ridenrain ridenrain:
Liberals now want a larger navy so they can cash in on the "support the troops" line but not support the war in Afghanistan. The CPC must work hard to ensure the war in Afghanistan succeeds so they want army funding. The bottom line is what matters is the mission and since it was developed by both parties, it should be supported by both parties.
I wish Canadians were more partriotic like the Brits and that we could stop playing political games when bigger tasks are at hand.
I imagine that anyone from the Airborn ever forgets or regrets becomming the best of the best. Politics and political corectness aside, they were the best at what they did and if people didn't like what they did then they haven't a clue what an army is.
The Liberals don't want a larger navy so they can ignore Afghanistan. As you pointed, they were the ones who put us there. The reason for a bigger navy has been spelled out on many different threads, but the gist if that the Navy maintains our sovereignty far more than the army does. A couple of Rangers on Skidoos have far less capability and reach than a frigate or submarine.
I understand the CPC rationale behind growing and supporting the army, as it is involved in Afghanistan right now, but let's be honest. The Liberals poured hundreds of millions into the army before 2005 (LAVs, G-Wagens, M-177 howitzers, Nyalas, etc), so it is hardly the sole purview of the CPC.
The problem with the Airborne in Somalia wasn't that they were Airborne, but rather that Mulroney had deployed a hard-core special ops unit to a peace-keeping mission. If Mulroney gets kudos for defusing Oka and sending forces to the Gulf, then he also deserves criticism for sending the wrong type of unit to Somalia.
The Airborne was the best of the best, but their hazing videos, poor discipline (even in Canada), and torture oF Somalia civilians didn't do them any favours. That was why they were disbanded. I never agreed with that decision, as I feel that 75% of our infantry should be airborne forces, to attack and interdict anyone who would attempt to attack us (as unlikely as that may be), mostly because they are rapidly deployable, where our mechanized infantry untis are not.
As I've said many times before, both parties have royally fucked up the defence portfolio at times in the past. Hopefully, we've turned the corner from the past two/three decades of the 20th century and we're on our way to bigger and better things.
CKA Uber 
