BEST FIGHTER FOR CANADA

As long-time readers know, the summer months tend to be a slow time here at bestfighter4canada. The House of Commons is on its summer break, so major announcements tend to be few and far between...  Especially in a non-election year.  With a dearth of stuff to report on (and an all too short Canadian summer), your humble writer lacks the will to sit at a keyboard...  Barring the occasional "summer surprise" like a missed  air show appearance due to fire . This summer feels different, however. While there will be the typical "summer slow down", it will hopefully be a prelude to an much busier time.  The upcoming year will see Canada's CF-18 replacement program begin in earnest. As the selection process slowly churns, expect the fighter manufacturers to ramp up their marketing efforts.  Unlike the past, when the F-35 was the  defacto  choice and the other alternatives were merely paid lip service, this could be (hopefully) be anyone's g...

Over the last few years, the Republic of Turkey has presented a bit of conundrum to its NATO allies. Last year, a  controversial referendum  replaced Turkey's parliamentary government to a presidential system.  This greatly increased Turkish president Recap Erdogan's power within the country and paves the way for a full-on dictatorship.  Unlike other presidential systems, Turkey lacks the checks and balances to reign in  potential abuse . Preceding this was an attempted coup attempt that seems  quite suspicious in retrospect . Turkey has also been less-than-helpful when it comes to the conflict in Syria.  From inconveniences (like denying the US  use of an airbase ) too outright antagonism ( sending its own troops in to confront US-backed Kurds ).  To make matters worse, Turkish forces  downed a Russian Su-24  when it came uncomfortably close (but not into) Syrian air space.  Needless to say, a NATO shooting down a Rus...