[Benn]

And on CTV this morning the defense minister was saying that cutting the coastal defense fleet by half would not effect our ability to defend our coasts. Half the ships, same coverage.......?

It was also mentioned they were "mothballing" the 6 they were not using. To me this means turning to razor blades or some artificial reef somewhere. But aren't these ships only like 10 years old or something?

However I guess if these 6 are tied up all the time due to lack of manpower then there would be no difference in coverage I guess.

As the the protection of the arctic not being enough to justify keeping up compliment (however they can find the manpower) lets remember this involves major shipping advantages and oil etc. More than enough for someone to start a war over or just walk in and take it away.

Maybe Ottawa has decided its easier to just let the bullies take our lunch money than make at least a token attempt to show we are serious about our sovereignty.

[EyeBrock]

Freakinoldguy Freakinoldguy:

If this lack of interest and support in the Navy by the Canadian Public and Ottawa continues they may as well just tie up every ship except two. Then rename them Niobe and Rainbow and go back to square one and start all over again.

It's a sad state of affairs when a country the size of Canada can't man the small ammount of ships that we have. I would have thought more people would be considering a career in the miltiary with economy being the way it is.

FOG,

Maritime Command is dying a death of a thousand cuts. Morale is obviously low. Reservists are plugging the gaps and esprit-de-corps is taking a big hit.

No easy solution here but Canada gets the military it pays for and deserves. If they want a robust and relevant navy, Canada will pay for it and equip it properly.

If not, we get the current apathetic environment where we continue to underfund the CF.

[ShepherdsDog]

I contemplated re-enlisting once, but now I'm too old and suffer from middle classed, middle aged white man syndrome. Naval tech trades(most anyways) are a hell of a lot more practical and applicable in the civvie world than the combat arms trades are. I thought that would make them a hell of a lot more appealing to someone with half a brain.

[EyeBrock]

When I came here I looked into the Militia as I was in the TA in the UK after my reg force service.

That was when Chretien disbanded the Airborne. I couldn't get my head around dumping a Regiment because of discpline issues and decided that the Militia wasn't for me.

[bootlegga]

Gunnair Gunnair:

Wullu Wullu:

And another thread full of folks talking out their asses.

Care to elaborate?

Naw, it's easier to toss out generalizations....