The Long War Journal: Distant Northern Neighbors

Written by Bill Roggio on February 24, 2005 12:05 PM to The Long War Journal

Available online at: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2005/02/distant_norther.php

As President Bush tours Europe to mend the stressed relationships with European leaders, our northern neighbor has chosen to opt out of participation in the Nuclear Missile Defense (NMD) program, which is designed to protect North America and eventually other allies of the United States. Canada will continue to cooperate with tracking aerospace threats via the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), but will not take part in program development or deployment. The main reasons cited for not participating in NMD are “dislike of President Bush's policies” and concerns about the effectiveness of the system (DefenseTech is highly critical of the prospects for NMD).

The Brookings Institution has a good Questions and Answers piece on NMD, weighing the pros and cons of NMD, and includes discussions on the viability of the technology, concerns about NMD increasing the proliferation of long range nuclear weapons and the difference between national and theater missile defense technologies. The Bush administration views Theater Missile Defense (TMD) as part of the overall nuclear shield. TMD consists of short and medium range mobile missile systems designed to protect US troops in theater as well as regional allies (protecting South Korea from short range North Korean theater missiles is an example of a mission of TMD). TMD weapons systems include the Navy’s AEGIS/Standard Missile air defense system (testing is being conducted today), the Army’s Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS), Theater High Altitude Area Defense [THAAD], and the Patriot PAC-2 and PAC-3. Incidentally, the United States has agreed to sell India the Patriot PAC-2 air defense system, which would render Pakistan’s nuclear threat obsolete. Pakistan is fearful and warns against the sale.

Canada’s decision to refrain from participating in the Nuclear Missile Defense program will not cripple the program; however it does limit future options for taking advantage of Canada’s unique geographic location, according to Dr. George Lindsey, a Senior Research Fellow at the Canadian Institute for Strategic Studies:

“If the US eventually does decide to deploy some form of NMD, whether with or without the support of its allies, and whether with or without an amended ABM treaty, there is no doubt that it could do so without any cooperation from Canada. But, depending on the nature of the system that they choose, Canadian geography, and the active participation of the Canadian armed forces, Canadian research agencies and Canadian industry could be of significant value.”

The decision to opt out of NMD is a reflection of Canada’s leftist internal politics. Canada has been distancing itself from the United States in matters of international politics and national defense, to the detriment of the United States’ security. China already possesses nuclear weapons capable of striking the United States, and the current slide of Russia, which also possesses the capability to strike the US, back to totalitarianism and opposition to the West should concern Canada. Future threats of nuclear proliferation and long range capabilities are real, not imagined. North Korea is working to develop nuclear weapons and missiles capable of striking the continental United States. Iran is on target as well.

On thing is clear: Canada will reap the benefits of a missile defense system whether or not she helps pay for it and allows deployment on her soil. There is no doubt the US would attempt to intercept a missile launched at our northern neighbor. This has been the American way for the past century, as our continued defense of Europe, Japan, South Korea and other nations demonstrates.

Perhaps Canada believes it can distance herself from the United States’ foreign policy, attempts to defend from nuclear threats, and the Global War on Terror. This is a naive position to take, as the radical Islamists do not differentiate between good and bad Western cultures. All are infidel to them, and Canada faces a real threat from Islamic extremists. Canada’s lax immigration and border security, flirtations with implementing Sharia law and rejection of Nuclear Missile Defense are not encouraging signs for those depending on Canada to help defend the North American continent from current and future global threats.

Update:

In the official declaration of the rejection of NMD, Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin states “Canada recognizes the enormous burden that the United States shoulders, when it comes to international peace and security. The substantial increases made yesterday to our defense budget are a tangible indication that Canada intends to carry its full share of that responsibility.”

The "substantial increases"? A $10.8 billion dollar increase in defense spending over the next five years. The Nuclear Missile Defense program will cost the United States over $50 billion itself during the next five years. All just part of a half-trillion dollar defense budget. Sure, Canada recognizes America's burden in the realm of internation security. The Canadians just don't want to do much to ease that burden.

The US Ambassador to Canada reinforces the fact that the United States would shoot down any missile aimed at Canada (article via NPI):

But U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci told reporters Wednesday that he was perplexed over Canada's apparent decision to allow Washington to make the decision if a missile was headed toward its territory.

"Why would you want to give up sovereignty?" he said. "We don't get it. We think Canada would want to be in the room deciding what to do about an incoming missile that might be heading toward Canada."

The answer is simple, Ambassador Cellucci. The Canadian Left, which dominates the government, realizes the United States is no threat to their sovereignty and would not allow a nuclear missile to strike Canada if it can be prevented. They can get the United States, whom they despise, to defend Canada from nuclear threats at no cost. Why would they pass up the offer?