By: Laura Payton, CTV News
OTTAWA -- A top Democratic politician says Russian President Vladimir Putin will undoubtedly test U.S. president-elect Donald Trump by moving troops into a former Soviet country - including one where Canadian troops will be operating in 2017.
Howard Dean, former governor of Vermont and former chair of the Democratic National Committee, says Trump talked during the presidential race as if he would undermine the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and warned Putin will try to test him.
"Who knows how, but I think it'll involve troops, it'll involve Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine or even Latvia," Dean said in an interview with Evan Solomon, host of CTV's Question Period.
That's a significant prediction for Canada, which has 450 Canadian soldiers deploying to Latvia in early 2017 as part of a NATO force. NATO has been beefing up its presence in eastern Europe in response to recent Russian action, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced last summer that the Canadian Armed Forces will lead a 1,000-person battle group and supply armoured vehicles for the open-ended mission.
Asked whether those soldiers are in a more dangerous situation now, with Putin likely to test to the U.S. president-elect, Dean warned there's danger any time there's uncertainty in foreign policy.
"We don't know what he's going to do... but I think the foreign policy stuff is really scary because a couple of words out of place, you can give people the impression that they can go ahead and do something that you don't want them to do. That is very frightening," Dean said.
'More dangerous'
"Is the world more dangerous or less dangerous now that Donald Trump is the president elect?" Solomon asked.
"It's much more dangerous. Because uncertainty breeds danger and Donald Trump is uncertainty," Dean said.
Trump has praised Putin as a strong leader, downplayed the impact of Russian aggression in Ukraine, and threatened to withhold American support for NATO missions if member countries don't meet promised defence spending targets.
A spokeswoman for Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan didn't answer a question about whether Sajjan agreed with Dean on the potential for increased risk to Canadian soldiers.
"The minister looks forward to a productive working relationship with the new U.S. secretary of defence, whenever he or she is named, just as he enjoys a strong relationship with the current administration and Secretary [Ashton] Carter," Jordan Owens wrote in an email to CTV News.
"Now more than ever Canada remains committed to NATO and to the promises we have made to our NATO allies, and we expect the same principles of solidarity and collective defence will continue to guide NATO into the future."
Trump advisor Steve Bannon 'a Nazi'
Dean said Trump is a complicated person, pointing out he named Republican stalwart Reince Priebus to be chief of staff, but Steve Bannon, CEO of the far-right website Breitbart News, as chief strategist. Dean says Priebus is "a reasonable person," while Bannon is "a Nazi."
"It's a big word and I don't usually use it unless somebody's really anti-Semitic and really misogynist and really anti-Black," Dean said.
"It makes me very nervous. I mean it calls into question Donald Trump's judgement and that's the problem. So we don't know what to expect from Donald Trump," he added.
At the same time, Trump's daughter Ivanka converted to Judaism following her marriage to Jared Kushner, and the couple are raising their children in the Orthodox faith. Dean admits he doesn't understand how Trump "squares the circle," and said minority communities should be fearful.
"When you run a campaign based on hate, which is what he did, you run a terrible risk of somehow liberating people's worst instincts and that's just what's happened," Dean said.
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Canadian troops and helicopters needed in Mali, says UN official
By: The Canadian Press
Canada’s troops and helicopters are urgently needed to protect and ferry peacekeepers at risk of ambush from Islamist militant forces as they travel through war-torn Mali, a top United Nations official told the Canadian Press.
Here is the rest of the Canadian Press article:
Atul Khare, the under secretary general of the UN’s department of field support, said he’s looking for Canadian help during an interview at the Halifax International Security Forum Friday.
“I think the most important contributions currently would be devoted to Mali,” he said after meeting with the Canadian and United Kingdom defence ministers.
He specified there is a shortage of both armed helicopters and military utility helicopters, adding “these challenges are quite critical and they need to be overcome.”
Khare said he’s also looking for Canada to help with combat logistical companies that escort military convoys as they make perilous journeys to the north of the West African nation.
“The logistical convoys … are frequently ambushed and we face many challenges there,” he said.
With a string of recent deaths along the roadways of the nation, Khare said he’s hoping Canada makes its decision quickly.
“The needs were yesterday. We are searching for them today because we have not yet fulfilled those needs,” he said.
The United Nations established an operation in Mali called MINUSMA in April 2013 after French and African Union forces pushed back rebel and Islamist militant forces that had taken control in the north of the country.
Islamist militants recently launched attacks on both a UN peacekeeping convoy and a Malian military camp in the country’s north, killing at least three people.
Khare says he would also appreciate Canada’s assistance with a regional protection force in the South Sudan.
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan hasn’t yet committed to a specific mission, but he recently visited Mali.
“Canadians can be proud of the leadership role we’ve taken,” he said, adding final decisions on priorities for spending will come from a defence policy review the Liberals are finishing up.
But a spokesman for Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose, who arrived at the conference on Friday, said the Opposition wants to know more about what risks the “potentially dangerous” mission might pose for the Canadian military.
Jake Enright said that Ambrose is scheduled to meet with French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and “is hoping the minister can provide her with details about peacekeeping operations in Africa, given that Justin Trudeau has refused to share details with Canadians.”
“Specifically, Ms. Ambrose would like to ask the minister about the French experience in Mali — what challenges exist in such a dangerous region and what types of threats face troops operating in the country.”
Canada’s troops and helicopters are urgently needed to protect and ferry peacekeepers at risk of ambush from Islamist militant forces as they travel through war-torn Mali, a top United Nations official told the Canadian Press.
Here is the rest of the Canadian Press article:
Atul Khare, the under secretary general of the UN’s department of field support, said he’s looking for Canadian help during an interview at the Halifax International Security Forum Friday.
“I think the most important contributions currently would be devoted to Mali,” he said after meeting with the Canadian and United Kingdom defence ministers.
He specified there is a shortage of both armed helicopters and military utility helicopters, adding “these challenges are quite critical and they need to be overcome.”
Khare said he’s also looking for Canada to help with combat logistical companies that escort military convoys as they make perilous journeys to the north of the West African nation.
“The logistical convoys … are frequently ambushed and we face many challenges there,” he said.
With a string of recent deaths along the roadways of the nation, Khare said he’s hoping Canada makes its decision quickly.
“The needs were yesterday. We are searching for them today because we have not yet fulfilled those needs,” he said.
The United Nations established an operation in Mali called MINUSMA in April 2013 after French and African Union forces pushed back rebel and Islamist militant forces that had taken control in the north of the country.
Islamist militants recently launched attacks on both a UN peacekeeping convoy and a Malian military camp in the country’s north, killing at least three people.
Khare says he would also appreciate Canada’s assistance with a regional protection force in the South Sudan.
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan hasn’t yet committed to a specific mission, but he recently visited Mali.
“Canadians can be proud of the leadership role we’ve taken,” he said, adding final decisions on priorities for spending will come from a defence policy review the Liberals are finishing up.
But a spokesman for Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose, who arrived at the conference on Friday, said the Opposition wants to know more about what risks the “potentially dangerous” mission might pose for the Canadian military.
Jake Enright said that Ambrose is scheduled to meet with French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and “is hoping the minister can provide her with details about peacekeeping operations in Africa, given that Justin Trudeau has refused to share details with Canadians.”
“Specifically, Ms. Ambrose would like to ask the minister about the French experience in Mali — what challenges exist in such a dangerous region and what types of threats face troops operating in the country.”
HMCS Fredericton to Visit Havana; First RCN Ship in 50 Years
Royal Canadian Press Release
HMCS Fredericton left for Havana, Cuba, today making it the first Royal Canadian Navy ship to visit in over 50 years, the navy noted in a news release.
The ship left Floria and is expected to arrive in Havana sometime Nov. 20, a RCN spokesman told Defence Watch.
HMCS Fredericton will visit the ports of Havana, Cuba; Cartagena, Colombia; and Veracruz, Mexico, “to enhance mutual understanding, cooperation, and capacity with partners in the region,” the RCN added in the news release.
HMCS Fredericton recently returned from a six-month deployment in the Mediterranean Sea on Op REASSURANCE and completed two major exercises CUTLASS FURY and SPARTAN WARRIOR, the RCN noted.
HMCS Fredericton left for Havana, Cuba, today making it the first Royal Canadian Navy ship to visit in over 50 years, the navy noted in a news release.
The ship left Floria and is expected to arrive in Havana sometime Nov. 20, a RCN spokesman told Defence Watch.
HMCS Fredericton will visit the ports of Havana, Cuba; Cartagena, Colombia; and Veracruz, Mexico, “to enhance mutual understanding, cooperation, and capacity with partners in the region,” the RCN added in the news release.
HMCS Fredericton recently returned from a six-month deployment in the Mediterranean Sea on Op REASSURANCE and completed two major exercises CUTLASS FURY and SPARTAN WARRIOR, the RCN noted.
Government Again Considering Sole-Source Super Hornet Buy
By: David Pugliese, National Post
A Liberal government proposal to buy Super Hornet fighter jets as a replacement for the air force’s aging CF-18s is back on the table.
But whether it will move ahead is still unclear.
In June the government proposed the purchase of Boeing Super Hornets as an interim measure, but that option disappeared as it faced intense criticism from the aerospace industry and opposition MPs.
Aerospace industry officials say they believed the Liberals were moving towards an open competition for a fighter replacement. But the option to buy the Super Hornets on a sole source basis and forgo a competition until around 2030 has again resurfaced, industry sources now say.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office, with advice from Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, has been pushing the option, despite opposition from some leaders in the Royal Canadian Air Force, sources add.
Jordan Owens, a spokeswoman for Sajjan, said Thursday that no decision has been taken yet on replacing the CF-18s.
Sajjan has repeatedly stated there is a need to immediately replace the CF-18s but his comments have been undercut by air force officers who point out the aircraft can keep flying until at least 2025.
Related
Boeing , Lockheed pull out all the stops to woo Canadian defence officials looking to replace CF-18s
A cautionary tale for Canada? Boeing preps legal challenge after Denmark rejects Super Hornet for F-35
John Ivison: By sole-sourcing Super Hornets, Liberals now look identical to Tories on fighter-jets file
The acquisition of an interim fleet of 20 Super Hornets would push off the need to acquire a new fleet of fighter jets for more than a decade.
Such a deal, if it proceeds, would give breathing room to the Liberals. During last year’s election campaign, Trudeau promised Canada would not purchase the controversial F-35, an aircraft he said was unnecessary for the country’s needs and too expensive. Trudeau promised his government would hold a competition.
By moving ahead with a sole source purchase of Boeing Super Hornets – and promising a competition in the late 2020s — the Liberals will still be able to claim they kept their election promise, industry sources say.
In July, the government asked for initial information from fighter jet manufacturers so it could determine how to proceed with a replacement program. Five companies responded.
Boeing submitted information on its Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin provided information on the F-35A, Dassault responded with the data on the Rafale, Eurofighter with the Typhoon, and the Saab Group offered details on the Gripen aircraft.
The re-emergence of the proposal to sole source the Super Hornets appears to have caught industry off guard.
Marillyn Hewson, Lockheed Martin’s CEO, was in Ottawa Tuesday at an aerospace conference highlighting both the F-35 and Canada’s participation in the project. She pitched the aircraft as a way to bring more jobs to Canada.
“Since the beginning of the program in 2001, more than 110 Canadian companies have contributed to the development and production of the F-35, bringing advanced technology and engineering work to Canada,” Hewson told the audience. “Today, Canadian-built components are on every F-35 produced. Canadian industry has been awarded over $1 billion in industrial work to date, and I’m confident the F-35 will bring significant economic benefits for decades to come.”
In August, two U.S. Air Force F-35s travelled to Canada to highlight the capabilities of the aircraft. At the time, Lockheed Martin officials said it looked like a competition would be held and their aircraft would be invited to take part.
But Trudeau is not a fan of the F-35.
When the National Post first reported on the Liberals’ proposal in early June to proceed with a sole source deal for the Super Hornets, Trudeau responded to criticism in the Commons by slamming the F-35. He dismissed the F-35, claiming the jet “does not work and is far from working.”
But a short time later the U.S. Air Force declared the jet as ready for combat.
Conservative defence critic James Bezan said in an email Thursday that “the Liberals have completely politicized this purchase by promising in the election they would exclude the F-35.
“Justin Trudeau and his friends are not fighter jet experts. Only an open and fair competition will clear-up the political mess they’ve created,” Bezan wrote.
Sajjan has said a decision on how the government will proceed on replacing the CF-18s will be made shortly, suggesting it could come by the end of the year.
The F-35 became a major political headache several years ago for the Conservative government. Although a Liberal government originally signed on to a research and development program for the plane, the Conservatives significantly expanded the commitment and later agreed to buy 65 of the planes.
The program was dogged by controversy and the aircraft faced numerous technical problems.
Aerospace industry officials say the declaration that the F-35A is ready for combat is good news for the aircraft program. But others point out that more development of the plane is needed.
A Liberal government proposal to buy Super Hornet fighter jets as a replacement for the air force’s aging CF-18s is back on the table.
But whether it will move ahead is still unclear.
 |
| A U.S. Navy F/A 18 Super Hornet performs at the Canadian International Air Show at the CNE in Toronto, Sept. 4, 2016. |
Aerospace industry officials say they believed the Liberals were moving towards an open competition for a fighter replacement. But the option to buy the Super Hornets on a sole source basis and forgo a competition until around 2030 has again resurfaced, industry sources now say.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office, with advice from Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, has been pushing the option, despite opposition from some leaders in the Royal Canadian Air Force, sources add.
Jordan Owens, a spokeswoman for Sajjan, said Thursday that no decision has been taken yet on replacing the CF-18s.
Sajjan has repeatedly stated there is a need to immediately replace the CF-18s but his comments have been undercut by air force officers who point out the aircraft can keep flying until at least 2025.
Related
Boeing , Lockheed pull out all the stops to woo Canadian defence officials looking to replace CF-18s
A cautionary tale for Canada? Boeing preps legal challenge after Denmark rejects Super Hornet for F-35
John Ivison: By sole-sourcing Super Hornets, Liberals now look identical to Tories on fighter-jets file
The acquisition of an interim fleet of 20 Super Hornets would push off the need to acquire a new fleet of fighter jets for more than a decade.
Such a deal, if it proceeds, would give breathing room to the Liberals. During last year’s election campaign, Trudeau promised Canada would not purchase the controversial F-35, an aircraft he said was unnecessary for the country’s needs and too expensive. Trudeau promised his government would hold a competition.
By moving ahead with a sole source purchase of Boeing Super Hornets – and promising a competition in the late 2020s — the Liberals will still be able to claim they kept their election promise, industry sources say.
In July, the government asked for initial information from fighter jet manufacturers so it could determine how to proceed with a replacement program. Five companies responded.
Boeing submitted information on its Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin provided information on the F-35A, Dassault responded with the data on the Rafale, Eurofighter with the Typhoon, and the Saab Group offered details on the Gripen aircraft.
The re-emergence of the proposal to sole source the Super Hornets appears to have caught industry off guard.
Marillyn Hewson, Lockheed Martin’s CEO, was in Ottawa Tuesday at an aerospace conference highlighting both the F-35 and Canada’s participation in the project. She pitched the aircraft as a way to bring more jobs to Canada.
“Since the beginning of the program in 2001, more than 110 Canadian companies have contributed to the development and production of the F-35, bringing advanced technology and engineering work to Canada,” Hewson told the audience. “Today, Canadian-built components are on every F-35 produced. Canadian industry has been awarded over $1 billion in industrial work to date, and I’m confident the F-35 will bring significant economic benefits for decades to come.”
In August, two U.S. Air Force F-35s travelled to Canada to highlight the capabilities of the aircraft. At the time, Lockheed Martin officials said it looked like a competition would be held and their aircraft would be invited to take part.
But Trudeau is not a fan of the F-35.
When the National Post first reported on the Liberals’ proposal in early June to proceed with a sole source deal for the Super Hornets, Trudeau responded to criticism in the Commons by slamming the F-35. He dismissed the F-35, claiming the jet “does not work and is far from working.”
But a short time later the U.S. Air Force declared the jet as ready for combat.
Conservative defence critic James Bezan said in an email Thursday that “the Liberals have completely politicized this purchase by promising in the election they would exclude the F-35.
“Justin Trudeau and his friends are not fighter jet experts. Only an open and fair competition will clear-up the political mess they’ve created,” Bezan wrote.
Sajjan has said a decision on how the government will proceed on replacing the CF-18s will be made shortly, suggesting it could come by the end of the year.
The F-35 became a major political headache several years ago for the Conservative government. Although a Liberal government originally signed on to a research and development program for the plane, the Conservatives significantly expanded the commitment and later agreed to buy 65 of the planes.
The program was dogged by controversy and the aircraft faced numerous technical problems.
Aerospace industry officials say the declaration that the F-35A is ready for combat is good news for the aircraft program. But others point out that more development of the plane is needed.
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Plan to Arm the Kurds stalled by Iraqi government
By: David Pugliese, Defence Watch
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in February that Canada would be providing the Kurds with lethal military equipment.
That still hasn’t happened and the Canadian government can’t say when such shipments might take place.
But at the Canadian Forces briefing Wednesday to provide an update on the progress of the Iraq war, details emerged about the holdup. Canadian officials said the arms have not been sent to the Kurds because the Iraqi government has yet to approve the shipment of such weapons.
The issue of arming the Kurds, who have been trained by Canadian special forces, is highly controversial. Kurdish leaders openly acknowledge their intent is to eventually create an independent state. They argue it is their right to break away from Iraq, pointing to Quebec’s attempts to leave Canada as an example. The arms are needed both to fight against ISIL and to defend an independent state, Kurdish leaders have said.
Strangely, other nations have received permission from the Iraqi government to provide weapons to the Kurds.
The U.S. military already has outfitted Kurdish units with mortars, anti-tank weapons and armoured personnel carriers.
The UK recently announced it had shipped heavy machine guns and ammunition.
In August, Germany resumed weapons shipments to the Kurds. Such shipments were halted in January after it emerged that some of the weapons Germany previously supplied to the Peshmerga had turned up on the black market.
Germany’s latest shipment included 1,500 rifles, 1 million rounds of ammunition, three armored vehicles and 100 MILAN guided missiles.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in February that Canada would be providing the Kurds with lethal military equipment.
That still hasn’t happened and the Canadian government can’t say when such shipments might take place.
But at the Canadian Forces briefing Wednesday to provide an update on the progress of the Iraq war, details emerged about the holdup. Canadian officials said the arms have not been sent to the Kurds because the Iraqi government has yet to approve the shipment of such weapons.
The issue of arming the Kurds, who have been trained by Canadian special forces, is highly controversial. Kurdish leaders openly acknowledge their intent is to eventually create an independent state. They argue it is their right to break away from Iraq, pointing to Quebec’s attempts to leave Canada as an example. The arms are needed both to fight against ISIL and to defend an independent state, Kurdish leaders have said.
Strangely, other nations have received permission from the Iraqi government to provide weapons to the Kurds.
The U.S. military already has outfitted Kurdish units with mortars, anti-tank weapons and armoured personnel carriers.
The UK recently announced it had shipped heavy machine guns and ammunition.
In August, Germany resumed weapons shipments to the Kurds. Such shipments were halted in January after it emerged that some of the weapons Germany previously supplied to the Peshmerga had turned up on the black market.
Germany’s latest shipment included 1,500 rifles, 1 million rounds of ammunition, three armored vehicles and 100 MILAN guided missiles.
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