DFAIT logo partnership The logo for the by design elab, an independent research development and production think tank specializing in online forums for policy development, incubated in 1997 at the McLuhan Program at the University of Toronto
DFAIT Home Site Map Help Policies Partners Feedback Netcast Français
 
Welcome
Message from the Minister
Dialogue Paper
Answer Questions
View Answers
Discussion Forum
 

Conclusion: The World We Want

Thank you for participating in the Dialogue on Foreign Policy. The interactive web site is now closed. The Minister's report will appear on this web site once it is released.

This Forum is bilingual, and participants post messages in their language of choice.

Canada's role in the UN

Contributor: cfallon

Date: 2003-04-21 09:45:18


I agree with you Fatmomma. Out of this diplomatic mess we witnessed, I hope Canadians will see to it that the UN is reformed constructively.

Foremost in reforms is the funding mechanisms. How can Russia as a permanent member of the security council and economy as large as Canada, only contribute half of what Canada contributes?

That the US witholds payments is not a good thing. I wish I knew more about their position on it - all I know is that has been a problem for a while, through Democratic and Republican presidents, so there must be some long standing gripe. It might have to do with the level of contribution expected of them relative to the puny contributions of the other permanent members of the security councils.

Reply to this message

Show in topic

Canada's role in the UN

Contributor: Barretm82

Date: 2003-04-27 01:30:50


A good question is what to do with U.N. members who do this?

France briefed Iraq on war: report
April 27, 2003

FRANCE gave Saddam Hussein's regime regular reports on its dealings with US officials, The Sunday Times reported, quoting files it had found in the wreckage of the Iraqi foreign ministry.

The conservative British weekly said the information kept Saddam abreast of every development in US planning and may have helped him to prepare for war.
One report warned of a US "attempt to involve Iraq with terrorism" as "cover for an attack on Iraq", according to The Sunday Times.

Another, dated September 25, 2001, from Naji Sabri, the Iraqi foreign minister, to Saddam's palace, was based on a briefing from the French ambassador in Baghdad and covered talks between presidents Jacques Chirac and US President George W Bush.

Chirac was said to have been told that the US was "100 per cent certain Osama bin Laden was behind the September 11 attacks and that the answer of the United States would be decisive".

The report also gave a detailed account of American attitudes towards Saddam amid anxiety in Iraq that the country might soon become a target of US reprisals.

"Information available to the French embassy in Washington suggests that there is no intention on the part of the Americans to attack Iraq, but that matters might change quickly," said one document from folders marked "France 2001" found by The Sunday Times.

Bernard Jenkin, defence spokesman for Britain's opposition Conservative Party, told the paper that the briefings went beyond diplomatic courtesies and pointed to French "duplicitousness".

France came in for sustained attack from Britain's tabloid press in the run-up to and during the Iraq war for opposing early military action against Saddam's regime, with the Sun newspaper notably labelling Chirac a "worm".

Agence France-Presse

Reply to this message

Canada's role in the UN

Contributor: fatmomma

Date: 2003-04-27 16:42:09


Nothing reported here regarding anything that France supposedly relayed to Saddam that wasn't public information.
Unless there is more important top secret documentation that was relayed by France; I fail to see any problem with actions of France.
These reports appear to come from tabloid papers that often attempt to make amountain out of a molehill.
Not worth mentioning unless further more damning certified documentation is available.

Reply to this message

Canada's role in the UN

Contributor: Barretm82

Date: 2003-04-27 19:10:50


Yeah I see your point; I should have phrased my question better.

Do you think Saddam would have been more eager to satisfy the U.N. early on if the French government wouldn't have told Saddam that the U.S. was bluffing? Could it have prevented the war? Just curious....

Reply to this message

Canada's role in the UN

Contributor: fatmomma

Date: 2003-04-27 23:57:24


No, what I read was common knowledge; plus in my opinion Saddam was cooperating quite surprisingly well. Of course, I am comparing to getting anything done by our governments. It took 21/2 months to remove and install 6 ticket machines for skytrain here in Vancouver with people working(?) everyday almost

Reply to this message

Canada's role in the UN

Contributor: cfallon

Date: 2003-04-29 11:44:55


What I've read (I admit it, in the Post) was that France was:

a - passing along secrets to Saddam about US/UK discussions and information.

b - coaching Saddam on how to look like they were complying with the inspections.

I don't think Saddam was cooperating. I am glad to see him out of the picture - hopefully, forever.

Reply to this message

Canada's role in the UN

Contributor: codc01

Date: 2003-04-29 14:13:02


I personally don't have any problems with that, i consider that very unethical, BUT, ethics has nothing to do with politics of middling and super powers...

For example, CIA helping out in the failed coup against Chavez in Venezuela...

For example, the attack on the Rainow Warrior boat of Greenpeace by French Secret Services..

For example, the CIA funding the Taliban , up until about 2 years ago...

The more powerful you are, the more twisted politics you will do to keep power.

I have no examples for MI5/MI6 though :( I'm sure there are, but i don't know of any...


Reply to this message

Canada's role in the UN

Contributor: codc01

Date: 2003-04-27 16:55:50


Why are the reports 2 years old? Thats weird, anyways, i don't have any problems with that... Its not illegal.

I have more problems with the labour MP who may have got money for his anti-war stance, and i also have more problems with the fact that the Russian embassy may have been jamming GPS signals for bombings ...

Reply to this message

Canada's role in the UN

Contributor: Barretm82

Date: 2003-04-27 19:11:53


Yeah, very disturbing... codc01.

Reply to this message