Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ubc-cs.UUCP Path: utzoo!utcsrgv!ubc-vision!ubc-cs!robinson From: robinson@ubc-cs.UUCP (Jim Robinson) Newsgroups: can.politics Subject: Re: the Pentagon / nuclear weapons Message-ID: <922@ubc-cs.UUCP> Date: Tue, 15-Jan-85 22:56:24 EST Article-I.D.: ubc-cs.922 Posted: Tue Jan 15 22:56:24 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 16-Jan-85 02:42:52 EST References: <334@utcs.UUCP> Reply-To: robinson@ubc-cs.UUCP (Jim Robinson) Organization: UBC Department of Computer Science, Vancouver, B.C., Canada Lines: 35 Summary: In article <334@utcs.UUCP> pkern@utcs.UUCP writes: >This also seemed to be another example of Canada being taken for >granted as the Minister of Defense, Robert Coates, had not heard of this >plan (or would not admit that he had). That Canada should be taken for granted in this manner is unfortunate but not unexpected. For years this country has paid only token attention to its armed forces, secure in the knowledge that no other country would dare do battle with us because of the presence of our neighbour to the South who carries a mighty big stick. This has resulted in a loss of Canada's sovereignty as one can hardly bite the hand that feeds, or in this case protects, one. An argument can be made that we don't need a military. Fine. In that case let's withdraw from NATO and NORAD, disband the armed forces, concentrate on the Coast Guard, and hope that nobody ever comes looking for a fight. ( We could also forget about getting so much as the time of day from the US, at least for the short term ) On the other hand, if we are going to have a military then it behoves us to do it properly. If we had our own credible defence then it would be much easier for us to protest those actions by the US which take us for granted. We could rightly claim to be partners with the US working towards a common goal and expect/demand to be treated as such, under threat of going it alone if necessary. As it is now, we're just kinda along for the ride. My own opinion is that a sizable sovereign nation, such as Canada, should have a credible defence. Even the *neutral* Swiss who haven't been at war for untold years have this. Looking back to WW2 it can be noted that yesterday's enemy is today's friend. I don't think that it is too far fetched to think that today's friend may be tomorrow's enemy. J.B. Robinson