Report: Canada without armed forces???

The Watcher

New Member
I haven't read all of it but talks about how Canadian armed forces capabilities are declining. And good guess is that canada's military wil disappear in next 10-15 years! :eek

Canada Without Armed Forces?

Not that it makes any difference as far as World security and Peace is concerned but still imagine if Canada's military goes HOW much military hardware will become available for countries who really want it. ;) :smokingc:
 

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
Canada is rapidly becoming the northern hemispheres version of New Zealand.
 

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
To partially paraphrase a proverb... we are living in an interesting time.

Its interesting for me as I believe that any future conflicts will start in Europe, and not in the middle east or asia minor.

Anybody with half a brain would be horrified at the prospect of having to go to war, the theoreticals are interesting, heaven forbid if it turns real.

Having seen people blown up and people die is not something that I care to see again.

To partially paraphrase another proverb, a gentleman keeps his sword visible. New Zealand is down to the empty scabbard stage - if they are not careful they will sell that too and end up as vulnerable as an unarmed traveller in a forest full of bears and other potentially hungry animals
 

Winter

New Member
gf0012 said:
Its interesting for me as I believe that any future conflicts will start in Europe, and not in the middle east or asia minor.
Hmm...I would've thought Eastern Europe for me....Specifically, that's where the US and NATO's rolling....

gf0012 said:
Anybody with half a brain would be horrified at the prospect of gaving to go to war, the theoreticals are intersting, heaven forbid if it turns real.
A very relevent quotation for these forums.

gf0012 said:
To partially paraphrase another proverb, a gentleman keeps his sword visible. New Zealand is down to the empty scabbard stage - if they are not careful they will sell that too and end up as vulnerable as an unarmed traveller in a forest full of bears and other potentially hungry animals
Yes...I believe they went crazy over the phrase 'benign strategic environment' apparently...Or something like that....For lack of the big picture I suppose... :roll
 

Londo Molari

New Member
Canada doesnt need an armed forces.

The presence of a force only results in the U.S. dragging us into wars we don't wish to participate in.

So without an armed force, we don't have to deal with such an issue.

Realistically, chances of Canada getting attacked conventionally are low... considering its proximity to the U.S.

Although it IS cool to have an armed force... something to be proud of...someone to shovel downtown toronto when it snows a lot :D

And Canada has a large defence R&D industry... so that encourages our military to stay alive.
 

mysterious

New Member
hey! where r u from dude? I know where u're hinting that thing at...lol 1999 Snow Storm that hit Toronto. I hope you know why the army was called in to clear out the snow. On a more serious note, Canada does need armed forces, specially now as it is emerging as a very strong economic force and is just alongside the US. Dont u think the US will start shoving its military shoulder into Canada and getting things done in its favor once Canada achieves a better position than US economically which I see wont take long.
 

Winter

New Member
mysterious said:
hey! where r u from dude? I know where u're hinting that thing at...lol 1999 Snow Storm that hit Toronto. I hope you know why the army was called in to clear out the snow. On a more serious note, Canada does need armed forces, specially now as it is emerging as a very strong economic force and is just alongside the US. Dont u think the US will start shoving its military shoulder into Canada and getting things done in its favor once Canada achieves a better position than US economically which I see wont take long.
I do not think Canada will become economically dominant over the US just yet, Mysterious...The next superpower, if any, will arise on the other side of the world...I also wouldn't think the United States will 'start shoving it's military shoulder into Canada.' There is such a thing of diplomatic cooperation and friendship. ;)
 

mysterious

New Member
oh please man! dont tel me US doesnt shove its pride n eveything in to Canada's face. Mad-cow, US blames Canada. Black out, US blames Canada and there r soo many other things. As someone said "in politics, there are NO permanent friends, ONLY permanent interests". And obviously Canada has a good way to go to reach US economical status but its headed in the right direction.
 

Winter

New Member
mysterious said:
oh please man! dont tel me US doesnt shove its pride n eveything in to Canada's face. Mad-cow, US blames Canada. Black out, US blames Canada and there r soo many other things. As someone said "in politics, there are NO permanent friends, ONLY permanent interests". And obviously Canada has a good way to go to reach US economical status but its headed in the right direction.
Mysterious...They're friends...Not enemies. Relatives live across the border, they share the same political ideals, a common defence system...And you're painting the relationships between the two as potentially bitter and hostile. But let's go layman's terms here. When is a country with scarcely 35 million people going to achieve and maintain an economy larger than that of the United States? 100 years? 200 years? They're not even aspiring to. There is no need. You're faking a scenario here.
 

mysterious

New Member
I'm just giving u my view man! wat is WRONG with you dude??? I thought people had a right to express their views n opinions on this forum. are u sleeping or something? :cop :cop
 

Winter

New Member
mysterious said:
I'm just giving u my view man! wat is WRONG with you dude??? I thought people had a right to express their views n opinions on this forum. are u sleeping or something? :cop :cop
It's a discussion board, an international forum, mysterious. Opinions and ideals are debated. No, I'm not sleeping.
 

Revival_786

New Member
btw, Canada has a very high GDP per capita (higher than UK, France, Japan, etc).

The extra money that would have gone to the military is going to health-care :)
 

joker

New Member
Its interesting for me as I believe that any future conflicts will start in Europe, and not in the middle east or asia minor.
Now that is interesting... GF could you pls. expand on the above. Thanks.
 
A

Aussie Digger

Guest
Canada won't completely get rid of it's armed forces, I shouldn't think. It will still probably maintain capabilities to take part in International peace keeping operations (as does New Zealand) and probably also a basic capability to evacuate foreign nationals from countries with a less "benign strategic situation" (which New Zealand doesn't really have). I doubt Canada would maintain much beyond this though, given that they are downsizing their warfighting capabilties (ie: reducing the number of CF-18's, getting rid of tanks completely etc).
 
A

Aussie Digger

Guest
I don't know where the next war will start. I can't see a war happening in Western Europe. Maybe Eastern Europe, though I dount the West would become involved immediately beyond a humanitarian crisis developing. They might evacuate foreign nationals, but unless a form of "ethinic cleansing" started I can't see any reason why Western nations would become involved. Africa is my tip for the next war. I can see a "commonwealth force" undertaking operations in Zimbabwe quite honestly. I think a bloodbath will occur when Mugabe leaves (or dies) and I think a Commonwealth force (UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and maybe India as well) might be the force that sorts it out. The UN has proven time and time again that it is utterly useless in solving civil wars. Unfortunate as it may seem, unilateral action may become the catch phrase of the future as far as wars are concerned...
 

mysterious

New Member
To speak unbiasedly or frankly! In my opinion, (dont want to sound like an extremist or anything) the ONLY war I see coming is the clash of civilizations between Islam and the West!! I dont see people of any other race, religion, etc being humiliated, killed, plotted against, conspired against, their lands captured, etc other than Muslims. I think its all coming down to where its gona be a face off between Islam and the rest of the world. I just HOPE that it doesnt get to that as it will lead to nothing but chaos and devastation!! I just HOPE the neo-cons realize where they're leading the world. I just HOPE the WEST can hold back a little on trying to enforce its culture and society values up on the Muslim world which is VERY different. I've come to Canada from the subcontinent and I've noted as an individual without thinking that I'm a Muslim, Christian or whatever that there is NO way you can create a WEST in the Muslim world (even though Canada is still better than the US in terms of Moral behaviour and all I've noted)!! In the west, the latest religion is capitalism (and with it MONEY) and I dont think ANY Muslim state is willing to let that happen to themselves!

This is just an opinion so I hope I dont get aggravated replies to this! :smokingc:
 

Gremlin29

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
If there's a face off between the Muslim world and the west, the Muslim world will be hurtin for certain.

I was attached to the Canadian Air Force a few years back and I have much love and respect for the Canadian Armed Forces. Good people, highly motivated and so forth. That being said, Canada hasn't got much of a military to begin with. My aviation brigade had more aircraft than all of Canadian Armed Forces combined! They have no capabilities to project a military presence of consequence anywhere on their own. No disrespect inferred or intended, it's a simple fact.

Canada is unique anyway, it's proximity to the US, small population and large land mass preclude them from actually requiring a military force for national defense. So Canada is quite literally attached to the economic/social/national defense hip of the US wether Canadians like it or not. A day may come when Canada and the US unite, perhaps even with Mexico. !! The United State of North America!!
 

joker

New Member
AD I doubt the Commonwealth actually will launch an overt military intervention. If so then you can count out South Africa and India immediately. Canada and NZ will probably only provide their diplomatic and moral support. Which only leaves the Brits and you guys to bear the brunt of an invasion and with the state of British forces what with Afghanistan and Iraq I doubt the top brass will be in the mood for another adventure in the near future.

The most likely course of action would probably be to instigate a coup and have peace enforcers from Australia, UK (and probably a small contingent from SA) move in to fill in the vacuum and then hand over the security detail to the UN after 3 months. But this will only happen if and when both countries can sustain low intensity peace enforcement operations in yet in another zone of conflict. Until then Mugabe is not top of the priority list.
 
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