I read an interesting article today at canoe.ca stating that Canada has taken to putting up ads in subway stations around Washington, D.C. The point of this ad campaign is to let Americans in the capitol know that Canadians are also fighting the war on terror.
I have to admit at first glance I thought this was a bizarre move on Canada’s part but upon further consideration it actually makes sense. Relations between Canada and the U.S. have been strained since President Bush decided to send troops into Iraq while then Prime Minister Jean Chrétien opted out. Each country had their own distinct reasons for their decisions and I was of the mind that both had the right to do what they felt was best for their countries. Unfortunately, this parting of ways resulted in growing cracks in the foundation of the two nations’ long term friendship.
I now see this ad campaign as a positive step, along with this week’s meeting between President Bush and Prime Minister Harper, as a step in the right direction toward mending strained ties between Canada and the U.S. Hey, we’re all on the same side here and to part ways over whether to go into Iraq or not will only serve to let terrorists win on yet another level.
On a related note it was announced that Canada’s role in Afghanistan will expand and cover the entire country by August. Canadians and Americans will again be working side by side to help put a stop to terrorism.
Though I wish, as I’m sure most everyone does, that it was under better circumstances it is good to see the two countries putting their past differences aside and starting to work together. The U.S. and Canada have been allies, friends and trading partners for so long that it really does behoove us all to use our relationship to aid one another as best we can and when it comes to stopping terrorism it will be all of us that win in the end.