John Manley's Report On Afganistan-Due Jan 22/ 2008

[MarkOttawa]

Further to this comment on helicopters and UAVs for Afstan,
http://forums.milnet.ca/forums/threads/70016/post-666852.html#msg666852

from a Globe and Mail story:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080128.wharpermanley0128/BNStory/National/home

The government has already placed its order for helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles and is working with allies to secure them quickly, said Mr. Harper.

Really?

Mark
Ottawa

 

[FSTO]

Further to this comment on helicopters and UAVs for Afstan,
http://forums.milnet.ca/forums/threads/70016/post-666852.html#msg666852

from a Globe and Mail story:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080128.wharpermanley0128/BNStory/National/home

Really?

Mark
Ottawa

Maybe we are going to get more Cyclones?

 

[MarkOttawa]

FSTO:  ;D

Mark
Ottawa

 

[MarkOttawa]

Helicopter and UAV update--the prime minister's communcations director does not exactly clarify things adequately--see the last paragraph in this excerpt from a Globe and Mail story, Jan. 29:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080129.HARPEREQUIP29//TPStory/National

...government officials later said the Prime Minister jumped the gun and that they are still trying to find the best way to obtain the equipment quickly...

Mr. Harper said the government has already started to act on those two fronts.

"First of all, let's be clear both in terms of the helicopters requested in the reports as well as the UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles]. The government has these on order, has had them on order for some time [emphasis added]," Mr. Harper said...

On helicopters, however, all the government has in the works is the aim of signing a contract late this year with Boeing Co...

No drones are on order at this point either. Still, the Department of National Defence is hoping to launch a competition soon to enter into a three-year lease agreement for fully operational UAVs at an approximate cost of $150-million...

Mr. Harper's spokeswoman, Sandra Buckler, added: "Everyone is aware the procurement process is well under way for Chinooks and UAVs."

That's not the same as "on order for some time". Greg Weston devotes a whole column to the matter in the Ottawa Sun:

PM in spin cycle
Harper needs to come clean on Canada's war effort in Afghanistan
http://ottawasun.com/News/Columnists/Weston_Greg/2008/01/29/4799385-sun.html

Mark
Ottawa

 

[newfin]

I am just anxious to see how this plays out now that the PM has endoresed the plan.  I can see how he will approach the extra 1000 troops - press the Allies for them.  Good luck with that.

But what are the possible solutions to solve the two equipment issues?  Obviously we are not going to be able to purchase any choppers in that time frame - not even used ones.  So how are the brains that make plans and decisions planning to proceed?  Ask the French to provide them?  Ask the Germans?  Might have better luck with the French.  Cyclones are not an option.  The Sea King idea has been dismissed on this site a dozen times.  The Chinooks have not even been ordered yet.  Our military is not interested in Russian helicopters or any that are piloted by civilians.  So, the only thing I can think of is to have an ally step forward to provide them.

Same goes for UAV's.  Although they can be fielded by us much quicker than helos but still not likely within a year.