Why We're Supporting A Disastrous Missile-"Defence" Program

Would this lack of canadaian political leadership still be an issue once Bush&cronies get thrown out of office? I certainly did not get the impression that building this missile "defence" would be a priority for Kerry during last night debate.

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"We are all in this together somehow, some more than others somehow"

Kerry will go for missile defence too if he's elected, neither of them could afford to leave North America defenceless against missile attacks now that so many nations and other groups have missiles.

The President was already criticized for not stopping 9-11, an event that took place only a year and a half after he took office - so neither Bush or Kerry is going to leave a gaping hole in defence.

Canada should have signed on a long time ago and gotten past this issue, sticking out heads in the sand and not even knowing, never mind having any input into our own defence, is a strategy that undermines our sovereignty.
Canada has always been a part of allied defensive agreements, it has allowed us to have some influence in international affairs even when we contribute next to nothing.

Isolating ourselves and pretending nobody would want to attack us if we gave the cold shoulder to the Americans is just a silly notion. The same motivation that drives suicide bombers to attack members of their own religion because they're not pious enough or follow a different sect, has driven suicide bombers to kill Canadians overseas, and if they could do it here there is no doubt they would.

How many times must we go through this debate that building and testing such a missile shield cannot be done. If somebody really wants to nuke the US, delivering the nuclear head over the air makes no sense, certainly in our world of increasing guerilla/terrorist practices. The amount of money wasted by such an effort would be much better applied on some preemptive peace effort such as ensuring that everyone on this planet can feed, educate and look after one self.

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"We are all in this together somehow, some more than others somehow"

As a Canadian, I'd like to tell Americans "No f*cking way". If so many nations are arming themselves right now, it is due to America's own pre-emption foreign policy and its application, not the other way around. If America wants Canada in their BMD program and Europe to join and share the burden in Iraq, I've got news for you America, it won't happen unless you give those same countries a say in your foreign affairs. If all you want are blind deaf and dumb followers like those American sheeple who believe in Bush and Faux News, go find them somewhere else. Good luck to you.

What debate? The Luddites just keep bleating that 'it won't work', that's hardly a debate. I happened to mention this to my friend over my GPS enabled cellphone just after my transponder registered the exit of the Hwy 407 Electronic Toll Route while he was a passenger in an airliner over the Indian Ocean watching a DVD on his laptop and keeping an eye on the aircraft's progression over the earth on the flat screen in front of him, but I switched off my satellite radio reciever first because I like the almost absolute quiet of my modern car on the highway when I'm talking. Comprendez?

If you really understand technology, then you should understand then that it is not normally about the technology but about the users. You should also understand what crossing the chasm means and what happens when you do not cross the chasm successfully.

In addition, if you can't differentiate in between consumer technology and military technology, that is a serious blindspot no matter how many new tech toys you use.

Finally there is a big difference in between a war simulator and the real thing. This was not a video-game forum BTW.

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"We are all in this together somehow, some more than others somehow"

Well the new missile defense system will be able to detect an object, and will probably be able to launch interceptor missiles at it. Problem is, the system can't tell what the object is! It can't even differentiate between a missile and a weather balloon. Why should we waste money on a missile defense system that won't work when it could be spent on upgrading our police forces, military and intelligence agencies?

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Zachary Whalen

How does constantly kissing America`s ass benefit Canada? Mulroney and Chretien did it and we still saw our lumber industry suffer, because of our cowardly, paidoff government! And NAFTA, which is all that America wants in a trade agreement with resource rich Canada, will suck Canada dry! We must, under this treasonous rag, continue to ship oil, gas, or even our blood if they commodify it, like they likely will, even if our own supplies are depleting. So our spineless losers in government continue this TREASON! Now they`re talking about diverting Great lakes water to the US for sale. Our own disgraceful government was the only world government to reject the notion that access to water be a human right! Now what does that tell you?

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Dave Ruston

You are talking about technology that has evolved over a 40-year period of time (what you are describing is all based on radar developed during WWII). In comparison to what is trying to be developed with MDI it is absolutely simplistic. The people who actually understand the technology involved have stated the technical difficulties to be overcome are too great and that is why the debate should be over. Comprendez!

Combine this with the recent admission that the US military's intention all along was to put weapons in space the Canadian government no longer has any mandate to pursue this as it has been its position all along that Canada would not be involved if any weapons were deployed there.

Even if this system were possible, is any Canadian so gullible as to think the Americans have any interest in protecting Canadian lives? The only interest Americans have in us is our resources and it is very likely that if anyone were to attack the US (even supposing a successfully deployed MDI) they would invade Canada as a means of their own security. Do you like being used? I sure as hell don't.

Another point to be considered here is that even if MDI worked the missiles it proposes to shoot down do not go very far into actual space and therefore any explosions (nuclear or conventional) would take place near or in the ozone layer. I don't know the exact science of how such explosions would affect it but it seems to me it would quite likely have a negative impact.

I have only one question, where were all the Canadians on Saturday? A cross Canada Action Day was held to protest BMD, and yes indeed there were protesters, rallies etc, but for the most part, Canadians aren't even aware there is a threat.

The most disgusting statement I heard personally, was a woman who said, 'Oh, I don't know anything about that stuff', so another person said 'why don't you go and listen, and find out'...her reply....'well my son needs a hockey stick'....so we are about to involve ourselves, without our consultation, into an arms race, but the hockey stick is more important!

What do you think this means, the hockey stick really is more important, or they don't believe they can make a difference,it is too complicated to think about, if they do think about it they will have to act or they just don't care???

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If I stand for my country today...will my country be here to stand for me tomorrow?

People are stupid.

Speak for yourself.

I'll speak for people in general.

You don't speak for me, nor anyone I know.<p> <p>---<br>"If you must kill a man, it costs you nothing to be polite about it." Winston Churchill <br />