You are the jerk. Facts are stubborn things. Canada spends 1.1% of its GDP on defense, which makes it 132nd in the world and its armed forces of 65,000 are 55th in the world in terms of size. Canada is not pulling its weight and has allowed its military to deteriorate to virtually nothing. It is a joke. Of course, when you have the US taxpayer picking up most of the tab, you can afford to have a virtually non-existent military so you can afford your socialized medical care.
The Canadian Army is paying the butcher’s bill in Afghanistan, and has from day one. They fight bravely and well, and unlike most of the rest of your allies they actually go into Harm’s Way and kill the enemy. Saying that they are “a joke” is in really bad taste.
It really gets tiresome to hear someone touting Canada's contribution in Afghanistan, as though it is something that we should be thankful for. At last, Canada is fulfilling its commitment under NATO. They were AWOL in Iraq, Vietnam, and plenty of other places where we spilled our blood.
The butcher's bill? Give me a break. Canada has lost 120 personnel over the almost 8 years the war has been going on in Afghanistan. The UK has lost 168 and we have lost 704.
The USA is paying the biggest price in blood and treasure. We have lost 3,465 personnel due to hostile fire in Iraq and 31,156 wounded. The UK has lost 179 personnel in Iraq. And the US has provided most of the logistical support to the coalition forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
The state of Canada's military has nothing to do with whether its troops are fighting bravely or not. Successive Canadian governments have made their armed forces a joke. The USA can no longer afford to pay for the defense umbrella for our allies. They must start picking up the burden for defense and get off of security welfare.
You might want to do some reading about the Princess Pat’s...one of the most decorated and feared regiments in the world.
Ed
actually neither of you are jerks and you’re both sort of right..
Canada’s government are pussed out and don’t carry the weight they ought to in the developed civil world like they did in WWII but on the other hand some of their troops are not too shabby and they are dying unlike me for instance in the WOT
so there...kiss and make up girls!
You're right: facts are stubborn things. So what do you intend to do with your military when the ChiComs finally decide not to lend you any more gas money? That will be the biggest joke yet -- except nobody will be laughing. Your military spending model is unsustainable. Nobody can afford to fight wars the way the US does. Not even the US.
> Of course, when you have the US taxpayerChiComs picking up most of the tab, you can afford to have a virtually non-existent military so you can afford your socialized medical care.
There. Fixed it. Truth in Advertising.
Canada population: 33 Million
UK population: 61 Million
US population; 304 Million.
Do some math, kabar.