New NATO Allies – Leased Helicopters –
Southern Afghanistan – March 2008
Canadian Soldiers need Transport
Helicopters This Summer
Not Next Year — Time to Chat
with Our New Czech Mates?
Dianne DeMille , Editor , Canadian American
Strategic Review ( CASR )
Defence Minister Mackay coyly hints about
his talks with the US Defence Dept
On 13 March 2008, Parliament will vote on the question of whether Canada's Afghan Mission will be extended to
the summer of 2011. The primary prerequisite spelled out by the Manley Report – medium-lift
transport helicopters for our soldiers – has not yet been put in place. Our defence
minister is a purring pussy-cat, who could not finesse a
face-saving exit from a relationship with an ex-colleague. Canadian citizens are assured
that he is talking to the seasoned Yankee traders of the US Department of Defence and the
Boeing Corporation.
Mackay asserts that he might be able to get our soldiers some Chinooks by February 2009
Apparently, Mackay is begging for favours that were proffered by the US and declined by Canada in the past. The
entire performance is humiliating. It makes our government look ridiculous –
too slow, too ineffective, too late. Perhaps this is why Prime Minister Harper has made David Emerson the czar
of the 'war cabinet' within the Privy Council Office. He is more of a pit bull than a pussy-cat. Emerson
is what is politely referred to as an 'expediter'.
Spring Offensives and Summertime Dangers – We need helicopters in Afghanistan
Now
DND has spent enough time trying to gain access to 'spare' NATO Chinooks in Afghanistan and there simply
are not enough to go around. But there are medium-lift transport helicopters available within the fleets of
the newer member states of NATO. Poland has already offered Canada exclusive access to two
Mi-17s operating out of Kandahar Air Field. This generous offer helps by getting some of our soldiers up
off the roads of Kandahar but it is not enough.
Canadian soldiers know the risks of those Afghan tracks where roadside IEDs are the number one cause of CF
casualties. Armoured vehicles used for patrols are designed to minimize the effects of explosions. But every CF
truck used to deliver supplies on Afghan roads is also at extreme risk. The Mil helicopters in service with our
Eastern European allies are quite capable of taking over some of that logistics role. If we could find a way to get
some used Mils, their flight crews, and mechanics, into southern Afghanistan right away – with guaranteed
access for the CF – then deliveries by road can be limited and the lives of Canadian soldiers
spared.
With a little encouragement, the Czechs may offer to send
some of their used Mils
How can the loan of NATO-manned Mil helicopters be accomplished by this summer? There are a large number of
these helicopters in service with our Eastern European allies. Some are brand-new, other less so. The Czech
Republic is willing to donate older Mi-17s [1] and these helicopters probably represent our best hope. Canada can
offer inducements to the Czechs to deploy these Mils to Kanadahar. We could defray the costs of transporting these
helicopters to KAF (using our share of SALIS, the Germany-based NATO airlift scheme) and ensure that supplies
and parts reach the new Czech contingent. When the CF’s Afghanistan deployment is complete, these Czech
helicopters can be left for use by the Afghan National Army (ANA). Payment could come from CIDA's
budget as part of Canada's aid package for Afghanistan.
The NATO Summit in Bucharest is fast approaching –
We need to make a deal now
Now is the moment for David Emerson to shine. Any deals signed at the Bucharest Summit must
be hammered out in advance. Now is the time to do that. What exactly can Mr. Emerson offer the Czechs in exchange
for saving Canadian lives? Well, beyond an opportunity for the Czechs to make a larger
contribution to ISAF at comparatively little expense to themselves, the Czech government is very desirous
of, but cannot yet afford, Canadian-made technology. As Minister of International Trade, David Emerson is once
again well-positioned to act as an expediter. The Czech Republic wants more Bombardier Challengers. Making
such a purchase easier for the Czechs [2] is a small price for Canadian lives saved in Afghanistan this
summer.
[1] The Afghan National Army Air Corps is currently flying three Mi-17 helicopters
that
came from the Czech Republic. More Mils were promised
to Afghanistan and Canada
is in a position not only to
help itself but also to help the Czechs help Afghanistan.
[2] At present, the Czech government operates a CL-604 Challenger to
fly its President
and senior officials to out-of-country
meetings. The Czech Republic had planned to
replace its
other two 'bizjets' (older Yak-40s) with additional CL-604 Challengers but
lack of funds prevented this. Such a deal is of obvious benefit to
Canadian industry.
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