Why do we have police forces? Most of what we see them do can be done by meter maids, crosswalk attendents and Commissionares.
First and foremost, an army is a political tool of a government. It indicates that a government has the means to exert force, or demonstrate the threat of force, when political measures fail. In an international spectrum, possessing armed forces and the capability to project force (however slight) across the globe demonstrates a capability to be a player on the world stage; to have an active part in international decision-making that affects our way of live.
It may be that the most visible manner in which Canada exercises its ‘civic‘ responsibilities in the world community is partaking in peace-keeping; but that cannot be done credibly by an alternative organization. Peacekeeping a la late Op SNOWGOOSE (Cyprus) may have been mostly a mundane routine; but early missions in the Balkans were nothing like that and were no place for folks in reflective vests waving "stop" signs.
Domestically, the Canadian Forces was the best, if not the only organization that had the personnel, equipped with basic transportation and communication resources, having an in-place command and control structure and the corporate responsibility to respond. I cannot envision what we would maintain on a similar scale SOLELY for response to national emergencies with 10-15,000 personnel. Similarly on domestic issues, it is the military trainintg and support system that maintains much of our national search and rescue assets, maintains our nuclear, biological and chemical terrorism emergency response, that provided divers for the Swiss Air disaster and that provides the personnel and training for our counter-terrorist force (which the RCMP gave to the military after declaring they could not sustain it).
At what point do you consider our need for an armed forces ceased? After the War of 1812, the last direct assault by organized armed units on our territory? After 1864, when the affiliated threat of Union invasion as a spin-off of Confederate trade with Britain ceased? After the Fenian raids? After 1902, following our participation by wide public acclaim in the Empire‘s little war in South Africa? After 1918, when we returned from the First World War; where 61,000 of 626,000 Canadian soldiers died defending OUR ideals of peace and democracy? After 1945, when we returned from the Second World War, with one of the largest fleets in the worls; after 42,000 deaths from 1.1 million servicemen. Or maybe it faded when we withdrew our Brigade from Europe, did that indicate in your mind that we no longer had any responsibility to the nations with which we share defensive alliances? Or is it during the peacekeeping era; which has seen Canadian participating all over the world at a cost of over 120 dead to date, building a world-class reputation for professionalism and respect for our nation.
What does having an Army materially give to you, a teenage boy from the Prairies - probably nothing.
Ask me again after you gain an understanding of your own responsibilities as a citizen, both of Canada and within the world. Travel the country and the world, see what your military does at home and abroad. Understand that the nature of our democratic system relies heavily on the sacrifices of the soldiers from your father‘s, your grandfather‘s and your great-grandfather‘s generations. We may have a similar governmental system today if we‘d never gone overseas to fight, but of what value would that be if the majority of the world existed in dictatorships?
We exist as a sovereign nation because our nation has always maintained a will to step up in times of crisis and defend the mores of our nation. I, for one, think the Canadian citizenry gets that pretty cheaply for what they afford the services and I do not think saving those few billion dollars annually and becoming a ward of the US is worth the trade.
Don‘t ask what a the Army does for you; try asking what it does for your nation.
Mike
