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Royal Canadian Air Force headed to mission in Africa ‘very soon’: top general

Why send government troops when the private sector has done such a fine job in the Congo?

Guns for Hire:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTAX4IyRqrA

 
daftandbarmy said:
Why send government troops when the private sector has done such a fine job in the Congo?

Guns for Hire:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTAX4IyRqrA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhRRWwH3Fro
 
Good piece by Howard Coombs of RMC at CGAI--excerpts:
The Harsh Reality: Canada and 21st Century Peacekeeping

...For many Canadians, Trudeau’s aspirational catchphrase “We’re back!” led to a belief that the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) would take a rejuvenated and robust role in UN operations. This would include the deployment of combat units in peacekeeping roles to conflict regions, like the Central African Republic and Mali. However, in the last few months this political rhetoric has lessened. The recent 2017 UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial conference, held in Vancouver, resulted in an apparent volte-face to these previous ambitious promises. Despite that, one can argue that the assurances which have emerged as a result of this conference may be more pragmatic and versed in the nuances of domestic realpolitik than many would normally attribute to the current Liberal government. However, while this approach may resonate with a national audience, it is seemingly at the expense of meaningful contributions to international peace and security.

...If Canada wishes to be taken seriously internationally and within the UN, she will have to up the ante. Only by providing the necessary military forces or capabilities, coupled with supporting non-military activities needed to tangibly resolve the dilemmas that war-torn regions pose, will Canada be perceived as a team member, instead of a bystander spectating from the sidelines...

Howard G. Coombs is an assistant professor and associate chair, war studies, at the Royal Military College of Canada, in Kingston, Ontario. [ex-Army, more here https://www.rmcc-cmrc.ca/en/history/howard-g-coombs ] 
http://www.cgai.ca/the_harsh_reality_canada_and_21st_century_peacekeeping

Mark
Ottawa

 
While not Africa, Don Martin has an observation on the government's approach to peacekeeping:

Waving the white flag on Canada as a middle military power

Colombia is a country where two civil-warring factions have disarmed and declared a peaceful end to a 50-year conflict. That means it’s the peacekeeping equivalent of monitoring a Grade four class in the playground during recess.

Yet inexplicably Canada dithered, pondering the potential danger of the mission until the spots were filled by other countries which didn’t consider the world’s safest peacekeeping assignment too risky to join.
 
ModlrMike said:
While not Africa, Don Martin has an observation on the government's approach to peacekeeping:

Waving the white flag on Canada as a middle military power

Not a completely accurate assessment. I was in Colombia last fall for some work with regional armed forces. I got to know a Colombian Arty Col quite well, and we discussed the history and current situation at length. He had extensive experience in COIN ops, both in the "traditional" gunner role but also "dismounted" as infantry. While FARC has mostly decided to behave (largely because its leadership got jolly good government positions), not all of that movement has surrendered. And, besides FARC, there is also a lesser known Marxist insurgency: ELN, who have not given up, either.

During the time we were there, the Colombian Army was actively engaged in COIN ops, and we witnessed the military funeral of a Sgt killed in one of the ops.

As well, he told me that they face two other threats: Venezuela (Colombia keeps at least one mech bde on that border), and constant efforts from Cuba to destabilize the region.

So, it isn't necessarily as peaceful as it may seem.
 
pbi said:
Not a completely accurate assessment. I was in Colombia last fall for some work with regional armed forces. I got to know a Colombian Arty Col quite well, and we discussed the history and current situation at length. He had extensive experience in COIN ops, both in the "traditional" gunner role but also "dismounted" as infantry. While FARC has mostly decided to behave (largely because its leadership got jolly good government positions), not all of that movement has surrendered. And, besides FARC, there is also a lesser known Marxist insurgency: ELN, who have not given up, either.

During the time we were there, the Colombian Army was actively engaged in COIN ops, and we witnessed the military funeral of a Sgt killed in one of the ops.

As well, he told me that they face two other threats: Venezuela (Colombia keeps at least one mech bde on that border), and constant efforts from Cuba to destabilize the region.

So, it isn't necessarily as peaceful as it may seem.

And their Army number about a quarter of a million.  :o

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Forces_of_Colombia
 
Saw a picture this a.m. of 'two Canadian warships tied up in Nigeria'. While technically correct (I guess), I think they are CDVs. Kinda like sending us into war zones with Cougars and Grizzlies. :facepalm:
 
recceguy said:
Saw a picture this a.m. of 'two Canadian warships tied up in Nigeria'. While technically correct (I guess), I think they are CDVs. Kinda like sending us into war zones with Cougars and Grizzlies. :facepalm:

They're there to work with regional navies and CG's in a training capacity, same as what they do in the Caribbean. As well they are doing quite a bit of support to the various charities.
 
Sending Coastal Defence Vessels to the other side of the world. I'm guessing when I say they must've been like bobbing around like a cork on the crossing.
 
They are "coastal" vessels, Recceguy. Built for OUR coasts, which are basically open ocean areas. They can take a crossing without too much trouble unless they hit a storm mid-ocean. But then again, even aircraft carriers can be mauled pretty bad by storms if they get caught - Just ask admiral Halsey.  ;D
 
Murry Brewster is reporting on the 6pm CBC news on radio that we are going to Mali.  There will be an official announcement on Monday with the details.  Murry said helos are going to be involved in the mission.

 
Canada sending troops to UN peacekeeping mission in Mali

Link to CBC article: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadian-peacekeeping-mission-mali-1.4580482

Excerpt:
The Canadian military will deploy helicopters and support troops, including medical teams, to the troubled West African nation of Mali later this year, CBC News has learned.

A senior government official, speaking on background, said a formal announcement will be made Monday by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
 
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