Book description
A root cause of terrorism in far-away countries, Canadians are told,
is poor, desperate young people who turn their frustrations and anger
on their "rich oppressors." Uprising brings this
scenario home to Canada.
When impoverished, disheartened, poorly educated, but well-armed
aboriginal young people find a modern revolutionary leader in the
tradition of 1880s rebellion leader Louis Riel, they rally with a
battle cry "Take Back the Land!" Theirs is a fight to right
the wrongs inflicted on them by "the white settlers."
They know their minority force cannot take on all Canada. They don't
need to. A surprise attack on the nation's most vulnerable assetsits
abundant energy resourcessends the Canadian Armed Forces scrambling
and politicians reeling. Over a few tension-filled days as the battles
rage, the frantic prime minister can only watch as the insurrection
paralyzes the country. But when energy-dependent Americans discover
the southward flow of Canadian hydroelectricity, oil, and natural gas
is halted, they do not remain passive.
Although none of Canada's leaders saw it coming, the shattering
consequences unfold with the same plausible harmony by which quiet
aboriginal protests decades ago became the eerie premonitions of
today's stand-offs and "days of action."
"Combat-arms' veteran, counter-insurgency expert, counsellor
to governments, and leading military scholar-now, Colonel Bland
emerges in Uprising as a master thriller-writer who wrenches
Canadians from a stale-dated dream world, and answers the inescapable
question: what happens in dangerous times when a passive population,
narcissistic politicos and uncertain bureaucrats determine the
nation's fate? A scintillating read, and devastating warning."
-David Harris, Director, International and Terrorist
Intelligence Program, INSIGNIS Strategic Research Inc.; former Chief
of Strategic Planning, Canadian Security Intelligence Service
DOUGLAS BLAND retired as a lieutenant-colonel after 30 years with the
Canadian Forces, and then became Chair in Defence Studies at Queen's
University. A respected author of non- fiction, he often advises those
in the highest offices on defence and security.
