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Cellucci offers wish list for our military
Boost troop strength, work on high tech, he says
Urges creation of fleet of heavy-lift aircraft
MIRO CERNETIG
QUEBEC BUREAU CHIEF
Montrealâ â€Officials contemplating how to revamp Canada's military strategy don't have to second-guess what the United States wants â †U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci delivered his country's wish list yesterday.
Canada can make significant contribution to the western alliance in three ways, Cellucci told a foreign policy conference at the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada:
Concentrate on enhancing communications technology, remote surveillance techniques and the analyzing of satellite imagery. These services have the benefit of being high-tech tasks that can be accomplished on Canadian soil, meaning they are less of a strain on the tight military budget. Moreover, it allows Canada to fully use the classified information it receives from the United States as a trusted ally.
Build up the Canadian military's troop strength. Cellucci said the U.S. would like to see Canada develop another elite commando squadron that could be deployed quickly to crisis zones. He praised Canada's Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2) commando team, which he said is one of the world's best elite commando operations and played a significant role in the rebuilding of Afghanistan.
Create a fleet of heavy-lift aircraft so Canada need no longer rent such planes from other countries. "The tsunami is an example." Cellucci said. "The DART team got there and did great work, but they got there two weeks after the tidal wave. U.S. helicopters were there right away bringing in food and water to people who would have died...
"I'm saying those are three areas where Canada can really punch above its weight and make significant contributions around the world," he told the conference, which is called Canada in the World.
Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew is expected to address that question today in a speech.
Finally, Cellucci said that Canada should join the U.S.'s continental missile defence shield. Not doing so, he said, might mean sovereignty could "be ceded to another country" should terrorists send a missile to Canada.
Although there have been some glaring failures in the testing of the missile shield, including one this week, Cellucci dismissed critics predicting the defence system will be a multi-billion dollar white elephant.
"That's what they told the Wright brothers," said Cellucci. "We will deploy... We do hope Canada will make a positive decision to be a full participant."
Cellucci said that the United States is trying to tell its allies that despite its superpower status, it "can't do it alone" when it comes to ensuring world stability. He also said that it is the U.S. view that the best way to beat poverty and ensure stability is not only foreign aid, which he said can have only limited effect, but rather by establishing democracy and free trade around the world.
Cellucci, who is leaving his post March 18, ended his speech by remarking that Canada and the U.S. are not just allies, but friends sharing a continent.
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1108680613147&call_pageid=970599119419
Boost troop strength, work on high tech, he says
Urges creation of fleet of heavy-lift aircraft
MIRO CERNETIG
QUEBEC BUREAU CHIEF
Montrealâ â€Officials contemplating how to revamp Canada's military strategy don't have to second-guess what the United States wants â †U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci delivered his country's wish list yesterday.
Canada can make significant contribution to the western alliance in three ways, Cellucci told a foreign policy conference at the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada:
Concentrate on enhancing communications technology, remote surveillance techniques and the analyzing of satellite imagery. These services have the benefit of being high-tech tasks that can be accomplished on Canadian soil, meaning they are less of a strain on the tight military budget. Moreover, it allows Canada to fully use the classified information it receives from the United States as a trusted ally.
Build up the Canadian military's troop strength. Cellucci said the U.S. would like to see Canada develop another elite commando squadron that could be deployed quickly to crisis zones. He praised Canada's Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2) commando team, which he said is one of the world's best elite commando operations and played a significant role in the rebuilding of Afghanistan.
Create a fleet of heavy-lift aircraft so Canada need no longer rent such planes from other countries. "The tsunami is an example." Cellucci said. "The DART team got there and did great work, but they got there two weeks after the tidal wave. U.S. helicopters were there right away bringing in food and water to people who would have died...
"I'm saying those are three areas where Canada can really punch above its weight and make significant contributions around the world," he told the conference, which is called Canada in the World.
Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew is expected to address that question today in a speech.
Finally, Cellucci said that Canada should join the U.S.'s continental missile defence shield. Not doing so, he said, might mean sovereignty could "be ceded to another country" should terrorists send a missile to Canada.
Although there have been some glaring failures in the testing of the missile shield, including one this week, Cellucci dismissed critics predicting the defence system will be a multi-billion dollar white elephant.
"That's what they told the Wright brothers," said Cellucci. "We will deploy... We do hope Canada will make a positive decision to be a full participant."
Cellucci said that the United States is trying to tell its allies that despite its superpower status, it "can't do it alone" when it comes to ensuring world stability. He also said that it is the U.S. view that the best way to beat poverty and ensure stability is not only foreign aid, which he said can have only limited effect, but rather by establishing democracy and free trade around the world.
Cellucci, who is leaving his post March 18, ended his speech by remarking that Canada and the U.S. are not just allies, but friends sharing a continent.
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1108680613147&call_pageid=970599119419