[4Canada]

[QUOTE BY= talus] <br /> And what does 'au fait' mean? <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/frown.gif' alt='Frown'> [/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> It just means he thinks we don't think it will happen. That we are not in the "know", don't get it.<br /> <br /> What he is "au fait" about is that I know that if Canada does end up fighting a war on our own land it will be because our governments are too ignorant to prevent it from happening. If they're going to go around supporting war crimes and murderers, preventing idigenous farmers from saving seeds for the gain of the corporate few then they're responsible for others wanting to attack us. That's why I keep asking them who will protect us from them? Our own government is a security threat to you and me.

[Marcarc]

I quite agree with the post above, but keep in mind that it was a conference for Defense Associations, and this is how such organizations ALWAYS talk, even in the nineties when there were no real threats to be found. <br /> <br /> Canada is quite a different operational theatre than the US, there isn't the massive population that can be ochestrated to support a war on countries where we, as an energy exporter, have no interest. My main fear is that all this is 'just beginning'. Countries, governments, and corporations are in it for the long haul, unlike people who obviously don't look far beyond their own lifetime. <br /> <br /> There is no doubt that with Canada's relatively high 'disposable population', (meaning people on the street, on welfare, or unemployed) that our 'central planners' know there is a ready clientele either for the prison industry or the military. In a morbid way we are almost in a fortunate position that the business society is so powerful because it means we won't have a repeat of World War 2 where the government literally 'took over everything'. <br /> <br /> Going by polls Canadians don't rank the movements of our military as a big deal-they don't really care (usually because they don't know what is really going on in these places) what our military is doing-so long as they don't pay more taxes for it. Like in the past, this 'may' enable canadians to do what they did in the fifties (which dated from, well, since 'we' got here), which is GET ACTIVE and create the foundations of a more egalitarian society. If you do some history of most of the federal decisions of that time you'll discover that programs like medicare, were not instituted in the way that were wanted by canadians (and enabled them to take it apart so quickly). When the country is accruing such massive wealth as today, there really is no reason for so many problems. However, just a look at most provinces shows just how out of touch they are as business and corporate taxes keep going down, while individual costs go up. We do have at least some political power, so it is true what they say "we have seen the enemy-and he is us"

[Innes]

Much of what is said above I agree with. What I see as the main question is what really is the role of our military in Canada today? No one seems able to answer that question but it certainly does not seem to be actively involved in defending Canada against anything.<br /> <br /> The role of the federal government is to set general military policy but because they have failed in their obligations to the nation you now have the military trying to set their own policy. It simply reflects the overall failure of the government to set a clear and consistent direction. In my opinion Paul Martin is a disaster because his personal belief in corporate globalization and the New World Order is not shared by a large number of Liberals.

[talus]

Thanks for your responses. <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/smile.gif' alt='Smile'> <br /> If he thinks Canadians do not "know" what imminent threat exists to our nation that is worse than the threat of the 'cold war' then I certainly think it is the duty of the government and fifth estate to fill us in so that we can decide the truth of matter. I can't think of a danger that was worse or more immediate than the threat of nuclear war. On the other hand, it may be as you say, just military hubris at a conference though I tend to dismiss this due to the implied recklessness by a person with such great responsibility. <br /> <br /> Second, for most of my life, my view of our military has been that they are ambassadors of Canadian goodwill, cooperating with the United Nations to improve the peace-keeping ability of that body. I have never had the impression they were some sort of bulwark against the have-nots of the world and would be very disappointed if they were used in such a way. If they were, I don't think Canadians would consider that patriotic nor honourable. I'm somewhat dismayed at the lack of information available to answer questions such as these. If the intended purpose of our military is general goodness then their intent, actions, and whereabouts should be an open book. I still haven't read a clear account of our involvement in Haiti and if anyone can direct me to a good summary of that ongoing peace-keeping action I would be most obliged. I will search the U.N. website to see if there is a good synopsis of our involvement.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />

[Marcarc]

I definitely agree with the above-if you think even United Nations missions are 'expressions of goodwill' then you need some serious education (although 'hypothetically' they are certainly not as bad as Nato or american 'initiatives'). Start from the beginning and read all about the Suez Canal that got Pearson a nobel prize and continue into the Korea war-definitely not expressions of goodwill. Militaries are rarely that, if ever, though I don't deny that there are incidents of such by those serving.

[Perturbed]

[QUOTE BY= Innes] In my opinion Paul Martin is a disaster because his personal belief in corporate globalization and the New World Order is not shared by a large number of Liberals. [/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> <br /> Funny how the man who gets in power is not a guy who shares the beliefs of the majority.....big coincidence. <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/rolleyes.gif' alt='Rolling Eyes'> <br /> <br />

[4Canada]

Talus with regards to Haiti. There are no good explanations for what Canada was doing in there. None. I have been asking the government that over and over again, with no response, as usual.

[talus]

I couldn't find too much at the U.N. site that was specific to Canada.<br /> <br /> Interesting things happened yesterday! my small town newspaper had a lengthy letter on protecting our cultural identity by a local person who quoted Robin Mathew's book, "The Canadian Intellectual Tradition", and how it related to a local issue. This is very different for my very conservative little town, and quite a good letter it was too. There was another letter on the same page with the title "Planet more important than prosperity." <br /> <br /> Then a young man came to the door to try to get me to buy a subscription to two big city newspapers. When I declined and said that I don't pay for propaganda he laughed and said that he has heard that comment a lot and wished me a good day. Things are looking up but I'm embarrassed to say I'd never heard of Mr Mathews before coming to this site.. <br /> All the best<br /> <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/biggrin.gif' alt='Big Grin'>

[Perturbed]

We should also admit that the only country with the proximity and military desire to expand right now is the United States. They are the main threat right now, whether they own us already or not.