Nov. 11: a time of sombre celebration and contemplation

Opinion. The views expressed are the author’s own.

Canada has a long and decorated history as a champion of international peacekeeping. That era is ending, and Canada’s armed forces are now being prepared for a potential conflict that could escalate into a global war.

Why the change? Canada had a renowned reputation as a peacekeeper, with a historic presence in Africa, Cyprus, the Balkans and elsewhere. Canadians have been proud of their soldiers, known for their professionalism, courage and determination. Now the government and the Canadian Armed Forces have shifted military investment away from peacekeeping and toward war preparation, spending billions to rearm, train personnel and position troops in parts of the world where conflicts can still be managed. We once felt safe under the umbrella of American military might, but no more. So we must increase our military budget, and we must have a reason to do so. We now see enemies everywhere: no longer nations or groups we could work with to bring about peace, but enemies who may attack us at any time.

In a way, Canadians are being Americanized, walking away from United Nations missions and aligning ourselves with national interests. Why? Like the American military, Canada’s armed forces and diplomats have concluded that UN military operations are often ill-conceived, beset by vague objectives, understaffed, under-equipped and, when it counts, paralyzed by a bureaucracy whose political compromises can make missions impotent and dangerous. And Canadian contributions were often not sent to the areas most in need.

Today, Canadian ships and aircraft take part in Operation CARIBBE, the fight against drug trafficking in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, and we are concentrating more on our own backyard in the Americas. Our soldiers are stationed in Europe as a barrier between our allies and an aggressive Russia: under Operation REASSURANCE, Canada leads a NATO multinational brigade in Latvia. Concern about a future Russian invasion remains real.

Our forces still take part in peacekeeping, but in today’s world of global conflict, they have to place our limited investments and troops strategically, to help our allies and serve our own national objectives. This Nov. 11 should be a celebration of our warriors, past and present. Our veterans’ courage and fortitude in the face of past global catastrophe, and today’s, should point us toward an understanding of who Canadians are, what our values are, and whether and how we can stand up to a world of conflicting values, national greed and undemocratic ambitions.

Steven Kaszab lives in Bradford, Ontario.

Editor’s note: this column has been edited for length and clarity. Troop numbers and two operation names in the author’s original submission could not be confirmed and were removed.