tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804513671389132165.post5288961836088709397..comments2023-07-25T07:08:51.934-06:00Comments on Bill Longstaff: Modest proposals for our defence policyBill Longstaffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15883751372039947365noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804513671389132165.post-65239158624067383512016-02-01T11:36:49.772-07:002016-02-01T11:36:49.772-07:00You may be right, Mound, and I am certainly baffle...You may be right, Mound, and I am certainly baffled by how our leaders ignore the big issues, yet we must beware of self-fulfilling prophecy. If we assume Armageddon, and arm ourselves for Armageddon, we may very well ensure Armageddon.Bill Longstaffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15883751372039947365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804513671389132165.post-52654330848085852652016-02-01T10:36:28.629-07:002016-02-01T10:36:28.629-07:00I believe Canada needs to have a robust and capabl...<br />I believe Canada needs to have a robust and capable defence force. The remainder of this century will be unlike any previous era in the history of mankind. We can expect to see levels of violence that are, today, almost unimaginable.<br /><br />At some point, Bill, the global House of Cards collapses. Anthropologist Jared Diamond tells us these events happen rapidly, abruptly and usually when a civilization is at its zenith. Gradual decline does not happen.<br /><br />Climate change is already destabilizing a structurally interconnected world. States are failing as never before and this process is only beginning. The UN reports that more than half of all the active conflicts in the world are resource driven. The mess in Syria was sparked by food insecurity and famine caused by severe drought.<br /><br />There exists no means nor is any proposed for achieving an equitable distribution of essential resources such as freshwater. That means we're acquiescing to death on the scale of billions. James Lovelock is adamant that, while our population may peak just past 9-billion, we'll end the century at something less than 1-billion people.<br /><br />Canada is one of just six countries that remains ecologically viable which means we also have the status of a fatted calf to the 180-nations in the other camp. We're not even addressing these issues much less seeking resolution.<br /><br />Considerations of Canada's defence needs are pointless without taking a realistic view of what lies ahead on a span of at least two generations. That's a tough go but we really have no other choice.The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804513671389132165.post-77618279987833640742016-02-01T08:39:17.831-07:002016-02-01T08:39:17.831-07:00Article about Minister Sajjan in National Observer...Article about Minister Sajjan in National Observer and one in Huffington Post speaking about his service in Afghanistan. Gives me a bit of hope. Seems like a truth teller and not a born war monger. Hope so. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com