The Role of Canada WRT The US

I read a 'letter to the editor' in a local newspaper the other day that provoked some interesting thought. The letter was from an author somewhere in Texas who was busy looking down their nose at Canada. More or less implying that because of our relatively small size we were therefore insignificant on the World Stage, and in no position to criticize the United States.

I will agree with the author of that letter in one simple dimension - Canada is certainly in no position to enforce its will or beliefs where the United States is concerned. Although, one should remember that it was Canadian forces that ultimately attacked and burned down the White House during one of the colonial wars - so perhaps the smugness should be tempered somewhat.

However, I digress somewhat. The letter itself got me thinking about Canada's role on the world stage, and what form it should take. As a nation, we are relatively wealthy; we occupy the second largest land area on the globe; we possess significant resources. Our one single weakness is our relatively sparse population. At some 30 million citizens, there are individual states in the US that have more people than we do. If one views world affairs largely as a muscle flexing exercise, then Canada is clearly the 98 pound weakling on muscle beach.

However, as the world have proven time and again, international affairs are much more than just exercises in flexing flaccid muscles. As the US experiences in Vietnam, and now Iraq underscore, simply playing tough guy on the world stage doesn't get you very far. Canada has to be more subtle in its dealings with other nations. With our relatively small size, even under full war readiness, Canadians cannot put together an army of much more than a maximum of a million troops (and that only for a very short period of time). There are other ways that Canada can bring itself to bear - and often has. It would be false logic to assume that because Canada is not a "military power broker" that we do not have influence. In fact, our most significant influence in the world is predicated on that very lack of power to begin with - we are seen as honest brokers.

The United States is not seen as an "honest broker" for a variety of reasons. First, a 'six-shooter diplomacy' approach to the world simply doesn't convince anyone of the wholesomeness of intent. Second, a perpetual willful blindness towards Israel certainly doesn't buy any credibility in the Arab world. Third, US foreign policy since the Cuban Missile Crisis has been riddled with disasters - Vietnam, Cuba itself, much of Central and South America, Rwanda - the list is lengthy. In many of these, Canada has chosen not to stand on the same platform as its southern neighbor. Not out of hostility, nor out of a desire to antagonize. The reason is usually one of philosophy - Canada simply does not see things quite the same way.

Americans should look to Canada as a diplomatic conscience. Where the United States will often dive impetuously into conflict or other ill-considered activities, Canada is the nation that likes to 'think it through' first. (We have to - conflict bears a high human price, and our human resources are small) If Canada has misgivings about something, it is not a matter to be ignored, instead it is a matter for consideration and discussion. I think the events that have unfolded in Iraq these past couple of years stand in testament to Canada's stated reservations about that endeavor. The United States is no safer for having deposed Saddam Hussein, Iraq is on the edge of civil war, and the Middle East is now more polarized against "Western Culture" than it ever has been before.

When Canada expresses reservations about something, it's time for the American Government to sit up and take notice. Canada is, by nature, more introspective; more intuitive than the gestalt entity of the United States Government. Commonalities of history and geography make Canada the ideal foil for US foreign policy. I'm not saying that the US should follow Canada's lead, but rather that when Canada starts expressing reservations, the US needs to step back and re-evaluate its position. There is enough shared context between our two nations that significant differences of conclusion warrant careful consideration.

Canada is not the 51st State, nor should it ever be. We serve a far more valuable purpose in the world by being a sovereign nation. In the past, American presidents have used Canada as an intelligent foil to US foreign policy. Those presidents have presided over periods of relative peace in the world, and prosperity at home. (I would point out that GWB is presiding over a queasy economy, a world in turmoil (at his hand), spent credibility on the world stage, and a burgeoning budget deficit.)