Harper no-show at Games an error, Chrétien says
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has risked relations with China by failing to attend the Olympic Games and going overboard in honouring Tibet's Dalai Lama, former prime minister Jean Chrétien said yesterday.
Speaking to a Canadian Bar Association gathering, Mr. Chrétien said the missteps are indicative of a government that naively fails to understand the enormous strides the Chinese regime has made in recent years, and that China has a long "collective memory" when it comes to international slights.
"There are always consequences in what you do," he said. "If you think that attacking them would be positive, what do you gain?
It is the second-biggest economy in the world, and in 50 years, it will be the biggest economy. Suddenly, you break the bridge. It would be so easy to be there [at the Olympics]."
Mr. Chrétien said Canada has to keep in mind that it is too small a global player to hector the Chinese or try to hurt them with boycotts.
"We have to live with reality," he said. "It's 1.3 billion people, and I'm telling you that they are moving fast.
You think that Canada is very important in the world? I remember when I was going to China … the press saying: 'Mr. Chrétien, you have to tell the president of China to do this and do that.' Oh really?:lol:
"You want me to the tell the president of a country of 1.3 billion people you should do this and do that, but I don't dare to say what to do to the premier of Sask.? You have to put things in perspective."
.........
In another apparent swipe at Mr. Harper, Mr. Chrétien named every federal leader going back to prime minister Lester Pearson and said their attitude toward the United States and its international policy had been "independent."
"We did not pass as the newest little dog of the United States," he said.:lol::lol:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl.../National/home
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His "little dog" side-kick is priceless!
Perhaps nobody told him that poor Mr. Harper used to suffer from childhood asthma and worries he won't be able to tolerate the Beijing air.
Otherwise, I feel Chretien puts his finger right on the sore spots.
I wish we could have him back as PM!
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has risked relations with China by failing to attend the Olympic Games and going overboard in honouring Tibet's Dalai Lama, former prime minister Jean Chrétien said yesterday.
Speaking to a Canadian Bar Association gathering, Mr. Chrétien said the missteps are indicative of a government that naively fails to understand the enormous strides the Chinese regime has made in recent years, and that China has a long "collective memory" when it comes to international slights.
"There are always consequences in what you do," he said. "If you think that attacking them would be positive, what do you gain?
It is the second-biggest economy in the world, and in 50 years, it will be the biggest economy. Suddenly, you break the bridge. It would be so easy to be there [at the Olympics]."
Mr. Chrétien said Canada has to keep in mind that it is too small a global player to hector the Chinese or try to hurt them with boycotts.
"We have to live with reality," he said. "It's 1.3 billion people, and I'm telling you that they are moving fast.
You think that Canada is very important in the world? I remember when I was going to China … the press saying: 'Mr. Chrétien, you have to tell the president of China to do this and do that.' Oh really?:lol:
"You want me to the tell the president of a country of 1.3 billion people you should do this and do that, but I don't dare to say what to do to the premier of Sask.? You have to put things in perspective."
.........
In another apparent swipe at Mr. Harper, Mr. Chrétien named every federal leader going back to prime minister Lester Pearson and said their attitude toward the United States and its international policy had been "independent."
"We did not pass as the newest little dog of the United States," he said.:lol::lol:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl.../National/home
-------------------------------------------------
His "little dog" side-kick is priceless!
Perhaps nobody told him that poor Mr. Harper used to suffer from childhood asthma and worries he won't be able to tolerate the Beijing air.
Otherwise, I feel Chretien puts his finger right on the sore spots.
I wish we could have him back as PM!
