Black Cloud Six, I’m now ready to pledge my future support. I’m convinced I’m going to need people like you going forward to help me maintain perspective. I’ve just cancelled my first Canadian substack subscription due to their jaunty, light-hearted and un-serious view of what’s going on. I prefer a globalist perspective and need to understand things outside of my little world. I don’t believe I’m being catastrophic by saying that the trump administration is going to have a drastic effect on no less than the world order.
Great insight. I wholeheartedly agree and with the impending possibility of Project 2025 being implemented as soon as January 2025, all rationality may be out the window. This could prove to be a more dangerous outcome and a direct threat at our southern border.
A timely post. Thanks for your thoughts. Perhaps we should also focus on infrastructure for Pacific and Atlantic exports as a hedge and to improve our economy and resilence.
“we need to grow up and address our defence capabilities with seriousness and urgency”
And yes, one way forward would be likely to procure much of the necessary tech and equipment from … the US? To me this seems like the only way, and then, oh yeah we need people…
Our economies are too greatly intertwined, esp. our dependence on US imports and supplies, even our food in many ways - this is a big nut to crack, but I’m open to all ideas
When I mentioned this months ago, I was literally laughed at. I so agree with you and worry about our country. People need to wake up and stop thinking “it will never happen”.
While I agree with diversifying our defence procurement moving too far away from the US may be detrimental for as you correctly state, Trump is a transactional individual. Buying from the US while increasing spending may actually by some favour.
That’s a great point. Someone on Twitter suggested cancelling the F-35 and moving to Gripen. This would be a disaster for all sorts of reasons, not the least of which is what you mention.
Fair enough. But a couple or three squadrons of NATO-spec Gripen E's based in Europe (AirDiv Reprise) and and one squadron of F-35's as AWACS would work VERY nicely, as a deterrent.
Offsets and IB... Yes, I am. I was Development Program Manager (briefly) for the X-35B fan housing in 2000. STILL not an F-35 fan, except for a WingLeader Command/Control/Backup role.
Buy GripenE's and Loyal Wingmen for the pointy end.
F-35's low flight hours/high maintainer hours on ground/fragile nose gear/ and ridiculous cost in $ Cdn makes me a skeptic. Lets see how the Norwegians do in the next two years, for cost/flight hour and %age of fleet available.
Agree completely. And we stopped travelling to the US or purchasing made in America products when it became apparent that the USA prioritized gun ownership over the life of women and struck down Roe v Wade!
Given that Canada is a maritime nation I must assume that you include an enhancement of our naval assets and capabilities under ‘other high-priority’ items and ‘Arctic defence’. Surely a higher priority than anti-tank systems anyway, unless you’re expecting an armoured invasion from the south.
Justin needs to get AHEAD of Trump, and up Canada's NATO game PROactively. Surely Anand and Freeland have SOME influence? Great assessment, Six. Bravo Zulu.
I would have *no idea* which party I’d support at this point - I have equal distain for them all. Besides, I’m too thin skinned and (weirdly) don’t do well in debates and personal confrontations. Best to write.
100% agreed re 2% and the identification of defence partners across NATO as opposed to our over reliance on the USA.
If this situation, and other current world events, aren't Clue #1 for Canada to immediately boost its NATO spending, I don't know what is.
This lays out the real dangers and challenges Canada is likely to face over the next few years in a clear-eyed and rational way.
Black Cloud Six, I’m now ready to pledge my future support. I’m convinced I’m going to need people like you going forward to help me maintain perspective. I’ve just cancelled my first Canadian substack subscription due to their jaunty, light-hearted and un-serious view of what’s going on. I prefer a globalist perspective and need to understand things outside of my little world. I don’t believe I’m being catastrophic by saying that the trump administration is going to have a drastic effect on no less than the world order.
Thanks. I watched the PM replying to unserious questions from an unserious opposition with flippant “gotcha” answers yesterday. It needs to stop.
Great insight. I wholeheartedly agree and with the impending possibility of Project 2025 being implemented as soon as January 2025, all rationality may be out the window. This could prove to be a more dangerous outcome and a direct threat at our southern border.
A timely post. Thanks for your thoughts. Perhaps we should also focus on infrastructure for Pacific and Atlantic exports as a hedge and to improve our economy and resilence.
“we need to grow up and address our defence capabilities with seriousness and urgency”
And yes, one way forward would be likely to procure much of the necessary tech and equipment from … the US? To me this seems like the only way, and then, oh yeah we need people…
Our economies are too greatly intertwined, esp. our dependence on US imports and supplies, even our food in many ways - this is a big nut to crack, but I’m open to all ideas
When I mentioned this months ago, I was literally laughed at. I so agree with you and worry about our country. People need to wake up and stop thinking “it will never happen”.
While I agree with diversifying our defence procurement moving too far away from the US may be detrimental for as you correctly state, Trump is a transactional individual. Buying from the US while increasing spending may actually by some favour.
That’s a great point. Someone on Twitter suggested cancelling the F-35 and moving to Gripen. This would be a disaster for all sorts of reasons, not the least of which is what you mention.
Fair enough. But a couple or three squadrons of NATO-spec Gripen E's based in Europe (AirDiv Reprise) and and one squadron of F-35's as AWACS would work VERY nicely, as a deterrent.
I don’t think you are aware of all of the industrial benefits already derived from the F-35 and they are all at the forefront of technology.
Offsets and IB... Yes, I am. I was Development Program Manager (briefly) for the X-35B fan housing in 2000. STILL not an F-35 fan, except for a WingLeader Command/Control/Backup role.
Buy GripenE's and Loyal Wingmen for the pointy end.
F-35's low flight hours/high maintainer hours on ground/fragile nose gear/ and ridiculous cost in $ Cdn makes me a skeptic. Lets see how the Norwegians do in the next two years, for cost/flight hour and %age of fleet available.
Agree completely. And we stopped travelling to the US or purchasing made in America products when it became apparent that the USA prioritized gun ownership over the life of women and struck down Roe v Wade!
Given that Canada is a maritime nation I must assume that you include an enhancement of our naval assets and capabilities under ‘other high-priority’ items and ‘Arctic defence’. Surely a higher priority than anti-tank systems anyway, unless you’re expecting an armoured invasion from the south.
You know I do, unless you’ve read nothing else I’ve written.
Besides, I was Army for a very long time, so I revert to what I know best.
And since Canada has virtually no anti tank or air defence capability, yes, they’re a high priority.
Absolutely need to spend on defence, what happens when a dry US looks up and sees all the fresh water in Canada, or oil in a few years
They already have access to fresh water from the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence, the Columbia, the Red and many other sources.
They do. But Trump ominously mentioned BC when discussing water on the West Coast. We’re a bright MAGA idea away from a problem.
Or as I always refer to political announcements, a rush of blood to the brain.
Justin needs to get AHEAD of Trump, and up Canada's NATO game PROactively. Surely Anand and Freeland have SOME influence? Great assessment, Six. Bravo Zulu.
Please consider politics- your voice is needed to lead the country.
I would have *no idea* which party I’d support at this point - I have equal distain for them all. Besides, I’m too thin skinned and (weirdly) don’t do well in debates and personal confrontations. Best to write.