Would America do anything to protect Canada if Canada were invaded/attacked in war?

PeppermintPatty said:
Keeping up on what’s happening in our world really isn’t something I do, (since I don’t watch the news) therefore I generally don’t have a clue about government politics….
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PeppermintPatty said:
BUT….
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….. luckily my husband does watch the news and keeps up with politics. He served in the military for almost 8 years and says WITHOUT a DOUBT that we would fight and protect our neighbours ( America ) if they were ever under attack.

He reminded me that we weren’t attacked by Afghanistan but when the Americans were, we went to war with them.

I think discovering that we don’t put in our full 2% for military expenses clouded my judgment but when push comes to shove Canada would step up to the plate
 

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Thank you for this thread, @PeppermintPatty. I didn't know Canadian jets were in the sky minutes after the 911 attacks. That and some other things on this thread have had me crying with emotion over the love, brotherhood and sisterhood between our nations, our people and the vast majority of members of this forum.

Perhaps I responded so strongly to the relentless stream of unkind words about the US that he-who-shall-not-be-named makes at every possible opportunity (and when there isn't an opportunity, he creates one) because of my love, affection and respect for Canada. It hurts to imagine Canadians might view us with such derision.

The kind, supportive words by Canadians SFers since I called him out has been heart-warming. As has been the responses by Americans about our populations' love and support for you, our wonderful neighbor to the north.

Thank you again.

🇺🇸 ❤️ 🇨🇦
 
PeppermintPatty said:
I think discovering that we don’t put in our full 2% for military expenses clouded my judgment but when push comes to shove Canada would step up to the plate
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No doubt that we would, PP. Trouble is our armed forces have been greatly neglected and I doubt if we could even protect ourselves at the moment. That's no reflection on the men and women who serve at present but on Governments that have been whittling down the size of the CAF for the past fifty years. We had more personnel in 1958 with 20 Million Canadians than we do now in 2023 with almost forty million. With new technologies a downsizing in certain areas is understandable but I doubt if we would have enough weapons like drones either!
 
StarSong said:
Thank you for this thread, @PeppermintPatty. I didn't know Canadian jets were in the sky minutes after the 911 attacks. That and some other things on this thread have had me crying with emotion over the love, brotherhood and sisterhood between our nations, our people and the vast majority of members of this forum.

Perhaps I responded so strongly to the relentless stream of unkind words about the US that he-who-shall-not-be-named makes at every possible opportunity (and when there isn't an opportunity, he creates one) because of my love, affection and respect for Canada. It hurts to imagine Canadians might view us with such derision.

The kind, supportive words by Canadians SFers since I called him out has been heart-warming. As has been the responses by Americans about our populations' love and support for you, our wonderful neighbor to the north.

Thank you again.

🇺🇸 ❤️ 🇨🇦
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Actually Starsong, the credit for this thread and the outcome is THANKS TO YOU!
Until that post that criticized the Americans about their gun laws, I truly didn’t acknowledge the impact the insult had and on so many.

It took viewing the words from another member to notice that I’ve said similar things. My own fearful feelings and attitude towards violence of any kind was so strong that it overshadowed the fact that my personal opinions were actually hurting and insulting others. It took the impact of viewing another members words for me to realize that.

Then when you posted what you did, it struck me like a bolt of lightening. All those needless, unnecessary words I’d written came flooding back to me and I cried like a baby. Your country has done so much for others and reading that nobody had ever helped you in return was heart breaking.

When 911 happened, I can remember everything I was doing that day. My husband and I were trying to plant a weeping mulberry tree in our front garden. It was huge and took a fork truck to get it in our trailer 🤦‍♀️…so you can imagine the effort. We argued and went inside for a break.

When we turned on the TV and saw the breaking news, were horrified. We just couldn’t believe it. Of course we thought it was some type of freak accident but then the other plane hit. I literally shook in fear. Stunned! Like others, the realization that this was an intentional attack was beyond comprehension and will stay that way in my mind forever.

Learning that our country stepped up to instantly help in whatever way we could made me realize that we were in this together. Our military and national security really showed that we DID have strength and power as well as the ability to work with you until you were safely out of harms way. Truthfully its , by far, my proudest moments to be a Canadian.

Our military might be the pun of many jokes but we came through when you needed us most. Now I’m bawling again. 😭

Your post was the break through I needed for me to understand that just because there’s a huge difference between our gun laws and the mentality that goes with it, TOGETHER we compliment and balance one another.

Thank you again for this very important and valuable lesson. I shall remember it forever.
 
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PeppermintPatty said:
Today I did discover something very disturbing in that we Canadians don’t even pay our full 2% into NATO and apparently never do.
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I don't know how payments are calculated or what they mean. Most of the cost is maintaining military forces for use, if needed. Canada has about 3.5% of the population of NATO countries so 2% doesn't seem too bad. What really matters is that you have a competent military and are willing to send your folks into harms way to defend other members. In that respect I think Canada is a fully committed member.
 
Nathan said:
No, I'm not going to risk further admonishment.
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OH, OK, now I get it. Let's just skip it.

Here is kind of a long post, but makes for fast reading. I hope you find a little humor in it. Please don't take offense to the first part. It was only meant as a little levity, but keep reading. It is kind of witty.

As an old Army Veteran, you may enjoy this.

When I was in the military, we would usually have someone stand up at mess and tell a short joke on Fridays to get everyone in a good mood to start the weekend. You would be surprised at how many Officers looked forward to "Freaky Friday" while we were in Pensacola. Yes, there were rules for telling jokes. No racist or sexist jokes, no foul or obscene language. No jokes could be directed at any special ethnicities. For example, No Polish jokes, No Italian Jokes, etc. Also, no jokes that were directed at any military men, period.

Here is a true story that a lot of people thought was a joke. Lou Holtz was coaching Notre Dame that year when they came to the Naval Academy to play their annual football game. Lou noticed his one player looking around at the top of the stadium where the banners were flying all the while shaking his head back and forth. Lou walked up to the young man and asked him "What was the matter?" The kid told Lou, "Coach, we will never beat these guys." Lou was a little taken back by his comment and asked the player, "Why do you say that?" The player said to Lou, "Are you kidding?" Look at the schedule they played. Okinawa, Tripoli, Guadalcanal, Guantanamo Bay. We could never beat these guys." YES! That is a true story told to us by none other than Admiral Hyman Rickover.

BTW, this game was played in the old Memorial Stadium where the Orioles played. And, did you know that Lou Holtz was a motivational speaker as was one of college's greatest basketball coaches, Jimmy Valvano or "Jimmy V" as he liked to be called. ?
 
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rwb said:
Or, the Russians could simply cross the Bering Strait and enter the US via Alaska. Much easier than crossing over the North Pole and then traveling through Canada to the US.
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There is an historic lesson from the invasion of Singapore in 1942.

The British expected any attack on Singapore would come by sea and all the defences were placed accordingly. Instead, the Japanese swept down the Malay Peninsula on bicycles, overwhelming the unprepared defences. and took Singapore easily.

The other memorable lesson is the D Day landings in France. Using clever distraction techniques, the allies convinced the Germans that the invasion would occur at Calais and they concentrated their defences there. Then the actual invasion took place further south at Normandy.

The art of war involves outthinking your enemy and being ready for the unexpected, lest your enemy outthink you and take you by surprise.
 
This might be taken incorrectly, but here goes... What country would most likely invade Canada? The USA. However, Canada exports large quantities of minerals, ores, etc. to the U.S., so why would the U.S. invade?

Which would be the very reason the USA would come to the assistance of Canada, if it were threatened. You might think it would be to save the Canadian citizens, but first consider the high regard, the USA has for its own citizens.

Do you remember the movie "Canadian Bacon?" Be careful around election time... ;)

Speaking of Canadian bacon, I can remember McDonald's selling a breakfast sandwich with Canadian bacon. Frankly, that was reason enough for war, imo. :LOL:
 
Shalimar said:
I strongly disagree. Frankly, it unfairly maligns our Prime Minister, and aside from the obvious political slap, no sane person would ignore such a scenario.
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You nailed when you said "no sane person would ignore such a scenario" Your Prime Minister is not sane and was not unfairly maligned.
 
rwb said:
You nailed when you said "no sane person would ignore such a scenario" Your Prime Minister is not sane and was not unfairly maligned.
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Oi!!! I have to disagree in the strongest terms. IMO the Canadian PM is perfectly sane which I believe is obvious to unbiased observers. You need to back up your statement with evidence, otherwise you owe the Canadians an apology.
 
rwb said:
You nailed when you said "no sane person would ignore such a scenario" Your Prime Minister is not sane and was not unfairly maligned.
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How very rude. completely inappropriate. This forum is global, rules dictate we are to respect other members, and avoid trashing their leadership, culture, ethnicity, etc. Basic common courtesy. Also, any discussion of politics is forbidden.
 
Warrigal said:
Oi!!! I have to disagree in the strongest terms. IMO the Canadian PM is perfectly sane which I believe is obvious to unbiased observers
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Of course he is. I find it troublesome that many label those they disagree with politically as insane or something as bad or worse.

Personal attacks on legally elected leaders just distract us all from important conversations. If you disagree with someone politically that's fine, just say so. And maybe what you think is right. A far more productive thing to do.
 
Seeing all the bickering about the Prime Minister of another
country, we can now understand why there is a "No Politics"
policy in force here.

I certainly would never say anything rude or damning about
any politician of another country.

Be civil!

Mike.
 

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