Should Canada have an army today and if so, should it continue to exist as we know it?

Many fine, responsible, well-educated answers, and a few incredibly stupid ones.

Now, to support what the prof. is trying to say.

The Regimental system is what we have. It's strengths over the American system are the regimental pride in accomplishments, long histories, and continuing brotherhood and support of ex-soldiers, through their associations, long after soldiers retire or leave for civilian jobs.

"Once a Patricia, always a Patricia".

The basic training of our soldiers, through the Battle School system, is much longer than other armies, even the American one. Our regiments have standards that are also much higher. 20 years ago, my basic infantry course had 93 members at the beginning, yet after 10 gruelling months, only graduated 26 professional soldiers, to be posted to their battalions, which meant West Germany for the PPCLI at the time.

Our army is much more highly respected than other armies, although it's size and chronic understrength is a problem.

In Germany, we worked with the German, American, French, British and Dutch armies. We were more actively cross-trained than any other NATO soldiers.

Into Yugoslavia during it's breakup, our soldiers, again the PPCLI, 2nd Bn, served with distinction, standing their ground and preventing "ethnic cleansing" at the Battle of the Medak Pocket.(look it up), while other armies would simply run away when danger appeared. In Sebrenica, 18 Canadian soldiers and one French General held their ground, where 170 Dutch did not, when they were rotated out, after their time was over. The result of our service there?

Ethnic cleansing, regardless of who is doing it, doesn't happen on our watch.

People in need, can trust a Canadian soldier to defend them, to his last breath.

Now, Afghanistan.

Yes, it is a long war, but if we get away from liberal press garbage and the whines of those with lesser goals and ideals, we are doing actually very well.

We have gone, with a very small army, into a location that is the leader of the Taliban's home town. We have repeatedly done an excellent job, pushing the Taliban out, and doing actions that would take much larger units from other armies. We have brought infrastructure, stability, and even clean water to many people in Afghanistan. We even participated in replacing a hydro turbine for a dam, bringing electricity to very many people.

Yes, we have taken losses.

This is a war.

It is not against the Afghan people, but against the Taliban, who are now mostly from Pakistan. We are helping a new democracy grow and give it breathing room to train it's new army to be professionals. Actually, we are doing that, too.

One tank?

We have 16 new tanks,and an assortment of older Cold War tanks in Afghanistan. The Royal Canadian Dragoons, Lord Strathcona's Horse, and the French RBC are all armoured regiments, which means a fair amout of armour, both light and main battle tanks. We probably have around 120 tanks and hundreds of Cougars now.

The LAVIII is advanced technology. so are the new Leopards. We have lots of new stuff, and our soldiers are every bit as capable, if not more so, with using new equipment.

Why are western armies, including ours, still needed?

Read the newspapers.

Study Psychology and Sociology.

There will always be evil people, through violence or oratorical skill, rising to power in the world. Without adequate checks and military balances, the world would be a much more violent place. This is our greatest military lesson of the 20th Century. Military balances, coupled with occasional use of some of these forces, are necessary to maintain peace, and prevent major wars. Our greatest example of this is the Cold War.

Our Canadian soldiers, in particular, are needed in the nastiest spots. We bring professionalism and "hold ground" when others do not.

It is Remberance Day. Everyone should be wearing a poppy, and be headed to your local cenotaph, to honor those who have fallen for what all Canadians should believe in.

Democracy, Freedom, Human rights, Peace.

Edit: To those posters who don't quite understand what is going on in the Middle East:

Afghanistan is not "Bush`s War" .Al Qaida, harbored by the Taliban, once rulers of Afghanistan, attacked us. There were Canadians in the WTC too.

Try understanding how military alliances work.

The Fifth Article of the North Atlantic Treaty basically states that an attack against one, is an attack against all, and that a group response must be carried out.

New York is in America.America is a member of NATO.

Canada is a member of NATO.

It doesn't matter who is President of the US. We are allies, and this attack could not go unanswered.

Iraq is a different story. That was not a NATO operation, therefore Canada did not participate, since Iraq did not actually attack a treaty member.

Alliances work to maintain peace, through having the strength and willpower to back them up. Without the resolve, the alliance, thus the balance that keeps peace, means nothing.

Next:

We are not "out there killing people and establishing a puppet government."

Hamid Karzai has done very well, in establishing his OWN democratically elected government, of which we are allied to, and supporting. Our troops are sitting in their foxholes, defending this government, not a puppet-state. We are doing rather well in training the new national army, especially around Kandahar, to eventually maintain their own security. They even join our soldiers now, as equals, into battle.

Please do a little more research into what our soldiers are doing, and the Middle East in general, before spouting off ignorance, confusing the politics of Iraq and Afghanistan.

It is Remembrance Day. Show some respect for our soldier`s altruism.

Sir,

I am glad you asked this question, and I am sure you will find quite a few of the answers here helpful, some poorly written, and others off topic for their attempts to convert others to religion when not asked for.

I do feel Canada should continue to have an army, a navy, an air force, and if possible marines too. Has it passed the test in Afghanistan? I am sure many of those who served and/or are serving in Afghanistan are better qualified to answer that question.

I am under the impression Canada has only achieved a rather mediocre mark. However, I would like to read an objective non-governmental report on the Canadian military's performance in Afghanistan, and am curious if that will be discussed in "The Fighting Canadians."

Our military has been stifled under a series of short-sighted civilian leaders for the last five decades. I think many changes are needed, and it should not continue the way it is now. Our military needs to be revitalized, and appeal once again to those whose only dream is not that of a peacekeeper in the U. N. As in other countries, the military can offer vital training and guide individuals into public or private security.

Lastly, there is a need for a National Guard which serves the country in the event of a natural disaster. Those who profess their dislike of war could do all of us a favour and take up medicine and gain the experience a term in the National Guard would give.

Thank you.

Yes, Canada should maintain an armed force. It would be nice if we lived in a world where there are no wars, but unfortunately we do. I do agree that the money being spent fighting wars by all countries could be put to more better use. The recent American election is a strong indication that the American people have had enough with wars and fighting as well. As for the mission in Afghanistan, it should not be abandoned. The attacks that occured on 9/11 were nothing more than outright murder. It was not only Americans killed that day but people from all over the world of every race and religion and it should be an international effort to bring those responsible to justice.

Yes the Regimental system is important. Saying that I'm speaking of military units drawn together from specific counties or cities (Brockville Rifles, Windsor Regiment, Toronto Scottish) - units of the Primary Reserve Force. I do not think it will survive, not due to warfare technology but rather our indifference - nobody in Toronto cares if the snow is shoveled by a member of a Canadian Forces unit with a history dating back to Riel's rebellion or not... just shovel the snow!

War will always be, and armies will always be required. Our will to use the army for it's intended purpose is what we have trouble understanding.

I always find it funny that people say that we are acting like americans when Canada sends her military to fight... looking at the past World Wars... Canada was in the fight first - in both cases. Perhaps the US learned from us!

Your question is moot. We have an army, which fulfils it's mandate given by the people of Canada. There is no point to asking if we "should" have an army, it is an integral part of our nation. Unless you suddenly become dictator - the will of the people of Canada is to have an Army.

Might it be improved? Might it be better equipped to deal with technological warfare? Certainly.

Is it adequate to the challenges presented by Afghanistan? Yes.

As for the philosophical or perhaps rhetorical part of your question;

In my opinion it is a fantasy to imagine that we would globally "beat swords into ploughshares" at any point in our near future.

War is not a curse, nor a disease, but it should always be a last resort when other means of negotiation are completely ineffective. It should not be entirely a financial enterprise without any cause but economic gain.

Life is too precious to waste on such a tawdry prize, but there will always be those such as myself who are willing to defend our family and friend and country - and even if there was no Canadian Army we would still be, de facto.

It's interesting that you should bring up the regimental system in Canadas army. Canada is one of the first countries that started promoting from the ranks. With the amount of technology in modern warfare it is more than likely necessary for some professions to go through some type of secondary education, but one of the reasons Canadas army was as successful in the second world war was as result of a break from the British class system. I am not sure that military college alone can be a replacement for experience on the ground.

The regimental system is very important. It is the soldiers new family. A family like no other. It is a 'network' that can be called upon in times of need. What other organization can effectively work for the welfare of its members and former members besides the Royal Canadian Legion? It is an important resource to maintain contact with old comrades as each soldier goes their own way later in life. It will pass the test in Afghanistan.

Canada should have a military. A force to be used intelligently and not emotionally. One of it's roles is as an aid to the civil power. It is a resource to deploy and use in time of natural or national crisis. I have lived through the October Crisis in Montreal. I was part of the military security force deployed for the 76 olympics and I served as a peacekeeper in the late 70's.

A comment to Laura: How is a peace keeping force supposed to keep peace in a nation like afghanistan? where there is not two belligerent forces, nor an aggressor commiting genocide? Afghanistan is not a war that has battle lines drawn on a map and people need to learn that an insurgencey can only be fought by a military and not a peace keeping force with restrictive ROE. War has evolved and so has the Canadian Forces. I'm proud to be joining in the spring, to do my part and support the country that has afforded me so much. I guess what it comes down to is even if you don't support the mission, support the troops! And tommorow at the 11th hour every one should take a minute out of their day to remember the fallen and those who have served and sacrificed so much for such a great nation such as Canada, and for such a great cause as freedom. Also we are at a really unique point in Candian History, right now we have 90 and 19 year old vetrans

Firstly, God Bless and protect all who serve. Yes Canada should have an army. As long as mankind has free-will, war will always be a threat, if not to our Country but somewhere. However, if an army were to continue to exist, it would need some restructure. I don't think there is a need to become as large and aggressive as the US or some other countries, but our troops are inadequate in numbers, appropriate equipment/transport, modern technology and likely training for what is out there - and what is yet to come. It's great that NORAD has us covered, but we already have so many advantages of just being Canadian, why can't we start to look after ourselves or at least take a stronger stance that would actually be heard and/or felt. We are peacekeepers and don't ever want to lose that, but one day we may have to stand totally on our own. Even if it is just a mass disaster.

Dr.Bercuson,

Well...you have asked many questions here, some of which I will attempt to address as a Canadaina and fellow Historian.

As you are well aware, at the completion of WW II, Canada's Navy was the second or third largest in the world at the time.

I believe it was under the governance of Lester Pearson, that our armed forces started their great decline, basically in members, equipment as well as the ever important government funding.

Canadian men and women soldiers, in my opinion have already passed the test in Afghanistan. They have been doing a valient effort with substandard equipment and insufficient personnel.

I believe the real question is, "Will Canada as a Nation pass the test in Afghanistan?" Following our deployment, will Canada have reclaimed some of it's military reputation on the world stage.

I believe with increased funding to bolster our membership as well as increase spending on equipment and resources, the answer will be "Yes"...we will, as a Nation, pass the test.

(2) War will always exist, and will always be "a curse of the human race" - Conflict has existed since the begining of man kind. There are far too many differing ideologies, either religous, forms of governing, or combination of both.

There will always be a disconnect between different societies and when diplomacy fails, armed intervention is sure to follow.

There will never be a time when all Nations on earth are following the same ideologies, therefore there will always be some type of diplomatic disagrements, which inevitably will lead to conflict.

War is a fundamental force of history. We will never totally eliminate it from the realm of human activity. As such every nation has an obligation to its citizens to be prepared for the need to defend against outside aggression, and to deal with large scale internal disasters, both political and natural.

As such the Canadian military has not been properly supported for a long time. Recently we've seen an increase in funding and proper equipment. But that has been sadly overdue. I think the equipment and training needs of our military needs to be addressed before we bother stressing about the regimental system. It doesn't really matter how you organize an army that's not trained or equipped to fulfil the mission. Canada has a very proud if short military tradition. But our governments and citizens have largely ignored this. It's nice to see our soldiers finally getting a bit of the attention and support they deserve.