Leopard 2s not leaping in after all

Tanks, but no tanks, after all. Our media (esp. reporters covering defence for CTV and the Ottawa Citizen) seem at times to be precipitous with their reporting. They could not possibly be trying to stir things up, could they?

The Canadian military recently considered but ultimately rejected buying slightly used tanks from the German and Swiss armies, a spokesman said Wednesday.

A team of staff officers, who monitor the military surplus-equipment market, did talk to both European countries last June about purchasing little-used A-4 and A-5 versions of the Leopard-2 tank.

"They were checking prices that were out there, but that staff check did not go any further," said Lieut. Adam Thomson.

The decision not to proceed was made last summer mostly because military planners had not identified a need for the armoured vehicles, he said.