The price tag to send tanks and re-enforcements to Afghanistan will hit 189 million dollars.
Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor says the bill includes sending Leopard tanks, a team of engineers and a counter-mortar unit.
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CFRA
That's a lot to spend shipping some gear and a few overweight new recruits. But you have to remember we're there to help the people. That's why we're spending $5 million for emergency food aid for tens of thousands of the most vulnerable families in Kandahar Province. So, really, what's $18 million a piece to send ten tanks?
You've got to wonder, though, how can it cost that much to deliver a 42-ton tank, even if it does have to go half way around the world. In fact, let's just think about this.
If you're sending a Christmas present to a family member serving with Canadian forces in Afghanistan and you want to be sure it arrives on time, Canada Post will charge you about $15.00 per kilogram to send it by air, with delivery likely within a week to ten days.
Now 42 tons, that's 42,000 kilos, so the airmail postage should be around $630,000, not counting the weight of packaging. And packaging shouldn't be necessary. I mean, a tank should stand up to a few knocks without being swathed in bubble wrap. So just put a stamp on the turret and wheel it down the post office.
But if the postage is short of a million bucks, even including insurance, where exactly is the other $17 million per tank going?
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