Hillier passes the torch..

This is from the Star.
This passage from the article sums things up.
The entire spectacle seemed a celebration of the military "renaissance" touted by the Conservative government and military officials, marked by large budget increases, a promise to boost troop numbers and plans to buy some $50 billion in new equipment over the next two decades.
"It is about the continuity of one of our most essential institutions, the ultimate guardians of Canada's sovereignty, security and place in the world," Prime Minister Stephen Harper said.
Natynczyk, an army commander who served as vice-chief to Hillier, oversaw the Canadian Forces' multi-billion-dollar budget.
He has led campaigns in the Balkans and in Africa, and he was deputy commander of international troops in Iraq while seconded to the U.S. Army in 2005. The deployment made Natynczyk the first Canadian to participate in the U.S.-led war, which the Liberal government of the day declined to join.

There we have it. The celebration of our military renaissance and a taxpayer funded 50 billion dollars in new equipment over 20 years. Our role as a junior partner in U.S. imperialist designs is assured for two decades and this is celebrated by placing a hero of the war in Iraq as head of our armed forces. It is not a question of supporting our troops but of our troops suppporting U.S. foreign policy and Canadian taxpayers footing the bill. We should have had the ceremony on the fourth of July!





Hillier passes the torch TheStar.com - Canada - Hillier passes the torch
Retiring top soldier rumbles off in a tank after handing off the job to Walter Natynczyk
July 03, 2008 Allan WoodsOttawa BureaU
OTTAWA–It was a ceremony fit for a king, but engineered to usher out one "warrior" and welcome in his successor.
The official procedure that handed responsibility for the Canadian Forces from outgoing Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier to Gen. Walter Natynczyk took just a few minutes to complete. Governor General Michaëlle Jean accepted the former chief's white ceremonial flag and passed it to his successor, the beaming Winnipeg native Natynczyk. But the entire affair stretched to two hours, with speeches from politicians, a 21-gun salute, planes, guns and cheering crowds.
It peaked with Hillier, who started as an armour officer, stepping aboard an old, squeaky tank and riding off to retirement.
"It was quite incredible," said retired Col. Alain Pellerin, the head of an Ottawa-based military advocacy group. "I've never seen that before in my career in the military."
The entire spectacle seemed a celebration of the military "renaissance" touted by the Conservative government and military officials, marked by large budget increases, a promise to boost troop numbers and plans to buy some $50 billion in new equipment over the next two decades.
"It is about the continuity of one of our most essential institutions, the ultimate guardians of Canada's sovereignty, security and place in the world," Prime Minister Stephen Harper said.
Natynczyk, an army commander who served as vice-chief to Hillier, oversaw the Canadian Forces' multi-billion-dollar budget.
He has led campaigns in the Balkans and in Africa, and he was deputy commander of international troops in Iraq while seconded to the U.S. Army in 2005. The deployment made Natynczyk the first Canadian to participate in the U.S.-led war, which the Liberal government of the day declined to join.
Asked in a recent Maclean's interview if the 2003 invasion was justified, he replied: "In hindsight, the information – as we know now – the intelligence was faulty."
That candour was not in evidence at a meeting with reporters yesterday where Natynczyk was lightly tested about Afghanistan.
Last month, for example, was the deadliest month for coalition soldiers in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion and the death toll even surpassed the one in Iraq.
"The Taliban and their supporters have, without question, grown more effective and more aggressive in recent weeks, as the casualty figures clearly demonstrate," Admiral Michael Mullen, chair of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said yesterday in Washington.
He, along with Natynczyk and military officials from other countries, met in Brussels, Belgium, last week "to get a better understanding of the scope of the threat," he said.
But the new chief pushed the message of progress authored by the government and his predecessor.
Canada expected a spring offensive and have prepared for it, he explained of the increasing violence, particularly in Kandahar where Canadian troops are based. It will be some time yet before Canadians know whether his comments are evidence simply of a rosy disposition or proof that the Conservatives have found a top soldier who is willing to be kept in line.
For the time being, Natynczyk will just try to be all things to all of the military services under his command.
"As your chief, I represent all of you," he said. "I am a soldier, I'm a sailor, I'm an airman and I'm a special forces troop."