> This guy seems to have a better appreciation for his Canuck neighbours
than
> the average Yank.
>
> >
> > One American's View - David Meadows is a retired US Navy Captain and the
> > author of numerous books and articles on military subjects.
> >
> > This message was on the U.S. Military.Com website. You will find it
quite
> > positive. It appears that Mr. Meadows knows one helluva lot more about
> what
> > our military is doing than most Canadians. I trust this message will
> assist
> > to improve their knowledge.
> >
> > David Meadows ~ April 27, 2006
> >
> > On April 22, 2006 four Canadian soldiers were killed in Afghanistan by a
> > roadside bomb. Respects and heartfelt sadness go to the families of
those
> > heroes who stand alongside the U.S. In the Long War half a world away.
> While
> > we focus on the war in Iraq, the fighting continues in Afghanistan Where
> > side-by-side the U.S. And one of its most loyal allies, Canada, engage
the
> > re-emergence of the Taliban.
> >
> > Canada is like a close uncle who constantly argues, badgers, and
complains
> > about what you are doing, but when help is truly needed, you can't keep
> him
> > away: he's right there alongside you. We have a unique relationship with
> > Canada. We have different political positions on many issues, but our
> unique
> > friendship has weathered world wars, global crises, and the
ever-so-often
> > neighborhood disagreement.
> >
> > Canada has been with us since the beginning of the Global War on
> Terrorism.
> > In February 2006, without fanfare Canada, leading a multinational force
> > combating growing Taliban insurgency, increased troop strength in
> > Afghanistan to 2,300. With the American military stretched thin against
> > rising instability in both Iraq and Afghanistan, an ally that increases
> its
> > troop strength is inspiring and deserves our respect.
> >
> > Katrina was another example of our close family-like relationship.
Katrina
> > struck the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005. Two days later, the Vancouver
> > Urban Search and Rescue Team rushed from British Columbia, Canada to
Saint
> > Bernard Parish, Louisiana. In this Parish of 68,000 Americans, the first
> > responders were Canadians. Overall, within the devastated Gulf Coast
area,
> > it appears Canada was the first responder outside of local efforts. They
> > worked 18-hour days, going door-to-door alongside Louisiana State
> Troopers,
> > rescuing 119-Americans.
> >
> > While FEMA ramped up to surge into the catastrophe; while the
> administration
> > and Louisiana fought for the politically correct way to respond;
Canadian
> > aid was already at work.
> >
> > The Canadian Forces Joint Task Group 306 consisting of the warships HMCS
> > Athabaskan, HMCS Toronto, NSMC Ville de Quebec, and CCGC William
Alexander
> > sailed to the Gulf Coast to deliver humanitarian supplies. They stayed,
> > working alongside U.S. Navy and Mexican warships, to provide aid to
> Katrina
> > victims.
> >
> > Katrina was not an anomaly of our close relationship. When Hurricane
Ivan
> > devastated Pensacola, Florida in October 2004 Canadian humanitarian help
> was
> > there also. Canadian power trucks roamed the streets and countryside
> helping
> > restore electricity where Americans had a unique experience of running
> into
> > workmen who only spoke French.
> >
> > Canada took a lot of undeserved flak for failing to leap into Operation
> > Iraqi Freedom when our administration sent us galloping across the
desert.
> > But Canada remains one of our staunchest allies in the war. When United
> > States military forces were fighting up the highways in Operation Iraqi
> > Freedom, Canada quietly increased troop numbers in Afghanistan and
> continued
> > Naval operations with U.S. Warships in the Persian Gulf.
> >
> > I was at the Pentagon on 9/11, stationed on the Joint Staff. During the
> > early hours after the attack, the United States closed its air space and
> > ordered every aircraft within our borders to land immediately at the
> nearest
> > airfield. Canada immediately stood up an Operations Support Post. With
> civil
> > aviation grounded, aircraft destined for the United States were forced
> > elsewhere. Most landed in Canada. Re-routed travelers and flight crews
> were
> > hosted at Canadian Forces facilities in Goose Bay, Gander, and
> Stephenville,
> > Newfoundland; Halifax, Shearwater, and Aldershot, Nova Scotia; Winnipeg,
> > Manitoba; Edmonton Alberta. and, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
> >
> > Canada rapidly mobilized its forces. Within hours, the Canadian Navy was
> on
> > alert with ships preparing to cast off immediately for any U.S. Port to
> help
> > victims of the 9/11 attacks. Canada's Disaster Assistance Response Team
> > prepared to deploy from Trenton, Ontario. Canada dispersed CF-18 fighter
> > aircraft to strategic locations throughout Canada. No politics. No
> > negotiating. No questions. They were just there. Canada would have
fought
> > any adversary that approached the United States that day.
> >
> > Canada has been such an integral partner with the United States in the
> > Global War on Terrorism that on December 7, 2004 when President Bush
> awarded
> > the Presidential Unit Citation to Commander Joint Force South for combat
> > success in Afghanistan, he was also recognizing the secretive Canadian
> Joint
> > Task Force 2 commando counter-terrorism unit.
> >
> > The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded 30 Bronze Star medals for
> heroism
> > in combat to Canadian Forces personnel. Some of those 30 died in action.
> > Many of the others were wounded. These Canadians earned this American
> medal
> > for heroism fighting alongside Americans. When we recall our own dead
> > heroes, we must remember that these warriors gave their lives not only
for
> > Canada, but also for the United States.
> >
> > Canada is more than a neighbor. It is a close family member with the
> > gumption to disagree with its brother to the south but always be there
> when
> > disaster strikes and America needs help.
> >
> > For that, I salute you, Canada, and extend my respect for the sacrifices
> > given by members of the Canadian Forces.
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Per Ardua Ad Astra, HH
>
>
>
> --
16 comments:
WOW. I got goosebumps reading this and now I have little tears. It makes me feel even more proud to be Canadian than I already am. Thank you, Moose, for sharing this. I've copied and pasted it for future reference.
Babzy: That's how I felt too. I got this from a good friend who has a son in the Canadian forces.
And you've heard that old addage about strong fences...well, there really aren't any. Collaboration and friendship are always a good thing.
BTW, I recently read a book about the Hudson Bay Company's operations in early Washington history; it did an outstanding job of trade and relationship building with the Native population, much better than those treaties that followed with the US government.
Bonita, you are so right. For years Canada and U.S. had great relations. It seems to be only recently that things are starting to fall apart.Let's hope we can all fix this situation.
Hudson Bay Company did great things to open up the west.
Moose, you already know my feelings about Canucks. Please don't feel that you ever have to justify anything to me.
And don't let the B******s get you down. Bthe way, yer sheila's are pretty good, too.
I believe Canada/US relationship became strained when Canada chose to align with the United Nations and NOT support the US invasion of Iraq. USA has been holding a grudge ever since.
Even tho' most Americans want out of Iraq now, the grudge is still in place because we didn't roll over when they wanted us to.
Cat: Yes, I know how you feel and I appreciate it. I think you and I would et along just fine in life.
Our "sheilas" are nice aren't they?
Babzy; I think you may be right. Thank God for people like Catmoves, Bruno , Bonita and Deb and Lin. I would love to meet them all. Of course, Lin I already know.
I agree Moose. The yanks we know are good people. Actually I think most of them are. But like people anywhere, the mouthy ones get all the attention and that goes for this side of the border as well.
What's a sheila? Isn't that an Australian girl? I thought we were called beavers up here. I think that's a bad word.
Yes , it is too bad the mouthy ones get the attention.
I am assuming Cat meant girls when he said Sheila. It is a much better term than beavers.
I think our government has been taking Canadas' "good-natured approach" for granted way too much in the past. And such newsworthy items---such as the co-operation between the two, during times of national disasters---are all too often delegated to the "back-burner", no "profit-motive" for such reporting. For some reason, our country feels that Mexico is more worthy of their efforts. We haven't needed a fence between US, and Canada---YET!
Thank God for ME??? Naw, I'm not THAT worthy! Save that one for someone more deserving---too many skeletons that might fall outta my closet, and shatter that crystal goblet you're trying to fill for me....!!!
Bruno: Let's hope we get some wiser heads at the top so we never need a fence between Canada and the U.S.
And yes "Thank God" for you. We all have some skeletons my friend.
That was a very nice salute and one not undeserved. But I guess it's human nature to forget who your best friend is when you're busy trying to cover your back from everyone else on the street.
God Almighty, that would be nice! Wiser-heads at the top---we can only hope so, at least those of us "down-here"! But so far, the only thing we have "running" are the choices between POOR, WORSE, and GOD HELP US!!!
But that's just MY uneducated opinion! Although I sometimes wonder if---when it comes to elections---the choice of NONE OF THE ABOVE wouldn't be a viable option, in the future???
NAH! Just rantin' along! It helps to "lance the boil" once in a while, to relieve some pressure....!
Lin: I go that from a friend of mine whose son is in the Canadian Forces. I think it is a great tribute to Canadians and the long friendship the two countries have enjoyed for such a long time.
Bruno: I know about lancing the boil. Actually, I think our Prime Minister right now is pretty good. It is our opposition that are the Dumb-asses.
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