“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings” is a line from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. It appears in Act I
Yeah, here in Salmon Arm, I can make input to the Official Community Plan Draft by Saturday deadline but the Salmon Arm Financial Report ending Dec 2024 is available to the public till June 2025.
The CEO of Salmon Arm makes $200,000 a year including expenses but wont buy a Shure Intellimix volume adjuster for the 12 microphones used in the City Hall Council Meeting room/gallery so that we seniors can hear the 50% of the words that we cant hear now.
I want a compassionate tolerant version of DOGE to cut wasted dollars across Canada.
Screw trxmp mxsk the two pathological narcissists and their access to the Exescale computer.
Several bad things have happened in the past couple of days.
Trump administration firing the JAGs of his armed services - the men who rule on the legality of orders was a huge step towards capturing the US armed forces.
The 're-organization' at MSNBC, the only 'opposition' network in the US, is very chilling. It is a further step in the autocrats' total capture of the news. This is further confirmation that we can not count on capitalists to place democracy above the bottom line.
The vote at the UN not to condemn Putin's invasion of Ukraine is a historical step towards dismantling NATO and democracy - and paves the way for an invasion of Canada. It is not hard to imagine Putin and Trump sitting down to carve up the Arctic.
Is there any indication that the government is aware of the seriousness of the situation>
Absolutely agree. As a nation we must pay attention and also plan for the worst case scenario ( not just the expected scenario: too much to lose if we get it wrong). And I too am not sure our public officials appreciate the seriousness of it, or are planning for it (at least not in public statements). Here is what we need to prepare for:
1) A period of economic destabilization aimed at dividing our nation so that de facto or de jure loss of sovereignty is acceptable to a significant proportion of our population.
2) An increasing US disinformation campaign to effect a "divide and conquer" political strategy.
3) US intelligence operations in Canada supporting elements that are aligned with the ideology and objectives of the US Administration.
4) A direct US military incursion if the economic and political strategy fails.
In a short time frame (say under 5 years) it is unrealistic to increase our military capabilities to deter potential US aggression, so we need to think creatively and unorthodoxly instead.
The only realistic response to the aggression is a large scale non-violent, non-cooperative socio-political opposition. Central to this is the ability of our government to remain cohesive (i.e. intact) and for our security and defense establishment to provide a secure information and civil space to operate in, particularly in the latter stages of such aggression. I would suggest all of our communications infrastructure is vulnerable, and, therefore any ability to organize peaceful resistance would be limited. It is not clear to me any planning has been carried out to ensure the security of this capability (maybe many do not see this as a 'national security or defense capability' but it is!). Therefore, as a first step, ask your representatives and public officials, if as a nation we are prepared for the worst case scenario. While we cannot expect detailed explanations, we need to prepare for such a possibility. Please share, discuss and escalate. In particular, Charlie Angus, what is your perspective as an elected MP? Do you know if we are preparing for the worst case scenario? Words alone will not be enough to mount an effective resistance. A secure organizational capability to resist is crucial.
There is a lot to unpack. There are things to be done at all levels, some are fairly easy, like hardening and occupying critical infrastructure against sudden seizure. We don’t have to be able to defeat a large scale attack, just make it difficult and costly. Americans are sick of foreign wars.
Beware the 10th Mtn Div - it has been preparing to take control of the St Lawrence seaway and northern hydro dams.
My understanding is Canada has a total of about 50,000 in the armed forces, whereas the US has about 1,000,000 (it has 58,000 in special forces alone). Could fixed critical infrastructure be defended against sustained attack, or for just a short period? It seems to me our best response would be to coordinate targeted military and security operations with political and social resistance. What I imagine is the prime minister and key ministers would pursue diplomatic channels to isolate the US internationally. The military and security agencies would be tasked with protecting the the government (prime minister, key ministers, national security officials), and with ensuring the functioning of core critical infrastructure, especially communications. This might involve hardening and physically protecting sites, but it might also involve more novel ways of communicating that could not be easily disrupted by the Americans. The social response would be large scale protests coordinated by the government (which again requires a means to reliably communicate with the public). By constantly shifting and rotating the particular defense and counter attack, this would put the aggressor on the back foot, both politically and militarily. None of this would be easy, but if the core elements kept functioning, it would galvanize Canadians, and after a time the American and international opposition would grow. Hopefully enough pressure would form to reverse it, all with minimal violence.
Think of how effective the underground organizations were in occupied countries during WWII. While Canadians are no longer mainly rural people,most of us are still are at home in our forests , and in our rural and northern environment and would use those skills against any who would undertake to make us the 51st State
The escalatory steps I describe above are more nuanced. Shots will have already been fired *within* Canada---by Canadians on Canadians (at least ostensibly)---in step 3) above. American intervention would then be justified as a security operation to restore order and assist Canadian puppet authorities. I would suggest any shots fired would reinforce an illegal US Administration expansionist casus belli. This will unfold much more insidiously then just a full-on invasion without a lead up (study the annexation of Austria in the 1930s to get an idea of how it might work). And, unfortunately, Canada is effectively an unlocked car with keys in the ignition... The question remains: what is the best way to oppose this entire malignant strategy? When should force be used (and using force doesn't automatically mean shooting), and how should it be coordinated with a larger resistance strategy. The national resistance will have to be creative and agile to succeed.
I have little doubt that this war is coming to our soil. And some of us will be ready. Yet, it's a difficult endeavor because our own rules and laws, and what appears to be complete lack of support from our own government, get in the way. While our so called leaders are still talking tariffs, we have citizens arming and training themselves as best we can within the confines of our own laws. At present, our options are limited for being able to defend ourselves. We're fish in a barrel. And right now I'm as pissed off at our government for leaving us here to rot when we have every opportunity to do something to stop this. Our government is as bad as trumps.
A war will start right here at home, Canadians against Canadians, just to be able to acquire the tools we need to fight Americans. It's fucking shameful.
You are conflating partisan political objectives with national security. Given the short time frame we may have, there is simply no way we can defend ourselves by 'arming citizens'. This is fanciful and unrealistic thinking, and will lead to our downfall. Focus on what we could do to defend our sovereignty not on romantic fantasy. Eventually---if we get through this---we can build up our military, including dramatically increasing the reserves, and more gun rights if linked to national defense.
A significant portion of the population will need to be okay with being a “Christian nationalist” nation as that is what Trump and his Project 2025 are implementing. They believe that empathy is sin (so don’t help the poor, the sick, etc) and the only people of value are white, wealthy, “Christian” Republicans. The separation of church and state we are used to here will be gone and they will force their religion on everyone. We will have to live according to their theology (not the actual teachings of Jesus many Christians actually live by). The misinformation is insane. We need to bar X from Canada as well as any of Elon’s business ventures .
There was a time when a senior leader, civil or military, who proved to be a traitor was dealt with severely and expeditiously. What are Americans who recognize the demon waiting for? 🇨🇦
Also reflect on the message that ConOld has sent to NATO; the Atlantic Alliance isn’t worth the paper it is written on. The US has turned its back on Europe. The US is now untrusted around the world. Seen as a pariah, the US leadership of the free world has ended. At least until the people of the US come to their senses and reclaim their country from the fascist monsters they elected.
RIGHT ON- UNFORTUNATELY THEY WON`T COME TO THEIR ``SENSES`` AND WILL CONTINUE TO WREAK HAVOC ON THE ENTIRE WORLD- ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR ``EXCEPTIONALISM``
Imagine the United States being banned from the Olympics. They deserve the same treatment as Russia if they continue down this path. It may be a minor thought but it is something that could shake a few trees down here.
"If Russians feared a NATO invasion, they would not have created a situation in which Finland and Sweden join NATO, which they have done. By invading Ukraine, Russia created a new, very long border with NATO, its border with Finland. But because Russia does not fear a NATO invasion, it does not need to seriously guard that border, and does not."
No one is suggesting NATO plans or wants to plan an invasion of Russia. But they will rise to the defence of democratic countries and allies. The best path here is for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine.
I don't like boots on the ground but if Putin is brining in North Korean Soldiers we are obligated to help the bullied. I STAND WITH UKRAINE 🇺🇦
“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings” is a line from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. It appears in Act I
Yeah, here in Salmon Arm, I can make input to the Official Community Plan Draft by Saturday deadline but the Salmon Arm Financial Report ending Dec 2024 is available to the public till June 2025.
The CEO of Salmon Arm makes $200,000 a year including expenses but wont buy a Shure Intellimix volume adjuster for the 12 microphones used in the City Hall Council Meeting room/gallery so that we seniors can hear the 50% of the words that we cant hear now.
I want a compassionate tolerant version of DOGE to cut wasted dollars across Canada.
Screw trxmp mxsk the two pathological narcissists and their access to the Exescale computer.
Thanks Charliel
Thank you Charlie for keeping us informed.
Several bad things have happened in the past couple of days.
Trump administration firing the JAGs of his armed services - the men who rule on the legality of orders was a huge step towards capturing the US armed forces.
The 're-organization' at MSNBC, the only 'opposition' network in the US, is very chilling. It is a further step in the autocrats' total capture of the news. This is further confirmation that we can not count on capitalists to place democracy above the bottom line.
The vote at the UN not to condemn Putin's invasion of Ukraine is a historical step towards dismantling NATO and democracy - and paves the way for an invasion of Canada. It is not hard to imagine Putin and Trump sitting down to carve up the Arctic.
Is there any indication that the government is aware of the seriousness of the situation>
Absolutely agree. As a nation we must pay attention and also plan for the worst case scenario ( not just the expected scenario: too much to lose if we get it wrong). And I too am not sure our public officials appreciate the seriousness of it, or are planning for it (at least not in public statements). Here is what we need to prepare for:
1) A period of economic destabilization aimed at dividing our nation so that de facto or de jure loss of sovereignty is acceptable to a significant proportion of our population.
2) An increasing US disinformation campaign to effect a "divide and conquer" political strategy.
3) US intelligence operations in Canada supporting elements that are aligned with the ideology and objectives of the US Administration.
4) A direct US military incursion if the economic and political strategy fails.
In a short time frame (say under 5 years) it is unrealistic to increase our military capabilities to deter potential US aggression, so we need to think creatively and unorthodoxly instead.
The only realistic response to the aggression is a large scale non-violent, non-cooperative socio-political opposition. Central to this is the ability of our government to remain cohesive (i.e. intact) and for our security and defense establishment to provide a secure information and civil space to operate in, particularly in the latter stages of such aggression. I would suggest all of our communications infrastructure is vulnerable, and, therefore any ability to organize peaceful resistance would be limited. It is not clear to me any planning has been carried out to ensure the security of this capability (maybe many do not see this as a 'national security or defense capability' but it is!). Therefore, as a first step, ask your representatives and public officials, if as a nation we are prepared for the worst case scenario. While we cannot expect detailed explanations, we need to prepare for such a possibility. Please share, discuss and escalate. In particular, Charlie Angus, what is your perspective as an elected MP? Do you know if we are preparing for the worst case scenario? Words alone will not be enough to mount an effective resistance. A secure organizational capability to resist is crucial.
Good points.
There is a lot to unpack. There are things to be done at all levels, some are fairly easy, like hardening and occupying critical infrastructure against sudden seizure. We don’t have to be able to defeat a large scale attack, just make it difficult and costly. Americans are sick of foreign wars.
Beware the 10th Mtn Div - it has been preparing to take control of the St Lawrence seaway and northern hydro dams.
My understanding is Canada has a total of about 50,000 in the armed forces, whereas the US has about 1,000,000 (it has 58,000 in special forces alone). Could fixed critical infrastructure be defended against sustained attack, or for just a short period? It seems to me our best response would be to coordinate targeted military and security operations with political and social resistance. What I imagine is the prime minister and key ministers would pursue diplomatic channels to isolate the US internationally. The military and security agencies would be tasked with protecting the the government (prime minister, key ministers, national security officials), and with ensuring the functioning of core critical infrastructure, especially communications. This might involve hardening and physically protecting sites, but it might also involve more novel ways of communicating that could not be easily disrupted by the Americans. The social response would be large scale protests coordinated by the government (which again requires a means to reliably communicate with the public). By constantly shifting and rotating the particular defense and counter attack, this would put the aggressor on the back foot, both politically and militarily. None of this would be easy, but if the core elements kept functioning, it would galvanize Canadians, and after a time the American and international opposition would grow. Hopefully enough pressure would form to reverse it, all with minimal violence.
Think of how effective the underground organizations were in occupied countries during WWII. While Canadians are no longer mainly rural people,most of us are still are at home in our forests , and in our rural and northern environment and would use those skills against any who would undertake to make us the 51st State
All that is required is that a single shot is fired, this makes the idea much less tempting, although it won't stop a serious effort.
Trump only goes for easy victories.
It 's like leaving your car unlocked in a bad neighbourhood. Don't tempt the thief.
The escalatory steps I describe above are more nuanced. Shots will have already been fired *within* Canada---by Canadians on Canadians (at least ostensibly)---in step 3) above. American intervention would then be justified as a security operation to restore order and assist Canadian puppet authorities. I would suggest any shots fired would reinforce an illegal US Administration expansionist casus belli. This will unfold much more insidiously then just a full-on invasion without a lead up (study the annexation of Austria in the 1930s to get an idea of how it might work). And, unfortunately, Canada is effectively an unlocked car with keys in the ignition... The question remains: what is the best way to oppose this entire malignant strategy? When should force be used (and using force doesn't automatically mean shooting), and how should it be coordinated with a larger resistance strategy. The national resistance will have to be creative and agile to succeed.
https://open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p/the-weak-strongman-audio-and-text?r=1blptl&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
I have little doubt that this war is coming to our soil. And some of us will be ready. Yet, it's a difficult endeavor because our own rules and laws, and what appears to be complete lack of support from our own government, get in the way. While our so called leaders are still talking tariffs, we have citizens arming and training themselves as best we can within the confines of our own laws. At present, our options are limited for being able to defend ourselves. We're fish in a barrel. And right now I'm as pissed off at our government for leaving us here to rot when we have every opportunity to do something to stop this. Our government is as bad as trumps.
A war will start right here at home, Canadians against Canadians, just to be able to acquire the tools we need to fight Americans. It's fucking shameful.
You are conflating partisan political objectives with national security. Given the short time frame we may have, there is simply no way we can defend ourselves by 'arming citizens'. This is fanciful and unrealistic thinking, and will lead to our downfall. Focus on what we could do to defend our sovereignty not on romantic fantasy. Eventually---if we get through this---we can build up our military, including dramatically increasing the reserves, and more gun rights if linked to national defense.
I will say it again. We need a massive protest American Canadian and Mexican people rise up against oligarchs.
Absolutely agree!
https://snyder.substack.com/p/the-reality-of-ukraine
JANET- GO GENTLY INTO THE NIGHT-
Keep on spreading your message and speaking up for our country. We’re not going to just bend over and walk away from tyrants.
A significant portion of the population will need to be okay with being a “Christian nationalist” nation as that is what Trump and his Project 2025 are implementing. They believe that empathy is sin (so don’t help the poor, the sick, etc) and the only people of value are white, wealthy, “Christian” Republicans. The separation of church and state we are used to here will be gone and they will force their religion on everyone. We will have to live according to their theology (not the actual teachings of Jesus many Christians actually live by). The misinformation is insane. We need to bar X from Canada as well as any of Elon’s business ventures .
WOW- VERY INSIGHTFUL- KEEP SPEAKING UP AS SOME HAVE NEVER HEARD THE ``MESSAGE` YET
There was a time when a senior leader, civil or military, who proved to be a traitor was dealt with severely and expeditiously. What are Americans who recognize the demon waiting for? 🇨🇦
Also reflect on the message that ConOld has sent to NATO; the Atlantic Alliance isn’t worth the paper it is written on. The US has turned its back on Europe. The US is now untrusted around the world. Seen as a pariah, the US leadership of the free world has ended. At least until the people of the US come to their senses and reclaim their country from the fascist monsters they elected.
RIGHT ON- UNFORTUNATELY THEY WON`T COME TO THEIR ``SENSES`` AND WILL CONTINUE TO WREAK HAVOC ON THE ENTIRE WORLD- ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR ``EXCEPTIONALISM``
The US is also now regarded as unstable.
CORRECT YOU ARE
TOTALLY AGREE! AND WORSE THEY ARE NOT OUR FRIENDS
Many are friends and family. The current US regime is not a reliable ally.
Imagine the United States being banned from the Olympics. They deserve the same treatment as Russia if they continue down this path. It may be a minor thought but it is something that could shake a few trees down here.
"If Russians feared a NATO invasion, they would not have created a situation in which Finland and Sweden join NATO, which they have done. By invading Ukraine, Russia created a new, very long border with NATO, its border with Finland. But because Russia does not fear a NATO invasion, it does not need to seriously guard that border, and does not."
Thanks for clearing that up Prof Snyder.
🇨🇦👊🇨🇦
NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT YOUR GETTING AT BUT RUSSIA HAS QUITE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH INVASIONS -- SO ....?
No one is suggesting NATO plans or wants to plan an invasion of Russia. But they will rise to the defence of democratic countries and allies. The best path here is for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine.
YES! Yes, I am shouting my enthusiastic approval of your comment.
OH MY- HOW SAD REALLY DO YOU BELIEVE THAT? DO A BIT OF RESEARCH PLEASE, PLEASE, THIS THINKING LEADS US TO WW3
Yes someone is, does suggest that. Russia. Russia was not provoked, and uses NATO as an excuse to invade Ukraine. Demands Ukraine never join NATO.
People parrot that Kremlin premise for war all the time. It's a lie.
Russia invaded Ukraine illegally. If Russia wants peace, they only have to leave Ukraine. Leave and pay reparations.
POKE THE BEAR SEE THE RESULTS-DO SOME MORE INVESTIGATION I SUGGEST
No one poked the bear, that's the point.
Using all Caps means you're shouting. There's no need.