What Americans do not also know is that Canada and the US have a bilateral defence committe working IN the US on defence of North America. Canada also SUPPORTED AND IS STILL IN AFGHANISTAN..yes we are STILL THERE with the Us to combat terrorism because we are also against terrorism but do not support Iraq.

We have done many of the same steps such as the US in combatting terrorism..department of homeland defecne we have the Office of Emergency Prepardness and Public Health and Saftey (think i got that right) we have boosted our border security-SAFE BORDERS ACT signed by both the US and Canada among other things..and I have heard from the director of the CIA (defence class) commend our co-operation with the United States. I am not bashing our neighbours to the south but you are not the only one combatting terrorism and your media prehapes fails to pick up on the many bilateral agreements/and steps that Canada AND the US have taken..we are there with you as well you just dont hear about us

Well RACooper would sit there talking about how his 2nd rate military service where he wasn't even an officer qualifies him to be an armchair military expert, sound really dumb, yada, yada, etc.

-Rudey

Hey Rudey I'll give you another hint why I didn't go officer (other than the fact NCO have more fun).... it has to do with what my trade was; no officers allowed. As for qualifying as an armchair military expert... well I guess I am one now... but if Canada is so second rate why did the Marines select our LAV designs? rifle upgrades? uniform design (well runner up?), GPMG? I'd be interested to hear the opinion of such an estemed desktop general....

A) You weren't an officer because you didn't have a college eduation. Don't try and explain it any other way.

B) Actually the funny thing is that most people can come up with their own thoughts and not rely on some "expert". The funnier thing is that you are no expert. You served in the Canadian military and were not an officer and claim that this experience makes you understand psychology, forensics, politics, etc. I never claimed that service. I have no military experience. I do however read a lot and think quite a bit.

C) It's funny how I don't agree with tokencanuck, but I also respect him and his opinion. Now go ice skate back into the military grunt.

-Rudey

The unvarnished truth of the matter is that, in many ways, the professional NCO's keep the Armed Forces running.

Young officers (First and Secont Leiutenants) are pretty much like entry level managers -- they have a lot to learn. If they're smart, they take the advice of the NCO's who have been there and done that.

It's a little like the manager who has a great Administrative Assistant. The manager may make the big decisions, but the day to day operations are run by the AA (secretary).

A lot of the top NCO's are pretty damned impressive folks.

If you work somewhere that the secretary runs things for you, then don't be too upset when your job is being done by a man out of India.

-Rudey

Rudey,

Join the Army. Then you can be an expert, too.

Thankfully, I'm finished with it.

(Maybe you can fix this Halliburton mess)

What are you talking about?

You said secretaries often do most of the work for managers and I said those people can be easily replaced. Then you tell me to join the army? 1 + 1 = 3?

As for me joining the army: I'd join but I have a feeling you and your anti-war friends would spit on me when I got back. I'm only not joining because of you. I hope you're happy.

-Rudey

Nope I didn't have a college education, but when you are offered a commission you are offered a college (well university) education... but I felt that I wanted to get a civilian education, and not be commited to a another 5 years to the military.

Yes I served in the Canadian Military along with taskings on American and British posts... so I came to know quite about how each army operates. Further I'll list my training for you:
Qualification Level 2 (Basic)
Qualification Level 3 Armoured (Trade)
Qualification Level 4 Armoured (Gunner)
Qualification Level 4 Armoured (Recce)
Qualification Level 2 (Basic - again)
Qualification Level 3 Infantry (Trade)
Qualification Level 4 Infantry (Communications)
*Qualification Level 4 Infantry (Recce)
*Advanced Trades Training - Sniper 1 (Pre-Course)
**Advanced Trades Training - Psychological Warfare Phase 1
Advanced Trades Training - Brigade Command Support
**Enemy Force Operations - Rangers ('95, '96) (this was actually a lot of fun)
Ceremonial Guard ('94-'96)
UN Deployment - Former Yugoslavia ('94)

and for your edification course that I dropped out of:
*Airborne Operations (found out I don't like heights) which is why I never progressed further as a sniper.

>>>please note that a number of courses have changed over the years, and of course some are equivelancy designations (for training given by foreign military) any maked with * are non-Canadian courses (UK) or ** (US). If any of the military folks on the board care to chat fire me a PM and I'll relate more details.

So Skippy this is why I can claim some experience with military matters.... my backgorund and training gives me that right; just as your knowledge of economics makes you an authority in that field. All of this aside you claim that your knowledge gleaned from reading gives you the right to express your ramblings, well why doesn't it give others the same consideration.

Quite frankly I don't care who you respect Skippy... and I have to say I don't want your respect at all, because really it'd be worthless...

Don't beg the question, Rudey. You've been taking cheap shots at RJ Cooper about the military and being an NCO instead of an officer.

Just walk away from this one because you don't know what you're talking about.

As for being "anti-war," I admit to being "anti" this particular war. Maybe my personal military experience is why.

And, if you don't join because of me, maybe I've just saved your life. Be happy.

Beg the question? Actually, you can't seem to follow an argument. If you have your secretary doing your work, perhaps you're a bit sensitive. If you want to outright come and say something, do it...don't do a dance. I have friends who were in the military and against the war. I respect that. However if my friends started to go mountain climbing, dancing, glass welding, etc. and constantly claimed it was their military experience that qualifies them, they'd open themselves up to comments.

And please please buddy stop talking as if you're such a nice person. When I came onto GC you insulted my school. When I spoke about what I knew you insulted my experiences. I didn't knock anyone's experience but I did knock using an experience as qualifications for everything.

I will join the military if it needs me. Contrary to what you see, I see service to my country not just dying on the battlefield. But I would not shy away from my military duties if I was needed.

-Rudey
--And I'm still waiting on you to make that comparison to Vietnam.

Again, you were not an officer. And I did not say you should want my respect.

As for my Economics background. Well I have a science background (lengthier than my economics) as well as a public policy background. But I only use that to talk about the issue at hand. I don't use my economics background to talk about someone getting beheaded.

-Rudey

You got the wrong guy, pal. I didn't insult your school. You did, however, accuse me of beating my family.

I'm done with you.

You are right. I looked and it wasn't you. It was Conard who called people from my school 4 eyed cretins. I'm sorry for thinking it was you. As for you beating your family, it was an outrageous remark that was a joke. Nobody took it seriously. In fact I sent you a PM with an apology because whether or not I thought it was funny, evidently it hurt you. I could have been a prick and ran with it and it would have hurt you more and nothing would have happened to me, but I didn't.

And stop acting like you just dumped me with your little I'm done with you. It seems like you just want to argue with me and I don't know why. You're in love with me and I don't like it.

-Rudey

I have one comment-1) I am actualy a female....Xi Delta Theta Sorority at Carleton University in Ottawa.

and second..uh unless you are refering to other posts..how can you DISAGREE with my post on this subject when i was stating actual FACTS??? I was backing up the bilateral agreements between Canada and the United States and the fact that maybe the American media does not publish these facts as much as Canadian media..

So what are you disagreeing WITH? The fact that these agreements never occured??

Just curious