Coincidence or is Martin just that good...
 

So the Canadian government releases a new security initiative this week and all of a sudden after meeting with US Congress and Bush, NAFTA wants to put an end to the Softwood Lumber dispute and have the US pay back Canada all the tariff monies and looks like Canadian beef will be rolling through the boarder again...


Bush encouraging about beef, border: Martin
Last Updated Fri, 30 Apr 2004 21:25:46
WASHINGTON - The border between Canada and the United States will be open to Canadian cattle "as soon as possible," U.S. President George W. Bush said on Friday.


IN DEPTH: Prime Ministers and Presidents

Bush told reporters in the White House Rose Garden that he had assured Prime Minister Paul Martin it was in both countries' interests to reopen the border closed nearly a year ago when a single case of mad cow disease was found in Alberta.


Paul Martin and George W. Bush walk out of the White House before speaking to reporters. (AP photo)

"My administration is committed to a policy of free trade when it comes to beef," he said.

It's the sort of message Martin was hoping to hear when he began a two-day tour of Washington on Thursday.

"The president was very encouraging," said Martin.

"It's very clear that Canada and the United States, working together, we can make great progress," said Martin.

He met with Bush for about an hour in the Oval Office. After briefly meeting reporters, they returned to the White House for a working lunch.

Martin later held a news conference at the Canadian Embassy, where he enumerated the issues he and Bush discussed. These included trade, the environment, energy, security, international relations and the U.S. missile defence shield plan.

On the last item, Martin said he raised it to make it clear Canada would not participate in any program that would put weapons in space.

The relationship between the North American neighbours has been strained in recent years, reaching its greatest tension when Ottawa refused to join the war in Iraq.


FROM APRIL 29, 2004: Martin says decision not to join Iraq coalition was 'right for Canada'

Bush swept aside those concerns on Friday, pointing out Canada's military contributions in Afghanistan and Haiti, and to the reconstruction of Iraq.

"We've got a good friend in Canada," said Bush.

http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/photos/bushmartin_cp_5773102.jpg

Also, there was an interesting article yesterday on the cover of the Post stating that Bush wants Martin to talk to the UN, NATO and the EU and convince them to send peace keeping troops into Iraq.

I watched the press conference yesterday. I'm glad that American-Canadian relations have remained civil throughout everything. I did feel like some reporters were asking Bush some questions totally irrelevant to the topic (our relationship w/ Canada). He still answered them graciously and thoroughly.

Re: Coincidence or is Martin just that good...
 

That was a possiblity brought up at a seminar series held at the Munk Centre for International Relations here at UofT.... the US Foreign Policy expert (sorry can't think of name right now) seemed to feel that Canada was the ideal middle man to broach the subject of UN and NATO involvement in Iraq, as we are seen as friendly but independent of US Policy....


On a side note I hope the Laura Bush encourages GW to read the book she got as a gift.... Paris 1919 it might prove to be valueable to GW in opening his eyes to the far reaching consequences of war and most importantly it's aftermath.

Laura Bush got some book as a gift? From who(m) and how do you know - dd she announce it?

And which sister is she, the sometime Tommy Hilfiger model or the one who hasn't modelled for TH? I can never remember them.

No, decadence. Laura Bush is his wife. Our First Lady. And no matter how I feel about Bush and his policies, I have utmost respect for Mrs. Bush. She is truly a lady and has done quite a bit in her home state to promote literacy. You're thinking of Neil Bush's daughters. That's a whole other ballgame.


edited because i am in another world today

Who's Neil??

I though George W had two daughters.

Yeah, Barbara and Jenna that's it. :confused:

Got it on the Laura part. I don't know a Neil?

Neil is his brother. He is the father of the model daughters.

So George Junior doesn't have any children? :confused:

I always see them referred to as the First daughters/twins.

George W and Laura Bush's kids are Barbara and Jenna, named after their grandmothers.

That's what I thought?

Swissmiss?

It's not really difficult.....

George W. Bush: President of the United States
Laura Welch Bush: First Lady of the United States (and Kappa Alpha Theta :) )
Barbara Bush: Daughter of current President; student
Jenna Bush: Twin of Barbara; also a student

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/grap...31/wjen31.jpeg


***********************

Neil Bush: Brother of the President
Sharon Bush: Neil's ex-wife
Lauren Bush: Models for Tommy Hilfiger, among others
[IMG]
http://www.ananova.com/images/web/43057.jpg


***********************

Jeb Bush: Governor of Florida
Columba Bush: Jeb's wife
Noelle Bush: Jeb and Columba's drug-addled daughter
Jeb's Other Son Whose Name I Can't Remember: But what a li'l hottie!!!

http://gxpmall.bizland.com/noelle_bush2.jpg


Hope this helps!

That would be George Prescott Bush.

If I'm not mistaken, aren't the First Twins in GLOs as well? I'm sure there's a thread somewhere.

Silly wild-assed guess on my part (and too lazy to use the search function), so until someone unearths the thread on the Shrub-ettes GLO affiliations, this will prolly suffice for now: :)

Jenna = Theta (like Momma) at t.u.
Barbara = Kappa at Yale

I thought that Barbara is a Theta, at Yale, as well.