The 11th Canadian Province

Adam Silverman has spent time with Canadian Forces leadership. I have spent time in Canadian bars. There’s a difference, I recognize. But let’s talk for a minute about Adam’s observation in a BlueSky thread, where he points out that it wouldn’t be a big deal for Canada to invade and occupy North Dakota or Montana.

Since I grew up in a state dotted with ICBM sites and a nuclear-capable Air Force base, I've known for a long time that one of the major assets that we have in the US is a friendly ally to the north. For example, there’s an Air Force base in Minot, ND, about 40 miles from the Canadian border. It’s an indication of just how good our relations are with Canada that you can look on the fucking website of that base and find that they have 26 nuclear-capable B-52s and 150 ICBM sites. We’re not worried to tell the world about it, because who would have ever thought that an Air Force base smack dab in the middle of the country near the border with our best ally would ever be in danger from a foreign power?

There is nothing between Minot and the Canadian border but prairie. Oh, sorry, there’s the International Peace Garden, a monument to the lasting peace between our two countries. I think it would be fitting tribute to the Trump administration if Canada decided to run their APCs and troops through that border crossing if they were to invade us.

There are no Army or Marine bases in North Dakota or Montana. There are Air Force bases with nuclear weapons and base security. That’s it. I’m guessing a few hundred troops and a few helicopters. Canadian forces have a base in Shilo, Manitoba, three hours from Minot, which is home to the 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery and the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. Both are mechanized infantry.

The key point I’m making here is that a Canadian surprise attack would be successful, and then they’d be the third largest nuclear power on earth. I mean, I’m not saying they wouldn’t get their hair mussed…

It’s only residual politeness keeping the Canadians from making this point.

Elbows up, indeed. We are engaged in acts of idiocy that are hard to fathom.