1115.org

In a press appearance with Canadian leaders, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice found herself in front of a Canadian press corps eager for answers on the brewing trade war between the two countries:

“I think the word of the United States has been as good as gold in its international dealings and in its agreements,” Ms. Rice said.

Canadian Trade Minister Jim Peterson wasn’t buying:

“We’ve been off the gold standard for an awful long time in this country. We want to see NAFTA respected.”

Peterson’s right to be skeptical. Aside from the $3.5 billion the U.S. owes Canada in a dispute over lumber tariffs, the Bush administration has continuously argued for free trade while violating NAFTA and WTO regulations on textile, steel, and farm tariffs. And let’s not forget pullouts from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and the Kyoto treaty.

Gold isn’t the metal that comes to mind when assessing the value of the U.S. word as spoken by the current administration. Maybe something more…radioactive.