EyeBrock EyeBrock:
On the C17's, I saw 3 on the ramp at Trenton last week. The fourth is due by the end of August/early September. You should take off those Liberal tinted glasses.
The Nyalas were ordered by the Libs but paid for by the Tories. Unlike the EH101's.
The Mambas were procured by the Tories in 2006.
The CH47 crews are already being trained in the US and have been seconded to combat sqns within the US military in the 'Stan. Aircraft are coming off the production line with Maple Leaf roundels as we speak.
I agree that the lions share of expediture is going on the Army/Mobile Command but that is who is actually doing the fighting at the moment.
What is Air Command doing besides resupply?
Where are the CF18's? Where have they ever been?
What is Maritime Command doing besides the odd foray with Somali pirates?
Really we have a limited budget as the Canadian people have historically dodged their commitment to fully fund their own national defence.
Sure Canadians have rallied to the call and are excellent sailors/soldiers/airmen/women.
But we spend a very small amount national defence. We relied on the Brits and now we rely on the Yanks.
Until the national mood changes we have to ensure we fund the branches of the military that needs it.
The Army is in combat.
The Air Force, what there is of it, is not, neither is the Navy.
If you want big fuck-off icebreakers and other shit you should be willing to pay for it, something the Liberals have never done when it comes to the military.
Harper has done what he could, more than I expected but less than he promised. I'm sure our guys in Afghanistan are happy with what they have got from this government, in fact I know it.
I think you read my post wrong. I never denied that we bought C-17s, just that we haven't bought CH-47s yet.
Sorry EB, but the CH-47 were getting are used Ds, not new Fs. Those haven't even been ORDERED yet. We issued the
$1:
Purchase six used U.S.-made Boeing D-model Chinook helicopters with medium-lift capabilities from the United States, to be in use by February 2009
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/08/ ... itary.htmlThe Mamba and the Nyala are essentially the same vehicle, with the Nyala being the updated vehicle based on the Mamba. So we don't have any Mambas as you presume, just Nyalas, bought and ordered with that awful surplus the Libs had.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RG-31_NyalaI agree with spending money on the Army, especially while they're fighting in the 'Stan, but not to the total detriment of the other services. Last time I checked, the forces sent in for Operation Apollo in 2001 included a naval task force. Just because they aren't fighting the Taliban does not mean they aren't an important part of the fight. Interdicting contraband weapons shipments could be crucial to the lives of the troops on the ground (or is it okay if SAMs get shipped into the 'Stan). Indeed, we still have a task force operating in the Arabian sea as we speak. Let's not forget the warship escorting food ships into Somalia either.
The fact is the CF needs more than just troops and tanks to operate.
Procuring any defence system is a long process, but doubly so for ships. Whereas it can take 4-5 years for helos or tanks, getting ships takes the betterpart of a decade. So it is very important that ships are ordered in a timely fashion. As it is, we'll won't see new destroyers until well after ours are over 40 years old. God knows how long it will be before the JSS or a suitable replacement is found. Once the two AORs (by 2010-11) we have are incapable of sailing, we'll wind up with a navy incapable of doing much more than the Chinese Navy, which is essentially a coastal patrol force.
For the record, both current heavy icebreakers the Coast Guard currently uses were built by the Liberals (1969 and 1982)...Mulroney was supposed to build one but cheaped out...
CKA Uber 
