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Posted on 10/04/2002 1:30:30 PM PDT by knighthawk
Canada has welcomed the recent US proposal to create a NATO rapid reaction force, but critics claim the nation's shrinking defence budget will simply not stretch far enough to contribute.
The NATO strike force concept was unveiled by the US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld at last month's meeting of NATO defence ministers in Warsaw. He proposed a body of 20,000 troops on call for quick deployment anywhere in the world.
In Canada's case, many believe that after years of defence spending cuts, the nation has little left to offer such a force.
At September's meeting of NATO ministers in Warsaw, Canadian Defence Minister, John McCallum, praised the idea of a rapid reaction force.
Mr McCallum said it was positive because it provides a multilateral force in the post September 11 world, which can respond to any number of threats or problems. But Mr McCallum was vague about Canada's commitment, saying only that it would take part.
"We will obviously have some commitment to that force. We don't know yet exactly what that will consist of."
Vague for a Reason
There could be good reason behind that vagueness. Critics in the Canadian parliament say Canada no longer has the ability to offer any meaningful commitment. Military spending was slashed during the early 90s at a time when governments were desperate to reduce the deficit, and recruitment in the military fell. Canada's aging war machinery is now in need of upgrading; some of the weapons on its coastal patrol vessels are of World War II vintage.
Retired Colonel Alain Pelerin, the executive director of the Conference of Defence Associations, says Canada is suffering from defence cuts even more than other NATO members:
"The problem with NATO, and that includes Canada, is that they've sat too long, too many years since the Cold War, on the so-called peace dividend and haven't invested in defence. Canada for instance in the last ten years has gone from [spending] two per cent of the GDP [on defence] to about one per cent and that's the same for most NATO nations except maybe for the UK. There is a recent trend where Germany, France, and the UK have indicated that they're ready to put substantial amounts into defence. Hopefully Canada will follow suit, because we've really fallen behind."
Scrapped Planes
Over the past couple of years, the criticisms of Canadian military readiness have become more strident. Late last year the Air Force announced plans to scrap a third of its fighter-bombers, and reduce all military flights to save money. The Navy also tied up one of its destroyers for lack of a crew.
Col Pelerin says Canada would be hard pressed to make the same kind of commitment to the proposed NATO reaction force as it did to the US mission in Afghanistan.
One of the biggest problems is the ability to transport, by plane, large numbers of troops, equipment, and supplies. In addition, Canada already supports several peacekeeping missions throughout the world including Cyprus, and the Balkans.
Leon Benoit, defence critic for the opposition Canadian Alliance party, doesn't believe Canada has the ability to take part in the proposed rapid reaction force at all:
"The reality is that if we commit hundreds of troops who are specifically dedicated to this, that we're going to back off somewhere else, we're going to have to buy them new equipment and we're going to have to buy strategic airlift."
US Criticism
The criticisms of Canada's military might are also coming from south of the border. US ambassador, Paul Celucci, says unless Canada increases spending it will be difficult for it to take part in future international military operations, and it risks losing its voice in military matters. The ambassador makes it clear that the Bush administration wants Ottawa's contribution to increase:
"Despite the huge military capability of the United States, we cannot do it alone. That's the point we're making. We need allies and we need our allies to put the resources in as well."
Senior officers in Canada have been calling for a huge injection of cash into the defence budget recently; but that call that has already gone unheeded for several years.
Sad but true. Amazing where socialists put their priorities. Their medical system is a joke as well as their military preparedness. C'est la vie....
So they have one left?
Anyone could take Belgium. That does not count.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
No they won't. They will milk Canada to the last drop. Then the bloodsuckers will move south. That's the way Socialists work. Like lawyers, they wail for justice while robbing the earnings of the productive.
What's next, dutchmen poking fun at the Belgians and French for surrendering to the Germans?
Very amusing.
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