Yesterday's post dealt with the egregious hypocrisy of Canada's condemnation of Saudi Arabia's recent spate of executions while at the same time refusing to revisit the $15 billion arms sale to the Middle East kingdom. A report in today's Globe and Mail suggests the situation is even more grim than previously thought.
Some of the armoured combat vehicles Canada is selling to Saudi Arabia in a controversial $15-billion arms deal will feature medium- or high-calibre weapons supplied by a European subcontractor – such as a powerful cannon designed to shoot anti-tank missiles.While the Trudeau government, adamant that the deal go through, is refusing to provide details of the agreement, certain details have leaked out. The two key players in the manufacture of these weaponized vehicles are General Dynamics Land Systems in Canada and its Belgian supplier, CMI Defence.
These details shine a light on how lethal a product the Saudi Arabian National Guard – a force that deals with internal threats in the Mideast country – will be getting from Canada.
CMI, which manufactures turrets and cannons, announced in 2014 that it had signed a large contract with a “Canadian vehicle manufacturer” to supply two gun systems, including a medium-calibre weapon and the Cockerill CT-CV 105HP, which it advertises as a “high-pressure gun with an advanced autoloader to deliver high lethality at very light weight,” one with the capacity to fire 105-mm shells and a heavy-armour-penetrating missile. CMI did not name the Canadian company.About a year ago, The Tyee had this to offer about the weaponry involved:
...various reports say the LAV III light armoured vehicles, made by General Dynamics Land Systems Canada in London, Ontario, are not for the Saudi Arabian Army.According to Ken Epps of Project Ploughshares, the deal is one that could prove very costly to Saudi Arabia's domestic dissenters:
According to reports in a variety of specialist military publications -- including Jane's, the UK-based group of defence industry publications -- the LAV IIIs are for the National Guard (SANG), a 100,000-strong force of Bedouin tribesmen and Wahhabi religious zealots whose prime task is to protect King Abdullah and the royal family from domestic opponents.
“Such vehicles, far from simple troop carriers, are capable of major destruction, and given the ongoing deplorable human rights situation in Saudi Arabia, there is great risk that they will be used against civilians opposed to the Saudi government. This is why the new Canadian government should be reconsidering the Saudi contract,” Mr. Epps said.Through its recent spate of executions, the Middle East kingdom has sent a powerful message that those who demonstrate against or oppose the royal family will pay a heavy price. Once this indefensible arms deal goes through, that price will clearly be even heavier.
UPDATE: Owen over at Northern Reflections has a very interesting post on Saudi Arabia's true nature.
.. Since Canadians are not privy to details of the kind of deals our previous PM, Stephen Harper was so fond of announcing.. we have no idea how Secret and Binding they truly are.. ie Unbreakable. We are getting a whiff from his final Patronage contract extensions re NEB etc.. and there was that Secret Deal with Communist China he signed in Vladivostok, Russia.. where Putin lives
ReplyDeleteBut we should all relax.. after all Stephen Harper is on the record that the 15 Billion $ deal with the Saudis is not an Arms Deal.. as the vehicles are just transport vehicles & it seems he inspected the London, Ontario assembly plant in person. Further, we have the assurances of one Justin Trudeau that the vehicles in question are just jeeps.. not to worry eh!
So.. it would seem the vehicles are just a variant of a Zamboni.. which of course is built upon the jeep chassis, engine and entire drive train.
But wait ! There's more ! For only 3 Million Dollars you get transport capability too.. and armor all round plus 4 extra wheels.. there's more! These transport vehicle jeeps have turret mounted 'stuff' plus room for two up there - leaving more room down below for moving other 'stuff' and I guess for folks helping you move your 'stuff' - I dunno - these transport vehicles can carry a moving party of 6 or 8 ?
Hopefully due to the brilliant insights of Stephen Harper, these vehicles can transport water and hewn wood.. since that's what Canadians do? Somehow I recall Ed Fast ranting on ol Stevie's account that Arms Exporters were to be added to the list.. and Energy Superheroes.. but I may be mistaken ..... ...
With such assurances of rectitude from the top, Salamander, I can now rest easily. ;) Thanks for 'quelling' my troubled spirit.
DeleteLorne, this deal was done during the dying days of Harper regime. I believe his motive was to balance the budget. It was hoped that Trudeau will cancel this deal.It is creating very dangerous sitution.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I don't understand that Israel has over 200 nuclear warheads with the help of U.S and maybe Canada provided refined uranium. But nobody is saying a beep. I don't understand this
I don't understand it either, LD. Despite the fact that Israel's nuclear capabilities are the world's worst-kept secret, a conspiracy of silence seems to prevail.
Delete(I by mistake touched the post button). Iran wants nuclear weapons because it is afraid of Israel.
ReplyDeleteNow we have created another dangerous situation by arming Saudis.
Middle East has become a horribly dangerous place.
Canada will have to do much better than this shabby deal to reclaim its long-lost reputation as one of the world's honest brokers, LD.
DeleteLorne, I spent some time looking into the weapons suite for these vehicles and it's pretty impressive. It includes a 105mm gun capable of firing the usual array of tank rounds plus a fin-stabilized, rocket with a 5km. range and terrific accuracy. It's a weapon system that is heavily on the offensive side whereas the Saudi national guard is supposedly a force to defend the Saudi royals.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure we all knew when the Libs took over that they would be stuck with some earlier arrangements we would find unpleasant, even unsavory. When something such as this arises the Liberals owe Canadians what they could never hope to get from Harper - an explanation, some justification of the decision to let the contract stand. It's a lousy thing they're doing. They need to explain their decision. That's called accountability.
I agree completely, Mound. What I would like to see specifically addressed is this requirement, as posted in The Globe and Mail:
Delete"Federal rules oblige the Global Affairs department to conduct a special audit of requests to export military goods to countries “whose governments have a persistent record of serious violations of the human rights of their citizens.” Among other things, Ottawa must obtain assurances “there is no reasonable risk that the goods might be used against the civilian population."
So far, I have not read anywhere that this requirement has been fulfilled.
This deal should never have been brokered by the federal government. However, it's done. When questioned about what Trudeau should do about it Rona Abrose said "That's his problem". Gee, thanks Harper.
ReplyDeleteIf it is a done deal, I think the government owes it to Canadians to explain the terms of it, UU4077.
DeleteBTW - After selling the Saudi's what they wanted, it was so nice of them to "tank" our oil industry.
ReplyDelete