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Kontiki
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Canada
Aug 2001
time: 00:22
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I don't think there's much debate over the fact that our military is in sad shape right now (and has been for a while). I'm curious what other Canadians think is the best way to fix it. Let's try to be realistic - saying disbanding it, upping it to 1 million strong or buying a fleet of stealth fighters is just not an option.
Personally, here's a few things I'd like to see (in no particular order):
1. Increase the budget by about $1-2 billion.
2. Scrap our armoured regiment altogether. We are not likely to ever deploy it, and even if we did, Leopard I tanks from the 70s ain't exactly top of the line. We could probably sell most of the equipment to some third-world rat-hole.
3. Develop a lightly armed, but well equiped, rapid reaction force or two that can be moved to trouble spots on short notice - say 1000-2000 men each. Here, I'd invest in some good APCs (Coyotes are a good start, but they're meant more for recon duties) and upgrade our light truck fleet (we've got to have the most pathetic jeeps in the world).
4. Increase the full-time personnel to around 80,000.
5. Keep the navy as up-to-date as possible, but stop buying used British subs.
6. Keep our CF-18s in better condition so that they can be effectively used alongside our allies if and when needed.
Just a few ideas, certainly not exhaustive. Also waiting for the smart-ass remarks from Americans like "you mean Canada actually has a military?"
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Kontiki
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Canada
Aug 2001
time: 00:22
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quote:
Originally posted by DinoDoc
Out source it to the Americans. |
As in rent military services from the US?
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Kontiki
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Canada
Aug 2001
time: 00:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Velociryx
Sure....why not. You said yourself that you don't really need a military, so why not go whole hog? We've got more than we need, and you guys could rent our services for cheaper than you could maintain your own.
-=Vel=- |
When did I say we didn't need a military?
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Kontiki
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Canada
Aug 2001
time: 00:22
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quote:
Originally posted by DinoDoc
You'd have to decide what you wanted the military to serve before deciding how to fix it.
Praising your peacekeeping commitments while slashing the budget of the military to the bone doesn't cut it. |
I completely agree with that. Realistically, our military is going to be used for exactly the same things it always has been since the end of the Cold War - namely, peacekeeping, limited contributions to offensive operations undertaken by our allies (eg: Kosovo, Afghanistan), and some measure of homeland defence (generally, maritime patrol and disaster relief). One of the biggest problems we have, as far as I'm concerned, is that we are still equiped (poorly) to do what our Cold War role was. Canada's primary mandates in case of war with the Soviet Union were anti-submarine warfare in the Atlantic and a land force to be used to help defend northern Europe. To some degree, we've scaled back on these but not enough, IMO.
That's why I suggested forming well-equiped rapid reaction units to be used for peacekeeping and those limited offensive contributions. I also advocated INCREASING the military budget, not slashing it to the bone (as has already been done).
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private hudson
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The Wirral
Aug 2002
time: 05:22
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Well I'm no canadian, but you could always do what we brits do and get the Gurkhas to fight for you! I swear as soon as anyone hears they are on their way they surrender soon afterwards!
Oh and don't disband you know damn well mr Bush is itching to just add some more stars to that flag!
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private hudson
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The Wirral
Aug 2002
time: 05:22
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Hmmm haven't heard that one before. It suprises me really I always thought Canada and the USA kinda hated eachother secretly, after all they did try and take canada in the 1812 war!
Besides wouldn't all those frenchies in Montreal object if america wanted canada?
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Tingkai
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To find the Northwest Passage
Aug 2001
time: 13:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Kontiki
1. Increase the budget by about $1-2 billion.
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Where do you get the money?
quote:
Originally posted by Kontiki
2. Scrap our armoured regiment altogether. We are not likely to ever deploy it, and even if we did, Leopard I tanks from the 70s ain't exactly top of the line.
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Valid point.
quote:
Originally posted by Kontiki
3. Develop a lightly armed, but well equiped, rapid reaction force or two that can be moved to trouble spots on short notice - say 1000-2000 men each. Here, I'd invest in some good APCs (Coyotes are a good start, but they're meant more for recon duties) and upgrade our light truck fleet (we've got to have the most pathetic jeeps in the world).
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The Canadian Army is already fairly mobile and has a plan to become more agile.
quote:
Originally posted by Kontiki
4. Increase the full-time personnel to around 80,000.
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At least 80,000. Our peacekeeping commitments probably require a larger force with more people in the army.
quote:
Originally posted by Kontiki
6. Keep our CF-18s in better condition so that they can be effectively used alongside our allies if and when needed.
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The CF-18s are being upgraded through a $900 million modification program that will keep them airworthy until 2017.
The question is: do we really need the fighters?
We need to increase the size of the primary reserves.
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Kontiki
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Canada
Aug 2001
time: 00:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Tingkai
Where do you get the money?
...
The question is: do we really need the fighters?
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$1-$2 billion from our budget isn't that much - hell, currently our surplus is bigger than that. However, I'm sure you could fanangle that much from other areas without having too major an impact.
As for the fighters, I'd say that we definitely need them. If we ever want to contribute an offensive force, the fighters are the best thing we've got.
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20-09-2002 22:35
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