Might as well bump this as Canada's Former Commander of the Navy and new Deputy Chief of the Military blasts the Liberals and the Conservatives over the state of the Navy and the Ship Building Program at his Change of Command with the Defense Minister in Attendance.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/navy...ions-1.3649643
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"It's important to keep in mind that the situation we had to manage was completely avoidable," said Norman.
"It should act as a powerful reminder of what happens when we allow ourselves to continually manage risk by putting off tough decisions in the interest of short-term expediency."
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With Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan in the audience, Norman painted a stark picture of how political gamesmanship has hobbled the navy.
"The RCN has gotten noticeably smaller — both in terms of fleet and establishment — on my watch," he told the change of command ceremony, which ushered in his successor, Vice Admiral Ron Lloyd.
"There's about a 20 per cent reduction in the float capacity of the fleet, with acute losses in war-fighting capabilities, in particular in area air defence and sustainment. As well, we've seen alarming reductions in both our establishment and effective strength."
Norman described the absence of supply ships, which refuel and resupply warships at sea, as a gap that needed to be closed. Without them, the Canadian navy cannot assemble fleet task forces and must send frigates to sea individually.
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My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
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