John Ivison: Canada may learn to love Russian military planes in our airspace
John Ivison October 20, 2010 – 5:27 pm
Dmitry Petrochenko / Reuters
The decision by the government of the United Arab Emirates to kick Canada out of its Camp Mirage air base near Dubai has led to speculation about how this country’s military will bring soldiers and cargo in and out of Afghanistan when we withdraw in 2011. One option being negotiated currently, according to diplomatic and military sources, is to ship “sensitive” equipment like tanks through bases in Russia, likely using rented Russian and Ukrainian cargo planes.
This is a somewhat surprising development, given the overheated rhetoric we have heard of late from Canadian politicians like Defence Minister Peter MacKay, who boasted about how Russian bombers on training missions in the Arctic would be met by CF-18 fighter jets “every time.” That rhetoric is likely to be toned down in future by the hard reality that Canada may need Russia’s help with the mammoth logistical operation of repatriating equipment and troops from Afghanistan after the 2011 deadline.
Recent reports have suggested a German airbase in Uzbekistan or an American base in Kyrgyzstan could be used as short-term fix for the loss of Mirage but those suggestions have been downplayed by people familiar with the situation. Much more likely, Afghan-bound soldiers will fly through a existing base in Cyprus, while cargo will be routed via the U.S. base at Sprangdahlem in southern Germany after Camp Mirage closes next month.
Alain Pellerin, a retired colonel in the Canadian Forces and director of the Conference of Defence Associations, said the purchase of massive new cargo planes, such as the four Boeing C-17 Globemasters, have transformed the logistics of fighting in Afghanistan, since they can fly to Kandahar with only a brief re-fueling stopover in Germany. “The C-17s have changed the situation and Mirage is no longer as important when it comes to re-supplying the mission,” he said.
Still, the negotiations with the Russians over use of airspace and landing rights next summer are symbolic of a thawing of relations taking place between NATO and Russia. NATO has been using Russian airspace for operations in Afghanistan for years but the Russians threatened to block access during its short war with Georgia in 2008, specifically when NATO said that Georgia would eventually be allowed to join the alliance. At the time, Prime Minister Stephen Harper condemned “Russian aggression,” telling the National Post that “showing weakness or hesitation encourages this type of behaviour on the part of Russia.”
Those old grievances appear to have been forgotten. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev stood alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy in France on Tuesday and said his country has to overcome years of historic distrust of NATO. He announced he plans to attend the alliance’s summit in Lisbon next month and proposed a common European security strategy.
Afghanistan looms high on Mr. Medvedev’s lists of concerns and the Russians are keen to aid any efforts that forestall the return of a hostile theocratic regime on their southern border. “The Russians are seeking stability in Afghanistan and are happy if the Americans remain there to provide that stability,” said Col. Pellerin. “They are more than willing to provide some support.”
This is the context that should be borne in mind whenever the Conservatives come out with any Red Dawn foolishness about pilots “facing down Russian long-range bombers.” The only Russian planes likely to enter Canadian airspace will be bringing home our troops and tanks from Afghanistan.
National Post
jivison@nationalpost.comPosted in: Canada, Full Comment, World Politics Tags: John Ivison, Russia, Afghanistan, Canadian Forces, NATO, Kandahar, Camp Mirage, C-17
More from John Ivison
Comments
Please wait while we process your request
Please wait while we retrieve the user's information
Bio
Your bio is currently empty. Now is a great time to fill in your profile.
This profile is private.
This profile is only shared with friends.
This profile is under review.
We were unable to request friendship with this user.
We were unable to request friendship with this user. Are you logged in?
Your friendship request has been sent to this user.
We were unable to terminate friendship with this user.
We were unable to terminate friendship with this user. Are you logged in?
You are no longer friends with this user.
We were unable to ignore this user.
We were unable to ignore this user. Are you logged in?
This user is now ignored.
We were unable to stop ignoring this user.
We were unable to stop ignoring this user. Are you logged in?
This user is no longer ignored.
We encountered a problem recommending this user.
pluck_user_recommend_permission
You have recommended this user.
13 comments
Sort:
Score: -1Name withheld
Mel from Calgary
4:51 PM on October 20, 2010
This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Mel from Calgary. Show DetailsHide Details
Canada is is situated between two powerful countries, one is on the upswing the other going down. We need to look at our northern border neighbour for trade and business.
After all the cold war is over.(Someone tell Stephen Harper)
9 replies
9 replies
Please wait while we perform your request.
Score: 1Name withheld
MikeMurphy
4:58 PM on October 20, 2010
This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore MikeMurphy. Show DetailsHide Details
Mr. Ivison, you seem to be pretty naive when it comes to the gamesmanship involved in geo-politics. I certainly hope we hear about those Russian Bear Bombers as they approach our country and I most certainly hope we dispatch our CF-18's. It's what all countries should do when potential unfriendlies approach without notice. The latter is the key.
Without notice it is perceived as an act of belligerence. Do you not understand we do all sorts of things besides the gamesmanship and could be using Russian airspace now because we asked?
By the way we can also fly the C-17s directly to Afghanistan if needed with mid-air refuelling. NATO has tankers just for that purpose. We can take off with heavier payloads with this in mind reducing the number of trips. Crew fatigue and oil replacement are mitigating factors but this can be planned ahead of time.
5 replies
5 replies
Score: 0Name withheld
6:35 PM on October 20, 2010
This comment has violated our Terms and Conditions, and has been removed.
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.
Score: 0Name withheld
johnkey
6:39 PM on October 20, 2010
This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore johnkey. Show DetailsHide Details
Those CF-18's, like the F-35's, are multi-role fighters. Air superiority (chasing off Russian Bombers) is only one role they fulfill. They can be called in for strategic/tactical ground attack, and close air support for ground based forces. They've even been used to fire at ships in anger (original Gulf war).
It's naive to believe that we don't need a fighter for these roles. The idea of replacing them with drones is almost comical. Yes, you can certainly use drones for some applications, but not all.
Those people who argue the F-35's aren't needed because there is no threat from Russia are being particularly blind about how our CF-18's have been used over their (nearly over) service life.
2 replies
2 replies
Score: 0Name withheld
7:46 PM on October 20, 2010
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.
Score: 0Name withheld
Cooper123
8:14 PM on October 20, 2010
This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Cooper123. Show DetailsHide Details
Russia would never send bombers to invade Canada or the US. Why would they when they can launch nuclear missles from submarines to hit any target/city they want. The days of bombers are over.
Harper and his gang of wooden heads probably don't even know that and are sold on the $$$$Billions of dollars fighters. You could sell those folks sand in the desert. The USA is laughing at us.
1 reply
1 reply
Score: -1Name withheld
IainGFoulds
8:27 PM on October 20, 2010
This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore IainGFoulds. Show DetailsHide Details
... How will we fly our planes in and out of Afghanistan?
... Let's not.
... The time has come to end the forcing of working Canadians to finance military intervention and interference into the affairs of other nations. A clean and objective line.
... Not a life more, and not a penny more.
... The time has come to eliminate the power of our government to give our earning away to any other country- a clear and concrete line.Score: -1Name withheld
IainGFoulds
8:32 PM on October 20, 2010
This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore IainGFoulds. Show DetailsHide Details
... I don't know where Afghanistan is. And, I have not the slightest interest.
... However, I no longer accept being forced to finance our military's interference into their nation's affairs.
... The time has come for a true conservative government who will defend these values.Score: 6Name withheld
AMTan
8:58 PM on October 20, 2010
This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore AMTan. Show DetailsHide Details
I don't see why Harper should suck up to Russian planes if Ukrainian Antonov transport can do the job better, cheaper and with less political consequences.
Score: 0Name withheld
9:12 PM on October 20, 2010
This comment has violated our Terms and Conditions, and has been removed.
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.
Score: 3Name withheld
merguez
9:14 PM on October 20, 2010
This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore merguez. Show DetailsHide Details
Ouch. The truth stings a bit. Maybe we should cancel that order for F-35's. After all, the Americans did snub us at the UN. We'll just contract out air defense of the arctic to our new best friends, the Russians, and sink the rest of the 68 billion into the black hole known as health care. That'll shut up the chain smoking socialist lard asses for a while. But I digress....
Score: 0Name withheld
9:18 PM on October 20, 2010
This comment has violated our Terms and Conditions, and has been removed.
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.
Score: 0Name withheld
9:19 PM on October 20, 2010
This comment has violated our Terms and Conditions, and has been removed.
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.
Score: 0Name withheld
9:29 PM on October 20, 2010
This comment has violated our Terms and Conditions, and has been removed.
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.
Score: 0Name withheld
9:29 PM on October 20, 2010
This comment has violated our Terms and Conditions, and has been removed.
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.
Score: 2Name withheld
BlueScot
9:43 PM on October 20, 2010
This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore BlueScot. Show DetailsHide Details
Many here are attempting to paint the Russians as friendly or broke. They buzz our borders for a reason. The same reason our PM was smart enough to create the necessary activity in the arctic. Mr. Ivison, the russians will not be giving our troops a ride home. Although the russian bombers are there to evaluate our response, it wasn't that long ago a real threat was iminent. To suggest they are our buddies now is naive. Russian aggression is still a potential internationally. You are doing a fine job of trying to replace Don Martin as the "worst liberal journalist of the month".
Score: 3Name withheld
Ivanhoe5
10:31 PM on October 20, 2010
This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Ivanhoe5. Show DetailsHide Details
I tell you what everyone, Canada has a great relationship with Russia for the most part, and this has been cultivated by Harper. We also have Russian/Canadian citizens in our Military and in our officer training core. Things have been thawing with Russia over the past 4 years like mad, and we have all benefitted. The European and North American portion of NATO has been reinventing itself with Russia as far back as 2001. The cold war is ancient history, however you just have to look to Asia to see an old imperialistic giant has awaken.
Score: 0Name withheld
whittih
6:18 AM on October 21, 2010
This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore whittih. Show DetailsHide Details
Cooper 123, the U.S. would probably welcome our F-35s to augment their large fleet off F-15s, C-17 troop carriers and reconaissance aircraft based at Elmendorf Air Force base, Anchorage, Alaska. By your reasoning, the U.S. might as well close the base.
Score: 1Name withheld
snowride
7:25 AM on October 21, 2010
This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore snowride. Show DetailsHide Details
Mr Ivison, why are you even writing about Russia, we can fly our own equipment home.
@ Mel from Calgary. I'm quite certain the Prime Minister is well aware that the cold war is over. Your rhetoric is nothing more that school yard bullying.
@ I am not a redneck. Are you serious? LMAO!
Score: 0Name withheld
henglin
7:31 AM on October 21, 2010
This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore henglin. Show DetailsHide Details
maybe you can find answers here:
==== http://www.shoeswholesale.us ====
50%off ca,ed hardy t-shirt$15 jeans,coach handbag$33,air max90,dunk,polo t-shirt$13,,lacostet-shirt $13 air jordan for sale,$35,nfl nba jersy for sale
puma gucci$35,nike jordans six ring,yeezy$%5!!
new era caps$13 gucci handbags jeans,t-shirts sunglass,caps
true religion jeans$35,ca,ed hardy jeans$35
LV,CHANAL,HANDBAGS$35
NIKE SHOX+AIR MAX+TL3+OZ+NZ ONLY $35
UGG TIMBLAND+LACOSTE SHOES+ED HARDY SHOES$35
DIESEL T-SHIRT,GSTAR T-SHIRT,CA T-SHIRT,50% OFF FOR SALE $15
DIOR SUNGLASS,DG SUNGLASS$15
our websit:
http://www.shoeswholesale.us”’
╭⌒╮⌒╮.’,”’,,’,.”,,’,”,.
╱◥██◣”o’,”’,,’,.”.”,,’,.
｜ē°｜ē°ē°│ ”,,’,.’,”’,,’,.”
╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬e:
Please wait while we file your abuse report.Report Abuse
Please wait while we send the email.Email This
Copy to Clipboard
Slashdot
StumbleUpon
Tumblr
Yahoo! Buzz
Delicious
Digg
FriendFeed
MySpace
Score
vote upvotes up
vote downvotes down
Thursday, 21 October 2010
John Ivison: Canada may learn to love Russian military planes in our airspace | Full Comment | National Post
Flickr - projectbrainsaver
www.flickr.com
|
