Ghost of a flea

Defence Scheme Number One

"Joint Army and Navy Basic War Plan - Red," is a 94-page document detailing American plans for an invasion of Canada. The strategy relies on cutting off Canadians from British assistance and the West from central Canada while seizing nickel production at Sudbury and hydroelectric generating stations at Niagara. The plans are slightly out of date being of the 1930 vintage (with more recent 1934 and 1935 varieties) but I expect our southern neighbours might still harbour some ambitions toward our precious nickel. Fortunately, we may still rely on Defence Scheme Number One if not on much British help.

Matters in the Arctic are slightly more tricky. I can appreciate American interest in maintaining the right to navigate international straits. After all, it is the Americans who are doing the bulk of the high-seas policing that dampens piracy and allows shipping to move cars and bits of bicycles around the place. In the case of the Northwest Passage, however, I think long-term American interest is better served by acknowledging Canadian sovereignty thereby restricting access to the Chinese and otherwise preventing whatever who knows who else are up to in thirty years' time. In the meantime, I hope what passes for a Conservative government in this country gets on with building the deep water port at Iqaluit, the military icebreakers and the underwater sensor network.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at February 13, 2006 09:25 AM

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