F-35 purchase for offence or defence?

The Conservatives shifting their argument for purchasing the F 35 aircraft from fear of Russian attack to current action in Libya has no credibility. An attack by the Russians, though remote, is the only justifiable argument for purchasing newer planes for defence. There is no other country capable of attacking Canada and little likelihood of this occurring.

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Our current planes have never been used in defence of Canada. They have, however, been employed in two offensive actions supporting one side over the other in internal conflicts, the first in the Serb-Albanian dispute in Kosovo, the second our current involvement in Libya supporting those fighting against forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi. A question to be asked of and answered by those seeking the power to decide Canada's foreign policy is this: Are we going to continue to be involved in wars that do not threaten Canada directly or will focus be on developing these roles, being peacemaker where possible and being ever ready to assist others when they face natural or man made disasters by greatly expanding our Disaster Assistance Response Team? Never having been a colonial power, nor in dispute with other countries (aside from the Dane's over Hans Island), Canada could well develop being viewed as the world's foremost para-medic, and as such without the need for having highest tech aerial capability available for either defensive or offensive. Joe Hueglin Niagara Falls

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