Canada pulls out of military exercise with Russia

Opinion

Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor

Perhaps Canada's Military pulling out of joint exercises with Russia's military is a good thing all things considered and world opinion against Russia.

Certainly the Canadian Military do not want to be seen as a military supporter of Russia's invasion of Georgia.

Nato countries usually have combined exercises with each other as learning tools and simulated combat scenarios with each other, Alberta a prime battleground for MilCons, with the US, Britain. Germany and Canada as  battle participants in War games.

Certainly the Russians are no stranger to actual wars, which are not games.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=37a23df8-cc80-4f44-af03-f509910a2d2a

Canada pulls out of military exercise with Russia

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Jack Branswell Canwest News Service

(Photo Inset) CREDIT: Denis Sinyakov/Reuters A Russian soldier stands in front of the Russian state emblem in the South Ossetian capital of Tshinvali

Canada today announced that it would be pulling out of joint military exercises with Russia, scheduled to begin Aug. 20.

FREDERICTON - Canada is pulling out of a joint NORAD-Russian exercise to protest the Russia's occupation of Georgia, Defence Minister Peter MacKay said Thursday. "As a result of recent events in Georgia we have formally taken a decision not to do that, not to participate in an operation that was known as Vigilant Eagle, which would have involved Canadian, American and Russian forces," MacKay said.

"It would be clearly inappropriate under the circumstances based on Russia's breach of territorial integrity in Georgia.

" The U.S. made the same announcement earlier Thursday about the exercise scheduled to begin Aug. 20 and it is clearly an attempt by the two countries to bring some pressure to bear on the Soviets for their actions in Georgia.

MacKay said that he thinks Canada and the U.S. are sending an important message with that "based on that type of aggressive behaviour we will not participate in the exercise.

"I hope it is a message that says the world is noticing your actions.

" MacKay made the announcement late Thursday outside of a Conservative pre-election style rally speech by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.