paxamericana

No no I'm not saying my Idea is new I'm saying that Nationalism is on it's last leg, a decline, despite it apparent resurfacing.

The Trump populist movement already started to seep it's way into Canada and Europe, looking at the political upheaval is making me weep with tears of freedom. America is kicking the commie liberals out of power.

1) Economically speaking if you're a bank its best to have as many customer as possible. That's a legitimate foreign policy. Is Canada going to become the world's bank ? I don't think so. The Military can be summarize like this, they're the last 600 meter of your foreign policy. Now if you're advocating that Canada relinquish all if it's foreign policy then that's a legitimate strategy. But the question still remain, what about countering outside foreign policies that seek interest inside your own countries, how then do you plan to deal with that. Costa Rica and many of those countries adopting the neutrality model have decided long ago of letting go of any foreign policy objective and allowing stronger countries to dictate their policy. Basically become pawns. If you want to relinquish said control over your own destiny/fate then by all mean adopt such policies. I think Canada is sitting on some very important strategic resources and land mass so I highly doubt you're willing to let that go or see others try to take advantage of said resources. Here's an interesting abstract about the Swiss neutrality model by the way, which still required the purchase of military weapons. "Their armed neutrality, however, required modern weaponry. In search of this material Switzerland turned to the West, while refusing to purchase weapons from the East. The paper argues that Switzerland's self-imposed policy of armed neutrality increased Swiss dependence on western armaments, and thereby endangered its neutrality status and policy."https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14682745.2010.536534 2) See what Putin did to Merkel when she met with him in Russia. See how he greeted John Bolton, the American ambassador. The Russian only respect strength of arms. Germany and the rest of Europe are just as wary about Russia's foreign policy objective which is to reclaim the Baltic states and put them under Russian influence and become destabilized buffer states. Germany doesn't spend much on the military for various reason some of which include, not wanting to destabilize their current relationship with their neighboring NATO countries, bad blood still exist after world war 2 btw. Also obviously they are being protected by American military. We have at least 30k troops in the county which they desperately do not want to lose. But back to Canada since you brought up Germany, number two NATO deadbeat. Yes Trump made it clear that we will not defend you if you don't want to pay for it. Now will we defend you? That is up to the president's discretion when the time comes. But essentially Canada, your fate is not in your own hands, it's in ours, which bring me back to my first point.

probably part of the negotiation in selling our stuff to them.

Fellas I'm not talking about any lofty ideals here. I'm just simply stating a observation of mine. The younger generation say generation Z do not really identify them selves as strictly part of one country, they see themselves as part of a whole, the global system. This lead me to believe that perhaps in the not too distant future when we're all gray haired if not already, that our grand kids will say oh I live in North America but I am Natonian etc...

I don't know why you Canadians/European liberal snowflakes are so anti-Military Industrial Complex. It's not like they're trying to start wars, War only start because people in leadership position failed to do their job of negotiating with one another. If anything the MIC are like peace keepers around the world.Start buying American defense product, it'll save you money in the long run, we have to integrate our services to make a more lethal force. If you want to sell us military equipment then start producing some. You're not going to do it by under funding your own MIC. Looks like the Kiwi are finally getting it. "New Zealand announced a $1.6 billion purchase of US military aircraft on Monday as it seeks to integrate its forces with US and Australian allies that are trying to counter a Chinese military buildup in the Pacific." https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/09/asia/new-zealand-military-aircraft-china-intl/index.html

Yeah but i suspect its more complicated.

You're going to have to provide cited sources on that. Sounds like you're buying into Russian subversion tactics. The us did not fight ISIS???

You're all are going to have to ask Dick Cheney about that. But for the most part though the current us strategy is curtailing Iran's malign influence in the region.

Maybe for the European but not Us we don't need said resources in syria. Probably why France want the US to stay in Syria but again, were it not for Iran, the US would probably not be there.

I would recommend University in the US if he can get in. Canada does not have the most career choices for your son when he graduate.

Wait wut? you're being out done by the ozzy? Holy cow canada you all need to get your shit together.

It's not just nukes, its also a conventional forces too. If they attack you with a conventional force are you going to risk nuclear suicide by responding with nuclear weapons? The enemy will always seek to attack your weak side. That's basic military strategy since the days of Sun Tzu. There's a reason why the US military decided to adopt counter-insurgency as a core competency.

To answer you as simply as possible, nations with allies thrive, those without dies. More noise from baseless critics. Look you don't have to buy American made equipment, feel free to develop your own weapons. America buys some weapons from other countries too you know like the javelin and Israeli tank protection system. It's not about supporting a massive-military industrial complex it's about prudent reality. Why pay more to make something when you can buy it cheaper from a buddy. Economics 101. Last I checked, nobody was fielding a true 5th gen fighter...which is old news because we're developing the 6th gen fighter now at the skunk works project of Lockheed martin.

Before we discuss this issue further, I want to know why is there such contempt for your own military industrial complex? Is it really something to be proud of, letting your mic decay to the point of non-existence? Is this just a liberal thing or are all Canadians like this? Surely you realize by now that peace is expensive. Peace isn't achieved with everyone wishing it so, last I checked, my strategic calculus says to deter aggression one must have a credible threat against the use of force.

He-he, sure you can try to leave nato but without us military might nato is just an empty shell. UNLESS you all seriously start ramping up investment in your military industrial complex. Which isn't practical for smaller nato countries like canada. Germany is capable of developing said force but for political reasons opted not to. That said your strategic interest should be the artic ocean. But as mentioned before you have no ships and asset to defend said area. Highly doubt russia will take you seriously. They only respect hard power. OR stick to nato and pay your membership dues and rebuild your capabilities. Oh by the way the US is passing legislation to build 3 or 5 ice breakers for the artic ocean. So once again, you are going to need US assistance, probably complain about it and not pay for your fair share. Look at poor canada tagging along US leadership.

Not business, more like preventing iran from forming a land bridge to the Mediteranean sea. Word on the street is trump will try to make a deal with russia to keep iran out of syria allowing the us to withdraw.

Alex jones

Nope RESIST! Rage against the dying of the light! Honestly you Canadian just need a new sense of patriotism and identity. Develop some moral backbone. I know where my moral backbone comes, it's the constitution of the United States of America. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Yes I am Russian Troll bot 3000.

What's wrong with protecting and promoting us interest? Its no big secret. Its even on the state department website. "Our mission is to engage U.S. government resources to assist and advocate for U.S. business interests abroad, strengthen intellectual property enforcement, promote a vibrant ecosystem for entrepreneurship and innovation, and ensure U.S. private sector concerns are integrated into our foreign and economic policy." https://www.state.gov/e/eb/cba/ Just about every country does this...you think Russia and China are any better? If anything they're even worse than us. They don't have respect for human rights. If you want to have a ethics discussion about promoting self interest then start a post.

Honestly Canada just need stronger leadership. Trudeau is definitely not it. Maybe somebody who isn't a politician and trying to get re-elected? Somebody who'd put Canada first? Who'd willing to do the right thing regardless of the immediate criticism? Wait that sounds familiar...

You'd be surprise the alt-right and anti-fa are going at each other every chance they get. The only thing funny is that only the alt-right has guns / armed militia. Because people in the Anti-fa movement typically live in a liberal gun restricted area .

In canada? Lols if anything it'll happen in the states before it ever happens in canada. You guys are way too non confrontational with each other.

Best way to find money to pay for the extra spending is to adopt free trade with us. Trump was trying to do the right thing and your PM talked behind his back. Not even man enough to face him and now decided to adopt further tariff to escalate. Only to appeal for political point whilst harming canadian interest.