Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Is Stephen Harper’s Honeymoon With the Canadian Forces Over?

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been known for his unwavering support for the Canadian Forces.

But no sooner had Prime Minister Harper made his speech at the change of command ceremony Monday for the new Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Tom Lawson, did the emails from Defence Watch readers start coming in. Some readers were asking – Is the honeymoon over?

Their cause for concern. The prime minister’s comments:

“The forces will also be subject to the same pressures that the uncertainties of the global economy impose across our government,” Harper said during the CDS change of command ceremony. “The forces must be restructured to ensure administrative burdens are reduced and resources freed up for the frontline,” the prime minister added.

He also pointedly stated that changes in the Canadian Forces would result in “more teeth and less tail.”

How will this all translate in real terms? Critics have pointed out that so far there hasn’t been a lot of restructuring of the Canadian Forces despite Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie producing a blueprint last year of what that restructuring might look like. Readers will recall that the senior military leadership did not exactly throw their weight behind Leslie’s report.

Is Harper’s speech an indication he will be forcing the senior command to begin to implement recommendations from the Leslie report?

Original Article
Source: ottawa citizen
Author: David Pugliese

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