Arms race on the American Great Lakes

[Swede]

The Canadian government says that it reserves the right to arm its coast guard vessels on the Great Lakes in response to calls by the US Coast Guard to conduct periodic live-fire exercises on 2.500 square miles of the waters shared by Canada and the United States. This is in response to the US Coast Guard’s demand to use portions of the Great Lakes to test-fire weapons and train crews in the use of machine guns. The United States incorporated its Coast Guard into the newly-formed Homeland Security department after the 2001 terrorist attacks on the US, effectively giving the service that is also charged with maintaining waterways and rescuing boaters a rather more military image.


http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?idCategory=33&idsub=134&id=6025&t=Arms+race+on+the+American+Great+Lakes

The bullshit just doesn't end with the Bush regime.

[etherealtruth]

1. The residents in the states and provinces surrounding the Great Lakes

... scream WTF!

This is so ridiculous ... I hold the Chimp and his cabal more responsible, though ...they are the ones acting as provocateurs

[jwirr]

2. Well if I have to choose *ss or the Canadians - I'll take the Canadians.

[rug]

3. Oh great, now Bush ruined relations with Canada.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

4. I highly respect the Coast Guard after

what they accomplished during the aftermath of Katrina. I would not begrudge them training on the great lakes. I've lived all my life less than 20 miles from the greatest of these, Lake Superior. Tough cookies, Hosers! :toast:

[jody]

5. Coast Guard Crews need periodic training. IMO the plans OK. n/t

[slaveplanet]

6. Great, now even more

lead and DU in the fish and drinking water.

[laundry_queen]

7. Exactly.

Not to mention the risk to boaters. They say they'll post 'notices' when they are having training runs. :eyes:

[benEzra]

9. Lead, maybe; DU, no...

since the Coast Guard doesn't use any weapons that take DU ammunition. IIRC, we're talking about small arms and machinegun calibers.

Lead-free practice ammo is available for small arms calibers, but I don't know if the CG is planning to use it or not.

[DivinBreuvage]

8. There have been arms races on the Great Lakes for 200+ years

French vs British, Indians vs. British, Americans vs. British, Americans vs. British and Indians. The Great Lakes is probably the most blood-soaked region of the entire continent, but no one knows that because it's, like, old and stuff.