President Obama indicated that he would not pressure the Canadian government with respect to concerns between United States and Canada. I have to say this is much different compared to the past administration that came to Canada and pressured the government to be involved in Iraq. Canada never went into Iraq. Rather Canada went into Afghanistan.
An interview that took place yesterday at the White House with Canada's well known national news television broadcaster - Peter Mansbridge. It was a very enriching to watch. There was a time that Peter was asked to run for president but I feel he would have made a superb Prime Minister here in Canada if you ask me.
Within the interview President Obama indicated and acknowledged the amount of work that the Canadian military has done within the most dangerous zones in Afghanistan since 2008. As well, he hopes that Canada will bring into play more forces as at the same time he has now sent over 17,000 thousand additional American troops. This is the first military decision that President Obama has made. For myself I can’t say how pleased I am that he sees things in really a much different way – a more open yet righteously valid way. I really don’t wish to go down that slope with talking about George Bush all that I can say is that Bush and Cheney have been the worst thing and they created so many enemies but now they are enemies between themselves, ironic isn’t it?
Within what I have come to find is that Obama’s focus is not pressuring. He is not going to place the Canadian government on the spot with Afghanistan, but he wishes to speak to Prime Minister Harper in hopes that Canada does continue it’s mandate to stay within Afghanistan with probably more military troops. But within this interview of last night, he praised Canada for taking the right course since the beginning and acknowledged the amount of men and women we have lost.
It's good to see Obama recognizes the necessity to keep fighting the Taliban until they are suppressed to the point that the Afghans can live in peace in their own country without Pakistani financed terrorists destabilizing Afghanistan.
Some will love him in a year - some will hate him. Most of all is that the movement is not about an image - rather of progress. What is most important is that he fosters and realigns the relationships that have been so worn by way of the two that ran the government over the last eight years. I myself believe this is the right course for Canada and since now there probably will be a slow withdrawal from Iraq and a push into Afghanistan - < hey we all should have done this the first time don’t ya think? Within four weeks what this leader has done in concert with his administration what took Franklin D. Roosevelt one year.
Many Canadians are so crazed to meet or at least get a glimpse of Obama, however he will only be having discussions for six hours and he will not be doing the traditional things that have been done on the first visit. But he is cutting to the chase. I like this! It's obvious that our economic values are intact. That is probably the number one thing that is within his vast agenda that he inherited. But I think that will be the main area that is discussed when Obama arrives on Thursday. Yet he will have to deal with Congress, just like Canada's Prime Minister has to deal with Parliment. But the one common thing is that we all wish to have progress. In my humble opinion, the protectionism clause will not happen due to the natural resources. It will be very interesting and I think we have come to a time in which our two governments do not have the borders that were put in place a long time ago. Perhaps this is the way to build back an economy...
“My hope is that in conversations on Thursday that I have with Prime Minister Steven Harper is that he and I end up seeing the importance of a comprehensive strategy and one that ultimately the people of both Canada and the United States support”. ~ President Barrack Obama…
Skeptic that I am, I read between the lines. What comprehensive strategy? Why is it important that both Canadians and Americans agree with whatever it may be? I don't believe this was said only with regard to the topic of Afghanistan. There's more to it. Much, much more.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama is trying his best to straighten up the whole "razzmatazz' of the world economy..but of course that remains to be seen.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this interview, Jack. It's very interesting and informative.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the focus should have been Afghanistan all along. I think Canada, as well as other countries, will find Obama much better to deal with than many of our past leaders.
ReplyDeleteHe can't fix all the problems and mend all the fences, with other countries, immediately, but I do believe he is on the right track and believe he will continue to work hard to set the economy back to rights.
Yes there is I know this was one of two writes I wished to do with regards to this renewal of a relationships which has been in place despite the small differences between these two countries. I would say that your stating that Canada wants out of Afghanastan - as most Canadians do already with all that we have lost there, but in some order and fashion it's good that finally there is not desention between governments. I would hope. Economically there a large differences, but the bottom line is that if one country goes totally internalized (any country) this world is about to take a large shift economically. As we are just experiencing it right now.
ReplyDeleteNorma yes I remember back three years if not more where everyone was sold on George and Dick and then when things started to come out regarding their conspiracy - everyone then understood what had happened. Canada along with others yes, but if you look in the history books we have been two countries that have some rather neat history between each other.
ReplyDeleteHe can't there is no way he can, but along with alliances as now that is needed - there will be a way. If I may, if each country decided to completely internalize the world is going to shut down. As you say he is mending. The economy yeah I hope I can write on it as that was going to be something I desired to write on and people can interpret me as being good or bad - you of all know that I do believe in both of these countries. But the video that is shown is Peter Mansbridge and it's a different slant on the news and unbiased reporting from another angle.
You wrote something last night that was truly interesting. But think about it - he has done more in 4 weeks - than most any other leader in a democratic government. Thank you!!!
Your most welcome Amy.
ReplyDelete"Bush and Cheney have been the worst thing and they created so many enemies but now they are enemies between themselves, ironic isn’t it?"
ReplyDeleteDarkness feeds upon itself as well as others.
This is a very good post. What I would prefer to see is Obama send enough troops to help your troops withdraw and both countries leave the area. I don't know that it will happen, but I believe it would be a very positive move.
Cal, I am not sure as there are several things to consider but it's ironic with the Bush and Cheney, and yes darkness does feed. But I guess that takes place in every arena to some extent but not to the extent that placed us where we are now. I know that the economy is the one thing that really comes first but and I wish to writing on it after seeing what takes place tomorrow. As the video interview is prone to the economic standing and concern that five countries have within the G7.
ReplyDeleteMy hopes are a return of what was from both sides between these two nations especially - as it's been something that has always been there and we could say "what if", but now we have to look outside of the box and think about "what now". My thoughts...
Cal, I am not sure as there are several things to consider but it's ironic with the Bush and Cheney, and yes darkness does feed. But I guess that takes place in every arena to some extent but not to the extent that placed us where we are now. I know that the economy is the one thing that really comes first but and I wish to writing on it after seeing what takes place tomorrow. As the video interview is prone to the economic standing and concern that five countries have within the G7.
ReplyDeleteMy hopes are a return of what was from both sides between these two nations especially - as it's been something that has always been there and we could say "what if", but now we have to look outside of the box and think about "what now". My thoughts...
An excerpt from Jerene's site
ReplyDeleteExcerpt from "The Gift of Change" by Marianne Williamson
Angels and Demons
"During the wee hours of the morning, both angels and demons take shape. The glories of a life as well as its terrors are clearer before dawn has broken. Once the light of day casts its spell on us, deeper meanings--sometimes obvious only hours before--are easily forgotten. We fall prey to the mind-set of the world.
How unnatural our modern Western relationship to nature's clock. Did Edison realize the havoc that lay hidden in his gift to humanity? The electric light bulb would change the world. In service to the industrial era and its demands for productivity, we trained ourselves to sleep when the system needed us to sleep and to wake when it needed us to awaken. How often, then, we miss the sunrise and its simple blessings. These blessings are not metaphorical. They are more than beautiful; they are a reminder from God: "Look what I bring forth out of every dark night; such is the work I shall do within you."
Thank you Jerene...
http://kellianah.multiply.com/
I think that, as with everything else, only time will tell what Mr. Obama's true agenda is, how he will achieve it, and what the end result will be. In the meantime, we can either be cynics and expect the worse, or we can be hopeful and expect the best. In the between spaces is where it will finally find its home, you know? That has always been the way in politics, and I see no reason to suppose things will change significantly. What is possible is not always what is probable, if you get my drifgt.
ReplyDeleteLet's give Mr. Obama a chance to get a footing...a REAL footing...before we set out hopes on any happy ending, or set our clocks to celebrate the hour of his failure.
Okay.. I'm done!