Steven Staples

Why the Right's 'defence lobby' wants another war

rabble staff — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 06:58:03 +0000

Monday, February 18, 2013

With Mali, the "pacifist left" is needed more than ever to end wasteful military spending and to keep the defence lobby from luring Canada into another reckless war.

The generals have a big problem. The fighting in Afghanistan is over for Canada, and the thousands of recruits they armed, and the fleets of planes, helicopters and tanks they bought, have nowhere to go but home.

Since 9/11 the military budget has ballooned to its highest level since the Second World War, surpassing the height of the Cold War in adjusted dollars.

How much longer will Canadians be willing to keep picking up the military's enormous tab with no war to fight or troops in harm's way to support?

Don't let Harper get away with this: Take action on the F-35s

rabble staff — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:28:31 +0000

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Now, exposed as lying outright about the F-35, Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be making more empty promises to review the F-35 program.

Change the conversation, support rabble.ca today.

According to media reports from Ottawa, a new report on the F-35 stealth fighter program estimates the cost to be $45 billion -- the highest amount yet!

This new study by KPMG was requested by the Harper government after the scathing report from the Auditor General last spring.

F-35 fiasco: Harper needs to release the full KPMG report

rabble staff — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 00:15:34 +0000

Friday, December 7, 2012

The F-35 is an offensive weapon system, to be used for “shock-and-awe” bombing missions. Canada has no need for it!

I spent the morning today on Parliament Hill. Stephen Harper's government is in an absolute turmoil over the F-35 stealth fighters.

The Globe and Mail's headline is 'Ottawa scraps plan for F-35 jet,' while the National Post's reads, 'F-35 Dead in the Air.' Despite the headlines, which were spurred by an unnamed government source, the Harper government says nothing has changed. What is the truth?

Our Ceasefire.ca team responded quickly to the news reports, and we held a press conference on Parliament Hill. (Watch the video of our press conference here.)

Worried about corporate influence from China? Take a look at U.S. giant Lockheed Martin

rabble staff — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 16:54:38 +0000

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

All of the concerns raised about China-based Huawei and ZTE can equally be applied to U.S.-based Lockheed Martin.

A United States Congressional committee is worried that the Chinese may be using telecommunications firms to steal U.S. secrets -- and those members of Congress would know, because there's no one better at it than the U.S. government itself.

Remember back in 2000 when then-Chinese president Jiang Zemin, ignoring protests at home, paid U.S.-based Boeing $120 million for a 767 passenger jet to serve as China's version of Air Force One?

According to Time, when the plane was delivered to him, Chinese authorities found 27 surveillance devices secretly installed throughout the president’s plane. The Americans had put bugs above President Zemin's bed and even in his bathroom.

Labour Day 2012: Get ready to rumble

rabble staff — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 18:20:10 +0000

Friday, August 31, 2012

The Labour Day picnics and parades might be the calm before the storm for the labour movement this fall.

The Labour Day picnics and parades might be the calm before the storm for the labour movement this fall. On top of terrible job losses in manufacturing and resource industries, governments in Canada are sharpening their swords, preparing to do battle with the country's trade unions.

It's not just unions that should be worried. The lagging economy is failing all Canadians, whether in unions or not. Historically, the trade union movement has played a pivotal role in turning things around and raising living standards for everyone. But the political and bargaining strengths of unions are at one of the lowest points in decades, and opponents are preparing to take advantage of this weakened state.

Trapped inside Fortress North America

rabble staff — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 09:34:56 +0000

Our independent security under threat thanks to border talks.

Will Canada be trapped inside Fortress North America?

rabble staff — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 09:27:25 +0000

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

The security perimeter talks, aimed at easing border trade, might leave Canada sacrificing its ability to have an independent security policy and trapped inside a U.S.-dominated continental fortress.

Thought the debate about Canada joining the U.S. Star Wars missile defence shield was over? Maybe not. The latest round of Canada-U.S. border security talks could result in Canada joining "Star Wars," and a lot more.

"We intend to pursue a perimeter approach to security," said the joint statement by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Barack Obama in Washington this month.

The statement was light on details, but Canadians should be concerned that political and military leaders involved in border security talks are also discussing a massive expansion of North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) -- the joint U.S.-Canada military aerospace command for North America.

Harper's F-35 stealth fighter purchase confirms Eisenhower's warning

Cathryn Atkinson — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 05:24:46 +0000

Monday, January 17, 2011

In 1960, the outgoing U.S. president warned against a military-industrial complex undermining democracy. The F-35 debate will show if Canada's military-industrial complex has succeeded in this.

Fifty years ago today, on Jan. 17, 1961, Americans gathered around their TV sets to watch President Dwight D. Eisenhower's farewell speech from the White House. He chose his words carefully, and warned Americans about the growth in economic power and political influence of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry.

"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes," he said.

F-35 stealth fighters are for 'shock and awe' warfare, not Canada's needs

rabble staff — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 05:58:07 +0000

The $16-billion debacle continues...

F-35 stealth fighters are for 'shock and awe' warfare, not Canada's needs

rabble staff — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 05:45:30 +0000

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

A showdown between the Liberals and Conservative over the $16-billion fighter jet purchase suggests it could become a major issue in the next election.

Last week, the opposition Liberals stepped up the challenge to the government on the proposed $16 billion program to replace Canada's fleet of CF-18 fighter-bombers with 65 U.S.-built F-35 stealth fighters.

This could be setting the stage for a showdown between the two parties, suggesting it could become a major issue in the next election.

Liberal MPs Marc Garneau and Dominic LeBlanc set out the following questions on the F-35 deal:

1. What are the defence priorities and the domestic and foreign mission requirements that our new fighter jets must be able to support?

U.S.-style war fighting will cost Canada dearly

rabble archives — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:44:45 +0000

Thursday, February 16, 2006

It is arguably the most important issue facing Canada, but it was not discussed at all during the election. It is consuming billions of taxpayers' dollars, it dramatically increases the risk of a ter

It is arguably the most important issue facing Canada, but it was notdiscussed at all during the election. It is consuming billions of taxpayers'dollars, it dramatically increases the risk of a terrorist attack in Canada,and it has already claimed several Canadian lives.

The issue is the dramatic transformation of the Canadian military from a UNpeacekeeping force into a U.S. war-fighting force.

The Canadian government has been rapidly building up the military andforging new Canada-U.S. agreements to help fight the U.S.-led war onterrorism and build a virtual Fortress North America.