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How could Canada deter an invasion? Nukes and mandatory military service
(theconversation.com)
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this post was submitted on 17 Apr 2025
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A very reasonable position. I for one supoort this wholeheartedly. Sensible civilian firearms laws support in a symbiotic way the Canadian military. A wider body of markmens who maintain profficiency after service. It also supports a domestic small arms industry that can switch to military small arms when needed and pivot back. Canadian jobs, serving Canadian defense, using Canadian materials. It's also an export market.
I love the idea of 2 years mandatory military or civil service. Around the end of high school. Engagement, development and readiness of a much wider spectrum of society in common service to each other. There are very very few downsides.
Edit: I'm also a strong proponent of nukes. Nothing outrageous. Just a minimum viable second strike capability like the UK. Just enough to tell hungry eyes to fuck off and look elsewhere.
There are very, very many downsides to mandatory enlistment. Fuck that to hell and back. I will never use a gun in service of a state, nor perform any other function in support of the military of a state. Let alone fucking nukes??? What is the point in resisting a military state if we create our own at home anyway?? So that we hang a red and white flag over the bodies of dead 18 year olds who had literally no fucking choice in going to war and dying for nothing? I genuinely can't tell if you're joking or not.
I am not advocating. However, we should all understand that there are many countries with mandatory military service that do not use them in war.
In addition to military preparedness and defence, it can be an opportunity for greater citizen engagement and to significantly invest in training and skills. This has social and economic benefits beyond war.
Sweden has mandatory military service. How many wars have they started in your lifetime.
Again, not taking a position. Just pointing out that mandatory military service does not have to translate into young men in body bags.
I'm anti authoritarian, and that necessarily includes compulsory enlistment. We can also invest in training and skill development without forcing people under threat of state violence to join a military. I am also opposed to the draft no matter where it is still practiced. Anti-draft riots were some of the earliest workers rights movements.