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RatFink wrote:

bullsmurf and you know it.  First of all up until a year ago the Navy couldn't to much other then show up and return fire if they were fired upon and even still they are very limited in what they can do.   The reason we don't have widespread piracy is that it the repercussions of a government supporting it would be suicide as the rest of the world would shut down the country economically because no government would trade with them and even if a government would, no ship will sail anywhere near that country.  What is left is countries without government or ones with poor or corrupt policing and it both cases are means of the pirates are quite limited and don't pose any serious threat to shipping and most of that kind of piracy can be prevented with armed crews, water hoses and the new sonic deterrents.

You seem to be completely unfamiliar with the activities of groups like JTF-HOA. Saying their anti piracy activities are limited speaks to a limited understanding of the situation. Not only do they do out front activities like returning captured crews, but they also are heavily involved in training local .govs to build up their own forces.

I would love for you to explain to me the necessity of bases in Canada?  You afraid the 1500 miles will be the critical decider when the polar bears decide to go on the offensive?

Obviously they man the NORAD radar net that tracks everything and space along with defending North American airspace among other things. Just because you are completely ignorant of what the .mil is involved in doesnt make it useless.

RatFink wrote:

Steyr AUG wrote:

You seem to be completely unfamiliar with the activities of groups like JTF-HOA. Saying their anti piracy activities are limited speaks to a limited understanding of the situation. Not only do they do out front activities like returning captured crews, but they also are heavily involved in training local .govs to build up their own forces.

JTF-HOA is a largely advisory group that's mandate is to counter extremism in the region.  It isn't nor never was set up to hunt pirates.  It's only been a few months since CTF-151 (which I might add is set up to be an international force, not just a US one) was formed and the military (and government) started looking at piracy as a military problem.

Obviously they man the NORAD radar net that tracks everything and space along with defending North American airspace among other things. Just because you are completely ignorant of what the .mil is involved in doesnt make it useless.

NWS NORAD radar stations in Canada have been under 100% Canadian command and operation since the USAF pulled out in 1990.  Try again.

P.S. using internet TLD as acronyms doesn't make you look smarter.

Try again: http://www.norad.mil/News/2009/040509.html

It sure looks like the US military still has some involvement. Oh, in case you were wondering, the Air Force now has a space command: http://www.afspc.af.mil/

The scary thing is, you are probably a registered voter.

Steyr AUG wrote:

...helping to ensure the USA retains its status as a top economic power along with keeping the rest of the global economy moving freely.

when the U.S. Navy starts behaving like the British Navy did in the 1600-1700 to combat piracy, then you might have a leg to stand upon. The U.S. Navy isn't "combating piracy" with their bases. We haven't even acted in a manner that is as strong as when we were opposing the Barbary Pirates, and we were even negotiating a settlement with those political entities.

The U.S. bases around the world are to project our power, so that we may have the ability to react quickly to something that affects our national security.

But as for keeping our status as a top economic power, that's a bit more far fetched. Our presense allows us to clear sea lanes for our commerce, it doesn't have squat to do with our economic status, or in keeping the global economy moving freely.

Remove the political double-speak and you have a glimmer of reality.

RatFink wrote:

JTF-HOA is a largely advisory group that's mandate is to counter extremism in the region.  It isn't nor never was set up to hunt pirates.  It's only been a few months since CTF-151 (which I might add is set up to be an international force, not just a US one) was formed and the military (and government) started looking at piracy as a military problem.

You sound fresh off google son. Advising indigenous forces to build their LE/maritime functions is quite critical towards stopping piracy, especially in that area. The simple fact is that the .mil does a lot work to ensure US, and consequentially other nations, goods can flow freely throughout the global marketplace.  Being able to strike any enemy, any place on Earth in as short amount of time as the US can is quite the deterrent against criminal activity towards US flagged vessels & cargo.

NWS NORAD radar stations in Canada have been under 100% Canadian command and operation since the USAF pulled out in 1990.  Try again.

Really? You better tell that to the many USAF and other US personnel working hand in hand with Canadians, in Canada, manning NORTHCOM/NORAD stations.

.yawn

I feel victimized by Canadian imperialism. There are Canadian troops stationed in the U.S. RIGHT NOW!

::: hands RatFink a coup stick :::

Your word that they are, Steyr, isn't a solid basis to make the assertion the other way, either.

Like I said your word doesn't carry any greater weight than RatFink's. And the contention of too many U.S. forces in Canada had no reference to NORAD. They could have just as easily have been Navy personel.

sturner wrote:

Like I said your word doesn't carry any greater weight than RatFink's. And the contention of too many U.S. forces in Canada had no reference to NORAD. They could have just as easily have been Navy personel.

Perhaps not to you. Simple fact is that there are many US military in canada working in the NORAD/NorthCom mission, just like there are Canadians here in the US doing the same. You can choose not to believe that, but it doesnt change the fact that they are there.

Last edited by Steyr AUG (2009-06-29 3:23 pm)

I would rather you comprehend the sentence that I wrote instead of trying to be right.

::: hands Shnicky the fresh trout :::

Discipline away.