February 10, 1996, Ottawa, Canada, Parliament Hill.
Under the Gothic dome, every seat was occupied, and the gallery was packed with tense reporters and officials.
Today, Jean Kreti would seek parliamentary authorization here to undertake the most aggressive military action since he took office, approving a naval blockade around Machias Seal Island and authorizing deterrent shelling of the Mexican Fleet in the area in coordination with the U.S. Military if necessary.
This was not easy for Canada.
After all, how long has it been since the last confrontation?
Let's take action!
Let everyone know our strength.
Kreti stood at the podium, haggard but with a resolute gaze. He spent nearly twenty minutes, in a sorrowful and earnest tone, articulating the "unprecedented acts of aggression" the nation faced, emphasizing the disgrace of the sinking of the "Montreal" and the "deadly threat" the occupation of Machias Seal Island posed to Canadian sovereignty and strategic security.
