Soldiers Made Me Look Good
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The “Sea Horse” study was submitted to the prime minister under a covering letter co-signed by me and Vice-Admiral (Ret’d) Harry Porter, a much-respected leader with all ranks in the navy, and a who’s who of retired senior officers, including two retired chiefs of the defence staff. The PMO’s response was deafening in its silence; however, as the months passed, we noticed that quotes from and references to the study were being mentioned by various individuals in the government and the Defence Department.
The first low point for our initiative occurred during the June 2004 federal election. Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party’s platform promised to increase the funding for the Canadian Forces, a promise that included the addition of an aircraft carrier to carry troops abroad. The purpose-built ships for deploying troops that “Sea Horse” had recommended were nothing like an aircraft carrier. In most countries, they were referred to as assault ships because their primary role was to deliver troops and equipment ashore. Sure enough, Paul Martin’s team saw the obvious flaw in Harper’s policy recommendation, flashed a picture of an Argentine aircraft carrier bristling with armed fighter jets on its deck and asked the voters in the television audience, “Do you want better health care or Harper’s aircraft carriers?”
When the popular, competent and outspoken General Rick Hillier was appointed chief of the defence staff in 2005, the term “honking big” ship appeared regularly in his presentations regarding the future structure of the Canadian Forces. The “Sea Horse” hearts soared, only to be dashed by the reorientation of defence spending, which was understandably directed to ensuring our troops in Afghanistan had the very best of support.
The final nail in our collective coffin was the unbelievably shortsighted sale of DND property at CFB Shearwater to the Crown’s Canada Lands Corporation in 2002. Plans exist to break up the 9,000-foot military runway to provide access to a civilian housing and commercial development. The runway was so highly regarded that it was an alternate for space shuttle use, if need be. To try and stop the destruction, we mobilized support at every level—from the mayor of Halifax to federal cabinet ministers to the Senate of Canada. We were told of a report that concluded $100 million would be required to refurbish the runway. The general manager of the Robert Stanfield International airport, outside of Halifax, visited Shearwater and opined that he wished his airport was in as good a condition as the military’s. We asked for a copy of the “$100 million report” and were advised it couldn’t be found. Indications to date strongly suggest the study was never done.
At present, thanks to the intervention of Defence Minister Peter MacKay, the engines of the bulldozers aimed at the irreplaceable Shearwater runway are turned off. MacKay was the first politician investigating the subject to recognize the strategic value of this irreplaceable mounting site for an amphibian expeditionary force. The battle is still on to rescue the entire facility from short-sighted destruction and redevelopment; however, the rescue efforts initiated by retired Commander Ralph Fisher over a decade ago are making progress. Thwarting what could and probably would be the most disastrous and shortsighted strategic decision made by the world’s second-largest country, especially if it maintains its appetite for foreign interventions in the interests of international peace and security, would be a major achievement. Afghanistan and the Vancouver Winter Olympics are understandably high priorities today, but the value of the Shearwater facility, including the long runway, would be invaluable for generations to come. A wide selection of suitable ship designs are available and proven that could be built in Canada. Leased container ships, modified for military use and with capabilities proven by the U.S. Marine Corps, could fill the void until Canada’s own three specially built expeditionary ships were commissioned. In concert with the major equipment purchases currently in the pipeline, a true Canadian Forces expeditionary capability would produce the best little military force in the world.
Epilogue
WHEN I SAT down to write this book, I had no idea that Canada would go to war during the preparation of the manuscript. I’ve had the good fortune to visit our troops in Afghanistan three times. I have never been prouder of being Canadian than when I watch the Canadian Forces perform their duties under such austere and dangerous conditions. This book is dedicated to the Canadian soldier because he made me look good for thirty-six years, and now he and she continue to make Canada look good on the international stage.
As each page of my manuscript revealed itself to me, I was shocked at how much the Profession of Arms dominated my life while in uniform and in the fifteen years since I took it off. For someone who joined up because he needed a summer job to buy a used car, it was a lucky, life-altering decision, one taken much too lightly at the time.
I’m frequently asked, “Do you miss it all?” For years I responded, “Not really, because I’m still intimately involved with the profession as a commentator.” A few years ago, I realized I was kidding myself. Dora and I were living in Muskoka at the time, and in February—with the temperature well below zero and a strong wind coming from the west—I was knee deep in snow, attempting to fix a broken step at the entrance to our barn. I stupidly had put only thin dress gloves on, and within minutes my fingers went stiff and started to hurt.
The reasonable solution to my agony would have been to take off the gloves, slip my hands inside my ski jacket and warm them in my armpits. But I hesitated, because for the first time since I’d taken early retirement I realized I missed the army in general and the infantry in particular. The freezing fingers reminded me of the pain that has to be endured in the Arctic, in the jungles, the desert, the mountains—wherever soldiers are required to go in all weather conditions, with everything they need on their back. As technology reduces the weight of weapons, ammunition and equipment, infanteers reap no benefit; they are merely required to carry more. Exhaustion, sleep deprivation and fear all contribute to the pain cocktail. Yet, there are few occupations that can generate the euphoric high that every infanteer experiences with his or her fellow soldiers, when the event that generated the pain in the first place is blessedly over.
I let my fingers freeze a little longer and admitted to myself that yes, I really do miss it all.
Acknowledgements
MANY THANKS TO Scott McIntyre for regularly badgering me during the fourteen years since his publication of my first book, believing that I might have another one in me. To editor John Eerkes-Medrano, who made the editing process an enjoyable and educational experience, which I’m pretty confident is not always the case. To copy editor Ruth Wilson, whose attention to detail is unequalled—for example, Ruth looked back at my storytelling of events that occurred some forty years ago and discovered that I had made a 24-hour mistake in my recollection! And thanks to David Lavin, of the Lavin Agency (www.thelavinagency.com), who inadvertently helped convince me to write this book. David has been my speaking agent for fifteen years, and fourteen years ago convinced me to accept a request to speak on the subject of leadership—which I have done ever since, and which led Scott McIntyre to suggest that I write at least a chapter on the subject.
And, most importantly, a sincere thank you to the soldiers (a term of affection referring to all Navy, Army and Air Force men and women, of all ranks) who worked with me over my thirty-six years in Her Majesty’s uniform.
Sources
1 Kofi Annan, Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, letter to the author, June 28, 1995(letter in author’s possession).
2 “Kosovo: The Rambouillet Accords, Interim Agreement for Peace and Self-Government in Kosovo,” February 23, 1999, chapter 8; online at www.kosovo.mod.uk/rambouillet_text.htm, accessed February 3, 2008.
3 Lewis MacKenzie, “Milosevic Strategy Has Ominous Ring,” Ottawa Citizen Online, April 8, 1999; online at www.ottawacitizen.com/columnists/mackenzie/990408/30516578/16/99, accessed August 16, 1999.
4 ICROSS Canada; online at www.icross.ca/pledge.htm, accessed March 20, 2008.
5 Congress of North Amer
ican Bosniaks (undated open letter in the author’s possession).
6 Ibid.
7 Congress of North American Bosniaks, “Statements Confirming Crimes Committed by Lt. Gen. (ret.) Lewis”; online at www.bosniak.org/06/page.php?id=23, p. 3, accessed January 2, 2007.
8 Ibid., p. 4.
9 Ibid.
10 Lewis MacKenzie, letter to Judge Branko Peric, October 23, 2006(letter in the author’s possession).
11 Carol Off, The Lion, the Fox and the Eagle: A Story of Generals and Justice in Yugoslavia and Rwanda (Toronto: Random House Canada, 2000), p. 176.
12 Ibid., p. 217.
13 Carol Off, “MacKenzie in Sarajevo,” in Lieutenant-Colonel Bernd Horn and Stephen Harris, eds., Warrior Chiefs:Perspectives on Senior Canadian Military Leaders (Toronto: Dundurn Press, 2001), p. 321.
14 Ibid., p. 322.
15 Ibid., p. 332.
16 Marcus Gee, “Going for the Generals,” Globe and Mail, November 18, 2000, p. D12.
17 J.L. Granatstein, “Flaws of UN Peacekeeping Laid Bare,” Gazette (Montreal), November 25, 2000.
18 Peter Worthington, “The Balkans, in Black and White,” Toronto Sun, November 16, 2000.
19 Scott Taylor, “The Lion, the Glitch and the Wardrobe,” Globe and Mail, November 18, 2000, p. D13.
20 Bruce Garvey, “The Tricky Task of Heroism After Sarajevo,” Ottawa Citizen, December 3, 2000, p. C16.
21 Bruce Garvey, e-mail to the author, November 21, 2000(letter in the author’s possession).
22 Roméo Dallaire, Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda (Toronto: Random House Canada, 2003), p. 42.
23 Ibid., p. 233.
24 Ibid., p. 252.
25 Jack Deverell, “Can Disobedience Be a Military Virtue?” FrontLine Defence, July/August 2007, pp. 30–31.
26 William Ray, “Fighting Blind,” excerpt published with permission of the author.
27 Andrew Duffy, “General to PM: Don’t Insult Me,” Ottawa Citizen, December 28, 2001, p. A1; Lewis MacKenzie, “Don’t Insult Me, Mr. Chrétien,” Ottawa Citizen, December 28, 2001, p. A7.