There is no need for a war with Iraq because U.S. President George W. Bush has “already won,” Prime Minister Jean Chrétien said in a television interview aired Sunday.
He made the comments during a pretaped interview for ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos. It was recorded at the prime minister’s home in Shawinigan, Que.
Chrétien said Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein is already boxed in.
“(Bush) has created a situation where Saddam cannot do anything anymore. He has troops at the door and inspectors on the ground. Planes flying over, and he cannot do anything,” said Chrétien.
But on the broadcast, Bush’s national security adviser disagreed with the prime minister. Condoleezza Rice said Saddam is far from contained and continues to be a threat to his neighbours.
Chrétien compared the situation to the Cold War, saying the U.S. prevailed “without one tank, one missile and losing one life…there is no more U.S.S.R.”
He raised a red flag over the issue of “regime change,” warning it could set a dangerous precedent. The argument that Saddam must be ousted from power is already causing confusion, Chrétien said.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Friday Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein could remain in power if he disarms. A day earlier, Bush publicly stated that disarming Iraq “means regime change.”
Chrétien said he was not “comfortable” with regime change, because “where do you stop…if it’s OK that we do it there, why not elsewhere?”
The presence of one superpower in the world makes some countries nervous and uncomfortable, he said. “Some do not want to take your word…too easily, they want to ask questions and they are afraid to have only one superpower.”
Canadians are “always willing to get involved in peacekeeping” missions, he said, when asked if Canada would serve in Iraq.
The difference of opinion on Iraq will not hurt relations between Canada and the U.S., the prime minister said. “We’ve always been very close with the Americans.”
It seems that Chrétien has finally made a firm anti-war stance. Though it seems like Evil Dictator Bush doesn’t care what the world thinks, it is nice to know that our nation is not lead by a war-monger
2 comments on “Chrétien opposes War”
for a long time a lot of people in this country questioned our Prime Minister… I however am no longer one of them after hearing these statements. It seems out Prime Minister is actually thinking with a calm and logical approach to the situation and actually represents Canadians well and is looking out for our best interest.
I am prouder then ever to be a Canadian
I agree 🙂 Jean is a good man