Posted on 09/26/2001 7:31:04 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache
Wednesday, Sep. 26, 2001
Canadian Forces in very bad shape, report says
By JOHN WARD-- The Canadian Press
OTTAWA (CP) -- Amid a world girding for a war on terrorism, the Canadian Forces are in sad shape, unable to fight against the best and win, a major defence group concludes in a new report.
The army can field little more than company-sized units of 150 or so in a crisis and the navy and air force are falling short in their responsibility to guard the airways and sea lanes while meeting overseas commitments, the Conference of Defence Associations says.
The conference, an umbrella group representing a variety of defence-oriented organizations, is to release the damning report, entitled Caught in the Middle, on Thursday. It cites a litany of military shortcomings and calls for at least $1 billion in new defence spending over each of the next five years.
"Today, the Canadian Forces could not (as required by the 1994 white paper) 'fight against the best and win' beyond a marginal level," the report says.
The Forces are short of money and trained manpower to the point where the army would not be able to field a brigade-size contingency force within 90 days as required by the white paper, the conference says.
"The army is not sustainable under the current circumstances."
The report says the army can't even maintain its 1,800-member contingent in Bosnia if it wants to modernize and be able to respond to any other crisis.
The navy is so short of sailors that one of its destroyers is tied up for lack of a crew.
"The navy will not be able to deliver its mandated level of maritime defence capability without additional resources."
The air force has a pilot shortage that is bound to get worse before it gets better.
"The air force is 'one deep' in many areas and has lost much of its flexibility and redundancy."
The group says the title of the report "implies that the Canadian Forces currently inhabit the worst of two worlds: conventional military capacities are in decline; new capabilities are unaffordable."
The conference blames government stinginess for the troubles, despite modest increases in defence spending in recent years.
"Canada spends only $265 per capita on defence. The NATO average is $589."
The defence minister's office refused to comment on the report. Defence Minister Art Eggleton, who was in Brussels attending a NATO meeting, wasn't available.
The report gives the Forces a failing grade when it comes to the ultimate test of any military: the ability to fight.
"The low level of collective training, the unsatisfactory state of some weapons and equipment and the lack of logistics support would make engagement in combat operations problematic without resolving those shortfalls."
As Canadians wonder what military help Canada might provide to the U.S. in the war on terrorism, the report states:
"The situation will not improve until Canadians and their government realize that the cost of effective armed forces is the price of doing business in the modern world.
"Nations, particularly those in the G-7 group, who shirk their duties in this respect may anticipate unfavourable treatment in the international economic domain."
Yes, but not back to the Politically Correct (PC) Party. They need to give the Canadian Alliance a chance.
The differences, however, are sharp:
We don't have to belong to an HMO (I haven't for years); there are other choices.
We aren't forbidden by law from paying directly for medical services.
I suppose it depends on the type of people you are. Canadians don't seem all that nervous about us because they know we are basically good and just (unless one of our Democrat leaders gets caught getting BJs from an intern)
It could make many of you very nervous to know that your neighbour has that.
At the moment what is making us nervous is that our neighbor to the north lets terrorists into their country and then they come into our country.
I think you will find that this does not happen here either. Our health care system does not only service those who can pay, no matter what the liberals say!
I agree though there was no need for the name calling. We do not doubt that your love for your country is every bit as strong as ours.
The Liberal party is led by a man who wanders through public parks late at night talking to the homeless.
lol...I agree totally! I use to live there.:)
As regards the report 1) Get the f@ck out of Bosnia and the rest of the Balkans (u.s.a. should too.); 2) don't worry about a military pilot shortage that potential problem ended on 9/11/01.
US trade with Canada is mostly a one way street. The US runs a 20 billion a year trade deficit with Canada while Canada has only about 20 million people. Compare that with the 80 billion a year deficit with China despite the fact that there are 60 Chinese for every Canadian. On a per capita basis, the US trade deficit with Canada is the worst of any country.
What a pity. Once Upon A Time, Canada produced a top-notch warplane, the Avro Arrow. These days, it's hard to believe that was ever the case. BTW, is there still a Lancaster bomber on display in Toronto's lakefront area, near the Skydome? I saw it a few years ago while there on a business trip and remember thinking how out of place it looked.
I love and will help anyone who uses "meathead" in their vocabulary. God bless you.
I guess I am beginning to find the world's reaction to us amazing. They blame us if we get involved and when we don't. They want us to protect them and butt out. We never do enough or we do too much, but no matter what it is always our fault.
They expect us to keep them free and offer us no help in return.
I like how your post defends Canada by attacking the US. Real class job. Tell ya what. Slug down some syrup, go back to your igloo and turn on a hockey game. We'll let you know when it's safe to come out...
What do you do in the military? Deliver poutine to the cavalry?
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