[whelan costen]

So our Canadian military doesn't know what we need, we need to ask the U.S. ambassador to advise us??? Talk about overstepping the friendly family protocol? Sheessh if I tried to tell my sister what she needed in a security system, in order to uphold her end of the bargain in securing the family treasures, I think, no I know she'd throw me out of the house, or at least tell me to mind my own business....and she'd be right! <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/mad.gif' alt='Angry'>

[Armageddon]

Everyone of us ordinary Canadian citizens know these essentials for a good military, I don't know why the U.S. Ambassador needed to complain to us about it. Aye, everyone is telling us these things, and we're not doing a damn about it. <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/rolleyes.gif' alt='Rolling Eyes'>

[Marcarc]

Don't lump us all into the 'all canadians' categories. When our education, welfare, healthcare and environmental protections are up to scratch then maybe I'd discuss it. Right now the only 'terrorist' threat to canadians is their own government. Keep in mind Canada has had that 'elite task force' for decades now, it's embarassing that we've been harassing the world with the americans. <br /> As far as military protection goes you'll never convince me that the best protection is a country worth protecting, then I'd be all for mandatory service for everyone and training for everyone. A military can be beaten down by anybody, but a people would be impossible to conquer. The idea that one or two groups should be armed to the teeth and if they lose a confrontation the rest of us are defenseless target practise seems to me to be pretty close to insane.

[canuck]

[QUOTE BY= Marcarc] Don't lump us all into the 'all canadians' categories. When our education, welfare, healthcare and environmental protections are up to scratch then maybe I'd discuss it. Right now the only 'terrorist' threat to canadians is their own government. Keep in mind Canada has had that 'elite task force' for decades now, it's embarassing that we've been harassing the world with the americans. <br /> As far as military protection goes you'll never convince me that the best protection is a country worth protecting, then I'd be all for mandatory service for everyone and training for everyone. A military can be beaten down by anybody, but a people would be impossible to conquer. The idea that one or two groups should be armed to the teeth and if they lose a confrontation the rest of us are defenseless target practise seems to me to be pretty close to insane.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> Perhaps most people know that Canada has been locked far too deeply into US policy and this is what translates into low recuitment figures... the people in government have taken away from Canadians a nation to protect?<br /> <br /> I agree with you, and more, the US can complain about Canada's "low" military spending as much as it wants, but it won't make a difference if they find that there isn't enough manpower for these new, US backed, endeavours because our leaders have been too busy trying to satisfy the Americans rather than us.<br /> <br /> I would not blame a single person for refusing military service as long as we face the prospect of participating in more US occupations, even I have no wish to be a part of that (and continue to be miffed when I hear that friends of mine apply to go to Afghanistan). On that note, however, I believe those who still want to be active in the defense of Canada would consider joining the Reserves ("The Militia") as it has never been activated for overseas operations as its primary roles are augmenting the regular force and providing domestic defense. <br /> <br /> The future of the military in Canada lies, or should lie, in the broad increase in the number of part-time citizen soldiers and a smaller, more specialised regular force.

[Armageddon]

[QUOTE BY= Canuck]<br /> The future of the military in Canada lies, or should lie, in the broad increase in the number of part-time citizen soldiers and a smaller, more specialised regular force.[/QUOTE]<br /> Sounds good, but would this be mandatory or optional part-time activness in the armed forces? I agree with you though. Send the smaller, professional regular force for over-seas, and keep the less trained, but more numerous protecting us whenever the need requires such.

[Guest]

I got to disagree, with you all, including the USA.<br /> <br /> Canada does not require a strike force. Canad's military is required to defend Canada.<br /> <br /> The equipment that was mentioned like Cargo Aircraft to respond to similar DART missions, is neccesary!<br /> <br /> The attempt to cross relate these two significant and opposite activities was clever wordsmithing, but B.S. all the same!<br /> <br /> Dennis Baker

[Marcarc]

What difference does it make if we 'rent' aircraft from the Ukraine. Lots of companies rent instead of buy, it's often good business sense. In fact, if we had a truly prosperous economy we could just pay somebody else to handle these emergencies for us.

[Guest]

Once again the cross referencing has gone over your head without hitting a hair<br /> <br /> Dennis Baker

[Perturbed]

[QUOTE BY= Canuck] [QUOTE BY= Marcarc] Don't lump us all into the 'all canadians' categories. When our education, welfare, healthcare and environmental protections are up to scratch then maybe I'd discuss it. Right now the only 'terrorist' threat to canadians is their own government. Keep in mind Canada has had that 'elite task force' for decades now, it's embarassing that we've been harassing the world with the americans. <br /> As far as military protection goes you'll never convince me that the best protection is a country worth protecting, then I'd be all for mandatory service for everyone and training for everyone. A military can be beaten down by anybody, but a people would be impossible to conquer. The idea that one or two groups should be armed to the teeth and if they lose a confrontation the rest of us are defenseless target practise seems to me to be pretty close to insane.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> Perhaps most people know that Canada has been locked far too deeply into US policy and this is what translates into low recuitment figures... the people in government have taken away from Canadians a nation to protect?<br /> <br /> I agree with you, and more, the US can complain about Canada's "low" military spending as much as it wants, but it won't make a difference if they find that there isn't enough manpower for these new, US backed, endeavours because our leaders have been too busy trying to satisfy the Americans rather than us.<br /> <br /> I would not blame a single person for refusing military service as long as we face the prospect of participating in more US occupations, even I have no wish to be a part of that (and continue to be miffed when I hear that friends of mine apply to go to Afghanistan). On that note, however, I believe those who still want to be active in the defense of Canada would consider joining the Reserves ("The Militia") as it has never been activated for overseas operations as its primary roles are augmenting the regular force and providing domestic defense. <br /> <br /> The future of the military in Canada lies, or should lie, in the broad increase in the number of part-time citizen soldiers and a smaller, more specialised regular force.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> I agree completely, although I think the regular force is small enough, and should be enlarged to at least 200,000.

[Guest]

woosh<br /> not a hair<br /> Dennis Baker

[canuck]

[QUOTE BY= Armageddon] [QUOTE BY= Canuck]<br /> The future of the military in Canada lies, or should lie, in the broad increase in the number of part-time citizen soldiers and a smaller, more specialised regular force.[/QUOTE]<br /> Sounds good, but would this be mandatory or optional part-time activness in the armed forces? I agree with you though. Send the smaller, professional regular force for over-seas, and keep the less trained, but more numerous protecting us whenever the need requires such.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> I still firmly believe that Canadians do have the will to continue to step-up voluntarily, but we need a damn good reason to do so in the first place. This is why the need for a Government that will make Canada into something that will have Canadians wanting to protect it is so important. I don't even have a vague idea of how much better this country could be if it was to happen...<br /> <br /> Although, I hope it would involve a re-dedication to the UN and Peacemaking/keeping.

[Kory Yamashita]

What if Canada's armed forces were sufficient to actually LEAD a UN intervention? We could be in Sudan saving thousands of lives right now.<br /> <br /> Or how about patrolling our arctic territories? Shouldn't be be securing the Northwest Passage?<br /> <br /> Or simply bolstering our forces so that we strive for independence to avoid going down with the American empire, which is arguably in its last throes of hegemony.