We should be prepared to defend sovereignty

Re: “Under policy, U.S. would not defend Canada from missile attack: general,” Sept. 15. In our national anthem, there is a prayer that God might “keep our land glorious and free.” But there is also a profound verse that we would “stand on guard for thee” as a crescendo at the end.

One could argue that a country is not sovereign if it is unable to defend itself. Is Canada maintaining a defensive posture while publicly refusing to have any part in antiballistic-missile defence shield after all these years? Our outdated CF-18 fighter jets are not capable of intercepting Chinese and Russian warplanes playing war games and encroaching on our airspace. They simply cannot go high enough. This is embarrassing.

Do we depend on the U.S., which has said that the defence of Canada is not their obligation or priority? Being unarmed or halfarmed should not be an option for Canada. The face of warfare has changed dramatically with computer technology, robotics and weaponized unmanned flying objects, including ICBM missiles. We need to adapt to this change fast. It is common sense that we should invest in, and be a part of a solution to counter such threats.

While a nuclear strike near us is unthinkable, we must remain on guard as we pray that such an event would never happen. We must be fortified in a world with serious security issues. History teaches us we should be prepared for unexpected attacks like Pearl Harbor, 9/11 and even the shelling of Estevan Point on Vancouver Island during the Second World War. David Carlos Saanich