NEW YORK (CNN) - The leaders of our neighbors to the North and South haven't exactly been neighborly this week....

The Canadian Alliance party is demanding that Prime Minister Jean Chretien apologize for comments this week effectively saying the September 11 terrorist attacks were in part attributable to the arrogance of the United States

Chretien went on to say that "you cannot exercise your powers to the point of humiliation of others." Chretien's spokesman said the Prime Minister's remarks were misconstrued.

The Mexican government this week formalized its decision to withdraw from the Rio Treaty.... that binds all American states to defend one another against attack. This from the same President Vicente Fox who in a huff canceled a meeting with President Bush, because he felt the United States wasn't giving sufficient priority to NAFTA border issues.

Our friends the Canadians must be embarrassed by Chretien's remarks, but no apology needed... The Mexican withdrawal is much more serious, however. Our friends the Mexicans must be wracked with guilt, as their government has chosen to no longer assure the defense of the United States, leaving us all but unprotected. But not to worry, we'll get by somehow. And despite it all, we'll still be friends.