WRITER PROFILE
Retired at the rank of Colonel after serving for years as an army officer, and rising through regular and reserve command roles, Petrolekas became recognized as a pre-eminent authority on NATO and Coalition warfare, serving as a confidant and trusted agent between the Canadian CDS and senior NATO and U.S. officials. He received commendations from several ISAF Commanders. Petrolekas established many of the protocols used to this day for the evacuation of Canadian wounded through Europe and received the Meritorious Service Medal for his work. He has co-authored numerous research papers, briefed Canadian and UK Parliamentarians, US Divisional staffs, the Pakistani War College, the Chinese Institute for International Strategic Studies and the French War College. In business, Col Petrolekas has led sales and marketing efforts in some 90 countries.
Articles by this writer
Isn't it amazing what happens when parties come into power – when the realities of governing, exposure to new information, and actually producing results are considered?
Tomorrow, the defence ministers from six nations will meet in Paris to discuss an acceleration and intensification of the coalition's efforts against the Islamic State. Canada will not be present. What does this absence mean?
If Paris changed France, San Bernardino changes America. The shock and gravity has been so great that it occasioned a speech from the Oval Office
One month in, we're getting an idea of the new government's decision making; Liberal campaign promises are being tested.
The Munk Debate on Monday was by far the best debate so far in this campaign. It was civil, generally not a cacophony, and Canadians could hear leaders positions on a variety of themes – well articulated and without interruption. We are better for that, and congratulations to Munk and Rudyard Griffiths for that success.
Both opposition leaders speak of evidence-based policy,but they should refrain from fallling into the trap of emotions-based policy.
It is 39 days into Canada's federal campaign, and there's a sense of "enough already"… at least the daily dose of the economy. We know now the details of each leader's priorities with respect to balanced budgets, spending and deficits. We have a pretty good idea of how the economy would grow under the three differing options . There's enough information to make choices on that front. Enough already.
Three recent events should have been responded to with greater vigor; communicating in a frank and timely manner is the only way to maintain the trust of the Canadian public.
Casting the anti-ISIS mission as some sort of immoral misadventure, as it has by some, propagates a view that the world’s misfortunes are all the fault of the West and that liberty, democracy, freedom, and equality are inventions best kept to ourselves.
A look at the allied strategies against this brutal group of killers.
