Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Julian Fantino’s Plan B for F-35 Delays or Cancellation? Well, Blame the Opposition Parties of Course.

There’s been lots of discussions about U.S. Defence Secretary Leon Panetta’s recent warning to Congress that the F-35 program could be terminated.

Congress has to agree on major cuts to the Pentagon’s budget but, so far, hasn’t reached an agreement. Some in Congress, worried that America’s security is being harmed by out of control spending, are pushing for major cutbacks.

“Facing such large reductions, we would have to reduce the size of the military sharply,” Panetta warned in the letter sent to Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham.

“Rough estimates suggest after ten years of these cuts, we would have the smallest ground force since 1940, the smallest number of ships since 1915, and the smallest Air Force in its history. We would also be forced to terminate most large procurement programs in order to accommodate modernization reductions that are likely to be required.”

Panetta also said DoD might decide to “terminate” the F-35 program.

Now this so-called termination is being dismissed as a scare tactic being used by Panetta. Few believe that outright termination of the F-35 program would ever happen but there could be some cuts in the massive program.

Numerous generals and politicians in the U.S. have also raised concerns about F-35 delays and costs.

If there are delays then what is Canada’s Plan B? What would happen if the program was cancelled or significantly reduced?

It doesn’t appear that the Harper government has a Plan B. It insists that the F-35 is on time and on budget.

Asked about a Plan B, the Harper government’s point man on procurement, Julian Fantino, took a page out of Peter MacKay’s play book on Tuesday to blame the opposition for being 1) unpatriotic and 2) supposedly putting thousands of jobs in jeopardy.

“Why is the minister so obstinately crusading when all other countries, including the U.S., are stepping back?” NDP MP Christine Moore asked in the Commons. “Why is the minister only listening to what’s being promised by Lockheed-Martin and why doesn’t the minister have a plan B?”

The response from Fantino: “The only crusade is the crusade to malign a very important asset for our young men and women who actually use the equipment, and also to maintain our Canadian sovereignty as well as creating jobs. The member opposite is stuck in a time warp of useless rhetoric, misinformation and misrepresentation about the benefits to Canada of the F-35 program.”

But the question remains. Should Canada have a Plan B in case the F-35 problems/issues get out of control?

Origin
Source: Ottawa Citizen 

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