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#41
Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...
Last post by Grey Fox - March 02, 2026, 05:06:14 PMBC is making the sensible choice and moving permanently to Summer time this weekend.
#42
Off the Record / Re: The EU thread
Last post by Jacob - March 02, 2026, 05:05:19 PMQuote from: Legbiter on March 02, 2026, 04:42:51 PMReally good overview video Jacob. I learned quite a bit. I didn't know the Dutch had such a good marines contingent.
#43
Off the Record / Re: The EU thread
Last post by Legbiter - March 02, 2026, 05:04:58 PMCanada seems like a shoo-in for JEF once they've beefed up their military. You'd be the Finland-like meatshield in the West like Finland is in the East.
#44
Off the Record / Re: The EU thread
Last post by Jacob - March 02, 2026, 05:00:18 PMThat said, even if the UK isn't expanding and modernizing at a pace you (and I) find desirable, your current capabilities are still substantial and worthwhile in the context of the JEF.
Several of the constituent members ARE increasing their financial commitments and modernizing (some from lower baselines, admittedly), so capabilities are continually increasing.
Currently according to the video, the JEF nations colletively have roughly the following assets:
Obviously not all of them are likely to be deployed to a given hotspot (and the video touches on some of the constraints), but it is a non-trivial set of assets to provide second thoughts for any Russian invasion planners.
The key point here, I think, is that there are real capabilities with real and practiced interoperability, and that those capabilities are attached to a decision-making structure that is more nimble and more closely aligned in values. In case of a potential Russian attack on say a Baltic nation, there could be a credible response on a much faster timeline than one that had to defer to EU decision-making speeds (whether a need for longer German deliberation processes or Orbanesque obstruction) or catering to whatever narcissistic self-dealing dog-and-pony show the US might require.
It also, I think, provides an existing structure for other aligned nations to attach to in case they are inclined to respond more quickly - say the French or Canada or Poland or Germany.
Yes more materiel and capability would be better, and there are legitimate criticisms about defence policy and spending (both past and present) for each of the constituent nations, but practiced interoperability and the ability to sidestep more cumbersome decision making in case of emergency is valuable and - to me - reassuring.
Maybe JEF can't hold a concerted Russian attack back singlehandedly at length (wouldn't it be nice if it could), but if it can respond quickly to minimize initial Russian gains and bloody Russian noses while the EU and NATO at large get their shit together, that's very valuable. And it is something that Russian planners will have to account for, that can potentially make an initial attack less appealing.
Several of the constituent members ARE increasing their financial commitments and modernizing (some from lower baselines, admittedly), so capabilities are continually increasing.
Currently according to the video, the JEF nations colletively have roughly the following assets:
QuoteActive Personnel: ~400 000
Reserve Personnel: ~1.6 million
Naval Displacement: 700 000 tonnes
MBTs: ~1 000
Artillery: 3-4 000
Fighter Aircraft: ~700
Drones: ~3 000+
SOF Personnel: ~10 000
Obviously not all of them are likely to be deployed to a given hotspot (and the video touches on some of the constraints), but it is a non-trivial set of assets to provide second thoughts for any Russian invasion planners.
The key point here, I think, is that there are real capabilities with real and practiced interoperability, and that those capabilities are attached to a decision-making structure that is more nimble and more closely aligned in values. In case of a potential Russian attack on say a Baltic nation, there could be a credible response on a much faster timeline than one that had to defer to EU decision-making speeds (whether a need for longer German deliberation processes or Orbanesque obstruction) or catering to whatever narcissistic self-dealing dog-and-pony show the US might require.
It also, I think, provides an existing structure for other aligned nations to attach to in case they are inclined to respond more quickly - say the French or Canada or Poland or Germany.
Yes more materiel and capability would be better, and there are legitimate criticisms about defence policy and spending (both past and present) for each of the constituent nations, but practiced interoperability and the ability to sidestep more cumbersome decision making in case of emergency is valuable and - to me - reassuring.
Maybe JEF can't hold a concerted Russian attack back singlehandedly at length (wouldn't it be nice if it could), but if it can respond quickly to minimize initial Russian gains and bloody Russian noses while the EU and NATO at large get their shit together, that's very valuable. And it is something that Russian planners will have to account for, that can potentially make an initial attack less appealing.
#45
Off the Record / Re: Iran War?
Last post by HVC - March 02, 2026, 04:50:53 PMQuote from: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on March 02, 2026, 04:15:23 PMIt wouldn't be Languish without regularly-derailed threads. We need to figure out how to make it about the American Civil War, though.
Looks like it took a while, but the south is finally winning. Gotta admire the long game.
#46
Off the Record / Re: Football (Soccer) Thread
Last post by HVC - March 02, 2026, 04:49:11 PMQuote from: Norgy on March 02, 2026, 04:41:09 PMThey might win it. Just to spite Trump.
If Canada can't win it with hockey glory, soccer is not the runner up sport to do it with
#47
Off the Record / Re: Football (Soccer) Thread
Last post by Sheilbh - March 02, 2026, 04:46:04 PMQuote from: Valmy on March 02, 2026, 11:37:37 AMThat would ruin Gianni Infantino's chance to award the FIFA Peace Prize once more to President TrumpQuote from: Duque de Bragança on March 02, 2026, 11:35:23 AMPity they are in the middle of a civil war vs cartels.
I was about to say...maybe we should just move the entire WC to Canada.
#48
Off the Record / Re: The EU thread
Last post by Legbiter - March 02, 2026, 04:42:51 PMReally good overview video Jacob. I learned quite a bit. I didn't know the Dutch had such a good marines contingent.
#49
Off the Record / Re: Football (Soccer) Thread
Last post by Norgy - March 02, 2026, 04:41:09 PMThey might win it. Just to spite Trump.
#50
Off the Record / Re: Iran War?
Last post by Norgy - March 02, 2026, 04:40:28 PMQuote from: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on March 02, 2026, 04:15:23 PMIt wouldn't be Languish without regularly-derailed threads. We need to figure out how to make it about the American Civil War, though.
Grant is under-rated. Send him to Arabia. Whatcha mean Iran is not Arabian?