted them.

2/ It is Wilkins who has drawn the US into Canada’s election debate. His ingenuous opening remarks were extremely political. In a very real sense, this undermined any credibility his following comments might have.

In his own words: “The last time I looked the United States was not on the ballot."

For his part, Martin has repeatedly criticized the United States over softwood lumber and environmental policies during the election campaign. The offending remarks, however, were made at the UN conference on climate change.

"To the reticent nations, including the United States, I'd say there ... is such a thing as a global conscience and now is the time to listen to it."

To underline his position, Martin says:

"I will defend Canada – period. I will defend the Canadian position, and I will defend our values, and I will defend our interests against anybody.
“I have not made the United States or any country a target in this campaign."