Hey, don’t outshine Barry, he is sending “comfort items”

Via Calgary Herald

Canada announced Thursday it will contribute six CF-18 jet fighters to a NATO air-policing mission in response to the crisis in Ukraine, just as top diplomats from the troubled east European country, the U.S. and Russia announced steps that could ease tensions.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the military contribution, which included the dispatch of up to 20 staff officers to bolster the Canadian presence at NATO headquarters.

NATO requested Canadian participation, the prime minister said.

“This is in response to the situation that is developing there and frankly more generally to the concern that we have on what really is expansionism and militarism on the part of Russia under the presidency of Mr. (Vladimir) Putin,” Harper said.

“I believe this to be a long-term, serious threat to global peace and security and we’re always prepared to work with our allies in NATO and elsewhere.”

At the same time, an intense round of diplomacy in Geveva has produced a tentative agreement that puts on hold — at least temporarily — additional economic sanctions the West had prepared to impose on Russia if the talks were fruitless.

It’s unclear where the fighters will be based.

It was earlier reported early Thursday that the jets and their ground support staff will be based in Lask, Poland, where the U.S. is planning a major military exercise later this year. The air base, located southwest of Warsaw, is central and would allow the fighters to participate in a variety of missions.

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