tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post5031399421609194887..comments2024-03-28T19:18:40.387-04:00Comments on Northern Reflections: Out In The ColdOwen Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-22541340191452778822018-07-07T13:52:29.503-04:002018-07-07T13:52:29.503-04:00I agree, John. We need to take a good long look at...I agree, John. We need to take a good long look at our defence policies. That said, we must not let Trump dictate what they should be.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-26099575298448770892018-07-07T12:16:28.846-04:002018-07-07T12:16:28.846-04:00NATO considerations aside, I've thought for a ...NATO considerations aside, I've thought for a long time that Canada should re-evaluate what seems to have become its attitude on defence spending, accepting the possibility that increases might often be appropriate instead of treating the DND as the first place to cut in times of official austerity, but now I don't think we should do it until after Trump is gone.<br /><br />While we're at it, let's take a long public look at the accounting practices that Canada has employed in consideration of its participation in UN operations.John B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-39986202569233608332018-07-07T11:30:03.134-04:002018-07-07T11:30:03.134-04:00A few less American military bases around the worl...A few less American military bases around the world would be a good thing, Mound. After all, the price for keeping them is financial support for the military industrial complex. And, one of these days, Trump will need the allies he's spurned.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-40062515155840384792018-07-07T11:26:53.660-04:002018-07-07T11:26:53.660-04:00You're right about the stark choice we face, s...You're right about the stark choice we face, sal. We can either feed and irrigate the world or we can destroy it. At the moment, we appear to be intent on doing ourselves in.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-62088460180157089172018-07-07T11:00:28.057-04:002018-07-07T11:00:28.057-04:00Close Ramstein. It's the hub of US military po...<br />Close Ramstein. It's the hub of US military power in Europe. It's where American transports laden with troops and supplies for the Pentagon's PermaWar in South Asia and the Middle East shuttle. It also houses the critical care hospital where America's wounded are taken.<br /><br />America has subverted NATO long enough, cajoling it into allowing some pretty sketchy and potentially unreliable eastern European nations into its ranks. NATO, like the EU itself, dropped its dress code. A big mistake. This is the "in it for themselves" brigade, many of them undemocratic and authoritarian, that paved Bush/Cheney's path to Russia's doorstep.<br /><br />NATO and the EU have been dragged down by too many under-performing subsidiaries, some of which were "poor fits" from the outset. Culling the roster might assist both to rebuild their health.The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-44599859120141560602018-07-07T10:43:27.110-04:002018-07-07T10:43:27.110-04:00.. I read that the USA has military.. and hardware..... I read that the USA has military.. and hardware assets in approx 72 countries. The miliary budget is of course astonishing and insane.. (but no clean water for Flint & Puerto Rico can wait) Canada has a puny military budget.. yet contemplates the purchase of how many F-35's ? And the bloated service costs per hour of flying.. What are we thinking.. that we could or should engage in military adventurism? Especially when the corrupt GOP money grubbers & desperate thugs like Trump are experimenting in that many sovereign countries. Meanwhile, we get a taste of nazis with open carry weapons tramping from their posturing parades & thuggery, off to fast food joints for fries and burgers.. stacking AR-15's on the booth or banquet seating.. or in the bars. We are witnessing Animal Farm come to life.. or is it Clockwork Orange?<br /><br />At the same time, Trump is peeling back every sensible aspect of Environmental legislation.. because Obama.. and because they are long ago captured by Big Energy.. who has also invaded all level of education. Need a favorable 'Study' re coal or fracking or moving into the National Parks ? No prob.. coming right up. So where is the money going? Is it like Canada and Alberta ? Does the majority of the money just disappear offshore? Mining waste, liquid or solid can now be dumped in about any waterway.. reminds me of Stephen Harper who demolished our Environmental legislations.. and ignored our lands, waters, habitat and species.. and Harper declared Canada would become an arms manufacturer & export superpower.. I don't recall that 'election promise'<br /><br />So we are still stuck & being mugged.. as is the USA, by guerilla fighters in Afghanistan.. and who knows where else. Africa for sure, South America. Probably where there are resources to be stripped from sovereign countries, and military corruption, bribery, weaponry and propaganda are a cheap solution to booting indigenous peoples off their land, bulldozing their homes.. and telling them, to hit the road.. move to the cities. Nothing like a few armored 8 wheel Canadian 'just jeeps' or 'just transports' per Trudeau and Harper.. with turret mounted rocket launchers and 50 mm machine guns to to encourage the exodus<br /><br />We can either help feed and irrigate the world<br />or we can assist in its destruction<br />Maybe F-35's can airdrop wheat, corn, irrigation systems & fresh water ?<br />The world is in drought mode.. famine, disease.. extreme poverty<br />And is hardly short of war zones or ethnic cleansingthe salamanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06853337802990122289noreply@blogger.com