FNG
2 October 2001, 10:19
Eggleton strikes back at critics of Defence
Rooted in 'old-think'
John Ward
The Canadian Press
The Canadian Press
A war on terror won't likely involve massed conventional armies, argues Art Eggleton, Minister of Defence.
OTTAWA - Art Eggleton, the Minister of National Defence, has produced an open letter defending government policy on the military and accusing critics of living in the past.
The federal government has been sharply criticized in recent days for leaving the cash-strapped Canadian Forces unprepared to tackle a global war on terrorism.
Last week, the Conference of Defence Associations, an umbrella group representing dozens of defence-oriented groups, issued a scathing report on the state of Canada's defence.
"The low level of collective training, the unsatisfactory state of some weapons and equipment and the lack of logistics support would make engagement in combat operations problematic without resolving those shortfalls," the report said.
It was that document, along with other criticisms voiced recently that prompted Mr. Eggleton, who normally shrugs off critics, to write an opinion piece that was distributed yesterday to various media.
"I just want to deal with the issues that came out of the CDA report," the Minister said yesterday. "I think we have to understand it in context."
He said many of the points the conference made were valid, but he wanted to address some that were not.
In the opinion piece, Mr. Eggleton said: "I have been somewhat troubled by what I have read and heard. A good portion of the discourse in Canada appears to be rooted in 'old-think.' And history has shown repeatedly that one of the most serious errors a military can make is to prepare for the last war."
He said a war on terror will be long and tough. It's unlikely to involve massed conventional armies.
If it does involve military action, he said, Canada can help.
"I want to assure Canadians that the Canadian Forces are ready and able to make a meaningful contribution -- if that is what we decide to do as a country.
"While the Canadian Forces' combat capabilities have been much criticized in recent days, this criticism has lacked balance."
As he has done repeatedly since the Sept. 11 attacks, Mr. Eggleton said the Forces has modern CF-18 fighter-bombers and other high-tech gear such as Coyote reconnaissance vehicles and new, light armoured vehicles.
He said the government has a national counter-terrorism plan and the Forces have a highly trained counter-terrorism unit called JTF2. This secretive unit, thought to include about 250 soldiers, is based at Dwyer Hill, Ont., just outside Ottawa. It is practised in hostage-rescue.
"We also have effective intelligence capabilities," he said.
Although critics, including the CDA and the Canadian Alliance have demanded big cash injections to the $11.2-billion defence budget, Mr. Eggleton preached caution. The government has put $3 billion into defence in recent years, he said, but more money may be hard to find.
He added, though, that the government is prepared to fight terrorism: "We will do what is necessary to safeguard the safety and security of Canadians."
Leon Benoit, the Canadian Alliance defence critic, was not impressed by Mr. Eggleton's pledge to defend Canadians. "They don't seem to take that responsibility very seriously when it comes to national defence," he said.
Rooted in 'old-think'
John Ward
The Canadian Press
The Canadian Press
A war on terror won't likely involve massed conventional armies, argues Art Eggleton, Minister of Defence.
OTTAWA - Art Eggleton, the Minister of National Defence, has produced an open letter defending government policy on the military and accusing critics of living in the past.
The federal government has been sharply criticized in recent days for leaving the cash-strapped Canadian Forces unprepared to tackle a global war on terrorism.
Last week, the Conference of Defence Associations, an umbrella group representing dozens of defence-oriented groups, issued a scathing report on the state of Canada's defence.
"The low level of collective training, the unsatisfactory state of some weapons and equipment and the lack of logistics support would make engagement in combat operations problematic without resolving those shortfalls," the report said.
It was that document, along with other criticisms voiced recently that prompted Mr. Eggleton, who normally shrugs off critics, to write an opinion piece that was distributed yesterday to various media.
"I just want to deal with the issues that came out of the CDA report," the Minister said yesterday. "I think we have to understand it in context."
He said many of the points the conference made were valid, but he wanted to address some that were not.
In the opinion piece, Mr. Eggleton said: "I have been somewhat troubled by what I have read and heard. A good portion of the discourse in Canada appears to be rooted in 'old-think.' And history has shown repeatedly that one of the most serious errors a military can make is to prepare for the last war."
He said a war on terror will be long and tough. It's unlikely to involve massed conventional armies.
If it does involve military action, he said, Canada can help.
"I want to assure Canadians that the Canadian Forces are ready and able to make a meaningful contribution -- if that is what we decide to do as a country.
"While the Canadian Forces' combat capabilities have been much criticized in recent days, this criticism has lacked balance."
As he has done repeatedly since the Sept. 11 attacks, Mr. Eggleton said the Forces has modern CF-18 fighter-bombers and other high-tech gear such as Coyote reconnaissance vehicles and new, light armoured vehicles.
He said the government has a national counter-terrorism plan and the Forces have a highly trained counter-terrorism unit called JTF2. This secretive unit, thought to include about 250 soldiers, is based at Dwyer Hill, Ont., just outside Ottawa. It is practised in hostage-rescue.
"We also have effective intelligence capabilities," he said.
Although critics, including the CDA and the Canadian Alliance have demanded big cash injections to the $11.2-billion defence budget, Mr. Eggleton preached caution. The government has put $3 billion into defence in recent years, he said, but more money may be hard to find.
He added, though, that the government is prepared to fight terrorism: "We will do what is necessary to safeguard the safety and security of Canadians."
Leon Benoit, the Canadian Alliance defence critic, was not impressed by Mr. Eggleton's pledge to defend Canadians. "They don't seem to take that responsibility very seriously when it comes to national defence," he said.