Whose War Is It?: How Canada Can Survive the Post-9/11 World

by J.L. Granatstein

What if a major earthquake devastated the west coast of North America, killing thousands of people, flattening entire cities and fracturing the economy? How would the Canadian government address the crisis when many of our already weakened forces are deployed in Kandahar or in supporting roles? Or suppose terrorists attacked the Toronto subway system during a convention of Canadian and American emergency-room physicians? Would our military have the manpower, equipment and technical resources to protect our citizens and visitors? Granatstein says never mind hypothetical—and completely probable—threats; our military is incapable of dealing with current and ongoing crises that require well-trained, well-equipped and properly deployed troops, supported by a confident military policy. He argues that Canadians’ once-vaunted role of peacekeeping is no longer relevant in a post-9/11 world, since recent missions, from Somalia to Kosovo to Afghanistan, are akin to war. Granatstein also takes Canadian attitudes to task, criticizing our increasing reluctance to support a military presence in countries such as Afghanistan. Whose War Is It? asks the questions Canadians need answered right • How can we negotiate with US policymakers when anti-American sentiment is affecting our military and foreign policies? • Do multiculturalism and our immigration policy make us vulnerable to terrorist attacks? • How can we protect our northern sovereignty most effectively? • What should we do about a “pacifist” Quebec? • Just what are Canada’s national interests, and how can we advance them? In the same tradition as his #1 bestseller Who Killed the Canadian Military?, Whose War Is It? is a hard-hitting, timely clarion call to arms.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, History

246 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Jack Lawrence Granatstein is a Canadian historian who specializes in Canadian political and military history. Granatstein received a graduation diploma from Royal Military College Saint-Jean in 1959, his Bachelor of Arts degree from the Royal Military College of Canada in 1961, his Master of Arts degree from the University of Toronto in 1962, and his Doctor of Philosophy degree from Duke University in 1966.

Reviews

[Truthcansuck Goring · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am currently reading this book, and if the introduction is any indication, it's gonna disappoint...

Seriously, he starts his argument by suggesting that, in the event of a catastrophic earthquake, which leads to massive power outages, which in turn leads to both rioting in the streets and terrorist cells across Canada letting off airborne chemical weapons and bombs, Canada's military might just have a rough go of it.

I mean... Jesus...

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The argument in this book can be summed up with the following sentence: "I believe that anti-Americanism is a poison afflicting the Canadian body politic, an attitude that hurts the achievement of our national interests."

This book was written in 2007, pre-Trump, so it's hard to know if the author would hold the same line today. I imagine he would. He says Canada assumes it has a natural role as peacekeeper, but it doesn't, nor can it afford neutrality, and the countries where its peacekeepers serve don't necessarily love that they're there either. It also argued that Canada is making itself dangerously vulnerable by not investing in its military, and that its residents are delusional to think such an investment isn't necessary. On this front, it reminded me a lot of Peter C. Newman's 1983 book "True North, Not Strong and Free: Defending the Peaceable Kingdom in the Nuclear Age."

It starts with a pretty implausible scenario, set in the future of 2015, where a big earthquake hits Vancouver (complete with the fictional mayor dying in his condo) at the same time that there are multiple terrorist attacks elsewhere in the country. The author's arguments in the other chapters are as follows:

- We idealize peacekeeping and think it's effortless and just sort of what we do as a country, and that everyone adores us for it.
- We shouldn't hate on America because it will damage the country. He also says that America notices when we hate on it. He also says he wishes Canada had joined the U.S. in Iraq.
- We should do more to establish our sovereignty in the Arctic because as Stephen Harper said, if you don't use it, you'll lose it. He acknowledges the melting of Arctic sea ice and says as that happens, other countries will want to get their hands on the resources. He calls it the next Alberta.
- Quebec is pacifist, rendering it useless to the U.S. in the event that it seceded from Canada. Quebec sent way fewer troops per capita overseas during the Second World War, he says, and Quebec shouldn't be pacifist.
- Canada should welcome immigrants but make sure they have the same values because there are terrorist cells out there that are out to get us.

And there we have it.

[Marshall Chapman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book, and very pertinent. Published in 2006, Granatstein writes a fiercely non-partisan criticism of Canada’s military, foreign policy, and national defence citing immigration, the CAF, and anti Americanism as his key examples. Would be great for a part two written today in the wake of the same immigration and cultural problems continuing (and worsening) with a broken foreign policy and an unreliable friend south of the border.

[Eunice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book challenges many of the often-spoken claims about Canada as a peacekeeper.