London Times, 13 Sept 2002, print edition p17

US policy blamed for terror raids  

From Richard Cleroux
in Ottawa  

CANADA'S Prime Minister has said that the United States and the Western world were partly to blame for the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington a year ago.  

Jean Chretien spoke in a pre-taped interview shown on the CBC channel hours after he attended ceremonies in New York and urged Canadians to join in mourning with their American neighbours.  

An aggressive foreign policy, and lack of sensitivity to poverty and social problems in the Third World were being used by religious fanatics to spread hatred of the US, he said "There's a moment [in history] when you have to stop."   Mr Chretien said that America could not exercise its power "to the point of humiliation of others". That was what the Western world had to realise."We're looked upon as being arrogant, self-satisfied, greedy and with no limits. And September 11 is an occasion for me to realise it even more."  

Mr Chretien tried earlier this year to interest the US and other Western countries in a multibillion-dollar fund to rescue Africa from poverty, famine and disease. His failure left him bitterly disappointed.   His views also reflect those of his country. In a recent poll 69 per cent of respondents said that the US had someresponsibility for the attacks. Fifteen per cent said that the
US was entirely responsible.