Canada Annexed???

But what would make things difficult for the Americans would be civilian resistance. Look at Iraq, they're having trouble squashing a resistance of the few. With Canada you could see atleast 80% hateing the occupation. Not Iraq, Somalia, or Vietnam had such support, all which either resulted in the US leaving or, in the case of Iraq, are working towards the US backing out. Now you're all gonna say "well Vietnam had the support of Russia and Somalia and Iraq had tons of guns to start with" but Canadaghas somethign better, we have the now legal to buy assault rifles in the states which we can smugle in. After all the American dream of shooting squirels (or 8 hillbilly hunters) has made it all possible.

Johnny...don't you see...if that scenario were to be played out...the US attacks Canada without provocation to plunder our natural resources for instance...or to further their bid for global domination...our military in it's present state would not be able to resist for long...don't get me wrong, we would defend this country to a man, and the US would be, without a doubt more bloodied than they've ever been in any single engagement in your history...but when the day was done and the smoke had cleared...our country would fall...there would be no Canadian nation...and as the hastily assembled volunteer militias fell back to the last defensible postion...all hell would break loose...

...blowing those reactors would be the last desperate act of a nation that would rather die as Canadians than be forced to live as Americans...

That's alright that you don't see that subtle distinction between our cultures though...our government doesn't see it either...

Nukes from other countries you say? There would be no one left to nuke...

...and really...in the end who do you think the international community would think was right...Canada would have acted in the defense of our nation, if only in memory, and to rob the invaders of that which they sought to steal seems to me an honourable end...kind of like the Iraqi insurgents...

So...let's just hope that the US does not have designs on Canada...it could get ugly...

"For my part, I don't hate anyone...but at the same time I can't bring myself to trust that the Bush administration would not launch a pre-emptive strike on Canada"

So you think within the next 3 years the Bush administration would launch an attack on Canada? That seems pretty far fetched. You do know that Bush will only be in for a few more years. Also, the US has far bigger threats such as Al Qaeda, North Korea, Russia(who has lately been speaking out against Bush)Iran, Saudi Arabia, China(could be in the future), etc. Whatever makes you think that Bush is going to skip all those countries and take out a major trade partner is beyond me. Taking out Canada would greatly effect the US economy at a time when they are fighting wars over seas and have MUCH bigger threats. Canada and the US would work things out diplomatically as far as trade issues go, and I really don't think the issues are anything to go to war about. Also, as has been stated, a good deal of nations would never allow Canada to be attacked. You can count on the US being tied down in the middle east throughout the Bush presidential term.

What all of your post are going on is the idea in your head that Iraq is just the tip of the iceberg in which the US is going to going around attacking countries around the world. The thing about Iraq though is no one gave a shit about the country, and most of their military dissolved into the population, because they hated their government. No one would stand for an attack on Canada because their government is elected, and because Canada hasn't done anything to anyone. Me and you just have a difference of opinion on the US's intentions in the world. You think that Bush is somehow going to try to conquer the world in 4 years, while I think that Iraq is an isolated situation that was the fault of either A.)greedy corporations B.) intelligence failure C.) Bush's imcompetence and rush to war because of bad intelligence, and probably a number of other ideas people could come up with.

Also, yet again you people bring up the whole white house ordeal, but that was the British, not the Canadians. The British, also if you would read your history books, tried to attack the US and failed during that war. Their ships pounded the city of _____can't remember the name -- and as I remember lost that war. Ever read the star spangle banner lyrics; they are from that battle when the US won against the British. Let's not forget that the British instigated during that war when they were taking US ships and crew, and also armed indians(can't remember if it was during 1812 exactly). Finally, the war of 1812 happened when Britian was a great power, and the US was a developing nation, not to mention it was over 100 years ago. It's MORONIC to even use it as a point nowadays. It's like me bringing up what happened to the romans 1000 years ago. But hey, if it makes you feel better to try to make points by bringing up things that have no relation to anything modern, go ahead.

If the point of this thread was to talk about the sorry state of the Canadian military, why is it that it turned into "Canada could defeat the US with better defense"....and basically always refering to the US, references to the war of 1812, hillbillys with guns coming from the south, etc. I think the funniest thing is that you people have your panties in a bunch of ANN COULTER. She is a laughing stock even in the US. Only people that listen to her are the diehard fanatics, and even a good deal of republicans don't agree with her, but you wouldn't know that because you probably don't listen to or talk to much republicans. ANN COULTER is like Michael Jackson of the political world -- she's a freak. I'm sorry, but I laugh everytime I hear someone taking her seriously. No one wants to invade Canada, unless you keep up the talk about how Canada should build up defense's against the US, because there's TONS of ways that can work in the right wings favour in pitting Canada against the US.

One last thing -- what was the point of those opinion pieces? You know, I could go around and search the new and probably find 20 articles in favour of whatever position I'm trying to represent. Those articles don't make you any more right than me. I'm sure I can find new york times articles talking about how great Canada is, or just plain telling the news, but you would have everyone believe -- from picking out a couple articles -- that US relations with Canada are going towards failure. Most people don't even care about Canada until a CANADIAN journalist writes some article all against the US and makes it on Fox News.

Keep up the good work Johnnybgoodaaaa without two sides to a debate there is no food for thought at all. I also agree that coments like 1812 are just reactionary. Just for shits and giggles have you read a book by Richard Rohmer called Exxoneration. The book gives a little different twist on this who would do who crazy conversation.

I simply wanted to bring forth a discussion on the state of the Canadian military.

I think you are sadly incorrect when you assert that having a correctly organized defense wouldn't make a difference. A proper defense would allow our country to muster itself for war. A good defense would allow other countries time to prepare to help us.

But.... I fear this will be our legacy in the end...

Historians will talk about the nation of Canada that was powerfully successful during its time in History (for many reasons) but was invaded for its immense natural resources and quickly absorbed into a more powerful nation. If we are lucky enough to be absorbed by the USA (and not China), we may become somewhat like Scotland or maybe more accurately … Texas

All I was trying to say was:

"Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum."

I didn't mean to promote a concept of a more “Warlike” Canada. I just think our approach to defense is ridiculous.

Someone is selling us down the damn river …

1935 the US planed to invade Canada.

If the US ever invaded I seriously doubt they would try a WWII style invasion but rather and economic and military coup. That's the American way but could they hold it? Remember the rolling blackouts in 2003? How about the fresh, easily contaminated, water? Huge, undefended boarder and the far north? Unlimited and endless potential for guerrilla warfare tying down thousands of US troops. Seems more trouble than it's worth, we are no Switzerland with easily defended boarders but rather a huge, Russia sized country with a people who are well educated and know they will not have the same rights as the occupiers. I doubt the US would do this unless there was a major crisis like a dollar collapse. Could that happen? Every time the dollar loses a penny, the Central Bank of Japan loses more than $7 billion. In the last two weeks alone, the Japanese must have lost more than $40 billion. How long can they bear it?