They'd take Halifax (then we'd kill Kenny) [U.S. invasion plans for Canada]

The Globe and Mail ^ | 12/31/05 | SHAWN MCCARTHY

[TimeLord]

"During the Civil War, Irish-Americans in the North planned to capture Canada as a retaliation against British support for the Confederacy. I think they were called 'Finnian troops' or something."

YES! You're correct! It's one of the least known chaptes of Civil War history -- both the French & British colonial empires wanted to see the Union dissolve so they could "divide and conquer," the way they did w/the rest of the world (esp'ly India).
Canada, @ the time, was not a Confederation like it is today, but a series of separate British crown colonies (like we were before 1776). They were so concerned over the possibility of a US invasion after the Civil War as "payback" for the British Empire's support of the Southern states that representatives from each of the Canadian colonies met on Prince Edward Island to pull the colonies into a confederation, w/Queen Victoria as head of state. This came to fruition in 1867. This is why Prince Edward Island is called "The Birthplace of Confederation," and the 9-mile bridge connecting it to the mainland is called "Confederation Bridge."

[Poser]

"However, replace 'Briton' with 'China' or 'Russia' and the plan has some modern merits."

Personally, I'd replace Briton with Muslims.

[Snowyman]

Actually 4. Your two, another in 1838 , American supporters of the rebellion and again in 1866 , the Fenians.

[PzLdr]

We were their major Naval rival in that period.

[B-Chan]

This is old news. Former U.S. Army Deputy Undersecretary Thaddeus Holt wrote an extensive article on War Plan Red in the Autumn 1988 issue of Military History Quarerly (page 49-55). The article includes maps, which I reproduce here for your perusal.

Anticipated British invasion of northeastern United States

Planned U.S. invasion of Canada

Planned U.S. advance to stop line Saint Lawrence River

Anticipated Canadian counterattack/defense

[doc30]

I'm thinking along your thoughts. The Liberals are full bash America mode and hope to paint the COnservatives as pro-American. THis article is just a propaganda to keep 'evil AMericans and their Conservative supporters' in the minds of and intellectually weak Canadians.

[RightFighter]

A better headline would be this:

Secretive Plans Exist For Canada Invasion: Bush Silent on Details

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

One of the main reasons for Confederation in 1867 was for defense against the United States. Britain did a lot of arm twisting to bring this about; because it wanted the colonies to share the load of defense.

This is really ironic, when you consider how little support the Canadian military gets from the federal government today. Actually, the dismal state of our military is doubly ironic when you consider how willing the federal Liberals are to pander to the anti-American crowd. You'd think that they'd want the country to be bristling with weapons -- with every able bodied man and woman required to do national service (like in Israel).

Make that triply ironic -- if Canada, and other nominally western nations pulled their weight in defense, the U.S. would not need as large a military.

(BTW -- judging from what I read on FR, and what I know about Canadians, I don't think that the average Canadian is any more anti-American than the average resident of Massachusetts; and many of us are as supportive as the average Texan.)

[RightFighter]

That is the sort of mindless comment I would expect from the left. Do you really think it is ok to go around invading countries when there is no clear and present danger? I realize that many things on Free Republic are written half in jest but puleeeze.

So what should we do, eh? Sit around and wait for them to attack us first? You know nothing aboot war, you hoser. ;)

[Doc Savage]

Did God actually build her that way???? Way to go God!

[Oklahoma]

Rather than invading Canada to incorporate them into the union, why not just give them Burlington, Boston, New York City, Buffalo, Detroit, Seattle and San Francisco? We could then turn greater LA into a United States protectorate and give them home rule. We turn both Canada and the US to the right in one stroke.

[BadAndy]

'I don't think we'd need a plan to take out Canada, personally...."

Back in the 20's we probably needed a plan. Then we were weak and the Canadians actually had a military. Now a few troops of boy scouts with .22 rifles is all we would need.

[COEXERJ145]

War Plan Red was just one of many Joint Army-Navy war plans that the U.S. prepared and practiced from the late 1890's until just after World War II. We had contingency plans for every possibility.

Just a sample.

War Plan Orange was for war with the Japanese Empire.

War Plan Red/Orange was for a war with the Japanese-British Alliance.

War Plan Gold was for war with France

War Plan Silver was for war with Italy.

War Plan Green was for war with Mexico or Mexican Domestic Intervention.

War Plan Yellow or War Plan Violet was for war with China or China Domestic Intervention.

War Plan Gray was for war in the Caribbean.

War Plan Indigo was for Iceland Intervention.

War Plan Emerald was for Ireland Intervention in conjunction with War Plan Red.

War Plan Gray was for Azores Intervention.

War Plan Tan was for Cuba Intervention.

War Plan Black was for War with Germany. (Not seriously practiced after 1918.)

And my personal favorite because it tends to freak people out was War Plan White which was known as the "U.S. Domestic Contingency".

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Well...they do have damned good beer.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Should the unthinkable happen and we ever have to invade our recalcitrant neighbor to the north, I have it on good authority that our local Boy Scout Troop is ready and willing to take the war to the canadians.

It might take a few days, but they are eager to see if they can win their Invasion and Land Warfare badges before the next jamboree.

"Support your local Boy Scouts - They're the only thing standing between us and Quebec."

[GraniteStateConservative]

Exhibit #1,002,394 that God is a man.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Its curious that the Canadians are talking about disarming the population when this dire threat hangs over them from the south.

[Cheburashka]

http://www.avalanchepress.com/gamePlanRed.php

[mirkwood]

Our Clever Canuck Plan
Part Three: Invasion!
Instruct all troops to stock up on field rations of Shreddies (only the good, good, whole wheat ones).
Open armouries at all bases and distribute weapons to soldiers.
Provide the Canadian civilian population with weaponry and encourage them to "point the small bit at anyone without a maple leaf badge". NOTE: Some followers have suggested that the use of guns is un-Canadian. We believe the evil is justified in this case. Read more about our weapons policy in The Gun Thing .
Canuck troops infiltrate the US-Canada border.

After meeting feeble resistance from the already-weakened-by our-clever-campaign-Americans, Canadian troops seize control of all US cities.
South America falls to the power-hungry Canadian advance.
Submarines and cool Bluenose-like ships (nuclear powered both!) are employed in the conquest of Europe.
Conquest of Europe lasts: Max. 3 days -- Min. 2 hours.
Peace is made with European powers...Canada sets up puppet governments in the once-independent countries.
Canada renames Russia "Claire and Jen Territory". Early polls show that Russians prefer the new name.
Canadian troops seize Asian capitols. Hong Kong movie directors get the entire thing on film. Chow Yun Fat defects to Canada and becomes our Minister of Propaganda in the Pacific Rim.
The Pope capitulates to Canadian demands and agrees to force Roman Catholic clergy to make loyalty oaths towards Canada.
Pope-mobile seized and re-tooled for use by Generals Claire and Jen.
Australia and Canada reach a win-win agreement. Canada will completely rule Australia, but due to friendly relations from our Commonwealth days, will take pity on the Aussies and kill Paul Hogan.
Canadian troops encircle the globe.
Peacekeepers are kept busy putting down minor rebellions.

All minor rebellions cease when it is realized that Canadianism is the Right and True Path.
Irish rock band U2 is allowed to record a single in honour of the Canadian conquest: "Sunday Happy Sunday (in the name of Claire and Jen) Remix Version 12".
Record charts (controlled by the Office Of The Generals) show single at no. 1.
Committee formed to design a new world flag.
Committee decides the Canadian flag (in its Glorious Perfection) is good enough for the entire world.

Canadian troops distribute Shreddies rations to starving American populations!

[CaptainCanada]

the way the Canadians have kissed up to the Chinese of late

Huh??? You gotta be kidding. This coming form the folks who give
the ChiComs hundreds of Billions $$$ in trade surpluses enabling them to
become an economic and military superpower and also selling or giving them the
missile and military technology.
What hypocrisy!!!