Should the UK and Canada trust the USA today

[Kathryn]

Those damn Canadians - I always knew they were up to something.

That's why I've got my tinfoil hat tuned in to their underground radio frequencies.

 

[sandandfoam]

The UK doesn't exactly have a sterling history when it comes to occupation and aggression.

Probably why their leaders get on so well with yours.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

The UK doesn't exactly have a sterling history when it comes to occupation and aggression.

Of course not, that is the role of the TOP dog. We are only now realising we can no longer afford it.

 

[Caladan]

Canada had one for the U.S. as well.

Defense Scheme No. 1.

I'll be watching penguins on the forum a bit closer from now on.

I've been watching him for a while. especially since I got one step closer to the Atlantic.

 

[Father Heathen]

I imagine powerful neighbours often have plans to invade their neighbours. Hadn't the UK a contingency plan for invasion of Ireland during WW2?

Good point. By Terry's logic you best keep a wary eye toward the Irish Sea less those limeys cross it in the night to come for your children.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

every nation. even today has 'drawer plans', some of which look like they were taken out of an alternate history literature.
War Plan Red was one of several hypothetical war campaigns. the US had such plans for Germany, Japan, China, Great Britain, Mexico, South American republics and the Philippines.

It was not hypothetical... they had started building airfields and setting up military camps at strategic crossings on the canadian border... some are still there. The plan had been approved.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

It was not hypothetical... they had started building airfields and setting up military camps at strategic crossings on the canadian border... some are still there. The plan had been approved.

As for the airfield thing... that's not exclusive to the area near the border.

Fun fact: in most areas of the US (and where terrain allows), one mile in five of interstate highway is built straight and level so that it can be converted into an airfield in time of war.

 

[sandandfoam]

Good point. By Terry's logic you best keep a wary eye toward the Irish Sea less those limeys cross it in the night to come for your children.

We haven't had a summer in 10 years. We're all broke and the banks are an anchor on our collective future.
No one's interested in invading us. They might have to stay .

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

It was not hypothetical... they had started building airfields and setting up military camps at strategic crossings on the canadian border... some are still there. The plan had been approved.

BTW - some of the Canadian military bases along the border are still there, too. For instance:

Fort Henry, Ontario - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Good point. By Terry's logic you best keep a wary eye toward the Irish Sea less those limeys cross it in the night to come for your children.

Technically Ireland was neutral during WW2. however it was, like all neutral countries a hot bed of Nazi spies and sympathisers.

Very many Irish citizens fought for the British as did Americans before the USA joined the war.

 

[gnomon]

The political stage has changed, but there is no evidence that people have in any meaningful way.

Some political trends have changed, but even the Nazis have a remaining rump.

China is in much the same stage as the USA was, vis the power of the British empire.
There are probaly other " plan Reds" on both sides leading up to the change in roles.
Lets hope that change is peaceful.

Of course people have not changed.

I have no doubt that our military leaders have contingencies established for conflicts involving Canada, Mexico, Russia, China, etc. That's what they do. Especially after the U.S. learned that not having an established military or any plans established led to the British burning down the White House. War Plan Red was written up during an especially volatile time with new socialist and communist revolutions sweeping over modern nations. I don't find such plans surprising at all.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

As for the airfield thing... that's not exclusive to the area near the border.

Fun fact: in most areas of the US (and where terrain allows), one mile in five of interstate highway is built straight and level so that it can be converted into an airfield in time of war.

They were built to accommodate the plan.( the American documents say so) The highway Idea is recent.

 

[gnomon]

That was within my life time.

How old are you?

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Of course people have not changed.

I have no doubt that our military leaders have contingencies established for conflicts involving Canada, Mexico, Russia, China, etc. That's what they do. Especially after the U.S. learned that not having an established military or any plans established led to the British burning down the White House. War Plan Red was written up during an especially volatile time with new socialist and communist revolutions sweeping over modern nations. I don't find such plans surprising at all.

Plan red was specifically against the powe of the British Empire. It was not in response to socialism or communism.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

How old are you?

Born in jan 1935

 

[Father Heathen]

So you honestly think the U.S. invading Canada, The U.K. or any other allied nation simply for ***** and giggles is a realistic scenario?

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

That the US isn't interested in invading Canada?

It'd be hard for me to come up with specific pieces of information, because this is so trivially the case that it's rarely if ever explicitly stated... like how it'd be hard for you to find clear evidence that the UK isn't planning to switch to gumdrops as its unit of currency.

The USA would love to own Canada and its resources. in the mean time it tries to control them.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

So you honestly think the U.S. invading Canada, The U.K. or any other allied nation simply for ***** and giggles is a realistic scenario?

No not for giggles ....it would be for Gain....
They would no longer want the UK except as a long term staging post off Europe. ( that has already been in earlier plans against the Soviets) and is often used as an aerodrome.

However Canada with such a small population and vast resources, including the Arctic , is a tasty morsel. Canada are well aware of the problem.

 

[Flankerl]

The answer is still probably yes. Because there is no evidence that the USA has changed the priority it gives to self interest, nor its propensity to attack those it can subdue.

Are you really not able to destinguish between two vastly different situations?

In situation 1 you have the vast british empire which probably could last 100 more years. With the biggest naval force that has ever sailed the seas.

Compared to... now. Where the glorious Royal Navy doesnt even have one aircraft carrier in service.


And you do realise that the UK had the exact same plans against the US right?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

They were built to accommodate the plan.( the American documents say so) The highway Idea is recent.

Baloney. They were built to make it difficult for the Russians to take out all of the US's air capability with a few well-placed nuclear missiles. It was the same mentality that gave rise to DARPANet/the internet.

The USA would love to own Canada and its resources. in the mean time it tries to control them.

But why buy the cow (or kill the farmer and take his farm) when you get the milk for free?