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Topic: Hillier to be REPLACED (Read 993 times)
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Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Well, I was waiting for the cons to take their vengeance on the general and put someone in command that, as the article says, Harper likes. What a kick in the goobers.
Hillier to be replaced when term ends: CTV
Updated Tue. Oct. 2 2007 11:37 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier is expected to be replaced as top military commander when his three-year term expires in February, Conservative insiders have told CTV.
Observers say Hillier, who is popular with rank and file soldiers, had hoped to stay on to oversee the war in Afghanistan.
"Most certainly I think Hiller would welcome a second or a renewal of his appointment and the troops would welcome that also," said Col. (ret'd) Michel Drapeau, a military analyst.
Hillier has been described as a larger-than-life soldier's soldier, spending Christmas with his troops and fighting to rebuild the Armed Forces.
But observers say the government seems determined to get rid of the charismatic general, blaming him for outshining his political masters and undermining former defence minister Gordon O'Connor.
When the Armed Forces held a private farewell ceremony for O'Connor earlier at Ottawa's Cartier Square Drill Hall on Tuesday, Hillier showed up late.
And he wouldn't talk about his often-testy relationship with O'Connor.
Conservative insiders told CTV the late arrival is another example of the general's disrespect for his political bosses.
One senior official told CTV: "Hillier has started to believe his own press clippings."
Another said, "O'Connor is a good guy but he got his feet taken right out from under him by Hillier."
They blame Hillier for embarrassing the former defence minister over his department's failure to reimburse soldiers' families for the full cost of their loved ones' funeral.
Some military observers say removing the popular commander is risky, especially during the war.
"If they were to move him at this stage to take away his contract extension next February, it would be a huge slap in the face," said Scott Taylor, publisher of military magazine Esprit de Corps.
Possible successors include Vice-Admiral Drew Robertson and Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie although insiders say Lt.-Gen. Walter Natynczyk is likely to get the top job because the prime minister likes him.
With a report from CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Hmm
Hillier safe as defence chief, says Mackay
Oct 03, 2007 11:17 AM
Tonda MacCharles
Ottawa Bureau
OTTAWA – The federal government is denying a televised report that it is about to replace Gen. Rick Hillier as the chief of the defence staff.
But the damning CTV story, based on unnamed government sources, has left an impression of a deep rift and dissatisfaction with the top general.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay did not outright deny that Hillier’s term as chief of defence staff will not be extended, but dismissed it as “speculation.”
“There is no basis to this discussion right now. We’re at war with respect to terrorism. Gen. Hillier has been showing tremendous leadership and we have great confidence in his ability.”
Asked if there is any reason not to keep Hillier on, MacKay dodged a direct answer.
“Look as I said all of this discussion is purely speculation, these dates of appointment are order-in-council appointments. He serves at pleasure of the prime minister and the prime minister is pleased with the work that Rick Hillier is doing.”
Hillier has privately expressed a desire to move into the private sector at some point, not into politics as many thought. But there was no indication he planned to step aside in the short term.
Retired Col. Alain Pellerin, head of the Conference of Defence Associations, dismissed the rumours as speculation, saying the differences between Hillier and the government have been overblown.
He agreed there were policy differences at the start.
Hillier had put forward a different plan for the armed forces – a lighter, rapidly-deployable expeditionary force – for approval by former defence minister Gordon O’Connor and the federal cabinet than the new Conservative government wanted.
Its platform called for a Canada First strategy, and a major boosting of the armed forces’ military hardware – troop transport aircraft, frigates, tanks - and a stronger presence in the north.
Hillier’s more immediate priority was Kandahar, one the Conservatives quickly moved on, while also pushing its other priorities, committing nearly $20 billion for major acquisitions.
But in the end, Pellerin insists, the relationship between O’Connor - who was often overshadowed by the charismatic Hillier - was not as poisoned as media reports made it out to be.
“My sources tell me that an offer hasn’t been made by the prime minister (to extend Hillier’s term) and he hasn’t decided whether he will stay in the job,” said Pellerin.
Pellerin said most chiefs-of-staff have only served three-year terms, and Hillier’s is up in February 2008.
The rare exceptions include Gen. Jacques Dextraze who served under Pierre Trudeau. Dextraze was also a very outspoken and charismatic leader, said Pellerin, but didn’t have 24-hour media “on his back” to amplify differences with his political masters.
The other case was when Gen. John de Chastelain, who had served a three-year term under Brian Mulroney, was brought back from the Washington ambassador’s post to Canada when John Chretien put his nephew Raymond Chretien in the diplomatic post. De Chastelain was put in to replace Adm. John Anderson who was fired by the Liberals after nine months over the $4.8 billion EH-101 helicopter purchase.
De Chastelain retired from his second term in the job in 1995, after coming under fire in the Somalia inquiry for failing to exert proper control and supervision, which led to weakness in the chain of command.
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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ranrad
Ron [Andy] Andrews
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Thank God for that.. who in the name od any decency came up with the idea to get rid of the popular General??It boggles my mind... why are politicians undermining our troops in this manner? Is there another hidden political agenda here??? And Ken, i agree with your thoughts, but unfortunatly ,it is a corrupt system.[ Vet Aff] that goes back a lot of years....where, when did it start? , i think shortly after the Hon George Hees left the post of Min of Vet Aff... and yes he was a conservative, but also a veteran himself, so knew thru his buddies and colleagues just what problems vets have...i truly believ that the post of NMin of Vet Affairs should be a veteran...just a thoiught.. and after all the PM can name anyone he wantsto a Cabinet post, then get them elected.. which is then not usually any problem....and i am sure there are good people out there who could go in and do a clean sweep of this important portfolio...it is the bureaucrats running it, not the elected and named Ministers.....and i am positive a lot of waste i sgoing on....ranrad
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RCAF,CAF, converted RCR?,1RCR 74-77 CD: SSM (Nato);CPSM,;UN-Cyp.; UN- Golan
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Mike Blais
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Hillier’s position stronger after rumour of demise SCOTT TAYLOR On Target THERE WERE PLENTY of backroom shenanigans and skulduggery afoot last week in the national capital. Prior to a small send-off ceremony for recently shuffled defence minister Gordon O’Connor, a couple of Conservative party insiders called up CTV reporter Bob Fife. The hot scoop fed to Fife was the news that the Conservative caucus was fed up with the manner in which Gen. Rick Hillier, the chief of Defence staff, showed disrespect to his political masters. As a consequence, the anonymous sources claimed the decision had been taken to retire Hillier when his three-year tour of duty expired next February. Naturally enough, Fife ran with this exclusive bit of insider information and he used the O’Connor farewell luncheon to showcase the story. Describing the parade square at the landmark Cartier Square Armoury as a "parking lot" and framing footage of O’Connor’s honour guard with a backdrop of trash bins, the CTV report made it appear that the military brass were adding insult to injury for their outgoing minister. When Gen. Hillier arrived late for the formal function, it was the icing on the cake: proof positive that he has little regard for his political overseers. Set within this context, the decision not to renew Hillier’s contract seemed to make perfect sense. Fife’s sources’ anonymity and the lack of formal announcement regarding Hillier’s employment had all the hallmarks of a trial balloon on the part of the Conservatives. A couple of invisible individuals tossed out the rumour of Hillier’s termination and used that news hook to remind Canadians of Hillier’s past indiscretions vis-a-vis Gordon O’Connor. If nobody shoots it down, then it will give the green light to an official replacement process. At the very least, spreading rumours that the Conservative party had concerns about Rick Hillier’s expansion into the political arena would serve to rein in the good general. Unfortunately for those who set this plan in motion, they failed to take into account several key factors. The most obvious of these is Gen. Hillier’s incredible popularity — not just with his troops, but with the Canadian public. Fife’s story touched off an immediate and immense backlash against the notion that the Conservatives were going to fire the chief of defence staff. Before the trial balloon could even be inflated, Hillier supporters had shot it to pieces. Across the entire spectrum of military analysts called upon to give perspective and insight into the possible removal of Hillier, the response was unanimous. Even those who have rabidly challenged Hillier’s policies in the past singularly concurred that to take him out of the equation at this point would be catastrophic for the Forces. Whether one agrees or disagrees with Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan, there is no doubt that Hillier is the heart and soul of the mission. That being said, Hillier is also the architect of the current transformation of the Canadian Forces, which is still in its infancy. Eighteen months ago Hillier announced a top-to-bottom restructuring of the military. The office of the deputy chief of defence staff was abolished and a new command structure was put in place. The result of that shakeup was the absolute empowerment of Hillier’s office. A recent internal study into the progress of the transformation concluded that the widespread confusion created by the ongoing reforms is only offset by the personality-driven leadership of Rick Hillier. That dynamic charisma was illustrated once again the minute Fife’s story hit the airwaves. Rather than defer comment about his possible retirement next February, the general confronted the press corps head-on. At a luncheon speech the following day, every news outlet in Ottawa had reporters waiting like a pack of dogs to get Hillier’s response to the whispered rumours of his replacement. None of them really cared about his keynote address; they just wanted a sound bite upon which to hang their stories. Hillier did not disappoint. Jovial and confident, the general scrummed so long that cameramen were nervously eyeing their tapes and batteries. Despite a barrage of questions meant to provoke a negative response, the general stuck to a two-part message: "There is no fixed three-year term for a CDS," and the incumbent "serves at the pleasure of the government." Traditionally, the chief of Defence staff post has been based on a three-year tenure and whenever a general served longer it was officially announced as "an extension." But Hillier is correct in claiming that his contract is open-ended. By reminding everyone that he serves at the government’s "pleasure" and that he is prepared to continue in his present post as long as this remains the case, Hillier has brilliantly drawn the battle lines. And if the Conservatives do wish to replace him, it’s not going to happen any time soon. In retrospect, Hillier has come out of this latest skirmish more powerful than before. In fact, he couldn’t have played this better had he leaked the rumour of his firing. Scott Taylor is editor-in-chief of military magazine Esprit De Corps. ( staylor@herald.ca) |
1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Thats mud will wash off, I'm sure, or be hidden under the spear of makeup Harper wears. After noting the side deal with NS that harper said he would never make and the subsequent, ultra-petty craq about the MP who stood up for Nova Scotians.... Same with the little panel he created about Astan, like, note the timing of the report and note that it arrives AFTER well after the throne speech and the resultant election. To think, Harper was the architect of the reform party, he came up with the schtick that MPs go to parliament to champion their constituents, not the PM's party line. Which way's the wind blowing now, stevie.... Wheres Preston Manning when you need him.  |
1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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Young Ken
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Rumors of Hillier’s removal
In my opinion the rumors that Ottawa will not continue their support for Gen Hillier amounts to treason. The mere suggestion that any government would be so stupid in a time of war to remove a soldier’s soldier (commander) and to replace him with a political brown noser (Mr. Harper likes him), is getting very near to an intentional and planed demoralization of the troops during a time of war.
What is far worse is that the Government could and should have squashed this rumor at the very first sign of it, with a statement of total support for Gen Hillier. This did not happen, in my opinion showing once again Stephen Harpers total disrespect and contempt for Soldiers and Veterans alike.
Yes he has purchased many new toys which the US has asked us to buy but agreed with the removal of supper annulations Pension monies, was slow at reimbursing parent for burials of fallen soldiers, was responsible for compensation only 1% of the Gagetown Victims, gave his own assent to the PM’s office as the cut off dates for both having died before and diagnosed after in that Gagetown package, is allowing the Military to treat an accident as murder, doesn't object to Canadian soldiers being investegated due to some burises and because of handing POW's over to their own countrymen, is in agreement with the removal of survivor benefits if married after they turn 60 and Pension Claw backs at 65, has not made good on his promise to extend the care for widows of Korean and WWII vets, has stalled the passed legislation for vets and now he doesn’t get along with the Commander of the forces.
In my opinion what Stephen Harper has done to the moral of the troops which he has extended their time in Harms Way is just another in the line of “It’s my party and I’ll do what I want to.” (50’s song)
Cpl. Kenneth H. Young CD (Ret'd).
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Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
Ultimate 2000+ Member
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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I would have everybody note at the end that IT WAS a leak and clearly, the conservatives were going to punt Hillier out of his job had somebody not spilled the beans...
Considering all the accolades since, I would say that it just serves to prove, by deed, they are all a bunch of freaking hypocrites...
PM says Hillier stays put
An insider's week on Parliament Hill
National Post
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Senior Tories remain eager to erase the impression that General Rick Hillier will be dropped as Chief of Defence Staff, as claimed in a TV report several weeks ago. Hillier is popular with the troops and Prime Minister Stephen Harper was quick to deny the report, calling him an "outstanding soldier who is bringing strong leadership for the Canadian forces," and adding "there has been no discussion in my office or with me or with any senior officials about the possibility of changing the Chief of Defence Staff." To reinforce the message, Harper and other ministers have been inviting Hillier around to Cabinet and committee meetings to make sure the message gets through that further whisperings won't be welcome. Meanwhile, the ever-vigilant PMO is still trying to confirm suspicions as to who was responsible for the leak.
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
Ultimate 2000+ Member
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