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Canadian to take over as top NATO soldier

G

gutharius

Golden Member
Linky: http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/...2004/11/18/719271.html

OTTAWA -- Gen. Ray Henault woke up yesterday morning as the shepherd of a handful of aircraft, fewer than 30 warships and about 60,000 soldiers. He went to bed last night the chief military adviser to an alliance of hundreds of ships, thousands of aircraft and more than a million soldiers.

Henault, Canada's chief of defence staff and a 36-year air force veteran, was elected chair of NATO's military council, edging out his Danish rival for the alliance's top uniformed job.

As council chair, the bilingual Winnipeg native will arbitrate disputes, forge agreements and dispense advice to NATO's 26 member countries and the organization's secretary general. The post lasts three years.

"I'd like to be able to continue evolving NATO," Henault said. "It has been coming out of the Cold War and making significant change post-Sept. 11, becoming very much a player in the new security environment."

Henault said he wants to encourage NATO's modernization and continued involvement outside its traditional sphere of responsibility, as it did in rallying a peacemaking force to go to Afghanistan.

"This is what one would expect of the premiere security organization in the world," he said.

Prime Minister Paul Martin said Henault's election is a reflection of the esteem in which Canada and its military leadership is held.

"He will help an alliance of paramount importance to Canada and the world and bring a Canadian perspective to NATO transformation and operational readiness," Martin said.

The second Canadian to be handed the job -- and the first in more than 20 years -- Henault will replace German Gen. Harald Kujat next summer.

NATO officials declined to say how many voted for Henault. Henault and Danish officials alike said it was close.

"There was obviously clear recognition of both candidates' abilities," Henault said. "The vote was tight right to the end."

Diplomats suggested Henault was seen as a tougher, more politically savvy negotiator and his supporters said he had greater experience than Denmark's armed forces chief, Gen. Hans Jesper Helsoe.

Henault, 55, was named Canada's military chief in 2001. Martin recently extended his term to April.

He has had the task of defending a military heavily criticized as severely underfunded and understaffed.

NATO's military committee is a panel of senior officers from the 26 allies that reviews the alliance's military policy. NATO's supreme operational commander, U.S. Gen. James Jones, reports to the military committee.

Britons and Germans have rotated chairmanship of the military committee since the early 1960s, with occasional exceptions.

Henault said the job offers him an opportunity to "put a transatlantic stamp on the organization."
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Does anybody see a connection between this and the possible reason bush is just now so interested in playing nice with Canada? I find it very ironic... Perhaps Bush is trying to recruit Canadian help in persuading NATO to send troops. This of course is in order to help in his failing mission to secure Iraq. Due to his lack of planning and inability to realize you need nations who are willing to commit more than a pitiful few thousand troops inorder to successfully invade another soveriegn nation. Personally I hope NATO does help out, I think our troops have suffered enough at the hands Bush's ineptitude in planning this war.

Yes, I know the generals have not asked for anything more in troop levels. Frankly, when you have as many open revolts as there are in Iraq over our presence there we really need to think about stepping up our troop presence to send a clear message.

This is from a democrat and liberal who is able to admit there is nothing we can do with Iraq, now that we are there, except fix the situation. Then of course hope and PRAY that every Iraqi for the next 4 generations does not grow up having a vendetta against america for all the death and destruction we have wrought on their country. And no they will not remember our claims of terrorists in their midsts. Just like we don't remember their claims of America being a sinful nation as justification for their hate and thus 9/11.
 
Originally posted by: gutharius
Does anybody see a connection between this and the possible reason bush is just now so interested in playing nice with Canada?
Click to expand...
Could also be because Canada's our largest trading partner.

What is he doing to play nice w/Canada that he's only started now? Is it his Nov. visit?
Originally posted by: smashp
in other news, Canada's military strength has been reduced by 50%😉
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🙂
 
On the National last night (Canadian news), they talked about Bush coming to Ottawa (that's the capital in case you didn't know) and possibly even speaking in front of parliament!

They showed a clip of the last president to try this (Reagan) and he was being heckled. His response, "Is there an echo in here?" was pretty classic.

There are a lot of protestors organizing to yip & chirp outside of parliament hill. Should be interesting.
 
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