Canada and US comparison

[Tgace]

Some of Canadians' feelings towards the US are not unique to Canada. People in many countries view United States as a bit of a bully, and increasingly an imperalist power. Whether it is an accurate description or not can be debated, but the fact remains that many non-Americans percieve this to be the case. For Canadians, it is intensified (I believe) due to our proximity - it would be relatively simple for the US to dominate us if you took a mind to. Picture a grade school bully. Everyone in the class is at least a little bit afraid of him, but nobody wants to sit right next to him because he's doubly intimidate when he's right there.

Yes, but that "big bully" is also the reason your country can afford to spend very little militarily. I would hope most Canadians would believe we would resopnd to any attack against your country (God forbid) should such occur.

 

[raedyn]

I agree with the assessment that the military might of the US does allow us somewhat the luxury of spending so little on our military. However, I don't think that the US is a good example of what a country 'should' spend to protect itself. American military prowess far exceeds what the US requires to protect against a foreign military attack.

I do not know if the US would respond to any attack against our country. In a way, why would they? And why would we want them to? I don't mean that we'd be left entirely alone to fight, but it's not like we're expecting the Americans to fight FOR us. We just tend to think (rightly or wrongly) that no one will attack us. I mean, who doesn't like Canada? It's probably a little naieve, but I do think that's the general sentiment.

 

[Deuce]

I agree with the assessment that the military might of the US does allow us somewhat the luxury of spending so little on our military. However, I don't think that the US is a good example of what a country 'should' spend to protect itself. American military prowess far exceeds what the US requires to protect against a foreign military attack.

I do not know if the US would respond to any attack against our country. In a way, why would they? And why would we want them to? I don't mean that we'd be left entirely alone to fight, but it's not like we're expecting the Americans to fight FOR us. We just tend to think (rightly or wrongly) that no one will attack us. I mean, who doesn't like Canada? It's probably a little naieve, but I do think that's the general sentiment.

I agree. We just kind of sit in the background watching all the conflict until we can run in and do peace keeping missions. It seems like peace keeping is the major function of the Canadian military, which generally seems well recognized and respected around the world. And being the neighbor and allie of the world's super power is also a good deterrent to attack Canada.

 

[PeachMonkey]

I do not know if the US would respond to any attack against our country. In a way, why would they?

As a party to the North Atlantic Treaty, the United States is obligated to respond to any attack on Canada (or any other NATO member) under the terms of Article 5 (see http://www.nato.int/docu/basictxt/treaty.htm).

The US has a history of violating treaties whenever it's convenient to it, but I doubt it would be in any national or political interest for the US to violate such a framework defense treaty of the 20th and 21st centuries.

It seems like peace keeping is the major function of the Canadian military, which generally seems well recognized and respected around the world.

The Canadian military has a well-earned reputation for prowess that predates its modern-day peacekeeping functions; Canadians were often used as the shock troops of the British Commonwealth, and earned a fearsome reputation on the battlefields of the world.

 

[dubljay]

As a party to the North Atlantic Treaty, the United States is obligated to respond to any attack on Canada (or any other NATO member) under the terms of Article 5 (see http://www.nato.int/docu/basictxt/treaty.htm).

The US has a history of violating treaties whenever it's convenient to it, but I doubt it would be in any national or political interest for the US to violate such a framework defense treaty of the 20th and 21st centuries.


The Canadian military has a well-earned reputation for prowess that predates its modern-day peacekeeping functions; Canadians were often used as the shock troops of the British Commonwealth, and earned a fearsome reputation on the battlefields of the world.

I agree that the US has a nasty habit of ignoring treaties. As for NATO that seems to me that it is nothing more than a friendly formality. NATO was born out of a fear of communism, with the fall of the Soviet Union NATO really doesnt mean much (to my knowledge).

As for Canadians being the shock troops for the UK common wealth I was unaware of this... thats pretty impresive.

-Josh