The Manley Report - Part 2

John Manley will make his report to Canada's Greatest Government (TM) today. According to some news sources he will recommend that Canada stay in Khandahar, demand that NATO provide 1000 more troops (I wonder if he calculated in the 3500 new Americans who are already on their way?) and do a better selling job on why were are there.

So much for Part 1... what about Part 2? Has he written it yet? Does he have a clue about what should be in it?

Let me enlighten him!

First, Canada must decide on the goals of the mission. If it is peace making then let the army make the peace. If it is peace keeping then get the army out of there and send in some cops. The army cannot be makers and keepers at the same time. They are not trained that way. No one is!

Second, give the troops the correct equipment. Tanks are useless in the desert with 110 degree temperatures unless you are fighting a rolling war. This is a static war! Get the troops off the ground and into the air. Of the 77 Canadians killed so far, almost all have been due to IEDs hitting fast tracks and transport vehicles. Give them helicopters!

More to come from the Manley Report? I hope so.

Catching up with Petie MacKay

I have been off sick for a few days. In the meantime, life and politics goes on. I will attempt to catch up as soon as possible.

Let's start with our straight shooter Defence Minister Peter (I love my dog... and only my dog) MacKay. Let me set things straight at the beginning. Canada's Greatest Government (TM: PM Harper) has been in power for almost two wonderful and glorious years, a time of great prosperity and positive things happening to our finally-on-the-world-stage nation.

In late 2005 the former (boo hiss) government of Paul (spit!!!) Martin signed an agreement for new helicopters. The schedule called for deliveries of begin November 2007. They won't, at this time, begin for another year or two. Forgive me for restating that CGG has been in power since 2006, a year before the first delivery was scheduled. Did no one notice the helicopter contract was in default? Did CGG and the Defence Department, ask any questions? Did they demand any answers? Did they apply any penalties?

Nope.

"So what went wrong, Minister MacKay?" the press and the opposition asked.

MacKay cleared his throat, smiled, and then blamed everything on a decision made by Jean Chretien in 1995 or so.

So much for ministerial responsibility.

I love the government!