PrPressess for CConvonverersion!sion!

October 2010 Issue #65 $8.00 A History of Canadian Complicity in the War Press for Conversion! A History of Canadian Published by the Coalition to Complicity in the Oppose the (part one) Arms Trade Acknowledgements Research, Editing, Design, Layout: Richard Sanders Mailing issue #63: Nick Aplin, Hanna Clemann, Susan Fisher, June and Johnny Johnson, Pat Johnston, Kaven Niven, Rosalie Reynolds, Richard Sanders. Computer support: Paul Gross Union help: PSAC: Mandy Rocks, Keith Coe NUPGE: Len Bush, Brenda Hildahl

Please order extra copies Extra! Extra! of this magazine and distribute them to: • journalists • politicians • teachers • libraries • activists • students • clergy, etc. etc. Post 40008371 2 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 Canada’s Covert War in Iraq By Richard Sanders, coordinator, Coa- lition to Oppose the Arms Trade; edi- “Ironically, Canadian naval tor, Press for Conversion! vessels, aircraft and personnel in the Persian Gulf… Since 2003, Canadians have been bom- who are fighting terrorism No barded with media-spread mantras lull- will provide more support ing people into the delusion that the Canadian government bravely stood up indirectly to this war to U.S. pressure and refused to join the in Iraq than most of the U.S. war against against Iraq. Unfortu- 46 countries that are nately, it’s just not true. fully supporting our mu Despite all the hype to the con- efforts there.” trary, Canada was and still is an active participant in this horrific war that has Perh claimed more than 1.3 million lives. tur However, thanks to the constant an repetition of the deceitful official nar- rative that Canada boldly opted out of th the Iraq war, most Canadians—even dron progressives on the “left” who should Paul Cellucci, know better—have long-ago fallen U.S. Ambassador prey to the deception. As such, it is one of the most successful public re- to Canada lations campaigns ever foisted upon (2001-2005) the Canadian public. So powerful is the myth that such a listing.”2 how the general public and even pro- even when confronted with many facts Canada’s absence from this gressive anti-war activists can be suc- Most about Canada’s very active participa- “Coalition-of-the-Willing” list of pub- cessfully lulled into submission by a that th tion in this U.S.-led war, many Cana- licly-admitted participants in the Iraq well-run psychological operation. the Ira dians simply refuse to accept the truth. war has long been used as evidence from In the very early days of the that Canada said “no” and opted out of ways Iraq war, Canada’s support for the in- this unpopular war. Ignored is the fact vasion of Iraq was gratefully acknowl- that Powell also went on to say that edged by the then-U.S. Ambassador to “there are 15 other nations, who, for Canada, Paul Cellucci. On March 25, one reason or another do not wish to 2003, during the devastating “shock be publicly named but will be support- and awe” bombardment of Iraq, Am- ing the coalition.”3 bassador Cellucci admitted that Canada is the leading member “ironically, Canadian naval vessels, of this in-the-closet coalition of gov- [Edito aircraft and personnel...will supply ernments that have been more than will- importa more support to this war in Iraq ing to support the Iraq war but are not what you indirectly...than most of those 46 willing to be “publicly named.” claims to countries that are fully supporting Most Canadians, including is wheth our efforts there.”1 many peace activists, fell for this ruse. Cellucci had let the cat out of As a result, Canada’s avid, but furtive, the bag. However, his acknowledge- participation in the Iraq war has re- ment that Canada’s “navy, aircraft and mained shrouded in secrecy. Once , the facts ab personnel” provided “more support to conned by the official narrative, many found comp this war in Iraq” than most other coun- peace activists have remained silent. disseminate tries in the world, it only begins to The overall failure of the peace move- scratch the surface of Canada’s tre- ment to see through the deception has mendous support for the war. ensured that there has been no real A week earlier then-Secretary protest against Canadian complicity in of State Colin Powell had announced, the Iraq War. to much fanfare, that “We now have a It is important to reveal the coalition of the willing...who have pub- truth about Canada’s role in Iraq be- licly said they could be included in cause it is such a brilliant example of November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 3 On March 18, 2003, then-U.S. Gen. Colin Powell Secretary of State Colin Powell said: points out where Canada should “We now have a coalition of the willing... who have publicly be listed said they could be included Afghanistan Albania in such a listing.” Angola ce here -----> Australia Many were proud to see that Azerbaijan Canada was not on that list. Bulgaria Colombia However, they ignore the fact Costa Rica Czech Republic that Powell went on to say: Denmark “there are 15 other nations, who, Dominican Republic for one reason or another do not El Salvador Eritrea wish to be publicly named but Estonia will be supporting the coalition.” Ethiopia Georgia Honduras Canada is the leading member of a secret group of nations Hungary Iceland that could accurately be called call CW-HUSH, the Italy Japan “Coalition of the Willing to Help but Unwilling to be Seen Helping” Kuwait Latvia Doublethink, Double-hatting and Cognitive Dissonance Lithuania o- Macedonia 5, By Richard Sanders, coordinator, Coalition to Oppose settling information is soon forgotten and Canada’s Marshall Islands the Arms Trade mythological juggernaut lumbers forward unscathed. Micronesia nt/ Canadian anti-war activists should therefore Mongolia 325 n his novel 1984, George Orwell developed the con aim to increase the cognitive dissonance of their fel- Netherlands er- cept of “doublethink,” which he described as: low citizens by relentlessly exposing the ugly truth Nicaragua Palau n, “The power of holding two contradictory beliefs in of Canada’s leading position in the bellicose system I Panama one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of of corporate imperialism that pervades our planet. Philippines Canadians may then eventually reject the prevailing y/ them.... To tell deliberate lies while genuinely be- Poland 3 / lieving in them, to forget any fact that has become official narrative and free themselves from the con- Portugal inconvenient.”1 fining straight-jacket of this country’s most power- Romania This psychological process has also been described as: ful doublethink—the naive mythology of Canada’s Rwanda “a form of trained, willful intellectual blindness to role as a global force for peace. Singapore contradictions in a belief system. Doublethink dif- The rise of a Canadian “hero” in the Iraq War Slovakia fers from ordinary hypocrisy in that the to Canada’s top military post offers a valuable oppor- Solomon Islands ‘doublethinking’ person deliberately had to forget tunity to shatter the chimera. Revelations of South Korea Spain the contradiction between his two opposing be- Natynczyk’s deep complicity in the Iraq war will make Tonga it that much harder for Canadians to maintain their liefs—and then deliberately forget that he had for- Turkey gotten the contradiction…. Orwell describes it as peculiar brand of doublethink which is the bane of Uganda ‘controlled insanity.’”2 anti-war activists in this country. Ukraine Thankfully, psychologists have developed a useful con- United Kingdom cept called “cognitive dissonance” which offers a References United States means of escape from “doublethink.” Cognitive disso- 1. George Orwell, 1984, 1949, p.220. Uzbekistan nance is the “uncomfortable feeling or stress caused 2. Doublethink by holding two contradictory ideas simultaneously.”3 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doublethink #cite_note-Orwell-0 The theory holds that 3. Cognitive_dissonance en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_diss onance “people have a fundamental cognitive drive to re- 4. Ibid. duce this dissonance by modifying an existing be- lief, or rejecting one of the contradictory ideas.”4 Upon hearing examples of their government’s engage- ment in war and oppression, many Canadians experi- ence this disquieting inner discord. They struggle to reduce their mental discomfort by dismissing news of Canada’s war culture as aberrations or untruths. Un- 4 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 Leading the Multinational Fleet in the Persian Gulf in 2003 Task Force 151: Navy Commodore Roger Girouard, A Significant Boost was the Commander to the Iraq War of Task Force 151— By Frank P.Harvey, NATO Fellow and the multinational Professor, Political Science, Dal- fleet that protected housie University and Center for For- and serviced U.S. eign Policy Studies. warships in the dmiral Ken Summers (who Persian Gulf during commanded Canada’s military the 2003 Iraq War. Ain the 1991 Gulf War) con- firmed that In this DND photo “they are providing direct support to the war on terrorism...and indi- Cmdr. Girouard rect support to the war on Iraq, in poses on the bridge that they are escorting through the of Task Force 151’s Strait of Hormuz any allied ship that lead ship—a multi- 1 needs to get in or out of the gulf.’ billion dollar Cana- Canadian commander, Commodore Roger Girouard, reported directly to dian Destroyer, the U.S. Vice-Admiral Timothy Keating; HMCS Iroquois who is the head of the U.S. 5th Fleet —in June 2003. (fighting the Iraq War) and top naval officer in the war on terrorism.2 there really was no distinction at all.... in Kuwait.6 This wa The Canadian naval task group Canadian ships provided a sig- The [Canadian] ships...were in did not and could not clearly separate nificant boost to the war effort. Canada a position to lend direct assistance to and con the roles between terrorism and the deployed the destroyer HMCS coalition forces in transit to or en- force of war in Iraq. Indeed, the Canadian gov- Iroquois to lead Task Force 151 (TF- gaged in operations against Iraq. In- boats, e ernment really had no control over, nor 151), made up of about twenty ships deed, Commodore Roger Girouard, Iraq and could they establish from six countries. the Canadian who took control of TF- definitive opera- “Canada has dramatically Canada contributed 151, was charged with protecting all "There a tional rules of en- four frigates to TF- allied warships except carriers and increased its naval respon- modore gagement to sepa- 151, in addition to their escorts operating in the Strait of a previo sibilities in the Persian Gulf 3 rate, those two re- the Iroquois. While Hormuz and south of Kuwait in the gion. "O sponsibilities.... If as the U.S. prepares for the ships were oper- Persian Gulf.7 bers wh passed along war against Iraq.” ating as part of Op- 4 References region b an order that, for Globe and Mail, eration Apollo, practical operational Defence Minister 1. Cited by Daniel Leblanc, “Frigates ‘Criti- ing ship cal’ to Guard against Terror,” Globe and and tactical reasons, February 11, 2003. John McCallum for Iraq Mail, March 21, 2003, A12. was subsequently ig- stated that the ships 2. Ibid. nored in favour of maintaining a com- might be ‘double-hatted’ to offer sup- 3. Rick Mofina, “Canadian Ships Won’t be mitment to Canada’s multilateral ob- port in a war against Iraq.4 Irrespective Drawn into War: PM,” Ottawa Citizen. ligations, that speaks volumes about of any ‘double-hatting,’ Canada’s ships (Accessed March 20, 2003). the capacity of defence officials to af- contributed to the coalition war effort. 4. Sheldon Alberts, ‘Ships May Enter War fect operational policy. The area of operations for the by Back Door,’ National Post, March The fact that the Canadian navy ships of TF-151 was redefined when 13, 2003. followed previously established rules Canada took control. The ships had 5. Sheldon Alberts and Richard Foot, ‘40- year-old Sea King Forces Flagship of engagement for tracking and arrest- been tasked to protect allied vessels Back,’ National Post, February 28, 2003. ing suspected terrorists, derived from and interdict terrorists in the Gulf of 6. Alberts, op cit. a list that included Iraqi officials pro- Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. They 7. “Canadian to Command Allied Warships vided by the U.S. military, implies that had not operated in the Persian Gulf. in the Gulf,” CTV, February 11, 2003. the Canadian government had a lot less When Canada took over, the area of www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20030211/ authority and influence than it implied operations was expanded to cover vir- canada_persian_gulf_030211/ in statements about the distinction be- tually the whole Persian Gulf, up to the Source: Smoke and Mirrors, 2004. Univ. tween Canadian and U.S. operations— 29th parallel, the southernmost point of Toronto Press, pp.207-208 and 234-235. November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 5 “Force Protection” of the Coalition Navy Canada’s Naval Role Retired Admiral Ken Summers in the Persian Gulf confirmed in 2003, that the Canadian Navy was then providing before and during “direct support to the war on terrorism the 2003 Iraq War ...and indirect support to the war on Here’s what United States Central Iraq, in that they are escorting through Command had to say about the im- the Strait of Hormuz any allied ship portant roles played by Canadian that needs to get in or out of the warships in the Persian Gulf during the Iraq War and how they were “in- [Persian] gulf.” tegrated into a coalition formation.” More than a decade earlier, Summers com- manded Canada’s naval, air and land forces Force Protection during the 1991 Iraq War. Heavily armed, manoeuvrable war- ships, such as Canada’s destroyers and frigates, provide defensive capabilities HMCS Preserver to the more vulnerable specialized ves- sels in the multinational coalition fleet. Fleet Support The replenishment ships HMCS Pre- server and Protecteur cruised the Ara- bian [Persian] Gulf and Arabian Sea to ns replenish the coalition fleet. Replen- ishment ships are crucial to sustain- HMCS Protecteur ing coalition naval operations; as well as food and essential materiel such as fuel, ammunition and replacement n parts, they provide other ships of the fleet with specialized services such as health care and engineering expertise. During their time in theatre, HMCS Preserver and Protecteur conducted more than 200 replenishment opera- “Fleet Support” for the Coalition Navy tions. (See photographs, at right.) uring the massive buildup of na- Cargo Capacity (for other warships) Dval forces in the Persian Gulf • 14,590 tons fuel Leadership interdiction prior to the invasion of Iraq, two Ca- • 1,250 tons ammunition To prevent Al-Qaeda and Taliban mem- nadian Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment • 1,048 tons dry cargo bers from escaping the area of opera- ships “cruised the Arabian [Persian] • 400 tons aviation fuel r tions in merchant ships and fishing Gulf and Arabian Sea to replenish the Armaments boats operating from Pakistan and Iran, 1 coalition fleet.” 2 x Phalanx Close in Weapons Systems Canadian ships hail vessels, identify These ships’ role is to provide 6 x 50 calibre machine guns5 them, pursue and board them when “everything a frigate or destroyer necessary, and search for material and needs at sea, thus increasing their References activity indicating the presence of Al- range and endurance… [including] 1. U.S. Central Command, “Canada,” Au- (See p. Qaeda or Taliban members. (See p. 20.) ammunition, fuel, stores, provi- gust 6, 2003. 20.) sions and helicopter support.”2 www.centcom.mil/en/canada/ Maritime interdiction 2. HMCS Preserver, June 22, 2004. Canada’s support ships carry Since the beginning of Operation web.archive.org/web/20040626163355/ “enough provisions to supply a task Apollo, Canadian ships hailed more www.navy.dnd.ca/preserver/about/ force of six destroyers for six weeks ship_about_e.asp than 21,800 vessels. To date [August without having to return to port.”3 Dur- 3. Welcome Aboard, HMCS Protecteur 6, 2003], Canadian ships have per- www.navy.forces.gc.ca/protecteur/1/1- ing Operation Apollo they “provided formed more than half the 1,100 s_eng.asp fleet support by conducting over two boardings conducted by the multina- 4. Philippe Lagasse, “Matching Ends and hundred replenishment missions.”4 Means in Canadian Defence,” from tional coalition fleet. At 172 meters in length—the Canada Among Nations, 2004, 2005. largest in Canada’s Navy—each ship books.google.ca/books?id=iGgtiaeOVA4C Source: U.S. CENTCOM website, 5. Ship’s Characteristics, HMCS Protecteur “Canada,” August 6, 2003. carry 365 sailors, including air crew www.navy.forces.gc.ca/protecteur/1/1- www.centcom.mil/en/canada/ for two CH-124 Sea King helicopters. s_eng.asp?category=17&title=578 6 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 “[O]ur Navy [is] doing HMCS Iroquois sterling work escorting Tribal-Class Destroyer many of the ships bringing war mater- Built by: MIL Davie, QC ials and aid supplies Homeport: Halifax, NS to the war zone. Nevertheless, we are Crew: 300 Sailers reminded ad naus- eam that they are in theatre strictly to contribute to the war against terrorism. Any- one who thinks our Navy would abort an intercept of a threat to any ship they are escorting because they The Flagship of Task Force 151 discover that it’s an Iraqi during Operation Iraqi Freedom threat doesn’t know our Navy.” (Deployed to Persian Gulf, February 24 - July 29, 2003) Major-Gen. (ret.) Lewis McKenzie Armaments: “Admit it, we’re engaged in combat.” 29 x Surface-to-Air, Standard Missiles (Lockheed Martin, US) National Post, April 4, 2003. 1 x 76 mm (62 calibre) Artillery Gun (OTO Melara, Italy) 6 x high-explosive MK-46 torpedoes (Alliant Techsystems, US) Multi-Role Patrol Frigates 1 x Phalanx 20mm radar-guided Gatling gun (Raytheon, US) Each with a crew of 225 sailers 2 x M2 Browning heavy machine guns (General Dynamics, US) HMCS Deployed: Armaments: Feb. 2 - July 1, Regina 24 × high-explosive MK-46 torpedoes (Alliant Techsystems, US) 2003 16 × Evolved Sea-Sparrow Surface-to-Air Missile (Raytheon, US) 8 × RGM-84 Harpoon Surface-to-Surface Missile (Boeing, US) 1 × 57 mm Mk2 gun (Bofors, Sweden, now BAE Systems, UK) Built by: Home: CFB Esquimalt 1 × Phalanx 20mm radar-guided Gatling gun (Raytheon, US) MIL Davie Shipbuilding, QC 6 × .50 caliber Browning machine guns (Gen. Dynamics, US) HMCS Deployed: HMCS Deployed: June 15 - Dec. 14, 2003 Fredericton Mar. 5-Aug. 28, Calgary 2003

Built by: Home: CFB Halifax Built by: Saint John Shipbuilding, NB Saint John Shipbuilding, NB Home: CFB Esquimalt HMCS Deployed: HMCS Deployed: Sept. 9, 2002 - April 25, 2003 Sept. 15, 2002 - Montreal May 2, 2003

Built by: St. John Shipbuilding, NB Built by: Home: CFB Esquimalt Saint John Shipbuilding, Home: CFB Halifax November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion!NB 7 TF151: Half Pregnant, Double Hatted (and Two Faced) By Janice Gross Stein (director, Munk School of Global Affairs, Univ. of To- Canada’s Iroquois and Regina warships were ronto) and Eugene Lang (was chief of “double-hatted” to wage the Iraq and Afghan wars. staff for Liberal Defence Ministers Top politicians, John McCallum and Bill Graham) bureaucrats, diplomats n early February 2003, then-Chief and military brass all of the Defence Staff (CDS) Ray supported Canada’s IHenault and his deputy, Greg leadership of the Maddison [a former vice admiral], told multinational TF151 Defence Minister John McCallum that fleet even though they the Canadian navy had an opportunity to lead a multinational naval Task knew Canada would Force [TF], which included U.S. ships thus take a lead naval and those of other countries not yet role in the Iraq War.

committed to an invasion of Iraq. DND Photo: Corp. Shawn Kent, May 6, 2003 Known as TF151, it would support Op- gued this support was especially im- within National Defence HQ] leaked eration Enduring Freedom (OEF) [i.e., portant given the likelihood that the news. On February 11, The Globe the Afghan War], but would require a Canada would [officially] refuse par- and Mail reported that change in the area of operations for ticipation in the Iraq war. “Ottawa and Washington have Canada’s navy; the navy would move Foreign Affairs Minister Bill agreed that a senior Canadian of- farther up into the Persian Gulf, very Graham reflected later on advice from ficer will command all allied naval close to Iraq’s territorial waters and a senior officials in his department: warships, aside from the U.S. air- long way from Afghanistan. To lead this “The discussion centred around the craft carrier and its close escorts, task force, Canada would have to de- problem, we’re not involved in the in the Persian Gulf south of Kuwait ploy a destroyer, the HMCS Iroquois, Iraq campaign, what justification do .... Commodore Roger Girouard as- with command and control capability. we have to be involved in the naval sumed command on Friday [Febru- This meant a net gain for Canada of operation [TF151]? And our view ary 7] of the new Task Force 151, one ship in the region—two frigates was the naval operation dated from which will be responsible for es- and one destroyer—for six-months. the original mission to restrain the corting ships, intercepting and After McCallum had one or two Taliban and control al-Qaeda, and boarding suspect vessels and guard- more discussions with Henault and that therefore this was a legitimate ing against attacks on shipping.”4 Maddison, it became apparent that presence in the Gulf for a different The paper went on to point out that this TF151 would be de facto, if not de purpose. And for us to pull out at initiative was part of a Canadian plan jure, “double-hatted.” It would support that time would have been highly to increase preparations in anticipa- OEF but would also probably provide aggravating to the Americans and tion of a war against Iraq and that 25 some as yet undefined support to Op- our other allies ... One thing that cer- senior Canadian officers had been sent eration Iraqi Freedom (OIF). tainly cinched it for me was there to a U.S. base in the Persian Gulf to The multilateralists in Foreign was a French vessel in the Task plan for that purpose in Iraq.5 Affairs, who were so deeply commit- Force, so I said if the French can The Globe then went further: ted to the UN process on Iraq and stay there—with all their Cartesian “If war breaks out, the Canadian war- strongly opposed Canada’s involve- logic—we can do the same.”2 ships will, at the very least, start es- ment in the war without another UN Deputy Prime Minister John corting civilian ships such as tank- resolution, might have been expected Manley subsequently made similar ar- ers..., which would be critical to the to dismiss leading this naval force. But guments. He thought that with the Iraq war effort. ‘The region will be more Canada’s senior diplomats held a much decision behind the government, dangerous,’ Cmdre. Girouard said. more pragmatic, Washington-centric “We’ve made our point with the Ameri- ‘We...would have to co-ordinate view. Canada’s ambassador to NATO, cans. A Canadian role in this naval task some escorts, in particular in the David Wright, urged McCallum to take force,” he said, “gives us something to strait, by offering protection to on the leadership of TF151. Wright point to with the Americans.”3 Ottawa ships and oil tankers.’” warned him that Canada would pay a decided that Canada would assume The Canadian Commodore suggested price if it didn’t double-hat its ships command of TF151, and would worry that were Canada to participate in the in the region. The senior Foreign Af- later about how it would manage the war against Iraq, the warships would fairs mandarins were also generally problem of continuing to lead once the likely escort ships farther north, supportive of leading TF151. They saw U.S. invasion of Iraq had begun. closer to Iraq.6 it as a demonstration of tangible sup- Predictably, officials in the The scene had been set, publicly, port for the U.S. in the region and ar- South Tower [i.e., the military leaders for controversy. 8 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 The South Tower legally become a belligerent or a party saw Canada’s leadership of TF151 as Gets Uncomfortable to the conflict. “The Judge Advocate a way to mitigate Washington’s inevi- It wasn’t until the end of February that General [the chief military lawyer] table displeasure at Canada’s [state- the military leadership fully realized was not very popular with the CDS ment of] refusal to participate in Op- where the prime minister was going in [Henault] when he gave these legal eration Iraqi Freedom. 8 his thinking about Iraq. When they did, opinions,” reflected McCallum. But the military leadership Henault and Maddison shifted gears. Graham went further: disagreed. What Foreign Affairs pro- They told McCallum that Canada would “The tricky bit was we had some le- posed was not feasible militarily and have to pull out of the leadership of gal opinions intimating the fact that would be far too confusing operation- TF151, which it had just assumed, if if we were there and were doing in- ally, they argued. A Canadian officer Ottawa was not going to participate in terdiction work, that we were at war aboard a Canadian ship would be com- military operations against Iraq. with Iraq technically and legally, manding the ships of other nations, Henault has since confirmed this ad- even though we were saying politi- including an American ship, involved vice to McCallum, but for an entirely cally that we were not. This was very in a coalition that was at war when different reason: murky waters, there is no question Canada was not [openly and officially] 9 “Yes, I did recommend that we re- about that.” part of that coalition. To the military, sign the leadership of TF151.... We Since Iraq interdiction work was likely such a position was untenable and, had provided a very high level of to be part of the mandate of the naval frankly, unimaginable. The senior mili- support for naval operations. We task force, it seemed clear to officials tary leadership also expected that needed to give the Navy time to re- in Defence that Canada would have to Canada would be asked to leave constitute. The Navy needed a break bow out. Or perhaps the Americans [CENTCOM war planning HQ in] Qatar in operational tempo.”7 would save Canada the embarrassment once active coalition operational plan- But at this point the navy had only been and reassign the command of TF151 ning began, if Ottawa did not officially involved in TF151 for a matter of days. to a nation that was [openly and offi- support the Iraq War. This would have Lawyers were brought in to cially] part of the coalition. made leading TF151 impossible. help navigate these treacherous waters. Foreign Affairs thought differ- U.S. war against Iraq and to International lawyers in both the De- ently on this issue from [the Depart- make a military contribution to the war partment of National Defence and in ment of] Defence. The diplomats were effort. Initially, before Chrétien had Foreign Affairs believed that if TF151 now deeply concerned about Canada- made his decision on Iraq, Canada’s were protecting ships involved in the U.S. relations in the wake of the im- generals and admirals probably thought invasion of Iraq, then Canada might pending [supposed] “No” on Iraq. They that taking on TF151 would “help” the “Naval commitment was most valued contribution Canada could make” hen-Defence Minister John McCallum John McCallum, said that in February 2003, Air Force Minister of Defence General , then Canada’s (June 26, 2002 – Dec. 11, 2003) T Chief of Defence Staff, and his deputy, Vice “After McCallum had Admiral Greg Maddison, the former head of the navy “wanted to be more heavily engaged one or two more dis- [in Iraq] than I wanted them to be engaged. cussions with Hen- They were implicitly assuming we would be ault and Maddison, going with the Americans.” it became apparent Henault stated that the U.S. was ready that TF151 would be to begin military action against Iraq in one de facto, if not de month. He claimed that a Canadian naval con- jure, ‘double-hatted.’ tribution, perhaps consisting of both frigates It would support OEF and destroyers, would be welcome in Wash- [Operation Enduring ington. If Canada sent ships, it could support Freedom, i.e., the both Operation Enduring Freedom and Op- Afghan War] but eration Iraqi Freedom [the Afghan and Iraq Wars]—what the military calls a ‘double- would also probably hatted task force.’ The general and his deputy provide some as yet felt that a naval commitment was the most V.Adm. Greg Lt.Gen. undefined support to valued contribution that Canada could make. Maddison, Ray Henault, Op. Iraqi Freedom then-Dep. Chief then-Chief of [i.e., the Iraq war].” Source: Excerpt, “Walking the Tightrope,” The of Defence Staff Defence Staff Unexpected War: Canada in Kandahar, 2007. November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 9 “The tricky bit was we had some legal opinions intimating the fact that if we were Clarity from the Allies, there and were doing interdiction work [with Contortions in Canada TF151 in the Persian Gulf], that The Dutch, New Zealanders, we were at war with Iraq technically and French then clarified their and legally, even though we were positions. They ordered their naval commanders not to al- saying politically that we were not.not.” low their ships in TF151 to operate in the Persian Gulf, Bill Graham, Foreign Affairs, so as not to support the war. January 15, 2002 - July 19, 2004 They were also instructed not to engage with Iraqi vessels or politicians make the “right” decision. form their important mission against vessels under an Iraqi flag. But Cana- Surely Canada could not continue to terrorism.” That was the distinction. da’s naval commanders were not as lead this task force and not be part of Canada would remain leader of TF151 lucky. In an effort to satisfy Ottawa’s the Iraq coalition. And surely Canada but [supposedly] wear only one hat— political objectives in Washington, would not pull its navy out of the task the OEF [Afghan] hat—even though they now found themselves in extraor- force days after it had assumed com- the military argued that separating the dinarily difficult circumstances. mand. There was a black and white two [i.e., separating the Iraq and Afghan The U.S. and other countries choice to be made. Military leaders war functions of TF151] would prove clearly saw the task force as doubled- hoped to create the enabling conditions almost impossible operationally. hatted, serving both OEF [the Afghan for the outcome they wanted. They did Now that the policy with re- and Iraq wars]. As a result, some coun- not, however, consider the domestic spect to TF151 was clear, NDHQ tries chose to work under one hat only, political factors that weighed so heav- turned its attention to the challenging and restricted their ships’ operations ily with Chrétien. issues of implementation. Commo- geographically to ensure that they pro- Officials in Foreign Affairs, dore Girouard was instructed that the vided no direct support to the [Iraq] unlike their colleagues in the South Canadian navy was not to engage in war. Since Canada had command of the Tower, wanted it both ways. They did activities associated with the invasion task force, it had no such luxury. not want Canada to support the Iraq War of Iraq. But the general instruction According to the official record, without another UN resolution, which could not address myriad political and the Canadian navy somehow managed they considered highly unlikely. Yet operational issues. Some Iraqis would the seemingly impossible. It ran and they wanted Canada’s military to re- flee once combat began. If a Canadian participated in a double-hatted naval main in the region to help manage the ship interdicted them, would they be task force but [supposedly] did not get Ottawa-Washington relationship. returned to Canada or handed over to involved in command or operational See arti- The prime minister eventually the Americans? Detainees from Iraq responsibilities related to one of these cle on resolved the internal debate about would have no legal status in Canada hats. A very blurred line existed be- p.19.) Canada’s role in TF151. While because Ottawa was officially not sup- tween OEF and OIF [i.e., the Afghan Chrétien understood the difficulties, porting the Iraq War. And were the and Iraq wars], a blurriness that the U.S. he did not want Canada to be seen to Canadian navy to hand over an Iraqi probably deliberately encouraged. be leaving the Persian Gulf at that national to the U.S., Canada would ap- critical time. Chrétien was a pragma- pear to be—and legally might well References tist, and he wanted deft management be—supporting the [Iraq] war. There 1. Interview, Ray Henault, March 19, 2007. of the highly charged issue of the role were no clear answers to those kinds 2. Interview, Bill Graham, January 30, 2007. of Canada’s navy in the region. Ottawa of questions. (See article on p.19.) 3. Interview, John Manley, Nov. 17, 2006. would need to put a little water in its These tortured scenarios illus- 4. Paul Koring and Daniel Leblanc, “Cana- wine, take some political risks at trated Canada’s extraordinarily awk- dian will Run Persian Gulf Naval Task home, and move forward with a some- ward position once it had decided to Force,” Globe & Mail, Feb. 11, 2003, p.Al. what less-than-coherent policy on Iraq. retain command of TF151. The con- 5. Ibid. In Ottawa, there was great angst tradictions were obvious and the 6. Daniel Leblanc, “Navy Will Pitch in If War Starts in Iraq,” The Globe and Mail, among the military leadership that the wound was self-inflicted. At times the February 14, 2003, p. A10. prime minister’s [ostensible] opposi- contortions of military leaders ap- 7. Interview, Ray Henault, Op. cit tion to the Iraq invasion made it im- proached the comic. In April, after the 8. Interview, John McCallum, Feb. 7, 2007. possible for Canada to retain the lead- war had started, Girouard was forced 9. Interview, Bill Graham, Op. cit. ership of TF151. But the prime min- to make a bizarre public statement: 10. Cited by Allan Thompson, “Sailors Would ister thought otherwise. His statement “There’s no doubt in my mind that Not Hand Over Iraqis,” Toronto Star, in the House of Commons indirectly if Saddam Hussein himself ... was April 9, 2003, p. A12. revealed his predisposition: “We have found in a vessel that we stumbled ships in the area as part of our partici- upon for some reason, we would not Source: Excerpts, “Half Pregnant,” pation in the struggle against terror- knowingly let a member of that The Unexpected War: Canada in ism. Our ships will continue to per- level of the regime go.”10 Kandahar, Viking Canada, 2007. 10 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 Canada Captured and Handed over Iraqis to U.S. Forces By Kelly Toughill, Director, School of “Canadian sailors are actively “We are in the war anyway, Journalism, University of King’s Col- hunting Iraqis at sea that’s the reality.” lege, Halifax. on behalf of the U.S.” Dan Middlemiss, anadian sailors are actively Kelly Toughill, journalist Dalhousie University hunting Iraqis at sea on behalf Cof the U.S., even though Canada has refused to join the war. A U.S. official confirmed that the duty of Canadian ships deployed in a two-year-old coalition against ter- rorism includes screening travellers in the Persian Gulf for Iraqi military of- ficials and government leaders. “Anyone connected with the Iraqi regime is on the list,” U.S. Air Force Lt.-Col. Martin Compton said yesterday [April 1, 2003]. The media relations officer at Canadian sailers boarded hundreds of ships in the Persian Gulf Central Command in Tampa explained taking aside “anyone who looks suspicious.” Suspects’ names and that Canadian sailors who board ships in the Persian Gulf run passengers’ photos were “transmitted to a central [U.S.] database” of alleged identities through a U.S.-controlled terrorists and Iraqi officials. “If they have a hit, those people are database that includes Al Qaeda terror- turned over to our coalition partners,” said Maj. ists and Iraqi officials. Richard Saint-Louis. Some were sent to a U.S. prison in Bagram, If any are found, they are to be Afghanistan, where some detainees had been tortured to death. turned over to U.S. authorities. That contradicts a specific A key role of the Canadian yesterday. “You would have to ask the promise Prime Minister Jean Chré- ships is to monitor small boats that Americans about that.” tien made that Canadian ships commit- pass through the busy waters and look Compton said the database also ted to the war on terrorism wouldn’t for terrorists trying to escape Afghani- includes Iraqi war criminals and any- be drawn into the war in Iraq. stan or Pakistan. Canadian sailors have one the U.S. thinks should be arrested “The only authorization they boarded hundreds of vessels. in connection with the war in Iraq. have is to work on the problem of Af- When they board, they sort When asked if Canadian sailors, ghanistan and terrorism,” Chrétien said through passengers and take aside any- would be expected to detain Ali Hassan March 18 when asked about the role one who looks suspicious. Pictures of al-Majid, a notorious Iraqi general of Canadian frigates now patrolling the suspects are transmitted to a central sought by U.S. forces, Compton said Persian Gulf. “They are not author- database to determine if they are wanted. of course. “If you consider the regime, ized to work on the problem of Iraq.” “If they have a hit, then those his name is second or third or fourth.” Canada’s decision to stay out of people are turned over to our coalition Dan Middlemiss, who teaches the conflict is not as simple as it partners,” said Canadian Army Maj. Ri- defence and foreign policy at Dal- seemed. Canada was one of the first chard Saint-Louis, stationed at U.S. housie University, said Canada’s role countries to join the war on terrorism Central Command in Tampa, Florida. in the Persian Gulf is inconsistent with after September 11 and has three ships Neither Maj. Saint-Louis nor its neutrality, but also not surprising. patrolling the Persian Gulf. Joining the Compton had statistics on how many “We are in the war anyway, that’s the frigates HMCS Montreal and Winni- suspected terrorists were discovered reality,” Middlemiss said. peg is the destroyer HMCS Iroquois. by Canadians. It is known that Canadi- “Canada is playing an almost The Winnipeg and Montreal are ans turned over two suspects to U.S. identical role to the one it played in about to head home, while the frigates authorities last July. They were taken the first Gulf war.” Middlemiss HMCS Fredericton and Regina are en to Bagram air base in Afghanistan, pointed out that Canadian ships are route to the region to replace them. where the U.S. runs a detention centre. patrolling most of the Persian Gulf, The Iroquois will take over Maj. Saint-Louis said Canadian almost to the border of Kuwait. from the Montreal as the centre of op- forces have no control over or spe- erations for Cdre. Roger Girouard, cific knowledge about who is included Source: “Canadians help U.S. hunt in who is overseeing a multinational task in the U.S. database, or how that coun- Gulf,” Toronto Star, April 2, 2003. force of about 12 ships from the U.S, try determines who should be arrested. www.iraqwararchive.org/data/apr02/canada UK, France, Italy and other nations. “We just don’t know,” he said /star01.pdf November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 11 12 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 13 Canada’s General Walt Natynczyk led 35000 troops in Iraq By Richard Sanders, coordinator, Coa- nation’s delusory peacekeeping mi- lition to Oppose the Arms Trade. rage by imagining that Natynczyk’s key role in Iraq had somehow escaped uring his three decades of their government’s attention, just as it mili-tary service, Canada’s had escaped their own. Let’s dispel any D new Chief of Defence— such musings. On January 24, 2006, Lt.Gen Walter Natynczyk—has led Canada’s Governor General bestowed soldiers in Bosnia, , Natynczyk with a Meritorious Service and East Timor.1 However, Natyn- Cross. This decoration—which recog- czyk’s fighting career reached a cre- nizes “individuals for their outstand- scendo in 2004, during his year-long ing professionalism and for bringing stint in . honour to the Canadian Forces”—is During that year, while embed- awarded to those “whose specific ded in the highest levels of command achievements have brought honour to of Multi-National Corps-Iraq (MNC- the Canadian Forces and to Canada.”5 I), Natynczyk led 35,000 troops fight- What “specific achievements” ing throughout Iraq. Working first as in Natynczyk’s illustrious career war- its Deputy Director of Strategy, Policy ranted this prestigious “cross”? The and Plans and then as its Deputy Com- government’s statement was clear. manding General,2 he helped MNC-I Natynczyk was being recognized fulfil its mission to conduct: “for his outstanding leadership and “offensive operations to defeat re- professionalism while deployed as maining non-compliant forces and Deputy Commanding General of neutralize destabilizing influences the Multi-National Corps during in Iraq….”3 Operation Iraqi Freedom. In short, the MNF-I was the Lt. Gen. Walter Natynczyk, From January 2004 to January U.S.-led coalition fighting the Iraq like two other Canadian 2005, Major General Natynczyk led War. As of January 1, 2010, the MNF- Generals, served as the Corps’ 10 separate brigades, I officially changed its name to United Deputy Commander of consisting of more than 35,000 sol- States Forces-Iraq. Multi-National Corps-Iraq diers stationed throughout the Iraq Natynczyk’s leadership in the Theater of Operations. He also Iraq war contradicts one of our coun- the U.S.-led coalition oversaw planning and execution of try’s most popular misconceptions: fighting the Iraq War. all Corps level combat support and that the Liberal governments of Jean combat service support operations. Chrétien and Paul Martin defiantly “His pivotal role in the develop- stood up to George Bush by refusing ment of numerous plans and opera- to participate in the U.S.-led invasion tions resulted in a tremendous con- and occupation of Iraq. tribution by the Multi-National This misbelief is a corollary of Corps to Operation Iraqi Freedom, the overarching national myth that and has brought great credit to the Canada is a global force for peace. One Canadian Forces and to Canada.”6 way to debunk this cultural chimera is to expose the discomfiting reality that Resolving the Contradictions Canada has actively aided and abetted How can Canadians reconcile Natyn- the Iraq war since its very inception. czyk’s incontrovertible role in Iraq, Natynczyk—the poster boy for with the mythic fantasy that Canada Canada’s Armed Forces—exemplifies never even joined the Iraq war? the incongruity between our peaceful Based in , Texas, III Natynczyk tried to explain this self-image and the reality of Canada Corps envisions itself as the “premier contradiction between public percep- as a warmonger in Iraq. Corps in the Army” with warfighters tion and reality during an interview in After attending the prestigious “prepared for full spectrum operations Iraq with Esprit de Corps magazine’s U.S. Army War College, Natynczyk in support of Joint, Combined and Scott Taylor. When asked “how Canada was—like his predecessor, Chief of Interagency missions” that are “offen- could oppose the war yet deploy a sen- Defence —honoured sive in nature.”4 ior officer,” Natynczyk responded: when appointed to become the Deputy Reluctant to believe that “The Canadian government approved Commanding General of the U.S. Ar- Canada has helped lead the Iraq war, my deployment, so from my per- my’s III Corps. Canadians might strain to preserve the spective there was no controversy. 14 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 The instructions to me were clear: ‘move out’—and as a soldier I com- plied.... I take orders from the Canadian government. The Canadian govern- ment sent me to Fort Hood, bottom line, to show in a tangible way the close affiliation between the U.S. and Canada. I answer to the [Canadian] deputy chief of defence staff and through him to the chief of defence staff.... In this environment [i.e., in Statement by the Office of Governor General Michaëlle Jean Iraq], I’m under the operational con- Statement by the Office of Governor General Michaëlle Jean trol of the III Corps commander.”7 “From Jan. 2004 to Jan. 2005, Major General So, while asserting: “I take or- Natynczyk led the Corps’ 10 separate brigades, ders from the Canadian government,” consisting of more than 35,000 soldiers Natynczyk avowed unequivocally that “I’m under the operational control of stationed throughout the Iraq Theater of the [U.S. Army’s] III Corps com- Operations. He also oversaw planning and mander.” Natynczyk’s case thus illus- execution of all Corps level combat support trates that any perceived conflict be- and combat service support operations. tween the Canadian and U.S. militaries “His pivotal role in the development of over Iraq is mere political illusion. Canada’s government com- numerous plans and operations resulted in a manded Natynczyk to take his march- tremendous contribution by the Multi-National ing orders from the U.S. Then, while Corps to Operation Iraqi Freedom, and has under U.S. “operational” control, brought great credit to the Canadian Forces and to Canada.” Natynczyk commanded tens of thou- Source: Governor General announces awarding of Meritorious Service Decorations, sands of American troops in Iraq. January 24, 2006. www.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=4653 This belies the fact that there is no ideological contradiction be- Gen. (ret.) Gordon O’Connor tween the two countries’ basic mili- MP, Carleton-Mississippi Mills, ON tary policies in Iraq. As Natynczyk said, the Canadian government used him in Iraq “to show in a tangible way the close affiliation between the U.S. and Canada.” This, he explained, was the “bottom line.”

References 1. Senior Officer Biography www.forces.gc.ca/dsa/app_bio/engraph/ FSeniorOfficerBiographyView_e.asp?Sect Choice=1&mAction=View&mBiographyID=307 2. Ibid. 3. Multi-National Corps - Iraq On February 8, 2005, retired General Gordon O’Connor (who became the new www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/ Conservative government’s first Minister of National Defence, 2006-2007), dod/mnc-i.htm spoke out against the Liberal government’s hypocrisy on Canada in the Iraq War: 4. III Corps Vision & Mission “The Prime Minister said that his government refused to send pao.hood.army.mil/docs/3rdCorps VisionMission.mht Canadian troops to Iraq two years ago and that decision stands. 5. Governor General announces awarding This, of course, is not in concert with the facts. Canada had and of Meritorious Service Decorations, January 24, 2006. has troops serving in Iraq. Is the government embarrassed by www.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e their presence? Is that why it says one thing and does an- &DocID=4653 6. Ibid. other?... The Canadian Forces had and have members serving 7. “This Is a Dangerous Theatre,” with allies in Iraq. Some of these members are operating at the Maclean’s, March 8, 2004. highest level of command.” (Emphasis added.) www.espritdecorps.ca/new_page_ 181.htm Source: Hansard, House of Commons, February 8, 2005. November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 15 Canada’s ‘Fiercely Proud’ Lt.Gen. Devlin in Iraq, 2006-08 While a Major General, Peter Devlin received the U.S. Legion of Merit medal for his “exceptionally meritorious conduct” as Deputy Commander of MultiNational Forces in Iraq.

Over the decades, the U.S. has awarded this prestigious medal to dozens of military leaders, from many countries, including Adolf Heusinger, who had been the Nazi Army’s Chief of General Staff. Other notable recipients include Kings of Britain, Greece, Romania, Saudi Arabia and Thailand, as well as Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi—the Shah of Iran.

By Richard Sanders, coordinator, Coalition to Oppose the Devlin was deployed to Iraq as part of his three year Arms Trade. stint as Deputy Commander of the U.S. Army’s 3rd (III) Corps and the Fort Hood military base in Texas between n 2008, when Peter Devlin was a Canadian Major Gen- 2005 and 2008. As the Fort Hood Sentinel explained eral, he received the U.S. Legion of Merit medal for “His time here included a 15-month deployment to Iraq Ihis command of multinational forces fighting in Iraq.1 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08 where he This military decoration is awarded by the U.S. Department saw a dramatic change in the war-torn nation. ‘It was a of Defence for “exceptionally meritorious conduct in the professional response by the U.S. military,’ Devlin said. performance of outstanding services and achievements.”2 He added the deployment was among his most cherished Devlin received this prestigious medal for executing com- memories from his time at Fort Hood.”5 mand responsibilities while posted with the U.S. Army to Devlin, whose job involved overseeing issues relat- Iraq for 15 months between December 14, 2006 and 2008.3 ing to the military coalition fighting in Iraq, said “there are In March 2007, while in Iraq, Devlin wrote to the great strengths that come from multinationality. It brings University of Western Ontario alumni magazine, saying: different cultures, different equipment, different ap- “Greetings from Iraq…. I have been in Iraq for almost proaches, greater legitimacy to the effort here in Iraq.”6 three months…and I occupy the Deputy Commanding Besides advocating a “greater legitimacy” for the General position for Multi-National Corps Iraq. It is very war by having different nations involved in the U.S.-led oc- rewarding and I am mainly responsible for coalition op- cupation, Devlin’s tour included visiting various military erations and Iraqi infrastructure.... It is an honour to be contingents fighting in Iraq. For instance, in October 2007, serving with the Coalition Forces in Iraq and I am fiercely he spent some time embedded with an Estonian infantry proud to be wearing a Canadian flag.”4 (Emphasis added.) platoon patrolling Baghdad streets.7 This platoon is “bur-

General Devlin toured with troops like this Estonian infantry brigade in Iraq in 2007..

Devlin 16 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 ied within” an American battalion.8 inventive statements to the media. For instance, in support Devlin was the fourth of five Canadian generals on of the annual “Army Run” this September in Ottawa, Devlin “exchange” with the U.S. Army to hold this top command dug deep into his impressive vault of metaphors to tell CTV position of 3rd Corps and Fort Hood.9 In 2008, when re- News that “Canadians are fiercely proud of what we on be- placed by the current deputy commander at Fort Hood, fel- half of them accomplish around the world.”17 low Canadian Brig. Gen. Peter Atkinson, “Devlin compli- Most Canadians are certainly proud—though it is mented the American soldiers he worked with at Fort Hood, not known how “fiercely”—of the prevailing myth that calling them smart, disciplined and strong. He wore the III Canada refused to take any part in the U.S.-led Iraq War. It Corps insignia with ‘fierce pride,’ he said.”10 And, as he is, however, not certain exactly where the general public told another Texan reporter, Fort Hood “made us feel a part would direct their “fierceness” if only they knew that the of the family… We wish we were still there. Be fiercely current chief of Canada’s army had commanded troops in proud of that strong sense of community.”11 the Iraq war and received a U.S. military medal for that work. Upon completing his three years in the Lone Star State as a leading officer in the U.S. Army, Devlin became References Deputy Commander of Canadian Expeditionary Force Com- 1. Senior Officer Biography, Chief Military Personnel mand, which is responsible for all Canadian military mis- www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dsa-dns/sa-ns/ab/sobv-vbos-eng.asp? sions abroad, except so-called “Special Operations.”12 mAction=View&mBiographyID=22 2. Legion of Merit In June 2010, Devlin was promoted to Lt. Gen. and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_of_Merit made Chief of the Land Staff. During “Change of Com- 3. David Pugliese, “Canada to get new army boss,” Windsor Star, March 24, 2010. 4. “Western alumnus is Deputy Commanding Gen- eral in Iraq,” Western Alumni Gazette, Spring 2007. p.8. communications.uwo.ca/alumni/images/wag_spring _07_e.pdf 5. Heather Graham, “Former III Corps DCG tapped to lead Canadian Army,” Fort Hood Sentinel, April 29, 2010. www.forthoodsentinel.com/eedition/20100429/ Page%20A03.pdf 6. Joshua Partlow, “List of ‘Willing’ U.S. Allies Shrinks Steadily in Iraq,” Washington Post, De- cember 8, 2007. www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/ 2007/12/07/AR2007120702585.html 7. “Kanada kindral patrullis koos Eesti jalaväerühmaga Iraagis,” (trans.: Canadian Gen- eral patrols with Estonian infantry platoon in Iraq) October 21, 2007. www.mil.ee/?id=2184 Forty nine photos can be seen here: (October 2007) Peter Devlin, who is now the Commander of www.mil.ee/~fotek/gallery/view_album.php?set_ albumName=album363 Canada’s Army, was patrolling the streets in Baghdad with 8. Partlow, Op. cit. Estonian Infantry Battalion Commander, Lt. Kaido Kivistik. 9. Graham, Op. cit. 10.“Fort Hood welcomes new Canadian deputy mand” ceremonies he told predecessor, Lt.-Gen. Andrew commander,” Killeen Daily Herald, July 16, 2008. Leslie, “you make all of us fiercely proud with your devo- www.kdhnews.com/news/story.aspx? s=26592 tion and your commitment to our great nation.”13 11. Graham. Op. cit. Now, as chief of Canada’s Army, Devlin says the “ex- 12. Senior Officer Biography. Op. cit. 13. CLS Change of Command, June 21, 2010. perience of combat” has “reinvigorated” our troops. With www.army.forces.gc.ca/land-terre/news-nouvelles/transcription- his usual creative flare, he notes that “we need to be fiercely eng.asp?id=4508 14 proud of what we have accomplished.” 14. Ian Elliot, “Withdrawal from Afghanistan extremely costly,” Whig This was not the first time that Devlin expressed Standard, June 24, 2010. such deeply-felt sentiments for Canadian troops fighting www.kingstonwhigstandard.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2637878 the Afghan war. In 2004, while commander of the Kabul 15. Brigadier-General Peter Devlin, An End-Tour Update from Com- Multinational Brigade (KMNB), Devlin displayed his dis- mander KMNB - OP ATHENA RO0, The Bulletin, June 2004. armyapp.dnd.ca/allc-clra/Downloads/bulletin/TheBulletin Vol10No2 tinctive parlance by saying “I am fiercely proud of the Ca- Eng.pdf 15 nadian units deployed as part of KMNB.” Upon leaving 16. New Que. commander of multinational brigade to keep Afghan that post, with his usual panache, “his voice strained with partnerships strong, June 2004. emotion,” Devlin proclaimed: “I leave fiercely proud of www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=47457 the accomplishments of all the soldiers in the brigade.”16 17. “Army Run attracts record 14,000 for charity,” Sept. 17, 2010. Devlin continues to promote Canada’s army with ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100917/OTT_armyrun_ 100917/20100917 November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 17 Canada’s Top Former-Commando was Deputy Commander of the Iraq War, throughout 2008 Colonel Buckner displayed great faith in Matern’s ability to fulfil his important responsibilities in Iraq saying that the Canadian Brigadier-General’s “special operations experience, in addition to his other service in the army, fits in well with the U.S. unit. ‘He comes in with a unique set of skills.... We’re the 18th Airborne Corps, we’re the home of the airborne and the special operating forces, so he fits in very nicely to this warrior ethos we have here. He’s going to do a great job.”6 This perception that Matern had the right stuff to fit in “very nicely” to the U.S. Airborne’s “warrior ethos,” stemmed from his experience with Canada’s so-called “elite commandos.” Prior to becoming a Brigadier-Gen- eral, moving to the U.S. and joining the war in Iraq, Matern was Deputy Commander of the “Canadian Special Opera- tions Forces Command” (CSOFCOM),7 in Ottawa. Before that he commanded Joint Task Force 2, which is CSOFCOM’s best-known secret unit. And, in August 2006, Matern was the acting commander of the Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR), another unit within CSOFCOM. When CSOR first appeared, Matern was quoted as saying: “‘JTF2 is a scalpel; what you have here is more of a hammer,’ said Matern, speaking in Petawawa. ‘Sometimes you need the hammer to clear the way for the scalpel.’”8 Brig. Gen. Nicolas E. Matern Matern’s training in counterinsurgency warfighting By Richard Sanders, coordinator, Coalition to Oppose the also included overseas missions. He was, for instance, “a Arms Trade. seasoned special operations officer who served with Ca- nadian Special Forces in Afghanistan.9 Upon returning to the U.S. from Iraq in January add text n January 2008, Brigadier-General Nicolas Matern— former commanding officer of Canada’s Joint Task 2009, Matern resumed the posting he had begun in June quote, IForce Two “counter-terrorism” commando unit—be- 2007 as Deputy Commanding General of Operations for shorten gan a year-long tour with the U.S. Army in Iraq. Matern the 18th Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, in North Caro- 10 photo held a senior leadership position in the Iraq War. He was lina. Matern described his role in the Iraq war as Deputy Commanding General, Coalition and Infrastructure “mindboggling, interesting and rewarding.” He also claimed for Multi-National Corps–Iraq (MNC-I).1 to have “learned a lot from the experience about orchestra- 11 While deployed in Iraq, Matern reported directly to tion of staff and staff management.” Lieutenant-General Lloyd Austin III, the U.S. general who By January 2010, during the extremely-militarized led the 170,000-strong MNC-I, “the tactical unit responsi- response to the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, General ble for command and control of operations throughout Matern was acting as the “coordinator of humanitarian as- 12 Iraq.”2 In January 2010, the MNF-I changed its name to sistance with the U.S.-run Joint Task Force-Haiti.” Cana- U.S. Forces-Iraq. dian antiwar researcher Anthony Fenton cites a corporate While stationed in Iraq throughout 2008, Matern’s news article claiming that the “lessons learned” by Ft. Bragg responsibilities included “helping U.S. forces there and airborne units—when “dealing with counterinsurgencies in preparing to co-ordinate coalition units.”3 Iraq and Afghanistan”—were applied to “the job of distrib- 13 U.S. Colonel Bill Buckner, spokesman for the 18th uting food and water and providing medical help’” in Haiti. Airborne Corps said this part of Matern’s “battlefield cir- It seems more likely that the heavy-handed militarization culation will be going and visiting” soldiers from various of aid—epitomized by using war-hardened counterinsur- countries based in Iraq “and making sure they’re getting gency commandos as supposed agents of development the things they need, the support they need and making sure aid—was deemed necessary because of fears that Haitians they are integrated into our [U.S.] operations.”4 The U.S. might rise up in a revolt against long-standing occupation, Colonel also revealed that Canada’s General Matern “is fully injustice and exploitation. integrated into everything we do.... He attends all of our After Matern “bid farewell” to his deputy command planning sessions, our plans and operations briefings, all responsibilities at Fort Bragg in July 2010, he took up a of our commander’s staff meetings.”5 new post as Chief of Staff for Operations for Canadian 18 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 Forces Expeditionary Command (CEFCOM),14 which is “re- sponsible for planning and conducting all CF operations outside North America, except those conducted by Cana- dian Special Operations Forces Command.”15 While in the National Security Studies Programme at the Canadian Forces College in 2006. At that time, when Matern was a Colonel, he wrote a major paper called “Con- tinental defence integration divide: can it be bridged?” In it, he “examines the main impediments” that “hamper any meaningful advancement in…continental defence integra- tion.“ He also “explores opportunities” and concludes that “moving to an enhanced state of continental defence inte- gration would likely require more political impetus if not another tragic event the likes of 9/11.”16 During an election debate on March 11, 2008, Having served Canada as a top commander in the Liberal Foreign Affairs critic Bob Rae repeatedly U.S.-led war in Iraq, Brigadier-General Matern may now and adamantly denied Chris Tindale’s assertion be using his new position as CEFCOM’s Chief of Staff, to that Canada had senior military officers in Iraq. push towards the “continental-defence-integration” ideal that he explored as a Colonel. Bob Rae Seriously Uninformed References 1. Brig.-Gen. Nicolas E.Matern, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center about Canadian Commanders usacac.army.mil/CAC2/BCKS/AOKM2009/bio/Matern_Nicolas_BG_ Bio.pdf serving in the Iraq War 2. Fred W. Baker III, “Reins to Change Hands at Multinational By Chris Tindale, Green Party activist and candidate. Corps Iraq,” American Forces Press Service, February 13, 2008. www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48958 hile answering a question at the debate, I men- 3. “Canadian commander takes a leading roll (sic) in Iraq,” Canwest, tioned that there are currently Canadian military January 18, 2008. officers serving in Iraq as part of the American www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=66e345c2-f3e1-448b-9c95- W 93d01ba822fe&p=1 command. Bob Rae interrupted me to object adamantly, 4. Ibid. almost angrily. “No there aren’t!” 5. “Canadian commander...,” Op. cit. Yes, I said, there are. “No there aren’t,” Mr. Rae said 6. “Ex-JTF2 commander takes leading role in Iraq,” Ottawa Citi- again: “They’re part of our military exchange program,” I zen, January 18, 2008. explained. Strangely, Mr. Rae demanded that I tell him where 7. “Senior promotions, appointments 2007,” Canadian Forces Per- in Iraq our officers were stationed, as if my inability to do sonnel Newsletter, April 25, 2007. so would prove they weren’t there. [Rae asked this six times www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/pub/cfp-bpf/doc/4-07-eng.pdf 8. “Graduates ready to form new Canadian commando regiment,” in as many seconds.] CanWest, August 14, 2006. At that point, seeing no immediate resolution to our www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=2d56682f-a303- disagreement, I moved on with the rest of my answer. I’m 438e-b019-82121772f738&k=77497 quite taken aback that Mr. Rae could have been so misin- 9. “Canadian commander takes a leading roll (sic) in Iraq,” formed about our military’s exchange program with the U.S. CanWest, January 18, 2008. and our direct involvement in the war in Iraq. It’s made worse www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=66e345c2-f3e1-448b-9c95- 93d01ba822fe&p=1 by the fact that Mr. Rae isn’t just any Liberal candidate: 10. “Brigadier-General Nicolas E. Matern,” Op. cit. he’s the party’s foreign affairs critic. 11. Tina Ray, “Canadian general bids adieu to Fort Bragg,” On January 19, 2008, during this election cam- Paraglide, July 1, 2010. paign, Canwest News Service reported that Canadian paraglideonline.net/070110_news1.html. Forces Brig.-Gen. Nicolas Matern had “recently arrived in 12. “Sanitation crisis adds to Haiti’s woes,” Los Angeles Times, Janu- Baghdad” to take “a leading roll [sic] in Iraq.” ary 30, 2010. Canadian officers have been serving in Iraq since at latimesblogs.latimes.com/laplaza/2010/01/ 13. Jim Michaels, “Haiti aid mission uses lessons of war,’ USA To- least 2003 as discussed in both the House of Commons day, January 18, 2010, cited by Anthony Fenton, “Canadian Iraq and the mainstream media. war vet, former JTF2 Commander reportedly coordinates U.S. How is it possible that the Liberal foreign affairs ‘military humanism’ effort in Haiti,” Web of Democracy, Janu- critic was not only unaware of these basic facts, but was so ary 31, 2010. sure of the opposite that he forcefully interrupted to con- www.webofdemocracy.org/canadian-iraq-war-vet-forme.html tradict me, not once, but repeatedly? This raises serious 14. Ray, Op. cit. questions regarding his knowledge of his own portfolio. 15. The CEFCOM mission statement www.comfec.forces.gc.ca/pa-ap/about-notre/index-eng.asp Source: “Rae Seriously Uninformed Regarding Iraq,” 16. Col. NE Matern, “Continental defence integration divide: can it March 12, 2008. www.christindal.ca/tag/iraq/ be bridged?” Canadian Forces College, 2006. www.cfc.forces.gc.ca/papers/nssc/nssc8/matern.pdf See the video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhkVwOdjh3g November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 19 Using Canadian Airspace, and Refuelling in Newfoundland By Richard Sanders, coordinator, Coa- lition to Oppose the Arms Trade

U.S. aircraft transporting hundreds of thousands of troops and carrying weapons and other military hardware source? to and from the Iraq War, have had free unrestricted use of Canadian airspace. American soldiers and supplies bound for Iraq have also been welcomed at three public airports in Newfoundland. Although this use of Canadian airspace and facilities has been men- U.S. Air Force personnel pose in front of their tioned very briefly in the Canadian me- C-130 transport plane during a stopover at St. John’s airport dia, it has largely escaped national pub- lic scrutiny. In March 2003, a very military aircraft” and calls it a “popu- partnership with the City of St. short the Ottawa Citizen item noted: lar crew rest location for military air- John’s to develop the Airport’s “The war has brought millions of craft personnel from around the multi-purpose facility. Since the dollars’ worth of new business into world.”5 completion of this facility in 2006, the international airports at St. The airport’s value to the mili- larger and more military aircraft are John’s, Gander, and Stephenville, in tary cannot be underestimated: able to park and overnight in St. recent weeks, as the U.S. has used “[T]he airport’s strong history and John’s.”11 Newfoundland as a refuelling stop connection with “In recognition for military flights en route to the the military is still of the value of this Middle East.... Newfoundland has prevalent today. As new facility in ac- been a re-supply station for the U.S. the last stop in commodating large military for decades.”1 North America on military and cargo Here is some information the way overseas traffic” the munici- about military use of these three Ca- and the first stop pal government nadian airports that have continued to after crossing the “made a $1 million service U.S. military flights enroute to Atlantic, St. John’s contribution toward and from the Iraq War throughout the International Air- In 2006, when the construction” of entire invasion and occupation. port is strategi- speaking of “new infrastructure 12 cally positioned what he called in 2006.” (See photo) St. John’s for fuel stops and This infusion of crew rests.”6 “military tourism,” tax dollars—the Back in 2006, when the City of St. St. John’s then-Mayor, John’s poured $1 million dollars into The SJIAA has “Military Tourism subsidising the airport to encourage revealed that 1,465 Andy Wells, said: Partnership”—was military traffic, then-Mayor, Andy “military “It’s great business b’y.” deemed a “strategic Wells, called it “military tourism” and aircraft...refuelled at investment” to make said “It’s great business b’y.”2 And, as the airport in 2009 - a 20 per cent in- the airport “more viable” for “military 7 13 an article in the Toronto Star said crease over 2008.” Between 80 and aircraft.” “He’s got another term for it, too: ‘big, 90 percent of these military landings Although all civilian aircraft big bucks.’”3 at St. John’s are by the U.S. Air Force that use the airport pay “landing fees,” 8,9 Other ways to describe this [USAF]. The SJIAA also reports that the same is not true of warplanes. As might reasonably include “aiding and in 2009 there had been a “25% in- stated in the airport’s 2009 report, the abetting the business of war” or “com- crease in military aircraft landings “Airport Authority does not receive 10 14 plicity in crimes against humanity.” since 2006.” landing fees from military aircraft.” These however aren’t the terms When reporting these figures, The not-for-profit “Airport Au- you’ll hear used by the St. John’s In- and stating that the St. John’s airport thority” justifies this generous public ternational Airport Authority (SJIAA). is “an increasingly popular destination subsidisation of military flights by This not-for-profit business which has for military aircraft,” the SJIAA ac- stating that these stopovers help local been privately managing the facility knowledges the role of public funding businesses. For example, in 2005, since 1998, prefers to describe the air- from its “partner,” the City of St. “more than 28,000 hotel room nights port as a “destination of choice for John’s: were sold to military personnel in St. 15 servicing military aircraft.”4 It also “The number of landings... would John’s.” says the airport is “a technical stop for not have been possible without the In 2007, the SJIAA further ex- 20 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 source?

U.S. C-130 “Hercules“ transport s at the St. John’s airport

plained that each year “more than and the main supplier is Irving Avia- C-130s are, in fact, “the most 15,000 military personnel ...spend tion which provides “[s]pecialized han- popular type of military aircraft land- time at our Airport and in our City” and dling for military aircraft through Ca- ing in St. John’s” and the airport’s new spend money on “accommodation, en- nadian Air Reserve Forces.”18 De-icing Facility can “accommodate tertainment and transportation serv- Another airport service is de- up to eight” of them. This 45,000-sq- ices.”16 icing. The airport’s new De-icing Fa- metre, municipally-funded facility ac- Although the same could be cility allows “larger military aircraft commodates 15 planes and effectively said of the 1.2 million civilians using that previously could not be accom- doubles the number of parking space the airport annually,17 landing fees for modated. Such aircraft include C-17s available for large military aircraft.21 their aircraft are not waived. The and C-5s.”19 These U.S.-built military This, said the SJIAA, led to a “healthy SJIAA does not explain this double cargo planes are among the world’s increase in military aircraft traffic” in standard or why military planes receive biggest. Other large U.S. military 2007.22 this special discount. planes used to supply the Iraq War have But not everyone in St. John’s The big ticket item for military also landed in St. John’s, including C- is keen to spend their city taxes on in- warplanes landing in St. John’s is fuel 141 Starlifters20 and C-130 Hercules. creasing the airport’s ability to facili- Newfoundland Airports have always Served the Military St. John’s Stephenville he St. John’s International Airport began as a Royal Ca- t one time Stephenville was “the largest military airport Tnadian Air Force (RCAF) base called Torbay in 1941. Aof the United States Army Air Force outside of It was shared with the Britain’s Royal Air Force and the continental USA.”5 Known as the Ernest Harmon Air Force U.S. Army Air Corps until 1946.1 Torbay was then “trans- Base (AFB), it was operated by the U.S. military between ferred ...to the Canadian Department of Transport to oper- 1941 and 1966. There is also an abandoned U.S. Air Force ate as a civilian airport.” However, thanks to the Cold War, radar facility located nearby.6 the U.S. and RCAF continued to have a presence there until Although the massive, 11,000-foot runways at this it was reopened as a Canadian Air Force Base (AFB) called American AFB provided refueling stops for trans-atlantic “Station Torbay,” between 1953 and 1964.2 military flights, their main function was to service KC-97 In order to support its Air Force Base in St. John’s, Strato-tankers. These large U.S. military aircraft were based called Pepperrell AFB, the U.S. Air Force at Stephenville to refuel the Strategic Air Command’s “constructed two 25,000-square-foot aircraft hangars as nuclear bombers enroute to Cold War targets.7 well as a 36,000-square-foot machine shop and admin- istrative offices at the [Torbay] airfield.”3 References 1. Base Construction www.heritage.nf.ca/society/stephenville/construction.html Gander 2. About Stephenville ike the St. John’s airport, Gander has long been a ma- www.cyjt.com/aboutstephenville.html Ljor stopping point for military flights. In fact, within a 3. Pepperrell Air Force Base few years of its opening in 1938, RCAF Station Gander wapedia.mobi/en/Pepperrell_Air_Force _Base was “the main staging point for the movement of Allied 4. Stephenville International Airport aircraft to Europe during World War II.” As “an ideal war- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephenville _International_Airport time refueling and maintenance depot for bombers flying 5. A History of the Airport www.stjohnsairport.com/index/index.cfm?id=64& overseas,” it quickly became “the largest airport in the 6. Jenny Higgins, “Torbay” world.” Gander continued to grow during the Cold War with www.heritage.nf.ca/law/torbay_base.html the co-location of various Canadian Forces and NORAD 7. Gander International Airport website facilities there.4 www.ganderairport.com/history.htm November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 21 tate U.S.-led wars in Iraq or elsewhere. Take James MacLean, for instance. He’s a professor at the Memorial Uni- versity of Newfoundland and a mem- ber of St. John’s Campaign against War. He says local politicians and businesspeople “appear to have no re- spect for human life when there is a dollar to be made.” He also notes that “In criminal law, it’s an established principle that if you help someone commit a crime, you yourself are committing a crime. The same prin- ciple can be applied to war crimes and crimes against humanity.... The invasion of Iraq was illegal...and Gary Vey, CEO those who have helped make possi- Gander Airport ble this illegal war certainly share in responsibility for the many tens 2003 “was a strong year as military tensions of thousands of civilians American brought an extraordinary amount of international forces have massacred.”23 business to YQX [i.e., Gander airport]”

Gander port ground handling, says “Gander tra- nounced that “Military traffic was The 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq was a ditionally sees benefit from political down almost 20% over 2003, as armed financial boon for Gander. On March unrest or tragedies.” The airport, he conflict overseas stabilized.” On the 22 of that year, during the initial explains gets an “upswing in business” bright side though it went on to say “shock and awe” bombardment of from “the conflict in Iraq.”27 that, “Nonetheless, military traffic was Iraq—while bombs and cruise missiles And, as the GIAA’s Finance up over 2001-2002 levels.”30 pulverised Baghdad, killing untold Committee Report noted in 2003, According to evidence pre- numbers of innocent people—the there was “an operational improvement sented at a Senate Committee by President and CEO of Gander’s Inter- of $400,000” largely “attributable to Bettina Ford who was a Councillor for national Airport happily reported that increased revenue” from higher traf- the Gander “military community”: “In recent weeks, as the U.S. has fic volumes. “Global unrest and mili- “The significance of Gander Inter- used Newfoundland as a refueling tary conflict,” it stated, “had a profound national Airport supporting military stop for military flights en route to impact on traffic volumes for 2003” flights cannot be overstated. That the Middle East. ‘We’ve been get- and “[m]ilitary movements grew by support includes the landings of ting roughly 2 or 3 U.S. flights a 21%” over the previous year.28 some 1,100 military aircraft in day, with probably 1000 troops Further demonstrating that war 2004.”31 coming through each day.’”24 is a wonderful boon to the airport busi- Although over the succeeding Then, in 2004, Vey looked back ness, the GIAA’s report for the first years, military-related traffic flow at positively on the previous year, say- half of 2004 included the following Gander has seen some ups and downs, ing 2003 “was a strong year as mili- “highlights”: it continues to be a major source of tary tensions brought an extraordinary • “Military traffic increased 36% revenue for local businesses. amount of international business to over budgeted traffic. “Our traditional international re- YQX [Gander Airport].”25 Indeed, from • Cargo movements are down fuel-ing business has been fairly a strictly business point of view, the slightly over 2003, largely due to a good. Cargo movements are up 54% was great for the significant spike in movement last year-to-date over 2006 and military Gander airport, which saw 1350 mili- year attributed to charter freighters aircraft patronage has shown a 13% tary aircraft touchdown on its runways moving supplies for the Gulf War. growth.”32 that year. This was a 50% increase over However, cargo movements are up On its website, under the sub- 2001 and 2002 levels, when only 900 72% over budgeted levels. title “Welcoming the World’s Armed military landings took place. In 2003, • Total international movements Forces,” the GIAA proudly says that it Gander also saw an upsurge in civilian are down slightly over 2003 levels, “routinely welcomes a whole range of cargo planes from 300 to almost again attributed to commercial car- military aircraft from fighter jets to 500.26 Many of these flights were paid riers chartering military personnel military charters and Hercs.” [i.e., C- by the U.S. military to move troops, last year, but up 37% over budgeted 130 “Hercules” cargo/transport weapons, ammunition and other mili- totals.”29 planes]33 tary supplies to the Iraq warzone. In its annual report for 2004, And, as its 2008 report explains Dion Faulkner, manager for air- however, the GIAA regretfully an- “Patronage from military aircraft 22 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 C-130 cargo planes Stephenville, —workhorse of the U.S. Air Force— Newfoundland move troops, weapons and other equipment to and from the Iraq War, through Canadian airspace and airports.

remains a cornerstone of both the Stephenville craft” operated by the U.S. Air Force airport and Central Newfoundland Relatively little data is publicly avail- such as Boeing C-17 Globemaster IIIs 43 community. Including fuel sales, able on the Stephenville airport’s role and Lockheed C-5 Galaxies. These concessions, accommodations, in servicing U.S. military aircraft trav- transports frequently move troops and handling and related spending, mili- elling to and from Iraq. However, from material to the Iraq warzone. tary aircraft at Gander generate $25 what is known, this western-New- Like other Newfoundland air- 34 million in revenue annually.” foundland airport has been as involved ports, Stephenville has played host to But, like St. John’s, Gander in facilitating U.S. military air traffic private planes carrying U.S. troops and does not charge landing fees for mili- to Iraq as St. John’s and Gander. equipment across the Atlantic. Al- tary aircraft, “which account for about An Ottawa Citizen article dur- though publicly-available data on these 50 per cent of the airport’s traffic.” ing the initial 2003 invasion, listed flights is sparse, we know for exam- This translates into a loss to the GIAA Stephenville an airport that was being ple that a Boeing 757 operated by 35 of “more than $2 million a year.” used by the U.S. to refuel troop-car- Omni Air International, carrying “101 As GIAA chair, Donna Rideout, rying aircraft en route to the Iraq war.39 American military personnel and 11 has explained, the airport authority There is also anecdotal evi- crewmembers,” used the Stephenville 44 “continues to absorb the cost of for- dence to this effect. In the summer of airport in mid-January 2008. Omni eign state-owned and Canadian mili- 2003, with the war raging in Iraq, the is known to peace activists monitor- tary aircraft landing at Gander, with- following observations from Stephen- ing Ireland’s Shannon Airport as a con- 36 out compensation.” ville were posted to an online, mili- tractor that has landed some 600 U.S. Or, as then-Councillor Ford put tary-related discussion group relating troops per day on the other side of the 45 it, Gander is “a civilian airport oper- to the Iraq war: Atlantic. We can only specualte how ated by a local authority of dedicated “I was camping recently at a park many of these flights landed in volunteer board members providing near the town of Stephenville in Stephenville, Gander or St. John’s be- 37 support to NATO aircraft.” Newfoundland.... fore proceeding to Shannon on their Although the Gander airport Normally, there isn’t so much way to Iraq. authority treats the NATO military pact air traffic that it would keep a as if it is a worthwhile charitable or- camper awake, but the night I was References ganisation, it has long refused to pay camping there, there seemed to be 1. Ottawa Citizen, March 22, 2003. its fair share of municipal taxes. By a plane flying overhead every few 2. Ben Jackson, “Greasing the war ma- chine,” The Scope, Sept. 7, 2006. 2002, the GIAA owed the town of Gan- minutes. It was much more than the der $250,000 in back taxes. While the 3. Stephanie Porter, “Wars give St John’s usual commercial traffic. Then I re- economy a boost,” Toronto Star, May airport waged a six-year legal battle membered that the U.S. Military 20, 2006. against paying its taxes, they accumu- was using Stephen-ville as a www.militaryphotos.net/forums/ lated another $2.5 million in unpaid refueling base for planes flying to showthread.php?81598-Wars-give-St.-John- s-economy-a-boost taxes. In 2008, Newfoundland’s Su- the Persian Gulf area.”40 preme Court ruled that Gander airport 4. SJIAA Annual Report 2006 Stephenville Airport Authority www.stjohnsairport.com/media_uploads/ did not need to pay local taxes. So, proudly describes itself as providing pdf/176.pdf while the airport is happy to subsidise “refueling and ground handling serv- 5. SJIAA Annual Report 2009 military flights by waiving landing ices to corporate, military, general www.stjohnsairport.com/media_uploads/ pdf/259.pdf fees—including for U.S. warplanes aviation and other customers.”41 carrying troops and weapons to the Iraq 6. Military Aircraft The airport serves as “a refuel- www.stjohnsairport.com/index/index. War—it has refused to pay its dues to ing stop to...military aircraft all year cfm?id=86 the local government. long” because of its responsibility as 7. Terry Roberts, “Navigating toward a And, citizens across Canada are “the official alternate to our sister air- brighter future,” The Telegram, January 9, 2010. also chipping in. In 2007, the federal port: ‘Gander International Airport.’”42 government donated a “cash infusion” www.cyjt.com/news36.html Stephenville’s regular custom- 8. VOCM Radio, “Airport Getting Some of $5 million to the Gander Airport.38 ers include “large military cargo air- references continued on the next page November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 23 The Shannon Connection: Learning from our Irish Colleagues By Richard Sanders, coordinator, Coa- that it has stayed uninvolved in this lat- activists, has closely monitored U.S. lition to Oppose the Arms Trade est U.S.-led war in the mideast. military traffic through Shannon air- However, like Newfoundland’s port. For instance, they have gathered n March 28, 2008, an Ameri- Gander, St. John’s and Stephenville air- data showing that “at least 970 U.S.- can cargo plane contracted by ports, Shannon has been open for busi- military-contracted flights and a fur- Othe U.S. military to supply the ness servicing U.S. military flights ther 360 U.S. Air Force/Navy planes war in Iraq, made an emergency land- bound for the Iraq war since it began landed at Shannon in 2009.”3 ing at Shannon’s civilian airport in Ire- in March 2003. Similarly, all of these John Lannon, a Shannonwatch land. The cargo plane had stopped at airports are civilian facilities, not mili- researcher, has revealed that since the Gander International Airport in tary bases. Because so many U.S. mili- March 2003 “[o]ver one and a half mil- Newfoundland before its Atlantic tary flights going through Ireland also lion U.S. troops plus regular cargo crossing. It was enroute to Qatar in the stop in Newfoundland, Canadians have shipments to Iraq and Afghanistan have Persian Gulf from McChord Air a lot to learn from what is known about gone through Shannon Airport.”4 Force Base, the home of “Combat Air- U.S. use of the Shannon airport. Lannon also notes that Irish lift.” Upon leaving Shannon, the DC8 Shannonwatch, a dedicated Transport Minister Noel Dempsey has transport had an engine failure that lo- group of Irish peace and human rights “confirmed that a total of 1,276 civil- cal witnesses described as a “streak of flame trailing from the plane.”1 After a stopover in Gander, Newfoundland, this Murray Tracey Belle, spokesperson for Air cargo plane—enroute to the Persian Gulf in March Murray Air Cargo, the U.S.-military charter company operating the plane, 2008—was forced to land in Shannon, Ireland. Murray said they were licensed to transport Air then admitted it was contracted by the U.S. military “explosives, weapons and depleted ura- to carry “explosives, weapons and depleted uranium.” nium through Shannon Airport.”2 This revelation added fuel to the fire of local citizen’s concerns that their airport was being used as a stopo- ver for U.S. flights ferrying troops, weapons and other military equipment to aid and abet the Iraq war. Like the Canadian government, Ireland claims references continued from previous page 26. Annual Aircraft Landings (2001-2003). www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador Military Tourism,” September 29, 2008. www.ganderairport.com/_images4/ /story/2006/07/20/gander-airport.html www.aviation.ca/content/view/6224/2/ report2003.pdf 36. GIAA Annual Report 2006. 9. Jackson, Op. cit. 27. Andrew Robinson, “Airport aids Haiti www.ganderairport.com/Annual%20Report 10. SJIAA Annual Report 2009, Op. cit. relief,” The Beacon, January 28, 2010. %202006.pdf 11. Ibid. www.ganderbeacon.ca/News/2010-01-28/ar- 37. Standing Senate Committee, Op. cit. 12. SJIAA Annual Report 2006, Op. cit. ticle-1491468/Airport-aids-Haiti-relief/1 38. “Gander airport freed from taxes,” CBC 13. Jackson, Op. cit. 28. Gander Annual Report 2003. News, July 9, 2008. 14. SJIAA Annual Report 2009, Op. cit. www.ganderairport.com/_images4/ www.acairports.ca/docs/Gander%20airport 15. SJIAA Annual Report 2006, Op. cit. report2003.pdf %20 freed%20from%20taxes.pdf 16. SJIAA Annual Report 2007 29. “Airport announces first-half perform- 39. Ottawa Citizen, Op. cit. www.stjohnsairport.com/media_uploads/ ance,” Aug. 3, 2004. 40. hwhap, Wild Bill Guarnere Community pdf/177.pdf www.ganderairport.com/press3.htm website, August 3 2003. 17. Services for Airlines. 30. GIAA Annual Report 2004. forums.wildbillguarnere.com www.stjohnsairport.com/index/index. www.ganderairport.com/_images4/ 41. Airport Facilities. cfm?id=84 report2004.pdf www.cyjt.com/airportfacilities.html 18. Irving Aviation St. John’s FBO. 31. Standing Senate Committee on National 42. Airlines. www.irvingoil.com/pr_business/pr_ Security and Defence, February 2, 2005. www.cyjt.com/airlines.html aviation/fbo_stjohns.asp www.parl.gc.ca/38/1/parlbus/commbus/sen- 43. “Stephenville Airport Busy with...Air- 19. Military Aircraft, Op. cit. ate/Com-e/defe-e/10evc-e.htm craft Diversions,” May 23, 2008. 20. Infrastructure. 32. “Gander International reports a good weather.aviation.ca/content/view/5756/117/ www.stjohnsairport.com/index/index. year,” Feb. 6, 2008. 44. Christopher Vaughan, “Early morning cfm?id=68 www.ganderairport.com/press22.htm emergency,” January 15, 2008. 21. VOCM, Op. cit 33. Military www.thegeorgian.ca/News/2008-01-15/arti- 22. Roberts, Op. cit. www.ganderairport.com/military.htm cle-1526972/Early-morning-emergency/1 23. Jackson, Op. cit. 34. GIAA Annual Report 2008. 45. John Lannon, “U.S. Army at Shannon 24. Ottawa Citizen, March 22, 2003. www.ganderairport.com/Annual%20 Airport - Unjustifiable on any Level,” 25. “Airport announces first-half perform- Report%202008.pdf May 27, 2010. ance,” Aug. 3, 2004. 35. “Gander airport warns it could close www.pana.ie/articles/US_army_at_shannon. www.ganderairport.com/press3.htm without Ottawa’s help,” July 20, 2006. html 24 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 Evergreen and Kalitta Air at the Gander airport community has spoken. The govern- ment has no popular mandate in pro- viding the civilian Shannon airport to service the U.S. war machine in its illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq.... “The decision of this jury should be a message to London, Washington DC and [Ireland’s Parliament] that Ireland wants no part in waging war on the people of Iraq. Refuelling of Shannonwatch says Murray, Evergreen and Kalitta U.S. warplanes at Shannon Airport “routinely ship munitions for the U.S. Air Force.” should cease immediately.”13 Amnesty says Evergreen and Kalitta are known for References “covert intelligence and military operations.” 1. U.S. Military Exposed at Shannon Air- ian flights were granted permits to and Kalitta as companies “known for port, April 2, 2008. carry weapons and munitions of war their connections to covert intelli- www.indymedia.ie/article/86982 10 2. Ibid. through Ireland in 2009. In response gence and military operations.” 3. John Lannon, “Shannon Airport – noth- to a parliamentary question... [Demp- Atlas Air is similarly described ing covert about its war activities?,” Vil- sey] said the vast majority of these by Shannonwatch as a “well-known lage Magazine, April 23, 2010. were from American civil airlines, carrier of war munitions,”11 while www.villagemagazine.ie/index.php/2010/04/ chartered by the U.S. military, and in- Gemini is listed as a company provid- shannon-airport-%E2%80%93-nothing- volved flights to or from the U.S., and ing “Aircraft Linked to CIA Extraor- covert-about-its-war-activities/ that almost all landed at Shannon.”5 dinary Rendition Flights.”12 4. Ibid. Shannonwatch has exposed While Canadian peace re- 5. 2009 - Another Year of Foreign Military Might at Shannon Airport, Feb. 10, 2010. many details about the specific civil- searchers can benefit from their Irish www.shannonwatch.org/ReviewOf 2009.htm ian airlines contracting their services colleague’s investigations into trans- 6. Cargo Opportunities at Gander Interna- to move U.S. troops and equipment for Atlantic refuelling stops by U.S. mili- tional Airport the war in Iraq. They have also uncov- tary and intelligence agencies, Cana- www.ganderairport.com/cargo.htm ered much evidence that Shannon air- dian anti-war activists can also learn 7. Shannonwatch website port has been used by cargo compa- from their Irish colleagues as well. www.shannonwatch.org 8. USA: Below the radar: Secret flights to nies contracted by the CIA for so- Shannon airport has been the frequent torture and ‘disappearance’ called “extraordinary rendition” site of protests, blockades and other www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR51/ flights in which kidnap victims are nonviolent acts of resistance against 051/2006/en/3edf2253-d447-11dd-8743-d305 shuttled to secret prisons for torture. the Iraq war. In 2003, five members of bea2b2c7/amr510512006en.html Newfoundland airports are the Catholic Worker movement used 9. John Lannon, Op. cit. 10. USA: Below the radar, Op. cit. similarly complicit. The Gander Inter- household hammers to disable a U.S. 11. Did Israeli bombs passing through Shan- national Airport, for instance, lists six warplane that had stopped at Shannon. non Airport? charter companies that it describes as In 2006, they were found not guilty by www.shannonwatch.org/Kalitta_Air.htm “frequent visitors to Gander.” Their a unanimous verdict from the 12 ju- 12. “Aircraft Linked to CIA Extraordinary website kindly provides web links to rors. In response, the five activists is- Rendition Flights” these six companies on a webpage sued a statement which read in part: www.shannonwatch.org/Rendition_planes called “Cargo Opportunities at Gander “The jury is the conscience of the _110209.htm 6 13. Not Guilty. The Pitstop Ploughshares All International Airport” : community chosen randomly from Acquitted on All Charges • Atlas Air • Kalitta Air Irish society. The conscience of the www.indymedia.ie/article/77460 • Evergreen Aviation • Murray Air • Gemini Air Cargo • Vega Air In 2003, five Irish peace activists disabled a U.S. Navy warplane Of these six companies, Shan- at Shannon airport that was enruote to Iraq. nonwatch7 and Amnesty International8 identify five as either U.S. military con- In tractors used to move troops and mu- 2006, nitions to warzones, or for CIA “ren- they dition” flights to shuttle kidnap victims were to torture centres. Shannonwatch research reveals found Murray, Evergreen and Kalitta “rou- not tinely ship munitions for the U.S. Air guilty. Force.”9 Amnesty describes Evergreen November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 25 “Sentry crews provided E-3 “Sentry” AWACS 24-hour surveillance of OIF Airborne Warning and Control System [Operation Iraqi Freedom] ...battle space....from March 19 to June 8, 2003... [and] flew 313 sorties totaling 3,115 hours.”

Polly Orcutt, “E-3 Sentry celebrates 30 years in Air Force's Fleet,” April 4, 2007. www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123047059 Canadians AWACS Crews in Iraq, 2003 Lt. Col. Galvin: By Bryan Dean NORAD program began in 1979. Iraq War “mission “Canadians were involved in the he commander of Canadian Gulf War, they were involved in the was exceptional” military personnel at Tinker Air Kosovo conflict,” Galvin said. “They Force Base said he and his ore than 200 airmen from T have been involved from the beginning group are proud of their role in Op- the 552nd Air Control Wing, of the war against terrorism in Af- eration Iraqi Freedom. Later that day the Canadian Component and ghanistan. Now I think I can say that M [April 8, 2003], Prime Minister Jean the 513th Air Control Group returned we’re very proud to have a unique role Chrétien endorsed the U.S. mission home from Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Iraq mission, as well.” and asked parliament to declare support to an outpouring of support to an out- Brig. Gen. Mike Hostage, com- for a quick victory by coalition forces. pouring of support from a crowd of mander of 552 Air Control Wing, said Of the Canadians known to be family members, working with Canadian forces gives supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, friends and fellow the wing a special bond with its allies. “All the returning many are AWACS fliers connected to Tinker employees. “The Canadians are superb air- Canadians felt the 552nd Air Control Wing at Tinker. Thirty-six Air- men,” Hostage said. “They fit seam- The wing includes 43 Canadian troops, borne Warning and their mission was lessly into the combat mission and are who are integrated with U.S. air crews Control System exceptional, and outstanding team players.... Living and who fly AWACS E-3 jets. personnel returned working with our Canadian counter- they are very Lt. Col. Martin Galvin, com- April 24 [2003] [to parts and their families is enriching happy they manding officer of the Canadian Com- Tinker Air Force for all of us, and it helps us to be bet- were part of it.” ponent, said a “significant number” of Base, Oklahoma]. ter neighbors and stronger friends.” those troops are deployed with the Members Lt. Col. “It says something about con- 552nd and have flown missions against of the wing’s Cana- Martin Galvin fidence,” Galvin said. “It says we trust Iraq since the air campaign began. dian Component you to have our personnel involved in “I think everybody is uniquely also participated in OIF [Operation this conflict. We fly with our U.S. col- proud and happy to have their role... Iraqi Freedom], despite Canada’s ini- leagues day in and day out. It’s in our [and] this opportunity. Our wives and tial stance against the war. The Com- interest to stay involved and to partici- families also are very proud that Ca- ponent was authorized to honor its pate alongside where that’s possible.” nadians here are able to participate.” long-standing commitment to the wing Maj. Rod Black, chief of staff Galvin said it is interesting that and serve next to their American coun- of the Canadian Component, said he Canadian forces at Tinker are allowed terparts during the operation. “All the is happy Canadians have a role in Iraq. to participate in Operation Iraqi Free- returning Canadians felt their mission “We’re proud to contribute to this mis- dom when their government did not was exceptional, and they are very sion,” Black said. “We want to do our support military action. happy they were part of it,” said Lt. Col. part. We train with these folks. We’re “We’ve been asked by the peo- Martin Galvin, commander, 552nd [Air down here to contribute. We train for ple we work with the same thing,” Control Wing] Canadian component. these...contingencies and we’re very Galvin said. “It’s an apparent contra- proud to be AWACS crew members.” Source: Welcome home: AWACS diction. We were given the authority troops return to anxious families, to participate in the Iraq conflict....” Source: “Canadian AWACS fliers take Tinker Take Off, May 2, 2003. Tinker’s Canadian fliers have part in Iraq mission,” Oklahoman, journalrecord.com/tinkertakeoff/2003/05/02/ flown nearly every mission AWACS April 9, 2003. welcome-home-awacs-troops-return-to-anx- crews have been a part of since the www.newsok.com/article/1923767 ious-families/ 26 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 Colonel Martin P. Galvin Commanded About the E-3 Canadian AWACS Crews in Iraq, 2003 “Sentry” AWACS s Commanding Officer of the he E-3 Sentry is an Airborne Canadian Component, Tinker Warning and Control System AAir Force Base, Oklahoma, T(AWACS) aircraft providing from 2001 to 2004, Colonel Galvin all-weather surveillance, command, was responsible for Canadian Forces control and communications to U.S. members flying with U.S. AWACS and NATO air force commanders. As crews in contingency and combat op- proven in Desert Storm [Iraq War, erations over Afghanistan and Iraq. 1991], it is the premier air battle com- Flying aboard the NATO E-3A mand and control aircraft in the world. AWACS, Colonel Galvin was em- The E-3 Sentry is a modified ployed as an instruc- Boeing 707/320 commercial airframe From 2001 to tor and Evaluator with a rotating radar dome. The dome 2004, Galvin was Tactical Director and contains a radar subsystem that con- ducts surveillance from the Earth’s sur- responsible for participated in Op- eration Allied Force face up into the stratosphere, over land Canadians flying [NATO’s 1999 War or water. The radar has a range of more with U.S. AWACS against ]. than 320 kilometers for low-flying crews in As Vice Direc- targets and farther for aerospace ve- contingency tor, NORAD– hicles flying at medium to high alti- tudes. The radar can look down to de- and combat USNORTHCOM Command Center tect, identify and track enemy and operations over (Peterson Air Force friendly low-flying aircraft. Afghanistan Base in Colorado Other major subsystems in the E-3 are navigation, communications and Iraq. Springs, CO], Col. Source: Senior Officer Biography, and data processing. Computer con- Galvin now leads National Defence website. soles display data in graphic and tabu- strategic daily operations and contin- www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dsa-dns/sa-ns/ ued transformation of this important ab/sobv-vbos-eng.asp?mAction=View&m lar format on video screens. Console bi-national, joint operations center. BiographyID=721 operators perform surveillance, iden- tification, weapons control, battle management and communications Canadian AWACS Crews Sought functions. Recognition in 2003 for Role in Iraq War The E-3 Sentry’s radar and computer subsystems gather and anadians are serving on board self, ‘Here is this person rhyming off present broad and detailed battlefield AWACS command-and-con- a list of expletives and yet my husband information as events occur. This in- Ctrol aircraft orchestrating the is sitting in a plane doing the same job cludes position and tracking informa- aerial bombing of Iraq. as the Americans are doing.’” tion on aircraft and ships. The wife of one wishes Ottawa The woman said she and other In support of air-to-ground op- would acknowledge the role Canadi- spouses have security concerns be- erations, the Sentry provides informa- ans are playing in the war, in part to cause their American neighbours don't tion needed for interdiction, recon- deflate some of the anti-Canadian seem to realize that despite Canada's naissance, airlift and close-air support backlash she has experienced. political opposition to the war, its for friendly ground forces. It also pro- “An American came up to me,” military has indirectly made a contri- vides information for commanders of said the woman living at Tinker Air bution to the Iraq campaign. air operations to gain and maintain Force Base in Oklahoma, where Ca- “The Americans we live with, control of the air battle. nadians serve with the 552nd Air Con- many of them carry guns. And some E-3s detect, identify and track trol Wing. He said, ‘[W]hat the hell are of them get very serious,” the woman airborne enemy forces far from the you doing here? Go back to the hole said. “That is a concern to us.” boundaries of the U.S. or NATO coun- you call Canada.’” tries. It directs fighter-interceptor air- Source: Excerpted from Allan “You are constantly looking craft to these enemy targets. Thompson, “Ten Canadian pilots flying over your shoulder,” she said. “I didn't The E-3 Sentry support worldwide on AWACS in air campaign,” Toronto know whether I was allowed to tell this military deployment operations. Star, April 5, 2003. guy that my husband is over there, sit- www.pcqanda.com/dc/dcboard.php?az Source: Air Force Fact Sheets. ting next to an American, doing the =show_mesg&forum=4&topic_id=29445 usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/affacts/ same job,” she said.“You think to your- &mesg_id=29445 ble-3sentryawacs.htm November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 27 Bruce Barnes Led Canada’s AWACS Crew back to the Iraq War in 2008 Maj. Bruce Barnes’ Bio Mission Crew Commander n 2007 and 2008, he deployed to here are many people in the Iraq and Afghanistan with the U.S. 552nd Air Control Wing that IAir Force and flew 30 combat mis- Taid in each successful E-3 sions supporting NATO and Coalition Sentry mission, and every one is an stability operations for Operations integral piece of the big wing puzzle. Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. The mission crew commander Between 2005 and 2009, he (MCC), is a key piece that makes the was at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla- mission run smoothly and safely. homa. An Evaluator/Instructor Mis- "The hardest part about our job “Being able to ensure the sion Crew Commander at the 552nd is listening," said Maj. Bruce Barnes, Air Control Wing, Barnes commanded a Canadian Component MCC with troops on the ground get the combat crews on E-3 Sentry AWACS. 964th AACS. "Our job is to communi- firepower they need from Barnes was posted to Germany cate and to push people. You're con- above as soon as they ask for (1997-2001) and flew on NATO stantly monitoring and managing peo- it is extremely rewarding.” AWACS. This tour included ple," Maj. Barnes said. Major Bruce BarnesBarnes, over 200 UN and NATO MCC is not a job one is peace support missions put into after basic train- Mission Crew Commander over the Former Yugo- ing. It is earned with slavia and 25 combat time and experience. AWACS and GWOT missions over Kosovo "You normally have to t’s the most powerful airborne ra- ib Operation Allied start in another position dar ever developed, and it’s the Force (1999). on the airplane," said Iworld’s most powerful air force’s As a senior officer Maj. Barnes. "Most will main aerial command and control in the Canadian Air Force, Barnes start out at a weapons controller, weapon. Airmen of the 380th AEW’s is a Command and Control Doctrine learning how to control fighters. Then 964th Expeditionary Airborne Air Analyst with the Canadian Forces you will be promoted to positions like Control Squadron (EAACS) at Tinker Aerospace Warfare Centre in Trenton, senior director, air surveillance opera- Air Force Base, Oklahoma, continue Ontario. He also teaches at the School tor or system operator.” to keep the E-3 flying and fighting in of International and Area Studies, Uni- the Global War on Terror. Their mis- versity of Oklahoma. Source: Sr. Airman Lorraine Amaro, sion is to provide global power and “The E-3 Sentry Puzzle: mission crew vigilance by conducting command and Source: University of Oklahoma commanders,” May 18, 2007. control operations in support of www.ou.edu/sias/home/audience_naviga www.552acw.acc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id= fighter, bomber and combat forces on tion/faculty_and_staff/bruce_barnes.html 123055211 tactical, strategic and special missions. “The AWACS is an essential Proud of Role in Global War on Terror (GWOT) force multiplier for the Global War on aj. Gen. Kevin Kennedy, par- pen. “The general commented to me Terror,” said Lt. Col. Jay Bickley, 964 ticipated in an E-3 Sentry that he was extremely impressed by EAACS Commander. “Its ability to Mmission with the Airmen of how the entire team truly cared about manage the battle space and provide the 964th Expeditionary Airborne Air their jobs and that they should be proud command and control is critical to the Control Squadron. According to the of the key role they play in the ongo- synergistic use of airpower.” general, the E-3 Sentry plays an ex- ing Global War On Terror,” he said. “Being able to ensure the tremely vital role in winning the Glo- As for the Airmen of the troops on the ground get the firepower bal War on Terror. “No single piece of Desert Phoenix Squadron’s Alpha they need from above as soon as they that Air Force can do the mission by Crew, “General Kennedy can fly with ask for it is extremely rewarding,” said itself... The AWACS has a critical part. us again, anytime, anywhere,” said [Canadian] Major Bruce Barnes, 964 We use it every time we have a special Major Barnes. EAACS Mission Crew Commander. operation in Afghanistan or Iraq.” Source: Sr. Airman Ross Tweten, “Air- According to Maj. Bruce Source: SrA. Ross M. Tweten, “ACCE men continue to manage GWOT bat- Barnes, 964 EAACS mission crew director takes ride with EAACS Air- tle space,” Sand Script, 380 Air Ex- commander of the Canadian Air Force, men,” Sand Script, March 7, 2008. peditionary Wing, March 21, 2008. the real strength of the AWACS con- www.380aew.afcent.af.mil/shared/media/ www.380aew.afcent.af.mil/shared/media/ cept is in the team that makes it hap- document/AFD-080503-007.pdf document/AFD-080503-005.pdf 28 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 Canadians aboard AWACS in Southwest Asia, 2010 By Master Sgt. Scott Sturkol

o U.S. members of the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air TControl Squadron (EAACS), the five Canadians who work with them are part of the team. Each day the Canadians work as part of a crew on E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft supporting missions in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibil- ity from an air base in Southwest Asia. The Canadian airmen live and work at “undis Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. “At Tinker we are (partners)” said Maj. Scott Marshall, an E-3 mis- sion crew commander, whose home- http:// town is Sudbury, Ontario. “We are not www.917wg exchange officers or exchange per- shared/med sonnel. It’s a co-manning situation Maj. Scott Marshall, Capt. Chris Horner, Lt. Will Natynczyk, photodb/thu based on the NORAD agreement.” Sgt. Theresa McLaren and Master Cpl. Mark Keown He said there are about 50 Ca- nails160/10 nadian airmen working at Tinker’s 9429S-034.j 552nd Air Control Wing. They “get Canadian AWACS crew in Iraq, 2010 farmed out to all the different sections he accompanying article is de- dom” (i.e., the Iraq War).1 and squadrons” and integrate with U.S. liberately cagey about which For example, many USAF arti- airmen. “For our current deployment, TSouthwest-Asian combat mis- cles about, and photographs of, the it includes supporting Operation En- sions these Canadians are supporting. early-2010 deployment include the during Freedom and International Se- The article says their “current deploy- following, or similar statements: “The curity Assistance Forces in Afghani- ment …includes supporting Operation 965th EAACS, as part of the 380th stan.” (Emphasis added) Enduring Freedom and International AEW, supports operations Iraqi Free- As far as what they bring to the Security Assistance Forces in Afghani- dom and Enduring Freedom.”2 fight, each of the Canadian airmen said stan.” This means they are also sup- they seamlessly fit into operations. porting other, unspecified operations. References “It’s just like when I was back Fortunately, there are dozens 1. Web search engines find articles and pho- at (Canadian Forces Base) North Bay tographs on the official websites of of references on official US Air Force See page where we have Americans there and (USAF) websites, in the first four “USAF Central,” “380th AEW,” “Tinker Air Force Base” and the “Defense Video they integrate into our forces,” said months of 2010, which clearly state and Imagery Distribution System.” Master Cpl. Mark Keown, a senior air that the 965th EAACS squadron (which surveillance technician and nine-year 2. “Freedom's call,” March 31, 2010. includes the “Canadian Component”) www.380aew.afcent.af.mil/news/ veteran of the Canadian Forces. “also supports Operation Iraqi Free- story.asp?id=123197550 “They are all very good people too, so it is very easy to integrate,” said said Lt. Will Natynczyk, an E-3 air a lot of training...but when you do it for Keown, from Powassan, Ontario. weapons officer and 6.5-year veteran real and get that adrenaline rush... you Capt. Chris Horner, an E-3 sen- of the Canadian Forces. “It’s a great go home with a lot of job satisfaction.” ior director and weapons officer and group and we laugh a lot.” [Will is re- “It doesn’t matter what uniform 11-year Canadian Forces member who lated to Canada’s Chief of Defence we are wearing—it’s interchangeable,” has been with the 965th EAACS for Staff, Walt Natynczyk. See p. X.) Marshall said. “We have a really great more than three years, said when he Sgt. Theresa McLaren, with relationship with the American forces and fellow crewmembers are out on a more than 19 years in the Canadian .... [N]o matter where we are, it’s very combat sortie, their only concern is Forces, [is] an E-3 air surveillance easy to get the job done as one team.” supporting the troops on the ground. technician. [W]hen she’s talking to “They are...the ones serving as the family about why she keeps doing what Source: Excerpted from “Tinker’s Ca- pointed end of the sword versus us she’s doing, she gives a simple answer, nadian airmen support airborne con- playing a supporting role,” said “For the love of the game.” trol in Southwest Asia,” Armed Forces Horner from Collingwood, Ontario. “It’s truly exciting,” said Sgt. News Service, February 11, 2010. “Coming out here is great,” McClaren of Calgary, Alberta. “We do www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123189284 November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 29 The Role of Canada’s CC-130 aircraft in the Iraq War By Richard Sanders, coordinator, Coa- lition to Oppose the Arms Trade

n April 30, 2003, a compre- hensive U.S. Air Force docu- ment called Operation Iraqi O 1 Freedom: By the Numbers, revealed that Canada had taken part in the ini- tial phase of the Iraq war by providing three “Hercules” CC-130 transport air- craft. The author, Lt. Gen. T. Michael Moseley, commander of Central Com- mand Air Forces, provided a thorough review of all the U.S. and allied air- craft used during the first month of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Deny, Deny, Deny CC-130 “Hercules” When confronted with General Canadian military transport aircraft Moseley’s report, the military offi- “Workhorse” of the Canadian Air Force cials and Canadian government repre- sentatives repeatedly denied that “We supported [Operation] Enduring the Standing Committee on National Canada had indeed supported the Iraq Freedom, the war on terrorism [in Af- Security and Defence, the now-de- war with CC-130 aircraft. For instance, ghanistan], not [Operation] Iraqi Free- ceased Conservative Senator J. when the report was first quoted in the dom, the war in Iraq.” (See Citizen ar- Michael Forrestall. He said: Ottawa Citizen on June 14, 2003, a ticle below, “Canada’s planes flew in “a U.S. general has written a report public relations spokesperson for the Iraq: says U.S.”2) that reveals that Canada’s three C- Canadian Forces, Maj. Lynne Chaloux, Two days later, the matter was 130 Hercules tactical transport air- denied the U.S. assertion and claimed: raised in the Senate by a member of craft took part in the U.S.-led war Canada’s planes flew in Iraq: says U.S. Canadian Forces deny claim, say Americans have their wars mixed up By David Pugliese air portion of the war against Saddam not look at any contributions made for Hussein’s regime. He writes that his Afghanistan or the war on terrorism. he U.S. military is crediting study was compiled with input from Thirty-one Canadian military person- Canada’s air force with taking Canadian and allied officers. But Ca- nel took part in the Iraq war, accord- Tpart in the Iraq war by contrib- nadian military officials strenuously ing to Lt.-Gen. Moseley. His report uting three transport planes to support insist that no Canadian aircraft took covers operations from the opening the American-led invasion force. part in the conflict and that the Ameri- attack on Baghdad on March 19 to But Canadian Forces officials cans have their wars mixed up. April 18, a few days after the collapse aren’t exactly jumping at the kudos Canadian military officials say of the Iraqi regime. contained in a detailed U.S. air force the U.S. has confused Canada’s con- The claims made in Moseley’s study of the war, a conflict that Prime tribution of three Hercules transport report are bound to raise questions, Minister Jean Chrétien insisted the planes to the war on terrorism and mis- since Parliament was told that Canada country’s military never took part in. sions in Afghanistan. “That report is would not join the U.S.-led military “Air operations used virtually erroneous,” said Canadian Forces strike without backing. all types of combat aircraft in the U.S. spokeswoman Maj. Lynne Chaloux. During the war, some opposi- inventory,” wrote U.S. air force Lt.- “We supported [Afghan Operation] En- tion MPs accused the government of Gen. T. Michael Moseley in the report during Freedom, the war on terrorism, quietly supporting the U.S.-led war issued April 30 [2003]. “Coalition air- not Iraqi Freedom, the war in Iraq.” after news broke that around 30 Cana- craft came from the United Kingdom, However, U.S. Air Force dian military personnel serving as ex- Canada and Australia.” spokeswoman 2nd Lt. Sara Banda said change officers with U.S. and British Moseley, who compiled the that the study by Lt.-Gen. Moseley units were involved in the conflict. report, Operation Iraqi Freedom — deals with only aircraft involved in or Similar concerns were raised when it By the Numbers, helped oversee the supporting the Iraqi campaign and did was revealed that Canadian warships in 30 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 on Iraq. Did the Cana- dian Forces C-130 Hercules aircraft or any other Canadian Force units take part in the U.S.-led war in Iraq?”3 In response, the Liberal government leader in the Senate, Sharon Carstairs, joined the denials. She contra- dicted the official U.S. Air Force report by sim- ply quoting the denial that had been made by Cana- Lt.-Gen. T. Michael Moseley, then-Commander of U.S. Central Command dian Forces’s spokesper- Air Forces, reported that Canada supplied CC-130 aircraft for the Iraq war. son, Major Chaloux, from But Canadian Forces spokesperson Maj. Lynne Chaloux, and Government that week’s Ottawa Citi- Leader in the Senate, Sheila Carstairs, vehemently denied it. zen. But, Senator Forre- stall was not to be so easily pushed of just what the facts are?”4 operations in Iraq. aside. He then made an official re- Senator Carstairs readily This is an example of the kind quest for information, saying: agreed, saying she would “share the of verbal sleight of hand that we must “To bring this controversy to an end, information…when it becomes avail- be wary of in official government and would the minister undertake to able.” This took almost four months. military statements. How can it be that seek from [Defence] Minister Finally, in October 2003, Carstairs ta- Canadian CC-130s were not used as McCallum an undertaking to bring bled the following curt response to part of the U.S. war in Iraq, but were forward, for tabling in this chamber, Forrestall’s request for “the pertinent used in June 2003 to help further the the pertinent extracts from the logs extracts from the logs of those three U.S. military mission in Iraq? The of- of those three Hercules aircraft so Hercules aircraft”: ficial obfuscation of reality relies on that there might be a public glimpse “No Canadian Forces (CF) aircraft a clever, legalistic use of terminology. took part in the Iraq conflict and the The initial phase of the U.S. war the Persian Gulf were escorting U.S. information provided by the U.S. in Iraq was dubbed “Operation Iraqi supply vessels carrying equipment and military was confused with the CF’s Freedom” and it officially came to an ammunition for the war. Canadian contribution of three Hercules end on May 1, 2003.6 This date, there- Forces officials explained that the transport planes to the international fore, was said to have marked the con- ships were involved in the war on ter- campaign against terrorism and mis- clusion of the Iraq war. The U.S. pre- 5 rorism and were protecting the Ameri- sions in Afghanistan.” tence that its war in Iraq had ended so can vessels from "terrorist" attacks. This statement simply repeated quickly, was absurd, but it was—none- Randy Mylyk, a spokesman for the Liberal government’s denial, which theless—conveniently adopted by Defence Minister John McCallum, as the Ottawa Citizen had stated, Canada’s Liberal government at the said he was not aware of Lt.-Gen. claimed that the U.S. military simply time. This is illustrated by a Canadian Moseley’s report, but that it is highly made a mistake and got “their wars government media release of April 29, unlikely Canadian planes would have mixed up.” This new denial did not 2003. Entitled “Canada makes Further been involved in the Iraq conflict. “I’m provide any details whatsoever about Contribution to Humanitarian and Re- not aware of any and I’d be very sur- the use of Canada’s C-130s in Iraq, and construction Efforts in Iraq,” the state- Linguistic prised” if they had, he noted. it did not make any reference to the ment begins Maj. Chaloux said Canadian CC-130’s flight logs which Forrestall “Prime Minister Jean Chrétien an- aircraft are now involved in humani- had specially requested. nounced today that Canada will ex- tarian efforts in Iraq. A Hercules trans- pand the role of its three CC-130 port plane completed the first flight The War is over, Hercules aircraft currently in the in bringing in relief aid on June 2. Long Live the War: Gulf region to support immediate Citing security and other rea- Although the Canadian government humanitarian and reconstruction sons, Canada’s military has declined to and its military vehemently denied efforts in Iraq…. say where exactly its transport aircraft U.S. reports that CC-130s had sup- Canada is responding to U.S. are based in the Persian Gulf. ported the “Iraq conflict,” they did sur- requests for assistance in this post- prisingly admit that these large Cana- conflict period and is assessing ad- Source: “Canada’s planes flew in Iraq: dian tactical transport planes were used ditional contributions to Iraq’s re- 7 U.S.,” Ottawa Citizen, June 14, 2003, p.1. in June 2003 to assist U.S. military construction.” (Emphasis added.) November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 31 The ridiculous notion that the Chief of the Defence Staff, Ray This ain’t no War, “conflict” in Iraq, let alone the war Henault, and his deputy, Vice Admiral it’s Post-conflict there, was over by the end of April Greg Maddison. According to Janice 2003, is—of course—a complete and Gross Stein and Eugene Lang’s book, Humanitarian Relief total farce. This reality aside, the “war- The Unexpected War: Canada in By building the myth that the Iraq war is-over” meme became part of the gov- Kandahar, Henault and Maddison told was already over, Canadian officials ernment’s official narrative about Iraq, Defence Minister John McCallum that were then able to pretend that this and appeared in the Liberal govern- “the war would be very short, lasting country’s military efforts to assist the ment’s 2004 Budget which stated that no more than six weeks, with an air U.S. occupation of Iraq after June 1, “Restoring stability and aiding recon- campaign of perhaps as little as five were not contributions to an ongoing struction in post-conflict states such days.” This “six-week war scenario,” war, but were noble contributions to as Afghanistan and Iraq has become say Stein and Lang “was consistent with much-needed post-conflict humanitar- more pressing.”8 (Emphasis added.) what McCallum had been told in ian, re-building and reconstruction ef- Predictably, this facade that Washington in early January” at the forts. Using this obvious but clever Iraq was a “post-conflict state” was Center for Strategic and International deception, the Canadian government, quickly adopted without question by Studies (CSIS) which has “strong and it’s military and subservient media many journalists in Canada’s main- active links with the Defence Depart- used an unbelievable, linguistic feint stream corporate media. News reports ment, the State Department, the Na- to cover up Canada’s ongoing involve- (see such as the midJune-2003 article in tional Security Council, and the CIA.” ment in the Iraq war. It was simultane- pp.34-35) the Ottawa Citizen (see pp.34-35), re- Stein and Lang, who describe this ously used to paint the impression that peatedly refer to the Iraq war in the quick-war scenario as “staggeringly Canada only became involved in Iraq past tense. The journalist even begins naive, deeply ideological, and breath- in order to heroically solve “humani- a sentence saying, “Almost a month takingly irresponsible,”9 assume that tarian” problems caused by the war. after the war ended…” the U.S. and Canadian militaries hon- The above-mentioned, April- The official mythology that the estly did not realise that the Iraq war 2003 media release on “Humanitarian Iraq war would be over before it really would drag on for years. This assump- and Reconstruction Efforts” in the even began, was promoted by Canada’s tion is in itself “staggeringly naïve.” “post-conflict” Iraq, spearheads this Canada’s “humanitarian” Operation IrisIris: Transporting U.S. troops and machine guns to Iraq!

Canadian CC-130 “Hercules” military aircraft flew U.S. soldiers, their machine guns, semiautomatic and other weapons, a Hummer truck and unspecified “miscellaneous cargo” to Baghdad in June 2003. Prime Minister Chrétien said these flights were to “help meet the immediate needs of the Iraqi people." Canada called it a “humanitarian” mission to “deliver reconstruction aid” to “post-conflict” Iraq.

Source: Canada’s Air Force. www.airforce.forces.gc.ca Photo by: Cpl. Henry Wall Image: APD03-0659-50 32 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 official narrative. Stretching credulity flight in bringing in relief aid on June and then the American-led invasion to the utmost limits, Prime Minister 2 [2003].” There is—of course—no of March 2003, Iraq required con- Chretien was quoted in the April 2003 evidence presented by the government, siderable reconstruction. On 29 media release as saying: military or the media that these Cana- April the Canadian government ap- “Canada is pleased to make this fur- dian CC-130 flights provided any “re- proved the delivery of aid to the ther contribution to help meet the lief” or “aid” whatsoever. Based on the country.”11 immediate needs of the Iraqi peo- evidence available, the opposite is In this way, Canadian military ple,” and “We will continue work- more likely true, namely, that these support for the U.S. campaign in Iraq ing closely with the international flights actually aided and abetted the was disguised as a peaceful effort to community to determine how best U.S. war against Iraq and precipitated help the Iraqi people to recover from Canada can help Iraq build a future further public suffering and an even a deadly, decade-long economic that is secure and stable.” greater need for “humanitarian” assist- blockade, followed by the war that be- Pugliese’s Ottawa Citizen ar- ance. gan in 2003. (Left unmentioned, of ticle also puts forward the ludicrous course, was Canada’s leading role in government claim that continuing Ca- Operation Iris: enforcing the deadly U.S./UN block- nadian CC-130 flights into Iraq were Transporting U.S. Weapons ade of Iraq during the 1990s that killed not part of the war effort but were ac- some 225,000 Iraqi children.12) tually “humanitarian” in nature. The and Warriors into Iraq Operation Iris was documented article, dated June 14, 2003, reports The Canadian military does admit that by Canadian Forces photographer Cpl. that Canadian Forces spokesperson it used CC-130s to move U.S. troops Henry Wall and is described on its of- Major Lynne Chaloux said “Canadian and supplies into Iraq, beginning on ficial website. As the only concrete, aircraft are now involved in humani- June 2, 2003. These flights were code publicly-available evidence regarding tarian efforts in Iraq.”10 named “Operation Iris.” The Canadian “Operation Iris,” Wall’s photographs This official narrative is also military’s “Mission/Operation Notes” are worth studying. They certainly do reported unquestioningly when the re- for Iris state: not give the impression that “Iris” was porter states that Canadian Hercules ”After the first Gulf War, more than a “humanitarian effort” designed to in transport planes “completed the first a decade of UN-approved sanctions, any way bring much-needed “relief aid”

esides carrying U.S. soldiers and weapons into anadian pilot Paul Anderson (left) and flight B Iraq, Canadian CC-130 transport planes shipped C engineer Colin McDonald (right), are shown here other military supplies to aid and abet the Iraq war. For in the cockpit of a CC-130 as they flew U.S. soldiers, example, on June 2, 2003, weapons and supplies into during the first flight of Operation Iris Baghdad, Iraq, during Operation Iris, Canada flew Operation Iris, on June 2, this U.S. Hummer Cargo/ 2003. These and other Troop Carrier from Kuwait Canadian Air Force per- to Iraq. This was done in the sonnel were living and name of promoting “human- working at an undisclosed itarian, reconstruction and Canadian military base in the stability efforts in Iraq.” This Persian Gulf region, likely thin cover was accepted as “Camp Mirage” near Dubai, fact by Canadian media. in the United Arab Emirates.

Source: Cpl. Henry Wall, website Source: Cpl. Henry Wall, website of the Canadian Air Force. of the Canadian Air Force. Images: APD03-0659-36, APD03-0659-71 Image: APD03-0658-06 November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 33 “The 1,000 CF [Canadian Forces] members deployed Canada’s role in Iraq called “humanitar- in southwest Asia are eager ian, reconstruction & stability” effort to contribute to the ongoing efforts to improve the con- This media release from June 3, 2003, Henault, Chief of the Defence Staff. ditions in Iraq. They will do “We are very proud of the exceptional was issued by Canadian Forces (CF) their utmost to airlift, as often Southwest Asia Theatre Support work being done by the men and Base at MacDill Air Force Base, women serving with the Tactical Air- as possible, the loads of Florida, home of U.S. Central Com- lift Detachment.” goods required in Iraq.” mand. CENTCOM wages U.S. wars “This is the first of a series of in the Middle East and Central Asia. flights that will involve Canadian sup- port to Iraq reconstruction,” said n 2 June [2003], a Canadian Brig.-Gen. [Dennis] Tabbernor, Com- Forces CC-130 “Hercules” mander of the Canadian Joint Task Otransport aircraft completed Force Southwest Asia. “The 1,000 CF the first Canadian flight in support of members deployed in southwest Asia the reconstruction are eager to con- of Iraq. The aircraft “Operation Iris is the CF tribute to the on- comes from the [Canadian Forces] contri- going efforts to Tactical Airlift De- improve the con- tachment deployed bution to the humanitarian, ditions in Iraq. in the Arabian Gulf reconstruction and They will do their area on Operation stability efforts in Iraq.” utmost to airlift, as Apollo. It transport- often as possible, ed eight passengers and a load of mis- the loads of goods required in Iraq.” cellaneous cargo including a truck and Operation Iris is the CF contri- Brig.-Gen. trailer from Kuwait to Baghdad, Iraq. bution to the humanitarian, reconstruc- “The Government of Canada an- tion and stability efforts in Iraq. Dennis Tabbernor nounced on 29 April [2003] that Commander, Canada would expand the role of its Source: Media release, “First Cana- Canadian Joint Task Force three CC-130 Hercules aircraft de- dian flight in support of the recon- Southwest Asia ployed in the Gulf region to support struction of Iraq,” June 3, 2003. humanitarian, reconstruction and sta- www.forces.gc.ca/site/news-nouvelles/ bility efforts in Iraq,” said General Ray news-nouvelles-eng.asp?cat=00&id=1096 to Iraq’s devastated population. matic 5.56mm-calibre machine guns how U.S. soldiers and their weapons The stated “Mission Mandate” fire up to 1000 bullets per minute16 and could be construed as “relief aid.” of “Operation Iris” was “To deliver re- are not generally known among repu- Many people in Iraq, having just suf- construction aid to Iraq.” Canada’s table development agencies as stand- fered a massive aerial bombardments Department of National Defence ard operating equipment during “hu- and an invasion led by U.S. troops, (DND) describes this operation as “the manitarian efforts” or for dispersing were no doubt in need of humanitar- CF contribution to the humanitarian, “relief aid.” ian assistance. It is unknown whether reconstruction and stability efforts in The photographs also show a “Operation Iris” also included the Iraq.”13 Further details about this op- U.S. Hummer. This M1038 Cargo/ movement of food, medical supplies eration appear in captions associated Troop Carrier is a High Mobility Mul- and other useful materials for distri- with Cpl. Wall’s photographs. Some tipurpose Wheeled Vehicle bution to victims of the U.S.-led war. of the photos note that the operation’s (HMMWV or Humvee). It is “equipped If this were the case, wouldn’t the Ca- first flight transported “eight passen- with basic armor and used to transport nadian Forces’ public relations staff gers and a load of miscellaneous cargo equipment, materials and/or person- have shown us photos or some descrip- including a truck and trailer from Ku- nel.”17 Like the various weapons sys- tions of these materials? Instead, we wait to Baghdad, Iraq.”14 One photo- tems that Canadian warplanes were are treated to only the vaguest descrip- graph shows some 18 battle-ready transporting into Iraq during “Opera- tions of other items transported by U.S. ground troops waiting to board tion Iris,” Hummers are not known for Canada’s CC-130s, such as “a load of Canadian CC-130s. The U.S. soldiers’ their use in “humanitarian” or “relief miscellaneous cargo.” weapons include pistols in thigh-hol- aid” operations. The government’s April 29, sters and 5.56mm-calibre, semi-auto- None of the available photo- 2003 media release about “Humanitar- matic M16 rifles.15 Also visible are graphs, captions or descriptions of ian and Reconstruction Efforts” in two M249 Squad Automatic Weapon “Operation Iris” on the Canadian “post-conflict” Iraq, also claimed that Systems, on bipods. These fully-auto- Forces website give any explanation of Canada had “already committed more 34 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 change subhead: Timeframe for CC-130 Mission than $100 million to humanitarian ef- The Canadian Forces descrip- The Canadian government me- forts in Iraq.” Considering that the use tion of Operation Iraqi Freedom, dia release of April 29, 2003, suggests of Canada’s CC-130s to transport U.S. which it says spanned from March 19 that Canada’s CC-130 flights into Iraq troops and their weapons was also de- to June 1, 2003, includes this state- may also have taken place in May 2003. scribed as a “humanitarian” operation, ment: The statement begins by saying that one can only wonder exactly how “Canadian CC-130 Hercules, de- “Canada will expand the role of its much of that $100 million was, in ac- ployed in the Persian Gulf in sup- three CC-130 Hercules aircraft cur- tuality, just Canada playing its part in port of Operation Apollo were tem- rently in the Gulf region to support aiding and abetting the American-led porarily diverted from supporting immediate…efforts in Iraq.”20 (Em- war in Iraq. that operation to supporting Opera- phasis added.) It seems unlikely that tion Iris in Iraq.”19 the government would issue a media Timeframe for This indicates that Operation Iris was release saying its CC-130 military air- CC-130 Missions in Iraq in fact part of Operation Iraqi Free- craft were going to “support immedi- Lt. Gen. T. Michael Moseley’s U.S. Air dom. However, there is a discrepancy ate …efforts in Iraq,” and then wait Force report, Operation Iraqi Free- in this scant, Canadian military docu- over a month, until June 2-3, before dom: By the Numbers,18 revealing that mentation regarding Operation Iris. getting into gear. This suggests that three Canadian CC-130s aided the war The official online description of Op- CC-130 flights were probably taking in Iraq, only covered the first 30 days eration Iris states that it took place be- place in May 2003. of the campaign, i.e., between March tween June 2 and 4, 2003, i.e., imme- We also know that on June 14, 19 and April 18, 2003. diately after Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003, the Ottawa Citizen reported that had concluded. CF spokesperson Major Chaloux said Colonel Canadian CC-130 Michel Latouche Pilot flew missions in the Iraq War, 2003

n 2002, when Michel Latouche was pro- moted to Lt. Col., he became Commander Iof 435 “Chinthe” Squadron in Winnipeg. As such, he flew CC-130 “Hercules” on missions which employed these aircraft in their three main roles: (a) the transport of troops and cargo, (b) the air-to-air refuelling of fighter planes and (c) search and rescue. His 2002-2003 tour of duty “included a deployment to the Persian Gulf with Operation Apollo and Operation Athena with missions to Afghanistan and Iraq.”

Southwest Asia Service Medal His decorations include the “Southwest Asia Service Medal for his role in Operation Apollo in 2003.”1 One side of this medal depicts the Queen, while the other shows “the mythical figure of Hydra, a many-headed serpent of Greek mythology described as a multifarious evil.... The Hydra is transfixed by a Canadian sword and over the design is the Latin phrase, ‘ADVERSUS MALUM PUGNAMUS’ - ‘We are fighting evil.’”2

References 1. “Senior Officer Biography.” Google cache of www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dsa-dns/sa-ns/ab/sobv- vbos-eng.asp?mAction=View&mBiographyID=814 2. “South-West Asia Service Medal (Canada),” Google cache of www.forces.gc.ca/hr/dhr-ddhr/chart/eng/ chart_display_e.asp?cat=3&ref=SWASM November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 35 ns in Iraq “Canadian aircraft are now involved in ernment has also been extremely care- releasing General Moseley’s Opera- humanitarian efforts in Iraq.”21 (Em- ful in crafting its wordsmithing to con- tion Iraqi Freedom: By the Numbers, phasis added.) Use of the word “now” ceal ongoing military contributions to CENTAF began issuing daily air power in this statement indicates that the the Iraq war. One of the ways it has summaries.25 These daily reports de- CC-130 flights discussed in this arti- done this, in the context of CC-130 tailed the support that American forces cle were still ongoing almost two flights, is to say that Canada’s military received from allied countries in the weeks after Operation Iris was offi- transport missions are carried out in Iraq and Afghan wars. Hundreds of cially supposed to have ended. the CENTCOM area of operations, “in- these daily reports since 2003 contain All this seems to indicate pretty cluding Afghanistan.” For instance, on statements about Canada’s CC-130 clearly that Canadian CC-130s were its webpage extolling the CC-130, flights. However, none of these state- probably flying missions into Iraq Canada’s Department of National De- ments reveal which of the two wars throughout March, April, May and fence says: Canadian CC-130s were supporting. June 2003. “By the end of Operation Apollo, in Instead, readers are repeatedly given And, in the government’s June October 2003, these [CC-130] air- statements like 3, 2003, media release about CC-130 craft had transported some 6,000 “Coalition C-130 crews from missions into Iraq, Brig.-Gen. Dennis passengers and more than 6.8 mil- Canada…flew in support of either Tabbernor, the Commander of the Ca- lion kilograms (about 15 million OIF [Operation Iraqi Freedom] or nadian Joint Task Force Southwest pounds) of freight to destinations OEF [Operation Enduring Freedom, Asia proudly described the participa- in the theatre of operations, includ- i.e., the Afghan war].” tion of Canada’s military in the Iraq ing Afghanistan.”23 (Emphasis It was clearly not in U.S. inter- theatre. In particular, he extolled Ca- added.) ests to reveal information about Cana- nadian “Hercules” transport crews and This is an oblique reference to CC-130 da’s role in Iraq that would alienate al- suggested that their efforts were part flights into Iraq. lied governments like the Liberal one of a robust and ongoing Canadian com- Another such wink and nod to in Canada that was contributing as mitment to the U.S. effort in Iraq. Canada’s CC-130 missions in Iraq is much as it possibly could to the Iraq “The 1,000 CF members deployed found in a military document called war, while at the same time trying to in southwest Asia are eager to con- “The Canadian Forces’ Contribution to maintaining the public illusion that it tribute to the ongoing efforts to the International Campaign Against was not involved at all. improve the conditions in Iraq. Terrorism.” In describing Canada’s They will do their utmost to airlift, Tactical Airlift Detachment (TAL Det), References as often as possible, the loads of it says: 1. Lt. Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Opera- goods required in Iraq.”22 “The mission of the TAL Det is to tion Iraqi Freedom: By the Numbers, This did not give the impres- support coalition forces by trans- U.S. Air Force, April 30, 2003. sion that Canada CC-130 flights would porting military personnel, equip- www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/ end anytime soon. On the contrary, his ment and cargo between destina- report/2003/uscentaf_oif_report_30 apr2003.pdf statement conveyed the sense that this tions in the theatre of operations, 2. David Pugliese, “Canada’s planes flew Canadian contribution was sure to con- including Afghanistan. The versa- in Iraq: says U.S.,” Ottawa Citizen, June tinue and that it would be contribute tile CC-130 Hercules is ideal for 14, 2003. as much as possible. There has been this mission: it can lift a 16,000-kg 3. Senate Debates (Hansard), June 16, no follow up media release from the payload, and land safely with a full 2003. government announcing that this con- load on a basic airstrip only about www.parl.gc.ca/37/2/parlbus/chambus/sen- tribution was winding down. as long as three football fields.”24 ate/deb-e/069db_2003-06-16-E.htm? Language=E&Parl=37&Ses=2 (Emphasis added.) 4. Ibid. Ongoing CC130 Missions After the incident with General 5. Senate Debates (Hansard), Oct. 2, 2003. Because of strong public opposition Moseley when the U.S. Air Force and www.parl.gc.ca/37/2/parlbus/chambus/sen- to participation in the Iraq war, the Canadian officials contradicted each ate/deb-e/081db_2003-10-02-e.htm? Canadian government was very cagey other about Canada’s supply of CC- Language=E&Parl=37&Ses=2#33 6. Details/Information for Canadian Forces about what it would reveal regarding 130s to the war in Iraq, the American (CF) Operation Iraqi Freedom such things as its CC-130 transport military became much more obligingly careful not to reveal further examples www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/od- missions ferrying U.S. warriors and bdo/di-ri-eng.asp?IntlOpId=176&Cdn their weapons into Iraq. And, just as of Canadian participation. This was no OpId=215 Canada’s lead naval role in the Iraq war doubt done to help protect the Cana- 7. Media release, April 29, 2003. was disguised by the government us- dian government’s need to publicly www.carolynbennettmp.ca/dev/downloads/ ing parlance that described it as being pretend that it wasn’t involved in the iraqreconstruction.rtf part of Operation Enduring Freedom Iraq war. The coverup was reflected, 8. ”Moving Forward on the Priorities of Canadians,” Budget 2004. against terrorism in Afghanistan, so for instance, in frequent U.S. Central Command Air Force (CENTAF) me- www.fin.gc.ca/budget04/bp/bpc4e-eng.asp too were Canada’s CC-130 flights cov- 9. Janice Gross Stein and Eugene Lang, dia releases describing coalition con- ered up in this same manner. The Unexpected War: Canada in Kan- Of course, the Canadian gov- tributions to the air war in Iraq. After dahar, 2007. 36 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 10. Pugliese, Op. Cit. 11. Details/Information for Canadian Forces (CF) Operation Iris. Google cache of www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/ dhh-dhp/od-bdo/di-ri-eng.asp?IntlOpId= 92&CdnOpId=103 12. Richard Garfield, “Morbidity and Mor- tality among Iraqi Children from 1990 to 1998,” 1999. www.fourthfreedom.org/Applications/ cms.php?page_id=7 13. Details/Info. ...Operation Iris, Op. cit. 14. Photos, Canada’s Air Force. www.airforce.forces.ca/v2/netpub/index- eng.asp?rid=3894-APD03-0659-36 www.airforce.gc.ca/v2/netpub/index- eng.asp?rid=7266-APD03-0659-71 15. M16 rifle. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M16_rifle 16. Modern Firearms. world.guns.ru/machine/mg17-e.htm 17. M1038 HMMWV Cargo/Troop Carrier with Winch. www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ ground/m1038.htm 18. Moseley, Op. cit. 19. Canadian Forces (CF) Information (IRAQI FREEDOM) Google cache of www.cmp-cpm.forces. gc.ca/dhh-dhp/od-bdo/di-ri-eng.asp? IntlOpId=176&CdnOpId=215 20. Media release, April 29, 2003. www.carolynbennettmp.ca/dev/down loads/iraqreconstruction.rtf 21. Pugliese, Op. Cit. 22. First Canadian flight in support of the reconstruction of Iraq,” June 3, 2003. www.forces.gc.ca/site/news-nouvelles/ news-nouvelles-eng.asp?cat=00&id= 1096 23. CC-130 www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/v2/equip/ cc130/index-eng.asp 24. “The Canadian Forces’ Contribution to APD03-0562-40 the International Campaign Against Ter- rorism,” January 7, 2004. 19 March 2003 www.cefcom.forces.gc.ca/pa-ap/nr-sp/ Arabian Gulf Region doc-eng.asp?id=490 25. For a good review of CENTAF’s daily Corporal Chris Milne, a member of the Op Apollo's Tactical Airlift Detachment reports see Jeff Nygaard, “The Secret (Tal Det), sits at the air navigator work station of a CC-130 Hercules aicraft Air Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Z while it is on the ground for maintenance. He uses a check list during mainte- Magazine, June 2007. nance work on the chaff and flares systems on the aircraft. www.zcommunications.org/the-secret- air-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-by-jeff- The mission of the TAL Det is to support coalition forces by transporting mili- nygaard tary personnel, equipment and cargo between destinations in the theatre of op- erations, including Afghanistan. Op Apollo is Canada's military contribution to the international campaign against terrorism. http://www.forceaerienne.forces.gc.ca/v2/netpub/index-eng.asp?rid=2278- APD03-0562-40

November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 37 Canadian CP-140 “Aurora” spy planes gathered intelligence for the U.S. military during the first four months of the Iraq War in 2003.

The Hunt for Moving Targets, from Submarines to Subversives: The 2003 Iraq War as Turning Point in the Evolution of Missions for Canada’s CP-140s By Richard Sanders, coordinator, Coa- What is the CP-140 Aurora? United Arab Emirates (UAE), a small lition to Oppose the Arms Trade Built by U.S. war-industry behemoth, country on the Persian Gulf. These Lockheed, the Aurora is described as Canadian warplanes, “operating from n March 2003, NDP Leader Jack Canada’s strategic Intelligence, Sur- the Al Dhafra air base, have been help- Layton said that, despite claims to veillance and Reconnaissance aircraft. ing enforce UN shipping sanctions Ithe contrary, Canada was involved This long-range military patrol plane against Iraq.”4 According to Major Neil in the war on Iraq. He called for Cana- is equipped with a variety of high-tech Tabbenor, when he and other Canadian dian troops to be withdrawn and electronic imaging devices and target Aurora personnel were deployed to the charged that Canada CP-140 “Aurora” tracking systems that are designed to Persian Gulf, they were based in Dubai, spy planes were supplying information supply the data used by warships, land UAE, and worked out of Canada’s elu- used in U.S. attacks: forces and other warplanes to carry out sive “Camp Mirage.”5 “We think there’s a very strong like- their bombing and attack missions. The U.S. Central Command lihood that that information is Canada’s CP-140—a variant of (CENTCOM), which projects Ameri- used to assist in the ca’s military might throughout the bombing, that Canadians “We think there's a very Middle East and Central Asia, men- are com-plicit as a re- tions CP-140s in its description of sult, and our govern- strong likelihood that that Canada’s role in the so-called “War on ment is complicit.”1 information is used to assist Terror.” CENTCOM explains that “two Soon thereafter, in the bombing, that Can- CP-140 Aurora long-range surveil- Conservative Senator J. adians are complicit as a lance and maritime patrol aircraft with Michael Forrestall raised result, and our government about 200 Air Force personnel, includ- the issue, though without ing flight crews and support person- the demand that Canadian is complicit.” nel” were deployed to the Persian Gulf troops be recalled from Jack Layton, NDP Leader between December 27, 2001, and June Iraq. “Honourable sena- 19, 2003.6 This document goes on to tors,” Forrestall said, “a week ago it the U.S. Navy’s P-3 Orion—was origi- explain that the primary mission of was reported that our Aurora maritime nally designed and used during the Cold Canada’s Long-Range Patrol Detach- patrol aircraft in the Persian Gulf were War to find and destroy the latest ment (LRP Det.) was to feeding the Americans direct intelli- stealth submarines. However, because “deliver reconnaissance and surveil- gence on Iraqi naval movements.”2 His of the change in perceived threats and lance support to the maritime coa- point, as always, was to expose Lib- the fact that it can fly over 9200 km lition forces. The CP-140 Aurora eral government hypocrisy in denying without refuelling, the aircraft has extended the surveillance range of Canada’s involvement in the Iraq war. been “ideal for an evolving variety of maritime coalition forces to areas He, like other Conservatives, was not operations.”3 not accessible to ship-borne radar, demanding that Canadian Forces, like In mid-February 2003, CBC and Aurora crews typically gathered the CP-140 crews, be brought home, News Online reported that there was information well before ships’ ra- but just that they be recognised and “a detachment of Canadian Aurora dar operators could. Aurora crews honoured for their role in the Iraq War. maritime patrol aircraft” based in the also contributed to the security of 38 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 coalition forces by watching for vessels of interest…. The Auroras are equipped with Four a sensor array that includes forward- Det.) looking infrared cameras, digital cameras and conventional radar. 140 With speed, endurance and range of forc coverage, the Auroras and their crews kept a watchful eye on the myriad of surface vessels operating T in the Arabian Gulf and the Arabian inte Sea.”7 Richard Gimblett, “Command Histo- rian of the Canadian Navy,” notes that the “CF Aurora long-range patrol air- From under the wing of a CP-140 “Aurora,” several CC-130 craft flew 507 missions, for a total of 4,375 hours” during the 530 days of “Hercules” are seen in the background. This photograph was their mission under Operation Apollo.8 taken on April 4, 2003, at an undisclosed location in the This is also confirmed by the “Arabian Gulf Region” (likely at Canada’s “Camp Mirage,” UAE). official Canadian Air Force website which states that CP-140 aircraft were To this end, the 5th Fleet over- cluded not only “six ships (four frig- deployed to “the Persian Gulf from sees all U.S. naval forces and their ates, a destroyer and a support ship)” late 2001 to mid-2003” where they military operations. These operations and “three C-130 transport aircraft,” “flew 500 air patrol sorties as part of are carried out as if the U.S. and its but also a “pair of Aurora maritime Canada’s role in the international cam- allies had complete and total impunity patrol aircraft.” “These forces,” he paign against terrorism.”9 from the laws of the 27 countries says, were “operating alongside coa- fronting on “2.5 million square miles lition forces” to conduct “leadership Supporting America’s of water area” in the Central Command interdiction operations… to prevent 5th Fleet in the so-called “area of responsibility.” Un- Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders from es- der the 5th Fleet’s self-anointed juris- caping by sea.”15 Wik “War on Terror” diction are the “Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Maloney, however, does not Canadian Forces’ photographs of CP- Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian discuss the important issue of “dou- 140s in the Persian Gulf just before Ocean.”13 Its self-described mission ble-hatting” which refers to how these the official start of the Iraq War in includes “Combat Operations” which Canadian operations were clearly de- March 2003, have captions that sum are defined in this way signed to assist both the Afghan War up the role of Canada’s Long Range “Maritime forces maintain the ca- and war against Iraq. (For more details Patrol Detatchment (LRP Det.) in pability to project power ashore, to on Canada’s role in Persian Gulf naval America’s so-called War on Terror. conduct sustained combat opera- operations that were intent on the cap- For example: tions in support of coalition land ture and “rendition” of Iraqi suspects “LRP Det. members provide mari- commanders, provide air support to to U.S. custody in early 2003, see (For time surveillance support and intel- multinational forces on the ground p.X.) lead ligence-gathering in support of Op- as well as conduct long range The involvement of Canadian eration Apollo, Canada’s military strikes with aircraft and Tomahawk CP-140s in these naval interdiction contribution to the Campaign Land Attack Cruise Missiles against operations is confirmed in a report for 10 Against Terrorism.” enemy targets.”14 the U.S. Congress by the Congres- “The mission of the LRP Det is to Among the 5th Fleet’s most sional Research Service. This report, work with the U.S. Navy 5th Fleet regular activities are what they euphe- which provides a list of Canadian con- to deliver reconnaissance and sur- mistically call Maritime Interdiction tributions to the War on Terrorism, veillance support to the U.S.-led Operations (MIO). A subcategory of notes that “Two CP 140 Aurora aircraft 11 maritime coalition forces.” these are so-called Leadership Inter- are conducting MIO/LIO operations as According to its official web- diction Operations (LIO). part of Carrier Task Force [CTF] 57.”16 site, the mission of the American Na- In a 2003 paper on “The Per- CTF 57 is the “Maritime Patrol Force” vy’s 5th Fleet is to conduct ception versus the Reality of Canadian of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet. Although “persistent maritime operations to Military Involvement in the Iraq War,” its basic goal is to conduct “maritime forward U.S. interests, deter and professor Sean Maloney—an avid surveillance and reconnaissance op- counter disruptive countries, defeat militarist at Canada’s Royal Military erations region wide,”17 this mission violent extremism and strengthen College—noted that the “initial Cana- has been changing as the spy technolo- partner nations’ maritime capabili- dian contribution” to the Afghan War’s gies aboard these aircraft have 12 ties.” “Operation Enduring Freedom” in- contnued to advance. November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 39 The Operational Shift the troops on the ground.”19 graded equipment that will allow the from Sea to Land Operations And as Air Warfare Systems Operator airplanes to conduct increased and The evolving nature of CTF-57 opera- 2nd Class, Cheryl Campbell explained, more detailed surveillance over land. tions became especially apparent dur- airborne camera operators aboard P- Using the aircraft for overland ing the opening salvos of the Iraq war. 3s now “have the ability to watch intelligence, surveillance and re- “In March 2003, CTF-57 demon- ground operations, and relay informa- connaissance is a new role for Au- strated groundbreaking employ- tion to the troops about activity in the roras, say the documents, which 20 ment of [Maritime Patrol Recon- area.” note the planes may need an army naissance Aircraft] MPRA aircraft Clearly, 2003 was a watershed liaison officer to be part of the on- 22 overland [in] Iraq in support of Op- moment for the overland use of these board crew.” eration Iraqi Freedom. P-3s [the “maritime” aircraft. As the Com- These enhancements to Cana- U.S. equivalent of Canada’s CP- mander of CTF-57 Public Affairs said da’s fleet of CP-140s were part of the 140s] flew armed surveillance and “The mission of the P-3 has evolved $1.67 billion Aurora Incremental reconnaissance missions, both even further inland during this con- Modernization Project (AIMP) which overland and in maritime roles.”18 flict, and has continued to make the began in 1998. Among many other ad- This “overland” use of MPRA Orion the ‘asset of choice’ for real ditions and improvements to the CP- aircraft is also discussed in a Septem- time imagery that Marine units 140, the AIMP has included: ber 2003 article celebrating the CTF- need for success on the battle- • Upgrades to navigation and flight 57’s role in Iraq. In this article, “Jour- field.... As new targets or potential instruments (CMC Electronics), nalist 1st Class” Dennis J.Herring, targets would emerge…the P-3 pro- •New electro-optical and infrared from 5th Fleet Public Affairs, says the vides a mix of imagery [including] sensors (L-3 Communications), CTF 57’s high resolution infrared images • New MX-20 long-range multisen- “two primary missions are support- which provide the ‘big picture’ to sor imaging system with electro- ing ground troops in Iraq and per- those on the ground…. optical, laser-illuminated, see-in- 23 forming [Operation Iraqi Freedom] The P-3 continues to move for- the-dark surveillance cameras (L- OIF maritime interception opera- ward and evolve as a package, giv- 3 Wescam), tions (MIO) as part of the coali- ing the operational commander • APS-508 radar project which inte- tion’s effort to stop illegal smug- flexibility and options for both tar- grates maritime patrol and overland gling of oil.” get identification and neutralizing air-to-ground, Synthetic-Aperture 21 He then quotes the CTF-57’s deputy threats to ground forces.” Radar/Ground Moving Target Indi- 24 commander, Capt. David Mitchell, According to documents ob- cator (MacDonald, Dettwiler and who explains that the Task Force’s tained by the NDP in 2006, upgrades Associates Ltd., and Alliant Tech “overland mission has been prima- to the sensor technology aboard Ca- Systems). rily in support of Marine Corps nadian CP-140s had already been done Probably the most important troops on the ground, but also to allow these sorts of new, land-sur- phase of AIMP began in 2003. That’s Army… During these missions, we veillance operations to assist military when they began to add usually have one of their officers units fighting on the ground. “a new airborne radar surveillance ride along and communicate with “Auroras have been fitted with up- solution…[to] give Canada’s fleet [of CP-140s] the ability able to de- tect, track, and image objects mov- Corp. Chris Buglar, from 14 Wing ing on land as well as at sea.”25 Greenwood, NS, a member of the Armed with this and other new Long-Range Patrol Detachment (LRP ground-breaking “over-land” technol- Det), washes a CP-140 Aurora ogy, Canada began using CP-140s in Afghanistan in 2009. This “deploy- at an undisclosed air base in the ment of the Auroras and their highly “Arabian Gulf Region,” probably specialized sensor equipment,” said Canada’s “Camp Mirage” in the UAE. Defence Minister Peter MacKay, “will produce valuable digital aerial The caption for this photo on the imagery to improve awareness of the situation on the ground for deployed Canadian Forces website notes that: Canadian Forces and allied troops.”26 “The mission of the LRP Det is to Lt.-General Angus Watt, Chief work with the US Navy 5th Fleet to of Canada’s Air Force, also com- deliver reconnaissance and mented on this expanded role for the See photograp surveillance support to the US-led CP-140 by saying that the deployment of Auroras to Afghanistan “represents maritime coalition forces.” an expansion from its long-time role Source: Canadian Forces photo by Corp. Henry Wall, Feb. 12, 2003. APD03-0512-15 of maritime patrol.”27 40 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 The CP-140s Latest Targets: Domestic “Security” in Vancouver and Toronto The CP-140’s warfighting role has continued to expand and evolve for decades. It has been used to track Rus- CP-140 “Aurora” Spy Plane sian submarines, to pursue elusive over Toronto, June 27, 2010, Iraqi leaders fleeing aboard ships in the Persian Gulf, and to target insurgents during the G8-G20 protests fighting the occupation of Afghanistan. Now there is a new target in the Auro- MX-20 Imaging Turret ra’s sights. Canada’s CP-140s have most recently been used to carry out Combining highly accurate gyro- surveillance work during two huge stabilization with multiple, high- Note t domestic operations within Canada, magnification, day and night vision the 19 namely, at the Winter Olympics and sensors, this long-range imaging during the G8-G20 extravaganzas. system is mounted under the nose The first of these—Operation Podium—took place during the Olym- of the CP-140. It contains electro- pic/Paralympic games, in February and optical, laser-illuminated, see-in- March 2010. Canada’s Air Force has the-dark surveillance cameras. It is described Op Podium as “the most manufactured by L3 Wescam in complex domestic operation ever un- Burlington, Ontario. dertaken in Canada,” and says it was “the largest [Canadian Forces] CF and the Olympics in this way: first, say Maj. Kael Rennie and Capt. Air Force deployment in recent “They were used at the Winter Ol- Matt Crosbie, in that “a Tactical Air 28 memory.” It was also “the first time ympics in Vancouver this year pro- Control Party (TACP) saw its first ever in Canada” that that “video streaming viding persistent surveillance in an major domestic operation in Canada.” from CP-140” was “operationalised,” overview capability to keep an eye This was unusual, they continue, be- i.e., used in a “real world” operation out for anyone who might want to cause outside a military exercise. And, the cause trouble.”30 “Normal TACP duties included the A few months later, the employment of fixed wing and at- Battle tested over Yugoslavia, Iraq CP-140 was at it again, this tack helicopters in the employment and Afghanistan, CP-140 spy planes time over the turbulent down- of air-to-ground munitions. While flew over the 2010 protests in town streets of Toronto, dur- that works well in Afghanistan, it Vancouver and Toronto. ing protests against the G8- was obviously not the desired effect G20 summit. On June 2631 and for the G8/G20.”35 As the VP of Canada’s L3 Wescam June 27,32 an Aurora aircraft Canada’s new, battle-tested proudly reports, they provided was seen continuously circling technology is refered to as the “Over- “persistent surveillance in an overview over Toronto’s core as thou- land Equipment Mission Suite” and the capability to keep an eye out for sands of citizens assembled to “Tactical Common DataLink.” Using anyone who might want express opposition to govern- cameras affixed to CP-140s, these ment policies, including the new systems provide “full motion to cause trouble.” wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. video imagery” for the immediate use (See photograph on page X.) An Au- of army and/or police units on the Air Force describes it as a “world rora was also spotted flying nearby ground, whether they are battling the first,” in terms of using over Burlington and Hamilton, On- Talibhan or ban-the-bomb protesters. “integrated data links from the Air tario, on June 23,33 as excessive secu- As Major CMR Larsen puts it: Force, Navy and [Canadian NORAD rity restrictions descended upon the “In plain speak: the Aurora can now Region] CANR, as well as the U.S. citizens of the entire region. use its powerful camera system ef- Navy, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Coast The CP-140 that was on the ficiently, and while airborne can ac- Guard, into one coherent air and lookout over Toronto was part of what tually transmit video to a supported 29 maritime picture.” the military called Operation Cadence. unit…. What we can see from the ph on page X. Cutting through such technical Col Eyre, Commander of a Canadian air, a tactical commander can see on descriptions, the vice president of Mechanized Brigade Group at Cana- the ground. It is not hard to imagine Canada’s L-3 Wescam—which makes dian Forces Base Petawawa, described how this capability greatly adds to high-tech spy cameras and sensors for it as “the largest security operation in the ‘big picture’ required by opera- the CP-140—summed up its role at the history of Canada.”34 It was also a tional commanders.”36 November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 41 In an even ‘bigger picture’ view of this future use of CP-140s in foreign wars References ‘technological advancement,’ what this and domestic operations? There is 1. Dennis Bueckert, “Defence Department means is that the militarization of po- definitely a cross-fertilisation occur- confirms Canadian personnel active in licing in Canada is reaching phenom- ring between Canada’s military and war on Iraq,” CP Wire, March 27, 2003. enally new heights. police forces. The technologically- www.lawyersagainstthewar.org/news/ The CP-140 overflying the enhanced experiences of warriors who bueckert.html highly-militarised $1 billion response use airborne surveillance platforms 2. Senate Debate, April 2, 2003. www.parl.gc.ca/37/2/parlbus/chambus/ to protests in Toronto was operating like the CP-140 while fighting insur- senate/deb-e/047db_2003-04-02-E.htm out of a Canadian Forces Base (CFB) gents in foreign battlezones is being 3. CP-140 Aurora in Trenton, Ontario. Two RCMP of- increasingly used to enhance and in- www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/v2/equip/cp140/ ficers very-happily took turns work- form major “homeland security” op- index-eng.asp ing 12-hour shifts doing “air services” erations against dissidents on Canadian 4. The military buildup, CBC News Online, aboard the CP-140. As RCMP Cpl. streets. Canada’s Air Force says it is February 14, 2003. Bob Thomas describes it: planning to “capitalise” on this cross- www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2003/ 030214-buildup01.htm “We did flight observation for the fertilisation: 5. Major Neil Tabbenor, “CP140 Joins the security on the ground…. Just be- “With the wrap up of Op Cadence, Fight,” In Harms Way, 2006. fore both Summits started I moved the 9-member [Tactical Air Control www.cda-acd.forces.gc.ca/cfli-ilfc/doc/ to CFB Trenton and did all my fly- Party] TACP team will dissolve and InHarmsWaycopy-fra.pdf ing from there as the Summits were each member will return to their 6. “The Canadian Forces’ Contribution to going on.”37 home units. The Air Force, however, the International Campaign Against Thomas was chosen for the job be- is planning to expand the capability Terrorism,”August 6, 2003. cause of his experience with “aerial of the TACPs within each Brigade www.centcom.mil/en/canada/ flight observation and infrared camera beginning in the summer of 2010 7. Ibid. 8. Richard Gimblett, Operation Apollo: training.” He was in order to capitalize on the hard- The Golden Age of the Canadian Navy “one of just two RCMP officers as- earned successes not only in the in the War against Terrorism, 2004. signed to fly with the…surveillance skies and on the battlefields of Af- 9. CP-140 Aurora. Op. cit. aircraft, a CP-140 Aurora. It was that ghanistan but also here at home in 10. Henry Wall, CF Photo, April 4, 2003. opportunity that Thomas found most Canada.”39 www.forceaerienne.forces.gc.ca/v2/netpub/ memorable. ‘It was an awesome The Canadian crews who oper- index-eng.asp?rid=2279-APD03-0599-06 experience.’”38 ate CP-140 Auroras at the Comox Air 11. Henry Wall, CF Photo, Feb. 12, 2003. Force Base on Vancouver Island, BC, www.forceaerienne.forces.gc.ca/v2/netpub/ aptly call themselves the “Demon index--eng.asp?rid=2275-APD03-0512-12 What’s Next? 12. Our Mission The “good old days” when Canada’s Squadron.” In their “vision” statement, www.cusnc.navy.mil/mission/mission.html CP-140 Auroras were used primarily they recognize the changing nature of 13. Ibid. for hunting Soviet submarines, have the CP-140’s role, saying: “The De- 14. Accomplishing the Mission long gone. The Intelligence, Surveil- mons will be leaders in a dynamic en- www.cusnc.navy.mil/command/accomplish. lance and Reconnaissance technology vironment. In our quest for excellence, html 15. Sean M. Maloney, “Are We Really Just that appeared aboard America’s P-3 we will embrace and pursue techno- logical change.”40 And, in their Mis- Peacekeepers? The Perception versus Orion warplanes during the 2003 Iraq the Reality of Canadian Military Involve- sion statement, Canada’s “Demon” war, is now being used by Canadian ment in the Iraq War,” IRPP. 2003. CP-140 versions of these long-range warriors express their willingness to www.irpp.org/miscpubs/archive/wp/wp2003 patrol aircraft to conduct overland embrace that future wherever it leads: -02.pdf missions in rural Afghan warzones and “The 407 Demon Squadron mission 16. “Foreign Support of the U.S. War on the quasi-war zones of urban Toronto. is to provide regional, national and Terrorism,” Congressional Research The dramatic evolution from expeditionary commanders with a Service, July 11, 2002. the CP-140s role in “leadership inter- rapidly deployable, self-sufficient, fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/ combat [Intelligence, Surveillance 35109.pdf diction” missions over the Persian 17. U.S. Fifth Fleet Task Forces Gulf in the early 2000s to their “lead- and Reconnaissance] ISR and [Anti- www.cusnc.navy.mil/taskforces.html ership protection” missions above Submarine Warfare] ASW attack 18. Welcome to Misawa Air Base, Japan! Toronto’s summit meetings in 2010, capability to enable them to project www.misawa.af.mil/shared/media/document/ took a dramatic turn in 2003 due to air power at home and abroad.” AFD-070614-170.pdf 19. Dennis J. Herring, “CTF-57 Aircraft, “advances” in airborne surveillance Finally, as the “Demon’s Creed” concludes: Crews Pass 10K Mark,” Sept. 26, 2003. technologies that occurred during the www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id height of the air war against Iraq. Cana- “The Demons are proud warriors…. =9698 da’s military caught the wave of those We are the eyes, ears and fists of 20. Ibid. “advances” and is now riding it rapidly commanders over the land and 21. CTF-57 Continuing the Mission to Sup- forward aboard modernized, battle- sea…. port Operation Iraqi Freedom, Navy hardened CP-140s. We are proud to be recognized as Newstand, April 22, 2003. What does this bode for the Demons.”41 www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id =7006 42 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 22. Chris Lambie, “Military wants ‘large as possible’ slice of flying time,” The Chronicle Herald, December 8, 2006. Not Just a forums.army.ca/forums/index.php?topic= 54076.0 23. AN/ASX-4 (MX-20) EO/IR Spy Plane jproc.ca/rrp/rrp3/cp140_mx20.html 24. Electronic Warfare Handbook 2008 www.groundsystems-index.com/images/ 2008homegsi/ewh2008.pdf 25. Canada’s Auroras Getting Land Surveil- lance Capabilities, May 27, 2009. www.defenseindustrydaily.com/canadas- auroras-getting-land-surveillance-capabili- ties-02996/ 26. “Canada’s Air Force to Produce Maps for Canadian Troops in Afghanistan,” A CP-140 DND news release, May 8, 2009. with www.afghanistan.gc.ca/canada-afghanistan/ Toronto International news-nouvelles/2009/2009_05_08.aspx wide-open 27. Ibid. Air Show, weapons-bay 28. “Op Podium Air Component delivers,” September 4, 2005. April 21, 2010. doors. www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/v2/nr-sp/index- eng.asp?id=10457 The “Aurora’s” Weapons Capabilities 29. Ibid. 30. Jerry Langton, “L-3 WESCAM and L-3 By Richard Sanders, coordinator, Coa- Bomb bay and wing stations [are] fit- Communication Systems-West: Joining lition to Oppose the Arms Trade ted with BRU-15A shackles.”4 These forces to supply critical systems for the two varieties of BRUs (Bomb Release Canadian Forces,” Canadian Defence he Canadian Air Force website Units) are also used aboard America’s Review, April 2010. lists the following “weapons P-3 “Orion” warplanes.5 www.wescam.com/pdf/media/L-3Wescam systems” used by CP-140s: A 1987 source on weapons sys- _and_L-3Systems_West.pdf T 31. Military freq for G20 “Mark 46 Mod. V anti-submarine tor- tems states that the CP-140’s forums.radioreference.com/ontario/184053- pedoes; signal chargers; smoke mark- “lower fuselage weapons bay [is] military-freq-g20-2.html ers; illumination flares.”1 This offi- capable of taking 4,800 lb (2177 32. Canadians send message to G20 in re- cial military source then notes that the kg) of stores on eight stations or cent Toronto violence CP-140 can “be retrofitted to carry 6,350 lb (2427 kg) on three sta- rabble.ca/babble/national-news/canadians- anti-ship air-to-surface missiles.”2 tions…. Among the weapon types send-message-g20-recent-toronto-violence 33. G20 in Toronto Other online sources state that which can be carried are depth community.the-digital-picture.com/image_ the CP-140 “can be fitted after a mi- bombs, mines, torpedoes and mis- presentation1/f/15/p/4127/34973.aspx#34973 nor retrofit” to carry siles such as the AGM-84 Harpoon 34. “Op Cadence,” Petawawa Post, July 8, “air-to-surface rockets or conven- anti-ship missile.”6 2010. tional bombs. Virtually any arma- www.cg.cfpsa.ca/cg-pc/Petawawa/EN/ ment cleared for use on the P-3 se- References InformationandFAQ/Newspapers/PetPost/ 1. CP-140 Aurora, Technical Specifications Documents/8July2010.pdf ries can be fitted for use based on airframe similarities.”3 www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/v2/equip/cp140/ 35. Maj. Kael Rennie and Capt. Matt Cros- specs-eng.asp (The P-3 “Orion” is the U.S. Long bie, “Tactical Air Control , TACP for Op 2. Ibid. Cadence,” Petawawa Post, July 8, 2010. Range Patrol aircraft from which 3. Lockheed CP-140 Aurora 36. Major CMR Larsen, “14 Wing CP-140 Canada’s CP-140s are derived, and they en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_CP- Aurora participates on Operation are “virtually identical externally.”4) 140_Aurora NANOOK,” September 9, 2010. The fact that CP-140s can carry 4. Ibid. www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/14w-14e/nr-sp/in- the same variety of weapons as P-3s 5. CP-140 Aurora dex-eng.asp?id=10962 jproc.ca/rrp/rrp3/cp140.html is also indicated by the type of 37. “Local RCMP officer assists in security 6. BRU-12/A Bomb Rack efforts at G8 and G20 Summits,” “weapon shackles” that these two air- www.tpub.com/content/aviation/14024/css/ Shaunavon Standard, August 31, 2010. craft employ. These “shackles” or 14024_270.htm www.theshaunavonstandard.com/news/lo- “bomb racks” inside CP-140 bomb BRU-15/A Bomb Rack cal-news/192.html bays, are the pylons to which weapons www.tpub.com/content/aviation/14024/css/ 38. Ibid. are affixed or mounted during flight. 14024_271.htm 39. Rennie and Crosbie, Op.cit. 7. Christopher Chant, A compendium of 40. Vision, Mission, and Creed These racks allow bombs to be “safely” and efficiently dropped from the air- armaments and military hardware, www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/19w-19e/sqns- 1987, p.426. escs/page-eng.asp?id=854 craft. The Canadian CP-140 “Bomb books.google.ca/books?id=k9cNA 41. Ibid. bay uses BRU-12A Weapon shackles; AAAQAAJ&vq November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 43 Lt.Col. Jason Major and Col. Bill Seymour Lt. Col. James Irvine served with LRP Squads in Iraq War, 2003 s former Commander (2008- A2010) of Canada’s west coast By Richard Sanders, coordinator, Coa- equivalent of Canadian “Auroras.” Both fleet of CP-140s at Comox Air Force lition to Oppose the Arms Trade countries deployed these LRP aircraft Base in BC, Irvine was to the Persian Gulf in the early 2000s “very proud of the Sqn’s role in Op- ol. Bill Seymour and Lt.Col. to abet U.S.-led plans for all out war eration Athena providing mapping Jason Major both built their against Iraq. Then, in early 2003, when imagery to the ground troops in Af- CAir Force careers around Can- the “shock and awe” bombing of Iraq ghanistan, providing airborne sur- ada’s CP-140 spy planes. Both have was launched and the war officially veillance at the 2010 Olympics in seen combat missions aboard these began, Canadian and British LRP air- Vancouver for Op Podium and pro- Long Range Patrol (LRP) aircraft, and craft and crews were already on hand viding air surveillance at the G8 – both had a taste of the war in Iraq. to join the fray. This was how Major G20 political summits in Ontario found himself flying British Nimrods for Op Cadence.” Lt.Col. Jason Major and waging war during America’s so- (Source: 405 Long Range Patrol Lt.Col. Major is now the Commander called Operation Iraqi Freedom: Squadron, Change of Command Pa- of the 405 “Pathfinder” LRP Squad- “While on exchange, Capt Major rade, August 26, 2010.) (See p.X.) ron in Greenwood, Nova Scotia, which served as the Sqn Standards Pilot (See p.Y operates CP-140s. After becoming a and was Crew Commander of one Iraq War Medal.”2 AC-130.) pilot in 1995, he was posted to the 407 of the Maritime Counter Terrorism Major’s “Iraq War Medal,” Squadron at Comox Air Force Base on Crews. In 2002, he and his crew awarded by the UK Ministry of Defence, Vancouver Island. While there, he was deployed to the Middle East in sup- honours participants in “Operation promoted to Captain, became a Crew port of Op Enduring Freedom con- Telic” which began January 20, 2003. Commander, and was chosen to go on ducting patrols in Gulf of Oman and It was “awarded to UK Armed Forces “exchange” with “206 Sqn at Royal Air the Arabian Gulf. In 2003, Captain and civilian personnel, including em- Force [Base] Kinloss [Scotland] to fly Major returned to the Middle East bedded media, and certain foreign na- the Nimrod MR2 aircraft.”1 again, this time to fly in Op[eration] tionals assigned to the operation.”3 Nimrod MR2s are Britain’s Iraqi Freedom, where he earned the Like Canadian Auroras of today, Canada’s Lt.Col. Jason Major flew a British Nimrod MR2 during the Iraq War, in 2003. These spy planes are armed with Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, Stingray anti-sub torpedoes, and Harpoon anti-ship missiles. They were also fitted with L3 Wescam’s MX-15 target-finding Nimrod MR2 firing a Harpoon missile sensor turret made in Canada. 44 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 and 405) that operate thirteen of Cana- Former Republic of Yugoslavia.8 da’s eighteen CP-14s. As for his tour of duty in the Seymour served “multiple fly- Persian Gulf, Seymour’s official bi- ing tours” aboard CP-140s, including ography states: twice with 407 “Demon” Squadron, at “In 2003 he deployed to the Mid- the Comox Air Force Base, on Vancou- dle East prior to the second Gulf ver Island, BC, and twice with the 404 War to support LRP operations in “Thundering Herd” Squadron, based in Operation Apollo as the Canadian Nova Scotia. (Seymour was the Com- LRP Liaison Officer to [the Com- manding Officer of 404 Squadron be- mander, U.S. Naval Forces Central tween 2005 and 2007.) Command] COMUSNAVCENT in During one of his CP-140 Bahrain, supporting Canadian CP- overseas operational tours, Seymour 140 Aurora and [Canadian Forces] was a crew commander “flying armed CF Naval operations in the region.”9 Lt. Col. Jason Major missions” during Operation Sharp Although Seymour may not received Britain’s Guard to enforce the imposition of have flown onboard CP-140 during “Iraq War Medal” economic sanctions against the their missions against Iraqi targets, his leadership role was pivotal to ensur- most of the Nimrods deployed to the Col. Bill Seymour is the ing that all such Canadian missions Iraq war in 2003 had state-of-the-art Commander of 14 Wing were efficiently subsumed within the sensor/camera turrets made in U.S.-led operations. His job involved Burlington Ontario by L3 Wescam Greenwood, Canada’s larg- report directly to the leading Ameri- (See p.X.). The Nimrods had est east coast Air Force Base. can Naval officer in charge of the huge “new L-3 Wescam MX-15 electro- Home to 13 of Canada’s 18 Central-Command “Area of Respon- optical turrets under their starboard CP-140 “Auroras,” 14 Wing sibility.” CENTCOM is responsible wings, and were employed to obtain deployed two of these Long for waging all U.S. wars throughout the reconnaissance imagery over Middle East and Central Asia, includ- Iraq—very different from their nor- Range Patrol aircraft to ing Iraq and Afghanistan. mal maritime patrol duties.”4 the Iraq War in 2003. In his key role as the Canadian The Nimrods in Iraq “used their LRP Liaison Officer to the Com- electro-optical equipment to identify mander of the U.S. Naval Forces Cen- potential targets” and specifically to tral Command, Seymour was ulti- “assist AC-130 Spectre [Attack] Gun- mately responsible for coordinating ships and RAF Tornado GR4 [Fighter- with America’s 5th Fleet not only Cana- Bomber] aircraft by pinpointing tar- da’s CP-140 sorties over the Persian ) gets with their sensors.”5 (See p.Y for Gulf, but also this country’s consider- for more on the more on the AC-130.) able Navy operations that were part of Major has served as vice presi- the the so-called War on Terror and dent of a global network to “foster Operation Iraqi Freedom. goodwill and fellowship” among LRP flyers “of the free world” who have References flown 2000+ hours aboard these spy 1. 405 Long Range Patrol Squad., Change planes.6 Both Irvine and Seymour are of Command Parade, August 26, 2010. proud members of this club. www.forceaerienne.forces.gc.ca/14w-14e/nr- sp/index-eng.asp?id=10909 2. Ibid. Col. Bill Seymour 3. Operation Telic Col. William F. Seymour’s Air Force webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/ career has included work as a naviga- www.operations.mod.uk/telic/campaign_ tor on NATO E-3A “Airborne Warn- medal.htm ing and Control System” warplanes as 4. Target Lock: BAE Systems Nimrod www.targetlock.org.uk/nimrod/service.html well as aboard Canadian CC-130 5. BAe Nimrod MR1/2 “Hercules” transport/cargo aircraft. www.spyflight.co.uk/nimrod.htm However, most of his flying time has 6. VP International been with CP-140 “Auroras.”7 www.vpinternational.ca In July 2009, Seymour—with 7. 405 Long Range Patrol... Op. cit. more than 3400 flying hours on CP- 8. Senior Officer Biography www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dsa-dns/sa-ns/ 140s—took command of 14 Wing ab/sobv-vbos-eng.asp?mAction=View&m Greenwood, in Nova Scotia. Green- BiographyID=886 wood has two squadrons (named 404 9. Ibid. November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 45 Major Jeremy Reynolds, a.k.a.“Globesmasher”: A Canadian C-17 Pilot Reflects on his Iraq War Experiences By Richard Sanders, coordinator, Coa- tise about the C-17, Reynolds has also The Bashur Airdrop lition to Oppose the Arms Trade offered glimpses into Canada’s con- Major Reynolds uses acronym-laden tribution to the Iraq War from the point prose to describe his contribution to ajor Jeremy Reynolds has of view of someone who, as he puts it, a major operation of the Iraq War: been a frequent contributor was “engaged in the actual open days “I also flew in the Bashur airdrop Mto various online, military- of the invasion.”2 For example, in ref- of the 173rd [Airborne Brigade] in discussion groups. Reynold’s self-as- erence to the C-17, he makes the fol- [Operation Iraqi Freedom] OIF (#9 cribed online moniker in these fora is lowing revelation about his many sor- [plane] in a formation of 15). 1000 “Globesmasher.” This is a play on the ties into Afghanistan and Iraq: men dropped [using parachutes] official nickname for the huge Boeing- “I’ve operated the aircraft from from 10 [C-17] aircraft in forma- built C-17 cargo/tarnsport plane, 2001 - 2004 on dirt strips ([For- tion, blacked out [i.e., with their namely the “Globemaster III.” ward Operating Base] FOB Rhino lights off] on NVGs [i.e, using Night “Globesmasher” has introduced and also shattered slab concrete run- Vision Goggles] and 5 [C-17] air- himself to internet discussion groups ways (Kandanhar [sic], Bagram, craft in the lead dropping [heavy as a Canadian pilots who flew U.S. Air Masar-i-Sharif) in Afghanistan, and equipment] HE in formation. 1000 Force (USAF) C-17s during the Iraq all of the northern FOBs in Iraq.” men in a single pass over the [Drop war. He and other discussants provide (Emphasis added) Zone] DZ - 100 [paratroopers] per enough detailed information to reveal In another online C-17 discus- aircraft, 50 per side double door…. without a doubt that “Globemaster” is, sion, Major Reynolds says It is a very capable ‘tactical’ air- in fact, Major Jeremy Reynolds.1 “I flew the beast from Sept 2001 - craft.”3 During these often-technical Sept 2004. 1500 hours in 3 years This “airdrop” of paratroopers discussions, Major Reynolds offers .... 2 years on OEF [Operation En- and heavy equipment, in which Major “first hand” knowledge of the C-17 to during Freedom] in Afghanistan and Reynolds so proudly took part, was an an appreciative, at-times reverential, 1 year on OIF [Operation Iraqi important event in the early days of the audience of Canadian militarists. Freedom] in Iraq.” (Emphasis 2003 invasion. It is widely recognized While sharing his considerable exper- added) as having “opened the northern front” Canadian C-17 Crews Trained on U.S. Missions in Iraq Maj. Jeremy Reynolds (left) “gearing up for a night flight aboard the C- 17 while serving on ex- change with the U.S. Air Force in 2004.” Maj. Jean Maisonneuve (right) pilot- ing a Canadian C-17. lots learned to fly the giant C-17 Globemaster III transport/cargo planes and saw “what the aircraft can do first- hand.”4 During his three years with the USAF, Major Reynolds chalked up

Photo: U.S. Air Force Photo: U.S. 5 1,500 hours flying C-17s, while Ma- Photo: Jean Maisonneuve anadian military pilots, Majors jor Maisonneuve acquired “about “there was one MX officer” (or Jean Maisonneuve and Jeremy 2,000 hours”6 piloting these huge “Maintenance Major”), “one load- CReynolds were “exchange pi- “strategic airlifters.” master” and “a logistics Capt[ain].”7 lots with the U.S. Air Force [USAF] There were also three other While stationed at state-side USAF between 2001 and 2004”1 and “flew Canadian air force personnel learning bases and during military operations the C-17 in Iraq and Afghanistan.”2 the ropes with Reynolds and Maison- in Iraq and Afghanistan, these three While “taking part in opera- neuve. Besides these two “pilots who Canadians learned the technical intri- tional missions”3 in the Iraq and Af- were part of the original C-17 ex- cacies of loading and maintaining the ghan wars, these Canadian CC-130 pi- change program from 2001 – 2004,” mammoth C-17 aircraft. 46 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 , May 2003. Boeing Frontiers Online Boeing Frontiers On March 26, 2003, 1000 soldiers were dropped over Bashur, Iraq. Paratroopers are seen here waiting to board C-17s for the Bashur mission, the largest U.S. formation airdrop since WWII. of the Iraq war. In fact, this much-her- trenched at the small landing strip.5 On Abrahms [sic] M1A1 into Northern alded operation has found its place in April 9, the Stars and Stripes military Iraq in 2003. They weighed in at military lore as “the largest formation magazine reported that “So far, more 134,000 lbs, fully armoured and airdrop carried out by the United than 150 flights, mostly C-17 Globe- fully armed (full ammo compli- States since World War II.”4 It took masters, have touched down at the air- ment).”7 place on March 26, 2003, when “more field since the paratroops secured the He went on to describe the scene than 950 paratroopers from the 173d area,” and “[o]n average, the Air Force aboard the C-17 saying Airborne Brigade jumped into Bashur, is delivering 1 million pounds of cargo “All the ammunition was loaded in Iraq, to set the stage for a northern a day to Bashur.”6 the racks in the actual tank. front. Two days later [there were] The heaviest pieces of cargo It drove on—the crew stepped out …more than 2,000” U.S. troops en- delivered to Bashur by C-17s were and sat in the sidewall seats. Abrams Main Battle Tanks. As Major It then drove off at destination References Reynolds put it: ready to fight—that was it. 1. “People at Work,” Maple Leaf, Febru- “The C-17s hauled the American All the ammo and add-on armour ary 28, 2007. www.forces.gc.ca/site/commun/ml-fe/article- eng.asp?id=3363 2. Kristina Davis, “First Air Force pilots certified on the C-17 Globemaster,” Maple Leaf, April 18, 2007. www.forces.gc.ca/site/commun/ml-fe/ vol_10/vol10_10/1010_full.pdf 3. Chris Taylor, “First CF pilots certified on the C-17.” Google cache: taylorempireairways.com/tag/ canadian-forces/page/5/ 4. Holly Bridges, “Government of Canada announces the purchase of four C-17 Globemaster III,” February 5, 2007. www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/v2/nr-sp/index- eng.asp?id=2426 5. “People at Work,” Maple Leaf, Febru- ary 28, 2007. www.forces.gc.ca/site/commun/ml-fe/article- eng.asp?id=3363 6. Kristina Davis, “First Air Force pilots certified on the C-17 Globemaster,” Maple Leaf, April 18, 2007. www.forces.gc.ca/site/commun/ml-fe/article- This photo of an U.S. M1 Abrams battle tank aboard an eng.asp?id=3256 American C-17, was posted by “Globesmasher” who said: 7. Re: Will the C17s Make it to the Ramp?, “The ammunition was loaded in the racks in the actual tank. February 3, 2007. forums.army.ca/forums/index.php/ It drove on—the crew stepped out and sat in the sidewall topic,54089.180.html seats. It then drove off at destination ready to fight.” November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 47 added a great deal to the these strategic airlifters.11 overall weight of the ve- Canada’s $3.4 Billion dollar hicle.”8 contract to buy four C-17s To illustrate this, from Boeing was signed in Reynolds posted “a picture of February 2007.12 one of the hauls one night.” Whatever the reason for It shows an ammo-laden their training as C-17 “In- Abrams tank draped with U.S. structor Pilots” five years flags and lashed down within before an elected Canadian a C-17. Whether government decided to buy “Globesmasher” took this these planes, it certainly was photo during one of his for- This Canadian C-17 propitious. So, when the Ca- ays into Iraq is unknown. (See nadian Forces did finally image on previous page.) (CC-177) was flown by have four C-17s on order, pi- Major Reynolds at the lots Maison-neuve and Rey- Why were Canadians Brantford Air Show, 2008. nolds were not only ready trained to fly C-17s and willing to fly them, they in 2003? vision goggles are used. were already conveniently trained to The fact that Reynolds and teach others how to fly them. In another online discussion about the Maisonneuve started training on USAF These graduates of the Iraq air C-17, Major Reynolds notes that in C-17s as “Instructor Pilots” in 2001 war were not only the first Canadian “Sept 2004” “I left the USAF exchange is curious because Canada did not ac- pilots certified to fly American C- [program] as an Airdrop [Night Vision tually own any of these warplanes un- 17s,13 they were also chosen to set up Goggles Instructor Pilot] NVG IP.”9 til 2007. An election-campaign pledge and oversee the elaborate training pro- “Instructor pilots,” like Reynolds and to purchase C-17s was made by the grams that were needed to prepare doz- Maisonneuve, are specially trained to Conservatives in December 2005,10 ens of pilots and aircrew on how to op- teach others, and Reynolds’ training but it wasn’t until June 2006 that their erate, load and maintain these expen- involved learning to instruct pilots how newly-elected government announced sive new Canadian warplanes. to operate C-17s during lights-out, its controversial intention to purchase nocturnal operations, in which night More Canadians “trained” Canadian Pilots Flew C-17 Missions in Iraq War in 2007 anadian Forces personnel learned to operate Canada’s Cnewest military plane, the gi- ant Boeing C-17, by training on Ameri- can jets, including flying those planes into Iraq in support of the U.S. war, ac- cording to a memo written by Cana- da’s top general and obtained by Canwest News Service. General Rick Hillier, [then] chief of Canada’s defence staff, wrote to Gordon O’Connor, then-minister of national defence, in May 2007 that in the summer and fall of that year, Ca- nadian military aircrew would fly into Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Free- dom. That decision was taken without Canadian crews, a phase referred to by to operate on [U.S. Air Force] USAF informing Parliament. the military as “seasoning.” C-17 missions to Iraq is low.” “Canadians have been very clear “To ensure flexibility, as well Dan Dugas, a spokesman for from the beginning that they wanted no as obtain maximum exposure to the Defence Minister Peter MacKay, said part of George Bush’s war on Iraq,” roles and missions of the C-17, de- the Canadians on exchange can end up said NDP defence critic Dawn Black, ployment approval on [Operations] in Iraq, as they did in this case, when “and they certainly don’t want to see Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom the U.S. unit they have been assigned Canadians getting involved through a [i.e., the Iraq and Afghan wars] has been to is sent by U.S. authorities to Iraq. back door.” requested,” General Hillier wrote. Under the terms of the Canada-U.S. The flights into Iraq were part “The overall risk associated with al- officer exchange program, the partici- of the second phase of training for lowing [Canadian Forces] CF aircrew pating officers essentially become 48 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 America’s “Daisy Cutter” and the “Mother of all Bombs” (MOAB) are among the largest non-nuclear bombs ever made. Major Reynolds said of his time with the U.S. Air Force in Iraq: “I sat for days in the ‘alert posture’ and hoped I would be able to drop one on the Whaleback.” in Iraq War Missions, 2007 were involved in C-17 operations, soning training” for Canada’s C-17 According to Ottawa Citizen reporter with both eventually flying the air- crews included “exposure” to war zone David Pugliese, the C-17 program craft on missions in Iraq and Af- “operations” with the USAF in Iraq: trained “four crews per aircraft.” That ghanistan. “Most of the guys from the first meant “32 pilots and 24 loadmasters. Reynolds also credits the close phase will be returning with about Another 96 technicians and 10 main- working relationship between the ~160 hours or so of flying experi- tenance management personnel” to Canadian and U.S. air forces for the ence and ready to fly operationally “round out Canada’s C-17 team.”14 ease in setting up the training pack- as soon as the aircraft arrive in YTR Pugliese also noted that: age. Many of the officers he had to [Canadian Forces Base Trenton, “Reynolds, who helped design the deal with in arranging the courses Ontario]. Most of their training Canadian C-17 air crew training were former colleagues from his down here consisted of local train- course with fellow pilot Maj. Jean days flying with the U.S. Air ing missions and also 10 day 15 Maisonneuve, credits an earlier ex- Force.” ‘staged’ operations from various change program with the U.S. Air Like the U.S. training Reynolds USAF locations into Iraq for [Op- Force for the speed in which eve- and Maisonneuve had in the early eration Iraqi Freedom] OIF for a lit- 18 rything was put into place. Several 2000s, the new Canadian cadre were tle bit of ‘operational’ exposure.” years ago both he and Maisonneuve also “seasoned” or “embedded” in ac- tual Iraq war missions. (See sidebar, On the “Daisy Cutters” and part of the other country’s military. p.44-45.) In the first of three training the “Mother of all Bombs” Canada took delivery of the reports to online followers, “Globe- During his own “‘operational’ expo- first of its four Boeing C-17s in 2007. smasher” noted in February 2007 that sure” to the war in Iraq, Major The C-17s are among the big- after their “initial qualification train- Reynolds had to confront the possi- gest planes in the world. They are used ing” at McChord Air Force Base in bility that he would be ordered drop by the U.S., British, Australian and Oklahoma, the new Canadian trainees weapons. Although the C-17 is a other air forces for strategic airlift, the “move onto another USAF base to cargo/transport aircraft, and not a long-haul transport of military equip- begin 4 months of ‘imbedded’ [sic] bomber, the C-17 Globemaster III can ment and personnel. training with the USAF…. The drop what are often-touted as the In anticipation of the delivery maintainers (the technicians) have world’s largest “conventional” bombs, of the airplanes, Canada sent a first already begun their initial qualifi- namely MOABs. Technically speak- crew, consisting of at least one pilot, cation training in Charleston [Air ing, MOAB stands for “Massive Ord- co-pilot and a loadmaster, to McChord Force Base in South Carolina] nance Air Blast.” However, “The Air Force Base in Washington. That (about 50 of them) and they too will MOAB” is more often known, quite af- crew trained at McChord until July 16 be ‘imbedded’ with the USAF.” fectionately by some, as “The Mother 2007. A second Canadian C-17 aircrew About three months later, Of All Bombs.” was then sent to Altus Air Force Base Reynolds provided a progress report: In one internet discussion in Oklahoma. Altus is the where the “[W]e are extremely busy in the about these horrendous weapons, U.S. air force does most of its train- USA right now getting the initial “Globesmasher,” aka Major Reynolds, ing for its C-17 crews. That second cadre of crews (6 pilots and 6 load- revealed a personal, almost-nostalgic crew was then assigned for “season- masters) up to speed. We’re trying disclosure about one of his hopes dur- ing” with a U.S. unit flying into Iraq, to cram as much training (the em- ing the Iraq war. When one member of according to General Hillier’s memo. bedded seasoning training) as we an online military forum wondered can ….The next batch/wave/phase of aloud whether the “C17 could deliver Source: "Canadian pilots flew mis- initial cadre…should be ready for a couple of MOAB’s??”, Reynolds re- sions in Iraq," Ottawa Citizen, April 17 their ‘applied training’...in July.” sponded quite candidly: 22, 2008. In his next update two months “Yes it can. www.canada.com/story_print.html? later, Major Reynolds revealed that the The C-17 (and the C-130s ) can both id=46f230d1-ca87-47a6-99aa-d14e77652d18 so-called “applied” or “embedded sea- November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 49 The A-10 Wart Hog’s “Avenger” drop the MOAB ([Guided Bomb Gatling gun can fire 3,900 rounds Unit] GBU-43) and also the Daisy of Depleted Uranium slugs Cutter ([Bomb Live Unit] BLU-82). per minute. The Daisy Cutter is smaller than the MOAB and weighs in at only about 15,000 lbs of high explosive. They are both rigged [within the aircraft] to [Heavy Equipment] HE xetraction [sic] platforms and are dropped using the HE airdrop checklists ... pretty easy really. The USAF kept an airdrop air- crew on alert…so that they could go out and drop any of these as re- quired. I never got called but I sat for days in the ‘alert posture’ and hoped I would be able to drop one The A-10, says Canadian C-17 pilot Major Jeremy Reynolds on the Whaleback to support the (aka “Globesmasher”) has “an incredible track record in Iraq.” guys on the ground ... never hap- This “incredible machine” is as “ugly as sin,” he continues, pened though.”19 (Emphasis added) “but you don’t have to be good looking to kill effectively.” Rushed quickly and publicly through the development process “in mere daisies. U.S. helicopters then de- “A10 only nine weeks to be available for the scended with troops and weapons to Low, slow and packs a deadly punch. Iraq campaign,”20 the first MOAB ex- wage the Vietnam war. “Daisy Cutters” Has plenty of loiter time and can get plosion was a carefully calculated pub- blasted their way into the psyches of right down in the weeds. lic event. The test blast, carried out on another generation of victims during Well built, strong ..... has an incred- March 11, 2003, just days before the the 1991 Iraq War when they were ible track record in Iraq .... official start of the war, was covered used “as much for their psychological Incredible machine. that day by CNN and other media.21 effect as for their destructive power.”25 Ugly as sin ...... but you don’t have Weighing in at over 21,000 to be good looking to kill effec- pounds and measuring thirty feet in “Pick Your Poison” tively.”27 length, the MOAB is often described The A-10 & Depleted Uranium Although the A-10 may—as as the most powerful, non-nuclear Major Reynolds says—be as “ugly as Besides being a great admirer and weapon in the U.S. arsenal. It is, in fact, sin,” this arguably has less to do its ap- would-be dropper of gargantuan mu- “the largest-ever satellite-guided, air- pearance than with people’s willing- nitions like MOABs and “Daisy Cut- delivered weapon in history.”22 The ness to use it to “kill effectively.” The ters,” Major Reynolds has also waxed walloping explosion it creates was de- A-10 is infamous—in some circles at poetic upon two of the most horren- signed not only to “attack large area least—for the special variety of deadly dous war machines ever used in Iraq targets” but also to “have a substantial munitions that it employs. Its slugs or elsewhere, namely, the A-10 “Thun- psychological effect on those who keep on killing long after they’ve hit derbolt” or “Wart Hog,” and the AC- witness its use.”23 And apparently, their targets and aerosolized into tiny 130 “Spectre.” These American war- judging from Reynolds’ MOAB-posi- particles. In fact, this is when the A- planes carrying the designation “A” for tive attitude, besides creating the ex- 10’s abhorrent killing powers really “Attack,” provide what the military call pected “psychological effect” of in- begin to shine. “air support.” This refers to the “act stilling terror among Iraqis, the MOAB This warplane’s raison d’être is of using aircraft to attack an enemy to also had a profound “psychological a weapon called the GAU-8 “Avenger,” assist ground military forces.”26 effect” upon those who were itching a seven-barrel gatling gun that fires For six months in 2006, doz- to drop this “Massive Ordnance” on 3,900 rounds of Depleted Uranium ens of participants in a Canadian mili- Iraqis during the opening salvos of war. (DU) munitions per minute. Twice as tary discussion group called “Army.ca The other infamous bomb men- dense as lead, DU projectiles pierce Forums,” debated their favourite “air tioned glowingly by Major Reynolds, tank armour. Upon impact, these large support” aircraft. When one discussant the so-called “Daisy Cutter,” appeared DU bullets are pulverized to create posted a message saying “Pick Your in the early 1970s. Huge blasts from toxic and radioactive dust specks that Poison: What’s the Best Air Support,” these unguided, “dumb bombs” were can travel on the wind for as much as Major Reynolds weighed in with his “used to clear helicopter landing zones 26 miles. preference for the A-10 “Wart Hog.” about 250 feet in diameter”24 in South- When inhaled, DU dust in- He expressed his reasons for choos- east Asia. These euphemistically- creases infectious diseases caused by ing this aircraft by using in a prose labeled “Daisy Cutters” felled large severe immunodeficiencies, renal and style resembling poetry: swaths of rainforest as if the trees were hepatic dysfunctions, leukemia, 50 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 quantities of “weapons and ammo.” There is no doubt that the “Spectre,” or “Spooky,” is one of the most heav- ily-armed “gunships” in existence. Reynolds’ attraction to the “Spectre” may also arise from his ap- preciation for the role it has played in so many U.S. wars. Since its appear- ance in the early 1960s, U.S. forces have used the “Spectre” to great effect in Latin America, Asia, the Middle The AC-130 “Spectre” East, Europe and Africa, including is one of the world’s most such wars and invasions as: Vietnam heavily armed gunships. (1962-1975), Grenada (1983), Panama (1989), Somalia (1992- 1994), Yugoslavia (1995) and Iraq “The Spectre is very cool,” says Major Reynolds. (1991 and 2003).32 “It’s unbelievable the amount of weapons and ammo they “Globesmasher” does not re- have shoe-horned into the back of that thing. veal the nature of the “tour” he took I would love to fly one.” aboard an AC-130 when in Karshi Khanabad (K2) in 2003. Beginning in elaptic anemia, malignant neoplasms Gunship is “Very Cool” 2001, K2 was an important U.S. mili- and congenital deformities. With a half Reynolds also articulated his great ap- tary base in Uzbekistan, just north of life of 4.5 billion years, the health and preciation for another American war the Afghan border. However, in 2005, environmental effects of DU muni- machine used for “air support,” the Uzbek government forced the 33 tions are incalculable. namely the AC-130 “Spectre.” He eu- American military to vacate K2. Nazi research on DU munitions logizes this “Attack” aircraft in his During those first few years of the war, was passed to the U.S. military in 1945 usual off-the-cuff style and then recalls thousands of Afghan civilians were which first fired them from A-10s in a personal experience from his C-17 massacred by U.S. forces in their suc- 1966, during the Vietnam war. A-10s training years when he was “on ex- cessful bid to install and entrench the were used most extensively during the change” with the U.S. Air Force: dreaded Northern Alliance warlords as destruction of Iraq in 1991 when 148 “… the Spectre is very cool. Afghanistan’s new and improved gov- A-10s flying over 8,000 combat sor- I toured through one up at Karshi ernment. We will never know how ties, fired almost a million DU shells. Kanabad [sic] back in 2003. many innocent Afghans died or what U.S. and British forces reportedly fired It’s unbelievable the amount of percent of those deaths were the re- more than 300 tons of DU munitions weapons and ammo they have shoe- sult of attacks that used AC-130s. during that air war. horned into the back of that thing. However, research by Univer- DU is a byproduct of the I would love to fly one of those.”29 sity of New Hampshire professor enrichment process used to produce Major Reynold’s great desire to Marc Herold, shows that between fuel rods for nuclear power plants. The pilot an AC-130 “Spectre” may in part 3,000 and 3,400 Afghan civilians were nuclear industry provides DU to derive from the fact that this warplane directly killed by U.S. warplanes and weapons manufacturers free of is a modified C-130 “Hercules.” Be- Special Forces attacks between Octo- 34 charge, thus saving them the cost of fore becoming a C-17 pilot, Reynolds ber 7, 2001 and March 2002. This safely disposing of this radioactive “flew Hercs for 5 great years with accounting excludes civilian deaths waste. DU has thus been “disposed of” [Canada’s] 429 Sqn [Squadron] (’96 - that occurred later due to injuries from in various wars, including Somalia ’01) and got to see the world.”30 such attacks. Also excluded are civil- (1993), Bosnia (1994-1995), Sudan Converting a C-130 cargo/ ian deaths that were an indirect con- (1998), Yugoslavia (1999), Afghan- transport into an extremely lethal AC- sequence of U.S. attacks. A database istan (2001-) and Iraq (2003-).28 130 “air support” attack plane is ac- of civilian deaths compiled by Herold Could it be that Canada’s Ma- complished by adding three huge guns using media reports, cites 26 separate jor Reynold’s is somehow unaware of onto one side of the plane. To attack, atrocities during the first 20 months this horrific reality? While extoling AC-130s circle their ground targets of the Afghan war, in which AC-130s the A-10’s “incredible track record in and “saturate” them with cannon fire.31 were used in attacks that snuffed out 35 Iraq,” and doling out his radiant praise Then again, perhaps the reason the lives of Afghan civilians. for the wondrous powers of this kill- “Globesmasher” thinks these particu- But despite, or more likely per- ing machine, he does not even men- lar U.S. “Attack” aircraft are so “very haps because of the killing sprees con- tion Depleted Uranium. cool” is revealed in his obvious delight ducted using AC-130s, Maj. Reynolds The AC-130 “Spectre” that they wield such “unbelievable” says he “would love to fly one.” Totally Enamoured November 2010 (Issue # 65) Press for Conversion! 51 National Love Affair with a War Plane

Without a doubt, the favourite plane of Canada’s new C-17s fly Afghan War missions Majors Reynolds and Maisonneuve is and serve key propaganda and recruiting roles the C-17. Both rave about this war- June 2008, at many of our highly-militarised air shows. plane and were overjoyed when Canada Quebec City got four of its own. “It’s like a CC-130 on steroids,” said Maisonneuve. Canadian military enthusiasts are keen to promote the C-17 because “it carries four times the payload, flies 40% faster and...twice as far [as a CC-130].... Travelling at 209 kilometres per hour, it can come to a full stop on a runway measuring between 609 and 914 metres— that’s at a weight of 200 tons.”36 Major Reynolds simply gushed airfield supports 173rd,” Stars and moab_1_massive-ordnance-air-blast-explo- about how wonderful the C-17 is and Stripes, April 9, 2003. sives-bomb?_s=PM:U.S. what a great life he has had flying it: www.stripes.com/news/bare-bones-bashur- 22. GBU-43/B “Mother Of All Bombs,” Op. cit. “[I]t is such a pleasure to fly. I feel airfield-supports-173rd-1.4146 23. Ibid. very fortunate to be able to operate 7. Re: Transporting the Leopard 2, Oct. 1, 2007. 24. BLU-82 Commando Vault, “Daisy Cutter” forums.army.ca/forums/index.php/topic, www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ the most modern, capable and ver- 66210.0/all.html munitions/blu-82.htm satile piece of transport equipment 8. Op cit., October 12, 2007. 25. Ibid. in the world in a very challenging 9. Re: Interesting sidenote on the C-17, 26. Air Support and demanding role. What more can December 16, 2006. en.wiktionary.org/wiki/air_support one ask for in a career?”37 forums.army.ca/forums/index.php?topic 27. Re: Pick Your Poison: What’s the Best Reynolds, is a key cheerleader =44825.60 Air Support, December 15, 2006. 10. Harper promises to boost defence spend- forums.army.ca/forums/index.php?topic for Canada’s C-17s and the “independ- =46548.135 38 ing, CTV, December 12, 2005. ent global reach and flexibility” that www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/ 28. Richard Sanders, “Depleted Uranium: they now provide Canadian warfight- CTVNews/20051212/elxn_tories_defence_ The A-10 Warthog’s ‘Dirty’ Bomb,” ers. Reynolds reflected that Canada’s 051213?s_name=election2006&no_ads= Press for Conversion!, July 2002, p.38. acquisition of these aircraft “brought 11. Canada confirms purchase of four coat.ncf.ca/our_magazine/links/issue48/ a whole new capability” to our mili- Boeing C-17s, Flight International, articles/38.pdf June 29, 2006. 29. Best Air Support ? December 16, 2006. tary. It was “a watershed moment” in www.flightglobal.com forums.army.ca/forums/index.php?topic “air mobility...giving an incredibly ro- 12. Canada Orders Four C-17 Globemaster =46548.150 bust capability,”he said. “With this III from Boeing, Defense Update, Feb- 30. Re: Will the C17s Make it… Op.cit. fleet we truly can declare: ‘Anything, ruary 2, 2007. 31. Richard Sanders, “AC-130 ‘Spectre,’ anytime, anywhere.’”39 defense-update.com/newscast/0207/news_ Press for Conversion!, October 2003. 020207.htm#c17 coat.ncf.ca/our_magazine/links/52/11.pdf 13. Kristina Davis, “First Air Force pilots 32. Ibid. References certified on the C-17 Globemaster,” 33. Khanabad, Uzbekistan 1. Major Reynolds has usesd the nickname Maple Leaf, April 18, 2007. www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/ “Globesmasher” on the following military www.forces.gc.ca/site/commun/ml-fe/article- khanabad.htm discussion groups: www.aviation.ca, eng.asp?id=3256 34. Marc W. Herold, “A Dossier on Civilian forums.army.ca, forums.air-force.ca, 14. David Pugliese, “The Air Force and its Victims of United States’ Aerial Bomb- forums.navy.ca and milnet.ca Good News C-17 Story,” Ottawa Citi- ing of Afghanistan,” March 2002. Clues revealing his identity occur in this zen, May 28, 2008. pubpages.unh.edu/~mwherold/dossier and other discussions: “Re: Will the C17s communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/ 35. Ibid. Make it to the Ramp?” February 3, 2007. print.aspx?postid=207634 36. Kristina Davis, “First Air Force pilots forums.army.ca/forums/index.php/topic, 15. Ibid. certified on the C-17 Globemaster,” 54089.180.html 16. Re: Will the C17s Make it… Op.cit. Maple Leaf, April 18, 2007. 2. Re: Military pushes for & gets overhaul 17. Congrat’s In Order, April 26, 2007. www.forces.gc.ca/site/commun/ml-fe/vol_ of medal system for overseas service, forums.army.ca/forums/index.php?topic= 10/vol10_10/1010_full.pdf April 1, 2010. 60334.0 37. Holly Bridges, “Welcome, Canada, to the forums.army.ca/forums/index.php? 18. CC177 Initial Cadre Update, June 20, 2007. world of strategic airlift,” Maple Leaf, topic=90559.150 forums.army.ca/forums/index.php?topic= February 28, 2007. 63446.0 3. Re: Will the C17s Make it… Op.cit. www.forces.gc.ca/site/commun/ml-fe/article- 19. Re: Will the C17s Make it… Op.cit. 4. Boeing C-17 Globemaster III eng.asp?id=3361 20. GBU-43/B “Mother Of All Bombs” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_C-17_ 38. “People at Work,” Maple Leaf, Febru- www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ Globemaster_III ary 28, 2007. 5. Bashur Airfield munitions/moab.htm 21. Barbara Starr, “U.S. tests massive www.forces.gc.ca/site/commun/ml-fe/article- www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/ eng.asp?id=3363 bomb,” CNN, March 11, 2003. bashur.htm 39. Ibid. 6. Kevin Dougherty, “Bare-bones Bashur articles.cnn.com/2003-03-11/us/sprj.irq. 52 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010 So, the next time a proud fellow citizen tells you that Canada didn’t join the Iraq war, send them this article and remind them of Mark Twain’s famous qwip: “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”

Next issue blurb on 3 issues per $25 54 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 65) November 2010