Phil1111

Shhhhhh. He obviously hasn't heard of the Roman empire. Hasn't heard how China became the second largest economy in the world. By emphasizing economy over military. Yes. Although America will be fine. China has the drag of corruption and authoritarianism. Throwing off those two anchors won't be easy. The difference between 1.5% that Canada spends and 4.5% that the US spends. Mostly arising from the military industrial complex. Can be spent on infrastructure, social programs, education, etc. But in the end its just a net drag on the economy. Similar to the excess expense that the US health care industry incurs on Americans. For the false economy of the competition model thrust upon it by industry lobbying. For the net benefits of cheap new patented pharma and the US military umbrella. Thanks

The Russian War in Ukraine – First Impressions This is an article from Defense Update an Israeli website that features short articles on weapons and technology.

Canada goes cheap on its military because it loves social programs. Child care for $10 a day was the latest. There are segments on the left in Canada that don't like the military. The idea of NATO commitment is to send a few troops with rifles and not much more. Because there isn't much more. Canada has few if any laser or GPS guided weapons. Most US aircraft get upgrades twice before a Canadian one gets one. These issues are endlessly debated. But when push comes to shove. Social programs get funding new tanks don't. Its not that Canada relies upon the US for defense. We are not close to any hostile neighbors. Look at the jet that the Snowbirds aerobatic team uses. The last one rolled off the assembly line 56 years ago.

I was reading an article about the poor state of affairs of the Bundeswehr. Old equipment, etc. Then didn't feel so bad about the dismal state of affairs of the Canadian armed forces. But nothing can compare with the Russian forces. Ukrainians are finding food items that expired 20 years ago. Shortages of bandages, no batteries for the radios, no fuel, etc. They were sent off with no tents, no winter sleeping bags or winter clothing. They are sleeping in the cabs of their running vehicles to keep warm. Many are suffering from frostbite. Because they don't have warm clothes they are less inclined to keep an armed perimeter at night. Which Ukrainians are exploiting. Personally the CAF are a bit of an embarrassment. The CF-18 replacement procurement tendering is a joke. But Canadians want social programs and I'm also ok with that. One point eight percent might be ideal and salable to Canadians. Because as you know love trumps war.

Thats ok. Canadians will have nice teeth and fully socialized children Our mentally ill will be fully medicated and if they skip their meds. Then go full postal. There will be no AR-15's to use. Because the government has bought them all up. Our Air Farce will be all green with minimal fuel usage. Because they are all sitting on the ground due to mechanical issues.

There is no possibility that Canada is actually going to increase military spending. The new NDP/Liberal coalition agreement. Has a new dental program and new national prescription drug plan. As a central part of that agreement. That will balloon the huge deficit that Canada has now. The costs of the national $10 a day child care program is not fully budgeted. Then there is the twice delayed "assault" gun buyback program. They probably still haven't paid for the old used RAAF F-18's That Canada bought from Australia. After they exceeded their original design life.

Agree, posturing. Its like gun owners in the US. Every time they feel threatened. That democrats get elected. They buy more guns. Even though you can only shoot one at a time(Hollywood movies excepted of course). ...Did I say gun owners! I meant republicans.

If you consider that instead of rusting away. Perhaps 10% of them will end up into the side of a Russian armored vehicle. Perhaps NATO should be paying Ukraine a commission for each successful deployment.

I hate to be the one who informs you and Brent. But sporting events of every nature have gone on. Without politicians having to define this issue in statutes. This year and next. The IOC has said its not up to them. Individual sports have, surprisingly, been able to function. To hold competitions. Nationally and internationally.

President Biden has proposed a 2023 defense budget of $813.3 billion. Up 4% or $31 billion from 2022. Russia's budget for 2022 is about $70 billion (USD). With the current embargo's that are underway that goal may not be achievable. Certainly the US and other NATO allies will have to replace MANPADS and anti-tank weapons given to Ukraine. But many of those systems are 25 years old already. Germany, Poland and some other NATO countries have already announced substantial increases in defense spending. Canada, as expected, nothing. Germany has promised to spend $112.7 billion USD in 2022. As a result of the Russian invasion. Given the performance of Russian equipment, personnel and military leadership. Is any increase warranted? The US increase alone is 44% of the entire Russian annual budget. Germany's budget is 1.6 times Russia's.

You ask, I provide.

Yes Yes, see below. True, but see first quote above. Which defines more or less the whole exercise.

"At every step of his political career, Joe Manchin helped a West Virginia power plant that is the sole customer of his private coal business. Along the way, he blocked ambitious climate action." "Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) released the following statement on his decision to vote against the Green New Deal. “While I appreciate the renewed conversation around climate change that the Green New Deal and its supporters have sparked, I think we need to focus on real solutions that recognize the role fossil fuels will continue to play. That’s why I voted against the resolution today. "

I still disagree with NATO direct involvement. But I think President Biden is too timid re Polish MIGs, S-300, systems etc. Putin is starting to get his epiphany with regards to real Russian military power. NATO also needs to supply anti-ship missile systems. Russian ships in the Black sea should be parked at its bottom. President Biden has stated again and again that article 5 of NATO is absolute. But statements like that leave nations outside NATO in eastern Europe at risk to Putin adventurism. Transnistria,a territory within Moldova, for example has a Russian regiment on it now. It is a Russian enclave within Moldova. A breakaway pseudo republic like the Donetsk

Erdoğan invites Russian oligarchs to Turkey: ‘Our door is open’ Sometimes the MSM in the west has it's head up its ass as far as investigative journalism is concerned. "The US Trump administration has imposed sanctions on its NATO ally Turkey for acquiring the Russian S-400 missile defense system. Washington has been at odds with Ankara over the purchase for more than a year." 14.12.2020 This was widely reported in western/US press.

Agree. There is a bit of a split/difference between the countries closest to Russia. From NATO countries in Europe but farther away. The Baltic NATO countries and Poland have been the most upfront with Putin. All calling for the most action the most response. Germany of course has done a complete back-flip on Russia. Then France, the UK and others a little more reserved in response. IMO the unified, severe nature of sanctions was entirely Biden's doing. Certainly, other NATO countries went along. Other NATO countries made more aggressive contributions. But US diplomats led the way.

Perhaps. But in the age of unlimited Russian lies and barbarity. Its refreshing to hear some straight talking. I'd have called for a Russian patriot to do whats necessary.

All sporting organizations have the common sense to deal with these issues. Only republicans who continually need to alienate, segregate and divide. Feel this is an issue that requires legislation. Instead of leaving it up to sporting organizations. Congratulations Brent. Defining neanderthal thinking since 40,000 B.C.

Not good, I agree. I'd also concur that its equal for all political parties. I believe that there is a certain sense of entitlement for politicians. This is a good little read on how and why some voters vote for politicians with criminal propensities. Its from the Wharton school(trump's infamous alma mater). Its about corruption in Indian politics/democracy. But it makes many relevant points which are obvious elsewhere: “Voters … often support candidates with criminal reputations, not in spite of their criminal bona fides, but because of them.” ... politicians will never have an incentive to strengthen the justice system because it serves their interest to keep it weak so that these cases just drag on and on. And of course, the implications of a weak justice system are not just for the politicians; they affect all aspects of life." I see this in Canada as well with our current Liberal government, NDP governments and conservatives. Absolutely. But the implementation of such statutes are made by the politicians themselves. They are reluctant to cut their own throats. Hence the old saw "For my friends anything. For my enemies the law".

No, you and Putin are much closer than you think. "President Vladimir V. Putin is also fighting cultural battles. In a speech on Friday from the nondescript, beige-walled office in which he has been conducting much of his public business this month, Mr. Putin made no mention of Ukraine. Instead, he expanded upon a personal obsession: “cancel culture.” ...Mr. Putin’s main audience when railing against Western “cancel culture” is domestic, with the Kremlin intent on feeding the grievances against the West upon which Mr. Putin draws much of his support....a message that finds sympathy around the world — including among American right-wing commentators like Fox News’s Tucker Carlson, whose monologues are often shown on Russian state television."

At the carnival they know what sells.

Join the Russian army. Where battlefield promotions are guaranteed. Meanwhile on the Ukrainian front. The health of colonels is not going so well either.

Yeah but this population has a backbone and their heads are on top of their shoulders. Not in the sand, up their a$$, etc. With hundreds of thousands of young people fleeing Russia because of the war. The covid fatalities, etc. Its likely the high variant. I wonder what ever happened to those Russian guys that were in SC for a while. I hope they didn't get drafted.

Probably goes back to college days. Republicans would be all copy/paste of their papers. While the democrats would write their own.

and televise it on TRUTH, the NRATV, so sponsors can get too.