U.S. wants Canada to create strike force
Force would need own aircraft, ambassador adds
ROBERT FIFE and ANNE DAWSON
CanWest News Service
OTTAWA
Printed in the Edmonton Journal, 04 Feb 05
Canada can â Å“punch above its weightâ ? on the global stage, but it must pour money into intelligence gathering, create a rapid-reaction strike force and buy heavy-lift aircraft to transport elite soldiers to world trouble spots, says U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci. With a boost in defence spending expected in the federal budget, Cellucci said Canada's 55,000-member military needs to be reshaped to battle terrorist threats, confront ethic cleansing and help out in national disasters.
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Cellucci said Ottawa also needs to purchase strategic airlift for a rapid-reaction force so it does not have to hitch rides with the U.S. air force or rent Russian-made Antonov cargo planes from Ukraine, as the military had to do during the recent tsunami crisis. â Å“Obviously, this would require an increase in defence spending, but I don't think it would be overwhelming. I think it is something that is achievable in the fairly near term,â ? he said. â Å“It would mean that Canada would punch above its weight and contribute substantially to international security, where Canadians have a great reputation.â ?
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