Thread by @smsaideman

I spending the next few days attending @CDAInstitute 's big Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence. A terrific program this year! I would love to see it in person but don't mind not having to dodge traffic to find parking near the Chateau Laurier. 1/x

@CDAInstitute I will live tweet on and off, depending on my ability to focus (the joy of zoom). I am especially looking forward to @sekreps, @SheenaGreitens and the other Brookings hotshots. Among the other highlights will be Jean Charest, who is a better speaker than most, 2/x

@CDAInstitute @sekreps @SheenaGreitens the Aussie Chief of Defence, as Aussies tend to be more blunt than other folks.

I wonder what @DMDND_SMMDN Jody Thomas will say and be asked as the Vance/McDonald/Sajjan stuff is hanging over all of this. LtG Eyre had to replace McDonald as speaker. 3/x

@CDAInstitute @sekreps @SheenaGreitens @DMDND_SMMDN Her panel is on resiliency and threats and aren't the turmoil in the command staff and the disruption of efforts to provide a safe environment for those in the CAF a threat to the CAF? that is, if we don't fix abuse of power, can the CAF be effective? 4/x

@CDAInstitute @sekreps @SheenaGreitens @DMDND_SMMDN Which makes me wonder how the q&a will work in a virtual setting...

US Vice Chief Hyten, who has had his own controversies, is the keynote after lunch today.

the brookings people are tomorrow talking about AI with SPNET's Kash Khorasani. 5/x

@CDAInstitute @sekreps @SheenaGreitens @DMDND_SMMDN the right-wing extremism panel tomorrow with Barb Perry should be very interesting.

Alas, @MercedesGlobal is a moderator. I would prefer to have her be a speaker talking about the challenges of covering defence and breaking stories that are shaking the CAF. 6/x

@CDAInstitute @sekreps @SheenaGreitens @DMDND_SMMDN @MercedesGlobal and here's the link to the program cdainstitute.ca/ottawa-confere…

@CDAInstitute @sekreps @SheenaGreitens @DMDND_SMMDN @MercedesGlobal I had to reload my window to get the first panel started on my screen

8/x

@CDAInstitute @sekreps @SheenaGreitens @DMDND_SMMDN @MercedesGlobal The first panel features Dick Fadden as moderator, Deputy Ministers of National Defence and Global Affairs: Jody Thomas and Marta Morgan. Fadden expects to have some comparative perspectives 9/x

@CDAInstitute @sekreps @SheenaGreitens @DMDND_SMMDN @MercedesGlobal Morgan focuses on China at first. What to do?
Need for differentiated approach depending on the policy issues--following EU and Biden approaches. 10/x

hey @CDAInstitute what is the hashtag you want folks to use? 11/x

@CDAInstitute Jody Thomas: we are seized and consumed by the current allegations. What we do are impacted by all of this.
Civilian side is impacted as both victims and perpetrators of sexual misconduct.
We cannot lose public trust.
Can't say more due to ongoing investigations 12/x

@CDAInstitute Thomas: we can't cooperate too much, we need to cooperate with allies and partners.
13/x

@CDAInstitute Thomas: biggest existential threat is climate change, implications on so many different fronts.
Increased pressure on domestic ops (@leahwest_nsl, see!), will have to change our planning.

still guided by SSE

#OttawaConference 14/x

@CDAInstitute @leahwest_nsl Thomas makes a big pitch for northern modernization/defence of North America. Need to replace stuff in north warning system...
[super expensive and a part of a campaign that started before pandemic to pitch modernization of this stuff]

#OttawaConference 15/x

@CDAInstitute @leahwest_nsl Fadden asks both about the state of relations with US, people are concerned that Biden may lose control of Congress, etc. Real concern about trusting US again.

How to grapple with a less ideal US in the world?
#OttawaConference 16/x

@CDAInstitute @leahwest_nsl Morgan: US is engaging in multilateral stuff again--real stuff--and seems determined to engage with allies.

#OttawaConference 17/x

@CDAInstitute @leahwest_nsl Thomas: Biden and JT are aligned. Arctic, northern modernization--it is a give and take, not just take, we are experts on the Arctic.

#OttawaConference 18/x

@CDAInstitute @leahwest_nsl Fadden: UN Security council is gridlocked, so what should we do?
Morgan: we have to work in other fora

@CDAInstitute @leahwest_nsl when asked about China/Russia, Thomas raises the Arctic with China and I have to scoff. China can't get out into the Pacific so getting into the north? Oy.

#OttawaConference 19/x

@CDAInstitute @leahwest_nsl Thomas says our persistent presence with the navy in Indo-Pacific is getting message across. I would ask: how do we know that?
#OttawaConference 20/x

@CDAInstitute @leahwest_nsl Now for questions from the audience: BMD?

Integrated air missile defense addresses a bunch of problems, we need to be in the room when something is relevant to Canada, but we can get there without significant investment in one solution (BMD)

#OttawaConference 21/x

@CDAInstitute @leahwest_nsl And that was Jody Thomas's answer al though Morgan strongly agreed

Taiwan: is our navy in any position to deal with Taiwan?
Fadden calls T an ally. Um, really? Maybe that was in the question

Thomas: we can act, policy is the question.
Morgan: we need to work with allies...

@CDAInstitute @leahwest_nsl fadden: China is trying to get footholds in tech--investing in unis, Huawei and 5G.
How are allies responding to our stance on it?
Morgan talks about cybersecurity and it is being studied...
Thomas: CSE is our capacity on this.
Both dodge Huawei question
#OttawaConference 22/x

Fadden: Japan would like more Canadian enthusiasm. We don't seem terribly keen in engaging Japan.
Morgan: we are very ethused about Japan, it is the critical player in the region. [then why don't the Japanese feel it?] refers to G7
#OttawaConference 23/x

Thomas: we give 16 weeks of shiptime to Op Neon which is targeting NK, which strengthens our ties to Japan.
Nothing limits our ties. Close and like minded
#OttawaConference 24/x

I need to guest lecture across the continent so I will miss the next couple of hours of the conference.

Ciao.

back to watch US Vice Chief Hyten who comments on the lack of globes these days... which leads to US and CA as Pacific nations ... China rising as a challenger to our view of the world in Pacific and beyond

#OttawaConference 25/x

to partner with China where possible, deter where we can and contest where necessary.

Fastest growing nuclear power, TRIAD, etc.

#OttawaConference 26/x

Hyten then turns to the north, waxes nostalgic about DEW line, mentions modernization which includes ... space.

#OttawaConference 27/x

He talks about BMD, that it is aimed at North Korea, can't handle China/Russia.

Exactly.

And then he meanders

#OttawaConference 28/x