War Plan Red

I actually learned a lot from this book, contrary to what you might think by its cover or slightly joking tone. Lippert (who is a book publisher and first time author) begins with a pre-history of US / Canada relations, beginning with the War of 1812, before getting into the infamous “War Plan Red” — the original documents of which are printed at the end of the book.

The reminder here is that the United States wasn’t really after Canada itself in their plans to invade — they were after Britain, which in the late 19th and early 20th century was still inextricably linked to Canada, and was of course in a far different relative power position than the United States. The United States’ plans were a peace-time simulation of a potential 1930’s engagement with the United Kingdom, fought via Canada, and for that reason the book title is slightly misleading, if you assumed this was some sort of newly declassified cold-war era plan.

The best part of the book, though, is actually the author’s discussion of the George W. Bush era, post 9/11 NORAD treaties, and how closely they intertwine the economies and militaries of both countries. The grand irony, for those who must have drafted War Plan Red nearly 100 years ago, is that it was economic and cultural factors (think Hollywood’s relationship with Canada) that finally achieved many of the stated aims of an invasion, rather than military might. Who knows what the next 100 years will bring.