January - 2017

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Joe Varner has appeared on Canadian TV and Radio and has written extensively in Canadian publications such as CP24, CTV, 1310 News, 580 CFRA, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and the Canadian Naval Review among others.

Advisor and subject matter expert in strategic intelligence, military operations, counter-terrorism, emergency disaster management, risk and diplomacy.

Provider of advice, research, media commentary on intelligence, military operations, counter-terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, defence and foreign policy, U.S., NATO, Asia, and Persian Gulf.

Calling Terrorism, Terrorism

Today is a sad day for all Canadians after a lone terrorist carried out an assault on Quebec's Islamic Cultural Centre and Mosque in Ste. Foy, outside of Quebec City. Six innocent men praying at evening prayer were executed by gun fire and eight others were gravely wounded with five struggling to stay alive. For a change the Canadian government identified this horrific act as what it was--terrorism. The Trudeau government brought federal resources to bear rapidly in this cas

Quebec City Mosque Attack

I will be joining CP24 at 11 AM ET to discuss the terror attack against a Canadian Mosque in Quebec City. You can watch live here: http://www.cp24.com/live?autoPlay=true

"DON'T ALERT THE FARM" WOULD BE WISE ADVICE FOR OUR SELFIE STYLED PM ON US-CANADA RELA

I have a friend who always gives good council and a variety of topics and one of his favourite sayings is "Don't alert the farm" or don't draw unnecessary attention to yourself. The current Trudeau government might be wise to take his council. There are all kinds of reasons to dislike President Donald J. Trump, rightly or wrongly. Some see him as a swaggering bully, a misogynist, stubborn, a ruthless business man with no governance experience and a know it all. He might we

THE LOGIC BEHIND TRUMP'S 120 DAY REFUGEE BAN

Today President Trump signed the executive order that placed 120 day ban on refugees from entering the United States from seven countries: Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya, Somalia. All are majority Muslim countries and the goal of the executive order is to further enhance America’s screening procedures to screen in religious minorities and to keep out Islamic extremists. Just a few points are worth mentioning here as small “l” liberals wring their hands and suck air th

Will China Be the First to Challenge Trump

China has a habit of challenging new United States Presidents early in their first term to see how they react in a crisis, and it seems likely that Trump will be no different. There is a great deal of wisdom in the old adage, " Don't poke the Bear" but China does not seem interested in that point. China has a history in its use of naval or maritime force to engage an opponent militarily even when it has a low likelihood or no likelihood of success. The Chinese state press and

Deterrence under Trump strengthened not weakened

I must admit that I am bewildered by the Atomic Scientists' decision to move the so-called Dooms Day Clock thirty seconds forward to two-and -half minutes toward midnight. See here: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/doomsday-clock-donald-trump-bulletin-atomic-scientists-2017-midnight-time-apocalypse-a7546881.html By this action they are saying that the world has become more unstable and more likely to collide into a nuclear war. The Atomic Scienti

Welcome!

Welcome to my new website and blog. Here you will be able to keep up to date on defence, foreign policy and intelligence which are increasingly important with a new administration in the United States. In a Trudeau-Trump era what will this mean to Canadians? Stay connected with me! #Trudeau #Trump #ForeignPolicy #Defence #Canada #US