[kEiThZ]

Perhaps. Some countries include their federal law enforcement in their NATO contribution but I'm don't the legal details.

Part of the problem is some people think it would be as simple as bolting a machine gun or launcher on an icebreaker or buoy tender and calling it 'defence'. It's a lot more complicated than that.

The public is generally ignorant on all this anyway. I don't think it matters.

What's important for our government is what the NATO partners who are suddenly important to us think. And there's varying levels of interest there on enforcing the hard definition.

A huge part of why we've gotten a pass for so long, honestly comes down to our people. An experienced Canadian Captain can be more skilled and knowledgeable than a Major or Lt. Col from other countries. And so we have used people to offset the lack of capability, to retain our credibility. But now that we're breaking people and kit, we're running up on the limits of this strategy. But as long as we continue to send folks that NATO values, and work on recapitalization in the general direction, we'll get a pass. I expect to get to 2%. I don't think we'll going to 3% or whatever the talk is these days.

 

[Bojaxs]

Canadians from Edmonton are currently performing King's guard duties in London. Only third time in history Canadians have been brought in to perform such a task. Canada is the only non-U.K. country to perform this task.

Canadian yelling at tourists to "GET OUT OF THE BOX!".

 

[lenaitch]

Canadians from Edmonton are currently performing King's guard duties in London. Only third time in history Canadians have been brought in to perform such a task. Canada is the only non-U.K. country to perform this task.

Canadian yelling at tourists to "GET OUT OF THE BOX!".

This is Horseguards Palace. Not to be confused with the ceremonial guard duties at Buckingham Palace

 

[Cobra]

Canada's place in the world... we matter very little. I'd argue since Jean Chretien was Prime Minister. Nowadays, we're an afterthought*

*The world is much bigger than the G7

 

[kEiThZ]

Canada's place in the world... we matter very little. I'd argue since Jean Chretien was Prime Minister. Nowadays, we're an afterthought*

*The world is much bigger than the G7

Yes and no. We matter a lot more than any other country of our size. Canada has a lot more say in the world than Poland for example. But our influence is (and has been ) steadily diminishing. I would say Mulroney is probably the last Canadian PM with genuine global heft. Trudeau II could have succeeded. But he was either ignorant or misinformed on how foreign affairs works. Words can completely replace hard power and resources.

Your comment about the G7 is undoubtedly driven by your fascination with BRICS in the other thread. But as far as Canada goes, the G7 still works a lot better than the BRICS, both for us, and the groups themselves.

 

[evandyk]

It always annoys me when people say that Canada doesn't matter to the world. We're not the US, but we're still around the 10th biggest economy! There are hardly any countries that could be more important than Canada, if we ever bothered to try.

 

[narduch]

It always annoys me when people say that Canada doesn't matter to the world. We're not the US, but we're still around the 10th biggest economy! There are hardly any countries that could be more important than Canada, if we ever bothered to try.

Doesn't help when we are basically US lap dogs when it comes to foreign policy.

Why would anyone bother paying attention to us?

 

[Cobra]

Doesn't help when we are basically US lap dogs when it comes to foreign policy.

Why would anyone bother paying attention to us?

Bingo - he gets it, and that's exactly how we are viewed outside the G7. We matter very little and that's being generous.

 

[kEiThZ]

Doesn't help when we are basically US lap dogs when it comes to foreign policy.

Why would anyone bother paying attention to us?

Funny how the country that didn't join the fun in Iraq is still a lap dog.

Folks who think this way will never be convinced otherwise. They don't see a group of democracies and advanced economies having common interests. They only see a grand conspiracy where America controls all.

 

[narduch]

Funny how the country that didn't join the fun in Iraq is still a lap dog.

Folks who think this way will never be convinced otherwise. They don't see a group of democracies and advanced economies having common interests. They only see a grand conspiracy where America controls all.

How long ago was the Iraq invasion now lol?

I'm living in the 2025 reality.

And ya. If my government is actively supporting a genocide to make America happy I will call it out. Sorry if that hurts your feelings.

 

[kEiThZ]

How long ago was the Iraq invasion now lol?

I'm living in the 2025 reality.

And ya. If my government is actively supporting a genocide to make America happy I will call it out. Sorry if that hurts your feelings.

Doesn't hurt my feelings at all. I don't think your take (laser focused on a specific issue) is accurate at all.

 

[Cobra]

As I was saying, Canada's voice in the world is becoming irrelevant - especially when we'd rather cowardly choose silence over taking a position.

We are on the wrong side of history on this one and how far the Liberals have fallen from what they used to be.

Opinion: Canada must come off the sidelines of international justice

We are shying away from our historic support of the ICC, heralding a dark turn in our foreign policy

www.theglobeandmail.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1946203987255885824

 

[kEiThZ]

I mean we should speak up about the violence against the Druze in Syria. Especially, given the horrific videos of executions that have emerged. But I guess since they aren't Palestinians it doesn't matter.

 

[narduch]

I mean we should speak up about the violence against the Druze in Syria. Especially, given the horrific videos of executions that have emerged. But I guess since they aren't Palestinians it doesn't matter.

This is lame ass whataboutism

 

[Northern Light]

As I was saying, Canada's voice in the world is becoming irrelevant - especially when we'd rather cowardly choose silence over taking a position.

We are on the wrong side of history on this one and how far the Liberals have fallen from what they used to be.

Opinion: Canada must come off the sidelines of international justice

We are shying away from our historic support of the ICC, heralding a dark turn in our foreign policy

www.theglobeandmail.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1946203987255885824

View attachment 667387

1) Bigger font size does not improve the strength of an argument. Please edit the post to offer a more reasonable size, this is actually difficult to read.

2) Could this thread possibly go back to being constructive and issues-based. We have here a limited exchange that really amounts to 'my world view is, and yours is wrong' going back and forth for a couple of pages.
It genuinely detracts from a thoughtful exchange of views, and novel information and insight which is what this and ever thread should be about.