- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 410
(written by a friend, published by the Toronto Star)
Oct. 4, 2001. 01:50 AM
" Remember the Maginot line, Art "
Re Under the gun, National Report, Sept. 29.
As I read about Defence Minister Art Eggleton attacking his critics, and blithely suggesting he is preparing for the future and not the past, I cannot help but feel that Eggleton himself is indulging in some "Maginot line" rhetoric.
Readers will recall that the Maginot line was a series of fortifications built to defend France against attack from Germany.
At the outset of World War II, what was Germany‘s solution to the Maginot line?
It simply went around it. Thus, we fast forward to the present day. Canada has an elite anti-terrorist unit named JTF 2, trained to rescue hostages on hijacked airliners, among other scenarios. Now, let‘s stop and think for a minute.
Four airliners were hijacked on Sept. 11, and their hijackers crashed them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon - no demands or negotiations. Thus, all our armed forces could do was watch helplessly.
Mr. Eggleton, don‘t be misled into defending Canada with another Maginot line.
If the opportunity arises whereby the Canadian army can be employed to administer some preventative medicine, please avail yourself of the opportunity.
Don‘t wait for the terrorists to come to you, take the fight to them.
Clyde MacGregor
Toronto
Oct. 4, 2001. 01:50 AM
" Remember the Maginot line, Art "
Re Under the gun, National Report, Sept. 29.
As I read about Defence Minister Art Eggleton attacking his critics, and blithely suggesting he is preparing for the future and not the past, I cannot help but feel that Eggleton himself is indulging in some "Maginot line" rhetoric.
Readers will recall that the Maginot line was a series of fortifications built to defend France against attack from Germany.
At the outset of World War II, what was Germany‘s solution to the Maginot line?
It simply went around it. Thus, we fast forward to the present day. Canada has an elite anti-terrorist unit named JTF 2, trained to rescue hostages on hijacked airliners, among other scenarios. Now, let‘s stop and think for a minute.
Four airliners were hijacked on Sept. 11, and their hijackers crashed them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon - no demands or negotiations. Thus, all our armed forces could do was watch helplessly.
Mr. Eggleton, don‘t be misled into defending Canada with another Maginot line.
If the opportunity arises whereby the Canadian army can be employed to administer some preventative medicine, please avail yourself of the opportunity.
Don‘t wait for the terrorists to come to you, take the fight to them.
Clyde MacGregor
Toronto
