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Originally Posted by Aladdin Sane
And why aren't there countries that threaten Canada? Is it because we've entered a new age of peace, love, and understanding? Is it because all countries, except the U.S., have peaceful intentions? NO. The rogue states (Iran and North Korea, for example) are fearful of the consequences of aggressive action. And what would be the consequences, and who has the power to impose them? Like I said before, the world is not a vacuum.
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So Iran and North Korea are going to mount an assault on a nation that is on the other side of the world. It isn't going to happen. There are, maybe four nations that could mount this sort of amphibious/air assault - China, France, UK and Germany. But then what? What would they gain? Nothing.
(Edit: there are only two things the US would want from us... Water and Oil. They already own our oil via NAFTA so that leaves water... 10 to 1 odd our government will roll over on this issue was well).
Again, we are geographically isolated from all but the US... and the fact that you aren't likely about to attack us, nor could be offer a defense even if we started spending 20% of our GDP (but believe me the guerrila warfare that would result would be punishing to the US).
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Originally Posted by Aladdin Sane
When another genocidal force arises on the world stage and threatens us all, who will the West look to? You know and I know. One thing I am sure of, it won't be Canada.
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No you are right. Why should they, even if we had the money to spend. That said, when we are needed we are there. Afghanistan, Gulf War 1, Kosovo, Somalia, Yugoslavia, etc.
As Leto pointed out, we are much better at strike forces (like the very well respected JTF2). Seriously, we have 32 million people how big do you want our army to be?
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Originally Posted by Aladdin Sane
(As an aside, you are wrong about Iran. They are becoming less, not more, democratic. The situation with Iran acquiring Nuclear weapons is quickly coming to a head. The negotiations with the Europeans has failed. Will Canada step in and stop them or will she continue to sit on the sidelines?)
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Ummm... I was talking about the 1950s when the US toppled the democratically elected governement in Iran... they did this because Iran nationalized their oil. This is one of the "root causes" that many in the west don't like to talk about...
I stand by my belief that the US and it's expanded military presence stirs up as much trouble as it quells... In other words, if the US military was not in the Gulf region in the first place, in the kind of number they have been since the early 90s, we would not have the populatiry of fundamentalism that we have today in this region (tearing down democracy in Iran and propping up the Sauds has done more to squash the voice of moderation and democratic reform than anything else in the Middle East).