Let me be the first Winnipegger to apologise for the latest part my town is playing in the planned murder of incalcuable numbers of men, woman and children around the world.
“The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program, formerly the Joint Advanced Strike Technology (JAST) Program, is the Department of Defense\’s focal point for defining affordable next generation strike aircraft weapon systems for the Navy, Air Force, Marines, and our allies.” Source: Joint Strike Fighter Program
The big news in the Peg this afternoon is the federal government’s $43.4 million loan to Bristol Aerospace of Winnipeg, part of a $120 million upgrade that will allow Bristol to help develop the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet. According to the Winnipeg Free Press, this investment could yield $3 billion in revenue over the next 25-30 years.
According to the merchants of death managing this program, its financial backers include include the UK ($2 billion), Italy ($1 billion), Netherlands ($800 million), Turkey ($175 million), Canada ($150 million), Australia ($150 million), Denmark ($125 million) and Norway ($125 million).
While there will be those in this country who are disappointed that our contribution trails behind that of Turkey, I think we have lots to be ahamed of, nonetheless. And lest you be tempted to put all of the blame on the Tories because of its sweetheart loan to Bristol, remember that the peace-loving Liberals signed on to the program in 2002. There’s shame to share and shame to spare. (If you want an indepth analysis of Canada’s death merchants, go to the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade.)
The Winnipeg Free Press article didn’t hazard a guess as to how many people would be killed by U.S. and NATO air forces after it is deployed. However, if you click on the logo, below, you can get a qualitative feel for the impact of this lethal, yet affordable next-gen killing machine.
Paul S. Graham 