Editorial: the fighters can't put a billion without debate

Finland has time to rejoice for just a moment the national debt decrease, because the new debt is needed for 64 fighter. The acquisition is so big, that it needs to be discussed properly, write the corresponding editor Erja Yläjärvi. Jari Toivonen

time to rejoice in the most likely only for a moment the fact that the national debt can be a long time to shorten. In the coming years is needed namely the billions and billions of new loans, so that Finland can acquire a planned 64 new fighters.

Although the jets have been asked already offers, a huge the acquisition of financing has been discussed quite a bit.

the Public debate has tried to even the fight. The last time this happened, when the professor of economics Roope Uusitalo asked on Twitter, do you need English really just 64 machine. He got as soon as also objections to the question.

fighter of the debate can suppress in many ways. The first is just to say that conversations can understand what he's talking about. In this case, the machines need to assess mainly the armed Forces. Another way is to make fighters exception, which cannot be compared to other state spending. Even otherwise, you should save, just in this errand is not equal to matter.

the Third and most tedious way is presented to discuss the call for national defense vaarantajia. If you don't understand, that the 64 fighters is the right amount for Finland, does not understand national defense in general.

none of these methods is not sustainable. Finland, where public finances are essential in all other policy issues, can not use the billions in fighter aircraft without even the help of public debate. Mere acquisition is 7-10 billion expense, maintenance costs will be at least the same amount. This will have to be financed on credit.

64 is also not a scientific number, but it replaces the full 90 Hornet acquisition. Already the Hornets ' number of times to different views, and in retrospect all the Hornet in the store didn't go perfectly. Here, too, due to the new purchase should be handled prefer the front as an afterthought.

the Debate is still missing also the defense of the whole picture. Fighter procurement is not done in isolation from other defenses. If this much money is used in fighter aircraft, what kind of procurement will have to haggle? The future credibility of defense is needed on a broad front of new technology, and it will cost you. All no money.

the security policy is not a roll-call vote, where every word weighs as much as the experts. All defense-related nor can it tell the public.

despite These constraints, the finns deserve not only decent and credible national defense, including open political debate on the available money.

the election year begins in this debate, the time is now.