[americanophile]

I'm aware of Canada's Article 5 ‘obligation’, which is why I said ‘they honor our alliance.’ Our other ‘alliance’ partners feel no obligation to send combat troops...as Obama’s latest trip demonstrates again. As for Iraq...many countries didn't believe in the cause, or the intelligence, and Canada was not under any NATO obligation to intervene. I regret that they weren't with us...but then you can blame that miserable Jean Chretien. Steven Harper's conservatives wanted to participate in Iraqi Freedom.

[kabar]

I'm aware of Canada's Article 5 ‘obligation’, which is why I said ‘they honor our alliance.’ Our other ‘alliance’ partners feel no obligation to send combat troops...

Some NATO countries have not sent combat troops. Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States are supplying the combat troops. Non-NATO member Australia is the other country supplying combat troops. There are about 2500 Canadian troops in Afghanistan.

As for Iraq...many countries didn't believe in the cause, or the intelligence, and Canada was not under any NATO obligation to intervene. I regret that they weren't with us...but then you can blame that miserable Jean Chretien. Steven Harper's conservatives wanted to participate in Iraqi Freedom.

Whatever the reason, Canada didn't join us in Iraq. The UK, Spain, Italy, and others were under no obligation to join us, but they did. Canada didn't join us in Vietnam either.

Canada's military has become a joke with just 50,000 personnel on active duty. Canada spends about 1% of its GDP on defense. And Afghanistan has weaked the military so much that the army must take a year off.

The military may need a one-year break from operations starting July 2011 when the Afghanistan mission winds down, the head of Canada's army said Monday. Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie told the Senate defence committee Monday that the Canadian Forces have been strained by the mission that began seven years ago and need time to regroup.

I am in no way diminishing the sacrifice of Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan, but Canada is not pulling its weight as a member of NATO generally and has allowed its military to wither and almost die. It is far easier to have the Americans shoulder the burden, both in blood and treasure.

[adanaC]

Thank you. Most Canadians and Americans are cut from the same cloth. Love you guys even if you do pound your drums a little loud sometimes. That’s what makes ya great. :)