China and extradition of Meng

[Zeitgeist]

12 minutes ago, bush_cheney2004 said:

 

Not any more...Canada has the 10th or so largest economy in the world but no longer even wields significant "soft power".   Peacekeeping has withered away as well.   And sending garbage to third world nations (and refusing to take it back) does not win hearts and minds.    Canada has poorer relations with many nations now.

 

 

Fine....the U.S. can reduce all defence spending to below Canada's level and let the deadbeats worry about the aftermath.   Don't come whining to Trump (or Obama or Bush or etc.) to protect Canadian interests or the post WW2 order.  Just wait for WW3 instead.

Again, America has more to worry about within and without its borders than Canada.  Nevertheless, as a much smaller country we benefit from our alliances, not just with the US but Britain, France and many others.  There’s strength in numbers.  Going it alone has worked against the US because in doing so it has no political or diplomatic cover.  Anyway, history tells the story.  I stand by Canada’s contributions and don’t regret staying out of the invasion of Iraq and the political manipulation of  small governments by the CIA and the propping up of dictators that took place during the Cold War, which resulted in the rise of the Mujahideen (Taliban) and Sadam Hussein. Containment of communism didn’t win the Cold War; economic and cultural opportunity did.  

Jihadist extremism is a harder nut to crack with economic opportunity, but invasion and military force only gets you so far.  Canada is better at diplomacy and soft power and America often uses Canada for political cover.  I believe Canada should spend more on hard power, but that’s usually not what our allies have required.  We’re good at rebuilding and establishing rule of law and stable institutions. We have made war very successfully in the past.  

There are no conventional wars anymore.  Combat is now about networks, owning the jungle, and war from the air, often using drones. You need to establish roots in the community, get to know the women, influence opinion, and watch out for IED’s.  Canada does those things.  Marching a division of soldiers and arrays of tanks is old warfare.  I do think as Canada’s population grows, more military spending will be both more necessary and more affordable.   In the end, protecting Canada is in America’s interests, because in Canada you have a stable democratic ally with an open market to its resources.  As Trump maintains unfair steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada, it’s fair for Canadians to question the value of that trade relationship and look elsewhere.  

 

[bush_cheney2004]

20 minutes ago, Zeitgeist said:

Again, America has more to worry about within and without its borders than Canada.  Nevertheless, as a much smaller country we benefit from our alliances, not just with the US but Britain, France and many others.  There’s strength in numbers.  Going it alone has worked against the US because in doing so it has no political or diplomatic cover. 

 

Going without deadbeat Canada is not going it alone, as Canada hardly represents the bulk of allied power or influence.  

Examples: during NATO's Operation Allied Force (Kosovo 1999), Canada's CF-18's were so outdated for comms, IFF, and laser/GPS targeting pods it was easier just to give them CAP missions to stay out of the way.    Even when assigned strike packages, Canada was limited by the number of bombs and fin kits it had at Aviano, and had to get more from the American munitions depot.

 

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Anyway, history tells the story.  I stand by Canada’s contributions and don’t regret staying out of the invasion of Iraq and the political manipulation of  small governments by the CIA and the propping up of dictators that took place during the Cold War, which resulted in the rise of the Mujahideen (Taliban) and Sadam Hussein. Containment of communism didn’t win the Cold War; economic and cultural opportunity did. 

 

Sounds good...better to pick on tiny Haiti instead.   Canada can afford that.

 

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Jihadist extremism is a harder nut to crack with economic opportunity, but invasion and military force only gets you so far.  Canada is better at diplomacy and soft power and America often uses Canada for political cover.  I believe Canada should spend more on hard power, but that’s usually not what our allies have required.  We’re good at rebuilding and establishing rule of law and stable institutions. We have made war very successfully in the past. 

 

Again, not any more.   Canada use to have relevance in that regard, but is now relegated to the kid's table.

 

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  In the end, protecting Canada is in America’s interests, because in Canada you have a stable democratic ally with an open market to its resources.  As Trump maintains unfair steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada, it’s fair for Canadians to question the value of that trade relationship and look elsewhere.  

 

Too bad.....depending so much on America for military and exports means having to deal with the political choices that American voters will make.

Nobody is forcing Canada to be so dependent on U.S. exports...except...Canadians.

Getting back to China....figure it out or get trampled by another global super-power.    Not Trump's job to save Canada.

 

Trudeau has proven many times that Canada writes cheques with it's virtue signaling mouth that it cannot cash.

 

 

 

Edited May 8, 2019 by bush_cheney2004

[Zeitgeist]

1 hour ago, bush_cheney2004 said:

 

Going without deadbeat Canada is not going it alone, as Canada hardly represents the bulk of allied power or influence.  

Examples: during NATO's Operation Allied Force (Kosovo 1999), Canada's CF-18's were so outdated for comms, IFF, and laser/GPS targeting pods it was easier just to give them CAP missions to stay out of the way.    Even when assigned strike packages, Canada was limited by the number of bombs and fin kits it had at Aviano, and had to get more from the American munitions depot.

 

 

Sounds good...better to pick on tiny Haiti instead.   Canada can afford that.

 

 

Again, not any more.   Canada use to have relevance in that regard, but is now relegated to the kid's table.

 

 

Too bad.....depending so much on America for military and exports means having to deal with the political choices that American voters will make.

Nobody is forcing Canada to be so dependent on U.S. exports...except...Canadians.

Getting back to China....figure it out or get trampled by another global super-power.    Not Trump's job to save Canada.

 

Trudeau has proven many times that Canada writes cheques with it's virtue signaling mouth that it cannot cash.

 

 

 

They’ve been cashed alright.  Just ask taxpayers.  With regard to Kosovo, Canada was involved in very dangerous patrols.  Equipping a small force in a small country with the full range of tech and hardware won’t ever be easy.  Where Canada didn’t have the hardware it bought it, as in the case of heavy lift.  That’s a procurement choice for government, which is addressing multiple interests far beyond military.  

[bush_cheney2004]

1 minute ago, Zeitgeist said:

They’ve been cashed alright.  Just ask taxpayers.  With regard to Kosovo, Canada was involved in very dangerous patrols.  Equipping a small force in a small country with the full range of tech and hardware won’t ever be easy.  Where Canada didn’t have the hardware it bought it, as in the case of heavy lift.  That’s a procurement choice for government, which is addressing multiple interests far beyond military.  

 

Sure Canada did....after finding itself way short....and the KIAs started to mount in A-stan.

Canada should make its own choices...just don't bitch so much when the USA does the same.