That makes the mistake in not buying the F-35 the first time around all the worse.
>especially after the USA dragged them into Iraq
This is so not right, it's not even wrong.
[0] https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2022/11/18/f-35-costs-h...
I've heard this argument before about Canada's F-35 saga and it is now what it was then, massive copium overdose. By this logic Canada ought to wait until the F-35 is obsolete and other nations are selling airframes off for cheap.
That Canada did not have to use its air force in war during the Trudeau years does not mean that its 100% politically driven decision to shirk on the F-35 buy, then jump back on it again, was not a mistake.