Compared to Canada — with a similarly modest population and compact military — Australia is emerging as a global player and diplomatic powerhouse. It is often said that there no two countries more similar than Canada and Australia in terms of size and British parliamentary traditions, but on defence and foreign policy the two countries are following distinctly different paths.
While Canada concentrates on peacekeeping and emphasizes multilateralism, Australia opts for rapid responses to shore up failing states — even without United Nations approval. Canada proudly wears its multilateral memberships on its sleeve and heralds the United Nations as the foundation of its foreign policy, while Australia’s government is openly dismissive of Security Council consultations that go nowhere.
Australia’s long-serving foreign minister, Alexander Downer, is a harsh critic of “sclerotic” multilateralism that has become “a synonym for an ineffective and unfocused policy of internationalism of the lowest common denominator.” Interviewed in his Sydney office this month, Downer restated Australia’s determination to follow its own course — in close consultations with its American ally — rather than taking its cue from others overseas. And like many influential Australian foreign policy analysts, he made plain his displeasure with Ottawa’s readiness to sit on the sidelines while others do the “heavy lifting.”
Despite the apparent similarities, Canada can coast on Washington’s protective umbrella while Australia has to look after itself, while keeping firepower in reserve for neighbours in need.
Downer says Australians are keen on looking after themselves because “this is our neighbourhood. Canada’s neighbourhood is completely dominated by the United States.” He adds that Australia is more than merely self- reliant — it is also a reliable ally. “We pull our weight,” Downer says pointedly.
Read it all to get an appreciation of just how far Australia punches above her weight in keeping the “junk” out of their backyard.
Though, perhaps it’s more than the umbrella provided by a big, powerful brother to our south – the difference in our national sense of responsibility can be partially attributed to our contrasting national evolution. Austrailans worked their way up from what began as a colony of criminals, while Canadians seem content to be governed by one.
(Thanks to Joe Katzman for the tip)
So if the journalist also writes for the Toronto Star, was this article published there as well? Somehow I doubt it.
An excellent analysis. Australia is a major force for justice and protection of people in this world. Australia is also economically and intellectually innovative and vibrant, with a strong focus on research and economic development.
Canada is nothing but an empty balloon, a fading sclerotic,, endlessly talking about itself,asserting itself ‘as if’ it actually did play a major, or even minor, role in world affairs. Canada has become a small suburbia, a bedroom community, which lives off the economy of the US, and hides itself from its refusal to take charge of itself, its refusal to participate in the world, by strident anti-Americanism.
Yes – Australians ‘worked their way’ from being a colony of criminals, ‘while Canadians seem content to be governed by one’. Indeed yes, Canada is governed by a ‘colony of criminals’. The Cartel of the Desmarais, PowerCorp, Magma Cartel, which uses the Liberal Party as its political boardroom, to effectively reduce the capacity of Canadians to participate in major economic ventures, to less than 2% of the population…because the Cartel holds all the power.
However, a major factor in this decay of Canada, is the francophone domination of the country. As I’ve said, francophones work only with francophones; the anglophone world, to them, is simply ‘not part of the planet’. It simply doesn’t exist except as a source of money. But, its people, are not ‘part of the world’. Francophone political ideology is socialist, welfare statism, heavily bureaucratic, state-run businesses, anti-individual, anti-American, etc.
Canada set itself up in this infrastructure by setting itself up as bilingual a generation ago. The result is a governance that excludes 80% of the population from major political and economic roles, and confines the governing ‘section’ to a clique in Ottawa-Montreal. That clique, which is francophone,then ‘hardened in itself’, effectively isolating any inroads. Canada has become an oligarchy. Of course, to actually say this in public, is met by charges of ‘racism’, ‘bigotry’, etc…but..all one has to do, is examine the statistics of officials, the statistics of funding, the statistics of decision-making.
Then, unlike the Australians, we removed any capacity of the people to challenge this oligarchic governance, by our severaly limiting the powers of the electorate. The electorate are confined to electing only the House of Commons, which has been reduced to functioning only as the Door to Power in Canada. Once that door is opened, the votes and decisions of the House are ignored.
The real political and economic power in Canada lies with the HUGE number of patronage appointments, all focused within ONE office, that of the PM – who has dictatorial control of the country. This can’t happen in Australia.
Australia has rejected this oligarchy and has insisted on its functioning as a democracy. It has an elected Senate with fixed terms; indeed, most of its authorities are elected, within fixed terms and fully accountable to the public.
The Canadian system, which is one of enormous patronage powers held by one office, and which is fully unaccountable, is completely corrupt and has effectively removed both political control but also economic control, from the electorate.
As far as assistance in the problems of the world, the francophone domination of Canada means that its focus is primarily on francophone areas. It will help Haiti but not the Sudan. And, we all know that the francophone history is not one of military involvement but of watching others fight for them.
Can Canada get out of this morass? I doubt it. The fact that the corruption of power in Canada doesn’t, at the moment, affect the economy, because our economy is completely bonded to that of the US, means that there is, at the moment, no economic result of this corruption.
In the long run, the lowering of the economic capacity of the Canadian population to less than 2% of its population able to engage in large scale investment, WILL have serious effects. But, at the moment – this is not noticed.
Therefore, I doubt if Canada can get itself out of this corrupt dead end.
Country / Mil. Exp. $b / %GDP
Canada / 9.8 / 1.1
Australia / 16.7 / 2.7
…….. just for fun
Israel / 9.1 / 8.7
Source: CIA factbook. Dates not all coincident; range from 2002 – 2004
greenmamba- are you sure of those figures?
It’s not all in billions.
Canada’s stats are 9.8 MILLION, at 1.1% of the GDP. Those are 2003 figures.
France; 2003. 45 million, at 2.6% of GDP.
UK. 2003. 42 million at 2.4% of GDP
Denmark. 3 million at 1.5%.
And the Netherlands. 9.4 billion, at 1.6%. And they helped out in Iraq.
Australia. 2004. 16.65 BILLION at 2.7% of GDP.
So, Canada is the bottom, bottom, bottom of the scale. Its military is insignificant and non-existent. The other cuntries spent more than twice their GDP on their military contribution to the world. Canada does zilch..and aligns itself with the UN, which behaves in a similar manner to Canada – engage in enormous corruption.
France’s military activities are primarily to move in, unilaterally, in its many former colonies, to maintain their ‘new function’ as resource sites of France. France doesn’t bother with the anglophone or allophone world…except to sell arms to Arab countries.
While the Canadian and Australian militaries are currently of roughly equal strength, Australia has a vigourous re-equipment program including the F-35, attack helicopters (Canada has none; we could certainly use some in Afghanistan), large transport helicopters, Abrams main battle tanks, frigates, and AWACs.
They also have five recently built submarines that work. They have 24 C-130 Hercules (about the same number as the Canadian Air Force now has flying) but 12 of these are the recently-manufactured newest version, C-130J.
The only major re-equipment plans for the Canadian Forces to which the Liberal government seems committed are: Stryker light AFVs; maritime helicopters; and a light tactical transport aircraft to replace very old Twin Otters and Caribous.
The comparison speaks for itself.
Mark
Ottawa
Boy is that Prime Minister Martin ever a smart guy! Who else could buy $3.2 billion worth of helicopters on a $9.8 million dollar budjet?
You dyslexic ET?
ET: The CIA factbook quotes some numbers in billion and others in million, but they’re 1000s of million. Check again. These are standard sorts of figures. 9.8million would only cover salaries of 49 generals at $200k a pop. (They likely make less but there’s overhead.) I also recall that before the Tories started cutting in the 80s, the Mil. budgie was $11b. It didn’t go down THAT much.
It also seems we get a lot less bang for our buck than other countries – that was why I made the Israeli comparison.
ET,
$9,800 million = $9.8 billion.
Also, those in the military likely don’t appreciate being labelled insignificant or non-existant. But I believe I understand your sentiment.
Mark,
Canada is a JSF (F-35) partner – though a purchase is a long way off.
Canada has 30 CC-130’s and yes many are old E-models. There will be an airlift replacement program starting soon. The light tactical transports being purchased are actually intended for SAR primarily (to replace the Otter and Buffalo). There is a tender for 3 new Joint Support ships which will actually provide an important fleet projection capability as well as transport for the Army and a joint HQ. The Navy’s fleet of 12 frigates are being upgraded and the CF-18 fleet (such as it is) is being modernized. Canada likely doesn’t require an AWACS as we are part of the NATO AWACS program. We DO require large transport helicopters – the Chinook’s were good but we sold them to Holland.
my 2 cents,
Smitty
Mark:
Canada’s military has no Caribou aircraft, just Buffalo. Although you were close, DHC4 was the caribou and DHC5 is the Buff. DHC6 is the Twin Otter, still a very capable and sought after bush plane in the north.
You are indeed correct though, with the assessment of lack of credible military force. Not to knock the people serving today but rather the lack of leadership at the pointy end. Too many generals in Ottawa are just posturing for bureaucratic positions and polititions only drag out the military when there is a photo op. There, I feel a bit better now…
Smitty: I don’t think we are anywhere near a tender for the Joint Support Ships. There is as yet no firm definition of requirements, just a “project”. I would wager it will be ten years before a ship is operational. See
http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/mspa_news/news_e.asp?id=48
And I have severe doubts what we will ever buy F-35s.
And I doubt we still have 30 flyable Hercs (the Air Force website still says we have 32). Note that 429 Squadron Trenton has been merged with 436 Squadron Trenton, obviously because there are not enough aircraft to justify two squadrons.
http://www.intelligencer.ca/webapp/sitepages/printable.asp?paper=www.intelligencer.ca&contentID=116968&annewspapername=Belleville+Intelligencer
Mark
Ottawa
Texas Canuck: Oops. It’s the Australian Air Force that has Caribous (14), acquired from 1964. We have 6 Buffalos acquired in 1967.
Mark
Ottawa
Don- when someone makes a genuine error, the response should not be a personal insult. OK? So, don’t taunt me or anyone with ‘being dyslexic’. For all you know – I am. Don’t insult people. Stick to the issues and don’t get personal.
Now – it was indeed my error; I was only looking at the terminology, not the numbers, in the CIA stats.
It still doesn’t change the conclusion. The Canadian military is among the lowest funded in the developed world and is so unfunded, not merely underfunded, but unfunded, that it can participate, if and when the politicians permit them to – at only minimal level.
And, the military has been redefined from functioning as a military, which means both inflicting and receiving casualties in the pursuit of a change in status of the territory, to a policeforce, which means functioning only to maintain an existent status in that territory.
ET
Re: insults. Your first post rather begs the question on that doesn’t it?
Aunty-American is being brought out of the attic by the Liberal/NDP socialist regime. The old red flag will be waved in front of Canadians; many will tsk-tsk those b——ds and vote for the AdScam Martin regime.
Aunty-American is being prepped/juiced up now, to wit: Trade war. War is the operative word: us against “THEM”!!! The Socialist regime is a master of psychological manipulation of the Canadian psyche. >>>>
Senior cabinet ministers hint at escalating trade war over softwood dispute
REGINA (CP) – The federal government hinted at an escalating trade war Tuesday as two senior cabinet ministers warned of potential tariffs on American exports in retaliation for U.S. policies on softwood lumber.
>>> CP does not use the words: the Liberal government; it uses the words; “the federal government”; masters of sophistry/deception & more. Moreover, CP reinforces the anti-American screed by using not only the word, American, but the acronym “U.S.”; get the message? And more…
Well done, a nice brisk discussion yet again. Love reading the activity here… You guys ROCK!
Smitty: It is sadly indicative of the Liberals’ priorities for military aircraft that they acquire planes that primarily serve civilians (Search and Rescue) before ones that serve military purposes, e.g.:
-the Comorant helicopter (SAR) well before the SH-92 maritime helicopter;
-the fixed-wing SAR transport aircraft (Buffalo and Twin Otter replacement) before a C-130 Herc replacement, for which there still seems not even to be a “program”.
Mark
Ottawa
I’m not sure I would go so far as to say we are governed by a criminal. But it is certainly fair to say that our governing party seems more than content to let criminal activity go unpunished.
The willingness of so many Canadians to blindly ignore the overwhelming evidence that was uncovered during the Gomery Inquiry that the Liberal Party encouraged and abetted criminal activity is simply mind boggling.
Oz does an admirable job of “punching above her weight class” but I think it has a lot to do from her geographical position and the mindset a free democratic nation must take when living prcariously close to deranged despotic regimes….first it was imperial Japan that was the treat within striking range and now it is China, Korea, and various other rogue or unstable tyrannies in the Pacific Indo-China region.
Preparedness and direct decisive action when failed states leave the region open to instability by a rogue despotism taking control is a very viable foreign policy for Oz….Canada has become lethargic as we have our trade partner to the sounth who always does the same thing in our sphere of influence…it is always the US or the UK in first to break up anarchy in failed Carribean and Latin American states….Canada just picks its nose and bad mouths them for doing it….that’s what our foreign policy has degenerated to under Liberal idocratic impotency….we position ourselves diplomatically as America’s official scold….our pomposity and presumption in having the moral authority to act as someone else’s conscience is becoming the brunt of G7 jokes.
And the Australians already have two ships equivalent (though smaller) to the Joint Support Ships our Navy wants:
http://www.navy.gov.au/fleet/amphib.htm
“The HMAS Manoora and HMAS Kanimbla were originally built for the United States Navy and acquired by the Royal Australian Navy in 1994. Both ships have undergone extensive modifications for their new roles as helicopter capable amphibious transports.
Their primary roles are to transport, lodge ashore and support an Army contingent of 450 troops, their vehicles and equipment. Kanimbla and Manoora are fitted with helicopter hangers capable of supporting up to four Army Blackhawk or three of the larger Navy Seaking helicopters. Two helicopters can operate simultaneously from the aft flight deck, while a third can operate from the flight deck located forward of the bridge.
Two Army LCM8 landing craft can also be carried on the forward flight deck to provide ship to shore transport. They are lifted on and off by a 70 tonned crane. Accessed through a stern door, 810 square metres of storage space is available on the vehicle deck for Army vehicles and other large items of equipment.
For Army and Navy exercises the ships have additional operations and planning rooms that provide for both an Amphibious Group Commander and a Landing Force Commander. A comprehensive and modern array of communications equipment is fitted to support these joint operations.
Both ships are fitted with the largest and most comprehensive medical facilities in the fleet.
Statistics
Displacement 8534 tonnes
Length 159.2 metres
Beam 21.2 metres
Ships Company 182
Propulsion Six ARCO 16-251 diesel engines
Speed 20 knots
Weapon Systems One 20mm Vulcan Phalanx close in weapons system.
50 cal Browning machine guns.
SRBOC self- defence system
Cargo Capability 2 LCM8 Landing Craft
4 Blackhawk or 3 Seaking helicopters”
And they have one “Landing Ship Heavy”:
http://www.navy.gov.au/fleet/lsh.htm
“The heavy lift ship is the first purpose built major amphibious ship in the Royal Australian Navy providing the Australian Defence Force with a heavy lift capability not available in any other Australian-owned ship.
Essentially the ship is a multi purpose troop and roll-on / roll-off, heavy vehicle carrier. The design includes facilities for bow and stern loading, a drive through capacity and inter-deck transfers via ramps. It is capable of transporting 18 Leopard Main Battle Tanks in the Tank Deck and 40 Armoured Personnel Carriers on the Vehicle Deck. The Vehicle Deck has been reinforced to enable the transportation of two Landing Craft Mechanical-8 (LCM-8) on specially designed cradles. In addition, davits on either side of the superstructure secure two Landing Craft Vehicular Personnel (LCVP).
There are also facilities for helicopter and landing craft operations and a 70-ton capacity derrick. The upper deck forward of the bridge and the after deck can serve as helicopter flight decks. Up to two Seaking helicopters can be embarked.
Statistics
Displacement 5,800 tonnes
Length 126 metres
Beam 18 metres
Ships Company 145
Propulsion Two Diesels
Speed 16 knots
Weapon Systems Two 40/60 Bofor Guns
Two .50 calibre machine guns
Landing Craft Two LCVP on Davits,
two LCM 8’s as deck cargo”
Mark
Ottawa
WL Mackenzie Redux: Actually their big local worry for some time has been Indonesia (see Australian occupation of East Timor, 1999).
Mark
Ottawa
TomR- Nope. I wasn’t insulting any specific individual. So, there’s no ‘begging the question’ fallacy involved.
I repeat; stick to the issues. Don’t insult people. If someone makes a genuine error, point out the error, but don’t then mock and insult that person for having made the error.
I think you are confusing criticism with ‘insults’. Criticism and dissent of systems and powers is necessary, but such criticism is not the same as insulting an individual. What’s your beef? That I’m critiquing the francophone ideology? That’s not an insult; it is a critique and stands on its own. That I’m critiquing the Canadian lack of functional participation in world problems? That’s not an insult; it’s a critique and stands on its own. That I’m critiquing the fact that the Quebec, i.e, francophone, ideology has come to dominate Canadian politics? That’s not an insult; it’s a critique and stands on its own.
If you move into a frame of mind, where criticism of systems is considered ‘insulting’, then, you have moved yourself into a situation where you cannot evaluate anything. Everything just ‘is’. That’s relativism and is disastrous.
“The fact the Canadian navy has no warships with ice-protected hulls is another knock against the country’s Arctic ambitions”
No ice protected hulls and your whole Northern border is iced up for much of the year?????
If Canada can’t even make a point against the Danes over wee Han Island thanks to her lack of force projection….sad very sad. I remember when Canada punched well above her weight on Land Sea and Air with forces in Germany and worldwide…was it only 20 years ago? Come back Canucks we need you…
Two cents, I agree with you.
When it was demonstrated that the Librano$ actually appointed made guys to important government positions (I think that Gagliano is probably a Bonanno capo), I expected the Liberal government to fall apart. When your government actually appoints mafia members to important posts, then you have simply become a criminal empire.
So I sat around waiting for the whole thing to unravel. Imagine my surprise when all that happened were some modest headlines and a government inquiry. Frankly, I’m amazed that anyone would even consider support for the Liberal Party after corruption as blatant as that occurs. I mean, at that point, you might as well start appointing Hell’s Angels to various posts and insist that they wear their colors.
Now I think that ET’s suppositions have pretty much been established. It’s like the old joke about the lady who wouldn’t go to bed for a dollar, but would for a million. And of course, the punchline was, “we’ve already established what you are; we’re just haggling over the price.”
As an Australian I think it is true that we punch above our weight and I am proud of that. However it has really only been in the last few years. To me our role in the Cambodian elections in (the early 90s I think ?)was probably the start and then East Timor was really a highpoint. However in the 70s our record was really shameful considering our backdown to Indonesia over Timor and Irian Jaya.
Point of saying all that is that I don’t really think you guys should be soul – searching about the essential nature of Canada as compared to Australia. These things can change quickly and sometimes can depend on the actions of only a few people – for us I would say Downer and Howard played a big role.
BTW enjoy ther blog.
Greg, I can say, with info borne of a source with credibility I can count on as Captain Ed did with his source at the Gomery Inquiry, that indeed Canada may now be effectively a criminal empire. But why isn’t it readily apparent on that scale? Because organized crime is now mainstream and, I logically deduce, at least left alone by gov’t. Organized crime now owns legitimate businesses; the ones we see and sometimes may even deal with regularly. How they make a lot of money this way is the question- do they have associates in all the right places? One would logically assume.
I agree that it’s mind-boggling that so many citizens, after hearing all the testimony about crime, corruption and greed, still are willing to vote Liberal. Perhaps the Liberal state apparatus therefore has succeeded in brainwashing a large proportion of the masses after all.
It’s frightening that, according to the polls these days, nearly forty percent of Canadians are Liberal apparatchiks. Where has Canada gone wrong?
Update: Librano$ back down. Why/who/what is going on?>>>>>
Canada backs down on trade retaliation
Globe and Mail – 1 hour ago
By SCOTT DEVEAU. It could be well into 2007 before the federal government applies retaliatory tariffs in the softwood lumber dispute, Trade Minister Jim Peterson said Tuesday. Despite heightened rhetoric earlier …
Simon, Australia was always a healthy Democracy. I’m afraid Canada’s deficiencies are institutionalized.
Just to add insult to injury… a big navy is not really needed to defend Canadian shores if Canada has a large, well equipped Coast Guard. Oooops! Anyone know how many ships/helos the CCG have on strength? I seem to remember many moons ago Canada had an Arctic capable icebreaker (the St Laurant comes to mind). Now, who knows/
So, if the government hasn’t spent any money on defence or coastal protection, where has the money gone?
Stephen, very interesting.
Traditionally, organized crime, particularly ‘La Cosa Nostra,’ launders their ill-gotten gains by opening legitimate businesses.
So in this case, there is an extremely good possibility that the legitimate businesses are places that the mob puts its profits.
Naturally in this day and age, one has to suspect that a lot of these profits come from narcotics transactions.
After all, you’ve got to do something with the money, and you’ve got to find some way to cleanse it.
With the profit in narcotics being staggeringly large, it obviously requires assistance from government to be able to operate freely in a country. So it’s hard to know how many politicos are “juiced.” From what we have seen with the Gagliano appointment (actually being the office that intersects financially between government and business), it would appear that the fix is in, and goes up to the very top of the party.
I have information that suggests that organized crime is also using the Canadian stock market to launder their money. At this point, there is simply no way of telling how many millions of dollars of mob money have found their way into legitimate business in Canada.
Texas Canuck: The Canadian Coast Guard, unlike the USCG, has by legislation no law enforcement or quasi-military functions. It is unarmed though its vessels can and do act as transport for law enforcement (usually RCMP), military or fisheries enforcement officers who may be armed.
The CCG’s legislated functions are environmental protection (e.g. oil spills), search and rescue, marine communications and vessel traffic management and supplying aids to navigation.
http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/main_e.htm
It also does icebreaking.
http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/ice-gla/main_e.htm
The Louis St. Laurent and Terry Fox icebreakers are capable of extended season operations through areas of Arctic ice zone 6.
It has about 120 vessels of various sizes (mostly smaller) and 27 small helicopters.
http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/vessels-navires/main_e.htm
But the Liberal government has under-funded the Coast Guard for years and no major vessels have been built for years.
Mark
Ottawa
Does Canada concentrate on peace keeping? We’re always braying about it, but being #33 in the world at it is pretty pathetic. All talk and no action, that’s one of the Librano’s new ‘Canadian values’, I guess. It’s gettin more embarrassing to be called a canadian all the time. Time for a new flag, let’s replace the maple leaf with a big stupid looking sheep with a dunce cap on it’s head.
A reminder to all. Madame Jean, who has broken bread with FLQ members, will be the the new Commander in Chief of Canadian Forces. Just an aside, there were three victims of the FLQ rampage. They were Mr. Cross, Pierre Laporte, and a Canadian Army Officer, whose name escapes me. The officer was attempting to defuse a bomb in a mailbox in the vicinity of Cote des Neiges and The Boulevard in Montreal. The officer’s wounds were so severe he was reduced to a vegetative state. We do weep for the Canada that was strong and free!
If Mme Jean can fraternize with FLQ terrorists who have actually been involved in murder etc., then what about her feelings wrt Al Qaeda?
More dangerous doubts about Paul Martin’s choice for Governor General. Shouldn’t the appointment be cancelled?
Greg, you’re right. What I meant to say, btw, was that organized crime is extremely difficult to spot nowadays, as its members seem for all the world like normal, law-abiding citizens. The leftist civil-rights groups, certainly connected to the Liberals via funding etc. always stand up for anyone accused of participating in organized crime; what with always saying we shouldn’t discriminate against people who ride motorcycles and wear jackets with skulls and the word “hell” on them who everyone KNOWS are criminals for sure. They get excellent lawyers and enjoy an environment in which the lawmakers almost totally ignore their existence and the harm they’re doing to Canada and its citizens.
The “civil rights” moonbat idiots are always leaping to the defence of evildoers like these people and of Al Qaeda members and people like Karla Homolka. When have they ever stood up for law-abiding citizens who have been victimized by the Liberal state apparatus? I cannot recall any example. They let good people suffer abuse, persecution and blatant discrimination while vociferously supporting filthy rotten scum!
This reality says the most about the Liberal Party of Canada, way better than anything I can say.
Of course, I certainly wasn’t saying that people who ride motorcycles are all criminals. Just the criminals are.
So, Kate, you don’t need to start a website exposing my motorcycleriderophobia. 🙂
The 2004 military budget in Canada was around $13 billion. See,
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/cdnmilitary/
Of course, according to a June 2005 report from DND the new goal of the Canadian military is to focus on *domestic* problems, or as the general responsible said, “its mission in Canada.” Hmmm, preparing for a battle with separatists?
By BILL RODGERS, Parliamentary Bureau
It seems security is tighter for Prime Minister Paul Martin than it is for his wartime Brit counterpart.
Martin and his media handlers have, in the past, justified his use of government jets for personal vacations and Liberal party fundraisers by saying the RCMP demands it for security reasons.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his family, however, took a scheduled commercial airline flight to Barbados for a summer break earlier this month — paying for their own airfare — and a spokesman said that’s not unusual.
Rachel Grant told Sun Media yesterday that is the standard practice for Blair when he’s travelling on personal vacation time. >>>>
Librano$ love your money; tax and spend Librano$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
http://www.rapp.org/url/?HNWXEYAF
Ottawa Sun
tuesday, august 23, 2005
No Shari’a in Australia
Shari�a is utterly incompatible with modern Western civilization, and leave it to the Australians to say so in no uncertain terms: Muslims who want Islamic law told to leave Australia. (Hat tip: LGF readers.)
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/
An example of what the Canadian military are up against with the Liberals:
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Canada/2005/08/24/pf-1185902.html
‘ August 24, 2005
Defence minister sings praises of Canuck soldiers in Afghanistan
By CP
MOOSE JAW — Canada’s defence minister illustrated how Canadians are well-suited to their mission in Afghanistan by telling a story yesterday about a soldier who spared a child’s life.
Graham, who was visiting the Canadian Forces air base in Moose Jaw, said the Canadian soldier in Kabul risked his life to take a machine-gun from a 12-year-old boy.
He said the soldier told him: “I figured it was better to risk my life than to shoot a 12-year-old boy.”
Graham said because of their values, training and experience, Canadians are culturally sensitive to others. He said some armed forces don’t behave that way.
“They shoot first and ask questions later,” Graham said.
Graham, who was speaking at a luncheon, also noted that one of the greatest attributes that the Forces have is an international reputation, which is derived from an ability to work with other people towards a common cause.
Canada has 250 soldiers in Kandahar that are part of a reconstruction team that will also involve members of the RCMP, Foreign Affairs and the Canadian International Development Agency.
They’re trying to bring stability to the area prior to national elections in September.
Graham also reiterated a pledge to speed up the time frame for acquiring new equipment for the armed forces.
He said after a long time when government put other priorities first, $13.5 billion over five years was made available this spring in extra defence funding.
“One of the problems of procurement in the military is it takes time. The average military acquisition of any significance in this country takes 12 years. My job as defence minister is to cut that time back,” Graham said.
Canada can’t wait 12 years to get new helicopters or replace the aging Hercules transport fleet, he said. “I strongly believe we have turned the corner in terms of ensuring our military is better supplied,” he said.’
Believing is one thing, acting another. Deeds, not words. What is going to replace the Hercs, and when?
Mark
Ottawa
Today in National Post: Andrew Coyne.
“The Americans are right on softwood lumber”.
“Talk of retaliatory tariffs, one suspects, is aimed less at the Americans than at the domestic (Canadians) political audience – a brave front before the inevitable climbdown.”>>>
Stuff ole Aunty-American back in the attic; keep the old hag there. Ole Aunty-American has broken her bail conditions; back to the attic, Aunty.