From one of the leading aviation publications in the U.S., Aviation Week, the latest on the F-35’s increasing costs sees Canada in its headline: “Canada Concerned As F-35 Cost Estimate Rises.” The article’s main point is to highlight still more increasing costs of the F-35 program as announced by the
Continue readingTag: Canadian military
Impolitical: Impetus for the push on the #F35
Dave at Galloping Beaver is going to work, picking apart the Harper government’s tales over the years on the F-35 acquisition. Go there to read the entire post, which I take it is part of a coming insightful series. Here is an excerpt that speaks to the political backdrop motivating
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Latest On The F-35
While the militaristic Canadian Conservative regime, led by flyboy fan Steve and aggressively supported by his Defence Minister, the dishonourable member from Central Nova, continue to champion the acquisition of the F-35 as Canada’s next big toy, it is apparent to almost all who keep themselves informed that the plane
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Guess Who Doesn’t Support Our Troops?
If you guessed Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party, you are correct. While dear leader and company pull out all of the rhetorical stops about supporting the troops when it serves their ideological purpose, they are decidedly niggard when it comes to helping them when they are no longer fodder in distant
Continue readingProgressive Proselytizing: Canada’s Submarine Motivations
Vice-Admiral Paul Maddison, Canada’s top navy guy, has remarked that Canada will begin the process of vetting new submarine purchases in three or four years. This raises anew questions about the purpose of Canada maintaining a submarine fleet. After passing through much of the nineties without submarine capabilities, Prime Minister
Continue readingImpolitical: Let’s not overlook Peter MacKay today
Must read post from Dave at Galloping Beaver: “Airshow” MacKay is now well over the line. On Peter MacKay’s abuse of his position by asking military personnel to provide him with political ammunition against a member of the opposition who questioned MacKay’s personal use of military assets. Dave, with military
Continue readingImpolitical: Helmets to hard hats vs. battlefields to the boardroom
I am just getting home from downtown where I had a quick meeting in an office building on University Avenue. In the elevator, there was one one of those mini-tv screens that gives you the latest headlines. This appeared on the screen: “Helmets to hard hats: Harper outlines job program
Continue readingCanadian Progressive World: Occupy Ottawa’s Little Remembrance Day Dilemma
The Occupy Ottawa Movement faces a little moral dilemma on Remembrance Day tomorrow: to protest or not to protest? Remembrance Day is a solemn day for Commonwealth countries. A day to remember members of the …Read More
Continue readingProgressive Proselytizing: The role of public relations in the military
Canada’s top military figure, Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Walt Natynczyk has gotten media attention recently since it was revealed that he spent over a million dollars on government aircraft to fly to such things as “Military Appreciation Nights” at NH…
Continue readingImpolitical: Harper’s remarks in Italy
Can be found here. Canadians supported the Libya mission and the ouster of Gaddafi is a great achievement. Further, no one quarrels with the words that Harper spoke as a thank you to the servicemen and women in Italy today. However, there were a few li…
Continue readingImpolitical: Massive military cuts and hard sells
“Harper spins a new brand of patriotism.” The Liberals embraced the Charter, the flag, peacekeeping and multiculturalism. Now, the Harper Tories are pursuing symbols and areas ignored by the Grits – the Arctic, the military, national sports and espec…
Continue readingImpolitical: A few thoughts on the royal thing
I see that it’s “Quebeckers, historians and anti-monarchists” who have been among the early opponents speaking out against the move to restore the Royal moniker to the Navy and Air Force. Well, they’re not alone. Count this citizen, member of none of t…
Continue readingImpolitical: Sneaky
Updated (Sunday a.m.) below.
File under things that might have been inflammatory during a federal election that are now being rolled out and are objectionable.
The Canadian military is in talks to establish a permanent presence in up to seven foreign…
Impolitical: We’re all in this together…except when it’s bad for business
Totally agree with Patrick Lagacé this morning. There are 500 Canadian troops at present in the Richelieu River valley. Peter MacKay toured the area yesterday. He and the federal government have been asked to have the troops stay to help the people cl…
Continue readingFive of Five: Canadian Veterans National Day of Protest – Calgary Alberta
(a lot of links below, hope they all work …)I attended the Canadian Veterans National Day of Protest this morning in Calgary. It was a good event on an unusually warm November day. I was disappointed that more Calgarians did not come out for this. Af…
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