U.S. RAPS CANADA'S POT CROP

NEW YORK--U.S. President George W. Bush has again fingered Ottawa for
not doing enough to shut down large, homegrown pot operations, citing
Canada for a special mention in the White House annual list of 20
worst drug pariahs.

While Bush mentions Canada as a footnote to his rogues' gallery,
which includes Myanmar, Venezuela and Bolivia, he mixes in praise for
Ottawa's battle against methamphetamines production and its overall
co-operation in law enforcement.

Bush must report to Congress each year on notorious drug transiting
and producing nations, and the most egregious offenders can face sanctions.

Canada's grow-ops have landed Ottawa in U.S. crosshairs before. "The
principal drug concern was the continuing large-scale production of
high-potency, indoor-grown marijuana for export to the United
States," Bush said in his statement.

Yesterday's release also included some criticism of Afghan President
Hamid Karzai, saying his country's security situation will worsen if
it does not do more to stop opium production.