The Canadian Military's Search For 'Gravitas' in Asia - by Yves Engler
"And like the smaller, weaker kid in a street gang our 'leaders' are trying to prove how tough we are. Canadian military planners 'search for gravitas' is akin to gang logic. But, let's hope our behaviour in Asia doesn't lead to where gang warfare has taken many North American cities."
Canada Pauses Military Assistance To Iraqi Troops
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1184521/middle-east
"Canadian special forces have temporarily suspended military assistance to Iraqi troops due to tensions between the ME country and Kurdish fighters, the defense ministry said..."
In the middle of a developing shitstorm, on the side of the USraeli plan for the dismemberment of Iraq.
Man Overboard - by David Pugliese
http://nationalpost.com/feature/man-overboard
"Vice Admiral Mark Norman was second-in-command of the Canadian Forces until an RCMP investigation cost him his job. A year later, no charges have been laid, but Norman remains in limbo...Only in Canada could the second-highest-ranking military officer be removed from office without a word of explanation...Military personnel wondered whether it was related to sexual misconduct. Perhaps Norman was a Russian spy, others mused..."
Canada Honoured To Chair The NATO Military Intelligence Committee in 2018
Uncle Sam's best doggy...
SSE: Evaluating Canada As A Dependable Ally and Partner for the United States
http://www.cgai.ca/evaluating_canada_as_a_dependable_ally_and_partner_fo...
"This article provides an American analysis of Canada's recently released defence policy: Strong, Secure, Engaged (SSE)...Support to Intelligence: SSE provides a number of welcome new investments in Canada's intelligence capability and capacity that will provide direct benefit to the United States..."
'Circus dogs jump when the trainer cracks his whip, but the really well-trained dog is the one that turns tricks when there is no whip.' - Orwell
Canadian Special Forces From Petawawa in Africa to Train Troops
"Flintlock is US Africa Command's largest annual special forces exercise."
Canada does its bit for US imperialism in Africa.
Canadian Special Forces From Petawawa in Africa to Train Troops
"Flintlock is US Africa Command's largest annual special forces exercise."
Canada does its bit for US imperialism in Africa.
Just consider it training the local army to learn how to more effectively appropriate white african farmers lands from them.
Canada Adds Another $54 M to F-35 Fighter Jet Project, Bringing Cost to $500 M
https://globalnews.ca/news/4243206/canada-f-35-fighter-jet-54-million/
"Canada has quietly paid another $54 million toward the development of the F-35 stealth fighter jet, bringing its total investment in the controversial project to roughly half a billion dollars over the last 20 years..."
And lots more where that came from, no doubt. Watch Canada end up buying this US lemon.
Trump Threatens Canada, 'Defence' Community Stays Quiet
"...The depth of the Canada-US military alliance is such that if US Forces attacked this country, it would be extremely difficult for the Canadian Forces to defend our soil. In fact, given the entanglements, the Canadian Forces would likely enable a US invasion...A critical question to ask: why do we spend over $20 billion a year on a Department of National Defence?"
What to do?!
We don't want to spend money on the military because the military is bad.
But if we disband the military then Trump can just take what he wants of Canada.
NATO is bad and we want to leave NATO, but Trump thinks the US should pull out of NATO and Trump is bad so we should stay to spite him?
What a predicament.
*article posted elsewhere*
"...The depth of the Canada-US military alliance is such that if US Forces attacked this country, it would be extremely difficult for the Canadian Forces to defend our soil. In fact, given the entanglements, the Canadian Forces would likely enable a US invasion
Umm...
Wouldn't a U.S. invasion of Canada kind of render null and void our alliance?
Specifically what language in our mutual agreement permits them to invade us, while forbidding us from defending on the grounds that "we had an agreement"??
Does rabble give Yves Engler money for this, or just a free microphone?
I have a theoretical question to anyone here who understands Canada and global military spending. I realize the mandate of the military is different in each country. If there are things that come under military spending in other countries but not Canada-- can we redifine what is military to increase the budget without spending more money?
This is not to say we should but is this a choice?
I have a theoretical question to anyone here who understands Canada and global military spending. I realize the mandate of the military is different in each country. If there are things that come under military spending in other countries but not Canada-- can we redifine what is military to increase the budget without spending more money?
This is not to say we should but is this a choice?
Sean,
I once read somewhere (and I can’t find the source) that the Canadian defence budget includes a number of programs such as Veterans’ pensions, housing, some RCMP and policing activities. This was done to make the budget look bigger than is actually is.
http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/about-reports-pubs-departmental-results/2017-...
http://www.forces.gc.ca/assets/FORCES_Internet/docs/en/about-reports-pub...
It is sort of covered in the links above. However it is not clearly laid out unless you understand government speak better than I do.
I have a theoretical question to anyone here who understands Canada and global military spending. I realize the mandate of the military is different in each country. If there are things that come under military spending in other countries but not Canada-- can we redifine what is military to increase the budget without spending more money?
This is not to say we should but is this a choice?
Sean,
I once read somewhere (and I can’t find the source) that the Canadian defence budget includes a number of programs such as Veterans’ pensions, housing, some RCMP and policing activities. This was done to make the budget look bigger than is actually is.
http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/about-reports-pubs-departmental-results/2017-...
http://www.forces.gc.ca/assets/FORCES_Internet/docs/en/about-reports-pub...
It is sort of covered in the links above. However it is not clearly laid out unless you understand government speak better than I do.
Oh. Ok.
You could also take a philosophical take on defence -- fund medical research -- including responses to pandemics. That is defence.
But, defending Canadians against poverty requires education.....
So if military is not the only "defence" spending allowed....
I have a theoretical question to anyone here who understands Canada and global military spending. I realize the mandate of the military is different in each country. If there are things that come under military spending in other countries but not Canada-- can we redifine what is military to increase the budget without spending more money?
This is not to say we should but is this a choice?
Sean,
I once read somewhere (and I can’t find the source) that the Canadian defence budget includes a number of programs such as Veterans’ pensions, housing, some RCMP and policing activities. This was done to make the budget look bigger than is actually is.
http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/about-reports-pubs-departmental-results/2017-...
http://www.forces.gc.ca/assets/FORCES_Internet/docs/en/about-reports-pub...
It is sort of covered in the links above. However it is not clearly laid out unless you understand government speak better than I do.
Oh. Ok.
You could also take a philosophical take on defence -- fund medical research -- including responses to pandemics. That is defence.
But, defending Canadians against poverty requires education.....
So if military is not the only "defence" spending allowed....
Sean,
The medical research would fall under Defence Research and Development Canada (http://www.drdc-rddc.gc.ca/en/index.page).
There are other groups within the forces that deal medical issues too.
Defence spending in Canada includes a lot of different aspects, not all of it violent and destructive.
It is time to draw a line in the sand when some best buddies with the Russians US president starts dictating what we can or cannot spend on defence. Time for our esteemed PM if he had half a brain to start exploring some other options for Canada’s defence. While we are at it let’s get the big Russian fan to build a wall on his Northern flank.
Trump Threatens Canada: “Defence” Community Remains Silent
quote;
The bombastic rhetoric targeting the Trudeau government is coming from a state that has substantial military capacity close to the Canadian border and has repeatedly invaded nearby nations. The US is currently dropping a bomb every 12 minutes on seven different countries and its troops are fighting/operating in dozens more. And its Commander-in-Chief is highly impulsive.
Despite this aggressive posture from Washington, Canada’s “defence” community hasn’t raised the alarm or sought to capitalize on the tension by asking for more weapons and troops. Contrast this with the academics and think tanks funded by arms companies and the Department of National Defence who regularly hype lesser threats in a bid to increase military spending.
Why the difference in treatment of “threat” assessments?
The “defence” sector ignores US threats because it is not oriented towards protecting Canada from aggression. Rather, Canada’s military, weapons companies and “defence” intellectuals/think tanks are aligned with the US Empire’s quest for global domination.
According to DND, there are “80 treaty-level agreements, more than 250 memoranda of understanding, and 145 bilateral forums on defence” between the two countries’ militaries. In 2015 CBC reported on sustained, high-level, Canadian and US military discussions to create a so-called Canada-U.S. Integrated Forces. Not shared with Canadian political leaders, the plan was to set up integrated air, sea, land and special forces to operate under a unified command when deployed internationally.
The depth of the Canada-US military alliance is such that if US Forces attacked this country it would be extremely difficult for the Canadian Forces to defend our soil. In fact, given the entanglements the Canadian Forces would likely enable a US invasion: As with the 2003 invasion of Iraq — which Ottawa officially opposed — some Canadian troops on exchange in the US might march north; As is the norm when the US invades another country, Canadian officers would likely operate NORAD systems aiding the aggression; As with the wars in Vietnam, Iraq and elsewhere, weaponry produced in Canada would certainly be used by US soldiers marching north.
Should we put together care packages for our brave soldiers deploying to mentor and train the Iraq army?
Sean maybe you can send some hot soup.
I can get the mailing address.
The depth of the Canada-US military alliance is such that if US Forces attacked this country it would be extremely difficult for the Canadian Forces to defend our soil.
I'll ask again what I asked above when this article was first quoted three weeks ago.
Umm...
Wouldn't a U.S. invasion of Canada kind of render null and void our alliance?
NDPP didn't have it in him to answer, but perhaps you could? Are we REALLY obligated to help them invade us??
Why not just put health care in the defence budget and say, "Hey Trump, here ya go, 10%!"
The depth of the Canada-US military alliance is such that if US Forces attacked this country it would be extremely difficult for the Canadian Forces to defend our soil.I'll ask again what I asked above when this article was first quoted three weeks ago.
Umm...
Wouldn't a U.S. invasion of Canada kind of render null and void our alliance?
NDPP didn't have it in him to answer, but perhaps you could? Are we REALLY obligated to help them invade us??
I suppose we could be charitable and assume that the writer was thinking something like "The depth of the Canada US military alliance is such that it makes it almost impossible for us to prepare against an American invasion", ie. the Americans wouldn't let us engage in that kind of planning as long as the alliance was in effect.
But to worry that Canada will be hamstrung by the terms of the alliance AFTER the invasion has taken place doesn't make much sense. It's like saying that the Russians were hindered in fighting the Nazi invasion by the terms of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
I suppose we could be charitable and assume that the writer was thinking
I'll just quote this much of what you said, because I can agree with this much.
Are we REALLY obligated to help them invade us??
..oops! i didn't realize it had been posted earlier.
..i don't think that is what engler is saying magoo.
..i don't think that is what engler is saying magoo.
Do you feel he's saying that if push came to shove, our government would betray us all and help the U.S. invade us regardless of what any treaty says? Or else what do you think Engler is saying with this? Why, if an ally turns on us, does Engler feel we would have difficulty defending ourselves?
..i don't think that is what engler is saying magoo.Do you feel he's saying that if push came to shove, our government would betray us all and help the U.S. invade us regardless of what any treaty says? Or else what do you think Engler is saying with this? Why, if an ally turns on us, does Engler feel we would have difficulty defending ourselves?
..i believe he is not taking about the government but the conflicted position the military would be in because of all the integration that has/is taking place. to me this suggests that militaries being militaries some may take the positions that support the us. engler's logic is quite plausible in my view.
^ So he meant that signigicant elements of the military would side with the US? Plausible, but not really what he conveyed by saying "...it would be extremely difficult for the Canadian Forces to defend our soil". That suggests that the military would be trying to defend Canada, but would lack the ability to do so.
Engler's wording is like saying that it was extremely difficult for Judas to protect Jesus from the high priests.
..i didn't use the word significant. and what presents the difficulty is with the integration that has taken/is taking place. which could not would lead to a lack of ability. i find this very plausible.
How about soccer balls and school supplies for Iraq children? There's a bunch of camps set up for displaced persons and while their needs of life are generally taken care of they lack entertainment and educational stuffs.
Anyone wanna get something going?
The US is not going to invade Canada militarily. If they did there is nothing Canada could do to repel them short of a nuclear bomb assuring mutual destruction.
They don't need to invade us. If they need our water they will drain the Great Lakes if we refuse to sell.
TrueLove For America: Canada's Outgoing Defence Attache Tells It Like It Is
https://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/canadas-outgoing-defence-attache-us...
"...But, as I've said every year at our annual Canada-US 'Partners in Defence' reception, this relationship is a lot like marriage; we too often take each other for granted and don't always give our partnership the attention and recognition it deserves. It's a good thing to remind ourselves of how fortunate we are to enjoy such a fantastic defence partnership.
From a Canadian perspective, our recently released 'Defence Policy, Strong, Secured and Engaged' promises a notable 70% increase in defence spending - $32.7 billion by 2027..."
Surrendered.
Canadian Military Explained Plan to Fully Integrate Forces With the US
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-election-2015-military-integrati...
"Top generals met to discuss possibility of fully integrating Canadian and US militaries [in 2015]. The Canadian military efforts were ultimately shut down and refocused on improving interoperability between the forces."
Thanks Canada, maybe next time...
Ottawa's Mercenary World of Pro-Military Lobbying
"How do you feel about taxpayer-funded organizations using your tax dollars to lobby elected politicians for more of your tax dollars? Welcome to the Canadian military..."
On Target: Missions A Massive Waste - by Scott Taylor
http://espritdecorps.ca/on-target-4/on-target-missions-a-massive-waste
"The Canadian Armed Forces are currently committed and deployed on five oversees missions none of which have a clear cut or achievable objective..."
Meet the Canadian Soldiers Behind A White Supremacist Military Surplus Store
https://ricochet.media/en/2394/meet-the-canadian-soldiers-behind-a-white...
"Investigation connects Canadian Forces members to Fireforce Ventures, a web store glorifying the era of white rule in Rhodesia..."
The Neo-Nazis in Canada's Military
https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/11/26/the-neo-nazis-in-canadas-military/
"...Over the past four years over 1,000 Canadian troops (a rotation of 200 every six months) has deployed to the Ukraine to train a force that includes the best-organized neo-Nazis in the world. Far right militia members are part of the force fighting Russian-aligned groups in eastern Ukraine.
Five months ago Canada's military attache in Kiev, Colonel Brian Irwin, met privately with officers from the Azov battalion, who use the Nazi 'Wolfangal' symbol and praisse officials who helped to slaughter Jews during WWII. According to Azov, the Canadian officials concluded the June briefing by expressing 'their hopes for further fruitful cooperation.
Sympathy for the far right in Ukraine has been displayed by the CF on other occasions. In February 2016, for instance, 'nearly 200 officer cadets and professors of Canada's Royal Military College attended a screening of Ukrainians/Les Ukrainiens: God's Volunteer Battalions, which praised far right militias fighting in that country.
More generally, Canadians have fundraised and joined rightist militias fighting in the Ukraine [IDF recruit here too]. For their part, top politicians have spoken alongside and marched with members of Ukraine's Right Sector, which said it was 'defending the values of White Christian Europe against the loss of the nation and deregionalisation..."
Canada has long been comfortable with fascism. And this should be a national front-page story but it won't be because Canucklhead liberals have become well used to averting their eyes from such things as Ukrainian Nazis and White Helmet Al Qaedas. After all isn't this what Trudeau calls his 'feminist foreign policy?'
Azov NATO Training Medallion
https://twitter.com/mikolaswed/status/913468028741996545
"Canada is the country most like Ukraine." -Oligarch, CIA asset, friend of Chrystia Freeland, President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko.
Behrens: It's Taboo To Talk About Canada's REAL Corporate Scandal
"While the SNC-Lavalin scandal has torn another strip off the 'sunny ways' prime minister, there's another corporate scandal that makes the financial figures in that case - mere hundreds of millions in fraud and bribes - seem like pocket change.
But no major political party will touch it, which speaks to the manner in which an all-party commitment to bedrock Canadian militarism squelches democratic disclosure and strangles any opportunity for real economic justice.
The corporate scandal you won't hear about on the campaign trail is the largest procurement project in Canadian history, one that will result in forking over at least $105 billion in corporate welfare to war manufacturers for a completely unnecessary fleet of Canadian warships.
The question that will not be asked is whether voters want to mortgage their grandchildren's financial future for a project that will line the pockets of Irving Shipyards and the world's largest war profiteer, Lockheed Martin?"
The Canadian Military have no business in Asia. Canada has a small military and a threat from the US to charge us 150% of the cost of Americans stationed here (or surrender any independence).
Canada needs to monitor and defend its borders. That's it. Equipment for any other purpose is a waste of money.
Got to agree
Canada needs to monitor and defend its borders. That's it. Equipment for any other purpose is a waste of money.
What equipment do you consider a waste of money?
If the Canadian military was organized to monitor and defend Canadian borders we would need to triple the size of our military and it's budget.
See #132 For the actually existing state of Canada/US military relations.
I was present for a meeting with the general of the Canadian army talk about budget increase. On the surface that might sound like a lot of new equipment and toys but in practice I rekon alot of the budget wiull be eaten up by bullshit costs and greedy hands.
The size of Canada is Canadas biggest defense against invasion. Our military couldn't defend our borders.
But you said we should stick to defending our borders, does that mean you're willing to dump billions more into our military? More troops, ships, planes, bases?
The size of Canada is Canadas biggest defense against invasion. Our military couldn't defend our borders.
This doesn’t really make sense but I think I know what you’re trying to say here.
The size of Canada makes defending Canada very difficult, right? And because Canada is so big, then there are no candidates that are capable to invade
If so than I agree.
However, no country or serious enemy that I’m aware of in the history of imperialist Canada has invaded Canada, unless Canada had first declared war on them first (Germany Japan)
As I understand it, Canada is a northern somewhat isolated vast region of little interest to any other nation with the capacity to invade Canada.
The only logical possibility would be the US.
If in fact the US did want to invade Canada, then it’s game over for Canada. But why bother? Canada already does whatever the US wishes.
I suspect that if Canada did pull out of nato, Canada’s enemy’s wouldn’t increase. In fact it would decrease, making Canadians safer!
I disagree with the assumptions of comfort. Due to global warming, if Canada is interested in any water sovereingty in the arctic there will be many countries it will need to defend against.
For the most part monitoring and being there is enough as most countries will test Canada to respond but not be willing to confront if we do. This is not a small issue either. The failure to regulate what could be interenational use of Canada's northern waters could lead to risks and polution as countries with little at stake travel through those waters carrying whatever they feel like. Further, a number of other countries have expressed a desire to challenge waters Canada claims as her own. This includes the US but it is not the only one.
Canada's defence needs would include both air and sea monitoring of the north. Canada also needs military ability to respond to emergencies particular natural disasters.
The size of Canada makes defending Canada very difficult, right? And because Canada is so big, then there are no candidates that are capable to invade
If so than I agree.
However, no country or serious enemy that I’m aware of in the history of imperialist Canada has invaded Canada, unless Canada had first declared war on them first (Germany Japan)
Essentially what I'm talking about yes. In so far as a "risk of invasion" type attack it'll only happen in Hollywood. Nations like China and Russia lack the transpoprt capability to cross the ocean (and arctic) and send an occupying force here. It would be crazy expensive and modern weapons of war would do a lot of damage on their way here. If they did land some kind of army they would probably have to smash through alot of winderness and unforgiving ground to reach any statigic objective. The only threats we've really faced was from the US (and honestly no nation could really stand up against their military if they meant business), Japan and German subs harassing the coast and German nationalists in North America during either WW1 or WW2 planning to take over facilities. Defense of Canada wise we're safe.
Sean brings ups alot of great observations and points in his post.
Water sovereingty, including the arctic, is huge. Our navy intercepts drug smugglers, people trafficing slaves, people transporting illegal firearms and illgeal fishing boats. Over fishing, polution, stealing resources and disrupting indigneous communities.
Responding to natural disasters both to aid Canadians abroad and be seen helping nations and communities that have strong voter bases in Canada are huge with politicians. Havinng a strong and capability military is a negeotiation tool for the government.
If Canada were to leave NATO doesn't expect to use any NATO-country airspace or water way. Considering we don't currently have the capability to transport our own equipment anywhere in the world pissing off NATO would be a great way to make our military absolutely useless outside of Canada.
The size of Canada makes defending Canada very difficult, right? And because Canada is so big, then there are no candidates that are capable to invade
If so than I agree.
However, no country or serious enemy that I’m aware of in the history of imperialist Canada has invaded Canada, unless Canada had first declared war on them first (Germany Japan)
Essentially what I'm talking about yes. In so far as a "risk of invasion" type attack it'll only happen in Hollywood. Nations like China and Russia lack the transpoprt capability to cross the ocean (and arctic) and send an occupying force here. It would be crazy expensive and modern weapons of war would do a lot of damage on their way here. If they did land some kind of army they would probably have to smash through alot of winderness and unforgiving ground to reach any statigic objective. The only threats we've really faced was from the US (and honestly no nation could really stand up against their military if they meant business), Japan and German subs harassing the coast and German nationalists in North America during either WW1 or WW2 planning to take over facilities. Defense of Canada wise we're safe.
Sean brings ups alot of great observations and points in his post.
Water sovereingty, including the arctic, is huge. Our navy intercepts drug smugglers, people trafficing slaves, people transporting illegal firearms and illgeal fishing boats. Over fishing, polution, stealing resources and disrupting indigneous communities.
Responding to natural disasters both to aid Canadians abroad and be seen helping nations and communities that have strong voter bases in Canada are huge with politicians. Havinng a strong and capability military is a negeotiation tool for the government.
If Canada were to leave NATO doesn't expect to use any NATO-country airspace or water way. Considering we don't currently have the capability to transport our own equipment anywhere in the world pissing off NATO would be a great way to make our military absolutely useless outside of Canada.
The type of military Canada needs is not the kind NATO wants. That is the dirty secret here.
NATO wants Canada to have a few top latest greatest designs at tremendous cost for Canada to participate in its operations.
What Canada needs is more numerous, weather reliable items air and sea. A handful of the best planes and ships cannot be in enough places given the size of this country. The defence of Canada, given the population size, means that Canada has to have more Toyota style pieces of equipment and fewer Ferraris. It also means more regular forces and fewer crack troops for insertion in foreign operations. Having a domestic agenda drive Canada's defence budget is more important than having US and NATO needs drive the agenda. As well the reach of mobile hospitals, water equipment etc. can project Canada internationally better than a few extra aging but top-line jets.
Canada cannot repel an invasion through force but the least it can do is see that invasion which in itself discourages entry.
Canada has to be able to rely on itself to partol its borders especially given the US is telling us that it wants to charge 150% of cost for the service along with abandonment of independence.
The only threat to Canada is from its Southern border and given that it goes from sea to sea and is shared with the most militarized country on the planet it is obvious we cannot defend ourselves no matter how much of our GNP we spend on weapons.
WWWTT you need to read about the War of 181 and the Fraser Canyon in the 1850's. Canada is now a vassal state of the US and is being asked to up the ante in its support of the global empire. The question is how much are we willing to pay as Canadians, for our share of the planetary plunder?
Trudeau Continues Canada's War in Iraq With Little Critical Media Coverage
"There has been little mainstream media attention - or context-given to the Trudeau government's announcement that it would extend the deployment of Canadian troops in Iraq until March 2021..."
Trudeau Continues Canada's War in Iraq With Little Critical Media Coverage
Iraq wants Canadians in Iraq.
Of course they do. Just look at the wonders achieved by western troops there so far.
