The crutial difference between Bush's position and that of well-meaning peace protesters is, simply, that Bush can't afford to be wrong about the intentions of Russia or a half-dozen other countries.

Canada, by contrast, can't afford to be right. The defence budget is puny and, because the USA is the prime target for those who hate liberal democracy, we can sit under the American defence umbrella almost for free. Morally, it's a disgrace but, rhetoric aside, morality doesn't have much to do with politics.