New Canadian Politics Thread
- Thread starter MindzEye
- Start date
Cal Gal
Well-known member
worm
Well-known member
Is this a stock tip?
CH1
The Artist Formerly Known as chiggins.
Cal Gal
Well-known member
Cal Gal
Well-known member
". . . Opting for a mixed fleet of F-35s and another plane “would be less disruptive, but costly and complex.”
Carney orders review of F-35 fighter jet purchase from U.S.’s Lockheed Martin
Prime Minister Mark Carney has asked for a review of Canada’s plan to purchase a fleet of F-35 fighter jets.www.ctvnews.ca
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So I've been looking into this more over the last week, especially as more concrete statements about what the US can and can't do to the planes after delivery have come out this week.
I think a reasonable outcome here is to accept that we're stuck with the first 16 planes (my understanding is that we've already paid for them, not that we're just legally committed to buying them. Money has already changed hands I believe) and those are set to be delivered in 2028.
I think that cancelling the rest of the purchase and going with the Rafale is the way to go. It leaves us with a limited 5th gen backbone if anything comes up where we need a stealth platform, but a very good 4.5th gen to handle the majority of the heavy lifting. That contract should be 60-70 planes, and split between existing units that can be delivered soon so that we can start phasing out the old F-18's asap, and new units we would likely receive in 2029-2030.
The 'kill switch' issue with the F35 is more of a mix of limited capability & longer term forced obsolence issue apparently than a brick switch. The US has certain network access capabilities built into them that require ongoing support from the US and that they can turn off. This diminishes some of the capability of the aircraft, but doesn't brick it, alter it's ability to function as an aircraft, etc. It's kind of like having an android smartphone but google cancelling your gmail account and access to any google apps you're using on it. Your phone isn't bricked, you can just do less with it than you could before.
I've seen the long term issues explained similarly. If the Americans choose to lock you out of software updates you're stuck run the same firmware forever and slowly attrit capability vs potential threats. So it would be like owning an iphone 15, frozen in time with software from it's launch, in a world where your competitors might have the iphone 30.
With where we are now, there's no sense in not taking delivery of what's already paid for, but also no sense in paying for any more of them.
I like his thinking. Challenging to achieve, but worth the hard work.
LeafGm
Well-known member
Yeah, I suppose it can't hurt for Carney to spend a bit of time looking Prime Ministerial and highlighting his pre-existing ties and relationships with our allies in Europe. As well as showcasing his leadership style and foreign policy to Canadians.
It also allows him to send a clear message by going to visit Macron & Starmer first. Whereas PP's first foreign visit as PM no doubt would've been to Washington, after groveling to Team Trump for an Oval Office visit.
Still have to figure that he calls the election sooner rather than later though to seek a proper mandate. And to strike when the iron is hot, as far as the polls go.
Yeah it was concerning to hear him say that we should expect an election before November. It needs to be this spring.
I think the most time possible before an election helps libs. Can watch trump torch democracy for a longer period and be more anti pp and his maga ways. Trump is just getting warmed up and look how Canada feels towards him.
UWHabs
Well-known member
Depends if you'd rather ride the current high or not. Everyone knows Trump is torching things, at some level, I think Carney might rather run on the promise that he can stand up to Trump. If you actually waited a few months, you might see him not able to, for example, and that would tank a lot of his chances.
blkngldbabe
Well-known member
Which IS before November…
WeHaveMoreCupsThanYou
I will get banned again soon, worry not.
I would simply do this, if I were in Caney's shoes.
If Pee-Pee and Dani Smith want a snap election, make em wait. If they don't look prepared or they step on a rake, drop the writ.
If Pee-Pee and Dani Smith want a snap election, make em wait. If they don't look prepared or they step on a rake, drop the writ.
thehabhater
Some call me Tim
They need to make a deal with either the bloq or NDP, otherwise there will be a non-confidence motion immediately
Wayward DP
Well-known member
He should call an election immediately. Libs have all the momentum, PP is flailing, would be dumb to squander this moment.
That, and Carney should get a fresh mandate for whatever his proposed response to the trade war and threats on our sovereignty is.
That, and Carney should get a fresh mandate for whatever his proposed response to the trade war and threats on our sovereignty is.
MindzEye
Wayward Ditch Pig
I'm agnostic as to when they should call an election tbh. I understand the bit about riding your momentum but I think a good argument can be made for their being some low hanging policy fruit for Carney to pluck to reinforce what appears to be a durable trend. I wouldn't wait for the fall either, but doing just enough stuff to look like a prime minister while Pierre continues to struggle with this anti trump sentiment will probably help.
MindzEye
Wayward Ditch Pig
Online rumblings I've heard suggest the NDP is nowhere near ready for an election and their polling numbers have fucking disintegrated.
LeafGm
Well-known member
I wasn’t really concerned by that comment personally. Keep in mind that the next election legally has to be called by the end of October.
So Carney laughingly responding to the question with “before November” was, to me, pretty clearly intended as a joke in-context, and a roundabout way of letting the reporters know he wouldn’t be making that announcement that day.
And none of his other comments in that presser gave me the impression he’d be waiting a particularly long time before calling the election.