Star Wars has been a popular topic these days, but Yoda, Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker aren’t the characters in this scarier, rhetoric-filled version taking place in a galaxy not so far away…
George W. Bush’s plans to weaponize space have raised economic, ethical and environmental concern worldwide, along with the fear missile defence could conceivably turn into missile offence in the hands of the current U.S. president.
The plan involves land, sea and space-based missile detectors designed to intercept incoming rogue missiles, destroying them before they reach their targets. There are also plans to install actual weapons in space.
Sound scary? It is. All tests to date have been relatively unsuccessful, with the last test missing its target by 200 miles. The U.S.is planning to go ahead with the initiative by the end of the year.
Now it’s time for Canada to take a position. It’s time for the ‘you’re either with us or against us’ talk. Should we sign onto this initiative? And if not, what are the consequences of refusing to do so?
Jack Layton, federal leader of the New Democratic Party, said in a speech at Carleton University it’s “an absurd view of security…spending billions of dollars on weapons that don’t work.”
The Liberals seem split on the issue. Defence Minister Bill Graham has stated it’s a wise preparatory step and the decision should be left entirely to the government with no need for a vote in the House. On the other side of the rift is Carolyn Parrish, MP for Mississauga-Erindale, who has called the idea like “joining a coalition of the idiots.”
Any missile defence program designed to protect the United States, will, by proximity, protect Canada as well. And boy oh boy, we need the protection!
When it comes to defence, Canada’s military is functionally lame. Some say Canada doesn’t really need an elaborate defence program because we are not in the same political circumstance as our neighbour to the south, we DO reap the benefits of a program THEY clearly need.
If we don’t sign on to missile defence and the U.S. government goes ahead with its plans, which both presidential candidates have committed to do, what will happen when, hypothetically, a missile is aimed at a border city?
“Hi, Washington? Yeah, this is Ottawa calling. Sorry we didn’t help you guys out with that whole missile defence program…but would you mind shooting that weapon down now? That’d be great! Oh, and thanks for saving our necks. We owe you one . . . maybe . . . ”
Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to step up now, tell them we wish to join “the coalition of the wise” and make this program better with Canadian input?
Because once a country has lost all ability to protect itself, through force or bilateral cooperation, is it truly sovereign?
Fact is, the U.S.is going ahead with this plan and we should have a say about it because either way, Canadians will be affected and should be involved in how the plan unfolds.