By Matthew Clark
From 1914-1918 425,000 Canadians served in their nation's, or their nation's allies, armed forces in Europe. Over 60,000 of those fighting men died while another 170,000 were seriously wounded. During the years 1939-1945 over a million Canadians served in their nation's armed forces in Europe or Hong Kong. More than 43,000 of these men died. In total more than 100,000 fighting men from Canada were slain over in Europe during the great catastrophes known as World War I and World War II.
When the German threat against Europe was replaced by the Soviet menace after the 2nd great catastrophe Europeans once more bellowed a call for assistance from North America. Deciding that sending their country's youth thousands of miles away into peril twice was not enough the Canadian Dominion (Federal) Government agreed in 1949 to become one of the founding members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). On April 4, 1949 twelve national governments (two North American and ten European) from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom, and the United States, signed the Washington Treaty creating NATO. The member nations agreed to co-operate on military affairs. They agreed that all members of the military alliance would come to the aid of any fellow member who was attacked by a foreign power. It was obvious that the powerful Soviet Union was the principal adversary causing the twelve nations to join in the union.
When it came to thwarting the grasping designs of the malevolent Soviet Empire NATO was an astounding success. By 1991 the Soviet Union was no more, imploding into 12 separate nation states. At this point the obsolescence of NATO was self evident. There were no more dragons to slay in Europe. Time at last for Canada to bring home the military personnel. No more capers abroad.
Yet that was not what occurred! Instead of disbanding the pointless organization NATO was expanded to 32 country's, while the Canadian government happily continued on that military alliance bandwagon. In order to keep NATO relevant enemies were made of Serbia and Russia, along with Belarus. Canadian warriors once more slogged through the fields of Europe. This repetition of martial committment begs the question, WHY? What does Europe mean to citizens of Canada that they are prepared to perpetually sacrifice their youth protecting foreign lands? Is not three times enough? When does this one way agreement end?
Europeans will not come to Canada if it is attacked! According to retired Canadian Armed Forces Major General Scott Clancy the plan during the cold war was that if the Soviets attacked Canada across the Artic these enemy forces would be engaged by American forces and whatever Canadian troops were in the region. Meanwhile the bulk of the Canadian fighting personnel would be transported over to Europe in case the Soviets attacked NATO lands over there! You read that correctly. Even if Canada was attacked directly our military's priority would be to protect Europe!
This is nonsensical. Yet this attitude still exists. Europeans at present do not have the capacity to protect themselves, never mind assisting North America if an enemy attacked the Western Hemisphere. Yet the Canadian government still foolishly stations portions of it's armed forces over in Europe.
Europe is thousands of miles away from Canada. It's governments no longer respect individual freedom (even Britain and France possess authoritarian governments). Europes political rulers have no values, they are solely about exercising political power. They cancel elections (such as in Romania) if individuals they disagree with win the citizens vote. European lawmakers criticize Russia's political leaders yet support the government of Ukraine, an entity far worse than the Russians. Europe means nothing, three times is enough for Canadians to sacrifice their youth. All military association between Europe and Canada should terminate immediately!
Canadians should not seek out enemies. Nothing good comes from being entangled in foreign wars. Canadians should build a strong navy to protect trade. As well Canadians can support a respectable size army and air force to give Russians and American political leaders pause when contemplating the idea of invading the Great White North. Above all citizens of the Northern Kingdom should direct their federal government to end membership in the counter productive institution known as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization!
References:
NATO membership countries
1949 The 12 Founding members updated 11 March 2024 15:11
Retired Major General Scott Clancy
First World War (Plain Language Summary)
Published online July 9, 2021 updated by Fred Glover on July 9, 2021
The Canadian Encyclopedia
Second World War(WWII)
By C.P. Stacey published online July 15, 2013
updated by Richard Frost last edited on November 30, 2023
The Canadian Encyclopedia
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