Thank God I had a military dental plan, them Canucks knocked out a few of my toofas. 
Posted on 09/26/2001 7:31:04 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache
Wednesday, Sep. 26, 2001
Canadian Forces in very bad shape, report says
By JOHN WARD-- The Canadian Press
OTTAWA (CP) -- Amid a world girding for a war on terrorism, the Canadian Forces are in sad shape, unable to fight against the best and win, a major defence group concludes in a new report.
The army can field little more than company-sized units of 150 or so in a crisis and the navy and air force are falling short in their responsibility to guard the airways and sea lanes while meeting overseas commitments, the Conference of Defence Associations says.
The conference, an umbrella group representing a variety of defence-oriented organizations, is to release the damning report, entitled Caught in the Middle, on Thursday. It cites a litany of military shortcomings and calls for at least $1 billion in new defence spending over each of the next five years.
"Today, the Canadian Forces could not (as required by the 1994 white paper) 'fight against the best and win' beyond a marginal level," the report says.
The Forces are short of money and trained manpower to the point where the army would not be able to field a brigade-size contingency force within 90 days as required by the white paper, the conference says.
"The army is not sustainable under the current circumstances."
The report says the army can't even maintain its 1,800-member contingent in Bosnia if it wants to modernize and be able to respond to any other crisis.
The navy is so short of sailors that one of its destroyers is tied up for lack of a crew.
"The navy will not be able to deliver its mandated level of maritime defence capability without additional resources."
The air force has a pilot shortage that is bound to get worse before it gets better.
"The air force is 'one deep' in many areas and has lost much of its flexibility and redundancy."
The group says the title of the report "implies that the Canadian Forces currently inhabit the worst of two worlds: conventional military capacities are in decline; new capabilities are unaffordable."
The conference blames government stinginess for the troubles, despite modest increases in defence spending in recent years.
"Canada spends only $265 per capita on defence. The NATO average is $589."
The defence minister's office refused to comment on the report. Defence Minister Art Eggleton, who was in Brussels attending a NATO meeting, wasn't available.
The report gives the Forces a failing grade when it comes to the ultimate test of any military: the ability to fight.
"The low level of collective training, the unsatisfactory state of some weapons and equipment and the lack of logistics support would make engagement in combat operations problematic without resolving those shortfalls."
As Canadians wonder what military help Canada might provide to the U.S. in the war on terrorism, the report states:
"The situation will not improve until Canadians and their government realize that the cost of effective armed forces is the price of doing business in the modern world.
"Nations, particularly those in the G-7 group, who shirk their duties in this respect may anticipate unfavourable treatment in the international economic domain."
Thank God I had a military dental plan, them Canucks knocked out a few of my toofas.
I wonder how many cowards went the other direction and fled to Canada.
Hey now, I take offense to that.
No, that's not so funny in and of itself. What's funny is that single cargo boat carried fully ten percent of Canada's military equipment. On one boat!
We have enough problems... We don't need more...
I try to pay attention. :-)
Well, I am 1/4 Canadian, sort of. One of my grandfathers is from Windsor.
I like to visit Vancouver Island from time to time. That keeps me interested in what you're doing up there. I just think it's shameful that such a good people have such a lousy government.
OK...instead, you have 14-year-olds doing it.
You wish! Western Canada isn't like the rest of the country. Folks here have guns, lots of 'em, and a decidedly maverick mentality.
I don't know much about the state of the military, but B.C. is a vast, mostly pristine wilderness province, populated by people who don't take any garbage from anybody.
Health hint: If you plan to come here on a scouting mission, - remember to bring your manners. People in Western Canada have very little tolerance for anyone who would threaten their way of life.
How do I know this? I 'R' one of 'em!
Regards, - Jesse.
Weapon Systems are very expensive today, I think my country spends more per head than America in military spending, but America is such a wealthy country she can afford to maintain a large force and keep it maintained and upgraded.
Canada was not the only country that down graded her military to dangerous levels because of the collapse of the Warsaw Pact, many countries did. It is hard to say we need a big military without a big conventional threat like the old Soviet Union, and it is true that what ever conventional threat there is out there can be easily handled by the US Military.
In Britain we realised this which is why we sought closer cooperation with other regional European powers, that way we can share the cost of developing these expensive pieces of kit, like Missile Systems, radar, Aircraft of all kinds, artillery, MBT and logistic kit, and maintaining and upgrading them.
I don’t think Canada has enough money to really develop two fleets, a big enough military and a strong enough defensive, offensive and logistic air force, as well as intelligence gathering assets, that will be modern enough to survive the more hostile environment the planet has become.
Maybe it is time to look at developing a more closer US/Canadian military alliance, rather along the EU lines.
I like Canada I used to train with the British Army at Medicine hat, great training ground for life firing exercises.
Tony
If all you wonderful people South of the border would just mind your own business, lose the arrogant attitude and learn the meaning of humility, - we wouldn't NEED a military at all. However, now that you've ticked off practically the whole planet...
BTW, I wouldn't worry about foreign invasion IIWY. Your *own* government has done a spectacular job of selling you all down the river.
Have a nice "ride" eh? - Jesse.
Madam, it is better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt.
error99, neither of these assertions are based in any reality on this planet, in this dimension. Sorry for the misinfo from an apparent Canadian.
Tony, old boy, I'm impressed at your namesake Blair. I'm glad Britain is showing up; we appear to have let the side down...I hope it's mere appearance.
DAMN those Liberal hyenas!!!
Dear Sir or Madam,
IF the brave people who preceeded you had not given their lives,
you would not be able to sit there in your cozy little nest,
and spew your vomitous pacifist tripe.
Osama wants to kill you.
Osama wants to kill your family.
Osama wants to destroy your way of life.
In the future, please, just sit there comfortably, and shut the fuck up.
Enjoy the gift of peace that has been given to you by the sacrifices made by others.
You ungrateful pig.
Strong letter follows.
(I said this as politely as I know how.)
Now there sounds like a justified "Gore War"
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