Canadians angry, but few see lasting damage

CAROLYN THOMPSON, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Originally published Saturday, April 20, 2002

TORONTO -- Canadians are grieving over their military's first combat deaths in half a century, as well as asking angry questions over how American troops could make such a mistake.

Few, however, see lasting damage to the neighboring nations' friendly relationship.

"There are too many other important areas of interest the two countries share," said Joseph Zboralski, a political science professor at Ryerson University.

Besides being faithful military allies, the United States and Canada are each other's largest trading partners and share the world's longest undefended border.

Lauren Ferranti echoed the sentiments of many Canadians on Friday. While appalled at news that four Canadian soldiers had died at the hands of an American pilot, she said the hard feelings wouldn't last.

"It isn't in Canada's best interest to hold a grudge, so we'll probably have to forgive -- but not forget," she said.

There was little evidence the accident would be either forgiven or forgotten anytime soon Friday as the bombing continued to dominate the media. For a second day, commentators and talk-show callers questioned Canada's role in the war on terrorism, questions heard in the streets as well.

"I am angry," said Marie Blosh, in front of Toronto's war memorial, where four fresh daffodils were strewn at the base. Her anger was directed at President Bush, whom she said was dictating foreign policy to Canada and other allies.

"He's charging ahead like some kind of lone cowboy and expecting everyone to follow along," she said. If Canada is to continue its involvement in the war on terrorism, "there needs to be more consensus," she said.

In a letter to The Globe and Mail of Toronto, Jim Hendry wrote, "Canada has no business in Afghanistan, and especially no business being part of an enterprise whose roots lie in U.S. hegemony."

Zboralski said the anger is not surprising.

"In Canada there's always a bit of latent suspicion of the U.S., so those kinds of feelings will percolate to the top at a time like this," he said, "but in terms of the long term, this will pass."

Lewis Mackenzie, a retired Canadian major-general, said he believed the majority of Canadians still believe the war is one worth fighting and understand that so-called "friendly fire" deaths are a reality given the killing power of modern weaponry.

"Nobody, but nobody, controls the munitions that are available to fighting forces these days better than the Americans," he said. The fact that such incidents are rare is testament to that, he said.

For some, the anger over the mistaken dropping of a 500-pound bomb during a training exercise Wednesday night was compounded by Bush's failure to offer condolences during several public appearances Thursday.

On Friday, the president went out of his way to express remorse.

"I want to say publicly what I told Jean Chretien the other day -- about how sorry I am that Canadian solders lost their lives," he said while touring a Secret Service training facility. "It was a terrible accident. I wish we could bring them back. We can't."

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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