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Scott Taylor

Scott Taylor is editor and publisher of Esprit de Corps magazine.

The hits keep coming for the CAF

  • If soldiers do know what the Nazi salute symbolizes and do it anyway, then they have no business wearing a Canadian uniform.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 25, 2025
Due to alleged soldier misconduct, Canada’s military has received three black eyes in rapid succession, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Cpl. Brian Lindgren

The hits keep coming for the CAF

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 25, 2025
  • If soldiers do know what the Nazi salute symbolizes and do it anyway, then they have no business wearing a Canadian uniform.

The hits keep coming for the CAF

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 25, 2025
  • If soldiers do know what the Nazi salute symbolizes and do it anyway, then they have no business wearing a Canadian uniform.
Due to alleged soldier misconduct, Canada’s military has received three black eyes in rapid succession, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Cpl. Brian Lindgren

The case for making national service mandatory

  • If one-year military engagements were part of a mandatory youth national service program, there would be a steady flow of new recruits for the
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 18, 2025
A 12-month stint of required youth service with the military could be a much-enhanced version of the current Naval Experience Program, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Corporal Braden Trudeau

The case for making national service mandatory

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 18, 2025
  • If one-year military engagements were part of a mandatory youth national service program, there would be a steady flow of new recruits for the

The case for making national service mandatory

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 18, 2025
  • If one-year military engagements were part of a mandatory youth national service program, there would be a steady flow of new recruits for the
A 12-month stint of required youth service with the military could be a much-enhanced version of the current Naval Experience Program, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Corporal Braden Trudeau

It’s time to strike back at Trump’s tactics

  • Now that U.S. President Donald Trump has indeed whacked Canada with a whopping trade tariff, perhaps it's time to make sure that economic pain
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 11, 2025
There are downsides to cancelling the remainder of the F-35 purchase and operating a mixed fighter fleet into the future, but the savings may balance out, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Master Sgt. John R. Nimmo Sr.

It’s time to strike back at Trump’s tactics

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 11, 2025
  • Now that U.S. President Donald Trump has indeed whacked Canada with a whopping trade tariff, perhaps it's time to make sure that economic pain

It’s time to strike back at Trump’s tactics

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 11, 2025
  • Now that U.S. President Donald Trump has indeed whacked Canada with a whopping trade tariff, perhaps it's time to make sure that economic pain
There are downsides to cancelling the remainder of the F-35 purchase and operating a mixed fighter fleet into the future, but the savings may balance out, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Master Sgt. John R. Nimmo Sr.

The Armed Forces’ selective accountability

  • Two senior officers have already been sanctioned in the early days of the Blue Hackle Mafia affair, which contrasts oddly with previous military scandals.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 4, 2025
Heads have begun to roll in the ‘Blue Hackle Mafia’ scandal, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Facebook first published by The Ottawa Citizen

The Armed Forces’ selective accountability

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 4, 2025
  • Two senior officers have already been sanctioned in the early days of the Blue Hackle Mafia affair, which contrasts oddly with previous military scandals.

The Armed Forces’ selective accountability

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 4, 2025
  • Two senior officers have already been sanctioned in the early days of the Blue Hackle Mafia affair, which contrasts oddly with previous military scandals.
Heads have begun to roll in the ‘Blue Hackle Mafia’ scandal, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Facebook first published by The Ottawa Citizen

Sniffing out alleged terrorists in the military’s ranks

  • This is exactly what the hard-pressed CAF did not need at this juncture—another bad news story to throw on the pile.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 28, 2025
The RCMP arrested four men on July 8 who were allegedly involved in activities intending to forcibly take possession of land in the Québec City area. Military-style training in which the accused took part. Photograph courtesy of the RCMP

Sniffing out alleged terrorists in the military’s ranks

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 28, 2025
  • This is exactly what the hard-pressed CAF did not need at this juncture—another bad news story to throw on the pile.

Sniffing out alleged terrorists in the military’s ranks

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 28, 2025
  • This is exactly what the hard-pressed CAF did not need at this juncture—another bad news story to throw on the pile.
The RCMP arrested four men on July 8 who were allegedly involved in activities intending to forcibly take possession of land in the Québec City area. Military-style training in which the accused took part. Photograph courtesy of the RCMP

Standing on ceremony

  • With the current state of the Canadian Armed Forces, perhaps it is time to drop the historical re-enactment duties.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 21, 2025
Members of Lord Strathcona's Horse spent 10 days as the King’s Life Guard. Using regular force and reserve combat soldiers to parade in period costume is no longer necessary, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of CBC News

Standing on ceremony

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 21, 2025
  • With the current state of the Canadian Armed Forces, perhaps it is time to drop the historical re-enactment duties.

Standing on ceremony

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 21, 2025
  • With the current state of the Canadian Armed Forces, perhaps it is time to drop the historical re-enactment duties.
Members of Lord Strathcona's Horse spent 10 days as the King’s Life Guard. Using regular force and reserve combat soldiers to parade in period costume is no longer necessary, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of CBC News

Raising hackles: why can’t the CAF help stepping on their own dicks?

  • Protecting the military’s reputation should never take priority over actually handling an issue, like that of the service members involved in a Facebook group sharing
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 14, 2025
The self-proclaimed ‘Blue Hackle Mafia’ Facebook group posted images of male soldiers in uniform exposing their genitals, others posing naked with Canadian Forces weapons, or simulating sexual acts with each other in uniform. Photograph courtesy of Facebook first published by The Ottawa Citizen

Raising hackles: why can’t the CAF help stepping on their own dicks?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 14, 2025
  • Protecting the military’s reputation should never take priority over actually handling an issue, like that of the service members involved in a Facebook group sharing

Raising hackles: why can’t the CAF help stepping on their own dicks?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 14, 2025
  • Protecting the military’s reputation should never take priority over actually handling an issue, like that of the service members involved in a Facebook group sharing
The self-proclaimed ‘Blue Hackle Mafia’ Facebook group posted images of male soldiers in uniform exposing their genitals, others posing naked with Canadian Forces weapons, or simulating sexual acts with each other in uniform. Photograph courtesy of Facebook first published by The Ottawa Citizen

Is the CAF past the point of no return?

  • Perhaps the Liberals need to do more than make promises of massive budget increases if there are too few personnel left in uniform to
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 7, 2025
Senior leadership may be accurate in assessing a seven-year window to recover the military. However, in what universe can that be considered a plan, asks Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Corporal Brendan Gamache

Is the CAF past the point of no return?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 7, 2025
  • Perhaps the Liberals need to do more than make promises of massive budget increases if there are too few personnel left in uniform to

Is the CAF past the point of no return?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 7, 2025
  • Perhaps the Liberals need to do more than make promises of massive budget increases if there are too few personnel left in uniform to
Senior leadership may be accurate in assessing a seven-year window to recover the military. However, in what universe can that be considered a plan, asks Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Corporal Brendan Gamache

Investing in critical minerals would be a win-win for Canada

  • An investment in tungsten production could benefit all of our NATO allies, allowing them to source Canadian rather than Chinese tungsten.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 30, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, with U.S. President Donald Trump at the recent G7 Summit in Alberta. Carney has indicated that defence infrastructure investment could include things like the development of Canada's critical minerals, notes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the Government of Canada

Investing in critical minerals would be a win-win for Canada

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 30, 2025
  • An investment in tungsten production could benefit all of our NATO allies, allowing them to source Canadian rather than Chinese tungsten.

Investing in critical minerals would be a win-win for Canada

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 30, 2025
  • An investment in tungsten production could benefit all of our NATO allies, allowing them to source Canadian rather than Chinese tungsten.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, with U.S. President Donald Trump at the recent G7 Summit in Alberta. Carney has indicated that defence infrastructure investment could include things like the development of Canada's critical minerals, notes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the Government of Canada

Time to walk the walk

  • A clear way to demonstrate to Canadians that he is not simply posturing would be for PM Mark Carney to cancel the remaining F-35 order.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 23, 2025
There's an ongoing review of Canada’s acquisition of 88 F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Donald R. Allen

Time to walk the walk

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 23, 2025
  • A clear way to demonstrate to Canadians that he is not simply posturing would be for PM Mark Carney to cancel the remaining F-35 order.

Time to walk the walk

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 23, 2025
  • A clear way to demonstrate to Canadians that he is not simply posturing would be for PM Mark Carney to cancel the remaining F-35 order.
There's an ongoing review of Canada’s acquisition of 88 F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Donald R. Allen

Carney’s CAF spending spree

  • Unfortunately, the one resource which the military is critically lacking is something that cannot be easily bought: trained personnel.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 16, 2025
A bigger paycheque may cause some existing soldiers to stick around, but simply wearing a uniform does not provide relief for the burnt-out personnel who are trades qualified, and in high demand for operations, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Canadian Armed Forces Imagery Technician

Carney’s CAF spending spree

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 16, 2025
  • Unfortunately, the one resource which the military is critically lacking is something that cannot be easily bought: trained personnel.

Carney’s CAF spending spree

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 16, 2025
  • Unfortunately, the one resource which the military is critically lacking is something that cannot be easily bought: trained personnel.
A bigger paycheque may cause some existing soldiers to stick around, but simply wearing a uniform does not provide relief for the burnt-out personnel who are trades qualified, and in high demand for operations, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Canadian Armed Forces Imagery Technician

How soon should we expect this ‘immediate’ military overhaul?

  • The defence minister said the feds will take ‘immediate and decisive action to rebuild Canada's defence capacity’—but announced nothing further.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 9, 2025
David McGuinty
David McGuinty
In Europe, Defence Minister David McGuinty backed away from the word ‘immediate,’ noting the federal government will have more to say ‘very soon’ about its plans, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

How soon should we expect this ‘immediate’ military overhaul?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 9, 2025
  • The defence minister said the feds will take ‘immediate and decisive action to rebuild Canada's defence capacity’—but announced nothing further.

How soon should we expect this ‘immediate’ military overhaul?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 9, 2025
  • The defence minister said the feds will take ‘immediate and decisive action to rebuild Canada's defence capacity’—but announced nothing further.
David McGuinty
In Europe, Defence Minister David McGuinty backed away from the word ‘immediate,’ noting the federal government will have more to say ‘very soon’ about its plans, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The misadventures of Navy procurement

  • Successive governments routinely state ‘nothing is too good for our military,’ and therefore ‘nothing’ is what they get.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 2, 2025
Canadian and French helicopters sit on the flight deck of the Mistral off the coast of Gaspé, Que., on June 20, 2014. DND photograph by MCpl Patrick Blanchard

The misadventures of Navy procurement

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 2, 2025
  • Successive governments routinely state ‘nothing is too good for our military,’ and therefore ‘nothing’ is what they get.

The misadventures of Navy procurement

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 2, 2025
  • Successive governments routinely state ‘nothing is too good for our military,’ and therefore ‘nothing’ is what they get.
Canadian and French helicopters sit on the flight deck of the Mistral off the coast of Gaspé, Que., on June 20, 2014. DND photograph by MCpl Patrick Blanchard

Soldiers left out in the cold—again

  • Despite all the bluster about defending our Arctic, our military procurement system is proving incapable of providing resources durable enough for use in our
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 26, 2025
Perhaps we need to better highlight those multimillion-dollar contracts that just piss away money on equipment that is unusable in the North, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Master Sailor Dan Bard

Soldiers left out in the cold—again

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 26, 2025
  • Despite all the bluster about defending our Arctic, our military procurement system is proving incapable of providing resources durable enough for use in our

Soldiers left out in the cold—again

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 26, 2025
  • Despite all the bluster about defending our Arctic, our military procurement system is proving incapable of providing resources durable enough for use in our
Perhaps we need to better highlight those multimillion-dollar contracts that just piss away money on equipment that is unusable in the North, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Master Sailor Dan Bard

New defence minister, same old woes

  • Defence Minister David McGuinty is going to need a lot of support from Carney's Liberal government to truly right the CAF ship.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 21, 2025
David McGuinty brings a modicum of cabinet experience and a modicum of intelligence awareness to his new defence portfolio, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

New defence minister, same old woes

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 21, 2025
  • Defence Minister David McGuinty is going to need a lot of support from Carney's Liberal government to truly right the CAF ship.

New defence minister, same old woes

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 21, 2025
  • Defence Minister David McGuinty is going to need a lot of support from Carney's Liberal government to truly right the CAF ship.
David McGuinty brings a modicum of cabinet experience and a modicum of intelligence awareness to his new defence portfolio, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Martial pride on parade

  • Trump's planned spectacle will look like amateur hour compared to what Russia, China, and North Korea routinely stage for their masses.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 12, 2025
The U.S. president is handing international viewers a direct comparison of his country’s military fitness, drill, and deportment against the super well-rehearsed Russian showboats, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Dmitriy Fomin

Martial pride on parade

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 12, 2025
  • Trump's planned spectacle will look like amateur hour compared to what Russia, China, and North Korea routinely stage for their masses.

Martial pride on parade

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 12, 2025
  • Trump's planned spectacle will look like amateur hour compared to what Russia, China, and North Korea routinely stage for their masses.
The U.S. president is handing international viewers a direct comparison of his country’s military fitness, drill, and deportment against the super well-rehearsed Russian showboats, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Dmitriy Fomin

Can the Canadian Forces avoid getting goosed by wild geese?

  • Perhaps our military planners could avoid a repeat of this year's Canada goose dilemma by having service dogs on the Carling Campus grounds.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 5, 2025
Residents of our nation's capital are all-too aware of how threatening these geese can be during the spring mating season after they have laid their eggs, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Sunny

Can the Canadian Forces avoid getting goosed by wild geese?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 5, 2025
  • Perhaps our military planners could avoid a repeat of this year's Canada goose dilemma by having service dogs on the Carling Campus grounds.

Can the Canadian Forces avoid getting goosed by wild geese?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 5, 2025
  • Perhaps our military planners could avoid a repeat of this year's Canada goose dilemma by having service dogs on the Carling Campus grounds.
Residents of our nation's capital are all-too aware of how threatening these geese can be during the spring mating season after they have laid their eggs, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Sunny

Canada’s sub-standard submarines

  • Can the Royal Canadian Navy really lose a capability that it doesn't actually possess?
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 28, 2025
HMCS Windsor takes part in Exercise Cutlass Fury on Sept. 18, 2016. It is the only one of Canada's four Victoria-class submarines that has been to sea since 2021, notes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of DND/Cpl. Chris Ringius

Canada’s sub-standard submarines

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 28, 2025
  • Can the Royal Canadian Navy really lose a capability that it doesn't actually possess?

Canada’s sub-standard submarines

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 28, 2025
  • Can the Royal Canadian Navy really lose a capability that it doesn't actually possess?
HMCS Windsor takes part in Exercise Cutlass Fury on Sept. 18, 2016. It is the only one of Canada's four Victoria-class submarines that has been to sea since 2021, notes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of DND/Cpl. Chris Ringius

Federal election brings new crop of defence promises to break

  • Both governing parties have a proven track record of neglecting Canada's national defence and veterans.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 21, 2025
Whichever way you cast your vote in the coming election, do not believe the promises made regarding defence investment, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Master Corporal Alana Morin

Federal election brings new crop of defence promises to break

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 21, 2025
  • Both governing parties have a proven track record of neglecting Canada's national defence and veterans.

Federal election brings new crop of defence promises to break

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 21, 2025
  • Both governing parties have a proven track record of neglecting Canada's national defence and veterans.
Whichever way you cast your vote in the coming election, do not believe the promises made regarding defence investment, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Master Corporal Alana Morin

There goes the neighbourhood

  • If our old relationship with the U.S. ‘is over,’ then we can learn from our southernmost neighbour how to be creative in rethinking what
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 14, 2025
Mexican marines perform drills at Camp Pendleton, Calif., in June 2018. The Mexican military is structured almost entirely for internal defence and security, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by OS Justin Spinello

There goes the neighbourhood

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 14, 2025
  • If our old relationship with the U.S. ‘is over,’ then we can learn from our southernmost neighbour how to be creative in rethinking what

There goes the neighbourhood

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 14, 2025
  • If our old relationship with the U.S. ‘is over,’ then we can learn from our southernmost neighbour how to be creative in rethinking what
Mexican marines perform drills at Camp Pendleton, Calif., in June 2018. The Mexican military is structured almost entirely for internal defence and security, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by OS Justin Spinello

This isn’t the ‘Whisky War’: in defence of Greenland and Denmark

  • We cannot sit back as the Trump administration bullies Denmark into submission with false claims of neglected defence.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 7, 2025
U.S. Vice-President JD Vance used Pituffik Space Base as a podium to espouse his negative views of the Danish government and Greenland during a March 28 visit to the country. Screenshot courtesy of ABC News

This isn’t the ‘Whisky War’: in defence of Greenland and Denmark

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 7, 2025
  • We cannot sit back as the Trump administration bullies Denmark into submission with false claims of neglected defence.

This isn’t the ‘Whisky War’: in defence of Greenland and Denmark

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 7, 2025
  • We cannot sit back as the Trump administration bullies Denmark into submission with false claims of neglected defence.
U.S. Vice-President JD Vance used Pituffik Space Base as a podium to espouse his negative views of the Danish government and Greenland during a March 28 visit to the country. Screenshot courtesy of ABC News

Will the F-35 become a casualty as Trump’s trade war widens?

  • The U.S. president badgering Canada into spending more on American defence technology under threat of economic punishment does not sit well with most patriotic
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 31, 2025
Then-Air Force Commander Lt.-Gen. Yvan Blondin gets ready for a flight at Solenzara Air Force Base in Corsica, France, on Dec. 4, 2013. DND photograph by Master Seaman Steeve Picard

Will the F-35 become a casualty as Trump’s trade war widens?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 31, 2025
  • The U.S. president badgering Canada into spending more on American defence technology under threat of economic punishment does not sit well with most patriotic

Will the F-35 become a casualty as Trump’s trade war widens?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 31, 2025
  • The U.S. president badgering Canada into spending more on American defence technology under threat of economic punishment does not sit well with most patriotic
Then-Air Force Commander Lt.-Gen. Yvan Blondin gets ready for a flight at Solenzara Air Force Base in Corsica, France, on Dec. 4, 2013. DND photograph by Master Seaman Steeve Picard

Does the military have room to get its elbows up?

  • Sadly for patriotic Canadians, the majority of the military hardware that the government does purchase is from American defence companies.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 24, 2025
Royal Canadian Air Force ground crew perform post flight checks on a CF-18 fighter jet in Kuwait on Nov. 3, 2014. Photograph courtesy of Canadian Forces Combat Camera/DND

Does the military have room to get its elbows up?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 24, 2025
  • Sadly for patriotic Canadians, the majority of the military hardware that the government does purchase is from American defence companies.

Does the military have room to get its elbows up?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 24, 2025
  • Sadly for patriotic Canadians, the majority of the military hardware that the government does purchase is from American defence companies.
Royal Canadian Air Force ground crew perform post flight checks on a CF-18 fighter jet in Kuwait on Nov. 3, 2014. Photograph courtesy of Canadian Forces Combat Camera/DND

Another major procurement project FUBAR

  • Buried in the fine print of the Canadian Surface Combatant announcement was the fact that the total cost to build these three warships is expected
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 17, 2025
Bill Blair
Bill Blair
Defence Minister Bill Blair’s March 8 shipbuilding contract announcement was unsurprisingly dropped into a media void, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Another major procurement project FUBAR

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 17, 2025
  • Buried in the fine print of the Canadian Surface Combatant announcement was the fact that the total cost to build these three warships is expected

Another major procurement project FUBAR

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 17, 2025
  • Buried in the fine print of the Canadian Surface Combatant announcement was the fact that the total cost to build these three warships is expected
Bill Blair
Defence Minister Bill Blair’s March 8 shipbuilding contract announcement was unsurprisingly dropped into a media void, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trumped again

  • For President Donald Trump to question Canada’s military resolve is an insult to the sacrifices which were made in support of the U.S.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 10, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump recently cast baseless aspersions on NATO's reliability, given its history in the wake of 9/11, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House

Trumped again

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 10, 2025
  • For President Donald Trump to question Canada’s military resolve is an insult to the sacrifices which were made in support of the U.S.

Trumped again

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 10, 2025
  • For President Donald Trump to question Canada’s military resolve is an insult to the sacrifices which were made in support of the U.S.
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump recently cast baseless aspersions on NATO's reliability, given its history in the wake of 9/11, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House

Casting a wider recruiting net

  • Why is the CAF trying to fix a problem that does not exist instead of addressing the issue of a lack of trainers in
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 3, 2025
Major-General Scott Malcolm was among the officials who announced changes to the CAF recruiting process on Feb. 19. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC

Casting a wider recruiting net

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 3, 2025
  • Why is the CAF trying to fix a problem that does not exist instead of addressing the issue of a lack of trainers in

Casting a wider recruiting net

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 3, 2025
  • Why is the CAF trying to fix a problem that does not exist instead of addressing the issue of a lack of trainers in
Major-General Scott Malcolm was among the officials who announced changes to the CAF recruiting process on Feb. 19. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC

Trump’s flip-flop on Ukraine

  • The lesson that Canadians need to take from the U.S. president’s complete reversal on Ukraine is that we could easily be next.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 24, 2025
Volodomyr Zelenskyy
Volodomyr Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been excluded from peace talks between the United States and Russia to end the war against his country. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trump’s flip-flop on Ukraine

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 24, 2025
  • The lesson that Canadians need to take from the U.S. president’s complete reversal on Ukraine is that we could easily be next.

Trump’s flip-flop on Ukraine

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 24, 2025
  • The lesson that Canadians need to take from the U.S. president’s complete reversal on Ukraine is that we could easily be next.
Volodomyr Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been excluded from peace talks between the United States and Russia to end the war against his country. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
More Stories

Public narrative of victory in Afghanistan contributed to Canada’s lacking response

  • OTTAWA—Last week, the former Hamid Karzai International Airport was back in business under the new moniker of Kabul International Airport (a.k.a. KIA). The first
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 13, 2021
The Kabul International Airport, pictured in 2009. We can only pray that this new incarnation of the Taliban remains a kinder, gentler version of itself and that airlifts to safety replace vengeful bloodletting, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Jim Kelly

Public narrative of victory in Afghanistan contributed to Canada’s lacking response

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 13, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Last week, the former Hamid Karzai International Airport was back in business under the new moniker of Kabul International Airport (a.k.a. KIA). The first

Public narrative of victory in Afghanistan contributed to Canada’s lacking response

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 13, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Last week, the former Hamid Karzai International Airport was back in business under the new moniker of Kabul International Airport (a.k.a. KIA). The first
The Kabul International Airport, pictured in 2009. We can only pray that this new incarnation of the Taliban remains a kinder, gentler version of itself and that airlifts to safety replace vengeful bloodletting, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Jim Kelly

Afghanistan’s fate was there to see, but no one bothered to look

  • OTTAWA—Now that the last U.S. air force plane has departed the Hamid Karzai International airport in Kabul, western analysts and pundits remain shell shocked
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 6, 2021
Then-Canadian ambassador Chris Alexander’s inaccurate view that Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum was a remnant of Afghanistan’s past revealed just how little the youthful ambassador grasped the complexity of the Afghan political landscape, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times file photograph

Afghanistan’s fate was there to see, but no one bothered to look

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 6, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Now that the last U.S. air force plane has departed the Hamid Karzai International airport in Kabul, western analysts and pundits remain shell shocked

Afghanistan’s fate was there to see, but no one bothered to look

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 6, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Now that the last U.S. air force plane has departed the Hamid Karzai International airport in Kabul, western analysts and pundits remain shell shocked
Then-Canadian ambassador Chris Alexander’s inaccurate view that Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum was a remnant of Afghanistan’s past revealed just how little the youthful ambassador grasped the complexity of the Afghan political landscape, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times file photograph

It gets worse than the Taliban

  • OTTAWA—The deadly terrorist attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on Aug. 26 was yet another serious blow to American martial pride as
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 30, 2021
There’ve been tough words, but as the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan now consists of nothing more than a desperate rear-guard securing the soon to be renamed Hamid Karzai International Airport, U.S. President Joe Biden’s only hope of punishing the culprits behind the Aug. 26 airport bombing will require the Taliban’s co-operation. Screenshot courtesy of CNN

It gets worse than the Taliban

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 30, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The deadly terrorist attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on Aug. 26 was yet another serious blow to American martial pride as

It gets worse than the Taliban

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 30, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The deadly terrorist attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on Aug. 26 was yet another serious blow to American martial pride as
There’ve been tough words, but as the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan now consists of nothing more than a desperate rear-guard securing the soon to be renamed Hamid Karzai International Airport, U.S. President Joe Biden’s only hope of punishing the culprits behind the Aug. 26 airport bombing will require the Taliban’s co-operation. Screenshot courtesy of CNN

The collapse no one and everyone saw coming

  • OTTAWA—It has been just over a week since the Taliban shocked the world with their blitzkrieg speed overthrow of the Afghan regime. The first
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 24, 2021
No one can ever question the courage of the average Afghan fighter. Afghanistan has shed a lot of blood over the centuries to earn itself the moniker ‘the graveyard of empires,’ writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of France24

The collapse no one and everyone saw coming

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 24, 2021
  • OTTAWA—It has been just over a week since the Taliban shocked the world with their blitzkrieg speed overthrow of the Afghan regime. The first

The collapse no one and everyone saw coming

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 24, 2021
  • OTTAWA—It has been just over a week since the Taliban shocked the world with their blitzkrieg speed overthrow of the Afghan regime. The first
No one can ever question the courage of the average Afghan fighter. Afghanistan has shed a lot of blood over the centuries to earn itself the moniker ‘the graveyard of empires,’ writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of France24

Reliance on ‘strongmen’ a weak strategy to repel Taliban

  • OTTAWA—At the time of writing, Afghan government security forces had completely collapsed without a fight and Taliban forces in Afghanistan were in control of
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 16, 2021
Afghan president Ashraf Ghani was appealing to ‘regional strongman’ Atta Muhammad Noor, pictured second from the left, to help prevent the fall of Mazar-i-Sharif, as part of his last-ditch appeal to help repulse the Taliban advances, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph by ISAF Public Affairs

Reliance on ‘strongmen’ a weak strategy to repel Taliban

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 16, 2021
  • OTTAWA—At the time of writing, Afghan government security forces had completely collapsed without a fight and Taliban forces in Afghanistan were in control of

Reliance on ‘strongmen’ a weak strategy to repel Taliban

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 16, 2021
  • OTTAWA—At the time of writing, Afghan government security forces had completely collapsed without a fight and Taliban forces in Afghanistan were in control of
Afghan president Ashraf Ghani was appealing to ‘regional strongman’ Atta Muhammad Noor, pictured second from the left, to help prevent the fall of Mazar-i-Sharif, as part of his last-ditch appeal to help repulse the Taliban advances, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph by ISAF Public Affairs

The legacy of Afghanistan, and the lessons not learned

  • OTTAWA—The mad scramble has begun in an effort to extricate those Afghans who will be at risk when the Taliban wrest control of Afghanistan
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 9, 2021
The last Canadians involved in the NATO training mission in Afghanistan board a Chinook helicopter to leave Kabul in March 2014. Sparked by demands from Canadian veterans of that war, the Liberal government has been hurriedly arranging flights and visas for Afghan civilians who were formerly employed as interpreters by our combat forces, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the Canadian Armed Forces/Cplc Patrick Blanchard

The legacy of Afghanistan, and the lessons not learned

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 9, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The mad scramble has begun in an effort to extricate those Afghans who will be at risk when the Taliban wrest control of Afghanistan

The legacy of Afghanistan, and the lessons not learned

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 9, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The mad scramble has begun in an effort to extricate those Afghans who will be at risk when the Taliban wrest control of Afghanistan
The last Canadians involved in the NATO training mission in Afghanistan board a Chinook helicopter to leave Kabul in March 2014. Sparked by demands from Canadian veterans of that war, the Liberal government has been hurriedly arranging flights and visas for Afghan civilians who were formerly employed as interpreters by our combat forces, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the Canadian Armed Forces/Cplc Patrick Blanchard

Learn lessons from Afghanistan withdrawal and get Canada out of Iraq

  • OTTAWA—The recent withdrawal of the bulk of U.S. combat forces from Afghanistan has caused angst and consternation among the thousands of Canadian soldiers who
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 4, 2021
Canadian Armed Forces infantrymen deployed on Joint Task Force Operation Impact board a CC-130J Hercules for Iraq to begin their seven-month tour, at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait on Nov. 27, 2019. In March, the feds quietly extended Canada’s own military commitment to Iraq, known as Operation Impact, until the end of March 2022, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Cpl. Jerome Lessard

Learn lessons from Afghanistan withdrawal and get Canada out of Iraq

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 4, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The recent withdrawal of the bulk of U.S. combat forces from Afghanistan has caused angst and consternation among the thousands of Canadian soldiers who

Learn lessons from Afghanistan withdrawal and get Canada out of Iraq

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 4, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The recent withdrawal of the bulk of U.S. combat forces from Afghanistan has caused angst and consternation among the thousands of Canadian soldiers who
Canadian Armed Forces infantrymen deployed on Joint Task Force Operation Impact board a CC-130J Hercules for Iraq to begin their seven-month tour, at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait on Nov. 27, 2019. In March, the feds quietly extended Canada’s own military commitment to Iraq, known as Operation Impact, until the end of March 2022, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Cpl. Jerome Lessard

Amid work to bring interpreters to safety, tell the whole Afghanistan story

  • OTTAWA—The situation on the ground in Afghanistan continues to worsen for Afghan government troops attempting to contain a resurgent Taliban. Since the U.S. pulled
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 26, 2021
Master Corporal Daniel Choong helps stabilize Lieutenant Commander Gina Connor with her fire stance as she fires her C7 rifle during firing practice at the Kabul Military Training Centre range in Kabul, Afghanistan during Operation Attention on Oct. 30, 2013. DND photograph by Sgt. Norm McLean

Amid work to bring interpreters to safety, tell the whole Afghanistan story

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 26, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The situation on the ground in Afghanistan continues to worsen for Afghan government troops attempting to contain a resurgent Taliban. Since the U.S. pulled

Amid work to bring interpreters to safety, tell the whole Afghanistan story

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 26, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The situation on the ground in Afghanistan continues to worsen for Afghan government troops attempting to contain a resurgent Taliban. Since the U.S. pulled
Master Corporal Daniel Choong helps stabilize Lieutenant Commander Gina Connor with her fire stance as she fires her C7 rifle during firing practice at the Kabul Military Training Centre range in Kabul, Afghanistan during Operation Attention on Oct. 30, 2013. DND photograph by Sgt. Norm McLean

Is it time for Canada’s own war with the truth about Afghanistan?

  • OTTAWA—The news out of Afghanistan has gone from bad to worse since the American military virtually fled their main base at Bagram in the
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 20, 2021
Lieutenant-General Wayne Eyre, the acting chief of the defence staff and Afghanistan veteran, issued a Forces-wide message on July 13, after the Taliban took the Afghanistan district of Panjwai, acknowledging that it 'has hit many of us particularly hard, and as we question our legacy, it serves as a harbinger for all Canadians who served in the country regardless of when and where.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Is it time for Canada’s own war with the truth about Afghanistan?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 20, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The news out of Afghanistan has gone from bad to worse since the American military virtually fled their main base at Bagram in the

Is it time for Canada’s own war with the truth about Afghanistan?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 20, 2021
  • OTTAWA—The news out of Afghanistan has gone from bad to worse since the American military virtually fled their main base at Bagram in the
Lieutenant-General Wayne Eyre, the acting chief of the defence staff and Afghanistan veteran, issued a Forces-wide message on July 13, after the Taliban took the Afghanistan district of Panjwai, acknowledging that it 'has hit many of us particularly hard, and as we question our legacy, it serves as a harbinger for all Canadians who served in the country regardless of when and where.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

With U.S. departure, no one left to clean up mess made in Afghanistan

  • OTTAWA—Over the past few weeks, the news out of Afghanistan has not been very reassuring. In keeping with U.S. President Joe Biden’s election campaign
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 12, 2021
Almost exactly one decade after Canada withdrew, the Taliban officially rendered our soldiers’ sacrifice meaningless by retaking the ground which we had temporarily held, writes Scott Taylor, spurring an ask to fast track the immigration process for those Afghans who served as translators for the Canadian military. DND photograph by MCpl Dan Shouinard

With U.S. departure, no one left to clean up mess made in Afghanistan

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 12, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Over the past few weeks, the news out of Afghanistan has not been very reassuring. In keeping with U.S. President Joe Biden’s election campaign

With U.S. departure, no one left to clean up mess made in Afghanistan

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 12, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Over the past few weeks, the news out of Afghanistan has not been very reassuring. In keeping with U.S. President Joe Biden’s election campaign
Almost exactly one decade after Canada withdrew, the Taliban officially rendered our soldiers’ sacrifice meaningless by retaking the ground which we had temporarily held, writes Scott Taylor, spurring an ask to fast track the immigration process for those Afghans who served as translators for the Canadian military. DND photograph by MCpl Dan Shouinard

Questions remain over DND’s false Cyclone crash narrative

  • OTTAWA—On June 25, the Royal Canadian Air Force released its final report on the April 29, 2020, CH-148 Cyclone helicopter crash, which claimed the
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 5, 2021
Initial statements by both Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, left, and then-chief of defence staff General Jonathan Vance implied that the helicopter had crashed some distance from HMCS Fredericton, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Questions remain over DND’s false Cyclone crash narrative

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 5, 2021
  • OTTAWA—On June 25, the Royal Canadian Air Force released its final report on the April 29, 2020, CH-148 Cyclone helicopter crash, which claimed the

Questions remain over DND’s false Cyclone crash narrative

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 5, 2021
  • OTTAWA—On June 25, the Royal Canadian Air Force released its final report on the April 29, 2020, CH-148 Cyclone helicopter crash, which claimed the
Initial statements by both Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, left, and then-chief of defence staff General Jonathan Vance implied that the helicopter had crashed some distance from HMCS Fredericton, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Canadians not interested in military spy games

  • OTTAWA—It is now official. Last week, the Department of National Defence released the results of four separate internal investigations into the Canadian military’s recent
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 28, 2021
Canadians want their military to defend Canadian interests and uphold Canadian values at home and abroad. We do not want them spying on us, deceiving us, or trying to modify our behaviour, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay

Canadians not interested in military spy games

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 28, 2021
  • OTTAWA—It is now official. Last week, the Department of National Defence released the results of four separate internal investigations into the Canadian military’s recent

Canadians not interested in military spy games

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 28, 2021
  • OTTAWA—It is now official. Last week, the Department of National Defence released the results of four separate internal investigations into the Canadian military’s recent
Canadians want their military to defend Canadian interests and uphold Canadian values at home and abroad. We do not want them spying on us, deceiving us, or trying to modify our behaviour, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay

Call in the RCMP to dig military police out of no-win scenario

  • OTTAWA—It was on Sunday, Feb. 2 that the current military sexual misconduct scandal first emerged. Global News reporter Mercedes Stephenson broke the story that
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 23, 2021
RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki is pictured at September 2019 Ottawa press conference. The RCMP should be called in to conduct an independent investigation into the various misconduct allegations against military leaders, writes Scott Taylor, to pre-empt any public perception that the process is tainted. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Call in the RCMP to dig military police out of no-win scenario

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 23, 2021
  • OTTAWA—It was on Sunday, Feb. 2 that the current military sexual misconduct scandal first emerged. Global News reporter Mercedes Stephenson broke the story that

Call in the RCMP to dig military police out of no-win scenario

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 23, 2021
  • OTTAWA—It was on Sunday, Feb. 2 that the current military sexual misconduct scandal first emerged. Global News reporter Mercedes Stephenson broke the story that
RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki is pictured at September 2019 Ottawa press conference. The RCMP should be called in to conduct an independent investigation into the various misconduct allegations against military leaders, writes Scott Taylor, to pre-empt any public perception that the process is tainted. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Memo reveals Iraq prophecy come to fruition

  • On June 9, the Canadian Press reported on a memo which they had obtained from the Department of National Defence under the Access-to-Information law.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 14, 2021
In a September 2018 column about the then-impending training mission, Scott Taylor included a side note to Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, pictured right with then-Major General Jennie Carignan at a November 2019 change of command ceremony in Iraq, which read: ‘I cannot wish you success in your mission because you are embarked on a fool’s errand. Training more Iraqis to kill in the name of a corrupt regime is insane.’ DND photograph by Cpl. Ryan Moulton

Memo reveals Iraq prophecy come to fruition

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 14, 2021
  • On June 9, the Canadian Press reported on a memo which they had obtained from the Department of National Defence under the Access-to-Information law.

Memo reveals Iraq prophecy come to fruition

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 14, 2021
  • On June 9, the Canadian Press reported on a memo which they had obtained from the Department of National Defence under the Access-to-Information law.
In a September 2018 column about the then-impending training mission, Scott Taylor included a side note to Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, pictured right with then-Major General Jennie Carignan at a November 2019 change of command ceremony in Iraq, which read: ‘I cannot wish you success in your mission because you are embarked on a fool’s errand. Training more Iraqis to kill in the name of a corrupt regime is insane.’ DND photograph by Cpl. Ryan Moulton

Papering over the ‘cracks’ not a long-term solution to CAF woes

  • OTTAWA—Last week, in an interview with the Canadian Press, Lieutenant-General Wayne Eyre, Canada’s acting chief of the defence staff, admitted that the Canadian military
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 9, 2021
Brigadier-General Krista Brodie, left, was named the head of the country’s vaccine rollout effort, and Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan, right, was tapped as the new head of professional conduct and culture. These recent promotions will definitely change the face of the ‘old boys’ club,’ which was previously the composition of our senior military leadership. However, this in itself will not be enough to change an institutional culture that has been defined as highly sexualized, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of Parlvu, photograph courtesy of the Department of National Defence

Papering over the ‘cracks’ not a long-term solution to CAF woes

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 9, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Last week, in an interview with the Canadian Press, Lieutenant-General Wayne Eyre, Canada’s acting chief of the defence staff, admitted that the Canadian military

Papering over the ‘cracks’ not a long-term solution to CAF woes

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 9, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Last week, in an interview with the Canadian Press, Lieutenant-General Wayne Eyre, Canada’s acting chief of the defence staff, admitted that the Canadian military
Brigadier-General Krista Brodie, left, was named the head of the country’s vaccine rollout effort, and Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan, right, was tapped as the new head of professional conduct and culture. These recent promotions will definitely change the face of the ‘old boys’ club,’ which was previously the composition of our senior military leadership. However, this in itself will not be enough to change an institutional culture that has been defined as highly sexualized, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of Parlvu, photograph courtesy of the Department of National Defence

Lukashenko’s ‘lose-lose’ air caper

  • OTTAWA—On May 23, a Ryanair flight from Athens, Greece, en route to Vilnius, Lithuania, was diverted while in Belarus airspace and forced to land
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 2, 2021
If the flight diversion and arrest of Roman Protasevich was in fact an elaborate and diabolical plot conceived by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, he has to be one of the dumbest dictators to ever rule a country, writes Scott Taylor. Wikimedia Commons photograph by Serge Serebro

Lukashenko’s ‘lose-lose’ air caper

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 2, 2021
  • OTTAWA—On May 23, a Ryanair flight from Athens, Greece, en route to Vilnius, Lithuania, was diverted while in Belarus airspace and forced to land

Lukashenko’s ‘lose-lose’ air caper

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 2, 2021
  • OTTAWA—On May 23, a Ryanair flight from Athens, Greece, en route to Vilnius, Lithuania, was diverted while in Belarus airspace and forced to land
If the flight diversion and arrest of Roman Protasevich was in fact an elaborate and diabolical plot conceived by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, he has to be one of the dumbest dictators to ever rule a country, writes Scott Taylor. Wikimedia Commons photograph by Serge Serebro

Court of public opinion swifter than military investigative processes

  • OTTAWA—Late in the afternoon of Friday, May 14, the Department of National Defence issued a curt, three-line press release announcing that Major-General Dany Fortin
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 26, 2021
The Fortin saga has, of course, sparked the opposition parties to demand answers of who-knew-what-when among the top Trudeau Liberals, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Court of public opinion swifter than military investigative processes

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 26, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Late in the afternoon of Friday, May 14, the Department of National Defence issued a curt, three-line press release announcing that Major-General Dany Fortin

Court of public opinion swifter than military investigative processes

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 26, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Late in the afternoon of Friday, May 14, the Department of National Defence issued a curt, three-line press release announcing that Major-General Dany Fortin
The Fortin saga has, of course, sparked the opposition parties to demand answers of who-knew-what-when among the top Trudeau Liberals, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

See-no-evil approach puts good soldiers in a tough spot

  • OTTAWA—Last week, a very disturbing story surfaced in the media which once again clearly illustrates how the Canadian military leadership is totally out of
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 19, 2021
Canadian Armed Forces infantrymen deployed on Joint Task Force Operation-Impact board a CC-130J Hercules for Iraq to begin their seven-month tour, at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait on Nov. 27, 2019. On March 30, Canada extended Operation Impact, the mission to Iraq and the Middle East, for one more year. DND photograph by Cpl. Jerome Lessard

See-no-evil approach puts good soldiers in a tough spot

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 19, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Last week, a very disturbing story surfaced in the media which once again clearly illustrates how the Canadian military leadership is totally out of

See-no-evil approach puts good soldiers in a tough spot

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 19, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Last week, a very disturbing story surfaced in the media which once again clearly illustrates how the Canadian military leadership is totally out of
Canadian Armed Forces infantrymen deployed on Joint Task Force Operation-Impact board a CC-130J Hercules for Iraq to begin their seven-month tour, at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait on Nov. 27, 2019. On March 30, Canada extended Operation Impact, the mission to Iraq and the Middle East, for one more year. DND photograph by Cpl. Jerome Lessard

Controversial parade not the way to honour Ukraine’s contribution to Second World War

  • OTTAWA—On April 28, approximately 250 people marched through the streets of Kiev, Ukraine, to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the Second World War Waffen
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 12, 2021
A recruitment poster from a 1943 SS Galicia newspaper. For those who would paint the SS Galicia volunteers as fighters for Ukraine’s independence, this theory cannot be justified in view of the fact they actually fought against civilian patriots in Slovakia and Slovenia to enforce Hitler’s Nazi occupation, writes Scott Taylor. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Controversial parade not the way to honour Ukraine’s contribution to Second World War

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 12, 2021
  • OTTAWA—On April 28, approximately 250 people marched through the streets of Kiev, Ukraine, to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the Second World War Waffen

Controversial parade not the way to honour Ukraine’s contribution to Second World War

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 12, 2021
  • OTTAWA—On April 28, approximately 250 people marched through the streets of Kiev, Ukraine, to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the Second World War Waffen
A recruitment poster from a 1943 SS Galicia newspaper. For those who would paint the SS Galicia volunteers as fighters for Ukraine’s independence, this theory cannot be justified in view of the fact they actually fought against civilian patriots in Slovakia and Slovenia to enforce Hitler’s Nazi occupation, writes Scott Taylor. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Suffering from PTSD should not be a literal ‘get out of jail free’ card

  • OTTAWA—Last week, yet another disturbing story surfaced regarding the military and sexual misconduct. A retired Special Forces major told the CBC that he felt
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 5, 2021
One can easily understand the sense of betrayal Annalise and Kevin Schamuhn must have felt when they were victimized, and both Kevin’s commanding officer and his regimental officer showed support to his attacker, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of CBC News

Suffering from PTSD should not be a literal ‘get out of jail free’ card

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 5, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Last week, yet another disturbing story surfaced regarding the military and sexual misconduct. A retired Special Forces major told the CBC that he felt

Suffering from PTSD should not be a literal ‘get out of jail free’ card

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 5, 2021
  • OTTAWA—Last week, yet another disturbing story surfaced regarding the military and sexual misconduct. A retired Special Forces major told the CBC that he felt
One can easily understand the sense of betrayal Annalise and Kevin Schamuhn must have felt when they were victimized, and both Kevin’s commanding officer and his regimental officer showed support to his attacker, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of CBC News

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