Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site utcs.UUCP Path: utzoo!utcs!shindman From: shindman@utcs.UUCP (Paul Shindman) Newsgroups: can.politics Subject: Re: Canada's defence : Doesn't anyone care? Message-ID: <835@utcs.UUCP> Date: Mon, 19-Aug-85 18:00:27 EDT Article-I.D.: utcs.835 Posted: Mon Aug 19 18:00:27 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 19-Aug-85 18:41:50 EDT References: <833@utcs.UUCP> Reply-To: shindman@utcs.UUCP (Paul Shindman) Distribution: can Organization: University of Toronto - General Purpose UNIX Lines: 34 Summary: This is actually an interesting issue, and somewhat timely (well, a little late is close enuff) with respect to the CF-18 fighter aircraft. Whilst listening to Peter Gzowski one morning (oops...please, no CBC flames!) he was interviewing some ex-armed forces officer who had the following (abridged, of course) observation: For the several billion dollars that the feds spent on re-equipping the CAF with the CF-18s, they could have entirely re-equipped the ground forces and militia with up to date equipment. If you know anybody in the militia, you know how bad their equipment is (ofter circa Korean War vintage). The other point this gent made was that Canada's NATO committment could have been made with ground air-defences, not with aircraft. Apparently the CAF has next to nothing in the way of modern anti-aircraft weaponry. So the $n billion spent on the CF-18 could have bought new trucks, and jeeps, and bullets (so the guys don't have to yell "bang-bang" when on manouvers...) to practice with. In time of emergency (earthquake, tornado...pick your scenario) one of the local medical reserve battalions here in Toronto would have a tough time getting more than one or two vehicles rolling. It seems to me that defence-wise we don't seem to get a good return on the tax dollar spent on the CF-18. Comments? Flames? -- ----------------- Paul Shindman, U of T Computing Services, Toronto (416) 978-6878 USENET: {ihnp4|decvax}!utcs!shindman BITNET: paulie at utoronto IP SHARP MAIL: uoft