Derek 2.0

The last ~15 years of conflict would have seemed "unlikely" ~15 1/2 years ago.......

Based on precedent over the last ~150 years of our nation, quite the opposite......

Simply put, common interests and geography.

The French have a far greater capacity for "air logistics" then Canada, likewise the British having a far greater ability for "maritime patrol" on their nations coast lines.

Are you really that ignorant? The largest threat to Canada, today, has been the same since Confederation.....Global instability........That could show itself in the form of a nuclear war, which would represent a direct physical threat (near end of life) to Canada or the the follow on effects of conventional and asymmetric warfare around the World on Canada.

I certainly agree.......as noted, the Trump team vetted Cruz's speech beforehand then had the New York delegation start booing as planned, followed by Trump's "grand entrance" during the speech and RNC security escorting out Cruz's wife during the speech.........Trump torpedoed Cruz. And Cruz was hoisted by his own petard, by not only team Trump, but by the RNC.

Hey, there are direct statements urging Canada (among others) to start towing our own weight in NATO..........

No, they have their own squadron within a larger German regiment or battalion. I would say more consigned to having us there......none the less, if pleasing NATO is the Trudeau governments intent, they had best start increasing the defense budget rapidly.

Yes indeed........of course factual evidence and history align with my "internet opinion" and not your "parroted, yet ignorant, internet opinion"........As I said, the Trudeau Government is sending Canadian personal onto a deployment they are not prepared for, in the off chance, the Russians start driving West. That is my informed opinion based on the current composition of our armed forces, contrasted with the Russian forces in theater.

No, it means they have their own squadron within a larger German unit. Has the CDS ever suggested Canada could deploy a combined arms mechanized unit?

There are ~5 years of complaints, in the countless topical threads, on this forum.....I, unlike you, have an understanding of a great deal of the subject mater, inversely knowing what I don't know.......

Yes they do......a squadron within a combined German unit. The Trudeau Government (not the CDS) decided our defense and security needs were providing forces to joint defense through NATO in Europe....yet they can't provide anything of real substance in the advent of a shooting war with the Russians.

No, you fail to understand my point. The only nation that can do that is the Americans........and barely just and not support it very long........Of course, no military would though. Canada doesn't have a mechanized force worth moving by rail. Nobody else wanted the job....simple as that.

Simple, a sole tank squadron is the standard ORBAT of a mechanized infantry battalion, combined with modern IFVs, self propelled artillery, engineers, layered air defense, logistics/headquarters and of course attack helicopters........Canada, with a larger economy and defense budget can't field a near equal force.

I never said they could defend against a "sweeping Russian attack" alone. Are you that ignorant? The French, unlike Canada, can deploy (and support) an entire airborne brigade globally, Marines and their army anywhere in the world with a coast line and of course.......there is the Legion None the less, in the context of the "Russian threat", the French can employ two combined arms armored divisions......in Europe.....via rail........Canada not so much. Canada brings very little to a NATO strategy aimed at stopping several Russian tank armies.....

The Dutch (and others) can contribute to NATO a self-sufficient combined arms mechanized unit........Canada (and others like Belgium, Estonia, Iceland etc) can not......

No, you say it with ignorance, devoid of the knowledge of conditions of nuclear response by both NATO and NORAD.........NATO very much so was prepared to use nukes to defend West Germany, likewise the use of nukes if required to defend North America via NORAD.......

Again, when did the CDS set Government policy?

When did the CDS set political policy in Canada? That's new.......

You know that how? If that's not the case, NATO is redundant and should be disbanded.

I did in the earlier discussion, you know, when the topic first came up last year........You're the one that claims, unfounded, that Canada, over all other NATO allies was selected after the French. Ahh no, in 1991 French and British armored divisions killed Iraqis in the Kuwaiti and Iraqi deserts.........2003? The Mechanized invasion of Iraq, including the use of the 1st British armored division Ahh no, I live in the real world........A handful of Leopards aren't going to halt a tank regiment.........your M777s, TOWs and dam near everything else would be combat ineffective once a Russian Armored Corps opened up its first couple of salvos form its numerous self propelled and rocket batteries.......and you think air defense is the missing link? What you don't think "Canadian training" could defend against dozens upon dozens of Hinds and Frogfoots? Ahhh Fantasy land.......... I know that, I said as much, like the Cold War, we'd (as in NATO) need at least 1/3 the size of forces in Eastern Europe to fight the Russians in a conventional was...........as it stands, you have zero evidence to confirm that what we're missing someone else will bring......

No, it would be helpful to have nukes in Poland to protect Poland and the Baltic States........just as was done for decades with NATO nukes in West Germany.

That depends.......if the Russians are in Germany in a couple of weeks NATO would have but two choices......... NATO was very much so prepared to "nuke the Russians" throughout the Cold War.

No it doesn't......you stated Canada was the second choice after France. Except for the deployment of a British and French armored division in '91 or a British Corps during the second war.......you claimed Canada was "battle hardened and well equipped" to fight a mechanized war against the Russians in Europe........I called Bullshit based on reality and historic fact. Doubtful to you perhaps, but its reality......The Canadian army, unlike those I mentioned, couldn't contend with a lone Russian armored regiment.......let alone an entire Guards Tank Army......30 year old artillery and air defense is better then what Canada has.......it should be telling that 30 years ago backwards Afghan peasants were better equipped to deal with Russian tactical air power then Canada is today. (CF-18s, like most other non-stealth aircraft wouldn't survive very long in an environment with countless batteries of S400s) Trudeau wants to "whip out the army", its his responsibility to equip it so in the advent they do go to war they have a chance to at least retreat and regroup with other NATO elements.

It makes perfect sense........an F-15E armed with several B61s based in central Holland will take longer to responds to Russian battlefield movements then the same aircraft with the same munitions based in Poland........