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New fighter jets have no 'useful military role'

Of all the things Canadians want from their government, my guess is that new military fighter jets would probably rank close to last.

But new fighter jets are what we're getting. Despite the enduring popularity of peacekeeping among Canadians, the Harper government continues to ramp up war-oriented military spending, most recently with its announcement of plans to buy 65 F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin.

At $16 billion -- and that's a conservative estimate; cost overruns are rampant with military contracts -- the jets promise to be the most expensive military acquisition in Canadian history.

What makes this purchase bizarre is how little use the jets will be, unless we're waging all-out war.

David J. Climenhaga

Explaining the F-35 fiasco: The 'Yes Minister Defence'

| April 11, 2012
David J. Climenhaga

Having a majority means never having to say you're sorry -- even about the 'Taliban Jack' slur

| June 23, 2011
David J. Climenhaga

Now would be the moment for prime minister to apologize for 'Taliban Jack' slur

| February 19, 2011
Alheli Picazo

Denial and deceit: The Harper government and torture in Afghanistan

| April 20, 2010
Alheli Picazo

Afghanistan beyond 2011 -- it's a done deal

| April 11, 2010
Alheli Picazo

Behind the redactions

| April 23, 2010
in his own words

Harper government strategy on torture: Talk out the clock

Richard Colvin: "According to our information, the likelihood is that all the Afghans we handed over were tortured...We kept hopeless records, and apparently to prevent any scrutiny, the Canadian Forces leadership concealed all this behind walls of secrecy....Instead of winning hearts and minds, we caused Kandaharis to fear the foreigners...Canada's detainee practices in my view alienated us from the population and strengthened the insurgency." Testifying before the House of Commons Special Committee, Nov. 18.


Peter MacKay: "Clearly the reality is there is no credible evidence, none, zero, to suggest that a Taliban prisoner transferred from Canadian Forces was ever abused." Question Period, Nov. 19.

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Derrick O'Keefe

Will he resign? Peter MacKay's 'very bad day' gets worse

| December 9, 2009
James Laxer

Harper and MacKay have a wicked sense of humour

| November 27, 2009
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