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How to Conquer Canada

Michael Byers, a professor in British Columbia, writes in the Toronto Star about a little-known plan to increase cooperation between the Canadian and American militaries:

They seem harmless enough at first: two mid-level Canadian Forces officers and a mild-mannered bespectacled American consultant explaining the work of their 48-member Bi-National Planning Group to audiences across Canada. Their professed goal is to improve co-operation between the Canadian and U.S. militaries, the better to defend both countries.

Yet a close reading of their final report released last month, reveals that their actual intent — or at least the intent of the politicians who set their mandate — is far from benign. They seek nothing less than the complete integration of Canada's military, security and foreign policy into the decision-making and operating systems of the U.S. …

Today, two Canadian elections later, the authors of the BPG report can hardly believe their luck. Prime Minister Stephen Harper may have only a minority government, but there is little doubt he desires closer ties with Washington.

Really? What? Looking more closely, it's hard to say what will actually come of this. Certainly there are degrees of cooperation being considered. At the very lowest level, the BPG report recommends that the two countries expand the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which was established during the Cold War to watch for threats from the air, in order to include maritime surveillance. (And yes, the idea that this continent is in danger of an attack by sea seems ludicrous, but there you go.)

The BPG's most radical proposal, however, is to put the Canadian military essentially under U.S. command. Does that mean we could use Canadian troops whenever election time rolled around and a failed president needed to topple some "rogue" regime somewhere? It's not clear, but it sure sounds that way. Of course, that could make any sort of U.S. military action more difficult if the average Canadian voter—who appears a bit less militaristic than your average American voter—suddenly has a right to sound off on who's invading whom. Either way, it's kind of a weird development.

Posted by Bradford Plumer on 05/02/06 at 11:32 AM | E-mail | Print | Digg this | de.licio.us



Comments

Considering how many more Canadians vote than Americans, how long do you think it would be before Canada conquered the USA.

Posted by: Joel on 05/02/06 at 3:11 PM

I always thought Canada's army was really just another National Guard unit anyway...

Posted by: Mike on 05/03/06 at 6:38 AM

I, an American, most certainly hope that the Canadian militarty never ever comes under the influence much less the control of the U.S. government. Our Bush/Repub/neocon government is corrupt and follows a very narrowly supported private/secret/corporate/wealthy agenda. This agenda is not based on patriotism toward/for America, rather it is based on the nazi/bilderberg/Council on Foreign Relations, Trilateral Commission idea called "The New World Order".

As such it is completely out of touch with the average, everyday, ordinary American citizen. In other words America is no longer a government 'by, for and of the people'. America is no longer a Democracy and has not been such since Bush/the Repubs and the neocons have come to power. Our system of 'Checks and Balances' is gone and without it our Democracy is gone.

America is now and has been (since the Bushies came to power) a government 'by, for and of certain select special interest groups and we all know who they are.

Should Mr. Harper of Canada put their military under the control or even just the influence of our military which is completely micromanaged by the Bush/Repub/neocons on behalf of their very narrow support group then the Canadian military and eventually the Canadian government would be greatly influenced by our Bushie government. This terrible turn of events would remove one more moderating and moderate government(before Harper) from
the world and from having any moderating influence on our out of control and corrupt government.

'We the people' no longer have much control over our government and it is lessening everyday under the Bush/Repub/neocons. The only hope the American people have to keep our imperialist/fascist government under some semblance of control is via the UN and other governments in the world. Should the UN and the EU lose their moderating influence over our government there is no telling the amount of damage George Bush/the Repubs and the neocons could wreak upon the rest of the world.

I have always regarded Canada as a more moderate and civilised country and I would most assuredly not want that to ever change. I, most assuredly, do not want the Canadian people to loose control over their government the way that we in America have lost control over our government.

May God bless and protect Canada and the good Canadian people from what has befallen America.

May God help those who voted for and support George Bush gain enough wisdom and understanding to realize the damage they have done to America.

May God grant the Catholic Church, my church, the wisdom to comprehend the damage they have done to America and thus to the rest of the world by influencing American politics. May God grant Pope Benedict the understanding to reverse the damage his hierarchy has done to America and it's Democracy.

Posted by: bob t on 05/06/06 at 11:23 AM

Dear Bradford Plumer,

Regarding your comment,
"(And yes, the idea that this continent is in danger of an attack by sea seems ludicrous, but there you go.)"

You Polly-Anna view of the world would be amusing if it wasn't so insipidly pathetic. Likely you are ignorant of the tremendous amounts of money China is pouring into developing it's navy including developing a fleet of huge nuclear submarine. Surely a poor nation with regions on the brink of revolt due to high taxation wouldn't use so many tax dollars for nothing. It is reasonable to assume that China might want to use it's military more aggressively in the future. It is folly to think that there is no chance that China could never war with the US or want to exert it's strength on the global seas with it's navy. You may associate maritime surveilance with pirate movies but our most of our global economy floats on the sea, ie transporting vital food, fuel, and products.

Even in today's papers China is increasingly flexing it's muscle in Asian waters.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-secur07.html

Likely Canadians would like to have their cake and eat it to i.e. be perenially protected by the USA but also not use troops or money to provide for that defense.

Posted by: nothalo on 05/07/06 at 6:59 AM

Rugby players spend a lot of time physical training Compared to other form of sports.I have read the
Rugby laws mentioned on this site. It's a gripping sport which targets the grip strength and the active mindedness of a player. American football and rugby league are also primarily collision sports, but their tackles tend to terminate much more quickly. For professional rugby, players are often chosen on the basis of their size and apparent strength and they develop the skill and power over the passage of time. In modern rugby considerable attention is given to fitness and aerobic conditioning as well as basic weight training.

Posted by: Rugby Fan Steve on 08/25/06 at 5:25 AM

Bob T:

Unfortunately, the UN isn't going to help your country. Foreign UN troops and equipment have been brought into the States over the past decade to 'practice' their urban wargames, etc. The fact is, they are there to 'deal with' American people who resist the NWO should the country come under martial law.

http://www.modernhistoryproject.org/mhp/ArticleDisplay.php?Article=FinalWarn09-3

It is a tragic and frightening situation. I hope the American people will take up arms and resist against this should the need arise when the time comes. Your Canadian friends will also stand by you. I don't see it working out any other way.

Posted by: NWOfighter on 11/03/06 at 4:58 PM

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