Last October, MacKay told CBC Radio's The House the Libyan mission had cost taxpayers less than $50 million.Except that he committed the great sin of omission. He knew the estimates were much higher and he withheld the information - intentionally.
"As of Oct. 13, the figures that I've received have us well below that, somewhere under $50 million," MacKay said.
"And that's the all-up costs of the equipment that we have in the theatre, the transportation to get there, those that have been carrying out this critical mission."
Maj.-Gen. Jon Vance said MacKay did not mislead the public and pointed out senior military leaders referenced the figures publicly during Senate committee hearings.Allow me to speculate for the general.
But he concedes the minister would have known the estimated cost at the time and did not speculate on why MacKay chose to go with the lower figures exclusively.
MacKay is a serial liar.
3 comments:
No doubt your speculation is right on target, Cap'n . . . .
The Rideau Institute actually had projected in June 2011 that the Libya mission would cost tens of millions more than the Defence Department was saying. MacKay publicly declared at the time that "the Rideau Institute, as so often is the case, is wrong." As it turns out, the Rideau Institute's prediction was much more closer.
And what did that expenditure buy? Destroyed lives and infrastructure and loads of instability. I wonder if the victory parade/celebrations was included in the costs.
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