Time to take names and kick ass.

Scared yet, wimpy little socialist moonbats?

You can always move to France if you don't enjoy real freedom.

Doug: The French are never reluctant to use force and kill people in defence of their national interest.

The French president has just said French nuclear weapons would used to defend France against terrorism.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/france/story/0,,1690809,00.html

We may disagree with the French on what freedom to defend, but the French can go a long way towards defending theirs.

How does Canada compare to that?

Mark
Ottawa

I'm really delighted to see these developments occurring on the heels of a conservative victory in Canada.

Earlier today I posted this on a leftist Canadian site just to be malevolent.

First, Harper won, which we Canada-watchers were enormously pleased to see, and now apparently we can look forward to an effective Canadian military partner in these very dangerous times.

When I first started to post up here 2 or 3 years ago, none of this even seemed like a possibility. I think that conservative Canadian bloggers have played a strong role in returning sane leadership to Ottawa.

It's beginning to look like Canada is deciding to re-join the Anglosphere. Congratulations and welcome back. We missed you, and it's going to be very good working together again.

Now if Canadian culture could just sort of follow along with these terrific developments, we might all find ourselves paying each other compliments for a change for the first time in many years.

With current recruitment problems due to a competitive job market, it may take a while to get to 75,000 with current attrition rates.

Maybe this ties into the previous post about immigration and job skills training and employment opportunities for them, as not enough "nobody is more canadian than me" are joining up.

With 62% percent of Canadians not happy about the Afghan mission, it will be interesting to see if the finance minister wants to make icebreakers a priority and the defense minister can convince the country that the mission is still important.

O'Conner needs to tell us how much this is going to cost.

Steve: A great many people in Canada do not give strong consideration to their opinions but simply regurgitate what they are fed by the media and the political establishment.

Harper has proven to be adept at being able to deliver his message directly to the Canadian people overriding the medias spin.

I think you will soon see more polls that reflect a majority of people supporting Conservative positions.

A few factoids for people to ponder:

During WW1, Canada fielded 600,000 troops and took 60,000 casualties (Canada's population: roughly 8.5 million).

In 1945, Canada boasted the world's third largest navy and fourth largest army, with slightly more than a million people in our armed forces. (pop: 14M)

In 1950, in addition to the military personnel inside our country, we had 22,000 special forces troops in Korea and 120,000 troops in Europe, for an estimated 240,000 military establishment (pop: 16M)

Oh, and by the way, our military capabilities were the reason for Canada to be included in the G7 and other international fora...fact being, if you are not a player in the international scene, you do not get to sit at the table with the big boys. As we currently stand, we are spectators at best.

We currently have an estimated 52,000 persons in our armed forces, versus 80,000 ten years ago (current population: 32M)

Apparently, we have just discovered Jean Chretien's legacy...isn't that impressive?

Mark: "We may disagree with the French on what freedom to defend, but the French can go a long way towards defending theirs.

How does Canada compare to that?"

That may be true, but historically they have not been overly successful. Comparing Canadian forces to the French in any way, shape or form is rather scary IMHO.

"Hmmm" demands to know about the cost of rebuilding the Armed Forces.

I would ask: what's the cost of not relentlessly defending freedom, democracy and the rule of law against those who hate it and wish to take it away from us, to take away the greatest gift ever given to humanity, paid for by valorous men and women, past, present and future, with their lives?

Those who say there's no threat, that we don't need a military, just don't get it. They don't or won't understand the reality of the world.

As for those who would denounce better "integration" with the US, I say: it's called being "Allies". Those who have learned from history know that the Free World came together as the Allied Powers to defeat the Axis powers, led by the Nazis and the Imperial Japanese. If the Free World had continued to go the way of the appeasenik Chamberlain, then we wouldn't be here today to discuss this. The world would instead be ruled by racist, fascist, tyrannical oppressors, with no freedom, democracy nor laws. There'd probably be less human diversity in the world; one would have to be "pure" German or "pure" Japanese to ever have a moment to not sweatingly worry about when the SS was going to come... perhaps to take one away to have medical experiments performed... fully awake, no anaesthesia...

Let's not get the shorts in a bunch about the cost of a great Armed Forces... just accept it'll be a lot of pictures of Queens. But compare monetary costs to the pricelessness of freedom, democracy and the rule of law.

Sentinel, don't just regurgitate whatever self-serving propaganda you have swallowed for whatever reason. Who hates "freedom, democracy and the rule of law" and wishes to "take it away from us?" Who are "they", what threat do "they" pose to us, and how can we defend against it? And don't say "terrorism."

The Conservative start to Defence is frightfully familiar. At his start, Mulroney promised the CF great things too, and gave them environmental uniforms. I trust BGen (ret'd) O'Connor remembers the 1987 White Paper on Defence, and I do hope he learned from that experience. It started with a strategic analysis that, first of all, embarrasingly was ridiculed in the press, and then proved its utter irrelevance with the collapse of the Berlin Wall a year and a half later. And the main thing the CF did get out of that White Paper was six more generals for the Army.

O'Connor will have to ask and answer the question that some minor players in DND were asking in 1987: "Where is the money going to come from?" And guess what, there was no money.

What we need is a good, hard, dispassionate look at our place in the world, a little less salivating when the Americans ring their patriotic bell, and a good deal less institutional imperative in the American and Canadian Armed forces. I hope MND O'conor will get us that, but my expectations are low.

Meanwhile, Chief of Defence Staff Rick Hillier would like money immediately. He would also urgently like a Hercules replacement.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=7aa3e833-87ec-45a2-be6d-d3a90aab05ff&k=82191

'... ideas the outspoken defence chief tossed out in a major speech to a largely military audience yesterday [Conference of Defence Associations], in which he also said that despite some big spending promises by successive governments, the Canadian Forces are running a $750-million yearly shortfall and also need additional "billions with a capital B" to replace rusting-out equipment and to bring on new recruits.

"We need money to sustain ourselves, then to increase our numbers to flesh out the skeletal units that we have in some places across the CF," Gen. Hillier said...

Despite a promise to increase spending by $13 billion over five years in the last Liberal budget, the Forces received only $500 million in new funds, $150 million of which was clawed back by the government for other spending.

Gen. Hillier said current defence spending remains at the 1991 level. "We remain short about three quarters of a billion dollars just to sustain the present Canadian Forces ... to march, fly or sail," including shortages of everything from bullets to housing, spare parts and gas for vehicles.

The Force's top new equipment priority, said Gen. Hillier, is a fleet of transport aircraft to replace the aging C130 Hercules transports. The Liberals announced a $5-billion plan to fast-track 16 new planes to replace the Hercules shortly before the election call last November.

The Conservatives have not said whether they will pursue the Hercules replacement, through their campaign platform suggested they would...'

Then there's the need for other aircraft, yet more money, and reduced spending on bases (the Conservatives in their election platform promised, in a vote-buying exercise, to create a number of new bases, including one for an Army battalion in Goose Bay).
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1140824434189&call_pageid=968332188774&col=968350116467

'[Gen. Hillier] also laid out the need for new search and rescue aircraft to fly "life and death" operations, new heavy-lift helicopters to move troops and gear and the guarantee of long-range transport aircraft.

While Conservatives and the Liberals before them have together pledged almost $20 billion in new military funding, Hillier said yesterday he wasn't sure whether it would be enough.

But he hinted there is the potential for savings, noting that one-quarter of the military infrastructure — old hangars and base buildings — isn't required for operations. "We really need to be ruthless about how we parse that down," he said. Asked whether that spelled big cuts to military bases, Hillier said it's too soon to know.'

Let us see how much money the Conservatives deliver and how soon (no more back-loading like the Liberals), and how fast equipment gets purchased.

Mark
Ottawa

Agitfact:

"...self-serving propaganda you have swallowed for whatever reason"

That's standard leftist rhetoric, there. I swallow nothing. I think for myself based on objective observations of reality in the world. I relentlessly pursue the truth. Yourself? I wonder.

"Who hates "freedom, democracy and the rule of law" and wishes to "take it away from us?" Who are "they", what threat do "they" pose to us, and how can we defend against it?"

You mean you don't think Osama Bin Laden, Hamas, and the Hojattieh sect of fascist, oppressive tyrannical Islam as adhered to by Ahmadinejad, Cuba's Castro, Venezuela's Chavez, China and North Korea's Communists, etc., etc... don't hate those things? Then why do they brutally suppress any mention thereof? What threat? Just listen to some of them threaten to wipe us out! Just read all the reports all over the world about their accelerating nuclear weapons development programs and their boldly aggressive confirmations thereof. Just observe them move closer together in a new Axis power group. Are you really pursuing an understanding of the reality of the world? Are you watching? Do you know of history and the lessons learned from it?

How we'll defend against it is by preparing. This is why the new Conservative gov't has undertaken to rebuild and modernize our Armed Forces, which were virtually disarmed by the hated left-wing extremist Liberals of "Don't worry, be happy" Chretien and the incessantly dithering Martin. If we cannot defend against the very real threats to freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law, then we will lose all of those things, dishonoring those who paid the ultimate price, past, present and future, so we could have them. They are the greatest gifts humanity has ever had. They can indeed be taken away by force. Those who take them for granted have no bloody business telling those of us who understand the provenance of these great gifts what to think or do or not do.

I see you wish to live in the Eighties and believe the fall of the Berlin Wall meant the end of global threats. Sorry, but that's a grave error for anyone to make. We're living in the here and now, so awaken and open your eyes to it, friend.

And I already addressed the question of cost above.

As for where the money will come from... do you understand what the defeated, hated Liberals were doing with our money? The secretive, multibilliondollar "foundations"? The countless boondoggles and unnecessary, ultra-expensive "programs" of all sorts which only served as de-facto money laundering operations to illegally divert public funds to Liberals?

Understand the Liberals deliberately had the Canadian economy bound hand and foot so as to flatline it, save for the economically independent powerhouse of Alberta, who paid many of the Liberals' bills for their hedonistic spending sprees for gawd knows what... and understand that the economy will boom as we haven't seen it do in a long time under the Conservatives... then, even though tax rates will be going down, gov't revenues will rise... there you have it: the money. Besides, recall the ever-increasing surpluses in the face of all-time record increases in budget spending by the Liberals?

I can only hope you'll open your mind to the real world, my friend, and stop listening to the foolish latter-day Chamberlains.

Further, with all due respect: If you wish to have some hellbent Islamofascist invade your home and chop off your and your family members' heads as y'all politely, brainlessly comply in the name of tolerance for the differences of others, that's your business. Just mind it alone. Don't tell me not to say "terrorism". I refuse to place my head up my rectum like the anencephalic left-wing extremist appeaseniks and pacifists.

***********************************************
Those who selflessly, honorably gave their own lives and those who valorously risked their own in wars past did not do so for Canadians to forget. They did not defend country, freedom and democracy so Canadians could eventually succumb to the forces of evil in the world someday in the future. Honor the brave Canadian patriots, past and present.

Stand on guard for thee!

Agitfact:

"...self-serving propaganda you have swallowed for whatever reason"

That's standard leftist rhetoric, there. I swallow nothing. I think for myself based on objective observations of reality in the world. I relentlessly pursue the truth. Yourself? I wonder.

"Who hates "freedom, democracy and the rule of law" and wishes to "take it away from us?" Who are "they", what threat do "they" pose to us, and how can we defend against it?"

You mean you don't think Osama Bin Laden, Hamas, and the Hojattieh sect of fascist, oppressive tyrannical Islam as adhered to by Ahmadinejad, Cuba's Castro, Venezuela's Chavez, China and North Korea's Communists, etc., etc... don't hate those things? Then why do they brutally suppress any mention thereof? What threat? Just listen to some of them threaten to wipe us out! Just read all the reports all over the world about their accelerating nuclear weapons development programs and their boldly aggressive confirmations thereof. Just observe them move closer together in a new Axis power group. Are you really pursuing an understanding of the reality of the world? Are you watching? Do you know of history and the lessons learned from it?

How we'll defend against it is by preparing. This is why the new Conservative gov't has undertaken to rebuild and modernize our Armed Forces, which were virtually disarmed by the hated left-wing extremist Liberals of "Don't worry, be happy" Chretien and the incessantly dithering Martin. If we cannot defend against the very real threats to freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law, then we will lose all of those things, dishonoring those who paid the ultimate price, past, present and future, so we could have them. They are the greatest gifts humanity has ever had. They can indeed be taken away by force. Those who take them for granted have no bloody business telling those of us who understand the provenance of these great gifts what to think or do or not do.

I see you wish to live in the Eighties and believe the fall of the Berlin Wall meant the end of global threats. Sorry, but that's a grave error for anyone to make. We're living in the here and now, so awaken and open your eyes to it, friend.

And I already addressed the question of cost above.

As for where the money will come from... do you understand what the defeated, hated Liberals were doing with our money? The secretive, multibilliondollar "foundations"? The countless boondoggles and unnecessary, ultra-expensive "programs" of all sorts which only served as de-facto money laundering operations to illegally divert public funds to Liberals?

Understand the Liberals deliberately had the Canadian economy bound hand and foot so as to flatline it, save for the economically independent powerhouse of Alberta, who paid many of the Liberals' bills for their hedonistic spending sprees for gawd knows what... and understand that the economy will boom as we haven't seen it do in a long time under the Conservatives... then, even though tax rates will be going down, gov't revenues will rise... there you have it: the money. Besides, recall the ever-increasing surpluses in the face of all-time record increases in budget spending by the Liberals?

I can only hope you'll open your mind to the real world, my friend, and stop listening to the foolish latter-day Chamberlains.

Further, with all due respect: If you wish to have some hellbent Islamofascist invade your home and chop off your and your family members' heads as y'all politely, brainlessly comply in the name of tolerance for the differences of others, that's your business. Just mind it alone. Don't tell me not to say "terrorism". I refuse to place my head up my rectum like the anencephalic left-wing extremist appeaseniks and pacifists.

***********************************************
Those who selflessly, honorably gave their own lives and those who valorously risked their own in wars past did not do so for Canadians to forget. They did not defend country, freedom and democracy so Canadians could eventually succumb to the forces of evil in the world someday in the future. Honor the brave Canadian patriots, past and present.

Stand on guard for thee!

Forgive the double post, Kate. My Linksys hardware momentarily took a break and I hit "post" twice...

Three ocean navy eh? What about the Great Lakes?

Oh, those are only lakes. You know, fishing boats and inner tubes type thing...

Oh, and also, we don't have 52,000 in the Armed Forces, we got maybe 22,000-32,000 at best. See these numbers are pumped up by pencil pushers and Ottawa generals who couldn't shoot straight even if their lives depended on it.

So we in fact have a verrrrrry long way to go before we can be considered a "military power".

These 65% who oppose Afghanistan, were they Toronto 416 specials?

I say take consensus of the ROC (rest of Canada - well maybe omit Vancouver and Montreal West) of what our boys should be doing and where they should be going.

cheers
tom

Canadian Sentinel said: "I see you wish to live in the Eighties and believe the fall of the Berlin Wall meant the end of global threats."

Actually, in the eighties all the left-ringers were screaming blue murder that Reagan was going to get us all killed. They had absolutely nothing to say about "the wall" coming down. They were silent. They were too busy supporting Daniel Ortega, Castro, and hand-wringing over Reagan-omics. The entire MSM and Moonbat empire was screaming mad. One of the most evil empires in history was coming down, and they missed it. Why would you expect them to see anything, or understand anything today. Like the "peaceful" Muslims, the Left-ringers are becoming more and more irrelevant. The world is now becoming a place of action, where the big boys are being called on to clean up the mess (guano) left by decades of left-ringer politics. In the mean time, the little boys come and post silly tid bits on SDA. Ignore them.

Here is the madness with which the left liberal moonbats have allied themselves. The mullahs use anti-Semitism as a cover for their despotic grip on the people of their countries.

Did someone mention kicking ass?

"He kicks the poor cat’s ass." +

Iranian Madness Watch

Professor Hasan Bolkhari, Iranian “mass media expert” and cultural advisor to the Iranian Education Ministry, explains why the evil Jewish Walt Disney company unleashed the ultimate weapon against the Islamic world—Tom and Jerry cartoons. (Courtesy of MEMRI TV.)

Hasan Bolkhari: There is a cartoon that children like. They like it very much, and so do adults - Tom and Jerry.

[...]

Some say that this creation by Walt Disney will be remembered forever. The Jewish Walt Disney Company gained international fame with this cartoon. It is still shown throughout the world. This cartoon maintains its status because of the cute antics of the cat and mouse – especially the mouse.

Some say that the main reason for making this very appealing cartoon was to erase a certain derogatory term that was prevalent in Europe.

[...]

If you study European history, you will see who was the main power to hoard money and wealth, in the 19th century. In most cases, it is the Jews. Perhaps that was one of the reasons which caused Hitler to begin the anti-Semitic trend, and then the extensive propaganda about the crematoria began... Some of this is true. We do not deny all of it.

Watch Schindler’s List. Every Jew was forced to wear a yellow star on his clothing. The Jews were degraded and termed “dirty mice.” Tom and Jerry was made in order to change the Europeans’ perception of mice. One of terms used was “dirty mice.”

I’d like to tell you that... It should be noted that mice are very cunning...and dirty.

[...]

No ethnic group or people operates in such a clandestine manner as the Jews.

[...]

Read the history of the Jews in Europe. This ultimately led to Hitler’s hatred and resentment. As it turns out, Hitler had behind-the-scene connections with the Protocols [of the Elders of Zion].

Tom and Jerry was made in order to display the exact opposite image. If you happen to watch this cartoon tomorrow, bear in mind the points I have just raised, and watch it from this perspective. The mouse is very clever and smart. Everything he does is so cute. He kicks the poor cat’s ass. Yet this cruelty does not make you despise the mouse. He looks so nice, and he is so clever... This is exactly why some say it was meant to erase this image of mice from the minds of European children, and to show that the mouse is not dirty and has these traits.

Unfortunately, we have many such cases in Hollywood shows. +
http://memritv.org/Transcript.asp?P1=1049
via LGF

Thanks for the input, Debris Trail. I was quite young in the Eighties, so perhaps you've a better memory thereof.

Besides, the Wall fell in around, what, 1990 or sooner? My point is that the other individual seemed to be using a wall's falling as sweeping proof that all threats had ceased.

I hope I'm not one of those "little boys" with "silly tidbits" whom we're supposed to ignore.

But it's better to expose them as having nothing supporting their rhetorical claims than to let folks believe them. It's a war of words between right and wrong as well as action by the big boys.

More money and troops and equipment for the military is laudable, but what we need as well is a foreign policy. Foreign policy for the Liberals was whatever came out of the PMO. How can we prioritize defence spending and operations without knowing what our country's goals are?

Since most of the civil service (DND) and a very large part of the senior military ranks are basically either Francophone or must be fluent in French, just where do you suppose the young men/women are going to come from to make up this huge anticipated force of new recruits.

Why would Anglophone/Allophone young people look forward to a career in the military. Lack of French is basically a career-stopper. A recent press rlease from the Commissioner of Official Languages was clear that all ranks above Captain must be bilingual by 2007. I guess that would be fine with the elite (senior ranks,strategic planners, etc)

So - where do the people come from: Quebec (highly unlikely) (Ontario-probably) - Immigration from French speaking nations???? - Conscription???? - mandatory military service - Reserves (highly unlikely). Western Canada - rather unlikely. How about contracting out - now wouldn't this make for a wonderful armed force.

Who does the training - All fluently French instructors???? Where do we find enough of these - or do we just pay two people to instruct where one should suffice.

The new army hardware (high tech howitzer of some kind) is apparently supposed to come with Anglo only manuals/ instructions - well, let's see how this flies!!!!!
This will be an indicator of just how much we move away from forced bilingualism in the armed services.

Unless the armed services make significant changes in what they have to offer those who are not fluent in French, it may well become a people problem as well as a money (or lack therof) problem. Spending millions (billions??) in francophone training isn't likely to do it. Spending millions (billions) in just translation itself if downright dumb - not to mention a budget breaker

Most all of this holds for the RCMP and the Border Patrol (whatever form this is going to take) as well.

Hey, this was my idea, made in jest earlier, but I guess reality is strange:

"In a bid to boost enrolment in the military, Canada's top soldier is promoting a plan to grant citizenship to landed immigrants who sign up to serve."

at a loss to explain why more Canadians don't want to serve

Sounds like an opportunity for Sentinel.

Aqitfact: time to educate the masses with your leftwing moonbat propaganda eh? Yes Mulrony gave us environmental uniforms, he also gave us new Halifax class frigates and Kingston class mine sweepers. He replaced our aging Boeing 707's with A310 airbusses (CC-150 Polaris).

Plans cancelled by Chretien...medium lift helicopter (Black Hawks)we ended up with a useless piece of crap called the Griffon,
SeaKing replacement, (EH 101), CF-18 replacement (super Hornet), New subs....eventually made a deal with the British that we will pay for for who knows how long? Cancelled the Leopard tank replacement (Leopard II or M1A1) and heavy helo project. He also cut our numbers and froze our pay and promotions for 5 years. The only reason we now make descent money was because of news stories about politicians with enormous expense accounts while privates had to go to food banks to survive. The Liberals are NO FRIEND to the Forces and never will be. That would be another great left wing hero's legacy....Pierre Elliot Trudeau. He loved us when he needed us, but we were something to be kept in the closet, brought out and dusted off when convienient. Chretien followed his masters tradition.

tomax:...I've always felt that the ROC, which you mention, is actually Canada and the roc is really quebec.

The Polaris Institute is whining like there's no tomorrow.

So I know the Tories must be headed on the right track with defence.

Actually granting immigrants (or plain foreigners) who serve in the military early citizenship is "American-style". That alone should shoot it down.
http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/natz/MilitaryBrochurev7.pdf

Mark
Ottawa

"calgaryclipper":

You're a bit of a crank aren't you? Publications for that new howitzer will have to be translated into French for two good reasons, chum:

1. There is a French-speaking artillery regiment in the regular Canadian Army (5e Régiment d'Artillerie Légère du Canada) as well as a number of reserve artillery regiments too.

2. More importantly, Canada is still an officially bilingual country at the Federal level. If we're going to want to recruit more troops, we're going to have to offer a career in both of our languages.

5 years ago I went to a career show with 2 boys I was taking care of. we went to the canadian army booth as the boys were interested in joining. The officer told us that there was a minimum grade 12 required [cadet experiance would lower this] and they would prefer a year or 2 of university. You could also have no criminal record.I do not know if they have lowered their standards.Anyone know?

Hmmm.

I generally am positive towards this, but I'd like to see $ over time by project in the order we're going to spend it, and a white paper to provide the intellectual framework as to why we're spending it and in what order.

A lot of the reasons are obvious, but it's still nice to see them spelled out.

It's also nice to see the projects lined up in order of priority, because this is going to cost a LOT of money and it's going to need sustained investment over a long time. It took decades to get the CF messed up this badly and it's going to take a while to get back into shape too.

The problem I see is that priority wise, so much stuff is reaching end-of-life simultaneously, is that for a while we're going to have to make tough decisions (random perhaps wrong examples follow): No more subs until 2015 - maybe ask allies if we can post individuals on thier assets at our cost so that we can reform from that knowledge base then. Disband "fast air" , for now, in favour of quickly available and effective CAS. Effectively we subcontract air superiority to USAF, or US ANG units, but we get infantry with top notch air support -Armed UAV's and helo's and fixed wing close air support.

What I'm saying is that some expensive things we'd like to have, or that generals like, gets canned in favour of cheap and dirty and 2nd hand gear, until we get the money to restart things.

Some non priority things get done first because they are cheap and have high bang/buck ratios inthe way of supporting strategies even if we're not trying to do the full spectrum immediately.

There's limited money and time scales. So let's get it as right as possible for the $ even if it means taking the pain now, and making do with second best, or without, for a while.

Oh and languages. Time to reform that: Everyone speaks english and a second language. That can be French but if you speak Ukranian or Arab or Thai, that's good too. Maintain the French requirement only for actual Franco units and for higher offciers.

Politically correct/multiculturalist propaganda from a "perfect model" of a left liberal moonbat.

Arbour's claptrap is indicative of the Islamist jihadist murderers' 'strongest weapon' within Canada: down with the left's so-called human rights. This is a mask for socialist enslavement. +

Human rights 'strongest weapon' against terrorism: Arbour
Threats to national security come as much from terrorism as a willingness to dismantle a country's own laws protecting everyone's basic rights, says the Canadian who heads the UN High Commission for Human Rights. >
via CNEWS

For those who are interested, information on joining the Forces is here:
http://www.recruiting.forces.gc.ca/engraph/home/index_e.aspx

To answer Alan's questions, the minimum age is 17, with exceptions for Reserve service. The education minimum is Grade 10; however this is dependent on the trade desired, as personnel seeking to join technical trade will need to meet higher education standards. As important as education is, the Forces also tests for aptitude and attitude.

Cheers
JMH

Who is the enemy? That's the first and primary question.

Answer: It is Islamist jihadist terrorism.

Question # 2: Who aids and abets the enemy? The left liberals & their MSM aid and abet the enemy by allying themselves with the enemy. Suicidal they are; drinking their own poisonous Kool-Aid.

Now Rolling Stoned mag says so. +

Warmongers

The mainstream media is generally anti-war. But when the prospect is a civil war in Iraq -- a civil war that would undermine the U.S. and its government's theory of spreading democracy and pursuing the war on terror -- the Left is practically handing out Improvised Explosive Devices.

You know when Rolling Stone magazine can't stomach the leftist glee, it's pretty bad:

Is it just me, or are some in the progressive blogosphere hyping the possibility of a full-scale civil war in Iraq just a little too eagerly?

h/t Tim Blair

Posted by Ezra Levant on February 25, 2006 at 10:13 AM +
http://westernstandard.blogs.com/

Good post about where the people will come from to fill the ranks.

You don't have to bi, err Bi-lingual to join the forces. SO all the ribbits will control the army just like how they control government positions and the affairs of the country.

Talk about lopsidedness. Potentially 23% of the population ruling the other 77%.

I wonder what the ratio is of Francophones in Ottawa and military leaders is to Anglophones? If it exceed's 23%, then there should be a revolt.

But we Anglophones are a dumb bunch, can only speak one language.

Forget about science, math, and other skills - language is the benchmark.

Till then, forget about a life in the military if you want to make it above mon capitan.

Kristol: The Long War (The radical Islamists are on the offensive. Will we defeat them?)
The Weekly Standard ^ | March 6, 2006 | William Kristol

Posted on 02/25/2006 2:13:58 PM PST by RWR8189

DEMAGOGUES TO THE RIGHT OF THEM, appeasers to the left of them, media in front of them, volleying and thundering. Can the Bush administration continue to charge ahead? Does it have the will--and the competence--to lead the nation for the next three years toward victory in the long war against radical Islamism?

From Copenhagen to Samara, the radical Islamists are on the offensive. From Tehran to Damascus, the dictators are trying to regain the upper hand in the Middle East. From Moscow to Beijing, the enemies of liberal democracy are working to weaken the United States. Across the world, the forces of terror and tyranny are fighting back. Are we up to the challenge?

It's not clear that we are. Many liberals, here and in Europe, long ago lost the nerve to wage war--or even to defend themselves--against illiberalism. Parts of the conservative movement now seem to be losing their nerve as well. In response to an apparent clash of civilizations, they would retrench, hunker down, and let large parts of the world go to hell in a hand basket, hoping that the hand basket won't blow up in our faces.

Remember: The United States of America and its allies--regimes that seek to embody, or at least to move towards, the principles of decent, civilized, liberal democracy--did not seek this war. But we are at war, and we could lose it. Victory is not inevitable.

Does that make Bush-supporting, liberal-democracy-promoting, Iraq-war-defending neoconservative "Leninists," as Francis Fukuyama has recently charged? No. Does it mean we believe--as Fukuyama defines Leninism--that "history can be pushed along with the right application of power and will"? Does it mean that history does not automatically move in the right direction, that justice does not necessarily or easily prevail? Yes.

It would be nice to believe, as Fukuyama does, that "a long-term process of social evolution" is under way that will inevitably produce liberal democracy. It would be nice to enjoy the comfortable complacency of a historical determinism that suggests--as Fukuyama has it--that what we most need to do is to embrace a "good governance agenda" on behalf of a long-term process of "democracy promotion" that "has to await the gradual ripening of political and economic conditions to be effective."

Indeed, it would be nice if we lived in a world in which we didn't have to take the enemies of liberal democracy seriously--a world without jihadists who want to kill and clerics who want to intimidate and tyrants who want to terrorize. It would be nice to wait until we were certain conditions were ripe before we had to act, a world in which the obstacles are trivial and the enemies fold up. Unfortunately, that is not the world we live in.

To govern is to choose, and to accept responsibility for one's choices. To govern is not wishfully to await the end of history. To govern is not fatalistically to watch a clash of civilizations from the sidelines. + more...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1585545/posts

tomax:...William Gairdner's "The Trouble With Canada" shines a light on the concept the government's definition of bi-lingual is a Francophone who can speak English. In 5 major departments (just don't remember the year for the stats quoted) the numbers exceeded 80% (one over 90%). I think I'll see if I can find up to date numbers. I've been told our military ranks are overrun, wt the top with Francophone Generals (this comment passed to me by a military man).

*wt = at

JJM,

calgaryclipper is actually correct. Current plans for the Mobile Gun System are that it will be deployed in Anglophone units only, and the manuals will not be translated, saving us a stack of cash. BTW, this is an armour system, not artillery.

Want an eye opener?

http://www.rabble.ca/babble/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=008770

I'm at a loss for words.

Garry, I just visited bill garirdner's site...quite the spokesman for what's happening in Canada.

http://www.williamgairdner.com/

I think I'll see if Chapters has his book.

tomax:...I was introduced to "The Trouble With Canada" shortly after it came out. I will shortly be digging it out to read again. As you said, he is 'quite spokeman for what is happening in Canada' and I think his writings should be highlighted, especially at this time in our political life. You will enjoy it I'm sure.

Cheers

Steve in BC, thanks for suggesting I could serve. But alas, I cannot. Got to be able to hear, which isn't the case for me, not since age five.

But I'm doing what I can. You can see it evidenced by what I do on my blog. Besides, my brothers themselves are serving. One, in fact, was in the first Gulf War.

In my province, NB, the veterans get special licence plates, with a poppy on them, honoring their service. And there's a lot of them. Just go out and you see them! Makes one proud, if you understand that freedom, democracy and the rule of law are gifts given by those who paid the ultimate price and those who were prepared to do so as well. Too many folks don't understand that these gifts aren't something that's guaranteed forever; that they can be taken away just like that unless they're defended to the death. We need to educate Canadians as to the truth about Canadian heritage and real Canadian values. The Liberal state has been insidiously indoctrinating with their own false, politically-correct version.

Wonder how many other provinces have these licence plates? I know they do in NS.

I'm sure I've seen them in Ontario as well

Veterans plates in BC too.

There appears to be some confusion between comments from "CalgaryClipper","JJM" and "Dave@none".
1. The "high-tech" howitzer referred to is the US M777 155mm towed gun. It is in service in Afghanistan now, and was in action this last week.
2. The Mobile Gun System is "in procurement" but we haven't taken delivery yet. As to which units will field it, that is as yet undecided. Based on the number scited for the purchase there will be one Squadron of 19 MGS for each of the RCD, LdSH(RC) and 12 RBC, plus nine for the Armour School.
3. Translations of English manuals into French does not slow the introduction of new kit, nor does the inavailability of French manuals impact on training. Such translations are done on an operationally defined schedule. Quite often the vendors do the translations themselves in order to improve the 'quality' of their bids for contracts. Often, the major problem is to obtain manuals which use Canadian Army language rather than that of an Ally whose terminologies are not quite up to requirements.

Cheers
JMH

Canadian Sentinal - Alberta finally got them. Along with the Vets to keep running the lost car key program.

What a farce. The Vets, more so War Amps, run a lost key return program on donation only. They need Alberta addresses to know where to return the key, but the Klein government refused to give it.

But wait. Impark, a car parking lot company was able to get the list, which not only includes addresses, but phone numbers and God knows what else. Hence this so named company would phone people at 3am demanding payment for parking fines issued by their rent-a-cops.

The almighty buck rules in Alberta. Sad.

But glad the Vets made a stink, otherwise we'd know about this back room deal the government made with Impark. Plus they finally got Vet plates after how many years of lobbying.

We have these teary eyed celebrations in Alberta on November 11th, but our goverment here is really a closet Liberal outfit.

Sad.

JMH

Thanks for the clarification - from one who has been away from things/people military for a longggg time.

With the change in gov't and having watched much of the CDA conference on CPAC - my interest is coming back. I hope there will be a whole lot of re-generated interest from the "older" generation as it seems that there is a least some hope that decades of neglect in the Military/RCMP/CSIS/Border Service at least has some chance of being improved.

Hopefully many of the Joe/Josephine Grinders out there will again become engaged because all of these institutions are vital to preserving Canada. It is very concerning to me to read the Globe and Mail survey which "claims" 57% of Canadaians are against our presence in Afgn.

To the younger, high tech among you - please bear with us as we try to get our heads around the "what is" part of the equation.

My interest is mainly in the people component and to hear/read Gen. Hillier express wonderment in terms of why the recruiting is so low - I have to wonder about the places he has been looking for the answers.

One of the responses to his address at CDA was very enthusiastic and with the question - now, where do I re-engage". Gen Hillier responded - it's a young person game now (name) with a smile. Really!!!!!

As Michael Wilson at age 68 is taking on the duties of Ambassador to the U.S. (a very good appointment)it would be hard to argue that he is past his prime. There are a whole lot of people in that age 55-70 bracket who are re-tired/semi-retired/underemployed because of downsizing that are not past their prime and may well be able/willing to contribute. There are a whole lot of spaces in the target groups that don't require younger/career-minded full time members.

Rather than looking at fast tracking immigrants (basically mercenaries) perhaps he should be looking at the potential of this group in a much broader aspect than just medical doctors. The Liberals have been taking in something like 23,000 refugees a year for how many years now. Rather than put these people on welfare - put them in the service as part of the requirement.

The net has some interesting info on those MGS units. Not the least of which talked about a Canadian unit that was in the US for the testing of some of these units. Apparently they did themselves and Canada proud but who really knows about this. One of the CDA panel mentioned the JTF2 - and said, oh, but I can't talk about this. Hmmmmm - apparently other countries are talking about this unit with high regard - but we arn't supposed to know/be proud of anything they do. Unfortunately, under the Liberals there has been little in the way of "successes" or opportunities for the recuiters to talk about that will encourage young people to enlist. At least there is a glimmer of hope that things might improve.

Forced bilingualism since 1982 has had to have a major negative impact on recuiting from Western Canada - a traditionally large contributor (and still could be) in terms of the target institutions. It seems that with the passing of Bill S-3 (Amendment to the Official Languages Act), this is going to become even a greater issue in terms of not attracting recruits from western Canada.

Interesting is the Gov. Gs upcoming itinerary - BC - immigrant organization(s) - Haiti (Francophone) then on to Esquimalt and a trip with the navy. Can it be true - the General is THAT serious about fast tracking immigrants into the armed forces????

Judy Scrow (Liberals) fast tracked strippers into the country on a "highly needed baisis" - so I guess the military mess that was left by the Liberals may qualify as being on a "high need basis". Surely, there must be some better answers to recruiting than this!!!!!!!

I know combine the two - hire strippers to join the navy?

Sign me up!

wait, wait, uh...these are female strippers right?

;-)

A reminder: if Canada spent like the Americans, DND's budget would be $45 billion.

Money like that and recruitment wouldn't be a problem. Nor would territorial sovereignty.

Allow me to be underwhelmed by the amount of new money that's been promised.

Getting from here to there will require a sea change in what Canadians understand the purpose of their government to be.

That will happen only when it's the existential threat that Islamism poses is widely appreciated.

'Till then: Never mind the mullahs, where's my healthcare?

Its amazing to me how many people, mostly conservative males, as far as I can tell, think that Canada will have more oomph, more national testosterone if we increase our military. After witnessing the impotence of power in Iraq how can you still believe this?
Picture this, a mouse,Canada, in full military gear swaggering around as if he is as potent as the elephant,the U.S., beside him with 2000 atom bombs.
As long as they are the elephant in the world our country is protected because it is in their national interest to keep us stable.
If we arm ourselves, conventionally only will be permitted by the elephant, we will then be predisposed to swagger around the planet like our southern elephant. After all we spent all these billions on military is there any doubt it will be used. We would never be able to beg off anymore like we do now.
Make no mistake we will be the auxiliary force the U.S. would like us to be.
I know, its time we carried our weight militarily. How many of these U.S. conflicts of the last fifty years would we have succumbed to?

If we are serious about being able to defend ourselves then we must go nuclear. Countries that have nuclear weapons get to really swagger. Even the U.S. gives them proper respect. No I think anything less than nuclear is a joke.
Besides, there is only one country that would,could and has attacked Canada. That's right its the U.S. So IF we are going to spend billions upon billions of dollars lets spend it effectively and not just in the service of the elephant but to make ourselves elephant proof .

Besides, there is only one country that would,could and has attacked Canada. That's right its the U.S.

I wonder if someone should tell steve that 1812 is 55 years before 1867?

CalgaryClipper:
Your point on recruiting older/ex-service personnel is good and we are doing it. One of my co-workers retired in 2002, but is now in Afghanistan as a Reservist.

The bigger problem is selling the Forces to the 18-25 year-olds, and this is inhibited by recruiting policies imposed on the Forces during the 'Nineties, things like diversity and the need to recruit from certain groups for non-military reasons. Recruiting from immigant or other identified special groups is not a problem, having to recruit them to fill 'quotas' regardless of fitness to serve is a problem.

And then there is the perceived problem of 'competing with jobs in a booming economy'. The real problem is that the Forces has allowed itself to be seen as just another Canadian business unit. We're not. We offer excellent trades training, to be sure. But more importantly, we offer the opportunity to do your job in a variety of interesting places: sometimes in an airconditioned office with proper IT equipment; sometimes in a hot/cold tent with dust/snow blowing in, hoping the generator keeps going, listening for those special sounds indicating someone may not like you, a C7A1 within reach. Going out on patrol, carrying 20kg of kit, seeking to engage the enemy before he attacks you. Or telling a 22 year-old with two years in, that he is now in charge of the section and has to make decisions affecting the lives of others.

But first and foremost, because you are Canadian you want to serve Canada.

Cheers
JMH

OL HOSS
Thanks for the history lesson but, of course, I knew that. Why I didn't point it out initially is because I believe it would have made no difference whatsoever to American actions. The fact that Canada had yet to be formally instituted is not pertinent to my observation.

Steve D. asserted:

"Besides, there is only one country that would,could and has attacked Canada. That's right its the U.S."

WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!WRONG!!!!!!!!

Nazi Germany, with U-Boats, on the East Coast and the St. Lawrence. Destroyed many ships; naval, commercial and passenger during WWII... from the History Channel.

Why didn't we learn of this in school? Why do we not hear of it today? Is it a dangerous leftist coverup conspiracy? Have we been fed false leftist propaganda instead of our true history and military heritage? Did our people pay the ultimate price just so Liberals could lie to our faces every day?

Nazi U-Boats.

Blowing up our ships in our waters.

In Canada.

I didn't make this up.

Also: attempted terror attack by Jamaat ul Fuqra in Toronto.

Just do the bloody research if you care so much for the truth.

It's as easy as Googling...

Open your eyes.

'Cause the MSM won't tell you feck all about diddly squat, my friend...

Mr. Heinrichs, a major problem with recruiting youth today is that the Liberal regime saw to it that they were indoctrinated in non-militarism dogma as well as minimizing teaching of our military history, even covering up important events like I mentioned wrt the U-Boats (I never got that from History classes in HS). Hard to see the military as a possible career when one has been brainwashed by the left and all that, unfortunately. Besides, look at the recruiting posters. What are the models therein doing? Where's the weapons? They look for all the world like folks at Public Works or someplace like that... not soldiers. These ads don't tell youth what the Forces are about. They just show people fixing radios or whatever, not defending the most important gifts of freedom, democracy and the rule of law from those who hate it and want to take it away from us... yet again, which they will attempt sooner or later.

Time to promote the Forces again. Show the tanks, guns, fighter planes, etc... inspire the youth!

And I thank and honor you for your service.

As well, I'd like to invite you over to my blog:

http://thecanadiansentinel.blogspot.com

SteveD, you really disappoint me. I confess I do not understand where you are coming from.

You are talking about Canadian military personnel "swagger around" and about all of this antagonistic relationship between the elephant and the mouse.

Look, the US, Great Britain, and Australia, your natural partners, are locked in a life-and-death struggle with Islamic terrorism.

These terrorists have killed many Americans, British, and Australians, as well as other coalition partners. Terrorists are threatening North America with the possibility of covert cells, attacking publishers, and just the other day, Bush talked about an attack on LA that was thwarted back in 2001. The terrorists have killed people in the Netherlands, rioted for weeks in France, bombed London, Madrid and other cities, torture and behead people for kicks, and the "coalition of the willing' is trying to stop them.

Thousands of Canadians volunteered to serve in VietNam with me and my military colleagues, and previous to that, Canada had an important alliance fighting against the Axis powers in World War II.

And what's all this business about Canada needing a nuclear weapon to codify its place relative to the United States? We are your business partners and 85% of your trade. We are your partners in NORAD and willingly would risk our lives in your defense. A huge number of Canadian live and work and marry and raise families in the United States. There are plenty of Americans who are married to Canadians and live in Canada. (Meg, who frequently posts here and has her own blog, is from my part of the country and is married to a Canadian.)

A huge portion of your countrymen are aunts, uncles, parents and grandparents of US citizens.

In short, nobody is "swaggering around" here. We are trying to defeat a deadly enemy who threatens you as much as us. And we are not some antagonistic group -- we are your friends and extended relatives, and we all need to work together to make sure that civilization doesn't get pulled into the dark ages.

Now that was properly framed. New rule:

Nobody voices hate for the Country next door unless one has lived there six months or more.

Most discover that it's not the people they hate at all, only the politicos and their spin. It's a kind of trickery. TG

TG said, of a proposed new rule:

"Nobody voices hate for the Country next door unless one has lived there six months or more."

I'd change that to:

Nobody voices hate for the Country next door. After all, it's a serious criminal offense in Canada to express hatred of anyone based upon nationality... anyone, any number of anyones. I would assert that leftists who yap on like the tiny little nervous dog named Carolyn Parrish or the dangerous lunatic Svend Robinson, he of telling-the-IDF-to-F.O.-and-walking-past-them-at-risk-of-own-life infamy shall be incarcerated for violating laws against hate speech.

They wanted the laws; let them suffer the consequences they approved for their violation.

And the only ones "swaggering" are the ultra-extreme, anti-defence, appeasenik leftist imbeciles. They have a false sense of righteousness borne of being indoctrinated by elitist socialist fools who nevertheless enrich themselves illegally via the stealing of our hard-earned and easily-taken tax dollars...

Thank goodness these bastards where dethroned and are being investigated as we speak... to be subject to any appropriate criminal prosecution in the future...

"As long as they are the elephant in the world our country is protected because it is in their national interest to keep us stable."

steve D, I've seen this sentiment from Candians before. The implication is always that America's only interest in the Canadian people is strictly utilitarian, and that the only reason America would spill blood for Canada is to protect itself.

Frankly, this is a pretty unsophisticated viewpoint of the relationship bewteen the Canadian and American people. But let me ask you a question.

Are you saying that it is not in Canada's interest for America to be protected? Are you saying that Canada would not lift a finger to protect American citizens? Are you saying that it is not in both America's and Canada's co-mutual interest for North America to be secure?

If America were being overrun by Islamic fanatics beheading our citizens and imposing a fanatical regime on our people, are you saying that Canada has no interest in coming to Americans' aid? Are you that callow and inhuman?

The fact is that we have hugely important ties based on friendship, kinship, and mutual interests. Americans would die to protect Canada, and it would not all be simply because of a strategic interest. We hope that Canada feels the same.

Our friend Tony G (who incidentally has lived in America and know of what he speaks) has pointed out that Canadians quite rightfully get upset with American politicians.

Well, Steve, you've even had your now-deposed mafia prime minister actively using anti-American rhetoric to campaign. Do you think we love Canada's politicians? You have the Carolyn Parrishes of the world cussing us out and stomping on action figures of our president, for the ghoulish slavering of Canadian leftists.

How do you think the American public feels about your politicians? I think you better re-trhink this whole dilemma.

...and, think of this:

Suppose America was under massive, continuous attack from the new Axis powers. Suppose also that this is simultaneously occuring in Canada. Considering that currently Canada is wholly incapable of repelling a massive, multinational war against itself, would America, with its hands already full repelling its own attackers, necessarily be able to spare much to come to the aid of Canada? If it were to do so, then its defences could be spread so thin as to give the Axis an unacceptable advantage...

It's a horrible scenario to ponder, but it must be addressed in light of the false belief held by the brobdingnagianly stupid left that Canada doesn't need to be capable of self-defence.

If no one thinks of these contingencies nor promulgates them, then the Free World will have failed to have seen the coming of armaggedon and could possibly lose...

And this is completely unacceptable. This is why I see appeaseniks and pacifists as dangerous subversives who must necessarily be ignored without explanation.

It's important to see things coming... long before they arrive and prepare to deal successfully with them!

Is this really all that hard to understand, Steve D.?

People seems to forget about the ultimate sacrifice that our troops made in the name of freedom. Eight Canadian soldiers have been killed in the mission to Afghanistan, three by hostile action, one in an accident and four in a friendly fire incident. A Canadian diplomat was killed in an incident involving a car bomb in Kandahar.
For non military partisans let's just put this one in context: A United Nations report in February 2005, concluded that Afghanistan remains one of the world's least developed countries. It ranked 173rd out of 178 countries surveyed – beating five states in sub-Saharan Africa.

Out of every 1,000 babies born in Afghanistan, 142 die before reaching one year of age. A woman dies in pregnancy every 30 minutes. Overall life expectancy is estimated at just under 42.5 years. Do we need more reason to validate the reasons why Canada is involved in Afghanistan. I certainly don't need more reason!

canadian sentinel and greg(in Dallas)

german u boats were not interested in Canada per se but rather in the materiel it was shipping to England. So i guess technically attacking our shipping is an act of war but i dont rate it the same as landing forces and physically attacking as was done during the war of 1812.
Neither do i look upon terrorists as equivalent to a mass army.
We dealt with Nazi germany properly.
We will defeat terrorists by doing the opposite of what the Americans are doing. Sorry Greg but your leadership is ignorant and incompetent. Perhaps you are among the majority in your country who agrees with me.
The first line of defense is an effective intelligence agency. Armies are useless against terrorists operating in small cells sprinkled throughout a country. Once you have identified the terrorist he is easily arrested by local police. You must also work diplomatically to ease the forces that cause terrorism. It is fed by perceived injustice lingering over a period of time. All people need to feel they are listened to and heard at least some of the time.

Greg if the USA ever needed our help we would of course be there. The American people are great.
Most, especially in the north east and west, are politically much like me. But there is a core of perhaps 30% that I feel have within them the ability to turn Fascist. Unfortunately, some of this core is composed of immense wealth and power. This force is over represented in the politico power structure. IF this powerful minority ever cranks up America like they have been over 9/11. Remember all power virtually was given to the president. The congress was a rubber stamp and the supreme court is now right wing. This situation has not played out yet but America is finally waking up.
The Administrative branch now has unprecedented power. If this trend were to continue the flood gates for abuse and manipulation of this power could lead to a dictatorship. Just imagine if suddenly around election time "terrorists" started striking often and hard. Why the president may have to forgo elections until this state of emergency was over. Meanwhile, opposition members could be found to be plotting and arrested etc etc. Perhaps this sounds far fetched to y0u but I have thought such things might be possible. Remember in the 1930's some Fascist leaders of industry were plotting to take over the U.S. government. So there is historical precident for this kind of thinking.