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How sad is it...

By The Armorer on January 10, 2005 | | Comments (11)

...when a nation that stormed ashore on Juno Beach must now rent airplanes to deploy it's emergency Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to assist in a disaster?

By definition, now being a third tier player, in terms of ability to respond in terms of speed and capability?

This, from a national government that champions "Soft Power" as the wave of the future? I understand multilaterlism, fellas - but this is like the local paramedics having to call for a Taxi. It does not inspire confidence.

Mind you - I'm sure the DART team will do just fine when it arrives, and they will truly be all they can be - and I mean that without sarcasm.

But guys, a Keystone Kops governmental approach to things militant just saps the morale of the people who give so much to be there when needed.

And before someone snarks about the CRAF (Civil Reserve Air Fleet) and the fact that the US charters jets to move it's people around - we can deploy a brigade on two hours notice - even now - with our own assets. Let's not mix apples and oranges.

One hopes that bloggers like the Ghost of a Flea and Babbling Brooks can shame the Government of Canada into putting it's money where it's periodically arrogant and pedantic mouth is. Give your warriors the tools to do their jobs.

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11 Comments

By Fred Boness on January 10, 2005 7:08 PM
The real horror of Canada's DART is that when they rent scarce aircraft for their use they may have displaced some other relief flight. Sending DART could have a net zero result.
 
By Andrew on January 10, 2005 8:03 PM
I wish we could convince our people that we need an effective military to be the kind of giving and caring Canada that they think we are..... but they seem brainwashed. I've heard young people say dumbass things like "If Canada had a real military then we'd start invading other countries"... and they've been dead serious. I fear for our future.
 
By John of Argghhh! on January 11, 2005 5:48 AM
But no one has the guts to just come out and say, "Hey, the US is gonna cover it, let's just build ourselves as the UN's PeaceKeeping Force - and be that. Which in a sense is kind of odd, given the Canadian government and elites emotional investment in the UN. Or, so it appears to this Southron, anyway. Not that I wish that upon Canada's soldiery, nor would I expect that level of honesty from the Government (or ours, either) - though I can see (not being Canadian) Canada being the first country to actually surrender soveriegnty in things international to the UN.
 
By Damian on January 11, 2005 8:04 AM
Touch wood when you say that, John. I got a shiver up my spine when you said "surrender sovereignty."
 
By John of Argghhh! on January 11, 2005 8:31 AM
Then the West and Maritimes (and possibly Quebec) can stage 3 separate Velvet Revolutions, leaving Ontario to be "Canada." Or the West and Maritimes can federate, be "Canada" and let Ontario and Quebec assume their seats in the UN as... Ontario and Quebec. Ya'll could merge with us, but that would square so many circles the sound of exploding skulls on both sides of the border would be annoying.
 
By cw4billt on January 11, 2005 8:42 AM
John, Check your mailbox. It was making the rounds in MND-N in 2001-2002. Bill
 
By Fred on January 11, 2005 9:47 AM
Latest reports say DART arrived, and realized it's mission was pointless, so much aid had already arrived at the site in Sri Lanka that _the_ NGO's_ were bailing out to go to harder hit areas. The Indian army had already set up water purification system where "we" arrived. Nice.
 
By John of Argghhh! on January 11, 2005 10:50 AM
Well, I'd let Chris in India rule more definitively, but I'd put the Indians as a 'second tier' force poised to join the Big Boys pretty quickly. And they didn't have as far to go, either. And, being in their back and front yards, pretty high incentive level, too!
 
By big al on January 11, 2005 9:32 PM
"Soft Power",my ass.......The way I put ,is that the same excuse Loyd Axworthy gives his old lady,when the Viagra doesn't work?........Having to rent heavy lift aircraft. Look at a map of Canada. The DART is stationed in Ontario. One big earthquake on the west coast and we don't even have internal transportation. I just HATE Liberals.
 
By Montieth on January 12, 2005 1:28 AM
A Canadian I know who's normally quite rational actually asked why Canada needed a military. I still don't know how to respond. He also pointed to their GNP % expenditure as justification for their current spending levels as adequate...Never mind that Brazil spends more than Canada.
 
By cw4billt on January 12, 2005 12:41 PM
Monteith - Tell your normally rational compatriot that Canada needs a military so that he won't have to wonder, some day in the future, why Canada didn't have a military. Then let him figure out how to respond. "Always return the serve--it not only demonstrates your gentlemanly qualities, it confuses the hell out of your opponent..." =]
 
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