Welcome to the Winter 2008 edition of the Journal of Military and Strategic Studies (JMSS). As one of the few electronic journals dedicated to the study of security related issues in Canada, we are pleased to provide a forum in which security issues can be examined and discussed.

The report and recommendations of the Manley group on Canada's future engagement with Afghanistan will come out soon, thus giving the debate over our future policy there additional prominence in Canadian political circles and public opinion. Considering that, the Editors have decided to offer an extended commentary on the topic as a lead article for this issue of The Journal of Military and Strategic Studies.

Also In this edition we have provided three interesting and diverse articles examining different aspects of security on the national and international stage. One article examines the Canadian military's role in the Oka crisis of 1990, another looks at India’s strategic intentions, naval capability-capacity, and naval deployments, and a third analyzes the use of oil as weaponization in the rhetoric of Osama bin Laden in the context of the 1967 Six Day War and the 1973 October War. Also included is an Opinion piece by the editors of the JMSS on Canada's role in Afghanistan.

This edition also includes the 2007 Ellis Memorial Lectures in Military and Strategic Studies. David Pratt was the lecturer for 2007 and his biography is also included. The Ross Ellis Memorial Lecture in Military and Strategic Studies is an annual lecture series honouring Colonel Ross Ellis of the Calgary Highlanders. Dedicated to his leadership abilities and military spirit, the series will bring a renown specialist in military and strategic studies to the University of Calgary campus every year for lectures and seminars open to the University population and general public. As well, this issue also includes one book review.

By James F. Keeley and John R. Ferris, Co-Editors, JMSS