tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post2827506874799781652..comments2024-03-28T19:18:40.387-04:00Comments on Northern Reflections: The Flying EdselOwen Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-38954251940710471202016-05-02T13:39:21.592-04:002016-05-02T13:39:21.592-04:00When a government's purpose is primarily to de...When a government's purpose is primarily to defend corporate interests, Mound, defense is defined as "profit" -- pure and simple.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-41068843891034727642016-05-02T12:04:00.896-04:002016-05-02T12:04:00.896-04:00The most compelling point, Owen, is that even if t...The most compelling point, Owen, is that even if the F-35 was to somehow miraculously perform as promised it would be unsuitable for Canada's air defence needs. We have a huge landmass and our fighter force is so paltry that we must depend on the USAF to defend our Atlantic and Pacific coasts. There are no fighter interceptors in British Columbia, none in the Maritimes. What CF-18s remain serviceable are split between Cold Lake, Alberta and Bagotville, Quebec.<br /><br />Now Canada has to deal with a larger security issue in the far north. Putin is militarizing Russia's Arctic coastline. He's deploying troops, ships and aircraft. He's revived old Cold War bases. China, while not an Arctic nation, has announced its intention to maintain a permanent and substantial military presence in the Arctic. To this end China already operates the largest, non-nuclear powered icebreaker ever built and more are in the ways. China also has stated that the normal "law of the sea" rules governing territorial waters and seabed resources do not, in its view, apply to the Arctic Ocean. With resource hungry nations eyeing the hydrocarbon and other mineral assets in the Arctic seabed, Canada needs to be prepared and that can't be achieved by squandering our limited defence budget on what is a light, tactical bomber.The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-73484870038594850402016-05-02T11:44:56.530-04:002016-05-02T11:44:56.530-04:00Thanks for the link, Steve. The Australians are ce...Thanks for the link, Steve. The Australians are certainly not impressed.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-62627989818891166012016-05-02T11:41:07.723-04:002016-05-02T11:41:07.723-04:00Can not say it enough. The F35 is a princess in th...Can not say it enough. The F35 is a <a href="http://thinkingaboot.blogspot.ca/search?q=f35" rel="nofollow">princess in the hanger</a> and a turkey in the air.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14162783936999869984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-39583554275322107512016-05-02T10:48:54.930-04:002016-05-02T10:48:54.930-04:00The old puppet masters -- who stay out of sight --...The old puppet masters -- who stay out of sight -- don't yield, unless someone tells them emphatically that their time is up, Dana.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-52663103677526342802016-05-02T10:44:35.112-04:002016-05-02T10:44:35.112-04:00It almost seems every day brings a new betrayal. P...It almost seems every day brings a new betrayal. Profoundly dispiriting. Perhaps we need a new political party. Danahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12465953801145126160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-8002728437458671032016-05-02T09:51:20.951-04:002016-05-02T09:51:20.951-04:00We voted overwhelmingly for change, salamander. So...We voted overwhelmingly for change, salamander. Some of the old garbage is still floating on the surface.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35117130.post-36071268803617562072016-05-02T09:38:14.179-04:002016-05-02T09:38:14.179-04:00.. Aged Coast Guard choppers - submarines that don..... Aged Coast Guard choppers - submarines that don't float - frigates that need to be towed - military 'trainers' lasing targets or killed by 'friendly fire' - handing POW's over to local torture (& covering it up & proroguing Parliament to do so) - secret deals & treaties signed with China (in Russia) - F-35 procurement conspiracy - Canada as weapons & armament export superpower- out of control Domestic Spies with zero oversight - Foreign owned Big Energy dictating federal environmental legislation - Election Fraud .. Sure .. Situation Normal .. and Rona or young Justin will be steady hands on Harper's secretive tiller.. Sure..the salamanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06853337802990122289noreply@blogger.com