- Stevie, you got some 'splainin' to do! . . . continued

Some Care wrote
in reply to my post at 11:27 AM

"Lloyd, with respect to your "real shrouded issue", this program was started back in the 90's under a Liberal government. So, using your logic, what war was Chretien not telling us about? Kind of silly isn't it?"


My post:

"I think if we are all going to pay $40.00 per year for 20 years for F-35's

we should all at least get a ride in one of these

'eye watering' technological, and fiscal, marvels, . . .

Stevie, you got some 'splainin' to do!

. . ."

___
My Reply to:

Some Care (???)

Saying that Chrétien was the one who started the purchase of the F-35's ???

Even Harper has stopped trying to pull that one

The Chrétien government invested approximately $171million in the original developmental stages in order that Canada might be awarded contracts at the time.

And, in fact Canada thereby received approx $350 million in contracts

Kudos to Chrétien.

At no time have I heard anyone, who takes responsibility for what they say anyway, say that Chrétien said Canada was buying the F-35's; that the F-35 was the only plane that met Canada's military requirements; and, certainly not that he told Parliament that he was spending $16 billion, $25 billion, $30 billion or more, on planes.

It is quite easy to see Chrétien later saying no to Bush - after all he said no to Bush's pressure for Canada to join them in invading Iraq.

Again kudos to Chrétien.

Harper on the other hand wanted war

"It [referring to calling a Minister "Idiot"] was probably not an appropriate term, but we support the war effort and believe we should be supporting our troops and our allies and be there with them doing everything necessary to win.
- Montreal Gazette, April 2003

until, of course, it became clear to all that Bush's reason for invading were BS and Harper felt it was convenient in winning votes.

"It [the Iraq invasion] was absolutely an error. It's obviously clear the evaluation of weapons of mass destruction proved not to be correct. That's absolutely true and that's why we're not sending anybody to Iraq."
- To Gilles Duceppe during the 2008 English leaders' debate, October 2, 2008


Scott Taylor interviewed Former Assistant Defence Minister Alan Williams, under whose leadership it was that Canada entered the F-35 JSF Program. Participation in the JSF program came in the form of C$150 million investment. This investment by the Canadian Department of National Defence and
Industry Canada assured that Canadian Aeronautics Industry could bid on any future contracts
that would arise from the JSF project. Canada’s participation in the project was primarily to
benefit the Aeronautics Industry and it was not embarked upon with an eye towards acquisition
of these military assets.

(p.37, Come Fly With Me: Analyzing The F-35 Aircraft
Acquisition Discourse to Study Incivility in Question Period
Arun Jacob, Ryerson University, arun.jacob@gmail.com)

Lloyd MacILquham cicblog.com/comments.html