Canadian Complicity in the War on Iraq

[Libertarian Toker]

Canadian Complicity in the War on Iraq

http://www.nowar.ca/complicity.shtml

Many Canadians were dismayed to recently learn that the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is investing our retirement savings in manufacturers of dozens of world's deadliest conventional weapons, and their delivery systems.

Unfortunately, forcing Canadians to invest in businesses that profit from war is not an aberration in Canadian policy; it is completely consistent with our Canadian tradition. Canada has been a silent partner in U.S. wars for many decades. The most recent invasion and occupation of Iraq is no exception. The myth of â??Canada the global peacemakerâ?� looms large over Canada's collective self-image. It is how we see ourselves and the role of our country in the world, but it is largely delusory. In order to make this worthy dream an actual reality, Canadians will have to face the ugly fact that we are very deeply complicit in the U.S. war machine.

The Canada Pension Plan is forcing millions of Canadians to invest in businesses that profit from war. At least $2.55 billion, collected by the government from Canadians, is currently invested in domestic and foreign military corporations.

Donations to Political Parties
Between 1996 and 2002, Canadian military corporations (many U.S.-owned) donated at least $7.93 million to the Liberal, Progressive Conservative, Reform/Canadian Alliance parties (62% to the Liberal Party). However, the actual total of these political donations is probably much higher because there are so many legal loopholes that allow political parties to receive secret donations that do not have to be publicly disclosed.

The Canadian government's pretense that it did not support the latest Iraq war was repeated ad nauseum by the mainstream media. The ugly reality, however, is that Canada ranked third on the list of nations supporting the U.S. - just behind Britain and Australia. Many other governments, though contributing only a tiny fraction of what Canada did, were at least honest enough to admit their involvement. Canada's government was silent about its role in aiding and abetting this illegal war. It was unwilling to be declared a member of the "Coalition of the Willing," preferring - hypocritically - to act as if it had taken a principled stand against the war. Amazingly, the Liberal government's public relations experts once again skillfully managed to maintain their party's popular, but illusory, public image of a global peace-mongerer while simultaneously engaging in many blatant acts of complicity in this latest war:

Leading the Coalition's Navy
Canada led the multinational naval taskforce in the Persian Gulf. Some 1,300 Canadian troops, aboard state-of-the-art, multi-billion-dollar Canadian warships, rallied to protect U.S. aircraft carriers so they could "safely" position themselves to launch air strikes against Iraq.

Coordinating Air Battles
Canadian military personnel aboard E-3 AWACs aircraft helped to direct the war. E-3 aircraft are mobile nerve centres of modern air war. Canadian crews helped coordinate and manage air battles, and filled command, weapons control and communications roles.

Providing War Planners
Canadian war planners worked among the war strategists at U.S. Central Command (CentCom) headquarters at McDill Air Force Base, Florida. At least two dozen of these Canadian war strategists moved with CentCom when it relocated to the Persian Gulf, just before the war.

Providing Military Transport Planes
At least three Canadian CC-130 military transport planes were listed by the U.S. military as having helped to supply coalition forces during the war.

Parts and Services for Major Weapons
At least 100 Canadian corporations contributed components and/or services for at least 35 of the major weapon systems that were used in the latest Iraq war. Index listing Canadian corporations and the major weapons delivery systems that they provided with components and/or services: http://members.rogers.com/overcoat/PDF/10.pdf

Welcoming U.S. War Planes
U.S. warplanes have Canadian government permission to:
(1) fly through Canadian airspace to and from the war,
(2) stop over for refuelling in Newfoundland and PEI,
(3) "perform" at Canadian "air shows" to provide "entertainment" for children of all ages, and
(4) conduct low-level, training and bombing exercises through seven "flight corridors" in Canada.

Freeing up Troops
By providing extra troops for the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan, Canada freed up U.S. troops for the Iraq war.

Diplomatic Support
On numerous occasions, Canadian government officials gave diplomatic support for the war. For instance, Prime Minister Chrétien said that the U.S. had a "right" to go to war with Iraq, and that Canadians should not question the war because this gives comfort to Saddam Hussein.

RESOURCES
In 2002 alone, Canadian contractors sold about US$440 million worth of military equipment to the U.S. The vast majority of this hardware was used in the Iraq war. Links to data on 33 major weapons delivery systems used in current Iraq war, with Canadian components &/or services: http://members.rogers.com/overcoat/warmachines.html

Military Testing
(1) Two types of cruise missiles (AGM-86 and AGM-129) were tested in Canada, 1983-1994. [Editor's Note: It was this testing which led to the formation of Against Cruise Testing (ACT), in 1983. ACT evolved into ACT for Disarmament and began publishing the ACTivist in 1984] http://members.rogers.com/overcoat/PDF/32.pdf (2) The RQ-4A "Global Hawk" surveillance drone flew test flights over Alberta and BC in 2000.
http://members.rogers.com/overcoat/PDF/25.pdf

Canada: Top U.S. Supplier of Major Weapons in 2002
http://members.rogers.com/overcoat/PDF/38.pdf
Canada's Exports of Light Armoured Vehicles to the U.S., 1994-2002
http://members.rogers.com/overcoat/PDF/39.pdf
Canadian Corporations Selling Parts to the U.S. Military, 2001-2002
http://members.rogers.com/overcoat/PDF/40-43.pdf

Libertarian Toker Reviewed by Libertarian Toker on 11-23-2004. Canadian Complicity in the War on Iraq Canadian Complicity in the War on Iraq http://www.nowar.ca/complicity.shtml Many Canadians were dismayed to recently learn that the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is investing our retirement savings in manufacturers of dozens of world's deadliest conventional weapons, and their delivery systems. Unfortunately, forcing Canadians to invest in businesses that profit from war is not an aberration in Canadian policy; it is completely consistent with our Canadian tradition. Canada has been a Rating: 5

[Ed Ward MD]

Thanks for the info on the 'silent' nation Canada assisting the US to wage war. Makes me want to look at the other nations assisting and contributing clandestinely.

Ed

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[F L E S H]

Leading the Coalition's Navy
Canada led the multinational naval taskforce in the Persian Gulf. Some 1,300 Canadian troops, aboard state-of-the-art, multi-billion-dollar Canadian warships, rallied to protect U.S. aircraft carriers so they could "safely" position themselves to launch air strikes against Iraq.

Coordinating Air Battles
Canadian military personnel aboard E-3 AWACs aircraft helped to direct the war. E-3 aircraft are mobile nerve centres of modern air war. Canadian crews helped coordinate and manage air battles, and filled command, weapons control and communications roles.

Providing War Planners
Canadian war planners worked among the war strategists at U.S. Central Command (CentCom) headquarters at McDill Air Force Base, Florida. At least two dozen of these Canadian war strategists moved with CentCom when it relocated to the Persian Gulf, just before the war.

Providing Military Transport Planes
At least three Canadian CC-130 military transport planes were listed by the U.S. military as having helped to supply coalition forces during the war.

You realize that this is no secret, everyone in Canada already knows, or at least should know it if they pay attention. Canada said it would not go into Iraq with the Coalition. It didn't. Canada also said that in the spirit of friendship they would help the U.S. in any other way. We did. What's your point? You think you're revealing the secret of the century? sorry to burst your bubble. Any other assumption made on Canada's position is just that, an assumption.

However, that being said, i must honestly say that I don't think Canada did the right thing. We either should have helped the U.S. all the way, by joining the coalition, or preferably we should have stayed out altogether. But of course, Canada is very hesitant about going to war with the U.S. since American soldiers can't seem to differentiate between enemy soldiers and Canadian soldiers... Does any American even KNOW about how an American fighter jet killed 4 Canadians in Afghanistan because they thought they were enemy soldiers? Didn't think so.

So before you go criticizing other countries' foreign policy, check out your own first.

[Libertarian Toker]

"So before you go criticizing other countries' foreign policy, check out your own first."

My point exactly! Seems to me Canada does a lot of finger pointing at the US. I wonder, do they really think we don't know about what they point at? I noticed you skipped right over the retirerment plan. Did it slip your mind? Or maybe you think if you ignore it long enough it will go away. Ignoring that type of thing could be why you have that type of thing in the first place.

"Does any American even KNOW about how an American fighter jet killed 4 Canadians in Afghanistan because they thought they were enemy soldiers? Didn't think so."

Why yes, I knew, and so did the rest of America the day it happened. It was all over the news. Mainstream and itty bitty creeks alike.

"everyone in Canada already knows, or at least should know it if they pay attention."

Which is it? Does everyone in Canada know, or not? You can't have it both ways. Just because you think they should know doesn't mean they do. I wonder if you knew about your pension plan? I suppose if you act like it is not there long enough it might go away eventualy. But hey, lets expand on this leave us alone we already know thing you got going. Can I apply that to the USA? Contrary to what you might think, Americans are very informed. I know it is much easier for people to label US as uninformed, but the fact of the matter is a little different.

I posted this, and it came from Canada btw, because it shows Canada in a light I think some people would rather not see. Your questioning if I know you know already means to me that you think I didn't need to post this. But it wasn't really for Canadians and people that know, it was for the people of the US that have to always hear how Canada is such a caring and anti-war country. Here we find it is not as clean as is claimed. Retiring off of war profits? What kind of a deal is that for people that claim such rightiousness as Canadians do? Enjoy your retirerment, people died so you could have it.

"What's your point?"

Well, I'd say that mostly it is that I am tired of hearing people complain about the US while ignoring their own complicity. After a while it gets old hearing how the very people helping US in this war are the ones claiming to be so against it and US. We are called all manner of BS from Canada and the UK, and both are knee deep in the shit thenselves. How often do you see people from the US attack someone just for being from the UK, or Canada? How often is does the reverse happen? At least the UK has the balls to admit they are in it. Canada seems more content to hide it's support behind a wall of hate.

"However, that being said, i must honestly say that I don't think Canada did the right thing."

So you think ignoring it will change that? If you don't like what it is your government is doing, why not speak out against it? It should be you posting this stuff, not me.

Toker

[F L E S H]

Actually, I admit I didn't know about the pension plan stuff, you got me there

I guess what I was trying to say is that people in Canada know how hypocritical our government can be, and frankly we've lost interest. Sadly, it seems that here no matter how many people protest, the government just doesn't care. The Liberal party has been in power for more than a decade, and they know they are invincible because there is no fucking alternative here. The Conservatives are seen as being "Bush North", and the NDP is too small, the Bloc Quebecois just plain sucks from A to Z.

The image many people around the world have of Canada is one that dates back to the 60s and 70s. Sadly, things have changed here. But we in Canada can't help it, so it's up to others I guess to change their view of Canada.

[Libertarian Toker]

Oh that's just great! Ruined by a post I can't really find anything wrong with. What am I supposed to do now? Agree? You were supposed to call me a stupid American or something of that nature. Oh but no, you have to show up being all reasonable and calm. You know this was going to be a pretty good arguement until you showed up acting like that!

Toker

[The C]

Stupid american, always talking shit.

So negative.

[Libertarian Toker]

Stupid american, always talking shit.

So negative.

Now thats more like it! Thanks!

Toker

[The C]

Ha Ha, no thankyou libertarian Toker.

Now what can i do about it?

Hows that for ya? Eat it up if you can!

[F L E S H]

Oh that's just great! Ruined by a post I can't really find anything wrong with. What am I supposed to do now? Agree? You were supposed to call me a stupid American or something of that nature. Oh but no, you have to show up being all reasonable and calm. You know this was going to be a pretty good arguement until you showed up acting like that!

Toker

Being reasonable is the meek Cnadian way, eh?