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

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 now:

• 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.