Tag Archives: Pete Hoekstra

When one domino falls

That is always the case, isn’t it? For completely unrelated settings, one tends to dump over the other one. It isn’t fair, it doesn’t always make sense, but there you have it and whilst several players reported on it, I was pushed into motion by the Army Recognition story giving us “Canada is reexamining its plan to buy 88 F-35A fighters after Sweden used a royal state visit to promote a Gripen E or F production and R&D hub in Canada. The debate now pits industrial and political incentives against warnings from former RCAF leaders that a mixed fleet could dilute combat power and strain a tight defense budget.” It comes from the article ‘Canada Reconsiders Full U.S. F-35A Fleet As Swedish Gripen-E Fighter Offer Gains Ground’ which we see (at https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/aerospace-news/2025/canada-reconsiders-full-us-f-35a-fleet-as-swedish-gripen-e-fighter-offer-gains-ground) it isn’t merely about Swedish precision (Hasselblad is a great example), but the American administration is rearing its ugly head in a few nasty ways. There was the massive setting on the Ukraine peace plan, which according to some (unreliable sources) was delivered in Russian on a napkin, then there is the Epstein files, which first never existed, then it was a Dem Socratic hoax and now (source: the guardian) ‘US justice department renews request to unseal Epstein grand jury materials’, so the DoJ had to renew its request? This happens with “The justice department has renewed its request to unseal grand jury materials from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation that led to the disgraced financier’s federal indictment on sex-trafficking charges in 2019.” And with the actions of Ambassador Pete Hoekstra  actions in Canada. These matters all influence what is happening and with ‘Hoekstra hints F-35 deal could impact stalled U.S.-Canada trade talks’ (source: CBC) the Canadians have had enough and with the lingering ‘51st state’ comments from all over the place (mostly from America)  the entire setting of $20.2 billion is about to be thrown out of the window. And would you know it, the Gripen is cheaper, has a better Arctic track record (it tends to get really cold in Calgary and Winnipeg) and it is NON-AMERICAN and whilst PM Carney is making deals all over the globe and the 2 deals with the UAE and India setting the investment score for Canada at 125 billion. That is money not going to America, merely Canada and now they also lose out on 20 billion to their defense industry. Loss upon loss upon loss. How long can America pretend that it was no big deal? 

So while we read “Canada’s fighter replacement program, long anchored on an order for 88 F-35A Lightning II jets under the Future Fighter Capability Project, has entered a new and politically charged phase, as reported by Newsweek. During a state visit to Ottawa by King Carl XVI Gustaf, Swedish officials and Saab executives pressed a structured proposal to meet part of Canada’s requirement with Gripen E or F aircraft assembled in the country, tied to sizable job-creation and technology transfer promises. According to those familiar with the discussions, the idea of a dual fleet is now being floated just as former Royal Canadian Air Force officers publicly urge Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government not to trim the F-35 buy or introduce a second fighter type that would require separate training, infrastructure, and logistics.” This makes me wonder the ‘financial position’ of these FORMER officers. Wouldn’t ask that question? I am also wondering why they became former officers, but that is me because I do not know these people and I question everything. I reckon that Lockheed Martin might be worried when they lose 20 billion, making the deal with Saudi Arabia almost essential to make a living (an exaggeration for sure).

But the story from the Canadian side is whether the Gripen can uphold keeping the Canadian air-force competitive enough over Canadian sky. I tend to think yes, but then I am not a pilot and I never flown a jet, I merely watched Tom Cruise do so. My biggest flight setting was using the bar on a jet from Amsterdam of JFK international, so there, not entirely a noob. ;-P

And as Defence Industry Europe gives us ‘Canada considers shifting F-35 order toward Sweden’s Gripen as Ottawa reviews jet procurement’ (at https://defence-industry.eu/canada-considers-shifting-f-35-order-toward-swedens-gripen-as-ottawa-reviews-jet-procurement/) with “Canada has already selected the F-35A to renew its Royal Canadian Air Force fleet and has committed to buying 88 aircraft to replace its Boeing F/A-18 Hornets. Ottawa has allocated funds for 16 F-35s now being built in Fort Worth, Texas, but the remainder of the order appears uncertain amid worsening relations between Canada and the Trump administration”, so Lockheed Martin won’t lose all the dineros, but a large amount is seemingly move towards Sweden and as I see it, Sweden now needs to properly fund two Christmas baskets (nuts that time again). One for President Trump and one for Ambassador Pete Hoekstra for making this possible, expected Hamper shown below.

You see, this all seems clear cut, but I am wondering what this domino will throw over, because that is almost certain happening, especially with the American Ambassador throwing his accusations in the air. He might be claiming that Canadians are meddling in American politics, but they started the ‘51st state’ claims and the next Canadian step might be even less nice, Canada now have options especially when they are gaining so much ground in revenue, investments and manufacturing options (aka jobs). All these parts never involved America (other than making them no longer part of any equation), so what is next? I see options in possible ammunition replacements for the entire Defense industry. Jets and ships might make the news for the larger amounts, but the steady stream of revenue that ammunition brings could also fall to other places (like the UK), so what will that cost America?

Have a great day, I am now 83 minutes removed from the upcoming breakfast and there is a subtle hint hidden in that part too.

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Wrong premise

That is what I see when I get the news from CBC at present. There are two articles in play. The first one (at https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-big-step-back-from-us-data-1.7637651) where we see ‘Canadians are taking a big step back from the U.S. — and here’s the data to prove it’ giving us the settings around American travel and goods. What was a little surprise that export to the UK had risen over 60%. With “Canadian exports to the U.S. have dropped off while those to non-U.S. foreign countries have surged — a pattern that could accelerate further as the government races to cut new trade deals and help businesses capitalize on the ones that have already been signed.” And as I see it, this setting will merely increase when Canada starts infringing on American exports to Australia by setting a stronger vibe towards Canadian Tire. And I reckon that Simons could make a decent entry into Sydney and Melbourne as well. 

You see the entire commonwealth is fed up with the White House and its [CENSORED] whatever. He might have thought that he was making pointers by slapping the ABC reporter around asking valid questions in the UK, but the answer was not accepted and we have an issue with bully tactics. 

So as the US Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra thinks (at https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/us-ambassador-to-canada-disappointed-anti-american-campaign-1.7637534) that the setting of “The U.S. ambassador to Canada is expressing frustration over the anti-American sentiment he sees in this country, including from politicians, after U.S. President Donald Trump hit most of the world with tariffs.” Which might have caused concern with Mexico (not his bother), United Kingdom (not his bother), Australia (not his bother) and the EU (not his bother either). The thing that is in his plate are the 51st state mentions. That got the Canadians in an uproar and for the most other Commonwealth nations as well. There is no mention of that from him, is there. I get it. He is the American Ambassador to Canada and he doesn’t want to acknowledge the failings of his own government. He is all about calling waves, but the fact that he is unsuccessful, is due to the larger failing of his own government. So as we get “Hoekstra said Prime Minister Mark Carney’s remark in the House of Commons on Monday that Canada currently has “the best deal with the U.S. worldwide right now” has helped “take the tone and tenor of the debate down.”” Is merely the beginning of a new chapter. The old chapter is now done for and Canada will seek other venues for their goods, as such Mexico and the Commonwealth are larger allies Canada can count on. There is also the setting of the EU and optionally Saudi Arabia and the UAE. You see, it is time for Canada to seek out the revenue spending nations (Saudi Arabia and the UAE). There might be a larger audience for the CG634 currently in use in Canada and the Ukraine (the last one die to donations by Canada) as such there is ample evidence that these helmets hold up in battle. And there is more Canadian hardware that could be sold to both Saudi Arabia and the UAE. And as Canada is developing technology to counter hypersonic missiles. There is every chance that Saudi Arabia might be up for a new trade partner, if only not to be dependent on China, replacing China with America gives them a similar dependency and there Canada (Aussies too) might be a willing trade partner. And again America is seeing the short end of that trade deal and it pays for Canada to seek visibility of Canadian Tire to whatever either Saudi Arabia and the UAE have. All options that are out in the open. 

The wrong premise is not that we are sick and tired of America (optionally that too), but when. America collapses, which is not that far away at present we all need alternatives and seeking them out now is merely good business. And in light of the disaster that Disney unfolded, there is a definite chance that there are options in tourism too in Yas Island and in Jeddah too. A 3.2 million population in the Mecca province is likely to need all kinds of entertainment and as the banning of Jimmy Kimmel is said to have cost Disney a simple $3,800,000,000 there is every chance that Disney needs to tighten the belt as of this year. All settings that the American Administration called on the world and the world is answering by looking for goods elsewhere. 

So as I see it the premise we see is incorrect, everyone has had enough of the tantrums of an American Administration that can’t get his head in the game and as everyone in the Business Intelligence can tell you, loyalty was a 1960 term that cannot hold up, not after 50 years.

Have a great day today this Monday, but not to fret, Friday is merely 4 days away now.

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Trinity of Doom

That is the setting I am invoking. It started innocent enough and that start came from the BBC (at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg3llj5nxdo) where we see ‘Macrons to offer ‘scientific evidence’ to US court to prove Brigitte is a woman, lawyer says’ and my first response was ‘Are you freaking kidding me?’ You see, the response is as seen “Their lawyer says the French president and Mrs Macron will present the documentation in a defamation suit they have taken against the right-wing influencer Candace Owens after she promoted her belief that Brigitte Macron was born male.” And as I see it, that ID10T error named Candace Owens came after Australians after she claimed “Candace Owens compares Australian government to the Taliban, calling it a ‘tyrannical police state’, and “When do we deploy troops to Australia? When do we invade Australia and free an oppressed people who are suffering under a totalitarian regime?”” At that point I saw her for what she was a simplistic rabble rouser. And the best way to avoid her is not to listen to her. But at some point people like this as liable for what they say and here I am completely on the side of President Macron. So whilst I see “Speaking to the BBC’s Fame Under Fire podcast, the Macrons’ lawyer in the case, Tom Clare, said Mrs Macron had found the claims “incredibly upsetting” and they were a “distraction” to the French president.” I am definitely on their side giving no value to “Ms Owens’ lawyers have responded with a motion to dismiss the claim.” There is no avoiding the hardship, because people like this are all about making the ‘claim’ and then saying quietly sorry after dismissal. I think it is great that the Macrons take her to the cleaners. And that sets a rather large (and I am about to enlarge that stage too). You see, if convicted, she will not be able to enter any European country as she will be extradited to France and I reckon that this will happen in the United States too. The second stage is given (at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c203n52x1y9o) also by the BBC. You see, these two elements started a rather nasty setting. I am not about to give voice to what it all is set to the stage of ‘ABC takes Jimmy Kimmel off air over Charlie Kirk comments’ and I wonder who was the simple soul here? I am not judging Jimmy Kimmel and I am not for (or against) Charlie Kirk. Never met the man, never heard his speeches. I am on the side on Mia Farrow here. She wrote on BlueSky “I disagreed with Charlie Kirk on every issue. But political violence is always reprehensible and horrific. A political motivated assassination is a tragedy for our country” I can identify with that, no matter how comedians twist whatever topic they embrace. This falls back to the Candace Owens setting as there is optionally a setting for liability and not just the one spouting this setting. There are issues with the Media Law as well and they could be a little different in France, but there is only so much ‘freedom of the press’ and when outright ‘incorrectness’ is spread. There are larger options to consider. 

This now reflects on these comedians and on advertisement. You see, Canada can now offer a juicy deal to Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel to host these two shows in Canada (one in Vancouver and one in the West (Ottawa or Quebec) and now see what happens when the advertisers come to Canada to spend their budgets. As the budgets come to Canada so will the listeners. This might be the first instance where the political administration of America sees Advertisement money go to Canada and it does not end there.

There is a larger setting that Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Egypt and a few others could set. You see, France has a while range of missiles that could be deployed and bought these country customers. So consider now the impact on Raytheon and Northrop Grumman and what revenue they could lose. So the smallest setting is that America politics impacted revenue from Tourism, Advertisement, Media and Defense spending. As such the words from US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra (at https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/us-ambassador-to-canada-disappointed-anti-american-campaign-1.7637534) where he gives us “I’m disappointed that I came to Canada — a Canada that it is very, very difficult to find Canadians who are passionate about the American-Canadian relationship,” Well, my view is that the remarks on Canada becoming the 51st state have everything to do with that and the Tariffs are just icing on the cake. And these remarks pissed off the larger Commonwealth. So in less than a year we see that Tourism was affected and still is, now there is a chance that Defense Spending is also speculatively effected and when two comedians move to Canadians channels advertisement money and media revenue go down (the way of the Dodo) as well. Is that enough clarity mister Ambassador?

As such there is word out that plenty of nations have had enough of President Donald ‘the duck’ Trump (according to a nameless source). I am sitting on a fence seeing it all happen and the moment that CTV signs up Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert the larger change to media will happen. It might take a little longer, but the change will be felt all over California and New York and they didn’t have enough bad news at present (to they?) 

America showing these fields giving way to France and China will start a panic drive from Wall Street and I am speculating that this presents itself all the way to the Banks all over America. A setting we saw partially coming, but the setting of Jimmy Kimmel will be a lot more profound. I wonder if the man can transfer to talking Canadian soon enough (like: a boot, instead of about) and so on.

Have a great day, and don’t forget Digital advertising in Canada can be done through Pound & Grain, Major Tom and GVN Marketing. Both Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert could receive pages on https://www.ctv.ca/ as soon as they switch channels. So how is that for thorough?

I reckon that Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE can find their way around https://www.mbda-systems.com/

So, now lets see if I can get a few dollars out of that setting? (One has to respect one’s bank manager).

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