It's a local story but it is an example of larger problems.

The Strandherd-Armstrong bridge is being built in suburban Ottawa.  It links the southern neighbourhoods of Barrhaven and Riverside South across the Rideau River.  About four years ago, I sat on a citizens committee that reviewed the bridge designs.  At the end of the session, we were asked which design we preferred.  The choices were a plain-jane six-driving-lane- (plus bike and walking) flat slab or a fancy six-lane (with bike and walking) slab with arches attached to it to make it look good.

The committee was almost unanimous for the fancy arches; only one person dissented... that would be me.

I argued against the arches for two reasons.  In a climate of ice and snow for many months of the year, accumulation on the arches could fall on vehicles or pedestrians, which would not be a good thing.   My second objection was the cost and time it would require to build the arches.

Hate to say I told you so, but the bridge which was to be open in early 2013... then delayed to fall 2013... is now delayed to fall 2014.  Why the latest delay?  Welds on the arches.   The slab is finished... in fact it has been for almost 6 months.  The crossing could be finished by now.  It is the arches that are causing the delay.

Even our exalted local Con MP, Pierre Poilievre, is not talking about the bridge anymore.  He was a big booster of it, going as far as to claim that, without him, the project would have be dead.

When desire triumphs over practicality, whether it be a bridge or a stealth fighter, citizens are not well served.   

Betting on the F35 and Harper

A couple of friends and I have a running bet.  The bet has three parts.  I have won the first part.

The bet is:
1) when the Cons will back away from the F35;
2) when Harper will leave politics; and
3) when the Cons will announce that, after "extensive and unbiased" analysis of needs and capabilities, Canada, not the Cons, will buy the F35?

For the record my timing is as follows:
1) before end of year 2012 (I won);
2) in October 2013; and
3) three minutes to midnight on the Friday of a long weekend in September 2013.

So far my winnings amount to an "Atta boy".  If I win the second part, I am upgraded to "You da' man!"

If I get all three, I win the ultimate prize - Benevolent Dictator of Canada for four years; during which I can make all the decisions and implement all the policies I ever cared about, without regard for either Canadians or the Constitution... just like Harper does!

You note that there is no bet on when Elmer McKay's little boy gets the bump from Cabinet... that would have been too easy.

Stay tuned.

The Arrow versus the F35? Tell me it isn't so.

Lewis Mackenzie is not my favourite retired Canadian officer, that would be General Richard Rohmer; mostly, because Lew is a self-promoter, while Rohmer is a behind-the-scenes-get-er-done kind of guy.

But every so often Lew gets it right, even if his idea is pie-in-the-sky.  Take for instance the article in the Arguments section of today's Ottawa Citizen.

Lew is making a case for the Avro Arrow design to be updated into Mark 3 and Mark 4 models and built of today's materials here in Canada.  Instead of buying the F35; spend the money in Canada, reboot the Canadian aerospace industry and get a better aircraft for the effort.

For guys like me, and there are many of us, this is music to our ears.  All in the CF105 was the class act of fighter/interceptor air craft when it was designed and built in the 1950s.  The decision to scrap it was a political one made for political reasons.  These things happen.  Read my article on the Burnelli lift-body design that never flew for political reasons (http://www.mysteriesofcanada.com/Canada/Canada_Car/ccf_part_3_CBY3.htm).

For the same reasons that the Burnelli designs were never built, the CF105 will never be built in any Mark format.

Nice idea, Lew, but it just won't fly (sorry for the pun).

F35... an example for ALL politicians

If politicians are smart, and the jury is out on that, they will study the whole F35 debacle and learn a few lessons from it.  And I am not just talking about the Harper government but all politicians, be they national, local, municipal governments or school boards.

The fundamental lesson for offenders?  All things will come out, so don't fudge the truth or hide the facts!  And when you are uncovered, be up front rather that digging a larger hole

The fundamental lesson for accusers?  Don't gloat if you are proved correct... acknowledge the truth and move on.  The time to gloat is the next election.

Why was it that we needed the F35s again?

The direct use of force is such a poor solution to any problem.  It is generally employed by only small children and large nations.- David Freidman

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex.  The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.  We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted.  Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together. - General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of European forces during WWII and former President of the United States.

And the spin goes on!

There is more news on the F35 front and none of it is good, unless you believe everything the government tells you.

News point one:  The Defense Department in the US has announced more delays and problems with the F35 prototypes.  Seems that vibration and issues with the power plant and head mounts are the latest problems.  This means further delays to the program and rising costs.  And just in case you think these are minor issues, let's see what the official report says:  

Severe shaking This happens during high-speed maneuvers and may accelerate wear and tear on the plane.   

Helmet system  The display that shows the pilot data from radar and electronic warfare systems has problems with its night vision.   

Electrical power  The system has failed or needed replacement 16 times. If it failed in flight, the plane would lose much of its electronics, the pilot's main oxygen supply and its cockpit pressurization.

I know what you are thinking... these are problems inherent in the development of a new aircraft.  May I remind you that earlier this year, Fantino and the MIA-Minister Peter McKay (I hope he hasn't gone fishing again.) maintained that the F35 was the best aircraft for the RCAF, when the aircraft is still being developed and the RCAF has not yet created a Statement of Requirement.

News point two.  Not-quite-a-Minister Julian Fantino has suggested that we may not buy all the 65 planes that he has always maintained were the right number for the RCAF.    Even though the RCAF brass still says they need 65, is it possible that Fantino's revision is due to rising prices for the aircraft?

News point three:  Fantino has told us that the delays mentioned in point one will result in he may have to extend the life of the F18s.  What will that cost Julian?  And why is there not an option to abandon the F35 and move to the F18 Super Hornet?  The Super Hornet is a proven fighter interceptor, its use will not require Canada to get new air re-fuelers and training and spare pasts will be a fraction of the cost of gearing up for a new aircraft.

Whither the F35?

Anyone seen any mention of the F35 stealth jet recently?  Seems the Con strategy of misdirection worked.  Bravo for them and more's the pity for us.  What strategy, you may ask?  The RCAF-strategy.

Understand that I am a product of the RCAF.   My father toiled in the service for my entire formative years.  We moved every 18 months and I attended so many schools before I left primary school that I lost count.  Did I like the idea of the RCAF designation being returned?  On one hand I liked it - on the other I could not give a rats butt.

But the strategy worked for the Cons.  While we debated the name change, they changed the game.