So, here's my defense plan for Canada. Basic philosophy: it is unsafe to wait for an attack.
1. Get public confirmation from NATO that Article 5 applies even if the aggressor is also a NATO member.
2. Send an ultimatum to Washington demanding a public acknowledgement of Canadian sovereignty by the President and confirmation of non-aggression.
3. In the absence of that acknowledgement, sever diplomatic ties, close the borders, and embargo trade. Blow bridges, tear up roads and rail lines.
@evan there is one problem I potentially see with closing the borders: trans people from the US who might be seeking asylum in the next few months and years.
@ch0ccyra1n there are 193 other countries on the planet, but I'm sure something could be worked out.
@brennx0r@mastodon.social@evan @ch0ccyra1n If the US government declares martial law and flights are grounded, there are only two countries that are feasible escape routes.
@brennx0r @ch0ccyra1n I don't know what to tell you. Canada is a real country with almost 40M people in it, not an imaginary safe zone for American dissidents. I think it's imperative for all countries to take in refugees and asylum seekers, but maybe procrastinating until there's a war happening on the border you're trying to cross isn't the best plan.
@evan
as a German, it very much reads like third reich. I talked to couple of random others, yes the speed of USA degredation scares us. It is faster than in our nightmares/known timelines.
Including stories like:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_St._Louis
Try to learn from the past. Central Europe had its fair share of wars and is now in its longest peace period.
So help folks to get out early if they want. We most likely realize always too late when the right time has been.
@evan @brennx0r @ch0ccyra1n you’re right, but #Canada would be wise to accept all the scientists, engineers, & technicians who are escaping the US.
@Breedlov @brennx0r @ch0ccyra1n agreed. And obviously I am not in charge of Canada's defense. I don't know how a country defending against an invasion keeps a corridor open for refugees and asylum seekers from that same invading country. Maybe it's possible, I dunno.
@evan @breedlov @brennx0r @ch0ccyra1n And please turn them against us. Anything to beat us.
@evan @breedlov @brennx0r @ch0ccyra1n Given the amount of money the US spends to keep people from entering the US from Mexico, and the success rate of people crossing anyway, I'm confident people who want to enter Canada from the US will be able to do so.
Similarly, the US tried mightily to prevent alcohol from entering the US from Canada during the 1920s - booze got through just fine.
@breedlov @evan @brennx0r @ch0ccyra1n
Maybe. Some might stay and to those: welcome.
But when things settle down I expect bunches of them to return to the States. For these ones, I would not want to spend too much effort, or divert resources that could otherwise be spent making Canada stronger.
@dj3ei @brennx0r @evan @ch0ccyra1n
https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Whataboutism | (how replaces what)
I'm really with @brennx0r's general argument.
I just think besides Mexico and Canada, Cuba might also be reachable by people desiring to flee the USA, by ship. It's a minor detail and an attempt to round off that argument, not to contradict it in a basic way.
@brennx0r @evan @ch0ccyra1n not sure you're aware, but airplanes are a thing.
@chad @evan @ch0ccyra1n If you read my last post, I mention how flying might not be possible to those who asked for none of this
@brennx0r @chad @ch0ccyra1n apparently the Ukrainians kept humanitarian corridors running across the front lines in their war, so I'm sure the Canadians could figure out something similar. But: crossing the front lines in a shooting war should be a last resort, not a primary plan.
️ @evan @brennx0r @chad @ch0ccyra1n if we get to this point, my primary concern will be relocating my people to the Sierra foothills to ride out the inevitable nuclear strikes.