Posted on 10/29/2003 4:09:46 AM PST by Beck_isright
Canada told: 'Stop being defense freeloader'
Former NORAD boss chastises his government for waffling with U.S.
Canada must give up its passive role as a "defense freeloader" and participate in a missile defense shield under development by the United States, a former Canadian military official asserts.
Canada's high-tech defense industry has suffered from its government's political waffling over the U.S. ballistic missile defense program, said Lou Cuppens, a retired lieutenant-general and former deputy commander for the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, the Canadian Press reported.
"As a retired military member, I know Canada can't stand around and be a defense freeloader forever," Cuppens told participants at a conference on opportunities for aerospace, defense and security in Eastern Canada.
"Some countries view us as that," he said, according to the Canadian wire service. "We don't do our share."
Canadian politicians have sat on the fence for over a decade while the U.S. has sought involvement in its missile shield, Cuppens said.
Now that the multibillion-dollar system is nearly completed, he added, Canada is beginning to consider its position, but all the educational opportunities that could have been gained from participating in the technology are lost.
Cuppens noted some parts of the system could be manufactured in Canada.
"You are being denied one heck of an opportunity," he told the business audience, according to the Canadian Press. "This is high, high tech."
Defense Minister John McCallum, who in a major policy shift recently announced Canada will consider participation, said the decision will require another year of deliberation, including further cabinet consultation.
McCallum already has ruled out agreement to any space-based defense system.
The Canadian Press said some government members are worried about the potential weaponization of space, but Cuppens, now a defense consultant, insists the critical need for defense, noting the threat from China and North Korea, will push the project toward completion.
At the moment, the only thing American and Canadian military leaders can do in case of a first strike is inform the countries' leaders of the likely targets and time of impact.
"That's all that can be done," he said, according to the Press. "What's defending North America? Nothing."
I know many Canadians are good people and as disgusted with the situation as I.
There is no reason why Canada can't be as rich and powerful as the U.S. In fact, they may have more natural resources to work with then even we do. It's a shame they have done so little with their potential. In fact, I see someday the United States and Canada coming much closer together to the point where we will effectively be one nation - the largest as well as the most powerful nation the earth has ever seen. But in recent years, we have drifted unnecessarily apart.
Hellujah to that brother. We likely have more untapped natural resources than any country in the world. Oil, water, uranium, metals etc. Add that to super power the U.S. already is and that'd be scary indeed. I for one am all for it. We'll even throw Celine Dion into the deal, oops, too late.
I thought we were already there, I have since learned how little America means to Canada when Canada chose France and Saddam Hussein over America. Canada didn’t even have to do anything other than lend a voice of support for America, but even that little bit was too much to ask.
If Canada doesn’t want to be under America’s missile shield that’s great, it’ll be much cheaper to just protect America and the incoming missiles are going to land somewhere, might as well be in Canada.
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