Oh, I have not even started to insult the New Zealanders.
This bunch of ostrich oriented knaves have sold, or are trying to sell, every last one of the fighters that they have. The official New Zealand Air Force website lists only transport aircraft in its fixed wing component.
Current story about how they have yet to sell the last remaining bits of combat ability:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2981162a11,00.html
Clearly instead of being the steadfast contributors they once were, the New Zealanders have decided to hope the US Navy's Pacific Fleet continues in its ability to hold the wolf at bay, and if that fails, heck Australia will provide. In the First World War, New Zealand bought and paid for a state of the art battleship that stood in its place in the battle line at Jutland. Its captain wore a grass skirt given by native peoples in the belief that anything that would help keep the ship safe from harm in battle and provide victory over the Kaisers High Seas Fleet was surely worth putting to use.
Now, they might as well hold up that grass skirt when the next foe comes, for it will be all that stands between them and total defeat. (there is always some foe coming in the future, mankinds history is written by wars won and lost)
ping
Canadian Forces soldiers, sailors, and airmen have accomplished and are accomplishing good things with the tools they have. Operation APOLLO, Operation ATHENA, and TASK FORCE KABUL are significant achievements. Canadians should be proud, and Americans should be appreciative.
Whatever. Our government's (and in turn Canadians in general) commitment to defence spending may be questionable. There's still no reason to crap on our military men who are out there helping to fight the war on terror, in some cases with inadequate equipment, at considerable risk to themselves. Would you rather we did nothing at all? But if it makes you feel big to insult those who are on your side, like those of us Canadians who frequent this forum, fill your boots.