weaponeer

Guthrie, What are you smoking and can I have some???? The nazi's were German pal, the arian super race. There were several people that joined the SS, and fought with them yes. The last defenders of Berlin in 1945 were French nazis. People from Brazil are not strpping bombs to themselves and blowing up markets, Danish people are not driving car loads of explosives onto military convoys. Buddist monks are not flyng airplanes into buildings. Your arrguments here make about as much sense as someone in 1940 saying we should not attack or resist Germany because they are not nazis, they are not gassing people. Another point, you would take your family to Yeman, Syria, and Iran on vacation, good when do you leave:) Of course you would because if anything happened to you, we would all see you on TV crying and whining about how the Canadian gov't should come and save you.....

And that would have done wonders for the global opinion on US foreign affairs. You single handedly leave a country in a state of anarchy and expect no backlash? Recruitment to terrorist organizations would skyrocket because civilians would envision an opportunity for revenge as hatred for the west would fuel their philosophies. Imagine the ease of recruitment groups like Al Qaeda would have then... No. That was not the answer at all. Actually it is the answer. Stop trying to be everybodies pal, let it be know, you pose a threat, we hit. Intel detects an AQ training/staging camp, in go the Spec Ops guys or airstrike "to clean up". Hit & run, works for the insurgents. You turn the tables on them, you find them, kill them, simple. I frankly could care less about what someone in the mideast thinks about Canada or the US. We are the rich nations of the world, we are the countries everybody wants to come to live in, to be like. No too many folks lined up to imigrate to Yeman. You want to be our friend, fine, you want to be our enemy, that's find too, but you'll pay a heavy price. That's called "backbone", which is seriously lacking in the west.......

Pure fantasy. Canada's navy could beat the Iranian navy, probably. Man for man, rifle for rifle, I'd put reg force Canadians up against ANY other country's reg forces and count on Canada to win. But Iran has a much larger army. I the air, right now Canada and Iran's equipment are mostly of the same vintage. Iran has some newer equipment and Canada has yet to take delivery of its new aircraft. Tough call in the air. Are we doing some hodge podge invasion or is this a flat out war where they can come and invade Canada as well? I heard somewhere on the forum that we can't even field a wing of fighter aircraft. If we were to beat Iran in a fictional war it would be through superior generalling and fighting on an area of our choosing, or if we wanted to go the long route, a nice war of attrition involving besieging the entire country (no one gets in, no one gets out). I was assuming we were talking about Canada attacking Iran, but somehow magically deploying our whole military there. Canada would not stand a chance alone agaist Iran as it stands now, or any other modern equipped military. There is a big difference between chasing talibs around Afghanistan and fighting a tank division. The Canadian navy could take on the Iran navy, and win however the Iraainians would not use thier navy, they would most likely attack with thier revolutionary guard navy. Fanatics in small boats. The nav has no real defence against a swarm or small boat full of nut cases with RPGs. Hope a Seaking crashes on them, that's about it..... Our army is good, most likely some of the best infantry in the world, however they lack modern tanks, enough modern artillery, not enough air defence arty to handle Iran, and not nearly enough troops to be able to fight the Iranian army, and win. he key point is "and win". We could invade China if we wanted, but we would not win. Our army is good, but we have not gone up against a technically equal military since WW2. That makes a big difference. Our airforce, I am airforce, I can say we'd be in over our heads. Iran has a faily good airforce, and they are a combat force unlike ours. They actually have planes that can attack, unlike us. They have several fighter wings, we don't even have 1. We have two on paper only. A fighter wing is 3 squadrons, 24 jets each = 72. We only have 80 fighters total, and 25 are dedicated to training. We do not have a combat capable fighter wing. We could send some jets to Afghanistan for CAS, but Iran would be more than a CAS tasking.... We have no combat helicopters at all. Our new chinooks will be great, but they are transport helos, we need attack helos.... The best we could do for our allies in Iran is stay out of the way in Afghanistan, and wish them luck.... unless someone wants to spend big time $$$ on the military, unless someone in Canada finally wants to get SERIOUS about the military, not going to happen......

This is Canada, we appologized to them for losing:). QB has a good thing going, they scream and get whatever they want. Nobodoy has the balls to put them in their place......

Iraq is not Babylonia. It was a made-up group of British administrative provinces. That's it. It never was and never will be a nation. I know, Iraq was a product of the colapse of the Turk Otto Empire after WW1. Still, the US went in without enough combat power to secure Iraq. I was attached to CENTCOM at the time, I know there were deep concerns about the number of troops going in. Maybe, but they'll be very very rare.Insurgency warfare itself is nothing new. The Romans fought insurgents in Britania, Gaul and throughout the med. The US has fought insurgents before as well, against the Apache, Commanche etc... The Punative Expeditions into Mexico, in the Phillipines, and Vietnam. The American evolution started out as an insurgency. Army vs Army warfare is by no means dead, they will happen again. China is constructing a Blue water navy, complete with nuke subs, they already have an aircraft carrier. They have a substantial amphib capability also, you know, just in case you might want to visit the island next door:) In retrospect, taken out Saddam and left. If the next leader was just as bad, as the Herman's Hermits once sang: "Second verse, same as the first, I'm Henry VIII I am...." Perhaps that was the answer, take out saddam, cut & run, and come back again if need be, then cut & run.... No long occupations, just hit and get out.....

There's a learning curve for every new kind of struggle. The era of conventional wars, i.e. army vs. army, lasted thousands of years. Unconventional, guerrilla, asymetrical type wars became the order of the day after WW II. Now replace Communism with radical Islam, and the learning curve starts again.One cannot fault Bush for not doing it perfectly the first time. Ditto with trying to create Arab democracy. It's never been tried, and the attempt, even in retrospect, was worthwhile. Too early to write it off yet. I just feel we really blew it going into Iraq. Not that we did it, but how. Too few troops to secure a country. It was a bad invasion plan, and the US military is paying the price for it. How to invade a country has been around for thousands of years, I cannot give GWB & the Administration a pass on that one. However, I do agree with your other points. It takes time to learn to fight asymetric. No battle plan has ever survivied first contact with the enemy, I do understand that fully. Radical Islam is far more dangerous than Communism, most Communists did not want to die. The army vs army wars are not a thing of the past, they'll be back. I just do not know what the answer in Iraq is?? You need more than 20K more to secure the country....

I like the idea of giving the power to the provs. Day to day issues like health, education etc should be at the prov level. The feds should handle the really big issues, foreign policy, defence, enviornment etc... The feds should handle the issues that effect the entire country, not the things that effect a single prov or municipality. Quebecs health care system should not effect how BC does business. The education system in PEI does not determine how Sask should teach etc..... Pollution travels from prov to prov, fed issue. Military, RCMP & CSIS cover the whole country, fed juristiction. Foreign policy, Canada & the world, fed territory. Highway speed limits in NB have no bearing on the limits in Ontario, local prov issue......

This is the point I was responding to, and I don't think I missed it at all. You want to engender guilt in those of us who aren't soldiers, and I refuse to be a part of that. It is self aggrandizing to say that those of use who aren't soldiers are standing back; all of us play a part, overt or subtle. It leads to the question - how much respect do you have for the average Canadian citizen, who is going about the business of being free? As long as they are law abiding people, I have all te respect in the world for them.....

Sorry, That's "feelings" not fellings. Midnight shift, getting tired:)

Once again read Middle Eastern history from 1945 to the present. I think that there was a conflict between Israelis, and another group of people, I forget who they were. If you think that the only reason why these people are terrorists is because of their religion, I'd say you are 110% wrong. I'm sure if someone was to take my home away from me, and then throw me in a refugee camp I would be a little bit bitter about that. As well their are Christian terrorists afoot, I believe one supposedly Christian poster lamented on here how we should be bombing more civilian's. Not all muslims are terrorists, but most terrorists are muslim theses days. how did you make that determination? do you have published information to back up such a claim???? I don't believe it's true. I believe it is just prejudice... bigotry... You need to get a little thicker skin. Reality can be very disappointing. Turn on the TV, listen to the news. When is the last time anyone from Sweden blew up an airliner. Have you ever heard of a Dutch suicide bomber. Has anyone from Fiji chopped the head off an infidel on the internet??? How many Buddists have said join us, convert or die??? I said NOT ALL muslims are terrorist, but most terrorists are muslim. It is not bigotry, it is reality. I am not going to cower in the corner affraid of political correctness, just because some weak knee people do not want to hear the truth. Islam has big problems, they seem to be the only religion who cannot play nice with others. I have been in Afghanistan, Saudi, Kuwait, and several other islamic countries. Some of my really good friends are muslim. Even they have said Islam has a major problem. Yes, there have been many incidents on others committing terrorist acts, but I am talking about the here & now, not the then & there. The reality of today at 0044, 2 Apr 2007 is that most terrorists are muslim......... What does any of this have to do with the troop surge anyhow????? I don't need thicker skin, you need thicker evidence. If you have it show it, otherwise you are just spouting bullroar. Yes you do need thicker skin. It's people like you who cannot handle the ugliness of reality that force us to put up with this muslim radical BS. We can't take care of them because someone might get upset, their felling will be hurt:( Evidence, turn on the TV, watch the news. Read a paper. Would you take your family to Syria, Pakistan, Iran or Yeman on vacation???? Didn't think so.... Not every German was a nazi, but almost every nazi was German........... Again, what does this have to do with an Iraq troop surge????????

Not really. There is a famous interview with Barry Goldwater. Goldwater said that he called Curtis LeMay asking him what was in Area 51. He said LeMay got very defensive and told him never to ask him that question again. I am surprised how it is never a campain issue, like 'if I get elected, I will'. Every member of the gov't, congress, senate, the president and cabinet have to be screened and recieve a security clearance. Same here in Canada for our gov't. This is so they can oversea intel, militray and police operations. The info they see is not for public consumption, and they know they will be in jail for a long time if they disclose info. That's why nobody says they will expose the secrets of Area 51, or AETE in Cold Lake Alta, or JTF2, or CSIS. As for Mr Hellyer, he's the twit that disbanded the RCN, RCAF and Army and has had DND buggered up for the last 40 years. Wise beyond his years he was.........

Area 51 is the area containing Roswell army airport. Everything happening in this area are rumours and it could be an area containing dangerous toxic chemicals or maybe even aliens. But the fact is, this is federal military property and is it is simply 'off limits' for whatever reason. Here is a map if your interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Wfm_are...png#filehistory Area 51 is a secret military research facility, nothing more. They most likely have very advanced aircraft and systems they test out of the public eye, and that's how it should be. Roswell AAF was in Roswell New Mexico, not Area 51 Nevada..... It is currently used as the Roswell muni airport....

Once again read Middle Eastern history from 1945 to the present. I think that there was a conflict between Israelis, and another group of people, I forget who they were. If you think that the only reason why these people are terrorists is because of their religion, I'd say you are 110% wrong. I'm sure if someone was to take my home away from me, and then throw me in a refugee camp I would be a little bit bitter about that. As well their are Christian terrorists afoot, I believe one supposedly Christian poster lamented on here how we should be bombing more civilian's. Not all muslims are terrorists, but most terrorists are muslim theses days. how did you make that determination? do you have published information to back up such a claim???? I don't believe it's true. I believe it is just prejudice... bigotry... You need to get a little thicker skin. Reality can be very disappointing. Turn on the TV, listen to the news. When is the last time anyone from Sweden blew up an airliner. Have you ever heard of a Dutch suicide bomber. Has anyone from Fiji chopped the head off an infidel on the internet??? How many Buddists have said join us, convert or die??? I said NOT ALL muslims are terrorist, but most terrorists are muslim. It is not bigotry, it is reality. I am not going to cower in the corner affraid of political correctness, just because some weak knee people do not want to hear the truth. Islam has big problems, they seem to be the only religion who cannot play nice with others. I have been in Afghanistan, Saudi, Kuwait, and several other islamic countries. Some of my really good friends are muslim. Even they have said Islam has a major problem. Yes, there have been many incidents on others committing terrorist acts, but I am talking about the here & now, not the then & there. The reality of today at 0044, 2 Apr 2007 is that most terrorists are muslim......... What does any of this have to do with the troop surge anyhow?????

I have no doubt your dad wanted to be there for you, and thought of you evry day he was gone. I am a soldier now, and I was a base brat too. My dad missed several occassions. People do not have to feel bad about not being a soldier. If everybody was a soldier nothing would get done here at home. Besides the line ups at supply are long enough now:) I posted this just to let folks see it from the soldiers point of view, not the gov't now the media... People want to know and see progress over there, well ..... read on

Once again read Middle Eastern history from 1945 to the present. I think that there was a conflict between Israelis, and another group of people, I forget who they were. If you think that the only reason why these people are terrorists is because of their religion, I'd say you are 110% wrong. I'm sure if someone was to take my home away from me, and then throw me in a refugee camp I would be a little bit bitter about that. As well their are Christian terrorists afoot, I believe one supposedly Christian poster lamented on here how we should be bombing more civilian's. Not all muslims are terrorists, but most terrorists are muslim theses days.

So you admit that much of what we are currently seeing in Harper may be nothing but a ploy to get a majority and that once he achieves his task he may change his policies 180 degrees? LOL I agree btw... I just didn't think too many Harper supporters would admit it. I just think regardless of political party, you have to "tiptoe" softly with a minority gov't. No I do not think Harper will turn into Dracula with a majority, altough it would make the next G8 meeting more interesting... Is it not the goal of EVERY party to get a majority........

I was had, thanks for the sleepless Sunday, "the horror the horror"..........

In retrospect Bush will look better. He has presided over 6 years, so far, of relative prosperity, And I believe that sticking his head in the sand about Islamism would not have been a good response. We've tried that and it didn't work real well. I agree going after the islamists was a great idea. Getting rid of saddam was also a good idea, I just disagree with how it was done. They did not use enough force to take Iraq, and they have let the very serious prob of Iran just sit and fester. Iran should be the prime target for the war on terror....

It is really late, midnight shift wil soon be over. That was field a brigade, and India not inda...

The Canadian Army could not feild a brigade let alone a Division, thank you libs... We can take on talibs no prob, a well equipped, well trained competent military like Iran, no chance. Idia is not part of the Empire anymore, not really. The Brits could mout and airstrike on Iran, and could do a fair amount of damage. They have a modern well equipped air force, and the Royal Navy has excellent land attack capabilities with their Tomahawk missiles launched from ships & subs. The UK would not be alone, I have no doubt the USA would not pass up a chance to spank Iran. The USA is the real heavy hitter here. They have and unbelievable powerful air force, they could easily take Iran down a peg or 10. I doubt they would even get much resisitance from back home. Not too many folks in the USA have any love loss fro Iran. No need to invade, Iran has too big a land army anyhow.

Chreeton again, where's a suicide bomber when you need one....

Depends on who 'we' is. Canada, maybe, likely not though IMO. Alberta, not a chance, we'd be much better off without Quebec, we'd be much better off without Canada as repeated Western and Conservative PM's have proven. You can't get into Ottawa with a conservative agenda without selling to Quebec anymore. Can't be done. I'm not willing to sell to Quebec forever. So either Alberta or Quebec has to go. Canada has to make that choice I suppose, I think eventually it will come to that. I do agree this pandering to QB has to stop. We need politicians with balls to say enough is enough. QB has a good thing going, they throw a tantrum and they get $$. At some point Canada has to cut it's loses with QB. If they really want to go, then go. As a sudent of Canadian history I cannot see what they have brought to us. QB has been a thorn in our side since confederation. What does QB give us we cannot get somewhere else???

And Iran is in on it too. Iran TV, their gov't, wow!!!!!

We have the Westerner of all Westerners in the PMO today, a leading author of the Alberta firewall letter. And he's giving it all up for Quebec. So really, it doesn't matter. Canada is a concept of betrayal to much of it's population, they are just too naive to see it. You see, I actually believed that electing a Calgarian would change things. It didn't. How could I have been so stupid? Hi geoffrey, I agree with you 1000%, however there is a part of me that wants to believe that Harper did what he did to get the majority. A Harper majority would not give in to QB, I want to believe that. Minority gov't work differently, as I am sure you know. I am doing a course on Canadian Military History right now, I know what you mean about a concept of betrayal. It is amazin we have lasted as long as we have...

A troop surge will not help in Iraq unless it is surged to 500K. So many US troops the insurgents cannot move. The prob here is that the war was lost in the beginning. The US went in with a Mech Inf Div, a Marine Div, and a few supporting brigades. Enough to defeat the Iraqi army, yes, not nearly enough to occupy a country and control it's population. The US Army COS told Rummy before the invasion not to start a 15 Division war with a 10 Divisin army and was fired for it. Not only did Rummy not send in enough troops, he closed Walter Reed hospital in Washington when they needed it the most. I was deployed to the sandbox at the beginning of OIF. They short changed OEF, for OIF bigtime.... UBL was not in Iraq, we let Iran off the hook in the early days of the War on Terror. we blew it... Time to regroup, and get it right.....