http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060921/Pakistan_Musharraf_060921/20060922?hub=CTVNewsAt11

What do you think? It's pretty embarassing to both for being asked about it in the joint news conference.

I have a question related to this for the Canadians here.  When I was working in Canada I noticed that Canadian news outlets seemed to focus to an enormous degree on U.S. affairs.  While it was nice to know what was going on at home, I had actually looked forward to being immersed in Canadian culture (admitedly, I probably should have been someplace besides Toronto if I wanted that, but I had to go where the work was).

Is Canadian culture really just borrowed U.S. culture, or if I'd gotten out of the city would I have seen something different?

Well, US is our neighbour, and 9-11/Iraq war is a big event.

We mostly focus on Canadian news; but when we are not, we do spend much time on news about US, especailly when it is part of international affairs.

On the other hand, I believe we do focus too much on 'neo-conservative" agendas.

Oh, and yes, we watch a lot of CSI, Law of Order, American Idol, Survivor, and ... Friends!

I was in Canada working from January 2001 to June 2001, so I was out before 9/11 went down.  It still seemed dominated by U.S. events and U.S. entertainment.  The only Canadian show I know of is Red Green, and that because every public television station here in the U.S. also carries it.  And because I used to be a janitor and handy man, so I identfy with the characters.  My car had duct tape holding it together for years.

Really? The big news over that period was about former Canadian Alliance and its internal problem (Stockwell Day and "Indepedent Alliance Caucus") And it's in the news every week.

So I think maybe you paid too much attention on US news.

It would appear so.  None of that rings a bell.  A former prime minister died while I was there, that much I remember.  Possibly because I didn't understand any of the background for the Canadian politics going on I didn't follow.

I just wanted to say that after talking about canadians and canadian politics for a while in a conversation, when I go to say the country's name, it always comes out "Canadia"

Oh, that's big news too. Even bigger to some people.

Part of this situation concerns the handling (or lack of handling as seen by the US) of Mr A.Q.Khan.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Qadeer_Khan

If Musharraf gets deposed in a coup, the replacement is highly likely to be very hostile to the US. His recent surrender to pro-Taliban forces in Waziristan is an attempt to dodge that bullet.