Hillier calls for more spending on military (Canada)

[Rose Siding]

Ottawa — Canada's new top soldier used his inaugural speech Friday to criticize the Liberal government for not spending enough on the military.

"In this country, we could probably not give enough resources to the men and women to do all the things that we ask them to do," General Rick Hillier said at a full military ceremony, as the prime minister and the defence minister looked on.

"But we can give them too little, and that is what we are now doing," the new Chief of Defence Staff said. "Remember them in your budgets."
...
Defence Minister Bill Graham cancelled a scheduled news conference with Hillier that was follow the speech. A spokesperson for Mr. Graham denied that it had anything to do with comments made by Gen. Hillier, saying the minister had to catch a plane.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050204.whillie0204/BNStory/Front/

[Feathered Fish]

1. Well

I've worked at PMQ's before and I'll tell you that these families are living at or just above the damn poverty line. As for equipment crises, like the Chicoutimi, I'm no expert and I don't want to comment on the buying of used equipment, someone else can address that.

[GHOSTDANCER]

2. This comes to mind.......

"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. " -Eisenhower

[Spazito]

3. I agree with Hillier, the military should be paid better...

and their families should not suffer financially because a choice was made to serve. I am not supportive of a bigger military but we must provide those who do serve with the resources to do their job well and safely.

[w4rma]

6. True. But make sure that science, education, medicine, etc, offer better

and more lucrative opportunities. This is important for the long term.

[Spazito]

7. Our military is primarily involved in peacekeeping

duties under the auspices of the UN and/or NATO as well as humanitarian missions. I very much support that direction and believe Hillier was referring to the need to provide adequate resources for our military to complete those missions rather than a build-up of our military for war, etc. Certainly opportunities to gain skills that will help them once their service commitment is complete should be part of that increase in funding.

My concern is the upcoming decision whether to participate in MDS, I am totally opposed to that as it goes against our principles, imo.

[MrPrax]

4. He Already Has The Answer...

"In this country, we could probably not give enough resources to the men and women to do all the things that we ask them to do,"

So ask them to do less

Or in other words ask them to do what Canadians have traditionally agreed to spend on military...

A Home Defense is best given this country's size and 'neighbourhood'... expanding the military gives more impetus for being involved in ill-conceived foreign adventures like Afghanistan.

But is this a problem to begin with?

Canada is already the 6th highest spender in NATO and 16th highest spender in the world. Canada's military spending is already nearly twice what it was spending during the cold-war high watermark in the mid-80s.

Hillier would be wise to sharpen his pencil rather than panhandle if he really feels strongly about what he thinks

[leesa]

5. Don't make this mistake Canada...do what you are doing now and

you will remain safe.