Posted on 03/14/2006 5:46:57 PM PST by ferri
The military is investigating how clothing and equipment that's issued only to Canadian soldiers is ending up for sale on the internet.
The sale is also raising concerns about the security of Canadian troops.
"Someone might represent themselves as a Canadian soldier, being in perfect uniform and gear, until they get close enough to set off a suicide bomb," he said.
Each piece of the uniform is distinct, with its own serial number. And it's not supposed to be worn by anyone other than a member of the Canadian Armed Forces.
It's illegal for civilians to own or wear the camouflage CADPAT clothing, and it's illegal for soldiers to sell it.
But a search on the web turns up all the makings of a military uniform: gloves, combat helmets, specialized sniper jackets, and a harness meant for the country's elite commandos, the JTF2. That harness sold online last week for $1,200 US – before it was even issued to the soldiers.
For just a few hundred dollars it's possible to buy a complete CADPAT uniform with name badge and rank insignia, making the person wearing it indistinguishable from a real Canadian soldier.
CBC News asked the Armed Forces about the illegal sale of gear, and it sparked an immediate investigation by military police.
"We'll be looking at all aspects right through and including the supply chain," said Capt. Mark Giles, with the military's National Investigation Service.
The military investigators believe many of the items sold on online may have been stolen by soldiers or civilians working in the supply chain. The big worry, however, is who is buying the uniforms and why.
"It could mean that a potential attack is coming with insurgents who are disguising themselves as Canadian soldiers," said Thompson.
The military said the investigation will concentrate in Canada. If necessary, it will look beyond the borders to find out who is stealing, selling and buying the uniforms and gear.
ping
ping
Look for naked Canadians to find the culprits.
lol too cold where i am right now. might have to wait a month or so...
Why is this such a surprise.. there are lots of websites that sell uniform and militaria..
Im sure there are websites that sell Canadian militaria too.
Ah, yeah!
Why is every story somehow linked to terrorism in order to make it seem more important then it is?
If you have a suicide bomb, take it into a crowded restaurant, bar, or movie theatre. You don't need to go to the trouble of acquiring a Canadian military uniform. Who knew that Canada had a military anyways?
The people who are attacking Canadian soldiers at Kandahar.
The Afghan civilian driver who tried to pass a Canadian convoy after beind warned to stay back and discovered the Canadian ROE the hard way when his car took Canadian bullets in its engine compartment.
Perhaps people who were with the Taliban who took a Canadian sniper's bullet, with fatal effect, from a range of almost 2.5 klicks
On the other side. perhaps the units such as the 101st who have worked with Candians in the Hindu Kush or the personnel aboard US CVs who have seen Canadian frigates or destroyer routinely participate in escort screens or interdiction patrols in the Gulf of Arabia.
The military is small but there are actually a few people who know of its existence. Some of them are even Canadians and a very small number of them are Yanks.
It is smaller than ours, but a navy, nonetheless.
I should also mention that the Canadian Forces CADPAt design has been adopted by the US Marines.
So the presence of CADPAT clothing in the hands of civilians could also present a risk to Yanks in Iraq or Afghanistan.
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