Whoa, Canada! KXL and That Scrap Back in 1812 ...
Mark Green
Posted March 28, 2014
The Keystone XL pipeline has been delayed by Washington way too long – more than five years and counting – but we haven’t lost our sense of humor.
At a Vets4Energy event supporting the Keystone XL, Gary Doer, Canada’s ambassador to the United States, recognizing the U.S. military veterans in the audience, remarked that the two countries are old friends. “Ever since the War of 1812 we’ve been allies together,” said Doer, noting the little war during which Canada helped the British. “I won’t get into that war, but …”
U.S. Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota good-naturedly cut him off: “We won that war!”
“No, no,” Doer said, scrambling. “You did not win that war, senator. I’ll show you references!”
When Doer was done, Hoeven got in one more shot: “Thank you … and we did win that War of 1812!”
The last laugh belonged to Alex Pourbaix, executive vice president for TransCanada, Keystone XL’s builder. “I don’t really have an opinion on the War of 1812,” Pourbaix said. “I think I was pretty busy filing the first application on the Keystone XL.”
Rim shot, please.About The Author
Mark Green joined API after a career in newspaper journalism, including 16 years as national editorial writer for The Oklahoman in the paper’s Washington bureau. Previously, Mark was a reporter, copy editor and sports editor at an assortment of newspapers. He earned his journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma and master’s in journalism and public affairs from American University. He and his wife Pamela have two grown children and six grandchildren.