Mr. Dithers Demands Attention

Warning! The following exchange of views may dispose otherwise sane individuals to conclude that the Prime Minister of Canada has completely lost touch with reality. No one can possibly occupy such a high office and be so stupid. Insanity, therefore, is the only reasonable explanation. (Trust me. I'm mad and I know.)

(From the Canadian Press via the Globe & Mail)

Ottawa - Prime Minister Paul Martin is insisting that United States seek permission before firing any missiles over Canada. ....

The insistence came Friday in response to warnings that Canada has abdicated part of its sovereignty by refusing to take part in the U.S. missile-defence project.

The top U.S. envoy to Canada - Paul Cellucci - said Thursday that Canada would be "outside of the room" while the United States decided whether to fire at incoming missiles. Mr. Martin said Friday, however, that "we would expect to be consulted.

"This is our airspace, we're a sovereign nation and you don't intrude on a sovereign nation's airspace without seeking permission."

Mr. Cellucci said Canada has abdicated its say over how a potential missile attack would be thwarted.

"We will deploy. We will defend North America," he said.

"We simply cannot understand why Canada would in effect give up its sovereignty - its seat at the table - to decide what to do about a missile that might be coming towards Canada."

Canadians might not worry about being targets of a missile launch but, Mr. Cellucci noted, anything fired at the United States could very well pass over its northern neighbour.

"I personally don't think it's in Canada's sovereign interest to be outside of the room when a decision is made about a missile that might be incoming toward Canada," he has said.

Let me see now. Incoming missiles fly at a gazillion miles an hour. Decisions respecting interception must be made in a matter of minutes or seconds. Let us assume the missile is overflying Canadian airspace heading for an American city. Mr. Martin insists the United States of America has to consult with him before intercepting the missile over sovereign Canada.

Soooo, what are the chances that the US will take precious time ask permission to consult with a man so noted for his decision making abilities that the Economist has nicknamed him Mr. Dithers? The ditherer is demanding a veto over an interception undertaken by a defence system which he has refused to support, but which the US government feels is vital to the defence of their homeland. Yea gods.

It is better to keep your mouth shut and have people think you a fool than to open it and prove the case.