Image by AFP/Getty Images/Robyn Beck
American politicians this week twice outraged neighbor and ally Canada with erroneous statements that the September 11 hijackers entered the U.S. from Canada. Canadian government officials repeated again the attackers entered the U.S. through major U.S. airports with U.S. issued visas.
John McCain, the Republican candidate for president in 2008 and a free trade proponent toward Canada, repeated the gaffe on Friday after similar remarks by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Tuesday, sparking a new round of rebukes and apologies.
Canada.com reports the Canadian ambassador to Washington demanded an apology from Napolitano after she made the claim in an interview with Canadian television on Tuesday.
Friday's remark by Senator McCain were in an interview with FOX News Channel, the conservative news network, Canada.com reported.
"Well, some of the 9/11 hijackers did come through Canada, as you know," McCain said when asked if he was worried Napolitano was misinformed.
The Canadian embassy in Washington contacted McCain's office to ask him to repudiate the comment, just days after asking the same of DHS Secretary Napolitano.
"We did ask the Senator to correct his comments at the earliest opportunity," said one embassy official, Canada.com reported.
After Napolitano corrected the record (she went on to say some terrorists have tried to enter the U.S. through Canada, just not the 9/11 hijackers), Canadian politicians offered their bewilderment and thoughts on the persistence of a 9/11 myth among top U.S. lawmakers.
"This seems to underlie many of the conversations and the tension between trade and security," said John McKay, Liberal MP , according to Canada.com. "It is nothing more than a myth. But it is one that continually comes out of American media and possibly even believed by some members of Congress."
Special Report: Obama's First 100 DaysExclusive examiner.com coverage of the Obama administration's promise to bring about change.
Comments