There is talk right now that the UK will enter a defence pact with the EU so that the UK's defence industry can take full part in the European arming up. Maybe Canada could do that, too.
I think the NATO contract stipulates that when one member is attacked, the other members defend it. I can't imagine that they provisioned for the unlikely case that one member is attacked by another member... so one could argue that the other members are free in how to interpret the NATO contract. Their basic duty is definitely to defend an attacked member.
PS: Come to think of it, Canada is still part of the Commonwealth. Does anybody know if this has any consequences if UK enters a pact of defence with the EU?
Another major problem is the lack of adequate Canadian national defence against the rogue USA in the event the Americans decide to have a special military training exercise in Canada.
You are absolutely right! Not only is the USA no longer a democracy, but it is aligned if not outright allied with an enemy - Putin's Russia. That is bad enough for Europeans, but for Canada it is terrifying. We are expressly in the crosshairs of the USA, and for all we know Russia and the USA are prepared to treat us like Poland in 1939 - basically, steak to be shared between them as we are geographically sandwiched by these powers.
In short we, and our European and Pacific allies, are all on a war footing. Unfortunately, these countries - Canada included - seem to understand this fact only intermittently. We shouldn't buy defence materiel from the US (correct) - but we agreed, so we should (no agreements are valid after a country threatens to annex/invade you, surely!). These tariffs are killing our economy, but we need to understand that the USA has to raise a lot of money (to pay for tax cuts for billionaires no less). No we don't! We are at war! 'If we could just TALK or NEGOTIATE with the Americans, surely this could all be sorted, we've been such good friends...' No it couldn't be sorted! 1) You cannot use rational means to address a despot. Case in point: talking and contractual agreements NEVER succeed with Putin (vide - Invasion of Ukraine!!!) anymore than with Hitler (Munich); and 2) Despots NEVER tolerate democracies on their borders; it's too threatening to their coercive regimes. 3) We aren't friends now, and we won't be again until we share a political ideology.
So either Russia is defeated (and the USA scared away from Canada very effectively), or... seriously, Ukraine will fall, and Europe will be attacked and likely Canada as well and it'll be a very brutal WWIII.
I cannot imagine why people aren't preparing for the worst and working on trying for a really good outcome starting YESTERDAY! For Ukraine - it should WIN. For Canada and the EU, it means rapid and thorough re-armament WITHOUT American involvement..
This is incredibly important. My family in the US who are over 60 still seem to think that this is a "phase" and that the country can be restored in the midterm elections in 2026. I think a lot of people, politicians and citizens worldwide, are having trouble facing the reality. Thank you for this! #BuyCanadian #BoycottUSA #Never51
"...the United States is no longer a safe country to even visit"
Sadly, I agree 100%. It is astonishing how far they have fallen in months. And Trump still enjoys approximately 50% public support. I don't know how you fix this.
Excellent. Reorienting Canada trade, defence etc. Will be very difficult, but crucial, as we are confronted with a dangerous and powerful rogue state on our southern border!
Oddly, there are many many people who don't see it. Smart educated people I know who winter in Florida, both doctors and Trump supporters. It will take time but I hope we can really pivot away as much as we possibly can in trade and military dependence from the US. And I hope we can avoid the kind of polarization that exists there in the face of the current declines in Canadian media.
I think, from posts I have seen based on NYT, that we are in advanced talks with the EU on defence. I don't think we are obligated in any way be membership in the Commonwealth to follow the UK lead - we would hardly be an independent nation, which we are since, I think, the Statute of Westminster and subsequently the establishment of our Constitution. That said, I think it is likely we seriously consider UK actions, since they have been a good ally, mostly.
There is talk right now that the UK will enter a defence pact with the EU so that the UK's defence industry can take full part in the European arming up. Maybe Canada could do that, too.
I think the NATO contract stipulates that when one member is attacked, the other members defend it. I can't imagine that they provisioned for the unlikely case that one member is attacked by another member... so one could argue that the other members are free in how to interpret the NATO contract. Their basic duty is definitely to defend an attacked member.
PS: Come to think of it, Canada is still part of the Commonwealth. Does anybody know if this has any consequences if UK enters a pact of defence with the EU?
Another major problem is the lack of adequate Canadian national defence against the rogue USA in the event the Americans decide to have a special military training exercise in Canada.
Truly a concern given that military training exercises can last for years.
You mean the invasion
You are absolutely right! Not only is the USA no longer a democracy, but it is aligned if not outright allied with an enemy - Putin's Russia. That is bad enough for Europeans, but for Canada it is terrifying. We are expressly in the crosshairs of the USA, and for all we know Russia and the USA are prepared to treat us like Poland in 1939 - basically, steak to be shared between them as we are geographically sandwiched by these powers.
In short we, and our European and Pacific allies, are all on a war footing. Unfortunately, these countries - Canada included - seem to understand this fact only intermittently. We shouldn't buy defence materiel from the US (correct) - but we agreed, so we should (no agreements are valid after a country threatens to annex/invade you, surely!). These tariffs are killing our economy, but we need to understand that the USA has to raise a lot of money (to pay for tax cuts for billionaires no less). No we don't! We are at war! 'If we could just TALK or NEGOTIATE with the Americans, surely this could all be sorted, we've been such good friends...' No it couldn't be sorted! 1) You cannot use rational means to address a despot. Case in point: talking and contractual agreements NEVER succeed with Putin (vide - Invasion of Ukraine!!!) anymore than with Hitler (Munich); and 2) Despots NEVER tolerate democracies on their borders; it's too threatening to their coercive regimes. 3) We aren't friends now, and we won't be again until we share a political ideology.
So either Russia is defeated (and the USA scared away from Canada very effectively), or... seriously, Ukraine will fall, and Europe will be attacked and likely Canada as well and it'll be a very brutal WWIII.
I cannot imagine why people aren't preparing for the worst and working on trying for a really good outcome starting YESTERDAY! For Ukraine - it should WIN. For Canada and the EU, it means rapid and thorough re-armament WITHOUT American involvement..
This is incredibly important. My family in the US who are over 60 still seem to think that this is a "phase" and that the country can be restored in the midterm elections in 2026. I think a lot of people, politicians and citizens worldwide, are having trouble facing the reality. Thank you for this! #BuyCanadian #BoycottUSA #Never51
"...the United States is no longer a safe country to even visit"
Sadly, I agree 100%. It is astonishing how far they have fallen in months. And Trump still enjoys approximately 50% public support. I don't know how you fix this.
Excellent. Reorienting Canada trade, defence etc. Will be very difficult, but crucial, as we are confronted with a dangerous and powerful rogue state on our southern border!
Oddly, there are many many people who don't see it. Smart educated people I know who winter in Florida, both doctors and Trump supporters. It will take time but I hope we can really pivot away as much as we possibly can in trade and military dependence from the US. And I hope we can avoid the kind of polarization that exists there in the face of the current declines in Canadian media.
I think, from posts I have seen based on NYT, that we are in advanced talks with the EU on defence. I don't think we are obligated in any way be membership in the Commonwealth to follow the UK lead - we would hardly be an independent nation, which we are since, I think, the Statute of Westminster and subsequently the establishment of our Constitution. That said, I think it is likely we seriously consider UK actions, since they have been a good ally, mostly.
Finally, someone has said it with total accuracy! Thanks, Emmett!
💯💯💯 well said.
Excellent take, Emmet. Thank you for such a succint, yet comprehensive account of what is happened. The American empire as we know it is imploding.