BeaverFever

LMAO your long track record of failed predictions of Russian victory and failed predictions of Zelenskyy resistance speaks for itself.

Another of your HILARIOUS false predictions of Russian victory fails to come true. Seriously you were predicting an imminent Russian victory in this very thread OVER A YEAR AGO but all Russia has done since then is lose hundreds of thousands of lives without gaining an inch of ground. Don’t you feel the least bit embarrassed? Meanwhile back in reality Ukrainian forces have now finally crossed the Dnipro and captured new territory First, Ukrainian Marines Secured A Bridgehead Across The Dnipro River. Now, They’re Shuttling Armored Vehicles Across. The Kherson Oblast bridgehead is a base for possible future advances by Ukrainian forces https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/11/07/first-ukrainian-marines-secured-a-bridgehead-across-the-dnipro-river-now-theyre-shuttling-armored-vehicles-across/?sh=3f77c6726f49

And yet after 2 years of war Russia is still losing. Do the math.

LOL so now Putin and Russia are socialists too?? Is that why they’re the darling of Tucker Carlson and the far right? You are wrong and clearly have no idea what the terms “left wing” or even “socialist” mean. You just use them as generic pejoratives for anyone you personally don’t care for or don’t want to be associated with.

I bet this “surge force” is a composite of all 3 LI Bns and/or heavily augmented by Reservists. The article suggested a target of 20% reservists but I suspect it will be more.

My understanding of that bit of the article is that he’s talking about the future state in 2026 and beyond when the NATO Latvia Battle Group is brought up to Brigade strength. And what I understand him to be saying is that at that time in order to keep it at Brigade strength, a Canadian light infantry battalion (or possibly elements of the battalion) will be surged into the theatre from Canada for 6-8 weeks and then return back to Canada. So over and above whatever forces are there for their regularly scheduled 6-month rotation you would get this occasional LI boost for a month or 2 to try and make up for any shortfall in brigade strength. My first thought was: so does the NATO strategy actually call for light infantry component as part of the brigade or are you just planning to send them because you can’t get enough mech infantry or armoured units? Sounds like the latter.

Canada now has its own history of the Afghan war — good luck finding a copy Author says he experienced pushback from the military and government over his unvarnished account of the war Murray Brewster · CBC News · Posted: Nov 10, 2023 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: November 10 A Canadian soldier on a dawn patrol southwest of Kandahar City in March 2010. (Murray Brewster/The Canadian Press) The first comprehensive, in-depth history of Canada's war in Afghanistan, written largely in real time over several years by a military historian, was quietly (some might say reluctantly) published last summer by a federal government printer. Average Canadians, the soldiers who fought there and the families of those killed in action will have a hard time getting their hands on a copy, however. The history was commissioned by the Canadian Army and the Department of National Defence (DND), and written while the war was still raging by Royal Military College historian Sean Maloney. Only 1,600 copies of the history (800 English and 800 French) have been produced — much to the dismay of veterans and the retired general who initiated the project. The Canadian Army in Afghanistan, an exhaustive three-volume history, covers the entire dozen-plus years the Canadian Forces fought the Taliban in the landlocked, impoverished South Asian country. Maloney's work is Canada's first comprehensive history of the war in Afghanistan. Unlike previous volumes commissioned by the military on Canada's experiences in the First and Second World Wars, it's not an "official" military history (official histories tend to examine more than just army operations). Almost a decade of delays Embedded with Canadian troops for months at a time during the five-year combat mission in Kandahar and the subsequent three-year training mission in Kabul, Maloney was given inside access to soldiers, commanders and documents that journalists who covered the war did not share. He has produced a highly detailed, clear-eyed, occasionally visceral account of the war on the ground that in some cases provides new insights into key battles and events. CBC News was able to borrow copies from the Canadian War Museum. A major portion of Maloney's research and writing was completed after Canada's withdrew from combat operations in Kandahar in the summer of 2011. The expectation at the time was that the history would be published around 2014, upon the completion of the mission to train Afghan soldiers. A Canadian soldier with the 1st RCR Battle Group, the Royal Canadian Regiment, chases a chicken seconds before he and his unit were attacked by grenades shot over the wall during a patrol in Salavat, southwest of Kandahar, Afghanistan, on Sept. 11, 2010. (Anja Niedringhaus/The Associated Press) But publication was held up for almost a decade by reviews and debates within DND and the Canadian Forces about Maloney's often blunt assessments — his criticism of Canada's allies and other government departments, his questioning of some decisions by senior commanders. The work was published with an extensive legal disclaimer: "The views expressed in this publication are entirely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies or positions of the Publisher, the Editor, the Government of Canada, the Department of National Defence, the Canadian Armed Forces or any of its affiliates." In an interview with CBC News, Maloney acknowledged he faced pushback from some quarters of the defence department about what he had written. Overall, though, he said he was happy and relieved to see the work finally in print. No plans to offer the history for sale In a media statement, the army said it hopes to one day produce a downloadable electronic version. That plan is still in the formative stages. But there are "no plans to support the public sale of hard copies" because the King's printer "is not structured to be a public publishing enterprise," the army said. The history was commissioned in 2007 by former lieutenant-general (later Liberal MP) Andrew Leslie, who was army commander at the time. Maloney said he was given a very specific set of instructions and took the assignment only after being granted academic and editorial freedom. In an account backed up by Leslie, Maloney said he was told that the history "cannot be army propaganda. It has to come from somebody who understands us but is not directly, deeply involved in the politics of the organization." Maloney's mandate was later renewed by now-retired lieutenant-general Peter Devlin, who took over as army commander after Leslie's departure. Maloney said his task was to tell the story of Canada's mission in Afghanistan in isolation, and not through a wider lens including the actions of allies, as was done with previous official military histories of Canada's involvement in the two world wars. "We need to frame what we did there on our terms, not through the lens of our allies," he said. "And it's important we do that for who we are, and what we want to be about [as a nation]." In an author's note, Maloney wrote about how important it is for Canada to "take responsibility for our history." Canada 'written ... out' of war's history, author says He described the work as an unapologetic Canadian approach to the war. "The existing literature in the United States and in the United Kingdom dealing with the war in Afghanistan has thus far virtually written Canada out of history," Maloney wrote in the author's note. "Worse, American and British failures are now assumed to be Canadian failures, as well. Where Canada or the Canadian Army is mentioned, it is cursory in nature, derisive in tone, or both." A tearful Sgt. Renay Groves salutes during the final Remembrance Day ceremony at Kandahar Air Field.(Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press) Maloney said he started experiencing pushback within DND and the military after he handed in his first draft of the manuscript following the end of the combat mission. CBC News asked for an interview with the commander of the army for an explanation of the concerns. The request was denied. 'Uncomfortable truths' In a written statement, the army said it recognized that "the commentary, views, and opinions expressed in Dr. Maloney's work may present as uncomfortable truths to some." But the army said it did not try to suppress or derail the project. Maloney said there was "a steady drum beat" of concerns and qualms in military and department circles about his work. Eventually, he said, the project was shuffled within the military to the Canadian Defence Academy Press, an internal government printer that publishes scholarly and professional works. "There are a number of people that tried to step in and interfere with my editorial prerogative," said Maloney, who pointed out that Leslie, the commander who commissioned his work, had left the army by the time he finished his first draft. "And then another colonel stepped in to say I can't contradict an established Canadian position, for political reasons. And I said yes I can. I have academic freedom on this and editorial control." Maloney would not describe the "established Canadian position" he was accused of contradicting. Chief of the Defence Staff Jonathan Vance responds to a question during a news conference on May 7, 2020 in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) Maloney said that several years ago, he took the list of specific complaints about his work from within the department and the Canadian Forces to the chief of the defence staff at the time, now-retired general Jonathan Vance. He said Vance dismissed 90 per cent of the complaints. A few years later, publication was moved once again to the Army Publishing Office. There, Maloney said, he discovered that portions of his text had been rewritten without his permission; he reversed the changes. In an interview with CBC News, Leslie praised the final work. He said it differs from the official histories of previous wars, which were published many years after the conflicts had ended, when "just about everybody involved had died [of] either old age or disaster." He said the history should serve as a tool to help the army learn lessons from its past operations and campaigns. "You had to tell the whole narrative and decide for future generations what was relevant," Leslie said. "In terms of editorial independence or independence of thought, the last thing you want is for senior officers to try and influence the outcome. Revisionist history — that was not the intent." Pvt. Richard Boutet, 38, of Quebec City searches a compound as the owner Fazel Mohammad, left, looks on during an operation in the Panjwaii district of Kandahar province, Afghanistan on June 30, 2011.(David Goldman/The Associated Press) The disadvantage of publishing such a history so soon after the conflict has ended, he said, is that the author might come to "conclusions or assumptions" that may be superseded by new facts and information down the road. Leslie said he's only heard rumblings about the project since leaving the military and was mystified by the delay in publication. "I found that extraordinarily disappointing, not fully understanding really what the causes were," he said. "There was perhaps some jealousy from some other academics or military officers [with a vested interest in Afghan war history]. I honestly don't know." Veterans vexed by limited distribution The limited distribution and the delays in publication are a source of frustration for veterans who served in the war. Dozens of them have reached out to CBC News since the summer to complain. Retired master-corporal Nathan Kehler is passionate about military history and helps run Project 44, an online interactive site that digitally maps Canadian Second World War campaigns using battle diaries and archival maps. Kehler, a veteran of Afghanistan, said he's disappointed that Maloney's work was buried in bureaucracy. "It's disappointing," he said. "Our history deserves to be told, deserves to be in a proper historical context, and a three-volume set like this deserves to be out in the public and in libraries." He said he has a hard time explaining to his children what he did in Afghanistan because society is so steeped in narratives from previous conventional wars, where the transition from war to peace was less ambiguous. Some people may be uncomfortable with what Maloney wrote, Kehler said, but that's no excuse for downplaying or interfering with his work. "Being a soldier means you have to be uncomfortable sometimes. It means you have to be accountable," he said. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/afghanistan-canada-canadian-forces-history-1.7023872

Yes you did. The “poison the well..” line in my last post is a direct copy-paste quote from your very first post in this thread that’s why I put it in quotations. Please provide some evidence to support this claim. No they wouldn’t because they are not political. This means that they don’t publicly “scream bloody murder” (also a quote of yours) to the public when they disagree with government policies. They surely share their views with government in private. Being non-political doesn’t mean being under tue control of politicians Let’s recap you said in the same breath that BOC is kot independent and rising interest rates seem like a plot by the Libs to sabotage PP. Now you’re trying to clarify your original comments to claim without evidence that the Libs are intentionally spending excessively to cause inflation then using that as an excuse to “pressure” BOC to raise interest rates accordingly (again zero evidence of any pressure or that the Libs even want interest rates to increase …for all we know they’re pressuring BOC to NOT increase rates). This is shaping up to be another right wing conspiracy

The BOC is arms length. Arms length doesn’t mean estranged. Of course there is frequent open two-way communication between the BOC and Department of Finance but your suggestion this somehow means Trudeau’s government could simply pick up the phone order baseless rate hikes simply to “poison the well so that there are horrible financial problems when the next government takes over” is ridiculous. The government has little ability to really pressure the BOC. Sure in the event there’s a difference of opinion each can continue to argue their own views but there is nothing government can do to the Bank yo get its way. If anything it’s the other way around. The Bank doesn’t fear “government pressure”. And people with ultra-prestigious positions like Governor of BOC aren’t afraid of being fired or dismissed for sticking to their principles, it’s not like they end up on Employment Insurance or something in fact they go on to even more prestigious and lucrative positions in the private sector. .If anything that would be a badge of honour.

Bank of Canada is an arm’s length institution. Justin Trudeau and the Liberals do not control interest rates and are not the ones deciding to raise them Interestingly, it is PP who said he would for the head of BOC and end the bank’s independence which is essential for a modern advanced economy. To be fair I think PP was just making an empty threat to get votes. Like Chretien’s promise to cancel the GST it ain’t never gonna happen in the real world even if it was a sincere promise

A few interesting tidbits revealed here but I wonder how realistic it is and if the Army could really keep up that level of operations indefinitely these days. The reader comment at the article’s original site seems to have doubts also.

It’s all about Latvia Nov 6, 2023 | Army Reserves, Combat Capability, Digital Army, Leadership, News, Operations by Chris Thatcher “The operational art is about being unpredictable,” Lieutenant-General Joe Paul noted as he closed a lengthy discussion about Operation Reassurance and the Canadian-led multinational enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battle Group in Latvia. “It’s about offering your opponent some dilemmas. The more agile and nimble you are, the less predictable you are.” Faced with an understrength force, gaps in critical capability, and allies with their own national priorities, the Army Commander has adopted an approach to brigade building that draws on the Army’s history — in the Balkans and elsewhere — to develop a flexible force with advanced capability that can be projected into Eastern Europe. “If you want a new idea, read an old book,” he joked. “Agility” is the aim of a force structure he is contemplating for Forward Land Forces Multinational Brigade Latvia (MNB-L) that is gradually taking shape, but it could well be the keystone to the building process itself. In June 2022, the government reaffirmed its intent to lead the battle group in Latvia that until recently involved 10 nations. At the same time, the government committed to working with NATO allies to generate and stage the necessary forces to surge that formation to a combat capable brigade. Since then, Paul and Army senior leaders, including those in Task Force Latvia, have been engaging with battle group partners and other nations in NATO to determine just how they meet that commitment. When Canada first assumed the lead for the battle group in 2017, there were four such formations — in Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia — and contributors were readily available to step forward. In 2022, four more were established in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. Now, all eight battle groups are in various stages of scaling to the strength of brigades. Contributing partners to Latvia such as Slovakia and Spain are now either hosting their own brigade or assuming the leadership of one. “The force generation pressure [across NATO] is real,” said Paul. The expanded number of brigades has resulted in a realignment of the Canadian-led formation, he added. Spain remains a contributor for the time being, Italy and Poland will continue to provide tanks and other capabilities, and Denmark has now come aboard. Discussions among partners have solidified the overall structure for the brigade and its three manoeuvre battle groups. “The big muscle movements are taking shape, but we’re not yet down to the sub-unit level in terms of who is going to be providing what,” said Paul. “For instance, we are now drilling into who’s going to be generating what for the indirect fires battalion. We have a little more clarity regarding combat engineers and reconnaissance squadrons. There are still a few moving parts, but we have that rudimentary skeleton, and there’s going to be additional engagement.” Two of the three battle groups will be mostly generated by Canada. As is currently the case, one will be stationed in Latvia and augmented by allies, though with “a little more Canadians” than the current multi-nation composition, he said. The other will be delivered by the three light infantry battalions of the Canadian Mechanized Brigade Groups, and surged into theatre for six- to eight-week periods for intensive training in Latvia or elsewhere in Europe. “This is how we’re going to be mitigating the force generation pressure. It is going to be just-in-time delivery, show the flag, and then back to your garrison,” said Paul. “The people serving with the three light infantry battalions, reinforced by Reserves, are going to be on super short notice to go to Latvia. “This is nothing new. We did that with Bosnia in the old days. This is what our allies, including the Americans, are doing now.” Brigade headquarters will be stationed in Latvia for a full year, and the battalions will cycle through every six months or surge as required. “The light infantry battalion that we have on standby can be projected on the other side of the planet in a heartbeat,” he said, noting the reach of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CC-177 Globemaster. That surge into Europe will be in conjunction with annual rotating deployments to the U.S. Army’s Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC) in Fairbanks, Alaska or the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Johnson, Louisiana. “I want to have a versatile instrument that will be capable of operating in multiple types of environments,” said Paul. “Young soldiers serving in these light infantry battalions, over a window of five or six years, will have seen a little bit of Europe, a little bit of Alaska, the Canadian Arctic, and the Bayou in Louisiana.” A member of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, transmits a message on the radio during a road move in Light Armoured Vehicle 6.0 during Operation Fortress in Latvia in September 2023. Photo: Cpl Lynette Ai Dang URGENT ACQUISITION Since MNB-L was first announced, Paul has acknowledged that if there are gaps in its capabilities, Canada, as the lead nation, will have to fill them. In the weeks before he spoke with Canadian Army Today, funding for some of those was finalized, he said, “and we know how much national treasure is going to be allocated to us when it comes to enabling appropriations for the brigade.” He wouldn’t reveal the number but said, “I’m super happy with the amount that we’ve been given.” The details of a procurement strategy for fast-tracking the equipment are still being developed by the Army and Assistant Deputy Minister, Materiel (ADM(Mat)). Paul’s top priority remains C4ISR, that critical blend of command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. The Army’s Land C4ISR program of six distinct projects is well underway, but the brigade will require the necessary sensors, communication systems and battlefield management suite far sooner than the program can deliver. “I need to deliver something quick, fast and furious,” he said. Paul is also requesting more anti-tank weaponry, ground-based air defence systems, and counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS). The Army is already pushing through three urgent operational requirements (UORs) to acquire portable anti-X missile systems (PAXM), air defence and CUAS for dismounted troops, fixed sites, and vehicles within the next 12 to 24 months. But the brigade itself will need layered air defence systems capable of defeating threats and providing protection to the MNB-L, including loitering munitions, he said. The funding includes more ammunition, some of which will be pre-positioned in theatre, and a plan to refurbish the armoured Heavy Support Vehicle System logistic trucks that have been parked in Longue-Pointe, near Montreal, since the end of the Afghanistan mission. “Ukraine has clearly shown us that you need to protect your supply chain,” he said. Funding has also been secured for a tactical vehicle for the light infantry battalions. Exactly what that will be is still to be determined, Paul noted, but as part of the Light Forces Enhancement (LFE) project, the Army did some testing with a light tactical vehicle with the light battalions to inform its mobility requirements. Last year, the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, conducted weapons tests from the vehicle with a .50 calibre heavy machine gun, 40 mm grenade launcher, and BGM-71 TOW (Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided) anti-tank missile. The plan is not to fast-track LFE so much as deliver a precursor to what the LFE vehicle might be. “LFE, as a major capital project, cannot deliver quickly enough,” he said. “So, what the Army and ADM(Mat) are going to be proposing is that, as we keep working on the major capital project, [we] speed up a slice of it.” The consequence of concentrating limited Directorate of Land Requirements staff on the delivery of UORs will likely be a slowdown in some of the major capital projects, Paul acknowledged. While that might frustrate companies invested in those projects, he argued the UORs need to be seen as an investment. The Eastern European theatre will provide “an amazing laboratory where the Army can fine tune and test. Whatever kit we end up getting [for the brigade], we’re going to have the opportunity to work with it … and that will certainly inform the follow-on major capital projects and our doctrine.” As part of its digital transformation, the Army will also seek to push forward much of the experimentation that has been conducted by various units, especially in Petawawa, as the brigades rotate through Latvia. Other Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) capabilities likely to be deployed in the coming years include a tactical aviation capability from the Air Force and a Role 2 medical facility. The build up of personnel and equipment will be conducted in phases over the next three six-month rotations, to reach full capability in 2026. Camp Adazi in Latvia has limits in what it can absorb, so the CAF will need to look more broadly across the region, Paul noted. As much as possible, the goal will be to pre-position equipment and surge personnel as required. “We need to have these logistical nodes spread out,” he said, to minimize optimal targets. Latvia “is only the tip of the bayonet. When I’m looking at [the theatre], I’m looking at the whole continent.” That broad perspective applies to training as well, he stated. The Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre is exploring ways to deliver a validation training program in theatre that would replace some large exercises like Maple Resolve, and capitalize on the training venues of countries in the region. “Since I see the Russian threat as being out there for probably a good decade, if not more, we need to ensure that when you go back for your third, fourth or fifth tour in Latvia, it is going to be interesting, challenging, and appealing,” Paul said. Members of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, in Exercise Lethal Weapon to prove the concept of adding anti-armour capabilities to the MRZR-D to increase the battlefield efficiency of light infantry battalions. Photo: Pte Jennifer Froome RESERVE STRENGTH Like many of its allies, the CAF is struggling with personnel shortages. The Army is about 7,000 people short of its establishment, 4,000 in the Reserve Force and 3,000 in the Regular Force. Surging the light battalions as required will mitigate some of the strain on the Army, and ensure capacity at home to support government responses to floods, forest fires and other domestic emergencies. But Paul also intends to draw heavily on Reserve members. “There’s no doubt in my mind that the Reserves are going to play a critical role,” he said. “I’ve asked my division commanders to aim at having 20 percent Reservists on every rotation.” The Army is adjusting its Managed Readiness System to the reality in Latvia, and at the Combined Army Conference in September, division and brigade leaders “fine-tuned who’s going to be providing what, when and where between now and 2026,” said Paul. With the number of Reservists needed to meet the required troop presence, the Army is looking to increase the pre-deployment time each Reservist will have with their training unit. “Ideally, we can get to up to six months of pre-deployment integration, much like we did in the Afghanistan period.” 6 Canadian Combat Support Brigade (6 CCSB), especially, will require significant augmentation. Units such as the 4thArtillery Regiment (General Support), which could be deploying a CU-172 Blackjack troop to Latvia in 2024, will be the destination for many of the urgent air defence and counter-UAS capabilities needed in theatre. “The intent is certainly to invest into that regiment,” said Paul. “The command team there knows it’s coming.” The commander of the 5th Canadian Division is looking at the affiliation among Regular force and Reserve units in eastern Canada to directly bolster some of 6 CCSB’s capacity. “There will come a point where we need to ensure that it is crystal clear between the Regular Force and the Reserve Force who is supporting who,” he said. “The key thing to me is to ensure that we have a level of predictability.” Nothing is cast in stone, and events in Europe could rapidly change the picture — and the planning — but for the next two years, domestic missions aside, most of the Army’s focus will be in one direction. “It’s all about between now and the end of 2025,” said Paul. “Because by early 2026, we need to be ready to roll.” https://canadianarmytoday.com/its-all-about-latvia/

I didn’t say they are carpet bombing. People on this thread suggested it would be ok to kill large numbers of civilians in this conflict and I said there are limits. AFAIK Has is not holding anyone in place. Read the thread title, it is about an Israeli official’s “concept paper” to forcibly depopulate Gaza via forced relocation of all Palestinians into the Egyptian Sinai desert

Sorry I don’t have to preface my criticism of America’s insane gun laws with mandatory compelled speech each and every time there’s yet another gun massacre. I can go straight to the point criticizing what I perceive to the problem without being falsely accused “celebrating”. Its an absolute lie that anyone who criticizes without first mandatory sorry must be “happy” and “celebrating”. Even you must not believe that bullshit And what were the first posts in the Hamas attacks Israel thread? You falsely claimed But in fact not one conservative expressed any sadness for any deaths. You all licked your chops in “celebration” of coming Palestinian deaths though didn’t you? Made lots of jokes and quips about the bloodshed. The first posts in the thread is a conservative whose only statement was: “My solution. Level Gaza.!” (Nationalist) And then here is the rest of you “celebrating” “Or Iran, they provide the money and aid” (Legato) “Hmm...money Biden and Barry gave them?”(Nationalist) “People in the know have been expecting Israel to, uh, level the playing field for about a year now. Netanyahu knows that Iran is behind this, they are probably hunkering down right now, awaiting the response.” (Sharkman) YOUR first post on that thread is: “I suspect that it'll go beyond bombing and that isreal will look at occupying a little more and denying access a lot more. I suspect there's going to be a lot of new holes in Palestine in the immediate future.” CELEBRATING! Your response to an orthodox Jewish group calling for peace and restraint is: “So a couple of people dress up as jews and all the jews agree with palestine? Sure - isreal has a long history of tolerating people who kill their women and children. I'm sure they'll walk it off and the peace talks will begin. ROFLMAO!” MORE CELEBRATING So everything you say on this thread is totally contradicted by your own conduct. And ia just more right wing cancel culture shutuppery. The right will not tolerate anyone criticizing US gun problems ever , under any circumstances n

Dummy I was explaining to mor0ns like you who have ZERO knowledge of any history the situation got to where it is. It’s not my fault that you’re too simple to follow the plot. To recap Israeli hardliners turned their back on peace partner the PA and started an extremely aggressive policy towards Palestinians. The end result is they got Hamas in Gaza. Possibly this was the Israeli hardliner’s intention as it worked in their benefit: Palestinian “government” such as it was in West Bank and Gaza now divided under 2 competing groups amd Has terrorism became a convenient excuse to declare the peace process dead. The expression “seize power” includes elections and is especially apt for oppressive regimes like Hamas you’re just desperately try to troll and fime something to pick up by your knowledge of English is just as poor as the other subjects it seems.

Lol someone ran out of crazy pills. Don’t worry I hear Justin might be working on a pharmacare plan, soon you won’t have to go off your meds again

LMAO You are clueless about yourself as you are to the subject of this discussion Once again you’re defeated by the facts and humiliated at having your ignorance of the topic and your inability to keep track of the conversation exposed. So you resort to your typical playbook of empty insult posts, the all to common proof that you’ve been defeated yet again. Sad.

Let’s not lose track of the subject here. What is proposed in the title of this thread has nothing to do with any of the scenarios you describe. A political leader depopulating 2 million Gazans is not anything similar to a military leader attacking a legitimate target near civilians l. Also it is not correct to state that “as long as I believe the civilian deaths I am good to go.” Of course the attacker always believes they’re justified. Every war criminal believes they’re justified. The ICC is going to make their own determination.

World War 2 predates the UN, Geneva conventions and current international laws governing war. As I said, collateral damage is tolerated to a degree but militaries do not have carte blanche. Under the Rome statute, the International Criminal Court considers that a crime occurs if: an attack is launched on a military objective in the knowledge that the incidental civilian injuries would be clearly excessive in relation to the anticipated military advantage (principle of proportionality) (Article 8(2)(b)(iv). Meanwhile Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions uses nearly identical concepts. So you cannot carpet bomb an entire city or refugee camp just to kill one terrorist or in a revenge reprisal attack. So when you’re talking about the mass deportation millions of people with the inevitable death that comes along with that The OP on this thread wasn’t about moving civvies out of a combat are it was about completely depopulating Gaza and forcibly relocating i2.2 million inhabitants into desert camps so Israel can have an uninhabited buffer zone. That is mot nearly the same thing nor is it the same thing as bombing a rocket site where civilians are nearby

Future Protecteur-class Joint Support Ships provide vital capability to the Royal Canadian Navy National Defence The longest ship ever built in Canada, at close to 174 metres in length, the future Protecteur-class Joint Support Ships (JSS) will provide core replenishment, limited sealift capabilities and support to operations ashore for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). The two new ships are currently under construction with the first, future His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Protecteur, expected to be delivered to the RCN in 2025. Protecteur will be the lead ship of the class, and the second will be named HMCS Preserver. Protecteurwill remain on the West Coast, with Preserver destined for Halifax. According to Commander (Cdr) Brian Henwood, Project Director JSS, the hull of the first ship is now structurally complete with the recent instalment of replenishment-at-sea posts. The ship’s crew have begun being posted, with most of the crew expected to arrive in summer 2024. The second JSS, future HMCS Preserver, commenced assembly in 2022 and presently has 43 of 115 blocks now under construction. A keel laying ceremony hosted by Seaspan is taking place on October 27 and represents a significant milestone in the construction of the ship as it marks the “birth” of the vessel. As part of the ceremony, a newly minted coin is laid near the keel where it remains for the life of the vessel and is thought to bring the ship and crew good luck. “JSS brings a critical capability that will allow the RCN to operate around the world without the need to rely on partner nations or port visits in other countries,” explains Cdr Henwood. “It will be a key enabler of the Government of Canada’s ability to operate in the Indo-Pacific theatre of operations and will support allied and partner nations working alongside the RCN such as NATO or Combined Maritime Forces.” As with most naval supply ships, capabilities of the JSS include providing fuel, food, supplies, water, maintenance and medical support. “But they can do so much more,” says Cdr Henwood. With a full Combat Management System and Communications Suite, JSS will be capable of participating in any fight, using its robust sensors including 3D Air Search Radar and Links 16 and 22 (encrypted, jam-resistant tactical data links) to support and develop the common operating picture. They will also be capable of embarking Task Group Command Staff and have all required Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems to support the Task Group Commander. The ships will be armed with two close-in weapons systems (CWIS), four naval remote weapons systems and four manual .50 calibre heavy machine guns. In addition, the ship is fitted with a Nixie Towed Torpedo Decoy system, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) detection and monitoring system, and CBRN citadel and filtration systems. They will have significant magazines allowing them to carry re-supply ammunition, including missiles and torpedoes, for the fleet and will also be capable of embarking up to two CH-148 Cyclone helicopters with hangar facilities to conduct second-line maintenance of fleet helicopters. JSS can carry up to 60, 20-foot-long containers. Other future RCN fleet ships, including Canadian Surface Combatants (CSC) and Arctic Offshore Patrol Vessels (AOPV), will also be capable of embarking mission-specific containers. “It’s feasible that a JSS could carry several types of mission containers and be able to assist a CSC or AOPV in changing roles using containerized mission systems in-theatre vice having to return to our naval bases in Esquimalt, B.C., or Halifax,” Cdr Henwood says. “JSS will also be a strategic asset capable of supporting strategic sea lift for the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force.” The JSS will also embark the RCN’s new sea-to-shore connectors. These modular self-propelled barges can carry quantities of mission-essential equipment, stores and personnel to and from shore quickly. When not in use they stored or transported like standard shipping containers and have multiple uses and configurations. They are engineered to be assembled from the JSS itself. Apart from all the state-of-the-art systems and technologies of a modern naval vessel, the JSS will be home to a core crew of 240 personnel. The JSS will have full medical capabilities, including an X-ray machine, blood bank, laboratory facilities, surgical bay, full dental facilities, and two ICU beds. It will normally sail with a Medical Officer, Physician’s Assistant, Medical Technician, Dental Officer, and Dental Technician. This team can be augmented with surgical teams for specific missions such as humanitarian and disaster relief. The JSS will have accommodation facilities that are of similar set up to the current fleet, with a Wardroom, Chiefs and POs mess as well as Master Sailor and Below Mess. Accommodations are based on single cabins for senior officers and the Coxswain, double cabins for officers and Chiefs, quad cabins for Petty Officers and six-person cabins for the remainder of the crew. Heads and wash places are built to be gender neutral with individual shower and toilets stalls. There will be two gyms, a library, computer lab, training and conference room and a dedicated barber shop. “Each department will have a dedicated office and there will be many Defence-Wide Area Network stations throughout the ship to ensure excellent access for all crew,” says Cdr Henwood. “JSS will also have a robust Wi-Fi network for quality of life that has access ports throughout the ship to ensure connectivity to sailors’ personal devices and enable future wireless technologies.” The future Protecteur-class Joint Support Ships are a tribute to the dedication and sacrifices of generations of sailors who served aboard the former Protecteur-class auxiliary oiler replenishment vessels of the same names. As such, the new ships are carrying on the battle honours of the ships that came before them. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/maple-leaf/rcn/2023/10/future-protecteur-class-joint-support-ships-provide-vital-capability-to-the-rcn.html

F-35 fighter jet to cost Canada $74 billion, says PBO The total includes the development, acquisition, operations and sustainment of the F-35 over a 45-year period. Get the latest from David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen straight to your inbox Published Nov 02, 2023 • 3 minute read File photo: A Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft is seen at the ILA Air Show in Berlin, Germany, April 25, 2018. Photo by Axel Schmidt /REUTERS The total cost of Canada’s purchase of a fleet of F-35 stealth fighters will be $74 billion, according to a new report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer. PBO Yves Giroux said Thursday that his analysis includes the total estimated cost of the development, acquisition, operations and sustainment, and disposal of the new fleet of fighter jets. The figure of $73.9 billion is over a 45-year period, he added. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The PBO analysis is broadly in line with the federal government’s own estimate of about $70 billion, Giroux added. The first four of the planned 88 aircraft are expected to arrive in 2026, with deliveries increasing annually to a maximum of 18 per year in 2029. This rate is expected to be sustained until the final 18 aircraft are delivered in 2032, according to Giroux. “The total cost of the acquisition phase, including not just the purchase cost of the fighter jets but all acquisition phase activities, is projected to be $19.8 billion according to our analysis”, Giroux noted. The operations and sustainment phase is estimated at $53.8 billion and is slated to begin in 2025-26, in advance of the delivery of the first F-35s to the Royal Canadian Air Force. The aircraft is expected to reach the end of its useful life in 2061-2062. Giroux’s figures include the cost of disposing of the planes. The Liberal government announced earlier this year that it would purchase 88 jets valued at $19 billion. That cost includes the aircraft, new infrastructure and some initial maintenance and weapons. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The F-35 program has had a controversial history in Canada. In the late 1990s, the Liberal government provided funding for the development of the aircraft but did not commit to purchasing the stealth fighter. In July 2010, in a high-profile news conference which saw Conservative Defence Minister Peter Mackay sitting in the cockpit of a F-35 mock-up, the Harper government announced it was purchasing the plane. But increasing costs and technical problems dogged the F-35 program. In August 2012, Conservative MP Chris Alexander was roundly mocked after he claimed the Harper government never stated it would buy the F-35. The Conservatives eventually backed away from the purchase because of increasing costs and technical problems associated with the stealth jet. During the 2015 election campaign, Justin Trudeau vowed that his government would never purchase the F-35. As prime minister, Trudeau continued to point out the Canadian military had no need for the F-35. “Canadians know full well that, for 10 years, the Conservatives completely missed the boat when it came to delivering to Canadians and their armed forces the equipment they needed,” Trudeau said in June 2016. “They clung to an aircraft (the F-35) that does not work and is far from working.” This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Liberal government also noted the F-35’s “stealth first-strike capability” was not needed to defend Canada. But Trudeau flipped on his election promise, not only committing to the purchase but increasing the number of jets from the 65 the Conservatives had wanted to buy to 88. Canada will receive its first F-35 stealth fighter in 2026, according to the federal government. Full operational capability of the fighter fleet is expected between 2032 and 2034. Supporters of the F-35 say many of Canada’s allies are now flying the same aircraft and the plane represents the latest in technology. Social justice and peace groups have argued against spending billions on the jets, saying the money could be better spent on affordable housing and health care. Some U.S. lawmakers have expressed concerns about the high cost to maintain the stealth jets. In April 2022 hearings, Congressman John Garamendi, the Democrat chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s readiness subcommittee, highlighted such issues. “We’re not going to buy more (F-35s) until we figure out how to maintain them,” Garamendi said. “It is a fool’s errand. It is a waste of money by the taxpayers.” This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Canada will establish maintenance capabilities of its own at military bases in Bagotville, Que., and Cold Lake, Alta. Under the F-35 agreement, partner nations such as Canada are prohibited from imposing requirements for industrial benefits as the work on the fighter jets is determined on the best value basis. Canadian firms compete, and if they are good enough they receive contracts. Canadian firms have earned more than $3 billion in contracts to build F-35 parts, according to the federal government. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/f-35-fighter-jet-to-cost-canada-74-billion-says-pbo

I think there’s a lot of empty baseless rhetoric in your comment. Unions don’t have any power to “push” anything that’s not in the collective bargaining agreement and and CBAs usually don’t have much to do with the course content as they do with the teachers working conditions. What you would call “woke cancel culture” etc is coming from many places including school boards themselves and the provincial ministry. In the school boards out here there is definitely rampant nepotism not just amongst family members but also friends, for example recently there was a high profile promotion within the school board where we could clearly see on Facebook that the person promoting and the person getting promoted are long term friends with many photos of them taking vacations together. In other cases people are known to be dating or married or ex-spouses of each other etc. The whole board just operates like a big unprofessional family business at the top and I’m sure other boards aren’t that different.

So let’s be clear your original comments suggested that civilians can be intentionally targeted retribution otherwise why are we even talking about whether they support Hamas or not? You cannot deliberately target civilians, forcibly deport them, relocate them, starve them etc. Accidental collateral damage is tolerated to a large degree some would say too large but there are still limits for example you can’t bomb a refugee camp full of women and children simply because a terrorist is hiding amongst them. Every perpetrator of civilian massacres in history has attempted to justify their actions by the fact that some of the people killed in the massacre were legitimate enemy combatants.

I still think you oversimplify the election and reasons behind it plus it was over 15 years ago. And once again there is no excuse under international law for attacking civilians, period. Edit: in fact your own link says exactly what I said. For example: “Many Palestinians indicated that that despite voting for Hamas, they did not support Hamas’ Islamic platform or its focus on violent resistance. In fact, Palestinian Polls show that fewer than 3% of the Palestinians living in the OccupiedTerritories actually support Hamas’ objective of creating an Islamic state in historic Palestine. Palestinians voted for Hamas because they wanted change and reform in a dysfunctional system.” It then goes on to list some beneficial things Hamas did like payoff municipal debts etc.

Wow I haven’t heard anything about Vic Toews since he left the Harper government. Glad to hear the ex-wife is keeping busy.