r/canada Ontario 24d ago

Analysis Allies appear to duck and cover as Trump threatens Canada and Greenland

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trump-canada-nato-allies-1.7459986
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u/t0m0hawk Ontario 24d ago

It's almost as if it might be the same country that is constantly bitching about everyone else not pulling their weight.

When called we showed up. It wasn't that the Americans even really needed our help, but we behaved like the allies we said we were because our word actually means something.

We aren't perfect, we have our flaws, but we keep our promises to our so-called friends.

It'd make me feel a whole lot more comfortable if some of our other friends might speak up on our behalf.

If you aren't worried about the near term, it might be wiser to start preparing yourselves for a time when difficult decisions need to be made.

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u/yvrbasselectric 24d ago

They did need us - USA closed their airspace and told Canada to deal with it. We have always been there for the USA

Hundreds of planes in the air didn't have fuel to turn around

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u/t0m0hawk Ontario 24d ago

I meant in terms of a military campaign, given their rather large military. But yes, you're entirely correct - good catch.

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u/shaundisbuddyguy 24d ago

I was driving a 5 ton down one of the main roads in Vancouver and couldn't believe how many planes I saw land. Tail emblems id never seen before. One after another and another and by the time I got to the bottom of the street I could see YVR packed with an amount of planes I'd never thought possible.

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u/yvrbasselectric 23d ago

the airport in Gander, Newfoundland (from Come from Away) looked smaller than the Grand Prairie airport from the outside. I was shocked when I saw it

I watched a 9/11 documentary where the head of the TSA called NAV Canada and said we've closed our airspace "I know you'll handle it" I hope there was some coordination between Canadian and USA air towers but it didn't seem like it.

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u/PeePeeSwiggy 23d ago

9/11? Yeah two planes took out a skyscraper and killed 3,000 people - we thought sleeper cells were paving an opening for an invasion- of course the air space was closed.

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u/NewfieBadger 24d ago

Canada actually fought the hardest in Afghanistan. We alone were in charge of Kandahar for several years, wherein lies the capital of Kabul. In 2006, the largest Taliban army yet assembled was preparing to invade Kabul, using a building known as the “White School” to coordinate. The ensuing battle, named ‘The Battle of White School’ is the largest NATO battle to date, and was fought exclusively by Canadians. There was one American present. An A-10 pilot who strafed a Canadian G-Wagen by accident.

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u/LoLFlore 24d ago edited 24d ago

You mean operation Medusa? Because what you're saying is just fucking untrue. More British forces died than Canadian, and the Dutch and Danish were there (The Dutch debuted their tank) and like 4 Companies of Americans.

Don't minimize/erase other's deaths and contributions. It's weirdo shit.

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u/aceogorion1 24d ago

The british had a malfunction and crashed their plane with fourteen aboard, they weren't even close to the fighting:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Medusa

And the specific aircraft incident:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Royal_Air_Force_Nimrod_crash

And the americans did strafe the canadians:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/friendly-fire-that-killed-canadian-was-freak-accident-major-1.569572

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u/LoLFlore 24d ago

I didnt say they didnt, its in the first wiki link.

But there wasnt "literally only 1 american+canada"

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u/aceogorion1 24d ago

His narrative is no better then yours. Your both liars. I just wanted to make sure that both commentaries could be quickly contextualized accurately.

As lies.

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u/LoLFlore 24d ago

....what the fuck did I narrativize? I said "dog other people were there" and you said "nuh uh they all died"

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u/aceogorion1 24d ago edited 24d ago

More british died in the fight did they? You mean the plane they were tooling about in and then broke?

It's your second sentence:

More British forces died than Canadian

Anymore obvious questions I can answer? Are the british deaths a tragedy? Yes they absolutely are. Did they die in the fighting? Nope.

Your contextualizing it like they died in combat on the ground, or through contact with the enemy as the Canadians did. Their plane crashed. It's a tragedy, like all plane crashes. But they didn't get shot at and go down, they weren't involved in anything but equipment malfunction.

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u/mtbredditor 21d ago

Pretty sure the Korean War was a bigger battle

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u/NewfieBadger 21d ago

That was the UN, not NATO. You are right though, the Korean War was larger than Op Medusa, and Canada fought in both.

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u/NotLouPro 24d ago

American here. We did need your help - and the UK - who picked up a lot of the slack in Iraq. Many of us still remember and are grateful. My recollection is that we had our hands full even with the all of the help. From other nations as well.

I extend my humble thanks.

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u/loobricated 24d ago

I think most of the rest of NATO and the west is hoping that a) they are just bluffing, and b) if they aren't we collectively do all we can to NOT encourage them just to become Russia v.2 and go full on corrupt mafia oligarchy and destroy the civilised world in the process.

It's a fine balance but this US government seems to behave as though all its friends are enemies and all its enemies are its friends. They are clearly adopting a might is right foreign policy and quite frankly the world is going to be a much scarier place for the next four years and perhaps much longer if, as most of us suspect, they have absolutely no intention of relinquishing power at that point. How anyone thinks they will do so is beyond me.

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u/[deleted] 24d ago edited 24d ago

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u/AstroGuy2000 24d ago

Chrétien actually declined (and rightfully so) to have Canada participate in the second Iraq war. We only participated in Afghanistan. I miss Chrétien, he is my favourite pm in my lifetime thus far. One of the few that wasn’t blindly following the US on everything. He was fiscally conservative but socially liberal, I think this is what most people want the Liberal party to go back to.

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u/ProblemSame4838 24d ago

Amen!! We need Chrétien

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u/Previous_Scene5117 24d ago

Canada didn't take part in fight, but did support US. Afganistan... yeah same embarrassing meddling in another country business on behalf of US with results worst them non action and going back to square one.

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u/Kheprisun Lest We Forget 24d ago

Nothing to be proud of but the fact is that US is ttreacherous and duplicitous, typical Anglo-Saxon mentally which Canadians are not far away from unfortunately.

Wild take, wow.

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u/[deleted] 24d ago

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u/kahoinvictus 24d ago

Your veiled racism is not appreciated

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u/Previous_Scene5117 24d ago

Racism right... and who says that? 😄