SaveYourScheckelsVille
Dave from the Galloping Beaver has it going....
Chapter 1 explains how the thing got rolling:
...The problem (in 2006) was the projected lifespan of the Harper government. Inside DND and the CF bets were that it wasn't going to last....
{snippety doo-dah}
...So ... they made a run for the end zone. To put it the way one correspondent put it to me, they cut a lot of stuff out, but they highlighted some big ticket items. One of the things they highlighted was the F-35 project and they noted that the 2002 MOU, despite the fact that it did not involve purchasing, had already cost the government over $150 million. The very vague "procurement" line in the MOU was put forward as meaning, we're going to buy. Right? Is there a need for a long, drawn-out competition among planes which really don't measure up to this bright, shiny new thing?
The Harperites, who didn't know a 5th Gen fighter from kitty litter scoop, but have never met a brand new warplane they didn't get a woody over, couldn't agree more. Further, they were fed all the correct buzzwords including, but especially, interoperability with our American allies, who will also have this sexiest of sexy new planes...
...So ... they made a run for the end zone. To put it the way one correspondent put it to me, they cut a lot of stuff out, but they highlighted some big ticket items. One of the things they highlighted was the F-35 project and they noted that the 2002 MOU, despite the fact that it did not involve purchasing, had already cost the government over $150 million. The very vague "procurement" line in the MOU was put forward as meaning, we're going to buy. Right? Is there a need for a long, drawn-out competition among planes which really don't measure up to this bright, shiny new thing?
The Harperites, who didn't know a 5th Gen fighter from kitty litter scoop, but have never met a brand new warplane they didn't get a woody over, couldn't agree more. Further, they were fed all the correct buzzwords including, but especially, interoperability with our American allies, who will also have this sexiest of sexy new planes...
Chapter 2 gets right to heart of the matter:
...How do you resolve that conflict in requirements versus commitment? Make the F-35 the requirement.That's the next possible lie.
How do you do that? Pretend that the F-35 development project was based on requirements that you submitted.
But it wasn't. That's the lie.
The original F-35 project was exploratory. The advantage to Canada is that our aerospace industry was a proportional participant. The investment of Canadian tax dollars paid back well. It wasn't until Harper took the reins that we ended up in a commitment, without a clear statement of requirements, and without a competition.
No problem. Create a statement of requirements...
How do you do that? Pretend that the F-35 development project was based on requirements that you submitted.
But it wasn't. That's the lie.
The original F-35 project was exploratory. The advantage to Canada is that our aerospace industry was a proportional participant. The investment of Canadian tax dollars paid back well. It wasn't until Harper took the reins that we ended up in a commitment, without a clear statement of requirements, and without a competition.
No problem. Create a statement of requirements...
Read them both...
Chapter 3 is coming, wherein Dave promises to get us to 2010.
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And I strongly suggest you bookmark them for future reference.
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