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.

Bad morning to be Canadian

I woke up about 6:00 this morning, still a little sleepy but, as much as I can be, ready for the new day.  I dressed, put out the garbage, had breakfast and settled down with the newspaper to inform myself about the wonders that are my life.  That was when everything changed.

David Pugliese is one of my favourite writers.  He specializes in stories about DND.  So what was it about our wonderful men and women in Blue, White and Green that set off my day?  Well it wasn't necessarily the ones in uniform... it was the bureaucrats and the politicians that pissed me off.

It is a bit of a conundrum that thousands of Canadians died around the globe in two world wars and recently 160 died to bring democracy to Afghanistan - but here at home - we have what is fast becoming a fascist state.

The information censors at DND and in the Minister's office (and you can be very sure that the PMO had a hand in this) decided that the sensitive minds of Canadians should not be burdened with the news that $600,000,000 of their tax dollars was being spent to upgrade the newly-acquired Nortel building in west Ottawa.  Why suppress the information?  "There is no context for the expenditure and the Minster will get asked question that we do not want to answer," says the minster's office.  Why hide the information.  They bought a building that was built for a purpose different from their own - certainly it will cost to retrofit it.  The fact that they want to suppress the information leads us to wonder what else is going on?

This follows on the heals of the $470,000,000 expenditure on an American satellite program that the minister's office deemed not to be of interest not only to Canadians but to parliamentarians... the ones that should be approving the funds.

So that is over $1 billion already.  Combine that with the past revelations and stories that have not yet emerged and this government makes the Sponsorship Scandal look like chump change.  Oh, I know what you are thinking - that Sponsorship Scandal included funneling money to party hacks.  Well stay tuned because that shoe has yet to fall on these DND follies.

Next up?  The F-35 contract and maybe something on the CH-146 maintenance program?