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Canadians see Bush, bin Laden as national security threats


Chris Wattie
CanWest News Service

June 13, 2005


TORONTO -- Canadians believe U.S. President George W. Bush is almost as great a threat to our national security as Osama bin Laden, according to a government opinion poll obtained by the National Post.

The 1,500 people contacted for the poll, conducted last February for the Department of National Defence, listed "International Organized Crime" as the top danger, with 38 per cent ranking it as a great threat to security concern and another 50 per cent listing it as moderate.

But tied for second in the poll were "U.S. Foreign Policy" and "Terrorism," with 37 per cent rating it a great risk. Just behind those worries came "Climate Change and Global Warming."

Experts said the results reflected a continuing "schizophrenia" in the Canadian public's attitudes towards defence -- still worried about international terrorism even three years after the Sept. 11 attacks, but also concerned about the power and aggressive policies of the Americans.

The poll, by Ekos Research Associates Inc., surveyed Canadians' attitudes towards a wide range of defence, military and national security issues, part of an annual public opinion polling process by the Department of National Defence.

It was considered accurate within 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Most of those contacted for the poll had "great confidence" in the Canadian Forces' ability to respond to natural disasters in Canada, but only 25 per cent felt the same way about how our military would handle a terrorist attack on Canadian soil.

John Thompson, the director of the MacKenzie Institute think-tank on security issues, said Canadians have always had mixed feelings about the U.S.

"There's a huge split in the Canadian public mind, between people who are worried about terrorism and people who think that the U.S. are the real terrorists," he said. "There are still a lot of people who are sticking to the old ideal of fuzzy internationalism or soft power . . . yet there are also a lot of people who are not relaxed yet after Sept. 11th."

The poll suggested other security concerns preying at the public's mind include "Weapons of Mass Destruction," listed as a great danger by 30 per cent of those surveyed, and "Potential Weaponization of Space," which 26 per cent of those polled found a great concern.

Health threats, such as the SARS outbreak of 2003, nuclear threats, natural disasters and countries in turmoil, such as Sudan or Haiti, were the least worrisome threats according to the poll.

Thompson said people are correct to be skeptical about the Canadian Forces' ability to respond to a terrorist attack on Canada. "We could barely handle a major domestic incident like the ice storm today, forget about a terrorist attack," he said.

"There are major problems and that's becoming clear to the Canadian public."

But the poll found a great degree of public affection for their armed forces and overwhelming support for more funding and better equipment for the troops, even if it means higher taxes or less spending in other areas.

Just over three quarters of those surveyed said the Canadian Forces was underfunded, and 44 per cent believed that a decade of government cuts to the defence budget had hurt Canada's international reputation while 43 per cent thought the cuts have put the safety of soldiers at risk.

(National Post)
http://www.canada.com/saskatoon/starpho ... 1c07e368c0

Well as a Canadian, I don't see Bush as a threat to our national security.

You probably should. :*)**

As a Canadian, I'm too chill with everyone in the world to really worry about anyone attempting to kill me. Well except for crazy people with guns. They kind of scare me.

Ok, that definatly qualifies as a crazy person with a gun!

I see him as a national threat. Perhaps not in the way Bin Laden is, but in the ways that he could corrupt our sovreignty, coerce us into trade deals/tariffs that are bad for us, and use our soil for "anti terrorism" legislation.

And that picture of him with a gun makes sinead very afraid. Not of him, of the gun.

thirdhour wrote:Ok, that definatly qualifies as a crazy person with a gun!

It shouldn't be funny. But it is.

Umm... in terms of trade deals we actually wanted to sign what was the worst deal for Canada in its history when we signed NAFTA. We begged and pleaded to be included. This was 15 years before Bush even took office. I don't see how Bush is such a threat to our sovereignty when it comes to trade... Also, is he going to invade us? Very unlikely, in fact I would be willing to wager my house and possessions that the US will not invade us in the next 50 years.

I think that since Canada is Canada, and we have very few threats (if any), Bush stands out on a list. It doesn't mean he's a true threat.

This thread is here just to be a Bush bashing thread. But what else would you expect since Bush is an evil man, right Sinead?

Oh dear god. Jim, grow up. I thought it was very interesting, to see what Canadians view as national threats. Why would I make another bush bashing thread? It's like being a dead horse, its been done.

I agree with Jim. Everyone loves to make fun of Bush. Eh, it's cool.

I wonder though, what would be Americans' worries? Perhaps Canada?

It would be completely valid for them too, because in Canada alot of laws are different, Gay Marriage, the fact that they want to decriminalize and later on legalize marijuana, gun laws and etc.

Cass wrote:I agree with Jim. Everyone loves to make fun of Bush. Eh, it's cool.

I wonder though, what would be Americans' worries? Perhaps Canada?

I gotta agree with Jim, too. All this Bush bashing is just getting annoying. I think I'd rather see another Jackson trial then have to hear everyone bashing Bush over and over.

Well at least they don't have to learn new jokes!

*Ba Dum Csh*

i wonder if that picture was taken here in the south where he likes to hunt.