Canada should join the (nuclear) big leagues

[dapaterson]

Frankly just to piss everyone off, we should form a committee to determine the best way for us to become a nuclear armed power and publicize the committee to the world that we are considering how to. Of course nothing will come of it, but it might create an interesting stir amongst certain nations.

I'd rather a Royal Commission on Accession of US States. Basically a "How do we bring US states into Canada (voluntarily)" and watch the fireworks.

 

[The Bread Guy]

This take from defence histotrian/analyst/commentator Sean Maloney: Canada had a lot of research/infrastructure already in place in the Cold War days, and new threats these days may make it at least worth considering.
"Rockets’ Red Glare: Can Canada Make its Own Nuclear Weapons?"
Also archived here.

 

[GK .Dundas]

Frankly just to piss everyone off, we should form a committee to determine the best way for us to become a nuclear armed power and publicize the committee to the world that we are considering how to. Of course nothing will come of it, but it might create an interesting stir amongst certain nations.

The Canadian solution to any tough problem. Form a committee and by the time you've figured out the make up of the committee. And set up it's structure and found a place to hold it meetings.
Produced a list of potential employees and the possible witnesses.
All this in the hopes that by the time you're actually ready to start hearings. The problem will have gone away.

 

[Czech_pivo]

I'd rather a Royal Commission on Accession of certain US States. Basically a "How do we bring US states into Canada (voluntarily)" and watch the fireworks.

Slight change. There’s a number that we just don’t want.

 

[mariomike]

That last sentence was written when General Eisenhower was president.

Ike must be spinning in his grave with Canada - US relations 70 years later.

I came here ( Canada ) first in 1946 to congratulate the Canadian people on the brilliant role played by the Canadian forces that you placed under my command in the World War which had then recently ended in victory.

 

[Altair]

That last sentence was written when General Eisenhower was president.

Ike must be spinning in his grave with Canada - US relations 70 years later.



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"We are taking the sign out of the window. We know the old order is not coming back. We shouldn't mourn it. Nostalgia is not a strategy"

~Marc Carney

No point in looking back at the good times. Those times are dead and buried as far as I'm concerned. As for today, if we have the ability to build nukes without the IAEA being able to keep tabs on us, just do it.

 

[stoker dave]

Have you guys thought about the ENORMOUS cost of developing and maintaining a nuclear weapons program?

This is not a trivial undertaking.

For the sake of argument please tell me which defence projects you are willing to give up in order to fund a nuclear weapons program. In view of the costs, a sample project of similar cost could be "the air force". (I am only slightly joking).

 

[Czech_pivo]

Have you guys thought about the ENORMOUS cost of developing and maintaining a nuclear weapons program?

This is not a trivial undertaking.

For the sake of argument please tell me which defence projects you are willing to give up in order to fund a nuclear weapons program. In view of the costs, a sample project of similar cost could be "the air force". (I am only slightly joking).

Would it make more sense for us, given our geographic size, to focus on a land based system vs, say the UK’s approach, of a sea based system?
Would there be a reduction in overall costs if land based, say 2-4 locations

 

[Halifax Tar]

That last sentence was written when General Eisenhower was president.

Ike must be spinning in his grave with Canada - US relations 70 years later.

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Ike was a good man, I think.

I think Ike would be disappointed in our management of National Defence over the last decades, even if he would appreciate recent announcements signaling a possible turn.

Ike also stated in 1951 that if American troops were still stationed in Europe for defense after 10 years, the NATO project would have failed. There are multiple revisionist interpretations of that I recognize. I tend to take it at face value.

And then there is his 1961 farewell address:

President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Farewell Address (1961)

EnlargeDownload Link Citation: Farewell address by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, January 17, 1961; Final TV Talk 1/17/61 (1), Box 38, Speech Series, Papers of Dwight D.

www.archives.gov

Have you guys thought about the ENORMOUS cost of developing and maintaining a nuclear weapons program?

This is not a trivial undertaking.

For the sake of argument please tell me which defence projects you are willing to give up in order to fund a nuclear weapons program. In view of the costs, a sample project of similar cost could be "the air force". (I am only slightly joking).

Why does it have to be a defence project ?

 

[Eaglelord17]

Have you guys thought about the ENORMOUS cost of developing and maintaining a nuclear weapons program?

This is not a trivial undertaking.

For the sake of argument please tell me which defence projects you are willing to give up in order to fund a nuclear weapons program. In view of the costs, a sample project of similar cost could be "the air force". (I am only slightly joking).

It is much cheaper than maintaining a conventional force needed to achieve the same deterrence.

Cost wise Britain spends about 3 billion a year, France 6 billion (best comparison since they are a completely in house nuclear power), and the US 75 billion.

Based on those numbers thats about 1/6th to 1/10th of the defence budget. Pretty reasonable to me considering we struggle to even effectively generate a division for the Army, a squadron for the Navy and a couple squadrons for the airforce off that.

 

[mariomike]

Ike was a good man, I think.

I don't think there has been a better man.

 

[OldSolduer]

I don't think there has been a better man.

Considering he had to bridge the gap between three world leaders and their idosyncracies, Military leaders with huge egos (Patton and Monty) and making decisions that must have caused grave concerns....yeah I concur.

 

[Czech_pivo]

Considering he had to bridge the gap between three world leaders and their idosyncracies, Military leaders with huge egos (Patton and Monty) and making decisions that must have caused grave concerns....yeah I concur.

Undoubtably shaved a few years off his lifespan.

 

[OldSolduer]

Undoubtably shaved a few years off his lifespan.

He did become the President of the USA as well. A Very accomplished man.

 

[mariomike]

Undoubtably shaved a few years off his lifespan.

Six packs of unfiltered Camel cigarettes and 24 cups of coffee a day while sleeping only about two hours a night probably didn't help.

 

[OldSolduer]

Getting back to the subject I am in no way in favor of Canada acquiring nuclear weapons.

 

[Halifax Tar]

Getting back to the subject I am in no way in favor of Canada acquiring nuclear weapons.

Can you clarify for me are you against nuclear weapons for everyone ? Or just against us having them ?

 

[deepblue202]

No expert here either but I agree we should maintain a proportional size military for what we need to protect our whole country and be able to have two expeditionary forces one for the Pacific region and European region. I think we should do everything we need to do to have access to military nuclear capability at a reasonable time frame.

 

[mariomike]

Going back to the Original Post,

Yes. indeed! But the Raging Grannies (and 90% of Canadian voters) will be opposed.

Whatever opinions readers may hold , Canada - used - to be able to dish out the dirt.

Joseph Goebbels put it this way,

It drives one mad to think that some Canadian boor, who probably can't even find Europe on the globe, flies here from a country glutted with natural resources which his people don't know how to exploit, to bombard a continent with a crowded population.

From the RCAF aircrew briefing,

And incidentally show the Russians when they arrive, what Bomber Command can do.

 

[Altair]

Have you guys thought about the ENORMOUS cost of developing and maintaining a nuclear weapons program?

This is not a trivial undertaking.

For the sake of argument please tell me which defence projects you are willing to give up in order to fund a nuclear weapons program. In view of the costs, a sample project of similar cost could be "the air force". (I am only slightly joking).

We need to spend 5 percent of GDP on defense anyways.