Canadian Armed Forces: 55,000 and holding steady

Queen of Denmark · Post by **Queen of Denmark** » 2002-09-20 03:04am

I was watching the news today entailing an interview with a former Candian defence secretary. The Canadian Military consists of 55,000 members...all together. So while they pump all of the money the can into social programmes, neglecting their military, Im not only paying for Iowa farm boys to go to the Middleast and fire off billions of Dollars at psycholgically imbalanced afghani teenagers, Im also paying to defend a country which touts itself as an active member in the international community but contribues, when it comes down to it...jack shit. They couldnt even muster up 800 soliders to send over to Afghanistan to fill their rotation. The American Economy drives and sustains the Canadian Economy, the American Military defends it. What does America get out of this? Nothing (but snide derision, and the audacity to blame America for the 9-11 attacks) What does Canada get out of this?...all the free Paxil they can cram in their mouths. Canada....YOUR FIRED.

Post by **weemadando** » 2002-09-20 03:08am

As a Canadian citizen I wish to be the first to wish you a hearty and healthy "fuck off".

Queen of Denmark · Post by **Queen of Denmark** » 2002-09-20 03:23am

Typical Canadian response. I am not American, I have lived and worked in America for 9 years. I make money by living here, pay taxes and get what I pay for. I also, by quirk of fate work for a Canadian company, the automatic prejudice of the Canadians I work with twoards Americans is appaling, as they too are not here at gunpoint and are making money and avoiding taxes in Canada by working here. I had no opinion of Canadians till I moved here, except for the odd Canadian tourist in Copenhagen I happend upon in a club. But Canadians I have worked with here have taken every opportunity to prove themselves less than pleasant. The only consolation I have is that these are young Canadians, full of opinions and "piss and vinegar"...and stocked with an endless supply of "Fuck off's". I hope your having a nice time in Australia? How's the weather? Pay good? Hows the taxes?

Post by **weemadando** » 2002-09-20 03:28am

First off - Take a fucking joke. Second - Yes I am enjoyig Australia, dual-citizenship is such a nice thing. Thirdly - If it wasn't for Americas biased tariffs and trade laws both Australia and Canada would be much better off.

Anyhow. Welcome to the forums.

Robert Treder · Post by **Robert Treder** » 2002-09-20 03:33am

Perhaps part of the reason you seem to only meet pissed off Canucks is your location: Dallas. Dallas is just about as shitty a place you can find in the US while still being in a major city. Houston and Detroit also come to mind.
Well, the point is, most sane people that go to Dallas who aren't from Dallas will resent the residents.

Oh yeah, and also: fuck off. If you want Canada to field a huge army to be exactly like the USA, go to Canada and pay taxes there.

Queen of Denmark · Post by **Queen of Denmark** » 2002-09-20 03:43am

I've been chuckling from the beginning. Dual-citizenship must be nice, I wouldnt know, they dont give that so freely here. Tarrifs are rarely a one sided situation, thats been a push and shove since the word was invented. One country instigates tarrifs to say, protect their wool industry, the other country scratches its head and says "well hey, piss off...Im putting Tarrifs on all the jar-jar binks toys you import here"...and thus it begins and two groups of people loose. In this case, wool farmers and the Chinese Association for Child Labour.

Queen of Denmark · Post by **Queen of Denmark** » 2002-09-20 03:48am

Robert, what comes after "Fuck off" leads me to believe you misread my post. Anyways I've been to San Francisco. Your not fooling me. And, in the end, your paying for what I mentioned in my original post more than I am. On what freeway did you "Leave your common sense in San Francisco"?

Queen of Denmark · Post by **Queen of Denmark** » 2002-09-20 03:51am

I dont resent the people in Dallas, in fact I like them. And I have no intention of paying any taxes in Canada.

Robert Treder · Post by **Robert Treder** » 2002-09-20 03:53am

I don't mind paying for our military, and I don't mind paying for that military to cover for the Canadians (or the Japanese, etc., etc.).

And just what precisely am I trying to fool you about? If you honestly believe that Dallas is a better area than the SF Bay Area, you're obviously looking for something quite a bit different than what the average person looks for in a city. Takes all kinds, I guess.

Post by **Edi** » 2002-09-20 03:57am

Funny, but the Canadians I've met (not many, admittedly) have been nice people. There was one I fortunately managed to avoid by virtue of being elsewhere, but my mother had little good to say of him. Then again, there are insufferable idiots in every group.

And why should Canada have a huge military? Who precisely is going to invade and attack them? And even if someone was going to, would the US honestly let a hostile power set up shop on its northern border which basically amounts to nothing more than a line drawn on a map? Didn't think so either. And they have considerably less interests overseas that require military presence to protect them, so...

Edi

Queen of Denmark · Post by **Queen of Denmark** » 2002-09-20 04:03am

Im European, in Europe we watch our neighbours a bit more closely than this. This is all I'm saying. It just strikes me as odd that a people the Canadians resent so much are willing to fill in the gap for them. Im no stranger to a provincial attitude, but Im not used carrying any of my neighbours weight either. Perhaps a very un-socialistic view for a Dane

I love my country, but I dont want to live in a commune.

Queen of Denmark · Post by **Queen of Denmark** » 2002-09-20 04:12am

Hyvaa Paaiva Edi! (been some years since I've spoken Soumi sorry)

Im not saying Canadians are universally dreadful people, its their attitude twoards Ameican that is preplexing. My point is that Canadians tout their role in an international community, but when it comes to fulfilling it they fall short, and however idealistic we are, military is a part of fulfilling that role. Even tiny Denmark maintains a well equipped and prepared military...and whoever thinks of us Danes?...and who would want our small stretch of grass (besides, most definately, of course Danes)?

Post by **Edi** » 2002-09-20 04:15am

Did you check my location? Finland. Yeah, I know what it's like, but we'll cheerfully stereotype and insult the Swedes (usually among ourselves), but know they're nice enough (usually). It's when we go to Stockholm by boat that often the Swedes expect us to speak Swedish and pretend they don't understand English. Maybe not anymore, but it used to be the case ten years ago. They're still okay, for the most part, and I've got several Swedish friends. I guess they have some stereotypes about us too, and they return the favor, and it's generally all in good fun. Oh, BTW, we're effectively paying for their defense too, because of our geographic location.

Now, take Russians on the other hand, most Finns have an attitude toward them ranging from mild dislike to outright hatred, for historical reasons.

Edi

Post by **Edi** » 2002-09-20 04:21am

Suomi, not Soumi, but that's okay, Finnish can get your tongue tangled pretty well.

It's nice to be greeted in one's own language, and I truly appreciate it. Og god morgon till dig också. Sorry if that's more Swedish than Danish, but it's the best I can do.

I suppose you're right. And no, I don't think most people would want to invade Denmark, but I will have to point out that you have been invading Sweden, namely Skåne and the other southern parts for some time, evidenced by the influence of Danish language on the speech of people living there.

Impossible to make sense of if you're used to the brand of Swedish spoken here in Finland.

Edi

Queen of Denmark · Post by **Queen of Denmark** » 2002-09-20 04:26am

Yes Edi, us Scandinavians are one big happy family arent we

Norway has Fjords, Sweden has money, Denmark has obscurity and Finland has a language as unique as the people that speak it. Ahh, and Iceland has...what, the Althing?

The Finnish dislike of Russia is understandable, how many times have they invaded your country? Well however many you never made it easy for them eh

Does Finland still have conscription?

Queen of Denmark · Post by **Queen of Denmark** » 2002-09-20 04:32am

Edi, the Danish have been invading countries the majority of the time its been in existence. Remember...we were once called Vikings

Post by **Edi** » 2002-09-20 04:40am

Yeah, I know. As long as you don't try to invade us...

Not that Vikings succeeded in invading us in the first place, gotta love that archipelago with its rocks and shoals...

I think the Russians have invaded us about a dozen times or so since the 13th century. I can't remember how many exactly, I'd have to go and dig up a history book, and I'm too lazy. At times they stayed for almost twenty years (the period of Isoviha, or Great Hate). Yes, we still have conscription, and it's not going to change in a hurry. I was in a military police/urban warfare unit for nine and a half months back in 1996-97.

Oberleutnant · Post by **Oberleutnant** » 2002-09-20 04:55am

You were a Kaartinjääkäri (Guardsjager), weren't you?

Post by **Edi** » 2002-09-20 05:15am

Yeah, except we were still called kaartilainen back then. It was changed to kaartinjääkäri in late 1997 or early 1998, I think. I was in SpolK anyway. You as well?

Darth Fanboy · Post by **Darth Fanboy** » 2002-09-20 07:11am

As an American living in America (and a former Iowa farm boy myself) I have this to say about Canada.

Thank you for Pamela Anderson.

Canada, during WWII, fought like crazy on the beaches of Normandy along with our troops.

Canada, during the cold war, let the US set up military bases all over its country and if im not mistaken at least one of them is still up. We also jointly set up NORAD together which makes up an important part of both our countries defense.

Your taxes go to the Military so that those "farm boys" are better suited to avoid getting killed in combat.

If I had one bad thing to say about Canada, we'll. Damn those Toronto Blue Jays! Two world series? what the heck?"

"That's our game people!"

Oberleutnant · Post by **Oberleutnant** » 2002-09-20 07:53am

Edi wrote:Yeah, except we were still called kaartilainen back then. It was changed to kaartinjääkäri in late 1997 or early 1998, I think. I was in SpolK anyway. You as well?

Nope. I have "kutsunnat" next month.

I'll be going to the Signal Regiment in Riihimäki. Is there any truth in the legend about sadistic instructors at Santahamina, because I've heard lots of horror stories about them. Anyway, I bet military police training was pretty interesting. You got all the nifty equipment like flakvests, shotguns, did rope rappeling, etc?

Post by **Edi** » 2002-09-20 08:09am

No idea about Santahamina, except for the confirmed fact that one of the officers there (no idea which company, I'd have to ask my brother) is a psychotic nutcase who belongs in a mental institution. The others are supposed to be okay.

There is of course Mr. Leskinen, who was 1st lieutenant back then, probably been promoted to captain by now, who was thought sadistic and unpleasant, and many people hated him. He wasn't actually, but he'd chew you up with the smallest excuse until you proved to him that you can do something. Once he actually realized that you are not a total asswipe (like some people unfortunately were), he was pretty genial. I even got to throw him around once during a close combat practice. He challenged anyone who knew judo to take a match against him. I beat him good and solid twice in a row, which is one of my fonder memories from the army.

I was never there, we were first in Hämeenlinna and then transferred to the now closed Taivallahti barracks. It changed since, with all training happening in Santahamina. But yes, we did have those nifty tricks, though not everyone did everything. Only the rappelling specialists were taught that, because it takes time and not everyone is capable of it (requires lot of strength and stamina). I was a small arms specialist, and we did get a lot of extra training with assault rifles as well as learning sniper weapons (cursorily, there were specialist sniper teams), shotguns, submachineguns, different sorts of pistols and what have you.

However, since you're going to Riihimäki, my advice is make the most out of it, because that sort of thing is a good asset if you're going to be studying something IT related later.

Edi

Oberleutnant · Post by **Oberleutnant** » 2002-09-20 08:21am

Interesting. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions about the small arms you trained with? I'm a sort of a military hardware nut who would mainly like to know about the equipment. Thanks for the advice. I'm certainly going to try to do it with the right attitude and maybe even try to get into NCO training, though I guess it's easy to say so now. My opinion has probably changed when the time comes.

QoD, sorry for hijacking this thread. What it is worth, here are my two cents about the Canadian military: It is small indeed, but very well-equipped and trained. Considering its size it could be among the best armies of the world. Not many country has been involved with as many military operations in the last decades as Canada.

Azeron · Post by **Azeron** » 2002-09-20 09:22am

Well Equipped and trained? Would that equipment include jungle camoflage in Afganistan? I see you also keep moral up high by court martialing soldeirs who dare *shudder* kill the enemy!! how dare they!! This is war, not a gun fight!!!

Small YEe, well equipped, NO. trained well? They are almost as good as US troops.

Crown · Post by **Crown** » 2002-09-20 09:52am

Suck exhaust fumes Azeron, Oooh almost as good as American troops, ooh. Point of fact dumb ass, American troops are not the measuring stick of the worlds forces. Regular Australian Army grunts are considered 'special forces' by American standards. During war games only the elite branches of USArmy can keep up with them. There is one example of how your unfounded claim has been shot down. Find me a credible source for this claim please...

StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Canadian Armed Forces: 55,000 and holding steady

Canadian Armed Forces: 55,000 and holding steady

Canada isn't that bad