Many US commentators are saying this is why Trump issued his bizarre order. To hide his embarrassment that Denmark came to US aid. A former USN sailor said it happens all the time it’s what Navies do, but Trump can't seem to let any country seem better. He is US exceptionalism on steroids.
The rift between Canada and the US is probably permanent and we are going to be better off for it. Our own 2 feet are for standing on and we should take this moment as an opportunity. We don't need the constant feed of US culture, stuff, and services when there is a wide world that is ready to work with us. Build for ourselves what we can do well and see as a strategic extension, buy where it makes sense to let others have a share of the pie. Cooperate, cajole, visit with our friends, be careful with those that don't have the same worldview, but engage all the same and seek openings for common ground. Thanks again for listening patiently and providing such great writing.
"We don't need the constant feed of US culture, stuff, and services when there is a wide world that is ready to work with us". - Couldn't agree more.
"Cooperate, cajole, visit with our friends, be careful with those that don't have the same worldview, but engage all the same and seek openings for common ground." - This is the Canadian way!
I’m glad you’re back from leave,BC6. I always look forward to your comments. And I agree that for the short term anyway, that Canada should concentrate on that kit that Canadians make well. Get the basics covered first. Further, it’s good to see the Army now gets some love with desperately needed equipment and funded! After all the RCN is getting a huge makeover and the RCAF will await some kind of jet to play with. Hopefully a mixed fleet. Sorry, Air Force, I just don’t agree with all the strings attached on the decades long rental of the F35. Last comment, is the Army Commander a “tanker”? Just wondering…
"but my respect for, and confidence in the US is absolutely gone"; tis a sad statement to my ears; but, know this my friend, neighbor and ally; we will live to see this disease of Fascism eradicated in our nation; maga thrown on the trash heap of history; your words are already in the heart of many Americans before being spoken. The words, deeds, and memes by this president are vile, disgusting and disgraceful; we can only ask forbearance until the coming changes produce a respectful reset of relations between our two nations.
No matter how often your articles come onto Substack, they are always anticipated and appreciated. You bring a perspective that is so valuable to the rest of us.
Once again your thoughts pretty well align with mine; however, I've seen too much to yet feel confident that this is all going to happen. It's going to be too easy to turn off the taps when credit ratings get reduced or some social program is in trouble. I've seen it too often. Even the across the board reductions in each Ministry indicate to me that there is not too much new thinking going on in the halls of Parliament.
You are correct in that we need to crawl before we walk or even run. Again, it seems like everyone is running off in every direction. The Navy beyond the new Frigates is getting up close and personal with submarines, both of which offer quite different capabilities when we do not have a true Defence Policy that articulates what capabilities we should have. (As an aside I notice substack only likes US spelling of defence) Meanwhile we have the RCAF and the F-35/Grypen situation in which Carney is looking very Trudeaesque in making a decision. We could end up with both again for politiacl reasons not operational. Our poor Army needs just about everything. Even though Whyte and Topchee seem to have their wits about them, it concerns me that the service chiefs seem to be driving the ships and tanks. Even if their planning is very good it needs to be protected from constant change by having a government stamp on those plans.
Here’s the thing I’ve realized with the F-35. The Government doesn’t need to make *any* decision. The plan is already in place. All they need to do is let it unfold and hopefully wait out Trump and any controversy. They’ll take flak, but they don’t need to lift a finger.
As for the Army, the restructure is very ambitious but has serious flaws - as I’ll point out in my next piece.
You’re not the only one to point out that no defence policy has actually been articulated. It’s an incredibly valid point.
We discussed the Army plan, at a very basic level, a while ago so I am interested in hearing your take. WRT the F-35, Carney has led the country to believe that the overall purchase was being reviewed. He owes it to the citizens to at least say that the original plan will continue. The agreement to move forward with the purchase another batch only made sense, regardless of the ultimate decision, because the original 16 was not a viable fleet.
Two short comments - there's no need to stick to a fixed schedule, sometimes life just intervenes.
And the second one is in relation to Canada having to develop the military in a different way now. It's the same with Europe, hence the SAFE initiative of which Canada is a member. Which is good, it's good to have you on board.
I'd also like you to alert you to a video which Phil Moorhouse made on this point. Phil is England based, he is a political commentator who usually comments on UK politics but has been branching out recently. His thoughts are always worth listening to, no matter whether you agree with him or not. This particular video covers the changes we (=Europe plus Canadians) need to make to get a better functioning armed forces:
Also, on the hospital front, Denmark recovered a stricken US sailor from a submarine and transported him to Greenland for treatment.
Many US commentators are saying this is why Trump issued his bizarre order. To hide his embarrassment that Denmark came to US aid. A former USN sailor said it happens all the time it’s what Navies do, but Trump can't seem to let any country seem better. He is US exceptionalism on steroids.
It is so good to have the voice of reason back to comment, based on knowledge and experience
The rift between Canada and the US is probably permanent and we are going to be better off for it. Our own 2 feet are for standing on and we should take this moment as an opportunity. We don't need the constant feed of US culture, stuff, and services when there is a wide world that is ready to work with us. Build for ourselves what we can do well and see as a strategic extension, buy where it makes sense to let others have a share of the pie. Cooperate, cajole, visit with our friends, be careful with those that don't have the same worldview, but engage all the same and seek openings for common ground. Thanks again for listening patiently and providing such great writing.
"We don't need the constant feed of US culture, stuff, and services when there is a wide world that is ready to work with us". - Couldn't agree more.
"Cooperate, cajole, visit with our friends, be careful with those that don't have the same worldview, but engage all the same and seek openings for common ground." - This is the Canadian way!
I’m glad you’re back from leave,BC6. I always look forward to your comments. And I agree that for the short term anyway, that Canada should concentrate on that kit that Canadians make well. Get the basics covered first. Further, it’s good to see the Army now gets some love with desperately needed equipment and funded! After all the RCN is getting a huge makeover and the RCAF will await some kind of jet to play with. Hopefully a mixed fleet. Sorry, Air Force, I just don’t agree with all the strings attached on the decades long rental of the F35. Last comment, is the Army Commander a “tanker”? Just wondering…
No, Mike Wright is PPCLI - Infantry. We worked together once upon a time.
"but my respect for, and confidence in the US is absolutely gone"; tis a sad statement to my ears; but, know this my friend, neighbor and ally; we will live to see this disease of Fascism eradicated in our nation; maga thrown on the trash heap of history; your words are already in the heart of many Americans before being spoken. The words, deeds, and memes by this president are vile, disgusting and disgraceful; we can only ask forbearance until the coming changes produce a respectful reset of relations between our two nations.
No matter how often your articles come onto Substack, they are always anticipated and appreciated. You bring a perspective that is so valuable to the rest of us.
Thank you.
Once again your thoughts pretty well align with mine; however, I've seen too much to yet feel confident that this is all going to happen. It's going to be too easy to turn off the taps when credit ratings get reduced or some social program is in trouble. I've seen it too often. Even the across the board reductions in each Ministry indicate to me that there is not too much new thinking going on in the halls of Parliament.
You are correct in that we need to crawl before we walk or even run. Again, it seems like everyone is running off in every direction. The Navy beyond the new Frigates is getting up close and personal with submarines, both of which offer quite different capabilities when we do not have a true Defence Policy that articulates what capabilities we should have. (As an aside I notice substack only likes US spelling of defence) Meanwhile we have the RCAF and the F-35/Grypen situation in which Carney is looking very Trudeaesque in making a decision. We could end up with both again for politiacl reasons not operational. Our poor Army needs just about everything. Even though Whyte and Topchee seem to have their wits about them, it concerns me that the service chiefs seem to be driving the ships and tanks. Even if their planning is very good it needs to be protected from constant change by having a government stamp on those plans.
Here’s the thing I’ve realized with the F-35. The Government doesn’t need to make *any* decision. The plan is already in place. All they need to do is let it unfold and hopefully wait out Trump and any controversy. They’ll take flak, but they don’t need to lift a finger.
As for the Army, the restructure is very ambitious but has serious flaws - as I’ll point out in my next piece.
You’re not the only one to point out that no defence policy has actually been articulated. It’s an incredibly valid point.
We discussed the Army plan, at a very basic level, a while ago so I am interested in hearing your take. WRT the F-35, Carney has led the country to believe that the overall purchase was being reviewed. He owes it to the citizens to at least say that the original plan will continue. The agreement to move forward with the purchase another batch only made sense, regardless of the ultimate decision, because the original 16 was not a viable fleet.
I love your articles. They are like a chat with my uncle who was a chief warrant officer back in the day.
Two short comments - there's no need to stick to a fixed schedule, sometimes life just intervenes.
And the second one is in relation to Canada having to develop the military in a different way now. It's the same with Europe, hence the SAFE initiative of which Canada is a member. Which is good, it's good to have you on board.
I'd also like you to alert you to a video which Phil Moorhouse made on this point. Phil is England based, he is a political commentator who usually comments on UK politics but has been branching out recently. His thoughts are always worth listening to, no matter whether you agree with him or not. This particular video covers the changes we (=Europe plus Canadians) need to make to get a better functioning armed forces:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7jgIct-Ob8
Welcome back
I believe he is on the verge of starting something big and dangerous.
Welcome back! I look forward to reading your posts once again!
BZ. Glad you are still operational!