War is a Racket
Smedley Butler, the most decorated soldier in the American Army, came to the conclusion ‘War is a racket’ after spending his life fighting what he thought were good fights. They were just battles to make rich People RICHER.
Butler came to mind yesterday after I read 2 particular articles. And, remember, Canada is suffering an epidemic of intimate partner abuse. Usually, that is a physical manifestation of frustration, figuring a result of financial hardship.
And, this morning I woke up to the news Canada is giving Ukraine yet MORE fckn money: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/g7-leaders-meet-italy-frozen-asset-deal-ukraine-1.7233550. We’re contributing OUR money to Ukraine, not Interest from frozen assets. The whole appropriation of Russian assets may be Freeland and Trudeau’s idea, but I am telling you someone in our government knows it’s stealing to assume Russian monies. I would even think profiting off the Interest.
So, back of mind: OUR desperate need and OUR government’s counter-intuitive generousity to Ukraine. (Counter-intuitive because you’d think our government would help US)
And, weapons.
We’re giving yet MORE guns to Ukraine, from above: Defence Minister Bill Blair met with the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Belgium on Thursday and announced plans to send the first shipment of 2,000 decommissioned rocket motors used by the Royal Canadian Air Force to Ukraine.
Canada will also donate close to 30 Nanuk remote weapons systems, which is a remotely controlled weapons station that can be used on armoured vehicles. Blair also said the government is sending more than 130,000 rounds of small arms ammunition to Ukrainian troops.
Canadian money and purchased weapons to Ukraine.
So, yesterday, I read this article in The Star: https://www.thestar.com/politics/just-how-far-should-canada-go-in-helping-ukraine-m-lanie-joly-says-she-wants
And, I didn’t understand what was meant by Melanie Joli’s phrase ‘strategic ambiguity.’ It made me think of the Houthis, totally unrelated. But, I did notice to whom she was speaking: Joly, speaking to a conference of political, policy, business and academic experts sponsored by international risk advisers Eurasia Group and BMO, did not pronounce on that question.
An audience paid to attend an event by business interests. So, advocates of their interests.
OUR Minister of Foreign Affairs said Canada is among 20 NATO allies and all G7 nations which have signed an agreement on long-term security commitments to support Ukraine over the long haul.
Like Ukraine is the priority despite CANADA not declaring war on Russia? Strategic Ambiguity? Definitely a moral one.
And concluded with Canada has made contributions to arming Ukraine, but said “we need to make sure there are more air defence systems.”
She added Canada has bought an air defence system from the U.S. for Ukraine, but that “it needs to be delivered.
Basically, OUR Minister of Foreign Affairs attended a gun show, diplomatic circles may apply different words, but Melanie Joli talked to business interests about weapons and the need to BUY more. Like I said yesterday, the big guys don’t have to justify their products’ purchase, just demand they be bought.
Hence, why so many weapons don’t work. It’s a different type of monopolized market. Countries at war HAVE to buy guns.
The thing, though, is Canada is not at war so WE DON’T HAVE TO BUY GUNS. So, WE shouldn’t be buying, so, why are we? Smedley came to mind.
The second article that I read was from CBC: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/nato-spending-trudeau-joly-business-council-canada-1.7231776.
Our membership in NATO relies on the purchase of more guns? Not functional weapons?
OUR 2% NATO commitment is premised on GDP, not weapons that work. Previously, I have written how other countries are defeating Western Militaries using CHEAPER functional weapons. My favourite example is the Houthi closing off the Red Sea and defeating the American Military using CHEAP Drones. I over emphasize, but clear evidence that the most expensive guns are not the best.
Again, it is business interests demanding the NATO contribution: One of the country's leading business voices is warning that Canada faces "diplomatic isolation" if it's not prepared to deliver a concrete plan next month to raise defence spending to meet NATO's benchmark.
The BUSINESS council submitted a letter to the government that said: The consequences that would result from this diplomatic isolation, in terms of both our security and economic partnerships, will have broad ramifications for all Canadians," says the two-page letter to the prime minister, dated June 7, 2024.
"Fortunately, it is not too late. Your government could still make a public statement prior to the summit that it will review and revise its defence spending plans to achieve the full two per cent by 2029-30
With emphasis on GDP commitment rather than functionality of weapons.
Canada has been called out for its failure to meet that 2% NATO commitment, most noticeably by the Americans who just want us to buy their guns. And, probably why both cons and libs haven’t. Canada has its own weapons manufacturers making me wonder if they are cheaper weapons producers than the Americans.
It is the Economic Council demanding we act. It is the Americans watching our Defense spending. They are the ones demanding that 2% GDP; they are the ones demanding we buy their guns.
It is OUR tax dollars supporting the American economy. At the cost of OUR citizens.
Cause all this giving money away for a conflict we have not declared a war for adds to OUR national deficit.
We can’t pay for schooling completely, including university and trades; we can’t pay for Healthcare completely, including drugs and parking (cause that is double taxation, if you think about it).
But, we CAN pay for weapons that don’t work, can be bought cheaper elsewhere but choose not to buy them, and which purchase are from one country to be used in another country. That’s messed up.
And, makes me wonder about the braintrust in this country thinking it’s acceptable, and how their rationale works for other financial matters.
Smedly Butler became a Peace Advocate because he could see war is just a scam for business interests to make money. He could see it a 100 years ago.
Nothing has changed.