CanPol: Thread of the Year Edition

[notyoueither]

But, of course, this must be like the 'aircraft carrier' issue of the last campaign, yes?

Nevermind that the Tories were talking about Marine Landing Ships, that use helicopters for deployment and extraction.

To you, Tingkai, they were 'aircraft carriers'.

[notyoueither]

So this is 500 rootin' tootin' killers, about to be stranded in the Arcitc by that cad Harper.

[Tingkai]

Pathetic as always NYE.

The Globe and the Star both say the ships would be designed to carry troops, a completely inefficient, unncessary capability that can be better done by aircraft.

The Armed Forces are spread thin, so now the idiot Tories want to stick 500 reg force members up in an isolated area protecting Canada from polar bears.

That's just stupid, and it goes to show that the Conservatives haven't got a clue about defence policy.

[notyoueither]

Why wouldn't they carry troops, Tingkai? They would be forces vessels afterall. Are you afraid of ships with big nasty men on them?

But 'armed vessels' does not mean 500 tubes firing CF personnel from them. I think it means they'll have guns, and maybe a few guys who know how to use them.

As for whether or not you, in particular, feel it would be a good idea for Canada to be able to protect our claims to the vast areas of land that we claim, yet have zero ability to even visit let alone patrol, I don't give a freezing fig.

[Tingkai]

Typical, false macho, chest thumping idiocy.

So the Conservatives get elected. They squander $9 billion on a base and ships in the far north. Then the Americans send a sub through our territory. What then? Are you going to attack the Americans.

Nope.

So what do we get for $9 billion?

Nothing.

[notyoueither]

We get a deep water port in the Arctic, and three ships that can maintain our claims there.

I understand if people who have little vision beyond next week's welfare cheque don't see the benefit. You'd be short-sighted idiots, like usual, but I understand your fundamental lack of any sort of vision beyond your next cheque from the nanny state.

[notyoueither]

In case you're wondering, I thought I'd float my own 'aircraft carriers' for this argument.

[notyoueither]

As for finding people to serve on the three 'armed icebreakers' I'd do it in a heart beat if I were the right age. I don't doubt that a nation of thirty million will find itself awash of 500, or a thousand, who have an imagination and a commitment to our common project. Afterall, we find people who want to not only go to Afghanistan, but go back after having been wounded.

Don't ever sell us short, Tingkai.

[Tingkai]

Merry Christmas

[Wezil]

Originally posted by notyoueither
We get a deep water port in the Arctic, and three ships that can maintain our claims there.

I understand if people who have little vision beyond next week's welfare cheque don't see the benefit. You'd be short-sighted idiots, like usual, but I understand your fundamental lack of any sort of vision beyond your next cheque from the nanny state.

[Wezil]

Originally posted by Tingkai
Merry Christmas

..and to you as well Tingkai.

[Tingkai]

If you really mean that, then Merry Christmas to you Wezil.

You see I was going to tell NYE that the obvious problem with the Conservatives these days is that it is full of armchair generals like him who have never served in the military.

I would point out that a helicopter landing ship is an aircraft carrier because helicopters are aircraft.

I would point out that with the exception of our coastal patrol boats, all of the ships in Maritime Command carry helicopters. Building mini-carriers would be pointless and a joke.



As for living on welfare, get real. I live in Hong Kong, and my job, well, suffice it to say that it is a dream job.

What's more important is that this is the holiday season. So I'll make a unilateral truce, and wish all of you, and your families, a merry Christmas and a happy New Years.

[Wezil]

Originally posted by Tingkai
If you really mean that, then Merry Christmas to you Wezil.

...

What's more important is that this is the holiday season. So I'll make a unilateral truce, and wish all of you, and your families, a merry Christmas and a happy New Years.

My major complaint with ACS is the lack of respect and politeness. You and I will disagree on most everything all year long but I can respect your position and still wish you a Merry Christmas.

[Tingkai]

ACS?

On the other stuff you said.

You still in Southwest Ontario?

Live in London for a year. Nice place, a bit quiet for me, but there are days that bustle of Hong Kong gets to me and I think about moving back there. The Freeps is not a bad paper and the people I know there are great.

[Wezil]

Apolyton Civ Site

Still in London. I live here but work all over southern Ontario (Toronto to Windsor and Niagara region).

I don't personally care for the city but we do what we have to do.