Photograph Source: Dan Scavino – Public Domain
In order to buy a 30-day reprieve from Trump tariffs on Canada PM Trudeau made a few concessions. Canada would name a drug-fighting “Czar,” and put extra border watchers in place. Nothing surprising, though disappointing and humiliating.
Giving way to U.S bullying will only bring more, as everyone understands. “The whining dog gets kicked,” as the proverb has it.
But there was another concession/agreement that does not belong in the category of compromise or reasonable concessions. Trudeau agreed with Trump to label Mexican drug cartels “terrorists,” a designation which Mexico vehemently rejects.
Why does Mexico object? Because the U.S. doctrine on terrorism asserts that the United States has extraterritorial rights and can capture and/or destroy any entity they deem terrorist. The threat of military intervention in Mexico to solve border and drug problems is an American constant.
Trudeau has no business fueling that fire. So why does he say it? And why are his compatriots (left, right, and center) silent on the matter?
Answer: Canada remains a strong and proud member of the imperial band, united in the “Five Eyes” of the Anglosphere (with the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand – in short, the WASPs). eader of a sovereign country targeted by the same discriminatory tariff policy and a potential ally of Canada in its own defense against the imperial actions of the new resident of the White House.
The proper answer to Trump should: ask Mexico, it is a sovereign country. But instead Trudeau/Canada agreed to gang-up with Trump, giving Trump an extra weapon to wield against a Mexico, a country which has been the victim of U.S. aggression many times in the past.
Canada chose to join the U.S. attack on a sovereign country targeted by the same discriminatory tariff policy that is also potential ally of Canada in its own defense against the imperial actions of the new resident of the White House.
So, we learn that at the end of the day, Canada will fall-in behind Washington to remain a trusted stooge, as when it agreed to arrest a Chinese businesswoman when Trump asked it to. Note that Ontario premier Doug Ford recently did the same by saying that Trump should focus on the “real trade war with China.”
Mexico no doubt sees what is going on and will make appropriate preparations.
If Canada and Quebec ever have a hope of true sovereignty and independence, they should stop obeying the Anglo-American imperial order. The starting point is to respect Mexican sovereignty.
Mexico probably sees what is happening and will make appropriate preparations.
And Quebec must do the same. Nobody in Quebec fogets the 1995 referendum and the speed with which Ottawa rushed to Washington to implore the Clinton administration to come out strongly against Quebec sovereignty and also threaten to exclude Quebec from NAFTA?