anti-America

Thursday June 14, 2018

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator  –  Thursday June 14, 2018

Will America Lose Canada?

The worst thing you could say about previous American presidents and their sleepy approach to Canada was that they took their polite northern neighbors for granted.

June 30, 2000

But as President Trump jetted away from the wreckage of the Group of 7 summit meeting in Quebec this weekend, he plunged American-Canadian relations into a dive so steep it provoked nosebleeds on both sides of the border.

He called the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, dishonest and weak. His advisers accused the Canadians of stabbing Mr. Trump in the back as he winged his way to a meeting with his new best friend, Kim Jong-un of North Korea. And one aide said a “special place in hell” was reserved for Mr. Trudeau, who had the temerity to say to Mr. Trump what the president likes to say to everyone else: Don’t push me around.

It’s not every day you see an American president trade a two-century relationship with a reliable neighbor for what could amount to a one-night stand with a ruthless dictator in Singapore. Mr. Trump may well think bullying Canada is cost-free. After all, three-quarters of its exports go to the United States, which makes retaliation risky for Canada. But having limited options does not mean having none. Reversals like these come with a price, although how and when the United States will pay depends on many factors. (Continued: New York Times) 

 

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Wednesday September 10, 2003

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday September 10, 2003

Clean up Crew Wanted

Washington’s planned U.N. resolution on Iraq is “some way” from meeting France’s priority of “transferring authority to an Iraqi government,” Chirac said.

Both men, speaking at a joint news conference in the eastern German city of Dresden, discussed the U.S. draft for a new U.N. resolution aimed at getting more countries to contribute troops and money to stabilize and rebuild the country.

But the draft insists the U.S. keep control of the military and political process.

France and Germany had been opposed to the war in Iraq but both countries are now willing to help bring stability to the country.

The two leaders said they would study the U.S. proposal “from a very positive point of view.” But Chirac said France may recommend changes to a proposed U.N. resolution.

“It does appear to be really rather far from the main objective, which is that of transferring political responsibility to an Iraqi government as soon as possible,” Chirac said. (Reuters)

 

Wednesday February 13, 2003

February 13, 2003‘I drew this cartoon of familiar European stereotypes at the height of the brinkmanship in the lead-up to the war in Iraq, with the French and Germans on one side and the hawkish Americans on the other. There was a healthy surge of jokes and slights based on nationalities, including a favourite of mine from The Simpsons characterizing the French as “cheese-eating surrender monkeys.’ - Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday February 13, 2003

Europeans in Love

Graeme’s Gallery 2003

US lawmakers are threatening to take retaliatory action against France, Belgium and Germany for their opposition to US policy towards Iraq. 

Anger with the French and German stand has led some US congressmen to call for a trade boycott of French products and the withdrawal of some US troops from Germany. 

The failure of these three states to honour their commitments is beneath contempt 

And some consumers are already reducing their purchases of French cheese and wine. 

The increased rhetoric and demands for action are a concrete sign of the growing tensions within the Nato alliance. 

The bitterness is evident across the political spectrum. 

Democratic Congressman Tom Lantos of California said he was “particularly disgusted by the blind intransigence and utter ingratitude” of France, Germany and Belgium. (BBC) 

 

Wednesday April 24, 2002

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday April 24, 2002

Canada Addresses a Meeting of the Insecurity Council of the United Indignations

Fidel Castro on Monday offered the world a chance to eavesdrop on a falsely cordial exchange between heads of state and the behind-the-scenes choreography of a summit meeting. Upset at Mexico’s support of a U.N. condemnation of Cuba’s human rights record last week, Mr. Castro released a tape of a phone call he received from Mexico’s president, Vicente Fox, before last month’s U.N. aid conference in Monterrey. Mr. Fox was outwitted by Cuba’s wily 75-year-old dictator. Contrary to his claims that he had not pressured Mr. Castro to leave the meeting early, Mr. Fox is caught on tape asking ”as a friend” that Mr. Castro do just that. After Mr. Castro agreed to leave early and asked what else he could do for his Mexican ”friend,” Mr. Fox requested that the Cuban leader refrain from criticizing the United States and President Bush. Mr. Castro was incensed. Mr. Fox’s call was akin to a dinner party host reaching out beforehand to an ill-mannered guest. (The New York Times)