Chrystia Freehand’s recent budget, although modest, did have some goodies in it for the military, including more than $8-billion in new funding over five years. While less than expected, perhaps, it’s not a bad raise. It is expected to bring our defence spending up to 1.5 percent of our GDP,
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Akaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: National Post: NATO and the Judgement of Paris
The lessons of Afghanistan were purchased at a bitter cost: the war claimed more lives, more years, and more money than any other campaign in NATO’s history. Unless the alliance takes those lessons to heart, a war in Syria and Iraq to extinguish D…
Continue readingAkaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: Addressing the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Being at the table during deliberations on war, peace, and the fate of nations was an extraordinary experience. I remember seeing the Berlin Wall fall, and hoping that the age of global warfare might be over. That moment now feels far away. We are clearly facing terrible risks, and it
Continue readingAndrew Leslie’s troubling views on defence policy
Andrew Leslie, former Canadian forces commander in Afghanistan, now adviser to Liberal Party chief Justin Trudeau, has been busy recently defending his $72,000 moving expense, particularly from attack by the Conservatives. Apparently the expense was within appropriate guidelines, so I have no intention of joining in that quibbling. I am,
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: The Defence Of Tom Flanagan
To a calm and rational observer, the statement “viewing child pornography is victimless” is true. To an emotional person prone to sensationalism, for writing that first line, I should be reported to the RCMP. On Wednesday night Tom Flanagan, a former adviser to Stephen Harper, spoke to a small crowd
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Federal Court of Canada rules in favour of US war deserter Jules Tindungan
Refugee Protection Division ignored evidence that U.S. military justice system fails to meet basic fairness standards by War Resisters Support Campaign | Feb. 6, 2013: TORONTO – On Friday, February 1, the Federal Court of Canada released a decision granting United Stated (US) war resister Jules Tindungan a new hearing before the
Continue readingCanadian Progressive: Conservative MP insults Canadians with confused take on F-35 jet plan
Yesterday we’d a jolly good laugh when Yukon Tory MP Ryan Leef got overjoyed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s visit and invited those gathered to “join me in welcoming back to the Yukon, the Prime Minister of Cannibal.” Conservative MP, Chris Alexander’s recent take on the F-35 fighter jet controversy
Continue readingCanadian Progressive: Your Choice For Canada’s Next Top Soldier Is? (POLL)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper is reportedly involved in the selection of Canada’s next top soldier, the Chief of Defence Staff.
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: The F-35 Boondoggle
Many are angry that instead of the promised $16 billion cost of the new F-35’s the actual price tag will be more than $25 billion but Canadians shouldn’t forget that originally not only did this government continually claim the cost would only be $9 billion, Stephen Harper, Peter MacKay, Tony
Continue readingeaves.ca: Here’s a prediction: A Canadian F-35 will be shot down by a drone in 2035
One of the problems with living in a country like Canada is that certain people become the default person on certain issues. It’s a small place and the opportunity for specialization (and brand building) is small, so you can expect people to go back to the same well a fair
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