Rushing to Armageddon: The Shocking Truth about Canada, Missile Defence, and Star Wars

+++++ This powerful, easy-to-read book by the founder of the Council of Canadians and an Officer of the Order of Canada, Mel Hurtig, is "about how [the present governing minority] Liberal government [has] misled Canadians about one of the most vitally important decisions in the 137-year [as of 2004] history of our country, and how...the [Conservative Party wants] Canada to quickly and enthusiastically join the American Star Wars and other military plans." Hurtig has written this book "because [he fears] that aggressive American militarism and the undeniable U.S. plans for the weaponization of space are rapidly leading the world towards nuclear carnage." Let me state outright that this book is just not for Canadians. It is also meant for concerned Americans as well as any concerned, rational member of the world community. In this book you will find, among other things, the names of various Canadian politicians but as well the names of various American politicians. Also there are names of people in the American military as well as the names of concerned scientists. This book is extremely well documented. (There are footnotes on almost every page.) Hurtig's main narrative consists of mainly quotations from politicians, scientists, and military people but it also has extensive quotations from authors, journalists, and commentators. There are 18 chapters. What I will do is state the title of each chapter first. A few chapter titles catch the essence of a chapter's contents but if a title does not, I elaborate with my own description or quote from the chapter. (1) An Assault On Humanity. Describes the destruction and effects on humans that resulted from the dropping of the nuclear bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. ***This is clearly the most descriptive and heart-wrenching chapter. (2) History's Worst Possible Nightmare. The nightmare: a nuclear war. Hurtig explains why. (3) Making Us And The World Less Secure. ("Us" refers to Canada and the World.) "Deployment of the national missile defense system will likely tear up the fabric of arms control agreements which have improved global security for over thirty years." (4) Secret, Confidential, And Canadian Eyes Only. Documents Hurtig obtained make it quite clear "that [Canada's] Department of Defense has made up its mind and strongly favors Canadian participation in the American Ballistic Missile Defense plans." (5) Let's Not Have Too Many Meeting. "The present [Ballistic Missile Plan] has nothing to do with the weaponizing of space." Hurtig has uncovered evidence that this is false. (6) Don't Even Think About Thinking About It. That is, Canada should not even think about not joining in on the U.S. missile program because there would be dire consequences. Is this really true? (7) How Could We Possibly Go Along [with the U.S. missile defense program]? ("We" refers to Canada.) Hurtig answers this question. (8) A Pandemic Of Insecurity: Escalati