A Republican attack ad that slams Canada as a bad neighbour on the world stage is inappropriate but not a big deal, said U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins.

He said the ad is less offensive than the daily political attacks aimed at U.S. President George Bush during the last Canadian federal election, according to The Canadian Press.

"Just imagine if I registered a complaint every time my country or president was criticized," said Wilkins.

"Compare that (one ad) with the criticism early this year during the (federal) election that happened every day in Canada ...ads that were run consistently throughout your country."

Ottawa has lodged a complaint with Washington in response to the television ad. The swipe at Canada is secondary to the ad's first purpose, which is to blast Democratic Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr.

The 30-second ad features various actors who suggest Ford supports gun control, has lax fiscal policies and is slack on terrorism and nuclear threats against the U.S.

"Canada can take care of North Korea," says one man featured in the ad. They're not busy.''

The jab hit home north of the border.

A source within the Canadian government told CP that Ambassador Michael Wilson called the White House to remind the Republicans of the heavy load Canada is carrying in Afghanistan.

The republican National Committee now says the ad, which ran in Tennessee, has been phased out. However, it's unclear whether the decision to stop running the ad came as the result of Wilson's phone call.

Wilkins said Canadians should ignore the ad's message now that it's been pulled. He also added that, while Canadians were understandably upset by the ad, they should also be critical of wrongful political attacks aimed south of the border.

"I think that righteous indignation ought to be a two-way street," said Wilkins.

"We ought to be just as upset and concerned by criticism in Canada of the United States as we seem to be when one person in one state runs an ad that's critical of Canada."

The ad reflects a view in the conservative south that America's closest neighbour isn't doing enough on the world stage, said one American political analyst.

However analyst Patrick Basham told CP the ad is more likely an indication of ignorance at the RNC than a specific attempt to insult Canada.

He did say, however, that the ad could also be interpreted as a response to previous Liberal attack ads that took aim at policies of the Bush government.

Ford, who is battling Republican Bob Corker for a seat in Congress, was featured on the cover of Newsweek this week.

Their fight is crucial to determining who will control the upper house of Congress.

Canada has worked hard to raise awareness among Americans about its involvement in Afghanistan. The Canadian Embassy in Washington has been on an advertising campaign to get the word out, plastering subway stations in the capital with posters depicting Canadian troops in Afghanistan.

There is also a website featuring military cooperation between Canada and the U.S.

The ad has also been slammed within the U.S. for apparent sexual references. At one point a bare shouldered blonde woman winks at the camera and tells Ford to call her.

With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press