Why is my Twitter Bootstrap 3 website displaying the mobile version in IE8, and how can I fix the `container` class's `max-width` issue?

Twitter Bootstrap 3 and IE8 compatibility issues

Problem:

I am using the latest Build a website with Twitter Bootstrap. The site displays fine in all required browsers except IE8.

In IE8, the mobile version of the element appears to be displayed, but stretched to the full width of my desktop screen. I believe the problem I'm having is that Twitter Bootstrap is mobile first. For some reason, IE8 adopts this option.

I also noticed that the container class doesn't seem to pull the max-width CSS property as expected. Please tell me what I did wrong?

Question code:

<!-- Favicon -->
<link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/apple-touch-icon.png">

<!-- Bootstrap -->
<link href="//netdna.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/3.0.0-rc1/css/bootstrap.css" rel="stylesheet">
<link href="//netdna.bootstrapcdn.com/font-awesome/3.2.1/css/font-awesome.min.css" rel="stylesheet">
<script src="/SiteFiles/js/modernizr.js"></script>

<!-- CSS -->
<link href="/SiteFiles/css/main.css" rel="stylesheet">

<header>
    <div class="topArea clearfix">
        <div class="container">
            <div class="topLinks">
                <div class="btn-group">
                    <span class="flag" data-toggle="dropdown"> </span>
                    <ul class="dropdown-menu">
                        <li><a href="#">Country 1</a></li>
                        <li><a href="#">Country 2</a></li>
                        <li><a href="#">Country 3</a></li>
                        <li class="divider"></li>
                        <li><a href="#">Country 4</a></li>
                        <li><a href="#">Country 5</a></li>
                        <li><a href="#">Country 6</a></li>
                    </ul>
                </div>
                <div class="visible-sm btn-group">
                    <div class="plus" data-toggle="dropdown"><i class="icon-plus icon-2x"> </i></div>
                    <ul class="dropdown-menu">
                        <li><a href="#">Parts &amp; Service</a></li>
                        <li><a href="#">Store Locator</a></li>
                        <li><a href="#">Find a Service Centre</a></li>
                        <li><a href="#">Parts List</a></li>
                        <li><a href="#">Tool Vibration</a></li>
                        <li><a href="#">Resource Centre</a></li>
                        <li><a href="#">Media Centre</a></li>
                        <li><a href="#">Register your Tools</a></li>
                        <li><a href="#">About Us</a></li>
                        <li><a href="#">
                                <button type="button" class="btn btn-default">Where to Buy</button></a></li>
                    </ul>
                </div>
                <div class="topNav">
                    <ul class="hidden-sm">
                        <li>
                            <div class="btn-group">
                                <a href="#" data-toggle="dropdown">Parts &amp; Service</a>
                                <ul class="dropdown-menu">
                                    <li><a href="#">Store Locator</a></li>
                                    <li><a href="#">Find a Service Centre</a></li>
                                    <li><a href="#">Parts List</a></li>
                                    <li><a href="#">Tool Vibration</a></li>
                                </ul>
                            </div>
                        </li>
                        <li><a href="#">Resource Centre</a></li>
                        <li><a href="#">Media Centre</a></li>
                        <li><a href="#">Register your Tools</a></li>
                        <li><a href="#">About Us</a></li>
                        <li><a href="#">
                                <button type="button" class="btn btn-default">Where to Buy</button></a></li>
                    </ul>
                </div>
                <div class="searchArea">
                    <input type="text" />
                    <a href="#" class="goBtn">GO</a>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
    <div class="mainNavArea">
        <div class="container rel">

            <div class="logo">
                <img src="/SiteFiles/img/logo.png" title="Milwaukee - Nothing but heavy duty" alt="Milwaukee - Nothing but heavy duty" />
            </div>
            <div class="navi">
                <div class="navbar">
                    <div class="container">

                        <!-- .navbar-toggle is used as the toggle for collapsed navbar content -->
                        <button type="button" class="navbar-toggle" data-toggle="collapse" data-target=".navbar-responsive-collapse">
                            <span class="icon-bar"></span>
                            <span class="icon-bar"></span>
                            <span class="icon-bar"></span>
                        </button>

                        <!-- Place everything within .navbar-collapse to hide it until above 768px -->
                        <div class="nav-collapse collapse navbar-responsive-collapse">
                            <ul class="nav nav-justified">
                                <li><span class="dropArrow"> </span><span class="topNavPosition">Power Tools</span>

                                    <div class="navDrop">
                                        <div class="navDropInner">
                                            <div class="row">
                                                <div class="hidden-sm col-sm-4 col-lg-4">
                                                    <img src="/SiteFiles/img/drill.jpg" alt="" />
                                                </div>
                                                <div class="col-12 col-sm-8 col-lg-8">
                                                    <h2>Power Tools</h2>
                                                    <div class="row">
                                                        <div class="col-6 col-sm-6 col-lg-6">
                                                            <a href="#">Cutters</a>
                                                            <a href="#">Levels</a>
                                                            <a href="#">Pliers</a>
                                                            <a href="#">Saws</a>
                                                            <a href="#">Screwdrivers</a>
                                                        </div>
                                                        <div class="col-6 col-sm-6 col-lg-6">
                                                            <a href="#">Snips</a>
                                                            <a href="#">Utility Knives</a>
                                                            <a href="#">Combo Knives</a>
                                                            <a href="#">Hand Tool Accessories</a>
                                                        </div>
                                                    </div>
                                                </div>
                                            </div>
                                        </div>
                                        <a href="#" class="closeNav">X</a>
                                    </div>
                                </li>
                                <li><span class="dropArrow"> </span><span class="topNavPosition">Hand Tools</span>

                                    <div class="navDrop">
                                        <div class="navDropInner">
                                            <div class="row">
                                                <div class="hidden-sm col-sm-4 col-lg-4">
                                                    <img src="/SiteFiles/img/drill.jpg" alt="" />
                                                </div>
                                                <div class="col-12 col-sm-8 col-lg-8">
                                                    <h2>Hand Tools</h2>
                                                    <div class="row">
                                                        <div class="col-6 col-sm-6 col-lg-6">
                                                            <a href="#">Cutters</a>
                                                            <a href="#">Levels</a>
                                                            <a href="#">Pliers</a>
                                                            <a href="#">Saws</a>
                                                            <a href="#">Screwdrivers</a>
                                                        </div>
                                                        <div class="col-6 col-sm-6 col-lg-6">
                                                            <a href="#">Snips</a>
                                                            <a href="#">Utility Knives</a>
                                                            <a href="#">Combo Knives</a>
                                                            <a href="#">Hand Tool Accessories</a>
                                                        </div>
                                                    </div>
                                                </div>
                                            </div>
                                        </div>
                                        <a href="#" class="closeNav">X</a>
                                    </div>
                                </li>
                                <li><span class="dropArrow"> </span><span class="topNavPosition">Test &amp; Measurement</span>

                                    <div class="navDrop">
                                        <div class="navDropInner">
                                            <div class="row">
                                                <div class="hidden-sm col-sm-4 col-lg-4">
                                                    <img src="/SiteFiles/img/drill.jpg" alt="" />
                                                </div>

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