Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - It's not just the weather that's cooler in Canada

Charlatan · 12-22-2005, 08:58 AM

Given the list you have presented I still don't agree. None of those nations has any desire for Global conquest (let alone attacking Canada).

To argue that the US is holding back these threats ignores the fact that by and large the reason these nations are a "problem" stems from the US (and others) messing with their sovreignty.

Iran, for example, had moved to democracy and was embracing moderate reforms when the US toppled their government and propped up the repressive Shah of Iran. Once this happened all dissent was squashed leading to a rise in fundamentalism that brought about the coup that brought Ayatollah Komeni into power.

Cuba, is it really a threat to the US now that the Soviet Union is gone (was it ever a threat on it's own?) or is it politically expedient to continue to punish Cuba?

What I am getting at is that while yes, we have enjoyed some peace because the guns of the US quell certain forms of conflict, I would argue that just as much conflict has been stirred up by the US military flexing its muscle around the globe. In the end, it's probably a wash.

As far as military expenditures are concerned, the US outspends EVERYBODY. There is no comparison. The US simply focuses too much of it's spending on the military.

I would agree that Canada should be making more of an effort in Africa... in fact, we have been engaged diplomatically in Africa for some time and have brought about a lot of changes to the positive (not all change comes from the end of a gun).

The answer to our lack of spending does lie south of the 49th but only in that the US is the only country that is any position to attack us. Name a nation that has the resources and the will to attack Canada. You can't. We are geographically isolated from any enemy we might actually have.

The two areas of military spending that I would like to see increase in Canada are:

1) More money for peacekeeping... we could spend more here.
2) More money for partrolling the North... as global warming increases, the Northern shipping lanes are opening. Protecting our sovereignty here is essential and can only be maintained by stepping up patrols... otherwise we might as well cede the North to the US, Norway or Denmark.

12-22-2005, 08:58 AM	#146 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	Given the list you have presented I still don't agree. None of those nations has any desire for Global conquest (let alone attacking Canada). To argue that the US is holding back these threats ignores the fact that by and large the reason these nations are a "problem" stems from the US (and others) messing with their sovreignty. Iran, for example, had moved to democracy and was embracing moderate reforms when the US toppled their government and propped up the repressive Shah of Iran. Once this happened all dissent was squashed leading to a rise in fundamentalism that brought about the coup that brought Ayatollah Komeni into power. Cuba, is it really a threat to the US now that the Soviet Union is gone (was it ever a threat on it's own?) or is it politically expedient to continue to punish Cuba? What I am getting at is that while yes, we have enjoyed some peace because the guns of the US quell certain forms of conflict, I would argue that just as much conflict has been stirred up by the US military flexing its muscle around the globe. In the end, it's probably a wash. As far as military expenditures are concerned, the US outspends EVERYBODY. There is no comparison. The US simply focuses too much of it's spending on the military. I would agree that Canada should be making more of an effort in Africa... in fact, we have been engaged diplomatically in Africa for some time and have brought about a lot of changes to the positive (not all change comes from the end of a gun). The answer to our lack of spending does lie south of the 49th but only in that the US is the only country that is any position to attack us. Name a nation that has the resources and the will to attack Canada. You can't. We are geographically isolated from any enemy we might actually have. The two areas of military spending that I would like to see increase in Canada are: 1) More money for peacekeeping... we could spend more here. 2) More money for partrolling the North... as global warming increases, the Northern shipping lanes are opening. Protecting our sovereignty here is essential and can only be maintained by stepping up patrols... otherwise we might as well cede the North to the US, Norway or Denmark. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke