Harper Returning Glory Back To Canada's Armed Forces

Fire of Liberty

While President Bush(and the American public) has seen good friends and allies like Spain's PM Jose Maria Aznar and Italy's PM Silvio Berlusconi fall to the hands of their opponents(Who are of the left and critical of US military efforts and the funding of their militaries due to their devotion of money towards socialistic friendly projects) in recent elections. Well thankfully to the wise voters in Canada, the US has found a new great friend with the election of the Conservative leader Stephen Harper as their new PM. Not only is Harper a friendly conservative from the Western part of Canada that gets along with President Bush(Unlike former leaders like Jean Cretian and Paul Martin) he's also someone who realizes that the current war on terror is very important and if Canada is going to have a impact in fighting the various Islamic terrorists or have an effective voice in world affairs, then the country has got to boost up their military budget. It's rather amazing that a nation that participated pretty heavily in the invasion of Normandy has to call on a second nation for providing a heavy lift capability for Canada's military conducting operations with NATO or their commitments in Afghanistan.

Thankfully, Stephen Harper has begun reintroducing Canada onto the world stage by putting more oomph into the military budget. Here's what the good folks over at the WSJ editorial board had to say about PM Stephen Harper and his fellow Conservatives'(Along with some brave and stand-pat Liberals)budget turn-around with regards to defense spending:

But even discounting for hyperbole, we think Mr. Harper deserves credit, and more media coverage, for his recent announcement that Canada will spend US$13.5 billion to upgrade its military. The money will go to purchase much-needed equipment, including 16 military helicopters, three navy supply ships, 2,300 high-tech trucks, and 21 aircraft capable of transporting troops and heavy equipment.

The Harper government had previously announced plans to add 23,000 troops to Canada's current force of 62,000 active-duty and 26,000 reserve forces, and to boost base military spending to C$20 billion over the next five years from C$14 billion. In May, the Canadian Parliament voted to keep Canadian troops in Afghanistan until 2009.

What a difference an election makes. Last year, before the Conservatives beat the Liberals in a close vote, Canada spent a mere 1.1% of its GDP on defense, the lowest in NATO after tiny Luxembourg. By contrast, the U.S. spent 3.8%, and the NATO average was 1.9% (a figure inflated by high levels of defense spending in Greece and Turkey, which are preparing for the possibility of fighting each other). Germany spent a mere 1.4% of GDP on defense last year; Italy, 1.8%; and Spain, 1.2%. Britain and France both broke the unofficial NATO expectation of 2% of GDP at 2.5% and 2.3%, respectively.

I have to say it's about time Canada return this great nation back a military power with teeth rather than having to rent or catch a ride from other nations. If Canada can move out of this miserly attitude that had become synonymous with the Liberal government then President Bush has another friendly face in NATO and the G8 throughout the rest of his term. Here's hoping Harper has great fortune at the helm in Canada and such an increase in the military budget will rub off on other members of NATO.