Canada not ready to defend against terrorism

[Montgomery Burns]

Yes, it is the Associated Press, but occassionally they get it right

Canada's military is "wounded" and the country's defense without the money to do its job properly, according to a Senate report released Thursday.  The report laments the lack of resources and coordinated manpower to deal with a terrorist attack or natural disaster.

"A hard, honest look at the facts has made it clear to the committee that the funding is simply not there to end Canada's sad era of military darkness," said the review of defense policy by the Senate Standing committee on National Security and Defense.  The report notes that of the C$12.8 billion (US$10.9 billion) the government promised over the next five years to beef up the Canadian Forces, only C$1.1 billion ($938 million) was earmarked for the first two years. This means the rehabilitation process won't get started until 2008-2009.

The report notes Canada -- named by al Qaeda as one of five target nations deserving of an attack -- has done little since 9/11 to invest in anti-terrorism prevention.

"Canada has an unenviable place on Osama bin Laden's infamous list of countries to be targeted. We may get lucky. But it's not a bet you'd want to make.

"Despite the increasing complacency of most Canadians as the memory of 9/11 slips to the back of our minds, there is every likelihood that an attack will eventually occur on Canadian soil," the report said, yet noted that Canada ranks just 128th out of 165 countries in defense spending as a percentage of its gross domestic product.

Canada's armed forces are well trained, professional, but they preside in a political enviroment just as spiritless on national defense as much of Western Europe. Luckily, Canada has the fortune of bordering a superpower which happens to be their biggest trading partner and a good friend.

However to be fair, CSIS is hiring big-time. My friend just got a job with them and he tells me that Martin was spooked by the London 7/7 bombings and is worried about Canada being the only country of Al Qaeda's hitlist of 5 countries who have not been hit. However, PMPM is trying to be covert about pumping up CSIS's ranks for fear that the far left who might support him....may vote against him....because as we all know, the far left is not willing to fight Islamic extremism; they support Islamic extremism.

I dislike PMPM, but I have to give him kudos for, apparently, finally (according to my friend), recognizing the threat of Islamofascism and is apparently willing to (somewhat covertly) beef up CSIS. It appears that his insatiable greed of Saddam's $1 million investment in PMPM's company has been satiated.

I hope to hell that Canada does not get hit....but I think that we will be hit. We aren't fighting a conventional army; we are fighting Islamic terrorists.

Sure, the US has crippled much of Al Qaeda, but the nature of this new global warfare makes it somewhat easy for Al Qaeda to strike....and provoke terror.

Does Canada have the intestinal fortitude to fight back? Or will we typically fall back on our "Canadian patriotism", i.e., anti-Americanism and capitulate? Or will we take the fight to these Nazis and kill them?

[err]

Canada not prepared for Mars attack either !!!!

The report notes Canada -- named by al Qaeda as one of five target nations deserving of an attack -- has done little since 9/11 to invest in anti-terrorism prevention.

Actually, I think it is "terrorism prevention" that we should aim for instead of "anti-terrorism prevention"...

tells me that Martin was spooked by the London 7/7 bombings and is worried about Canada being the only country of Al Qaeda's hitlist of 5 countries who have not been hit. 

Maybe we could get higher on the list by posing for pictures with George Bush, calling them "Islamofacists" and "scumbags" a little more... "come and get us"...

....because as we all know, the far left is not willing to fight Islamic extremism; they support Islamic extremism.

Childish .....

It appears that his insatiable greed of Saddam's $1 million investment in PMPM's company has been satiated.

huh... Saddam's greed?? he took his country's life savings an put them in PM's company to make a fortune ????

I hope to hell that Canada does not get hit....but I think that we will be hit.  We aren't fighting a conventional army; we are fighting Islamic terrorists. 

Who's fighting... I thought it was George Bush who declared a war... not Canada...

Does Canada have the intestinal fortitude to fight back?  Or will we typically fall back on our "Canadian patriotism", i.e., anti-Americanism and capitulate?  Or will we take the fight to these Nazis and kill them?

"Fighting back" assumes that we've been attacked..... and as far as I know, Canada has not been attacked...

How do you fight an "invisible" enemy... wave a red flag for the bull so that he attacks, so that you have a reason and opportunity to fight ???

Take on Nazis.... do you even know what a Nazi was.... or just that they were bad guys a long time ago.... re-read line above.... (a few times if that's what it takes).

[cybercoma]

We should sit around defenseless until something happens, then demand the government fixes the problem overnight. I think that's the best course of action.

[Guest eureka]

Terrorism prevention should be high on our list, err, but I think that "anti-terrorism prevention" should be higher. The greater threat to us, and to the world, in my opinion, comes from the "anti-terrorism" of Bush and co,

[Montgomery Burns]

err:

Canada not prepared for Mars attack either !!!!

Sounds like something Michael Moore would say.

[Army Guy]

This is not the first time the Senate has reported on Canada's defense department and all it's problems. or for that matter the dozens of groups internal to Canada not mention outside organizations such as US, UK, Germany, NATO,even the UN has commented to our goverment that we should take a serious look at our military.

Our military is not just wounded but mortally wounded and in 5 to 10 years will no longer exist without a major influx of funding. Almost ever major system or platform within the dept is not just over due for replacement but 10 years or more past replacement dates, to the piont that those Canadians soldiers,sailors,airmen operating them risk there lives doing so. But we as taxpayers shrug our shoulders pat them on the back tell them we are proud of them, then say keep up the good work.

But Canadians already know of this, most agree that the military requires more funding. Hoping that our goverment does the right thing and pours some cash into the failing Dept. But this is Canada and that is far as Canadians will take this matter. Until it is made a major part of a re-election platform DND will get scraps that it is thrown, continue to do Canada proud at the risk of there own lives.

[RB]

But Canadians already know of this, most agree that the military requires more funding. Hoping that our goverment does the right thing and pours some cash into the failing Dept. But this is Canada and that is far as Canadians will take this matter.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I recommend that all government workers become reserves - there is nothing like proudly serving a country and being patriotic.

[B. Max]

This country has been harboring terrorists and has let so many islamics into the country that martin is afraid to be seen doing much of anything in the war against the islamic terrorists. Infact they've already warned him on at least one occasion, and are now threatening to sue over a proposed no fly list of islamics. If they are proposing a list that they are saying will have a thousand names on it who they think are a risk to let on a plane, what in gods names are they doing here in the first place. This country is stuck on stupid and has been for years.

[err]

This country has been harboring terrorists and has let so many islamics into the country that martin is afraid to be seen doing much of anything in the war against the islamic terrorists. Infact they've already warned him on at least one occasion, and are now threatening to sue over a proposed no fly list of islamics. If they are proposing a list that they are saying will have a thousand names on it who they think are a risk to let on a plane, what in gods names are they doing here in the first place. This country is stuck on stupid and has been for years.

Are all Islamic people terrorists ?? (from reading your text, one would assume so) There are people with dangerous ideas of every race... look at your ideas (above)..

Maybe we should make them paint a star on the doors of their houses... and make them wear arm-bands.... Maybe even build work camps for them...

I'm sorry to disappoint you, but Canada is at war with nobody at the moment.

[B. Max]

This country has been harboring terrorists and has let so many islamics into the country that martin is afraid to be seen doing much of anything in the war against the islamic terrorists. Infact they've already warned him on at least one occasion, and are now threatening to sue over a proposed no fly list of islamics. If they are proposing a list that they are saying will have a thousand names on it who they think are a risk to let on a plane, what in gods names are they doing here in the first place. This country is stuck on stupid and has been for years.

Are all Islamic people terrorists ?? (from reading your text, one would assume so) There are people with dangerous ideas of every race... look at your ideas (above)..

Maybe we should make them paint a star on the doors of their houses... and make them wear arm-bands.... Maybe even build work camps for them...

I'm sorry to disappoint you, but Canada is at war with nobody at the moment.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I hate to burst your little socialist one worlder smile be happy bubble, but we are at war, the islamics declared it, people like you just choose to stick their head in the sand and deny it. The problem with that is your butt is sticking up and is ready to be kicked, which it will. The 911 attacks were just as much an attack on US property as they were and an attack on the north american economy. Not all islamics are terrorists but they are all potential terrorists. Earlier this year when they were making threats they should have been asked to leave then. No armbands no camps no paint. Just leave.

[Montgomery Burns]

I'm sorry to disappoint you, but Canada is at war with nobody at the moment.

I'm sorry that you don't understand Radical Islam is at war against the West --which last I looked -- included Canada .

[I Miss Trudeau]

Why don't we just tell Bush that we'll sink the $5 billion they owe us from illegal softwood tariffs into security as soon as the deadbeat pays up. I'd advise caution in adopting a Bush style security plan, however..

It seems that they can't even secure the White House, let alone the nation.

[B. Max]

Why don't we just tell Bush that we'll sink the $5 billion they owe us from illegal  softwood tariffs into security as soon as the deadbeat pays up. I'd advise caution in adopting a Bush style security plan, however..

It seems that they can't even secure the White House, let alone the nation.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why, so you could spend it on more sievigration.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2005/10...249527-sun.html

That money would go to the lumber companies not government tax and spend politicians.

[err]

I hate to burst your little socialist one worlder smile be happy bubble, but we are at war, the islamics declared it, people like you just choose to stick their head in the sand and deny it. The problem with that is your butt is sticking up and is ready to be kicked, which it will. The 911 attacks were just as much an on US property as they were and an attack on the north american economy.

There are nearly 2 Billion people of Islamic faith on the planet. Because a few hundred of them, lurking in shadows here and there, declare war on "the west", do you think that means that "all Muslims" want to attack "the West"?? Should they all be punished for the actions of a few ???

And a point of order... Islam (and Islamic) are spelled with a capital "I".

Not all islamics are terrorists but they are all potential terrorists.

And then you obviously subscribe to the theory that "all men are potential rapists"....

Earlier this year when they were making threats they should have asked to leave then. No armbands no camps no paint. Just leave.

(I guess you didn't understand the references to the armbands....)

Out of curiosity... who's included in the group you refer to as "they", and what were the "threats" that "they" should be expelled from Canada for ????

[B. Max]

I hate to burst your little socialist one worlder smile be happy bubble, but we are at war, the islamics declared it, people like you just choose to stick their head in the sand and deny it. The problem with that is your butt is sticking up and is ready to be kicked, which it will. The 911 attacks were just as much an on US property as they were and an attack on the north american economy.

There are nearly 2 Billion people of Islamic faith on the planet. Because a few hundred of them, lurking in shadows here and there, declare war on "the west", do you think that means that "all Muslims" want to attack "the West"?? Should they all be punished for the actions of a few ???

And a point of order... Islam (and Islamic) are spelled with a capital "I".

Not all islamics are terrorists but they are all potential terrorists.

And then you obviously subscribe to the theory that "all men are potential rapists"....

Earlier this year when they were making threats they should have asked to leave then. No armbands no camps no paint. Just leave.

(I guess you didn't understand the references to the armbands....)

Out of curiosity... who's included in the group you refer to as "they", and what were the "threats" that "they" should be expelled from Canada for ????

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

To suggest that there is only a few hundred is not realistic and twice removed from reality. Lets assume there is only a hundred. We've seen how the actions of only a few on 911 punished a couple of thousand, disrupted both our countries changing them probably for ever and cost our economies billions. If it's us or them i choose us. You spell islam however you want, i have no intention of giving any due to something that is fundementaly incompatibale, and is self declared at odds with the founding culture of this country. As far as your rapist theory goes, i subscribe to the theory of comparing apples to apples. Who are they, they are the head of the canadian islamic congress or whatever they call themselves. Who said earlier this year that martin and the government had better leave muslums alone or they wouldn't be able to control their kids. That is a threat and a very serious one. One that is totally out of place but not out of charcter given the type of behavior islamics have been demonstrating around the world in their efforts to create one islamic state after another as their numbers dictate.

[Black Dog]

Not all islamics are terrorists but they are all potential terrorists.

Just like all Hindus, Jews, Catholics, Protestants, etc. etc. are potential terrorists. Perhaps we should ask them to leave too?

I hope to hell that Canada does not get hit....but I think that we will be hit. We aren't fighting a conventional army; we are fighting Islamic terrorists.

So how, pray tell, if we are not fighting a conventional enemy, will additional funding to our conventional army help??

[Leafless]

Any group of people from the same source attacking countries and killing innocent people can be considered the equivalent of a military and should be dealt with accordingly.

Iam certain many German civilians wanted no part of the German killing machine but were implicated regardless.

Canada does lack defences and could be in for serious problems but of course always depends on the U.S. for protection which does not say much concerning Canadian integrity.

[Argus]

There are nearly 2 Billion people of Islamic faith on the planet.

Not even half that.

Because a few hundred of them, lurking in shadows here and there, declare war on "the west", do you think that means that "all Muslims" want to attack "the West"??  Should they all be punished for the actions of a few ??? 

A few hundred? Osama bin Laden attracted recruits from all across the middle east, to the extent he had something like 10,000 men in his camps in Afghanistan, which made him a major supporter of the Taliban. Now think of how hard it is for someone in say, Egypt or Libya or even Yemen or Iran, who is dirt poor, to get to Afghanistan. Think of how many more followers he would have had if he'd been easier to reach. Then think of the polls of attitudes in Muslim countries which showed that many millions strongly sympathise with him and think he is a hero. And every year those radical madrassas schools in the Muslim world turn out tens of thousands more fanatics, the modern day equivilent to the ignorant wild-eyed monks who roamed Europe in the dark ages.

[err]

To suggest that there is only a few hundred is not realistic and twice removed from reality. Lets assume there is only a hundred. We've seen how the actions of only a few on 911 punished a couple of thousand, disrupted both our countries changing them probably for ever and cost our economies billions. If it's us or them i choose us. You spell islam however you want, i have no intention of giving any due to something that is fundementaly incompatibale, and is self declared at odds with the founding culture of this country. As far as your rapist theory goes, i subscribe to the theory of comparing apples to apples. Who are they, they are the head of the canadian islamic congress or whatever they call themselves. Who said earlier this year that martin and the government had better leave muslums alone or they wouldn't be able to control their kids. That is a threat and a very serious one. One that is totally out of place but not out of charcter given the type of behavior islamics have been demonstrating around the world in their efforts to create one islamic state after another as their numbers dictate.

Hiel B. Max, and the Fourth Reich....

Should we build concentration camps too......

[B. Max]

To suggest that there is only a few hundred is not realistic and twice removed from reality. Lets assume there is only a hundred. We've seen how the actions of only a few on 911 punished a couple of thousand, disrupted both our countries changing them probably for ever and cost our economies billions. If it's us or them i choose us. You spell islam however you want, i have no intention of giving any due to something that is fundementaly incompatibale, and is self declared at odds with the founding culture of this country. As far as your rapist theory goes, i subscribe to the theory of comparing apples to apples. Who are they, they are the head of the canadian islamic congress or whatever they call themselves. Who said earlier this year that martin and the government had better leave muslums alone or they wouldn't be able to control their kids. That is a threat and a very serious one. One that is totally out of place but not out of charcter given the type of behavior islamics have been demonstrating around the world in their efforts to create one islamic state after another as their numbers dictate.

Hiel B. Max, and the Fourth Reich....

Should we build concentration camps too......

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No we should have asked them to leave, and take their leftist friends with them.

[err]

There are nearly 2 Billion people of Islamic faith on the planet.

Not even half that.

Sorry... 1.7 billion... Islamic Population

Because a few hundred of them, lurking in shadows here and there, declare war on "the west", do you think that means that "all Muslims" want to attack "the West"??  Should they all be punished for the actions of a few ??? 

A few hundred? Osama bin Laden attracted recruits from all across the middle east, to the extent he had something like 10,000 men in his camps in Afghanistan, which made him a major supporter of the Taliban. Now think of how hard it is for someone in say, Egypt or Libya or even Yemen or Iran, who is dirt poor, to get to Afghanistan. Think of how many more followers he would have had if he'd been easier to reach. Then think of the polls of attitudes in Muslim countries which showed that many millions strongly sympathise with him and think he is a hero. And every year those radical madrassas schools in the Muslim world turn out tens of thousands more fanatics, the modern day equivilent to the ignorant wild-eyed monks who roamed Europe in the dark ages.

If you did the math, or were capable of doing it, you'd see that 10,000 is not that many when you compare it to the total population. Supposing we give you the benefit of the doubt that there are only 1 billion Muslims. Then that would mean that 1 in 100 thousand Muslims is a "radical Muslim".

Going back to B. Max's theory that all men are potential rapists, you might find that statistics will show that more than 1 in 100 thousand men is a rapist... So therefore, it is more likely that you are a rapist than the Muslim down the street is a "radical Muslim"...

[B. Max]

delete.

[B. Max]

Going back to B. Max's theory that all men are potential rapists,

Don't credit me with things that i never said.

[Army Guy]

Just like all Hindus, Jews, Catholics, Protestants, etc. etc. are potential terrorists. Perhaps we should ask them to leave too?

I agree with Black dog not everyone is a terrorist in the wings, however that being said there are Islamists in this country right now, that have attended bin ladins training camps, who have fought against Coalition forces in Afganistan, and have family members in Gitmo today. and yet Canadians are good with that. if we can't deport these people that we know have direct links to bin ladin, then there has to be a major flaw in our imigration dept somewhere.

So how, pray tell, if we are not fighting a conventional enemy, will additional funding to our conventional army help

It is true fighting terrorist with conventional forces is not very efficient, but it does produce results. And there are some chioces you have to make when you decide that you or goverment are going to stand up for your rights. where do you want to fight them, how do you want to fight them.

There are some people on this forum that really believe that Canada is not at War, perhaps someone should tell that to the 4 Canadain soldiers that were injuried by a sucide bomber in Afgan a couple days ago. We are at war.

[Argus]

There are nearly 2 Billion people of Islamic faith on the planet.

Not even half that.

Sorry... 1.7 billion... Islamic Population

A less biased source: 1.26 billion. They breed like rabbits, you know.

World Religions

Still a far cry from 2 billion.

Because a few hundred of them, lurking in shadows here and there, declare war on "the west", do you think that means that "all Muslims" want to attack "the West"??  Should they all be punished for the actions of a few ??? 

A few hundred? Osama bin Laden attracted recruits from all across the middle east, to the extent he had something like 10,000 men in his camps in Afghanistan, which made him a major supporter of the Taliban. Now think of how hard it is for someone in say, Egypt or Libya or even Yemen or Iran, who is dirt poor, to get to Afghanistan. Think of how many more followers he would have had if he'd been easier to reach. Then think of the polls of attitudes in Muslim countries which showed that many millions strongly sympathise with him and think he is a hero. And every year those radical madrassas schools in the Muslim world turn out tens of thousands more fanatics, the modern day equivilent to the ignorant wild-eyed monks who roamed Europe in the dark ages.

If you did the math, or were capable of doing it, you'd see that 10,000 is not that many when you compare it to the total population.

You said "a few hundred".

And you left out the differential between those who could pick up and travel across the continent to Afghanistan and those who only WISHED they could. Hell, it is an axium of public relations here that if one person complained ten were angry, because most don't go to the effort of picking up the phone or sending an email.

If ten thousand Muslim men found their way to Afghanistan there were at least a million who wanted to go, but couldn't, either due to family obligations or lack of drive or money.

And then there are those who strongly sympathised; millions according to polls.

Going back to B. Max's theory that all men are potential rapists,

No, I think that idiotic theory was yours.

you might find that statistics will show that more than 1 in 100 thousand men is a rapist... So therefore, it is more likely that you are a rapist than the Muslim down the street is a "radical Muslim"...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not quite the same thing. If a woman is raped do hundreds of thousands of men across the country jump up and thrust their fists in the air in delight on hearing about it? Do they then drop to their knees and praise God for the success of their fellow rapist? Do men gather in groups discussing ways of raping many hundreds or thousands of women at once through new methods and weapons? Do they curse women and pray to God to destroy them?

Rape is, by and large, an impulse crime largely driven by alcohol or drugs, and is largely physically harmless to the victim (in terms of other physically violent crime). Blowing up a building, on the other hand, tends to be fatal to a lot of people. Poisoning water supplies or using biological, chemical or nuclear weapons can be fatal to far more, and we know terrorist groups have sought such weapons.

And it is the possibility of their using such weapons which is, in large part, driving the war on terrorism. Because we don't want the next wake-up call to be a dirty bomb going off in London or New York or Toronto.