Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Friday, August 17, 2012

Canadian Government Does Not See A Military Threat in the Arctic, Says DND

In June I wrote an article, based on DND documents, about how the Canadian Forces and DND view Russia’s interest in the Arctic.

The Conservative government has pointed to the military activities of Russia and other nations in the Arctic as a reason for a buildup of the Canadian Forces’ presence in the North. Government officials have maintained that the F-35 stealth fighter the military wants to purchase is required so the Royal Canadian Air Force can intercept Russian military planes that may fly near Canada’s northern borders.

The DND documents, obtained through the Access to Information law, pointed out that Russia’s creation of new military units for the Arctic and its decision to conduct a survey of its seabed in the region doesn’t pose a threat to Canada.

Last year, Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov announced his country’s intention to create two new brigades, totalling nearly 10,000 troops, to protect its interests in the Arctic. The forces are to be used to secure Russian borders and, like Canada, the Russians are also beefing up their coast guard and looking to exploit natural resources in their northern territory, according to DND.

“While many observers have commented in the media on Russia’s perceived provocative actions in the Arctic, there has yet to be any serious cause for alarm,” the analysts wrote in a July 2011 briefing for Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Associate Defence Minister Julian Fantino.

The Defence Department could not comment at the time on the analysis done by its policy officials. But now DND has finally gotten approval to release some information (this is how the public affairs process works these days – in this case it took about a month and a half to get approval from various DND officials, the Privy Council Office and the Prime Minister’s Office, to send an email to the Citizen with a response.)

DND public affairs advisor Elana Aptowitzer emailed that last week. Here is what it states:

The Government of Canada is committed to protecting Canada’s security and exercising its sovereignty in the North, including in Canada’s Arctic internal waters. From a defence perspective, relations with our Northern neighbours (including Russia) remain positive and are marked by cooperation in several areas, such as Search and Rescue.

Recently, Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff hosted a meeting of Chiefs of Defence and senior military officials from Northern nations (including Russia) in Goose Bay, during which they discussed common  safety and security issues in the region, including emergency response and support to civilian authorities. Arctic nations (including Russia) also participated in a Table Top Exercise hosted by the Canadian Forces in Whitehorse in October 2011 to help implement the Arctic Search and Rescue Agreement signed by the Arctic Council member states in May 2011.”

 DND was also asked about Russian activity in the Arctic. Here is the response:

“The Government of Canada is committed to protecting Canada’s security and exercising its sovereignty in the North, including in Canada’s Arctic internal waters. Defence issues do not drive Arctic affairs and Canada does not see a military threat in the Arctic, including from Russia.

 From a defence perspective, relations with Russia and our other Northern neighbours remain positive and are marked by cooperation in several areas given shared challenges associated with operating in the unique Arctic environment and the mutual benefit of exchanging lessons learned and best practices. Recently, Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff hosted a meeting of Chiefs of Defence and senior military officials from Northern nations (including Russia) in Goose Bay, during which they discussed common safety and security issues in the region, including emergency response and support to civilian authorities.

 Arctic nations (including Russia) also participated in a Table Top Exercise hosted by the Canadian Forces in Whitehorse in October 2011 to help implement the Arctic Search and Rescue Agreement signed by the Arctic Council member states in May 2011. National Defence looks forward to further bilateral and multilateral opportunities to continue dialogue and collaboration with Russia on Arctic matters.

Canada and Russia have a long history of working together on a wide range of Arctic issues.”

Original Article
Source: ottawa citizen
Author: David Pugliese

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