MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – 8 Apr 11

• Libya Ops – “The war in Libya has cost the United States more than a half a billion dollars so far, but Canadian taxpayers appear to be in for a longer wait before they find out how much the military campaign will ding their pocketbooks.  Some Canadian Forces personnel have told their families they expect to be overseas for up to six months. A Liberal senator, who supports the mission, said the public should expect a long-term Canadian military presence will be needed in the region …. Canada’s Defence Department …. will not be releasing its cost figures at this time and does not have a date set for when that might happen.  “The department is not in the practice of putting forward estimates that may be subject to change because of all sorts of variables that are still in play,” said DND spokeswoman Jessie Chauhan. “It’s more about prudence at the end of the day, ensuring that there is a reasonable level of accuracy in terms of the full scope of our support to a mission, than it is about just putting numbers out there.” ….”
• What’s Canada Buying? (1) “…. The Department of National Defence (DND) has a requirement for the conversion of eight ( 8 ) Leopard 2 A4 chassis into Canadian Leopard 2-based Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARVs) and associated integrated logistics support, plus an option for up to four (4) additional ARVs …. ” (via Army.ca)
• What’s Canada Buying? (2) Snack cakes for CFB Bagotwille (via Army.ca)
• Election 2011 – “…. If you read between the lines of the Liberal platform, there seems to be a renewed emphasis on Pearsonian-style peacekeeping instead of keeping the Armed Forces in fighting shape. The Conservatives’ F-35 fiasco has so far allowed Mr. Ignatieff to fly beneath the radar when it comes to his own military intentions. How much of a priority is it for the Liberals?”
• CF-18 demo team warming up for the summer show season. “The CF-18 National Demonstration Team will start preparations for the 2011 air show season when it arrives in Comox on Sunday to begin its annual training. The Team will stay in Comox for one week. The Demo Hornet, which features brilliant tail art to illustrate the 2011 theme, Supporting Our Military Families, will be seen and heard flying over the Comox area at varying times throughout the next week ….”
• Ooopsie…. “A 21-year-old former soldier at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown who left a dead rabbit on the bed of his estranged girlfriend is being spared jail for his actions. Jonathan Viel-Beaulieu had his sentence suspended Wednesday when he appeared before Judge Mary Jane Richards on charges of assault and being unlawfully in a dwelling house. Viel-Beaulieu, now living in Quebec and no longer a member of the military, pleaded guilty to the 2009 offences during a morning appearance. The Crown withdrew two other counts against him ….”
• James Edwards, 66, head of security at the Tehran embassy in 1979 during the American hostage crisis, dead.
• Finally calling a spade a spade. “The Federal Court has ruled in favour of a U.S. military deserter who was seeking a judicial review of two previous decisions refusing him the right to remain in Canada. Dean Walcott, 28, left his military service in 2006 and fled to Canada without permission. The former Marine, who had completed tours of duty in Iraq and Kuwait, said he would suffer “severe consequences” if he was returned to the U.S., including possible physical and psychological harm from his peers and former commanders ….”
• Taliban Propaganda Watch: Attacks alleged in Kandahar and Zabul, and Taliban’s all for riots protesting the Koran burner in Florida.
• Remember the think tanker who said the best option for the U.S. to dole out responsiblity for the Arctic to European Command (6th item)?  The U.S. thinks differently. “Changes made to the U.S. military’s Unified Command Plan shift geographic boundaries and stress the growing importance of the Arctic, officials said. President Barack Obama signed the document yesterday. The biggest change to the plan assigns U.S. Northern Command responsibility for the Arctic. U.S. European Command and U.S. Pacific Command shared responsibility with U.S. Northern Command for the region under the last change published in December 2008 ….”