By Dan Middlemiss, 7 March 2022
From the pervasive silence in this Forum about the Russian attack on the people and state of Ukraine, I wonder how many, like myself, are dismayed, deeply saddened, and frustrated by the West’s complacency and willful neglect of our collective defences to deal with megalomaniac thugs like Putin?
Canadians have been assured that we ‘stand with’ the Ukrainians – yes, but only in the safety and comfort of our own dwellings. Now, I recognize that it is far too late for the United Nations or NATO to fashion some sort of real military response to Russia’s latest blatant power grab. Yet we have seen Putin and his ilk test the West’s resolve in Syria, the Crimea, and elsewhere in years gone by, and clearly he has found us wanting.
It is the unique responsibility of any state to provide adequate defences for its own security, this is a key mark of state sovereignty. In the past, we have taken pride in upholding the global rules-based order and in assisting in the collective defence of other states.
Yet, in Canada it is business as usual when it comes to preparing our defences, symbolic though they may inevitably prove to be. There is today no perceptible sense of urgency to provide modern fighters, warships, and army equipment even as the grim events in the Ukraine unfold. Canada has managed to dispatch some Special Forces and a near obsolescent frigate or two to the region, has earmarked two C-130J aircraft to transport supplies to Poland, and a single artillery battery to a neighbouring country. New fighter jets are still no closer to being procured, and it will be at least 15 years or so until Canada may have a few new, lightly armed frigates. Even the army’s new pistols have been delayed yet again.
Major defence procurement in Canada seems to be all about the promise of jobs – much ballyhooed by the so-called friendly-to-government ‘influencers’ – never about delivering affordable and effective weapons on time.
Liberal democracies have always faced agonizing choices when dealing with the reality of evil in the world. But constantly refusing to face facts has contributed to the sorry situation in which the people of Ukraine now find themselves. Canada, and the world standby providing all assistance short of actual help. We have learned nothing from the so-called lessons of history; we are never adequately prepared.
12 thoughts on “Unprepared”
Bang on Dan! Canada needs a real wake-up-call (or a kick in the pants) to get the government to sit up and smell the coffee or the Bovine Scatology it is shoveling and contribute our fair share to NATO. That requires a substantial increase to the DND budget of oh, let’s see….., 2% of GDP or more? Say, that’s a novel idea! Why not do what NATO has been asking us to do for the past 7 years! Let’s stop all this nonsense and get on with helping the CAF actually do its job with this increased funding not maybe in 5 years, but now…. as Germany has just done! Perhaps we could then really help Ukraine in a more tangible way and get that idiot off the backs of the Ukraine people!
Interesting comparison is Singapore (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_Armed_Forces).
They are a city-state of 5-6 million people yet spends around 3 percent of GDP on defense and has military personnel of around 400-500000 (regular and reserve force). It is noted that Singapore does have conscription (draft) though. However, they are considerably smaller and their military capabilities aren’t that ‘behind’ Canada.
You have just made my point Justin. any country that has just 5-6M people and has over 400,000 military but still able to spend 3% of GDP is OK in my books! Thanks for that Justin!
Right on!
See also: “Canada’s troop commitment to eastern Europe is exposing weak points in its military” — by Murray Brewster, CBC News, Posted: Mar 03, 2022; https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-ukraine-russia-putin-canadian-armed-forces-1.6370874
Hello CNR Fan! Canada has just put another 3400 troops on “standby” to be deployed with equipment to NATOs Eastern front (probably Latvia), as Lt Gen Leslie has said. These troops could be deployed quickly if Canada had a fleet of LHD Sealift Capability ships like the Juan Carlos class. 3 of these superb carriers could deploy the whole Battle Group in its entirety if Canada had that capability. Imagine having the entire 3400 troop deployment there within days of departure from say, Halifax. This could happen if we had a government with at least some vision and a Defence increase in spending of at least 2% of GDP. There……I’ve now vented!
Another thought to support the discussion. Apparently, Ukraine is not worth starting WW3.
NATO can’t send troops to Ukraine. Here is what it will probably do instead — by Sara Bjerg Moller, WP, February 28, 2022
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/02/28/nato-cant-send-troops-ukraine-here-is-what-it-will-probably-do-instead/
“Following the announcement by Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that NATO has activated its Response Force, many are wondering what this means for Ukraine.”
[…]
“In short, NATO has lots of tools designed for addressing exactly the scenario that is unfolding in Ukraine. But, for now, expect NATO to continue to prioritize actions that will simultaneously signal its resolve while avoiding steps that could inadvertently lead to a military confrontation with Russia.”
I don’t anyone was prepared for Russia going all in on the Ukraine. The unfortunate bit to remember in all of this that Russia is a nuclear power with the possibility of a unstable person at its helm. Calls for NATO to directly confront Russia over a non NATO country will only lead to two things, the Russians withdrawing or the unthinkable and NATO is not willing to call Putin’s bluff. I firmly believe if there were no nukes involved NATO would be boots on the ground in the Ukraine right now. NATO is walking a fine line providing aid to the Ukraine as it is and still risks provoking Russia to take the Nuclear option if backed into a corner.
Let’s also not forget Putin’s “threats” to use Chemical Weapons in Ukraine as he has threatened to do if he feels backed into a corner. That would also draw a red line for NATO. It seems Putin’s disinformation propaganda is now working to perfection. What Ukraine really needs now are more defensive AAW systems and missiles now to give Putin pause. Canada does not have that kind of capability, so it won’t come from us.
Uh, what exact difference would it have made? Let’s say Canada did, in fact, spend lots more on its military over the last two decades. And? You really think that this revitalized Canadian military was going to sail through the Black Sea and save Ukraine? Please.
(And that’s not getting mean and pointing out that Canada is irrelevant as a military power and has been since WWII. “Oh, no, the Canadians are coming!” said no one ever.)
Being pessimistic is what put Canada in this position in the first place and will do nothing to solve our defence problems now. Let’s look to the future with vision and resolve to make sure Canada can at least defend its own territories!
Hello “Total”. You are right on one point. Canada’s military has been waning over the past few decades. I would not yet say however, that Canada’s middle military power is “irrelevant”. In most NATO countries, Canada’s military is still well respected as an extremely well trained force to give others pause. It’s just that they do not yet have the equipment to project that “middle power” force. If Canada had the tools to do that now like a new fleet of CSC Type 26 (Frigates) and submarines for the RCN; a fleet of F35 jets for our Air Force; a strengthened NORAD defence system; new surveillance HALE drones and Maritime Patrol Aircraft; a Strategic Sealift Capability; credible Air Defence systems with modern equipment and a more robust army strength, we would be well on our way to contributing our fair share within NATO. Don’t forget that Canada at one time was a reliable NATO ally. We paid the price in so many ways during the Suez crisis, the Cuban missile crisis, the Iraq war and let’s not forget Afghanistan. Most of the CAF’s downfall has come at the hands of successive defence slashing by our own governments. The men and women in the CAF are still ready to give their all if properly equipped. So let’s not start putting the blame for all of this on our brave fighting men and women, but at the feet of Canadian defence budget hackers in the House Of Commons who have no vision and can’t see anything put in front of their noses.
Well put David! I just got into the discussion a bit late, but regardless, my input is much like yours. I would add however, that the real problem, with some obvious exceptions, lies at the feet of the Canadian electorate. We have far too many people in this country that think our government must “negotiate” peaceful outcomes with the likes of the previous Soviets and now Putin’s band of despots. This greatly impacts defence spending and procurement.
I was involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis, chasing Soviet subs on board HMCS Kootenay, and the fallout from that for the Canadian military was diabolical, to say the least!
I won’t go on, I wrote an article about the crisis for CNR back in fall 2020, for those that might be interested.