As part of the John McCallum's deal with John Manley, McCallum was to find $200 million to cut from the CF in order to reach the 1B overal increase to the CF budget.
So keeping with that deal John McCallum announced that all our Leapard C2 tanks will be scrapped.

Dispite the 1B increase, which was only enough to pay off the deficit the CF worked itself into with it's war in afganistan, the Canadian Forces continue to be diminished and yet our gov't continues to send our troops accross the world on a politcal whim, caring little if our soldiers get injured or die because they refuse to keep the CF equipped with upgraded modern equipment.

The only reason our equipment should be scrapped would be to make way for new equipment!

   

COME ON CANNUCKS! When they start cutting basic weapons systems things are as bad as they can get, it is the end to self-supported, mission capable troops. What is left? (Hmmmm....Does the Airforce REALLY need all those planes? Speak out loudly our noble brothers (and sisters) to the North!

   

I think it comes down to whether or not we need the Heavy armour any more. Do we even have the capability to deploy the tanks? Will our C-130's even carry them?

I think the forces is going to focus on becoming lighter and faster reacting, meaning more light - medium armour.

   

Man, this is getting scary. I'm supposed to be joining the Canadien Forces this summer as an infantry soldier. What are they gonna arm me with, a slingshot and some pinecones?

   

I dont think Canada really needs heavy arms like that. Theat not the type of missions we do. I agree with what Tweed-inator said.

   

Before everyone overreacts about getting rid of the Leopards, just keep a few things in mind........

The LAV 3 is an excellent vehicle, heads above what we have given up (M113's). The Leopard Tank is old folks, we're better off without them. McCallum is not a bad Defence Minister at all, he's concerned with the state of our Forces. Chretien is our biggest problem. He'll be gone, someone with balls will get elected and hopefully our Forces will return to a state of it's former self.

The Leopard tank is obsolete. A tank is only good if you can get it to the battlefield, and we have no heavy lift capability. Whats the use of dumping millions of dollars a year into upgrading our tanks when we could turn our entire military into a light fighting capability. Why pay all that money just to have some excercises once in awhile with REAL LIVE TANKS!!!! Big deal.....Tanks have limitations, believe me, I am a TOW gunner and can tell you that with current anti-tank technology, the Leopards do not have the ability to defend themselves adequately. The other limitation is that tanks can be a liability in Urban Warfare, which is where most of the battles we will be involved in in the future will be.

There is no easy or right answer, everyone has their view on what should be done, but what we need is a better Rapid Reaction capability, because unless we can get into a hotspot right away, it may be too late.......Another Rwanda anyone?

Make no mistake the CF is in disrepair. McCallum has been at least trying to cut some of the top heavy infrastructure of the military which means a General or 10, on a commitee to determine whether the army has too many Generals or not, which will cost several MILLIONS of dollars........May be no more........Good for us!!! Trimming the fat is a sound corporate decision, and the military is in need of a good trimming in certain places........I'm pretty cynical when it comes to politicians, but at least this Defence Minister seems to have a sniff of whats going on......He's on the right track because he's listening to a well written report by a couple of Corporals......

For the young man just about to join the Infantry......Good on ya. Don't worry about throwing pinecones buddy, the instructors at your Battle School will ensure that you'll be a LETHAL Pinecone Chucker......The weapons in the CF and more importantly the soldiers are as good or better than anyone else out there....We don't have enough of either.....Don't underestimate the abilities that you'll learn, but also never underestimate the tenacity and ferociousness of a well motivated and therefore dangerous Canadian Infantryman.........Good luck to you.

Maj. General MacKenzie for Prime Minister

   

Very good points.. also those pine cones from BC are leathal too LMAO

   

I think you are bang on here, wanna bet that the order for EH-101's will be placed within a week of him retiring? Does anyone have a copy of the report written by tthe two Winnepeg NCO's?