Royal Canadian Air Force headed to mission in Africa ‘very soon’: top general

[dimsum]

Or, France and Germany want Canadian peacekeepers in their own country to help them with their guests.

Sign me up!  #wineinfrance #beeringermany    :subbies:

 

[The Bread Guy]

Glad that we are a sovereign nation.

Unlike media saying now a different American president is causing Prince Valiant to change his mind on policy he promised ...

What bloody business would they have to tell Canada what to do and where?

Unlike the U.S. hinting to us and others to spend more on defence?

No matter the colour of the team jerseys on either side of the border ...

 

[MarkOttawa]

Oldgateboatdriver:

...But Germany? They don't do anything outside of their own country except NATO. What bloody business would they have to tell Canada what to do and where?

Lots in Mali actually, esp. helos:

German defense minister urges swift passing of Mali mandate

Germany's defense minister has called on the Bundestag to approve an increased military deployment to Mali. She warned, however, that it would be the most dangerous international mission for German troops.

German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen on Friday [Jan. 20] urged lawmakers to support an expanded peacekeeping mission for the German armed forces in Mali, a country she described as "holding the key" to stability in West Africa.

The German Bundestag is set to approve next week an expansion of the Bundeswehr's contribution to the United Nation's peacekeeping mission in Mali. The expansion would increase the number of German soldiers in the UN's MINUSMA mission from 650 to 1,000 [emphasis added].

Von der Leyen told a parliamentary debate on the deployment that it would be the most challenging as well as the most dangerous for the German military.

The German reinforcements largely cover the deployment of pilots and support crew for four rescue helicopters and four attack helicopters to provide protection [emphasis added, NH-90s and Apaches https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/rotorhub/germany-deploy-tiger-and-nh90-helicopters-mali/ ].  The German plan to deploy helicopters comes as the Dutch will pull out seven transport and attack helicopters in February.

The UN has deployed 13,000 blue helmets under the MINUSMA mission, one of the most dangerous UN missions in the world...
http://www.dw.com/en/german-defense-minister-urges-swift-passing-of-mali-mandate/a-37207343

Chris Pook:

...also for the Latvian deployment - despite some reluctance on the part of the PM and his Foreign Minister at the time...

Indeed:

Latvia with NATO vs UN Peacekeeping: Where Government’s Heart Truly is
...
“It’s terribly unfortunate that Canada has to deploy its forces in Latvia instead of having peacekeeping in Africa or in an area of the world where it’s much more needed,” Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion told the Canadian Press on the sidelines of the summit Saturday [July 9]...
https://cgai3ds.wordpress.com/2016/07/10/mark-collins-latvia-with-nato-vs-un-peacekeeping-where-governments-heart-truly-is/

One notes that M. Dion is out, finally, as foreign affairs minister.

Mark
Ottawa

 

[McG]

... so, spending only 1% GDP does not give us a military robust enough to do all the things that we want to do and that our allies expect are our obligations? 

 

[vonGarvin]

This thread started in July....

 

[cavalryman]

This thread started in July....

Compared to our procurement process, that's the blink of an eye. [

 

[Altair]

Trump effect putting major Mali mission on hold for now, France and Germany unhappy:

Jan. 19 from John Ivison:

'Twould be a YUGE climbdown for this gov't, very hard for Liberals to stomach; would think at least some personnel will still be sent if not helos, infantry unit, whatever (i.e not much big equipment).  From November via MND Sajjan:

Mark
Ottawa

:crybaby:

 

[The Bread Guy]

This from late last week ...

Canada may have missed a chance to provide the commanding officer for the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali because it wanted to talk first to the Trump administration, the Canadian Press has learned.

The UN put out requests to a handful of top-tier countries in mid-December as the term of the mission’s previous commander, Danish Maj.-Gen. Michael Lollesgaard, was coming to an end.

Sources say the Liberal government asked the UN to hold off on a decision until after the government had a chance to consult the new American administration on Canada’s future peacekeeping plans.

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said last month he wanted to talk to his American counterpart, Defence Secretary James Mattis, before Canada sent peacekeepers to Africa because co-ordination with the U.S. is essential.

His office said Friday that Canada is still considering its options so it can make the best contribution possible to peace and security.

“We are going into this with our eyes open,” said spokeswoman Jordan Owens.

“We will ensure that our troops have the right mission, mandate, training and equipment in order to mitigate risk and maximize our impact.”

The UN force in Mali is still looking for a commander for its perilous mission holding the line in the fight against Islamic extremists in North Africa. The mission’s deputy commander, a general from Senegal, is currently the highest-ranking officer.

Though the UN has made no formal announcement, it appears the Mali job has been filled and it won’t be with a Canadian, said a western diplomat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

“They had to get going,” the diplomat said. “They haven’t had a force commander there for over a month.” ...

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Setting up another broken promise? Maybe he finally realized that taxpayers are not willing to spend blood and treasure in order to buy a seat on the UN?

 

[CBH99]

Is there a reason why we couldn't provide a Commanding Officer to the Mali mission?

Is one of the conditions of providing a CO that we also have to provide a contingent of troops also?  The article states that the UN put out a request for CO's for the multinational UN mission - didn't mention anything about troop contributions also. 

Just curious.

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

Well then, CBH99, I'll just trow this out there, and please, all, keep in mind this is pure speculation on my part based on my knowledge of internal working of our Federal government system:

There is no requirement for the "C.O." of the Mali mission to be from a country that provides troops to the mission. However, when you are "looking" for a mission in Africa, the fact that a Canadian is CO of a given mission already becomes an important factor in where you decide to send your own troops - after all, you would not want one of your own general/flag officer to fail in his/her mission for want of some military support/equipment/troop that you could have provided to him but sent on another mission instead. So accepting the job of C.O. pretty much seals where you send your people (and I am sure that it played a large part in the UN's decision to call "strongly" on Canada for the C.O. position).

But on the other hand, the Trudeau government, I surmise, was taken by complete surprise by the election of Trump (maybe they only relied on mainstream US medias  ). As a result, they didn't have any plans for dealing with him in the Canada/US relationship and are now working full time on the program.

Now, normally, the Minister of Defence is a pretty senior position in Canada. But not this time. We got a very very junior minister, we no political experience at all, not even as a Member of Parliament, and no experience running large bureaucratic organizations. That means that all defence aspects are really run out of the PMO. But right now the PMO is over its head in trying to figure Trump, so the MND is simply instructed to "not do anything or take any engagement on" until they can get back to him on what to do next.

That's a personal point of view, but as I said, based in years of experience dealing with Federal politics. Do take it with a grain of salt, of course, as I have never played on Team Red.  ;D

 

[Jarnhamar]

“We are going into this with our eyes open,” said spokeswoman Jordan Owens.

What an asinine comment. Might as well brag how we plan on putting one boot on at a time.

“We will ensure that our troops have the right mission, mandate, training and equipment in order to mitigate risk and maximize our impact.”

Like information Security, GBA+ and some boots that explode after wearing them a month.

Though the UN has made no formal announcement, it appears the Mali job has been filled and it won’t be with a Canadian

So we're losing out on a chance to lead UN soldiers that among other things get accused of rape, child rape and ignore civilians being butchered a kilometer away? What a missed opportunity  :  [Sorry if that sounds harsh and assholish but the more I read about the UN the more I'm blown away by the shit they're doing]

 

[Eye In The Sky]

Like information Security, GBA+ and some boots that explode after wearing them a month.

Don't forget, we've got the Phoenix pay system to look forward too soon when we're deployed;  surely that will make live easier for our families back home.

 

[Jarnhamar]

Don't forget, we've got the Phoenix pay system to look forward too soon when we're deployed;  surely that will make live easier for our families back home.

Are you for real?

 

[Eye In The Sky]

;D

 

[dapaterson]

Phoenix is off the table as a military pay solution (at least for the near term).  CMP said as much at a town hall several months ago.

 

[Humphrey Bogart]

Is there a reason why we couldn't provide a Commanding Officer to the Mali mission?

Is one of the conditions of providing a CO that we also have to provide a contingent of troops also?  The article states that the UN put out a request for CO's for the multinational UN mission - didn't mention anything about troop contributions also. 

Just curious.

We provided Dallaire no soldiers in Rwanda and he was stuck leaning on Bengalis to do his bidding (placing him in a very awkward position).  I wouldn't ever want to see another Canadian Officer placed in such a position.

 

[The Bread Guy]

A couple of tidbits ...

• "Canadian aid and foreign affairs officials have made repeated visits to Mali — including one visit just last week — as politicians continue to consider a long-awaited peace operation, the (Toronto) Star has learned.  While cabinet ministers insist that no location has been picked for the coming deployment, Mali has been the destination of choice for bureaucrats attempting to scout locations and determine how personnel, combined with millions of dollars in aid and development funding, can be best put to use.  Those “non-stop” visits to the African country over recent months have involved personnel from the Defence Department, Foreign Affairs, Aid and Development, a source told the Star ..."
• Meanwhile, elsewhere in Africa ... "As many as 25 Canadian soldiers, based out of Valcartier, Que., will soon take part in a revamped mission to train security forces in the troubled western African country of Niger.  Last summer, CBC News reported that regular army troops would take over an ongoing deployment, known as Operation Naberius, from Canada's elite special forces.  A handful of the highly-trained soldiers have since 2013 helped train the Niger Armed Forces in marksmanship, reconnaissance and other basic military skills ..."

 

[McG]

Don't forget, we've got the Phoenix pay system to look forward too soon when we're deployed;  surely that will make live easier for our families back home.

You do know that Phoenix is for civilian pay, right?

 

[Fishbone Jones]

IIRC, recently Trudeau said wherever we go from now on, it'll be a total package.

The Commander and their troops and a gaggle of government civies.

I envision two problems immediately.

1) It'll be a constant struggle deciding if it's the 'Commander's mission' or some civie government worker's.

2) Shit is bound to hit the fan, but instead of the mandate, Canadian soldiers will end up protecting the civies.

:2c: