"Rangers' Military Mission Raises Questions About Canada's Commitment to the North"
The above is the leadin title to the article "On Sovereignity Patrol In the Frozen Arctic" on page A7 of the Monday April 7th, 2007 Globe and Mail. Its leadin title sums up the articles thrust as summarized by Michael Byers, an Arctic expert and international law professor at UBC who points out that PM Stephen Harpers' Federal Government has "made so little progress" on its promised 2006 beefing up of Arctic Sovereignity efforts.
Michael Byers notes that "an increased (Canadian DND) Military and (Federal) Government presence is necessary to enforce sovereignity claims and help enforce domestic laws in the (Arctic) region which is becoming increasingly open to drug and gun smugglers, illegal immigration, and environmental disasters" (Globe and Mail, April 2nd, 2007, pA7).
Thats my "pitch here too" as shown in my previous CGN posts and my own and I am sure making sure "upfront" that the "Good Guys and Gals Have the Training and Equipment to Win" in a SOV PAT confrontation with one or more of the above groups mentioned by Michael Byers.
Thanks Unsub for your encouragement and your very valid point that SOV PAT Military Missions should be equipped with surface to sea or surface to air missiles.
IF one of those foreign intruders shows up what are the SOV PAT Canadian Armed Forces Groups going to use to either "fire a shot across the bows" or "in extremis" take action to terminate the unlawful intrusion at the point of contact?
Better SOV PAT Safe than SOV PAT Sorry Eh looking ahead to 2010 or 2020.
In the Globe and Mail article it is said that (Canadian Ranger) Allen Pogotak is "unfazed avout his latest military mission: scouting a trek
along Canada's last,..unbeaten paths. (Allen Pogotak said) We will make it. We have to have to for Canada".
In this statement of patriotic spirit I see a real NEED to provide the very best of equipment, including the battle rifles carried on SOV PAT Missions for Canada.
Such timely refurbishment is not a big ticket item. It really depends on Political Will to "Make It Happen" and Now!
IF any fellow CGNer knows how to cut and paste the Globe Article into this forum it would assist further discussion.
For example, as of this afternoon Canada's SOV PAT Mission has a Force of 24 Members.
Is it fair to say that for Canada as a Nation State that such an allocation of National Resources to Protect and Defend Our Sovereignity LACKS REAL COMMITTMENT..NOT by the 24 Canadians on SOV PAT But the Nation and its other 33 Million Canadians itself (which includes at least 100,000 or more CGNers EH!)
Our National Budget for SOV PAT IS Our National Priorities In Dollars and SENSE.
That said the Stakes Are Huge For Canada and All Canadians Futures:
In recent years climate change (since 2000) has begun to
transform the North, As ice melts at alarming rates traffic of
all sorts has increased as the area becomes more accessible
and attractive to other countries (pick one of more from 140)
eyeing new and faster shipping routes (see 2010 Chinese Navy)
and massive natural resource deposits such as oil and gas
(Globe and Mail, April 2, 2007,pA7)
National Sovereignity Is a Terrible Thing to Leave Unguarded In the 21st Century.
"Give Us the Tools and We will do the Job!" (PM Winston Churchill, 1941)
Thanks again Unsub for pointing out that the SOV PAT Missions could have a missile component. I also agree 100% that these SOV PAT Mission Force Members would put up a very spirited and heroic resistance if challenged; however I would point out once again as does todays Globe and Maila article that CANADA Needs to Renew Its Committment in any number of ways, including the SOV PAT rifles it issues to Canadian Rangers.
In minimalist terms, that could include is it fair to say a Full Through Refurbishment of ALL Ranger Rifles and/or issuing those No 4 clones in .308 complete with a scope that are on the Wolverine site as Australian International Arms.
For instance the No.4 Mk 4 in .308. Is it fair to say that "some fresh arms" in .308 would help at this point"?
From the posts on CGN it appears to me that some Rangers have already tried out some of these No. 4 Mk 4 rifles on their own.
Sure the Govt of Canada would have to test them out and get a quantity order but if the Australian International Arms No. 4 Mk 4 sellsl retail new now for $900.00 or so do you really not think that 5000 "new ones" could not be acquired for LESS than the 3.8 million dollars they would cost retail?
Probably a wholesale discount of 25 or 40% would bring the costs back to about $2.3 millions to acquire 5000 NEW .308 ten shot magazine rifles No.4 Mk 4.
To put it in current terms, the March-April SOV PAT Mission is costing a Million Dollars.
At the estimates above, that would purchase about 2000 or more new rifles.
And we can only "dare to dream" than any Canadian Arsenal could meet such an order.
Savage made No.4s in WWII; do you really think that Ruger or Remington couldnt crank out a 5000 number order of No.4s in 308?
In the latter instance that would largely eliminate any "steep learning curve" in transferring from No. 4 .303s to the newly acquired IAIs in 308 Nato, easy to acquire ammunition in the DND logistical tail.
CNN April 2nd, 2009: Beijing Report
Today in bilateral talks between China and Canada a number of trade agreements were signed by PM Stephen Harper and the Chinese Premier aboard a new Canadian Icebreaker built by China and named the HMCS Vimy Ridge.
PM Harper also visited the Norinco Armories and there announced an order for 10,000 new rifles for Canada's Rangers. As promised before the Harper Majority Government is reinvigorating the Canadian Rangers and doubling their complement from 4200 t0 10,000 or more.
The rifle chosen by PM Harper himself and test fired with Deputy PM John Baird and Defence Minister Helena Guergis are of two distinct types: A M-14 clone in .308 that will only accept an issue five shot magazine and a No 4 Mk 4 clone in .308.
The ammunition is .308 Nato and is interchangeable between the two types.
As promised, all rifles are capable of an accuracy standard that will keep five shots in the area of a hockey puck at 100 metres.
PM Harper provided the hockey pucks shot at and presented them later to Chinese officials who also placed a large order for Canadian hockey sticks.
Yes it is ALL Fiction!
New .308 bolt action rifles for 10,000 Rangers!
Better yet a Conservative MAJORITY Government! Ohh the Humanity!
Dare to Dream Eh!