Dr69 - it's just that one of the highest ranking, closest confidants of the PM should never make comments like that except behind very closed doors. It's not a question of pleasing the US or anyone else - it's a question of acting appropriately in diplomatic situations.
That the Bush Administration may not have a very high view of Chretien is not surprising. But, we have never, not once, heard of any report of anyone in the Administration slamming Chretien. Instead, the President chose to make his feelings clear through other means - his first official visit was to Mexico and not Canada. The escalation of the softwood lumber issue has gone further than it ought to have and likely would have been more readily resolved if our respective leaders were a little closer. In the "war on terrorism" the biggest ally to the US seems to be Great Britain.
This is the way things should be played out on the world stage. Ms. Ducros' comment may well have been a personal expression of contempt, but in public life everything you say and do is indeed public. This is the price people pay for the public life they choose.
Canada is supposed to be the peacekeeper - we're the kinder more gentle more grounded version of Americans. Comments like that do not help us on the world stage. It's a poor reflection on our country and on our peoples.
