Wicked.

This is coolbert:

“There is just something, I think, incredibly reassuring to Canadians when the Canadian Armed Forces show up and men and women in uniform are out in their communities and they’re sandbagging and helping people evacuate and get to safety,” - Blair, Canadian Minister of Defense.

Forest fires Canada often rage on a Biblical scale, in rugged and difficult terrain. Hard to fight unless means available.

"Canadian military's ability to battle forest fires will be limited this year, top general warns"

"Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre called the use of military personnel in fighting wildfires in Canada, in some instances, 'wickedly wasteful,'"

From https://nationalpost.com | David Pugliese  •  Ottawa Citizen | May 27, 2024 |  https://tinyurl.com/mrwbx7uv

"The Canadian military’s ability to help battle forest fires will be limited this year because of reduced readiness and the need to send troops to Latvia, warns the country’s top general."

Canadians have committed the NATO mission to the Baltic nations about 2,000 troops. That is slightly less than a regiment of soldiers, fully manned and at TO & E strength readiness.

May I remind you that during the Second World War the Canadian [Canada at the time had a much smaller and less wealthier population] were able to place an Army sized contingent into the field. Consisting of multiple Corps. 

I would not deny that fighting a forest fire is a good team building experience for a military unit of whatever type. But given the world crisis as it now exists give emphasis to where emphasis is most needed.

That major mission of the military at all times to break things and kill people! This must not be forgotten!

coolbert.

CRV7.

This is coolbert:

“I understand that of the 83,000 CRV7 stock, there is a high percentage that is not functional. However, Ukraine desperately needs munitions, and we have put a task force together to examine each of them if Canada is willing to entertain our request. The task force has identified the equipment needed to update and arm them,” -  Ukrainian Lieutenant General  Budanov.

"LILLEY: Ukraine asked for 83,000 surplus rockets, Trudeau remains silent"

"If Canada doesn't ship the rockets to Ukraine it will cost millions to dispose of them"

 From https://torontosun.com | Brian Lilley | Feb 02, 2024.

Canadian stockpiled and warehoused CRV7 air to ground rockets waiting to be decommissioned and destroyed.   

Canadian no longer needed munitions having been promised to the Ukrainian but never delivered.

So what is the issue and what is the delay? This is not clarified.

CRV7 an improved version of the American 2.75 inch [70 cm.] air to ground rocket with significant improvement.

Consider the capability of the CRV7:

"The CRV7, short for 'Canadian Rocket Vehicle 7', is a 2.75-inch (70 mm) folding-fin ground attack rocket . . . It was introduced in the early 1970s as an upgraded version of the standard U.S. 2.75-inch air-to-ground rockets. It was the most powerful weapon of its class, the first with enough energy to penetrate standard Warsaw Pact aircraft hangars. The CRV7 remains one of the most powerful air-to-ground attack rockets to this day, and has slowly become the de facto standard for Western-aligned forces outside the United States."

Additionally CRV7 as I suspected having an anti-tank penetrating warhead:

"a dedicated antitank warhead that replaced the steel rod in the practice warhead with a tungsten rod. This new antitank warhead could penetrate a Soviet T-72 main battle tank armor from any attack angle. Further study into this effect led to the WDU-5002/B FAT warhead, Flechette Anti-Tank, containing five tungsten-reinforced steel flechettes that could penetrate a T-72's side and top armor at a distance of 10,000 feet (3,000 m). It was also found to be a useful warhead for use against medium and light armored vehicles"

Someone please tell me what exactly is the problem with delivering these rockets to the Ukrainians. Everybody understands from the get-go that a certain percentage of these rockets will malfunction, perhaps more dangerous to the operators than to the enemy! 

Justin! Send these rockets to the Ukrainian! Let them decommission and destroy for you!!

coolbert.

Trudeau.

This is coolbert:

The Gaza War, the Canadian connection? 

"GUNTER: Hamas slaughter warrants Israeli actions"

From  https://torontosun.com | Lorne Gunter | Nov 25, 2023.

"Former federal NDP candidate Yavar Hameed, a human rights lawyer from Ottawa, is threatening to bring a private prosecution against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Hameed claims Israel is committing war crimes against Palestinians, and since Trudeau is supporting Israel, the PM is abetting war crimes."

"Private prosecutions almost never get anywhere in Canada. Courts dismiss them out of hand."

"dismiss (someone or something) out of hand: idiom - 1. To reject, deny, or refuse to listen to someone or something right away, without due discussion or consideration."

Within the context of Anglo-Saxon jurisprudence a LACK of action is not a reason to charge a person with aiding and abetting. Justin Trudeau his utterances alone cannot have aided and abetted. Action is needed. 

Consider rather such a "private prosecution" to fall under the category of Lawfare?

"Lawfare is the use of legal systems and institutions to damage or delegitimize an opponent, or to deter an individual's usage of their legal rights."

"The term may refer to the use of legal systems and principles against an enemy, such as by damaging or delegitimizing them, wasting their time and money (e.g. SLAPP suits), or winning a public relations victory."

Nice try Mr. Yavar, but ain't gonna work!

coolbert.

CASF.

This is coolbert:

Canadian Prime Minister W.L. Mackenzie King!

"When Canadian Troops Booed Their Prime Minister"

"boo: said to show disapproval or contempt"

As extracted from Epoch Times | the article by C.P. Champion | 10/12/2023.

"It doesn’t often happen that soldiers boo their political leaders. For one thing it is beyond disrespectful for military members to show contempt in public toward those to whom they are subordinate in a liberal democracy. Even if troops dislike a particular politician, or disdain politicians in general, it is a gross breach of discipline to show it publicly."

"But that is what happened to William Lyon Mackenzie King during the Second World War. It’s a dubious distinction."

Canadian army contingent [CASF] World War Two having the highest quality of personnel being left in the lurch and not happy. Stationed in England and ready-to-go into action with the German enemy but short of all necessary supplies, equipment and basic fundamental necessities as needed by a full-fledged and credible military force.

Mackenzie King receiving raspberries from the assemblage of Canadian troops as a result.

"raspberry: noun - broadly : an expression of disapproval or contempt"

Canadian troop when finally sent into combat 2 1/2 years after arrival in Great Britain that first encounter with the German catastrophic! Think the Dieppe Raid, Operation Jubilee. 5,000 Canadians participating, casualties greater > 50 % for no real gain!

See previous blog entries current Canadian military spending. As it was in the inter-war years as it is now:

 https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/07/listen.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/07/pledges.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/07/lack.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/04/woe-ii.html

coolbert.

Enduring.

This is coolbert:

Enduring commitment lasts a single month!

"enduring: adjective - Lasting; continuing; durable."

"Jesse Kline: Trudeau cuts defense spending to fund socialist pet projects"

"Having a military capable of defending your borders is not something you want to be caught without when you need it most"

From https://nationalpost.com | Jesse Kline | Oct 02, 2023  •  

"When politicians get in a room together, are they overwhelmed by the wafting scent of bulls–t, or do they simply become immune to it after awhile?"

In July, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with their NATO allies in Vilnius, Lithuania, where they pledged their 'enduring commitment to invest at least two per cent of our gross domestic product (GDP) annually on defense,' noting that, 'in many cases, expenditure beyond > two per cent of GDP will be needed in order to remedy existing shortfalls and meet the requirements across all domains arising from a more contested security order.'”

Rectify existing shortages and deficiencies of war-making BANG stuff. Increase current force structure and allow military readiness for a future conflict to flourish in a high-state of preparation.

As to not so much Canadian spending and military readiness posture but rather the German:

"This came a year and a half after Scholz, realizing the increased security threat from Russia following its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, set up a 100-billion euro defense fund and promised to beat the two per cent target 'year after year.'”

"Yet less than a month after the July NATO summit in Lithuania, Scholz’s government quietly dropped a legal requirement for it to meet the two per cent target on an annual basis from its budget financing law. The government would only commit to spending two per cent on average over a five-year period. And even that might not last: according to an August 2022 report from the German Economic Institute, once Berlin’s defense fund dries up in 2027, spending will once again fall to 1.2 per cent of GDP."

As the famous Sun Tzu would have said from thousands of years ago now:  "The King is only fond of words, and cannot translate them into deeds"

As with King Ho Lu twenty-five hundred years ago, so with Chancellor Scholz today!

You better believe it!

As I am fond of so much see the acerbic comments of Rabbi Dov 100 % as true to the mark NATO spending here:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/11/negotiate.html

coolbert.

Windsor.

This is coolbert:

HMCS Windsor that is!

"Only One Submarine In Canada’s Costly Naval Fleet Has Been To Sea In Years: Records"

From https://blazingcatfur.ca

"Only one of the vessels in Canada’s expensive submarine fleet has been to sea in recent years. Submarine maintenance and upgrade costs have surpassed $3 billion, records show."

CANADA THREE-OCEAN NATION.

"An inquiry tabled in the Commons revealed the Royal Canadian Navy stated that only one vessel, HMCS Windsor, has been at sea since Dec. 1, 2021, as first reported by Blacklock’s Reporter. The submarine was at sea for 43 days last year."

From the wiki: "HMCS Windsor is a long-range hunter-killer (SSK) submarine of the Royal Canadian Navy, the second submarine of the Victoria class. She is named after the city of Windsor, Ontario. Built for the Royal Navy as the Upholder-class submarine HMS Unicorn (pennant number S43) she was purchased by Canada"

British-built and somewhat aged Upholder class diesel-electric boat refurbished and retrofitted for Canadian navy. Four boats total, I had thought it was six! ONLY one service-able? Record poor at best. Hardly high-tempo operations.

As was already noted, what the Canadian navy needs is the latest and greatest brand-spanking new Italian designed and made S800 underwater boat!

See previous blog entries Canadian submarine force pain and woe:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/04/pitch.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/07/rcn.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/04/corner-brook.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2016/09/submarine-canada.html

coolbert.

C-19 T3X.

This is coolbert:

Canadian Rangers the far north have their new weapons. As of 2018.

Ancient and venerable but still highly effective for arctic conditions the British SMLE rifle gone. Replaced by the C-19 rifle. SMLE = Short Magazine Lee Enfield.

"Rangers C-19 - Show and Tell"

Go see the You Tube video and all thanks to You Tube:

"Members of 5th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (5 CPRG) were issued their C-19 rifles last week, in Clarenville, Newfoundland and Labrador. This video shows the classroom training on the rifle, to ensure that proper use, handling and safety are maintained." See the wiki entry the Rangers.

"ranger: noun - A wanderer; a rover. A member of an armed troop employed in patrolling a specific region."

Regarding the Canadian Rangers:

* Their mission: "They regularly conduct surveillance, sovereignty patrols (SOVPATS), and inspections of the North Warning System. They also act as guides, scouts, and subject-matter experts in such disciplines as wilderness survival"

* Canadian active-duty military units operating the arctic far north in danger from attack by the great white bear of the north, the polar bear. Canadian rangers acting in the role of predator control saviors to rescue, thwarting off attack by the beast.

* C-19 rifle not chambered for the .303 SMLE round. C-19 also the non-detachable magazine holding ten rounds. Same as the SMLE.

* Weapon does include some useful and well thought out modifications and features that make it ideal for arctic conditions.

coolbert.

Listen.

This is coolbert:

"Canada has also increased its [defense] spending significantly in recent years, by about 40 per cent between 2014 and 2021, with another 40 per cent increase projected over the next four years, according to the Parliamentary Budget Office. But that would still leave the country far short of the NATO target, at 1.59 per cent, in 2026-2027."

The topic once again Canadian military expenditures. Or rather the lack thereof.

"'I hope the Canadians are watching': U.S. senator tees off on Canada's military spending"

From https://www.cbc.ca  |  the story by Alexander Panetta | Jul 27, 2023.

"Exchange came up during confirmation hearing for next leader of North America's defense command"

EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS NORTH AMERICAN AIR DEFENSE [NORAD] A JOINT AMERICAN-CANADIAN VENTURE? A SENIOR CANADIAN MIITARY OFFICER THE SECOND-IN-COMMAND.

"A senior U.S. military figure has agreed to have tough conversations with Canada about defence spending when he takes over a binational military body."

"Lt.-Gen. Gregory Guillot was speaking during a U.S. Senate hearing Wednesday to confirm his nomination as the next head of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)."

"His comments came after a Republican senator chastised, at length, what he called Canada's insufficient military spending and said he hoped there were Canadians watching the hearing."

Canada, no offense, but you have been admonished!

See most recent previous blog entry as applicable:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/07/pledges.html

coolbert.

Pledges.

This is coolbert:

Pledge, pledge, pledge. Everywhere a pledge!

Action, not pledge!

"Canada Pledged To Spend 2% Of GDP On Its Military. Would That Transform It? Is It Affordable?"

 From "Blazingcatfur" | July 24, 2023.

"For years, Canada and other NATO member countries have faced criticism for falling short of allocating two per cent of their GDP on military spending, a target set in 2014 by the military alliance."

"Canada was among the allies who signed on in 2014 to aspire toward that target but has consistently failed to reach it."

NATO allies in 2014 agreeing to spend a MINIMUM of 2 % of GDP [Gross Domestic Product] on defense spending. An agreement confirmed additionally on a later date. NOW the allies agree once more to meet the MINIMUM spending.

"However, earlier this month, NATO member leaders pledged to boost spending on national defense, agreeing to make the existing target of two per cent of GDP the minimum spent each year, with one-fifth of that going toward major equipment and research and development."

Once more the pledge made! Increase military spending but prodded to do so ONLY in response to the Ukraine Conflict. Increased monetary allocations will need to be made and FAST. 

See the acerbic comments from a prior blog entry the American rabbi and his take:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/11/negotiate.html

coolbert.

Lack.

This coolbert:

“Of course, we do not agree with the American position [on cluster munitions deliveries to Ukraine], and we've mentioned it to the American officials. Meanwhile, what I think the alliance needs to be focusing on is really expanding the defense industrial capacity, because we're in this position right now because of the issue of lack of defense, industrial capacity. So that's something that we need to be working on in Canada but also within the alliance," - Melanie Joly. 

"Canada: Cluster Bomb Deliveries to Ukraine Related to Lack of Industrial Defense Capacity"

From - Sputnik International | 11.07.2023.

"WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The decision to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions is related to NATO’s lack of industrial defense capacity and the alliance's focus should be on expanding it, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly said on Tuesday."

Here it is in the nutshell. Those NATO nations lack that requisite industrial capacity to rearm as needed to stockpile their OWN weapons inventories for any possible contingencies to INCLUDE possible confrontation with the Russian military.

It is not that they DON'T have a manufacturing capacity but the fabrication facilities too scant in number and not being able to satisfy demand as needed in the here and now and tomorrow!

Building new factories and even merely increasing production from existing "industrial capacity" neither cheap or can be done quickly.

Gonna cost a lot of money and going to take some time.

Between the rock and the hard place.

coolbert.

Rush-Bagot.

This is coolbert:

Grave American violations of the Rush–Bagot Treaty? The Great Lakes of North America and border between Canada and the United States a demilitarized zone, military vessels limited both with regard to burden [tonnage] and armaments.

"The Rush–Bagot Treaty or Rush–Bagot Disarmament was a treaty between the United States and Great Britain limiting naval armaments on the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, following the War of 1812. It was ratified by the United States Senate on April 16, 1818, and was confirmed by Canada, following Confederation in 1867."

"The treaty provided for a large demilitarization of lakes along the international boundary, where many British naval arrangements and forts remained. The treaty stipulated that the United States and British North America could each maintain one military vessel (no more than 100 tons burden) as well as one cannon (no more than eighteen pounds) on Lake Ontario and Lake Champlain. The remaining Great Lakes permitted the United States and British North America to keep two military vessels 'of like burden' on the waters armed with 'like force'."

American gunboat USS Wilmette during the period of the Great War stationed on the Great Lakes. Wilmette of a size and armaments greater than stipulated in the Rush-Bagot treaty of one hundred years earlier. 

USS Wilmette during training exercise actually firing weaponry at a captured German submarine in the aftermath of WW1 some period after hostilities having ended. This was the sinking of UC-97.

"A clause of the armistice treaty required all German combat vessels held by Allied forces to be destroyed before 1 July 1921. All armament, propulsion machinery, and navigation gear were removed from UC-97 before she was towed out into Lake Michigan by USS Hawk (IX-14) for use as a target during the annual summer training of naval reservists living in the Midwestern United States. USS Wilmette fired 18 rounds from a 4 in (10 cm) gun in 15 minutes to sink UC-97 20 nautical miles (37 km) off the coast of Highland Park, Illinois on 7 June 1921."

And yes, the American gunboat IX-29 the converted excursion vessel SS Eastland prior to WW1 capsizing with horrific loss of life the Chicago river.

coolbert.

Vectors.

This is coolbert:

"Vector: Biology - an insect or other organism that transmits a pathogenic fungus, virus, bacterium, etc."

"Did Canada supply 'infected insects' to U.S. Military during the Korean War?"

Biological warfare Korea the Canadian connection?

Article thanks to www.thecanadafiles.com | Written by: Jeffrey S. Kaye | March 14, 2023.

"It was late April 1952 and the Korean War was nearing its second anniversary with no end in sight. In Canada, newspapers and the Canadian government erupted in fury when it was reported that the Canadian Peace Congress’ chairman implied that Canada may have supplied infected insects to U.S. forces, who were accused of bombing the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) and China with bacteriological or 'germ' weapons."

"Quite famously, the first reports of U.S. germ warfare in 1952 came during the dead of the Korean and Manchurian winter. Critics pointed to pictures the Communists released of insects wiggling on mounds of snow. They made much of the fact that it seemed absurd to think insects could be used as weapons in such a harsh climate."

YES indeed. Insects almost totally so during a period of sub-freezing temperatures either DIE or enter a TORPID state not remaining active. Insects during the winter time a poor VECTOR for bio-warfare agents. 

That allegation made the Canadian military at a secret bio-warfare laboratory by selective breeding of insects could create a cold-weather hardy insect remaining active during the winter.

"Fort Churchill related to experiments with insect cold-hardiness or perhaps the breeding of more cold resistant insects and bacteria to be used in germ warfare during the Korean War?"

The truth is out there but perhaps will never be known with 100 % certainty?

coolbert.

Flintlock.

This is coolbert:

More Canada stuff!

Canadians military personnel in Africa? Canadians?

As jihadist attacks intensify in West Africa, troops train with Canadian soldiers.

"Flintlock, an annual counterterrorism training program for African forces, resumes with new urgency as Islamist militants target the deserts of the Sahel region"

www.theglobeandmail.com GEOFFREY YORK | AFRICA BUREAU CHIEF 

"Soldiers from Niger storm into a hotel building near Jacqueville, Ivory Coast, mentored by a member of Canada's Special Operations Forces who is visible at rear left."

"Under the watchful eye of a Canadian soldier, heavily armed troops from Niger storm into a three-story hotel and launch a room-by-room close-quarters operation to clear the terrorists who, in this drill, have seized the building."

"At a 400-metre shooting range nearby, another Canadian soldier briefs forces from Niger as they prepare to aim their sniper scopes at a series of targets. A third Canadian is monitoring a unit’s battlefield emergency-aid procedures."

NATO military personnel training the armed forces of the Sahel region [that area just south of the Sahara desert] normally a function of the French? 

West African jihadists among the many "hydra-headed" manifestations of Al Qaeda or the Islamic State.

NOW only if these Canadian military professionals if they are living on the economy reimbursed for their meals! PM Justin, expedite matters!

coolbert.

S800.

This is coolbert:

"before the Second World War Italy's technology was at an incredibly high level . . . achievements, especially in the sphere of aviation, submarines and high-speed launches, were really amazing . . . the Italians were the unrecognized geniuses of military and naval technology." - Suvorov.

THIS IS WHAT THE CANADIAN NAVY NEEDS!

From the Internet web site Strategy Page and thanks to same.

"SUBMARINES: The Small But Mighty S800"

"April 7, 2023: Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri recently revealed its new S800 submarine, built to operate in shallow waters or on the high seas. S800 is 51 meters (163 feet) long, displaces 850 tons submerged and has a crew of 16. S800 has AIP (Air Independent Propulsion) which enables the sub to travel up to a week underwater, moving slowly and quietly with its passive sonar able to detect any surface ships or other submarines. Max range is 3,600 kilometers [about two thousand miles[ and max endurance is 20 days. There are four torpedo tubes which can carry torpedoes or naval mines. There is room for one reload of the torpedo tubes. Maximum depth is 200 meters (640 feet), max submerged speed is 27 kilometers [16 MPH] an hour and max surface speed is 16 kilometers [about 10 MPH] an hour. S800 can be equipped with two or four torpedo tubes, each with an Italian Black Shark wire-guided torpedo. The first S800 will take about four years to build and the buyer can specify a number of options. Each S800 costs about a $ billion dollars, depending on options selected. There are some high-end electronic options for S800"

Comments:

* Submarines of this type ideally suited for Canadian needs and conditions. Primarily act as a defensive component of naval strategy, patrolling and guarding Canadian waters. Canada does not need a nuclear-powered submarine for extreme long range/ inordinate munitions/deep-water missions.

* Note too Black Shark torpedo also Italian. The Italians do have the brains of great inventors evidently. The Soviet/Russian GRU was right.

* A single boat however not cheap and must be understood as being so. New boats less prone to down time and surely patrol time much beyond that of the current Victoria class of Canadian submarine.

* Crew size miniscule so recruiting problem is minimal.

* One forward base far north in the summer, one forward base further south in the winter and a home port for extended down time and you are good to go.

coolbert.

Pitch.

This is coolbert:

"There are hurdles to the Royal Canadian Navy's proposal to buy new subs. In the past the navy has had trouble training enough submariners to crew its current fleet of four boats, let alone 12."

"Royal Canadian Navy pitches $60 billion submarine purchase, say defense and industry sources"

Author of the article:David Pugliese  •  Ottawa Citizen | Apr 04, 2023  • 

"But that price tag could climb to $100 billion as military equipment procurement programs are rarely on budget"

"The Royal Canadian Navy is making a pitch for the purchase of up to 12 new submarines at a cost of $60 billion, say National Defense and industry sources."

"The navy is pushing for the acquisition of the submarines to be included in the Liberal government’s Defense Policy Update. Last month at a defense conference in Ottawa, Chief of the Defense Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre acknowledged he was advocating on behalf of the navy for submarines."

My instantaneous thought was that the Canadians would have been highly interested in atomic-powered submarines. But this is not even mentioned. Obviously there would be advantage to having submarines that can operate for long periods of time under the Arctic ice-cap independent in a manner a diesel-electric boat could not be.

However: "Germany, France, Spain, Sweden and Japan all build diesel submarines. So there are many options available."

YES! Air-Independent-Boats available from a variety of sources. Hardly cheap however.

My perception is that the Canadian Navy acquisition of four USED British Victoria-class submarines has been a tremendous failure. Boats too many problems and way too little time on patrol. New boats are needed now. As for a crew of reliable and trained personnel we must take pause?

coolbert.

Woe II.

This is coolbert:

More Canadian military stuff. Recruiting able personnel for the military hard enough. Antagonizing already serving troops while on deployment a bad idea only making things worse. Think retention of qualified and trained personnel an issue too.

If Prime Minister Trudeau wants to know why there is an apparent recruitment and retention problem in the Canadian military he needs to be made instantly aware of this!

 "Canadian Troops In Poland Not Being Reimbursed For Meals"

"Canadian troops in Poland are having to buy their own food but aren’t being reimbursed, causing hardships for their families back home."

"The Canadian soldiers are in Poland to train Ukrainian military personnel but since Canada did not send military cooks on the mission, the troops were told to eat at local restaurants."

LIVE OFF THE ECONOMY! PAY FROM YOU OWN POCKET AND KEEP THE RECEIPTS!

"But there is a massive backlog with the Canadian Forces reimbursing the soldiers for those costs, sending some of them thousands of dollars into debt."

JUSTIN needs to be concerned with the plight of his own troops in the same manner as you seem to be concerned and committed to President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. Maybe more so!!

coolbert.

Woe I.

This is coolbert:

Canadian military recruiting woes worse than thought? Situation much more dire!  Not recognized or even mentioned other than in hushed tones by those in the know?

1. "Military recruiting issues may be ‘more serious’ than senior ranks letting on: Hillier"

From globalnews.ca/news by Rachel Gilmore | October 24, 2022.

"As the Canadian Armed Forces grapples with how to boost recruitment amid growing global dangers, a former chief of the defense staff [Hillier] is warning that the situation might be even worse than the top brass are letting on."

“'Instead of being at 70,000 people, the Canadian Forces are operating probably somewhere at about 45,000 people — and out of that, there are a significant percentage of them who are not operationally deployable or capable,'” Rick Hillier said.

Canadian military their strength only about 2/3 of what is authorized. And of that number "a significant percentage of them" not at mission standards?

WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE MISSION CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE TIME!

2. "Canadian Navy offers ‘no strings attached’ program amid recruitment woes"

From globalnews.ca by Saba Aziz  | April 2, 2023.

"Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Canadian citizens and permanent residents can join the navy on a part-time basis under the new program. This has been updated to state that the one-year contract is full-time. Global News regrets this error."

"The Royal Canadian Navy is offering a one-year trial period for Canadians to join with 'no strings attached' as it faces a major recruitment challenge and unprecedented personnel shortage."

"Under the new program launched Friday, Canadian citizens and permanent residents can join the navy full-time on a year-long contract and then leave if they wish to after that."

Probably if you are hesitant in the first place whether navy duty is suitable for you the best is just to stay away.

And to all this Justin would say what?

coolbert.

AOPS.

This is coolbert:

And Canada does not have a steel manufacturing capacity?

MILSPEC [military specifications] have been rigidly followed as well?

"Canadian government doesn’t scale back on Chinese steel in new navy patrol ships"

Article by David Pugliese  •  Ottawa Citizen  Apr 04, 2023  • 

"Steel for Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships [AOPS] was bought from European suppliers, with about 17 per cent of that being purchased from China."

"Canada has yet to determine how much Chinese steel and equipment will go into its new naval warships, but it didn’t scale back on such products for its Arctic and offshore patrol vessels even though concerns were raised in 2018."

I guess the question that need to be asked here is:

* Was this Chinese manufactured steel subjected to stringent quality-control checks as would be specified in contract agreed upon criteria of the Canadian navy? I am assuming too that steel as used for warships active in Arctic waters must conform to the highest possible degree of MILSPEC conformity.

See my previous blog entry controversy that steel as use in American submarines. Testing and quality control certification according to contract "agreed upon criteria" in dispute.

Think too the famed economist Adam Smith the great advocate of free trade in all cases with two exceptions. One that a nation must be self-sufficient in capacity to produce armaments for self-defense. [don't ask me what the second exception is I just don't know]

coolbert.

Respectable.

This is coolbert:

Canada to the rescue, the Ukraine Conflict!

"Here's everything Canada has sent to Ukraine since Russia invaded"

From the National Post the story by Tristin Hopper • Yesterday [21 February?]. Courtesy the tip "Blazing Cat Fur".

"Feb. 24 marks the first anniversary of Russia launching its all-out invasion of Ukraine. Although Moscow figured their “special military operation” would only last a matter of days, strong Ukrainian resistance has meant that Russian forces have largely been contained to a few pockets in the country’s east — and at the cost of as many as 60,000 dead Russian soldiers, according to the U.K’s Ministry of Defense." 

"The Ukraine defense has persisted in large part due to a massive influx of foreign military aid, in which Canada has ranked as a rather respectable contributor. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Canada is now the fifth largest donor of Ukrainian military aid."

See further this You Tube video:

"All the military aid Canada has sent to Ukraine". 

Comments:

* High marks can be given to the Canadian for their resolve. That entire active duty Canadian ground forces about 22,000 troops their inventory of war-fighting bang stuff now sadly depleted.

* Canadian military spending as a percentage of gross domestic product and primarily devoted to NATO mission however sorely lacking. 

"Canada is estimated to have spent only 1.36 per cent of its GDP on the military last year, with only four other NATO members having spent less: Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovenia and Spain."

* Strictly from a logistics standpoint those field rations will feed every man in the active Ukrainian army [200,000?] with ONE meal for TWO days.

* HEY! Whatever happened to the Canadian General Trevor Cadieu? Broke camp and went off on his own to Ukraine. Has not been seen or heard of since.

All things considered, bravo Canada!

coolbert.

HMCS.

This is coolbert:

“'If it [the mission] includes interdicting arms smuggling at sea, then the risks can be quite significant if the smugglers decide to try fighting back during a boarding inspection,' . . . 'Similarly, if sailors are required to make landfall in Haiti to gather more intelligence on the situation there, they might encounter resistance from the gang.'” - Timothy Choi.

Haiti an unstable and lawless situation without mitigation. Enters the Canadian military? But only at sea.

"Canada sending two small, slow naval ships to Haiti: Here's what they might do there"

From the nationalpost.com the article by Tom Blackwell | Feb 18, 2023  •  

"It's not clear what HMCS Moncton and HMCS Glace Bay can do to help Haiti alleviate its troubles — troubles that mostly exist on land, not at sea"

"Haiti is definitely a country in need. Armed gangs have taken control of much of the nation. Murder and kidnapping is rampant. And the government seems incapable of asserting its authority over the widespread lawlessness."

Indeed! Mr. Choi is correct! Interdiction of smugglers at sea their cargo drugs or weapons such encounters rife with great danger. I would like to think these Canadian vessels will include among the crew personnel such as U.S. Navy SEAL's able to handle or respond appropriately to violent situations.

The Canadian military back in 2007 proposed a Canadian Royal Marine commando regiment but evidently idea went nowhere as a result of budget constraints.

Bumblebee had better have some sting! And no SHORE LEAVE either!!

coolbert.