🇨🇦 1/There's a couple things that have happened this week that have set off my alarm bells as a Canadian

@mike There are few metrics by which the USA manages to avoid falling into the category of "fascist state," most obviously, when authorities can arbitrarily designate civil disobedience as domestic terrorism. Few conservatives think fascism is a good thing, so that's the shift you're seeing.

We're also seeing the late stage decline of the American Empire, which has been well underway for about three decades now. The problem with allowing one country to become "defender of the free world" (so-called) is that we haven't made adequate provisions for when that defender starts to truly implode.

@mike
I think Trump's attack on Venezuela, and kidnapping of Maduro, accelerated Canadian's distrust of the U.S. I thought about what I would do in the face of an invasion and I seriously considered asking my brother for my old firearms that I gave to him 40 years ago. A golf buddy was here yesterday to get help regripping his clubs and thinks a militia is needed immediately to bolster our forces. My neighbour thinks we're in a race to see what comes first - U.S troops occupying Ottawa or Trump stroking out on fast food.
This week made it clear. There are no controls on Trump's behavior. His actions are impulsive and lack any element of understanding cause and effect. You cannot deal with him in a diplomatic way because he's not rational. Common sense arguments and facts have no affect. It's hard to feel confident in the future when faced with that reality.

@mike The main #CanPol podcast Iisten to has been taking Pres. Trump seriously for a long time: https://www.readtheline.ca/podcast

For too long Canadians have thought they were immune from the dangers of the world. The last time Canada had military spending higher than 2% of GDP was while Brian Mulroney was PM; finally we're investing in hard power again. And our economic weakness vis-à-vis the Americans is another danger: the richer they are, the easier it is for them to push us around.

@paulbusch Personally I don't think small arms would do it no matter how well organized. Actually I think it would be less patriotic and more, suicidal. However we can resist in other ways.

@mike @paulbusch
Ukraine uses small arms fixed on drones, and it is quite an effective defence strategy.

@mike @paulbusch
Ukraine uses small arms fixed on drones, and it is quite an effective defence strategy.

@SnowyCA @mike @paulbusch

I dunno, guerrillas never lose a war (hello, Afghanistan, Vietnam, and others). I think America might be able to invade Canada, but they'll never be able to keep us - largely because of individuals and small arms.

On a not-unrelated note, I bought five books about conducting guerilla warfare a few days ago, and they've already arrived.

We all prepare as best we can.

@SnowyCA @paulbusch Ukraine does A LOT more than just drones with grenades. They have an armoured and artillery corp that is very large as well and a mechanized infantry corp that's been fighting since the 2010s. They also get satelite Intel from Europe and the US (for now). They also benifit from the fact that the Russians have been largely incompetent with their force deployments.

@SnowyCA @mike @paulbusch

Also, why do you think Chrystia Freeland is in Ukraine right now?

To give advice about finances, yes. But I imagine it's also to learn how a smaller power wins a war against a larger power.

@SnowyCA @mike @paulbusch

I dunno, guerrillas never lose a war (hello, Afghanistan, Vietnam, and others). I think America might be able to invade Canada, but they'll never be able to keep us - largely because of individuals and small arms.

On a not-unrelated note, I bought five books about conducting guerilla warfare a few days ago, and they've already arrived.

We all prepare as best we can.

@SnowyCA @mike @paulbusch

I dunno, guerrillas never lose a war (hello, Afghanistan, Vietnam, and others). I think America might be able to invade Canada, but they'll never be able to keep us - largely because of individuals and small arms.

On a not-unrelated note, I bought five books about conducting guerilla warfare a few days ago, and they've already arrived.

We all prepare as best we can.

@northernlights @SnowyCA @paulbusch How many of those are cold weather countries (Afghans had a fighting season), how long did those conflicts last (multi decade), how did they resupply (outside help). Your nearest comparable is Finland vs Russia and they have less than 1/10 the frontier to defend.

@northernlights

Don't forget the CIA released this: Simple Sabotage Field Manual

https://www.cia.gov/static/5c875f3ec660e092cf893f60b4a288df/SimpleSabotage.pdf

@SnowyCA @mike @paulbusch

@SnowyCA @mike @paulbusch

I dunno, guerrillas never lose a war (hello, Afghanistan, Vietnam, and others). I think America might be able to invade Canada, but they'll never be able to keep us - largely because of individuals and small arms.

On a not-unrelated note, I bought five books about conducting guerilla warfare a few days ago, and they've already arrived.

We all prepare as best we can.

@northernlights I would be fascinated if you shared some of what you learn from those books.
@SnowyCA @mike @paulbusch

@mpjgregoire We've always, existed at the leisure of the dominant empire. Canada has never been a country that is defendable by force of arms without a lot of outside help.

@paulbusch Personally I don't think small arms would do it no matter how well organized. Actually I think it would be less patriotic and more, suicidal. However we can resist in other ways.

@northernlights

Don't forget the CIA released this: Simple Sabotage Field Manual

https://www.cia.gov/static/5c875f3ec660e092cf893f60b4a288df/SimpleSabotage.pdf

@SnowyCA @mike @paulbusch

@mike CANZUK time. The Commonwealth has always been a useful balance to the influence of our powerful neighbour, and we could deepen our economic, cultural and military ties with our cousins therein.

@deadDuck @northernlights @mike @paulbusch
Better yet, may I inquire about the titles?