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 game. If a

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 Russian aircraft made for some tense diplomacy. (Con