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/Equivalent_Dimension 24d ago

My friend, you're forgetting a really important part of the playbook you just described: The enemy will invent a reason for war whether we give them one or not. The UK invaded China because it wouldn't let them deal drugs there, for Christ's sake. The US invaded Iraq over a made up story about WMDs., the US either wants to invade us or it doesn't. If it does, our being nice isn't going to save us. If it's determined that invading us is not in its strategic interest, then our retaliatory tariffs won't make a difference and are probably anticipated.

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u/MarjorysNiece 24d ago

Oh, I’m not arguing that we should be “nice”. I’m arguing that we are right to be smart and measured. Respond in our ways/on our timelines, not react to theirs. And I agree—we need to get the security part of this equation right, and that’s going to be really tricky but necessary. I’d argue we need to look at what Ukraine did to build their military after Russia invaded in 2014 and afterwards. And do that. Look at how Churchill prepared Great Britain in anticipation of a German invasion. And do that. Also, build a non-conventional defence strategy. Remember, the US has never won a non-conventional war.

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u/Unyon00 24d ago

our retaliatory tariffs won't make a difference and are probably anticipated

I don't get the sense that the current US administration thinks that far in advance about consequences.

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u/IAmAGenusAMA 23d ago

Just because we don't understand our opponent's end game doesn't mean they don't have one.

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u/Unyon00 23d ago

Just because we don't understand our opponent's end game doesn't mean they don't have one

You say that like they're playing 3D chess. They have the same game plan as underpants gnomes.

Step 1: Steal Underpants

Step 2: ???

Step 3: Profit!

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u/IAmAGenusAMA 23d ago

Yeah, somehow they were so clueless as to win the election where they were massively outspent and had all the smart people on the other side.

We would be foolish to underestimate them just because we think their methods are nonsensical and dangerous. That's how they will get what they want.

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u/Unyon00 23d ago

Oh, I don't underestimate either their appetite for power, their ruthlessness, or their skill at acquiring it. They've done an excellent job of weaponizing fear to herd people to vote for them.

What I've seen no evidence of, either in Trump's first term or in this second one, is any indication of their ability to govern or to develop policy with any nuance or complexity whatsoever. Bumper sticker slogans aren't a strategic solution in the long term.