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Canadian military will rely on public servants to boost its ranks by 300k

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Re: Canadian military will rely on public servants to boost its ranks by 300k

#101

Post by xyzzy_plugh »

tick_tock_tick wrote: post #77
_verandaguy wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I resent the implication that us being separate countries is a "historical quirk." It's condescending at best and exemplifies why we feel increasingly distant from the US. It's like saying that Belgium and the Netherlands, or Spain and Portugal, or Germany and Switzerland are one historical quirk away from being the same countries.

> I resent the implication that us being separate countries is a "historical quirk." It's condescending at best and exemplifies why we feel increasingly distant from the US. I mean that's a bit of an exaggeration. Canadians are basically Americans for all practical purpose to the degree you can barely tell them apart. It doesn't help that Canada has lacked any real national identity other then listing the few minor d…

> Canadians are basically Americans for all practical purpose to the degree you can barely tell them apart. It doesn't help that Canada has lacked any real national identity other then listing the few minor differences between it and the USA for decades.

Why does this even mean? Does national identity even really matter? It's like saying Californians are basically Texans for all practical purpose. Men and women are pretty similar. To suggest that they're so similar they may as well be the same is absolutely condescending.

Re: Canadian military will rely on public servants to boost its ranks by 300k

#102

Post by throwway120385 »

asdff wrote: post #100
sandworm101 wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except that there are several invasion risks, especially in the north. Canada maintains bases there (Alert) to protect its north from being taken by the likes of Russia, the USA and even Denmark (they have a longrunning dispute regarding an island near greenland). Canada also does not want the northwest passage to become an international waterway and so must maintain control over vessels in the north. https://en.wiki…

outside edmonton and calgary the vast majority of the canadian population is within 100 miles of the US border. now imagine the logistics of a land invasion from northern canada. Shortest distance would be 1600 miles of wilderness. If you went from alert it would be more like 2500 miles of wilderness and several water crossings. All while you are being absolutely pummeled by US air support. It would be a suicide miss…

I think they might legitimately be worried about an invasion from the south.

Re: Canadian military will rely on public servants to boost its ranks by 300k

#103

Post by silisili »

jjk166 wrote: post #96
gpm wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US has been consistently signalling that it is considering annexing us since Donald Trump was re-elected in November of last year... the politicians are unlikely to say it outright but I think this is pretty clearly aimed at the US and making it too costly to do so.

The US invading Canada isn't a realistic possibility. Any attempt to do so would trigger a civil war within the US, to say nothing of obliterating the geopolitical system. Attempting to annex in any way shape or form is currently nothing more than the musings of an old man, the only way any territorial changes could happen are through peaceful, mutually agreed upon transfer. If the US were to seriously entertain the…

> Any attempt to do so would trigger a civil war within the US

What makes you say that?

I could see heavy protests, even violent protests, as it's not something Americans want.

I'm not sure I could envision any semblance of an actual civil war, though, but perhaps I'm underestimating things.

Re: Canadian military will rely on public servants to boost its ranks by 300k

#104

Post by paleotrope »

throwway120385 wrote: post #102
asdff wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

outside edmonton and calgary the vast majority of the canadian population is within 100 miles of the US border. now imagine the logistics of a land invasion from northern canada. Shortest distance would be 1600 miles of wilderness. If you went from alert it would be more like 2500 miles of wilderness and several water crossings. All while you are being absolutely pummeled by US air support. It would be a suicide miss…

I think they might legitimately be worried about an invasion from the south.

They should worry more about the international flights from overseas.

Re: Canadian military will rely on public servants to boost its ranks by 300k

#105

Post by scotty79 »

bell-cot wrote: post #82
ninalanyon wrote: post #53

24 000 reserves out of a population of 40 million seems like a rather small number. Norway has 40 000 in the Home Guard (Heimevernet) rapid reaction force of volunteer part time soldiers and a further 20 000 reserves. All from a population of about 5.5 million.

Vs. Finland has reserves of 870 000 from a population of about 5.6 million. Via the magic of universal male conscription: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_Defence_Forces#Conscri...

Not teaching your son a second language so he can escape the country with draft as soon as he's 18 is evil.

You are obligated to give your child tools to choose his future if your government is trying to deny him that choice.

Re: Canadian military will rely on public servants to boost its ranks by 300k

#106

Post by scotty79 »

mmooss wrote: post #17
incomingpain wrote: post #10

Canada has been running about 1% of gdp military spending, despite obligation of 2%; with new promise to meet 5%. a 500% increase to the size of our military in short order is the promise. Our reserves are at about 40,000. They announced the plan to go to 400,000. 10x the size. It's not so much about any outside fears, it's just meeting our obligations.The fear about Russia or China is unfounded. The problem is that…

> The fear about Russia or China is unfounded. That dismisses the greatest security threats of the era with a word. Most people in that field think those threats are very well-founded. Should Canada take the risk that everything will be fine? I don't know much about Canada's current plans and how effective they would be.

Greatest security threat so far turned out to be USA.

Re: Canadian military will rely on public servants to boost its ranks by 300k

#107

Post by vharuck »

jjk166 wrote: post #96
gpm wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US has been consistently signalling that it is considering annexing us since Donald Trump was re-elected in November of last year... the politicians are unlikely to say it outright but I think this is pretty clearly aimed at the US and making it too costly to do so.

The US invading Canada isn't a realistic possibility. Any attempt to do so would trigger a civil war within the US, to say nothing of obliterating the geopolitical system. Attempting to annex in any way shape or form is currently nothing more than the musings of an old man, the only way any territorial changes could happen are through peaceful, mutually agreed upon transfer. If the US were to seriously entertain the…

>The US invading Canada isn't a realistic possibility. Any attempt to do so would trigger a civil war within the US

If you had told me this last year, but replaced "invading Canada" with "sending armed military forces into cities under false emergency declarations", I would've also agreed. But here we are. Which state wants to be the first to defect and pit it's national guard (half of whom would probably desert) against the US military?

>If Canada had serious concerns about the US invading...

It's best course of action would be the same as any individual preparing for a doomsday scenario: make friends with those around you. If the US invades or even just encroaches on Canada, I wonder if every European country would realize they're next. Canada can't beat the US alone, but it's allies could make it an extremely painful and unpopular war for the American public.

Re: Canadian military will rely on public servants to boost its ranks by 300k

#108

Post by carlosjobim »

silisili wrote: post #103
jjk166 wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US invading Canada isn't a realistic possibility. Any attempt to do so would trigger a civil war within the US, to say nothing of obliterating the geopolitical system. Attempting to annex in any way shape or form is currently nothing more than the musings of an old man, the only way any territorial changes could happen are through peaceful, mutually agreed upon transfer. If the US were to seriously entertain the…

> Any attempt to do so would trigger a civil war within the US What makes you say that? I could see heavy protests, even violent protests, as it's not something Americans want. I'm not sure I could envision any semblance of an actual civil war, though, but perhaps I'm underestimating things.

> What makes you say that?

Because the group of men fit to fight such a war would rather rebel against the government than fight a brother war. From lowest recruit to highest general.

Re: Canadian military will rely on public servants to boost its ranks by 300k

#109

Post by [deleted] »

stackedinserter wrote: post #80
incomingpain wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Russia is weak, they cant even take ukraine. To think they'd have a shadow of a chance against NATO is a joke. China is strong, their standing army is probably 300 million and if they invaded canada. Our >I don't know much about Canada's current plans and how effective they would be. Ya that original comment about russia/china wasnt a significant part of my post anyway.

I wouldn't call Russia weak. They have their strengths, one of which is insensitivity to losses. They can grind 20000 soldiers to get a small town, and nobody cares. Also, total control over population, brainwashing the youth, military-oriented economy. Also, Russia knows how to operate in Arctic, and has real combat experience that none of NATO countries have. > To think they'd have a shadow of a chance against NATO…

[deleted]

Re: Canadian military will rely on public servants to boost its ranks by 300k

#110

Post by colechristensen »

_verandaguy wrote: post #4
colechristensen wrote: post #3

[flagged]

I resent the implication that us being separate countries is a "historical quirk." It's condescending at best and exemplifies why we feel increasingly distant from the US. It's like saying that Belgium and the Netherlands, or Spain and Portugal, or Germany and Switzerland are one historical quirk away from being the same countries.

You are the one making the assumption that I meant Canada should be controlled by the US when I meant and wrote no such thing.

And Europe _absolutely_ should unite under a single government instead of this pseudo national semi-single-currency/market with a vague poorly representative European government designed mostly just to dance around the fact that these small states are stuck on archaic nationalist ideas and can't get along with a unified purpose. The world needs the strength a unified Europe could provide to counteract Russian aggression, the growth of Chinese power, and the crumbling cornerstone of world order the US is going through.

Being offended is strange.

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