Incoming Idiocy: The BMD Debate
NP

Paul Martin in April, 2003: 'If a missile is going over Canadian airspace, I want to know. I want to be at the table ... '

- Paul Martin yesterday: 'Ballistic missile defence is not where we will concentrate our efforts.'

"The chain in your brain is missing a link, ho"
--Cypress Hill

Pros of joining BMD: Nuclear blackmail, rocket offensives by future terrorists, and accidental missile attacks can be averted.

Cons: All of the above is possible, but we continue destroying our relationship with the US (read: What beef? Softwood? Who cares?).

So why would Martin wobble for so long without preparing the public at all for this decision? Why would he not at least send a trial balloon? Or have some public debate and education about the issue before deciding to go without missile defense?

Polls.

A high percentage of Canadians (about 2/3) don't want it, and Martin is sensing an election coming on. If he backs out now, the NDP and Bloc will hammer him on his left wing credibility, while he can defend himself on the right with Harper's senseless BS about the budget being 'conservative'.

But.

The Liberals have again sold out the greater public good in favour of what polls tell them. Instead of at least attempting to lead the public, Martin and Co waffled for ages and then shocked the public.

PS: My own informal polling of the Japanese shows that the one Canadian they all seem to know is Avril Lavigne...no one knows who Paul Martin is.