Last Updated Mon, 09 Dec 2002 15:44:37

TORONTO - A CBC News Online story on Canadians going to Iraq to serve as "human shields" in the event of an attack on Iraq has provoked a storm of outrage from Americans.

'Wake up Canada before your ass is blown up'

"My wife and I were planning a trip to the Atlantic coast provinces of Canada for late spring 2003," writes David Samuel of Baltimore, Maryland. "In light of the Canadian citizens who plan to use themselves as 'human shields' against Saddam we have decided to vacation elsewhere. Our preference will be a country free of such morons."

The story – a CBC News Online "Backgrounder" – was titled "Canadians go to Baghdad as 'human shields.'"

The CBC News Online article was picked up by the Drudge Report in the U.S. and featured prominently during the weekend.

It described the growing antiwar movement against a U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. The story said two Canadians – Jennifer Ziemann and Irene Vandas, both from Vancouver – were going to Baghdad to serve as human shields.

The story also said the Canadians would join 20-40 Americans and some antiwar protesters from Britain, who have also gone to Baghdad to serve as human shields. The main sponsor of the antiwar protest is Voices in the Wilderness, a U.S. group based in Chicago.

Frank Tricario of Seattle, Washington: "The Canadian morons who have gone to Iraq as human fodder deserve to be blown up. Your nation is not under attack. We Americans will defend our people and will destroy any terrorist nation be it Iraq or whomever. Wake up Canada before your ass is blown up. Grow up and face this religious war."

Joseph Ames Jr., Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania: "'I'm not too scared,' Vandas told CBC News Online the day before she left. I think it will be a powerful experience.' It will be a powerful experience for this twit, alright. It will be the power of a 500 kg Smart Bomb landing on her apparently empty skull...."

Roy Patrick, Bakersfield, California: "It's too bad that so many misguided Canadians feel the need to physically involve themselves in opposition to our war against terrorism. Where were these folks when 3,000 people were murdered in New York? Saddam Hussein is a despot the world can, and should, do without. In the opinion of our leaders he is the head of the worldwide terror network...."

Norine Holland, Hampton, Virginia: "I am an American who had great respect for Canadians, having grown up in a border city and spent many, many hours in your country as a family member of hockey players and figure skaters. I hope Canada understands that Americans are FED UP with militarily defending your socialistic freedom, while you stab us in the back...."

Jeff Zeller, Washington, D.C.: "Each new day sees more and more Americans come to the realization that Canada is our enemy."

Written by CBC News Online staff

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2002

Answers

Is the Onion their official newspaper? always wondered where that one came from.

let em go. we'll be no worse off with them gone, and maybe a little better.

-- Anonymous, December 10, 2002