How much of a threat is America to Canada

[yvr girl]

If it came to a war, I don't like our chances. I don't think it would come to that. It would be beyond the pale to attack Canada.

Still, we're attached at the hip to a rabid animal.

What do you think?

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Shoot it ...quickly. (Only half joking)

But seriously.. DON'T LET MARTIN GO TO THE RANCH IN CRAWFORD!!!
They will brainwash him, and he will come back saying yes to everything that Bush asks.

[yvr girl]

3. I don't think so

Our PM is more afraid of the Loyal Opposition than he is of George Bush. A minority government takes a lot of finesse.

[Lisa]

13. plus, he's got Scott "Pretty Face" Reid with him

Whenever Bush tries that "look deep into my eyes so I can see your soul -- and try to hypnotize you" stunt, the PM can distract him by calling Scott over. (Sorry Scott, but your country needs you ...)

[forgethell]

2. I think Canada is safe

They're not much of a threat, and I suppose that the neo-cons have more important fish to fry.

Still sometimes the yappy little puppy gets slapped when it nips too hard at the ankles.

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. Don't forget, Canada has vast mineral resources,

and all those oil sands up north.

[forgethell]

8. Well, are

you saying they will refuse to sell them to us at market price? If so, why bother to invade?

More likely, Quebec will finally split off, and Canada goes into the dumpster without them. Or maybe Quebec does without the rest of Canada. Then ya'll can apply for foreign aid. Then the USA sets stringent conditions on it that will bankrupt the country. Then you can really let loose at the Americans. I see it all now.

[Kikosexy2]

4. Leave...

Canada alone...after all it gave us Anne Murray, k.d. lang (luv her) and Alanis Morissette (luv her too) among other things! They can keep Shania Twain though.

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. Don't forget Captain Kirk -- I mean, Bill Shatner.

I think you're safe until * demands a land corridor to Alaska. Then, for heaven's sake, don't let ANYONE open fire on any US border stations.

[signmike]

6. Hosers, be afraid, eh. Etre beaucoup effrayé

:scared:

[AndyTiedye]

9. When They Start up the DRAFT and Our Best and Brightest Flee North

potentially in very large numbers, that will certainly cause tension, or worse. Since they are talking about a "special skills" draft up to at least 34, that could be a lot of people, with skills that would be in demand in Canada (and elsewhere).

If they could not bully the Canadian government into turning them over, there might be "incursions", covert or otherwise, to seize Americans who flee the draft.



You also have oil, and you know what that means.

I am terribly sorry. Democracy has fallen here and the fascists have taken over.

[Maple]

10. No threat at all

We've been invaded by the US 5 times so far, and we're still here safe and sound.

It's also been tried economically, and is currently being tried philosophically.

Have no fear. None of it will work.

[Rowdyboy]

11. When Bush starts talking about "A new, gentler Manifest Destiny"

to incorporate our northern neighbors, you guys should start arming yourselves.

[applegrove]

12. I think Canada will be okay (though having to had over terror control

to the Bushies). Quebec will save us in the end. They are European and they have taught us over the years that in a democracy you do not get everything you want.. but if you work hard for it.. you get what you need.

Also Quebec was ruled by the British system of Indirect Rule (ruling through tribal elders & elites to keep people so caught up in moral and customary law issues.. they are asleep). Indirect rule is exactly what Bush is pushing on the middle class in the USA. The Quebecers all have grandparents who lived in abject poverty because they had too many kids and did not exercise their right to vote effectively. And we all know that the Westmount Mansion dwellers were all English and could not speak a drop of French. So Quebecers know instinctively about indirect rule and elites skimming the wealth off the top while the most basic issues of the French ... did not get solved (why solve an issue... it only means that the little people will be able to lift up their heads and look around and decide what they like or don't like in their government).

So I am guessing that if the neocons ever get into power in Canada - the biggest bitch slap the world has ever heard will be a coming from the direction of the French Canadians who have only had 30 years of democracy. They know what 'handing over your right to self-government really means'. They know how to kick out the 'Westmount Rhodesian' because they just did it. And they know how to suffer financial woes because you insist on your god given right to rule yourself... really rule yourself.. because they have just been through that too.

Didn't the Quebecers already force Martin to ignore US pressure and not vote for Missile Defense? I mean that could have been such a great wedge issue between the Quebecers and the Liberals.. and Martin did not fall for it - thank god.

So by keeping us - less close to the sociopaths in the WH - Quebecers will save us. They are Europeans after all. And they love their immigrants and they love to get on subways and see everyone participating and 'joie de vivre'. That is what the French experience is... with power... act like us, take care of yourself, get the most out of every day and you are in. So the race card will not go over to well.

I think even Albertans are learning tough lessons about dealing with the US. I they always complain they do not get a good deal from government but these Liberals have been helping them out with the border closed to cattle. And Canada has tried again and again to get the US to follow the dispute settlement mechanism of NAFTA. And Bush & his government just ignore the rulings. So Liberals end up sending out aid to cattle farmers to help them cope. While, the same people who took Canadian Cattle to court to keep the border closed... sneak across the border and by cattle for really, really cheap. And I think Albertans are quickly learning that the USA does not play fair. Especially if you have oil or are in the way of some Big Oil American of making a killing.

It seems that after 30 years of wilderness... the Liberals really are making inroads to the West. Thanks to the USA for demonstrating how much they really are bullies and not 'fair traders'. Liberals in Canada are fiscal conservatives and the economy is doing fine and will continue to (as the emerging giants need more resources). So voting Liberal is a win/win situation.

I just hope that the Tory Party falls apart at its convention. Once again they reneg of promises to the old Tory Party (like the neocons they are). And they hide their real mandate just like neocons do. And they talk about nothing at their convention (just like neocons do).

I think we are all learning about the USA and that the last thing you want is to get too close. Business leaders in Alberta are drinking the Kool-Aid but really they are seen as the elites they are. One thing Karl Rove has not managed is to flip who the elites are in this country. The elites still are the leaders of industry and the rich. And they do not speak for the country.

Also Canadians have a deep dislike of arrogance. And neocon policies try and tap into American arrogance to get supporters (just be your arrogant American self - you are the best). Well - we find arrogance like that incredibly distasteful. It is a national thing. It is a character thing... bread in the bone even amongst our traditional elites. So only the Alberta fall for it. And even they are learning what it feels like to be small. I mean is there a place sitting on top of as much oil as Alberta in the world that has not had a war (created) by the USA or elder empires? No. Would make me wonder if I was an Albertan. Look at Nigeria, Venezuela, Sudan, Chad, Iran, Iraq, Russia, all the ME, and now the trouble starts in coastal Africa.

So if the USA wants to invade - great. I don't think we will stop them. They get our conservative pundits to claim Canada has gotten vain just sitting under the protective wing of the USA.. but really the only people who have ever invaded us or wanted to were Americans. So that is a myth that will not fly. Would Americans believe it? For sure they have demonstrated that some of them will believe anything. But as long as we have market forces - what could the logic for war be?

Would that pay some Acadians to suicide bomb Halifax? Will they claim that 10,000 flocks of geese are actually border excursions by the Canadian military? It doesn't really matter in the end. We just keep doing what we are doing and being ourselves.. and Canadians as a whole will keep rejecting and marginalizing the neocons. And Quebecers will help us stay honest and not believing our own myths so much that we easily become kool-aid drinkers - because that is what they do best anyway...

[Hand]

14. We kicked yr. ass in the War of 1812...

...and we'll do it again if we have to!

:evilgrin:

ON EDIT: For the misinformed, that's to say Canada did the ass kicking. What? Your history textbooks say otherwise? Odd...

[ConcernedCanuk]

15. Actually, we DIDN'T kick their ass -

.
.
.

The US was advancing, they didn't KNOW they had us beat, and all of a sudden they pulled back

They were of the impression that we had MANY more reinforcements on the way

and thought that we greatly outnumbered them

They know that is not the case today . . .

:scared:

Actually

if push come to shove

I suspect an alignment with Russia and/or China would not be out of the question

We'd let THEM use our airspace to keep them evul-dooers out of OUR country . . .

Scary - 5 years ago I would have called someone who said that insane

Now I consider it a realistic possibility . . .

Thank the Boy King for that . . .

[ninty]

16. In 1812

were were backed up by British soldiers. Would Britain be as interested this time around?