Premier says Canada has supported U.S. war efforts, so don’t snub Alberta oil

June 27, 2008 – 3:24 pm

By: THE CANADIAN PRESS

EDMONTON – Premier Ed Stelmach says Canada has “protected the backs” of Americans in several wars, and U.S. politicians should consider that before rejecting what some have called dirty oil from Alberta’s oilsands.

Stelmach says Canada and the United States have been together in both world wars and are currently side by side in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

TIME FOR US TO SAY ‘NO MORE OIL FOR WAR’ TO US

RICARDO ACUÑA / ualberta.ca/parkland

There are few things we progressive Albertans enjoy more than the opportunity to take a holier-than-thou attitude towards the United States.

Take, for example, how smugly we like to criticize the US media for refusing to publicly acknowledge the quest for oil as one of the major reasons for the US invasion and occupation Iraq. Likewise, we are quick to judge the people of the US for the degree to which the question of war for oil is absent from public dialogue and discussions, and does not register at all on political platforms during elections.

The sad reality, however, is that this smugness and criticism are misplaced. How much media coverage and public discussion have we seen in this province about our role in the war, or the fact that we are benefitting from it? Ultimately, we are doing no better than our neighbours to the south in addressing or even acknowledging these truths. And they are truths.