We all knew it was coming, but the day finally arrived—the announcement that yes, Canada is officially embarking on a new submarine fleet, that we’re planning for up to twelve (from the current four), and that they will be conventionally powered and not nuclear (so no, we won’t be getting into the AUKUS nuclear subs club).
Of course, an existing, in service design that gets heavily modified is another, more likely possibility.
— Philippe Lagassé (@LagasseSubstack) July 10, 2024
Indeed. Hull and propulsion are one thing, combat and communication systems, quite another.
— Philippe Lagassé (@LagasseSubstack) July 10, 2024
Oh, these boats are almost certainly not being built in Canada. https://t.co/X1XvubLF0L
— Philippe Lagassé (@LagasseSubstack) July 10, 2024
Old and busted: AUKUS
New hotness: NORGERCAN https://t.co/qhB9rra4RI— @stephaniecarvin.bsky.social (@StephanieCarvin) July 10, 2024
This is going to push us past the two percent spending target for NATO, but it does amaze me that the government waited until this long at the NATO conference to announce it, after they spent the past two days being punching bags for American congressmen and senators who want to look tough and make a point, while also feeding the bullshit narrative back home that the Elder Pundits have decreed we must follow. You would think that the supposed communications geniuses that this government purports to employ would get ahead of the entire situation, but no, that is apparently beyond their capabilities. Hermes wept; this government is so gods damned incompetent at these kinds of things that should be absolute gimmes. Cripes.
Meanwhile, the CBC tried to pin down the Conservatives on their totally serious plan to both “move toward” meeting the NATO target (note the hedging language that does not say they promise to meet it—remember, the Conservatives love “aspirational” targets that they can pay lip service toward with no intention of ever meeting), while cutting the budget overall (that means cuts at defence because that’s the easiest target and most able to push back capital expenditures). Unsurprisingly, the Conservative wouldn’t actually give direct answers, nor would they say what they mean by restoring “warrior” and not “woke” culture in the Forces. Of course, that’s generally code for the culture of toxic masculinity that got the military into so much trouble in the first place, with both sexual misconduct and abuse of power, but these guys are up late watching bro culture videos on YouTube, so they know all about “warrior culture.”
What does it mean? Tolerance for sexual assault and harassment? Welcoming of white supremacists? Elimination of efforts to confront anti-Black & anti-Indigenous racism? Getting rid of efforts to redress the effects of the LGBT purge?
Good luck with recruitment & retention. https://t.co/WdivecJ2GS
— Artur Wilczynski (@Arturmaks) July 10, 2024
Ukraine Dispatch
A Russian missile strike in the Mykolaiv region has killed one and injured eight including a local mayor. A combined drone and missile attack on Odesa has killed two and damaged port infrastructure. Russian forces also claim to have taken control of Yasnobrodivka in the Donetsk region, which Ukraine won’t confirm. Ukraine’s top prosecutor alleges that Russians killed two prisoners of war from the Zaporizhzhia region. Here’s a look at why the incoming F-16 fighters likely won’t have an immediate impact on the war.
I am grateful to @JustinTrudeau for announcing an additional assistance package to Ukraine worth CAD 500 million. This will strengthen our heroes on the battlefield.
Today, together with Canada’s Prime Minister, we discussed Ukraine's defense needs and coordinated cooperation… pic.twitter.com/DntPrVGbVc
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 11, 2024
The first F-16 fighter jets are on their way from the Netherlands and Denmark to Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced; NATO allies to announce $43 billion commitment to Ukraine for next year, White House says; and more.https://t.co/veuQMXcrmp
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) July 10, 2024