Bush: Canada Eligible for Iraq Contracts
President Bush, seeking to mend relations with America's northern neighbor, said Tuesday that Canada will be eligible for a second round of U.S.-financed reconstruction contracts in Iraq.
In a breakfast meeting with new Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, Bush said he had told Martin of the shift in policy. Martin "understands the stakes" in rebuilding a free and peaceful Iraq, Bush said. He offered no details of what the contracts would be worth.
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"It does show that working together, we can arrive at a reasonable solution," Martin told reporters after the breakfast.
Bush did not say whether other countries would be affected by the policy shift. A French Embassy spokeswoman said French Defense minister Michelle Alliot-Marie will meet with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice on Thursday in Washington.
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Matt's Chat
This is a good move. The point has been made, now is the time to reach out to a few countries that have been supportive without having been supportive (if you know what I mean and I think you do).France, Germany and Russia will somehow worm their way in and the administration will go along with "internationalizing" because that's what the Democrats want.
But I draw the line at surrendering to UN...
Mark's Remarks
I knew we would let Canada in. They have been supportive (the people, not necessarily the govt.) in the war on terror, and they also have helped in other ways. Good move, Mr. President.
I do not care what the Dims want. France must not be allowed in, and with the stockpiles of Russian arms sold to Saddam growing, I say neither should Russia. They have proven themselves honorless allies, and I say let them swing in the wind.
