MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – 7 Sept 11

• Stuart Langridge, R.I.P  In late April 2011, the Military Police Complaints Commission (MPCC) said it was doing an initial probe into the 2008 suicide of Corporal Langridge of CFB Edmonton.  Now, the MPCC says it’s going to hold public hearings into the suicide – no dates set yet.  More from the media here (Google News search).
• Libya Mission  One columnist’s view:  “…. If the foreigners’ motives really were humanitarian — they wanted to stop Gadhafi’s atrocious regime from killing his own subjects, and thought that Libyans would be better off without him — then they actually were using force as an instrument of love. Not “love” as in the love songs, but love meaning a genuine concern for the welfare of others. Most resorts to force do not meet this criterion (although those using the force generally claim that they do). The United States did not invade Iraq out of concern for the welfare of Iraqis, for example. But once in a while there is a shining exception, and this is one of those times. The British, French, Canadians, Swedes, Qataris and so on would not have done it if it involved large casualties in their own forces. (In fact, they had no casualties.) Most Western soldiers didn’t think the operation would succeed in removing Gadhafi, and the outcome has been greeted with surprise and relief in most of the capitals that sent aircraft. But they did it, and that counts for a lot.”
• 9/11 Plus Ten (1)  “Canadians are more concerned about a terrorist attack on Canada now than before 9/11, says a new (Ipsos-Reid poll conducted for Postmedia News and Global TV). Enhanced airport security, no-fly lists and Canada’s participation in the Afghanistan war are just some of the considerable measures taken after 9/11, but Canadians are still worried about potential terrorist attacks within our borders. Half of the respondents said they felt “no change” in safety levels with military intervention and just under half feel ‘more safe’ as a result of domestic security measures ….”
• 9/11 Plus Ten (2)  The CSIS Info-Machine is sharing some stories from officers about their feelings about 9/11 here and here – a bit of a “Canadian milestones in counter-terrorism since 9-11″ selected chronology here.
• Wanted:  some damned good number crunchers and technogeeks for breaking codes.  “It boasts some of the top math minds in the country, it’s looking to recruit more, and you still won’t find its name listed among any universities. The Tutte Institute for Mathematics and Computing is like a school for spies – a government-backed “classified research institute” that exists to entice academics who can help the government create and crack codes in the service of national security. The federal government has actually employed a small stable of arms-length academic cryptographers for several years now, but this summer it opted to redouble and rebrand the effort. In doing so, Ottawa has stepped up its quiet drive to lure some of the smartest PhD-calibre mathematicians away from ivory towers and into applied government work ….”  And where’d the name of the new institute, part of Communications Security Establishment Canada, come from? “…. In the 1940s, William Tutte, a math genius, figured out ways to spy on encrypted, high-level Nazi communications, a contribution so profound that some observers now credit him and his British colleagues for helping hasten the end of the Second World War. After the war, Mr. Tutte moved to Canada and had a distinguished academic career at the University of Waterloo ….”
• Afghanistan (1)  Canadian Major General Michael Day talks to Army News about the Afghan training mission (video of phone interview here), saying he sees some progress:  “…. Two years ago, the army was shrinking, literally we were losing more people than we were gaining. Today, not only are we growing by four to five thousand every single month, but we now have selection process that vets those individuals that are not suited. So we are in great shape on that ….”
• Afghanistan (2a)  7 Jul 11:  CF Info-Machine tells us Canadian takes over command of Consolidated Fielding Centre in Afghanistan.  ~6 Sept 11:  Foreign Affairs Info-Machine sends RSS feed notice that it’s decided to share this “news” on Canada’s main web page about Afghanistan.
• Afghanistan (2b)  What the dental surgeon used to do in Afghanistan (via CF Info-Machine) – he’s been back for a couple of weeks now.
• Afghanistan (3a)  A Macleans columnist reminds us to be wary about negotiating with the Taliban, even if that’s how things look to be unfolding. “…. In the event the Taliban do re-establish themselves in Kabul, those Afghans who go to the mountains will likely include those Afghans who most share our values and most desire our friendship. Then what will we do?”\
• Afghanistan (3b)  Terry Glavin reminds us to be wary, too.  “…. The Taliban have made it quite plain, by word and deed, that they have no intention of negotiating anything except the general outlines of the civilized world’s capitulation to them and the forward-planning terms of NATO’s surrender of the Afghan people to their custody ….”
• Taliban Propaganda Watch  English-language propaganda sites back online – for now.
• What’s Canada Buying?  Wanted:  four-wheel light utility vehicles for 1 Canadian Division (more details in part of bid document here), and checking if CF is using the best test to see if patients receiving transfusions need more or not.
• New Brunswick is looking for feedback on its ideas for job protection for Reservists.  “Finding the right balance can sometimes be a tricky and nerve-testing procedure. But efforts to do just that are exactly what’s happening these days within the part-time military community as officials juggle ideas in an effort to find ways to make the lives of reservist soldiers in this province a little more secure. In April, residents were asked to participate in a provincial government consultation process and provide their views on how to offer better leave protection to reservists working in civilian jobs or pursuing post-secondary studie …. Ideas were collected by the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour and placed in a preliminary report called “What We Heard: Responses to the Review of Canadian Forces Reservist Employment and Education Leave Protection in New Brunswick.“ (PDF) …. If you have ideas on how you would like to see reservists protected in this province, now is the time to step forward. Contact the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour.”  Contact info:  labour-travail@gnb.ca, fax (506) 453-3618 or snail mail at Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, Review of Reservists Employment and Education Leave Protections, P.O. Box 6000, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5H1.
• Canada has has new deal for annual defence think tank get together.  “The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, announced …. that Canada is hosting the third annual Halifax International Security Forum from November 18th to 20th in Halifax, Nova Scotia. With Foreign Affairs as the media partner, this year’s Halifax International Security Forum features over three hundred politicians, academics, policy makers, and journalists from forty countries around the world. Following the 10th anniversary of the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks and Canada’s recent transition to a non-combat training role in Afghanistan, this year’s forum is especially poignant, focusing on key sensitive and emerging global issues …. As the only event of its kind in North America, the Halifax International Security Forum fosters discussions covering a wide range of topics, including the future of the transatlantic alliance, security initiatives in the Middle East, revolutions, responsibility to protect and making better use of resources to deliver on key security and defence commitments. The Halifax International Security Forum is even stronger with Foreign Affairs, the conference’s media partner. Minister MacKay took the opportunity to announce a three year funding partnership for the Halifax International Security Forum from both the Department of National Defence and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency ….”
• Remember the list o’ war criminals Canada was looking for your help in hunting down?  Guess where one of the guys on the original list is?  “An accused Serbian war criminal says his life has been ruined by an Ottawa-led manhunt, even though he left Canada for his homeland six years ago. Dimitrije Karic, also known as Dimitrije Mita, 51, of the Serbian municipality of Kovin, said he came to Canada in 2003 and filed a failed refugee claim. He complied with an order to leave Canada in 2005. “Is anyone, who was wearing a uniform in war in former Yugoslavia, a war criminal for you?” he said in an Aug. 30 e-mail to QMI Agency. “If it is so, there are several hundred thousand war criminals throughout Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia.” He lived and worked at two companies in Medicine Hat, Alta., during his time in Canada, documents show ….”
• Remember Gilad Schalit, the Israeli soldier kidnapped by Hamas in June 2006?  His folks are telling reporters Canada should get Hamas to let him go.  What’s Canada saying so far?  “…. Chris Day, director of communications for Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, told the Tribune in an email, “Hamas is a listed terrorist organization. The government of Canada has no contact with Hamas.” Canadian aid is supplied to the people of Gaza through “established aid channels and with established organizations” and not via Hamas. Should Hamas and Fatah form a unity government, Day said, “Canada cannot support a government that includes Hamas.” In May, Canada was a signatory to the G8 Declaration of Renewed Commitment for Freedom and Democracy, which stated in part, “We demand the unconditional release of the abducted soldier Gilad Shalit [sic] without delay.” When asked what concrete action Canada can or will take in regard to Gilad Schalit, Day said, “Minister Baird has been very clear in calling – as G8 leaders did at Deauville – for Gilad Shalit’s [sic] release…. We will continue to press this case at every opportunity.” ….”  But not directly to the folks holding him, given the bits in green.
• “The re-incarnated NHL’s Winnipeg Jets (have) unveiled their new uniforms …. The Jets, who returned to Winnipeg with the sale of the Atlanta Thrashers to Manitoba’s True North Sports and Entertainment in May, held a news conference to unveil the team’s new uniforms at Royal Canadian Air Force base 17 Wing. The jerseys consist mostly of two shades of blue: Polar Night Blue, found on many of today’s RCAF aircraft, and Aviator Blue, which is similar to historical colours used by the RCAF ….”

MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – 12 Aug 11

• Libya Mission (1)  “Forces loyal to Moamer Kadhafi are no longer able to launch a credible military offensive, NATO’s top Libya commander told AFP Thursday, as rebels look to gain momentum in overthrowing the strongman. “The Kadhafi regime’s forces continue to be weakened, both in strength and their will to fight,” Canada’s Lieutenant-General Charles Bouchard said, speaking from his Italy headquarters, as rebel troops made new advances. “They are no longer able to launch a credible offensive,” he added ….”
• Libya Mission (2)  Some blog-borne armchair quarterbacking.  “You might have been distracted by the riots in Britain, or the faux-scandal over NDP interim Leader Nycole Turmel, or the credit crisis in the U.S., or your vacation, but Canada is still dropping bombs on Libya with no end to the conflict in sight. Kelly McParland of the National Post takes a second to remind us just how committed the Conservative government is to the mission, and in particular the rebel leadership group, the Transitional National Council. “Even though the outcome of the upheaval in Libya is anything but clear, Ottawa is putting all its eggs in the rebel basket,” for example by booting out Moammar Gadhafi’s envoys out of Canada, handing over their embassy and assets to the TNC, recognizing the TNC as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people, and providing financial assistance to the rebellion – and that’s not including the combat support the Canadian Forces have provided. “Caution does not appear to be a major element of the Harper government’s foreign policy,” says McParland in one of the bigger understatements of the year so far ….”
• Operation Jaguar, from the Jamaican media’s perspective.  “The Canadian government has deployed three CH-146 Griffon tactical helicopters and 65 personnel to support the Jamaica Defence Force’s search and rescue team for the rest of the hurricane season. National Security Minister Dwight Nelson, who made the announcement yesterday, said the deployment followed a request by the Jamaican Government. Expressing his gratitude, the minister said the helicopters will shore up the capabilities of the JDF, while soldiers will benefit from training from the Canadian Forces. For his part, Canada’s Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay said his government was committed to ensuring that Canadian forces are ready to assist their allies on the world stage if and when the call comes. “The request from Jamaica addresses a specific capability gap in the Jamaica Defence Force, which currently does not have helicopters suitable for taskings such as search-and-rescue and medical evacuation flights,” said MacKay ….”
• Canadian Taxpayers Federation underwhelmed with CF buying promotional give-away items (how little is $50K out of a budget of ~$21 billion?)  “The Canadian Forces spent close to $50,000 of taxpayers’ money last year on miniature cardboard fighter jets, according to documents obtained by QMI Agency through an access-to-information request.  The CF-18 replicas are 23.5 cm long, made of recycled material and were used to promote the Air Force at public events, particularly to children.  The documents reveal the special order for the planes cost taxpayers $47,449 dollars.  Paper planes aren’t the Forces’ only promotion material.  The Air Force alone has an annual marketing budget of $200,000 dollars.  Air Force spokesperson Lisa Evong said the paper planes are popular with children and Air Force enthusiasts.  “(The planes) are used to educate the public on the role and responsibilities of the Air Force,” she said.  Half the fun, Evong explained, is assembling all the pieces to form the plane.  Each plane costs about 29 cents, giving the Forces 158,000 to fly around …. The federal government doesn’t seem to have the right priorities, according to Gregory Thomas from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, an organization that advocates for low taxes and tight government spending of public funds.  “It is not the role of government to use taxpayer money to do publicity, especially towards children,” he said.  Thomas said public funds should go towards equipping soldiers with “quality, modern equipment.” “
• Afghanistan   Here’s your hat, what’s your hurry?  “As the international community quietly welcomes the news that Afghan President Hamid Karzai has decided not to seek re-election, his departure raises many questions about what the future holds for a country that has claimed so much of Canada’s time, money and lives over the last decade. Originally one of Karzai’s strongest international supporters, Canada has been walking a diplomatic tightrope in terms of its relationship with the Afghan president for several years. Plagued by corruption, patronage and opportunism, the Afghan government has, by many accounts, lost its legitimacy, especially since the 2009 presidential election, which was fraught with allegations of fraud ….”
• Congratulations Major General Vance (beware the huge photo on the page).  “The (Conference of Defence Associations) Institute is pleased to announce that Major-General Jonathan Vance has been unanimously selected as the recipient of the Vimy Award for 2011. The award will be presented on Friday, 18 November at a mixed gala reception and dinner in the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa …. The Vimy Award honours the bravery and sacrifices of the Canadian soldiers who were victorious at the Battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917. Fighting together for the first time, the battle won by the four divisions of the Canadian Corps brought global recognition to the nation’s arms and declared Canada a young nation entitled to a place at the councils of the world.  The CDA Institute is the sponsor of the Vimy Award. Since 1991, the Award recognizes one Canadian who has made a significant and outstanding contribution to the defence and security of our nation and the preservation of our democratic values ….”
• Remember Canada’s Army boss presenting an American unit an award (9th item), and sharing the news via Twitter?  The CF Info-Machine now has the story – more from what appears to be the hometown paper here.
• New boss for 9 Wing Gander.  “After two years of commanding Canada’s most easterly Air Force Wing, Lieutenant-Colonel Chris Conway is heading to Ottawa. During a ceremony at the Canadian Forces Base 9 Wing Gander last Wednesday, Lt.-Col. Conway was given a proper sendoff, while incoming wing commander, Lt.-Col. Gilbert Thibault, was introduced ….”
• What’s Canada Buying: Big Honkin’ Ship Edition  “Most people have never heard of François Guimont, Robert Fonberg, Richard Dicerni or Claire Dansereau. Yet, they hold Canada’s shipbuilding future in their hands. Some time this autumn, these four – they are the deputy ministers of Public Works, Defence, Industry and Fisheries and Oceans – will decide which Canadian shipyards will share a contract valued at a staggering $35-billion to provide the Canadian navy and Coast Guard with new fleets. Their decision is supposed to be apolitical. But there will be plenty of political fallout, regardless ….”
• No politics for the moment for retired Chief of Defence Staff Rick Hillier.  “General Rick Hillier has shot down rumours that he is planning a bid to lead the Liberal Party in Newfoundland and Labrador, ending hours of confusion on a social media website over whether Canada’s former chief of the defence staff would run for the soon-to-be vacated post. “There has been some speculation over the last hours that I was going to run for the leadership of the Liberal party of Nfld,” Gen. Hillier, the province’s highest ranking officer in history, wrote on his Facebook page on Thursday morning. “I’m not! Just don’t see that, at this point, as where I am going in life.” ….”
• Guess who the rights to the yellow ribbon with “Support Our Troops” written on it belong to?  “You can tie a yellow ribbon around your old oak tree for free. But if you want to use a yellow ribbon and the phrase “Support Our Troops” in your business, you’re going to have to pay Ottawa for the privilege. The Department of Natural Defence has owned the copyright to the phrase and the yellow ribbon image since 2007, said Department of National Defence public affairs officer Capt. Rob Bungay. “Although we appreciate and encourage individuals’ personal support of the Canadian Forces through the display of the yellow ribbon, the use of the department’s intellectual property in corporate promotional matter cannot be supported,” he said in an email. “The unauthorized use of the yellow ribbon in commercial advertising could mislead the public and Canadian Forces members with regard to the companies’ association with the official Support Our Troops program; and/or DND’s endorsement of the companies over that of their competitors.” ….”
• Historian disses NATO.  “…. in diplomacy as in baseball, it’s three strikes and you’re out. Afghanistan was strike one; Libya was strike two. And strike three? No one yet knows where the next call for action might be – Syria? – but if NATO funks it again, then the pressure from Ottawa and, possibly, Washington may be irresistible. NATO has lasted more than 60 years, but even historic alliances can become so attenuated and powerless that their irrelevance can no longer be ignored.”
• Canadians headed over to Israel to join the Israeli Defence Force.
• Isn’t this done yet?  “The Winnipeg Jets, when they unveiled their new set of logos last month, were open about drawing inspiration from Canada’s air force. That hasn’t sat well with all of their fans; John Samson, the singer and main songwriter for Winnipeg band The Weakerthans, expressed concern over the logo’s direct link to the military and would rather see a more nuanced design ….”  For a counterpoint, check out the Toronto Sun here.

MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – 4 Aug 11

• Who’s taking part in Operation Nanook this year (1)?  “Three Canadian navy ships and a U.S. Coast Guard cutter are being outfitted in St. John’s for an extended mission to the Arctic. The Canadian Forces says the frigate HMCS St. John’s will be joined by the coastal defence vessels HMCS Moncton and HMCS Summerside, as well as the American coast guard cutter USCGC Willow ….”
• Who’s taking part in Operation Nanook this year (2)?  “Frostbite, trench foot, snow blindness and wild animal attacks aren’t things Peter McKenna usually has to worry about while he’s at work. But they are on the list of things the UPEI professor might encounter when he heads to the Arctic as an observer in the Operation Nanook 11 sovereignty exercise. McKenna said before he could go on the trip, he had to sign a waiver acknowledging the risks involved, which included falling through ice, hypothermia, dehydration and geographic disorientation. “I’m mildly concerned but I think that I’m in capable hands when it comes to the Canadian Forces and the Department of National Defence,” he said ….”
• Here here.  “…. The Department of National Defence currently offers programs for serving members to address operational stress, addictions, mental health and wellness. There are also 32 Military Family Resource Centres across Canada and more in other countries. The centres run a full range of services on youth, parenting, wellness, deployment, and family separation and reunion. Like all programs, they need independent evaluations of their effectiveness. No doubt, they could work better and reach more people. They also could better target participants by working more closely with veteran’s organizations. Nonetheless, they are essential tools of support for military families — especially for the thousands of spouses who are fighting for their partners, and for us, on the new front line of troop reintegration. (M)inister Mackay, General Natynczyk: Don’t touch the funding of these programs.“
• Afghanistan (1a)  Survey says….  “As QMI Agency followed the last Canadian combat troops out of Afghanistan last month, there was one question that seemed to get under the thick skin of even the toughest soldier. In fact, after repeatedly being asked by media in the combat zone, it became a catch phrase among some combatants — tossed about with shrugs and often rolled eyes. The question wondered: “Was it worth it?” Now, in the settling dust of Canada’s combat exit from Afghanistan — our soldiers now remain in logistical and training missions only — an exclusive Sun Media national poll has found almost three in five Canadians doubt whether the sacrifice asked of our country was worthwhile. Only 30% of respondents to the Leger Marketing survey felt it was. As well, 58% of Canadians thought the mission could not be categorized as fully accomplished after we pulled out last month ….”  More poll details here (PDF).
• Afghanistan (1b)  “…. Despite the costs and the human loss, Canada’s role in Afghanistan, its combat assignment now over, has at least given the people of that tortured country a chance at a better life. What the Afghan people do with that opportunity is now up to them. It goes without question, however, that our soldiers did their uniform proud and, while only 30% of Canadians may ultimately see the cause as worthwhile, it will never negate the fact that no soldier has ever been more supported at home, despite the war’s unpopularity ….”
• Afghanistan (2)  Bringing home the signs, flags, letters and other paraphenalia.
• Afghanistan (3)   Guess where the last Canadian flag that flew over Kandahar’s Provincial Reconstruction Team base Camp Nathan Smigh has ended up?
• What’s Canada Buying? (1)  “Remember the Used Subs” editorial:  “…. As they go about their work, each member of the bureaucracy in charge of military procurement would do well to keep a photo of Canada’s woebegone subs close at hand, as a caution against false economies. In the words of Dwight D. Eisenhower, supreme Allied commander in the Second World War: “There is no victory at bargain basement prices.” “
• What’s Canada Buying? (2)  Remember earlier this year when the CF research arm said it was hiring someone to do taser weapon research (second item)?  There’s a bit more time to offer an alternative the companies proposed.
• F-35 Tug o’ War:  Troubles in the U.S.  “All 20 F-35 Lightning IIs have been grounded following a failure of the aircraft’s integrated power package (IPP). The incident took place at about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., during a ground maintenance run of aircraft AF-4, the fourth conventional takeoff and landing version of the triservice Joint Strike Fighter. Following the failure of the IPP — which combines the functions performed by an auxiliary power unit, emergency power system and environmental controls — the crew shut down the aircraft as per standard operating procedures, according to a press release by the JSF program office. There were no injuries ….”
• Some Canadian government systems are included in a report of systems found to be attacked or hacked.  “Security experts have discovered an unprecedented series of cyber attacks on the networks of 72 organizations globally, including the United Nations, governments and corporations, over a five-year period. Security company McAfee, which uncovered the intrusions, said it believed there was one “state actor” behind the attacks but declined to name it, though several other security experts said the evidence points to China. The long list of victims in the extended campaign include the governments of the United States, Taiwan, India, South Korea, Vietnam and Canada; the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); the International Olympic Committee (IOC); the World Anti-Doping Agency; and an array of companies, from defense contractors to high-tech enterprises ….”  More from the McAfee blog here, and a Q&A here.
• Pack o’ Wanted War Criminals (1)  Number six nabbed, Amnesty International wants war crime trials here.
• Pack o’ Wanted War Criminals (2)  “It’s not up to Canada to prosecute people suspected of crimes against humanity, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said Wednesday. The federal government has been publicly stepping up deportations of people found inadmissible to Canada because of a suspicion they may have participated in war crimes. But Toews said it’s not realistic for Canada to investigate, prosecute and imprison people who commit crimes against humanity in other countries. “Canada is not the UN. It’s not our responsibility to make sure each one of these faces justice in their own countries,” he (said) …. “What we are doing with [the Canada Border Services Agency] is ensuring that Canadian law is obeyed ….”
• Pack o’ Wanted War Criminals (3)  The courts say you shouldn’t hear what group one of the nabbed from Pakistan is allegedly associated with.
• A bit of perspective on the Winnipeg Jets logo:  “…. drawing political conclusions from a sports logo — racial issues aside — can point you down a long and winding road to insanity. Where does it end? Can’t cheer for the Ottawa Senators, as it conflicts with views on Canada’s unelected Senate. Or the Edmonton Oilers, as it might imply you support the pillaging of our natural resources. Or the L.A. Kings, since that would mean acceptance of any atrocities committed throughout history under monarchist rule. Or the Carolina Hurricanes, because it would be insensitive to those who have suffered at the hands of natural disaster. Forget the Calgary Flames, as too many people perish in house fires and to wear that sweater would be disrespectful. Or the Minnesota Wild. Nothing against the outdoors, they’re just ugly f*%kin’ sweaters.”

MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – 1 Aug 11

• Ooopsie….  “One of the Canadian navy’s four Victoria-class submarines will be restricted in its ability to dive deep beneath the seas because of rust, according to a document obtained by The Canadian Press. A Feb. 9, 2010, briefing note prepared by Lt.-Cmdr. Helga Budden recommends repairing seven areas of general rust and three regions of localized pitting rust on HMCS Windsor. Budden recommends the repair be carried out through a “protect and monitor” option which calls for grinding away and priming the corroded areas, with regular checks of those areas to be conducted once the submarine is operational. But her note says that option would result in a new depth limitation for the submarine. “Materiel safety of the submarine would be maintained through a depth limitation caveat on the Windsor’s submarine safety document register,” says the note, obtained under federal access-to-information legislation. The note was based on research done by defence research scientists in Halifax ….”
• “The Russian Air Force and NORAD, the U.S. and Canadian joint air defense command will hold a second round of anti-terrorism exercises on August 8-11, the Commander in Chief of the Eastern military district, Igor Muginov said on Monday. “The main aim of the drills is to improve the Russian Air Force’s and NORAD’s capabilities for fighting terrorism in the air,” Muginov said. The exercises will include AWACS (airborne early warning and control) and refueling aircraft, as well as combat aircraft, Muginov said. The first Russian-NORAD joint anti-terrorism drills, dubbed Vigilant Eagle, took place in 2010, and involved Russian, Canadian and U.S. air force personnel ….”
• Canadians taking part in Exercise Khaan Quest in Mongolia – more details about the exercise here and here (exercise Facebook page).
• What’s Canada Buying?  Unmanned surveillance chopper (details in Statement of Requirement – PDF -  here), and someone to design, build training facilities at CFB Trenton.
• Afghanistan  NOW more of the stories come out – thanks mainstream media decision makers….
• “The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) today announced the removal from Canada of one individual who is suspected of being complicit in war crimes or crimes against humanity. Manuel De La Torre Herrera, from Peru was apprehended on July 25, 2011 in Toronto. This individual has been in CBSA custody since his apprehension. The Government has also received confirmation that Illandaridevage Kulatunga of Sri Lanka, also identified on the CBSA web site, is no longer in Canada. This update follows the announcement on July 21, 2011 by Ministers Toews and Kenney urging Canadians to help identify 30 individuals suspected of being complicit in war crimes or crimes against humanity, and who are thought to be hiding in locations across Canada….”
• Meanwhile, don’t bother checking the CBC for the names or photos of the List o’ 30 mentioned above.
• The Winnipeg Jets logo fracas continues.  “…. If you feel uncomfortable cheering for a team with a fighter jet on its jersey, why do you feel comfortable cheering for a team of large men who run around a sheet of ice hitting other large men — and occasionally punching them? So at the risk of upsetting the legacy of J.S. Woodsworth and all the other great pacifists in Winnipeg’s history, I am no more troubled by the fighter plane on the Jets jersey than I am troubled by the fang-toothed dinosaur on the Toronto Raptors’ shirts. And I’m a lot less troubled by a jet than I am by the implied message behind the Edmonton Oilers’ nickname, which celebrates non-renewable energy. And herein lies the crux of my argument: “Edmonton sucks.” Did I mention pro sport could be mindless?”

MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – 31 Jul 11

• “New Democrat MP Ryan Cleary is crying foul after being barred from touring the 9 Wing Gander airbase by federal officials. Cleary, who represents St. John’s South-Mount Pearl, has been a fierce critic of the government’s handling of Search and Rescue operations in Gander, and recently, he said he was invited to come for a tour by a senior official at the base. “He said please come tour the base, go up in one of the Cormorants, talk to our officials, talk to all the personnel, you know, get that first-hand account from the base,” Cleary said. “I’m getting a green light from the ground up in Gander, but then the minister shuts it down.” In an email from an official in Defence Minister Peter MacKay’s office, Cleary was told that a tour of the facility would be too much of a disruption. “In short, conducting such tours would undoubtedly detract from the high operational tempo of this important facility and aircraft, and thus limit the normal functioning of both facility and aircraft) and that of its personnel,” read the email from Merv Frame, senior special assistant in MacKay’s office ….”
• Afghanistan  What’re the Hercules crews up to?  “The lumbering Hercules CC130J descends quickly from 3,300 to 300 metres and the countdown begins. The rear ramp yawns open, revealing the ground below and Capt. Brad Beauchamp, 37, tilts the nose of the giant airplane to a 70-degree bank angle. Then he guns the engines. The plane surges forward. Down in the cargo hold, Sgt. David Burrill, 38, pulls a release cord and 20 tightly packed pallets of food, fuel and other supplies race over the steel rollers and shoot out the rear of the Hercules. It takes little more than a second or two and they are gone. In rapid succession their black chutes open and all 12,000 kilograms of cargo float feather-like toward the ground, landing one after another in near-perfect symmetry. Only one parachute fails and you can see the rogue pallet land in a burst of dust ….”
• Global TV/Postmedia News editorially underwhelmed with Calgary’s decision to go for “Support the Troops” stickers on municipal vehicles, with the option of not doing it if an individual driver objects.  “…. Drivers of city vehicles recognize they are civic ambassadors who set an example to others on the road, and are mindful that they are being judged in the court of public opinion, which holds them to a higher standard. The lack of backbone by our elected officials on this issue is an inadvertent snub to our soldiers, for whom this intention was meant to say Thank You. Council should learn from the bravery of our soldiers, and follow the lead of other municipalities, whose councillors have, after long and emotional debates on the subject, shown the courage of their own convictions.”
• Even MORE on the Winnipeg Jets’ logo, this time from NBC Sports. “…. teams are going to find inspiration for their teams from anywhere possible and finding ways to market the teams will be equally creative. That’s not to say Benjamin doesn’t have a reason to be fretful, his reasons are solid (in his blog post on the issue here), but perhaps not taking things to be so serious would be a better way to look at it.”

MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – 27 Jul 11

• Defence Minister announces big money ($3.9 million) for work on health facilities at 17 Wing Winnipeg – more details in Backgrounder, and more from the Winnipeg Free Press here.
• Condolences to family, colleagues and friends.  “On July 25, 2011 shortly before 10 pm, a member of the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (2PPCLI), based at Canadian Forces Base Shilo was killed in a single vehicle collision in Boissevain, MB. 31 year old, Warrant Officer Bryce Leonard Piukkula (PEW-kil –a), originally from Guelph, Ontario was killed when his motorcycle struck a parked bulldozer. WO Piukkula was a 13 year veteran of the Canadian Forces and has served 3 tours of duty overseas, 2 to Bosnia and once to Afghanistan ….”  More at CBC.ca here.
• Want to see photos of Vandoos (in this case, 3rd Battalion) preparing to jump out of Ukrainian helicopters after being trained by Ukrainian paratroopers on Exercise Rapid Trident 2011?  Check them out here (via Army.ca)
• What’s Canada Buying?  Loads of super-antibiotic, someone to make the load-bearing bits of the Integrated Soldier System Suite, and logistics expert for Medium to Heavy Lift Helicopter program.
• F-35 Tug o’ War  Aussies getting cold feet over Joint Strike Fighter?  “Australia may reconsider a A$16 billion ($17.5 billion) plan to buy 100 of Lockheed Martin Corp’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighters because of delivery delays and cost overruns, the government said on Wednesday. Repeated delays and ballooning costs in the F-35 program are now starting to rub against already generous delivery and cost limits set by the government and military planners, Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith said. “We are running close up to those schedules, particularly on delivery. So I’ve made the point very clear that we are now monitoring very closely the delivery timetable and we are also monitoring very closely the cost,” Smith told Australian radio after meeting defence officials in Washington ….”
• Libya Mission  One man’s opinion. “…. Libya, like Kosovo, Somalia, Haiti and, by some accounts, Iraq and Afghanistan, has become a humanitarian war. The main point of such wars is to stop governments or factions that aim to become governments (such as the transitional council) from committing mass murder. They are not peacekeeping missions, though, like peacekeeping, they are optional – wars of choice they are often called. This means that Canada, NATO and the “international community” was in no way compelled to act. By insisting on the opposite, Baird and other advocates of humanitarian war involve themselves in paradoxes, dilemmas and incoherencies ….”
• Afghanistan  Human rights group finally bashes Karzai for not complaining about Taliban civilian killings – well done.
• New Winnipeg Jets Logo (1)  Defence Minister Peter MacKay seems to like it.  “The new Winnipeg Jets logo, while not yet out on an actual jersey, continues to sell well in t-shirts, hats and other merchandise and in Winnipeg on July 26, 2011, the military themed logo got approval from a big player in Canada’s defence ministry. Peter MacKay, the country’s Minister of Defence, endorsed the logo while speaking to media after having announced some funding unrelated to the Jets. “I personally love it,” said MacKay who was at 17 Wing Winnipeg, an airforce base outside the city that has been part of Winnipeg in some way since 1922. “It very much associates with the history of the Canadian air force and the roots the air force have in the city of Winnipeg.””
• New Winnipeg Jets Logo (2)  Some sports commentary web sites, not so much.  “…. This logo seems to be too safe and out-of-date when compared to other team logos. And even their presentation of the logo lacks any showmanship. I didn’t love the old logo, but I think its simple design fit that era and was a solid crest to support. This logo looks like some kid created it in Paint as a grade nine art project ….”
• New Winnipeg Jets Logo (3a)  Peaceniks, even less.  “…. there can be no mistaking the inspiration for the new Jets logo. If the CF-18 fighter draped in a red maple leaf wasn’t obvious enough, the team’s new owner made no secret of the fact that the logo was designed in consultation with the Department of National Defence. In fact, Mark Chipman’s comments in the unveiling of the new logo had more to do with the air force than the hockey team. He noted in the press conference that he only felt comfortable with the “Jets” name when he determined that he could re-brand the team around the RCAF. In other words, my beloved Winnipeg Jets are being twisted into another cheap marketing ploy for the new Canadian militarism ….”
• New Winnipeg Jets Logo (3b)  “…. The fighter jet over the maple leaf is a fitting symbol for the Stephen Harper era. Not only did he manage to win a majority government while promising to spend untold billions on a new generation of F-35 bombers, but he has also presided over a steadily creeping militarism throughout Canadian society ….”
• Some whining about Calgary’s decision to allow “Support the Troops” stickers on municipal vehicles.  “…. “We oppose the decals because oppose using public resources for a political message,” said Dylan Penner, spokesperson for the (Council of Canadians).  “This is not about support for our troops, it is about explicit endorsement of the war. In our view, it is impossible to separate the message of support for war from support for troops, despite the fact the Canadian troops are coming home now …. Canadians care about peace, and many of us recognize this as promoting war.” ….”  Uh, the stickers say “Support Our Troops”, not “Support The War” – I guess that’s not clear enough.
• Another alleged war criminal nabbed in Toronto.
• “…. The town of Gander, in eastern Newfoundland, will soon host a steel beam from New York’s World Trade Center, which collapsed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The beam is a gift from the Bethpage Fire Department in Long Island, New York, to commemorate Gander’s role in welcoming stranded air passengers whose flights were rerouted to Canada just after the Twin Towers were hit. “It’s an honour for us,” mayor Claude Elliott told Postmedia News. A memorial will be built at the North Atlantic Aviation Museum, he said ….”
• More on the war poet John MacRae allegedly having been gay.  Let’s see – four sources mentioned in the original article.  In subsequent article in another media outlet, one says “WTF? that’s not what I said”, three who we haven’t heard from, the museum’s fundraising boss saying, “he knew of multiple, credible sources indicating the famed poet was gay”, and the writer of the original piece saying, “she did not contact any historian to substantiate the story (and) “We may have to print a correction.” …. ” Great journalism all ’round…
• “Prime Minister Stephen Harper will deliver remarks and participate in a wreath laying ceremony at a memorial service in honour of Korean War veterans.  He will be joined by Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Senator Yonah Martin and other dignitaries (in Brampton later today) ….”
• “Behind a hangar at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum a treasure pulled up on a flatbed truck Tuesday: a shipping container packed with twisted metal, airplane guts, and chopped up bits of wing. To the untrained eye it looked like scrap, and for 50 years that’s all anyone thought it was. For the small group of aviation buffs gathered to welcome the container to Canada it was something more: the bones and vital organs of a Handley Page Halifax Bomber, the airplane that saw Canada through the darkest days of the Second World War ….”
• “World Vision, the Child Soldiers Initiative and the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre have launched training programs in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to aid in the protection of children and the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence. The training of DRC’s national army and the United Nations staff is generously funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) ….”

MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – 25 Jul 11

• Supporting the troops, one steak at a time.  “It’s been a little over a year since Harvey Dann started his Sponsor a Steak campaign. Dann owns Alert Agri Distributors, a West St. Paul, Man., company that exports fat cattle to the U.S. It’s been a good business for Dann, and he’s been thankful for it. Last year, celebrating his 25th year in business, Dann decided to give something back. He started the campaign to feed steaks to Canadian soldiers who were serving overseas. In the past year, Dann has spread the word at various beef industry meetings, and gathered support, with a goal of raising about $110,000 to purchase the steaks. A couple of weeks ago, Dann accomplished his goal. He called the News with the word that he had succeeded in raising enough money for military base parties across Canada, including Edmonton; Shilo, Man.; Gagetown, N.B.; Valcartier, Que.; and Petawawa, Ont. The base parties for Edmonton and Shilo were held in June, 2010 ….”
• Well done Winnipeg Jets!  “The new Winnipeg Jets logo is doing more for the Canadian Forces than just paying tribute. True North Sports and Entertainment, which owns the team, will give $1 million to military charities over the next ten years. Maj.-Gen. Alain Parent, commander of 1 Canadian Air Division, said it was easy to partner with the new hockey outfit. “Winnipeg has had a long association with the air force,” he said. “Blue Bombers and Jets are both aircraft that have served or are serving the air force.” “In turn, we consider Winnipeg to be the heart of the air force,” he said. Money will be donated to the Military Families Fund, the Air Force Heritage Fund and Soldier On ….”
• “Canada’s defence minister met Sunday with Canadian Rangers ahead of a major, annual Arctic sovereignty operation. Defence Minister Peter MacKay presented members of the 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group with Canadian Forces decoration medals in honour of their 12 years of service. Starting Aug. 8, the 1st Ranger patrol group will take part in Operation Nanook, the military’s annual northern training exercise. The Rangers, a sub-component of the Canadian Forces Reserve, patrol remote parts of Canada’s North, but were also called to Ontario last week to help evacuate First Nations communities threatened by forest fires ….”  More on the awards, as well as Ranger recruiting numbers, from the CF Info-Machine here.
• Afghanistan  “The loss of a not-so secret base in Dubai last year forced the Canadian military to use its unarmed Airbus planes for flights into Kandahar Airfield during the final phase of the combat mission, ministerial briefing notes say. “Pressures imposed by the closure of Camp Mirage and the need to maximize flexibility in providing strategic airlift to support OP Athena have culminated in the (censored) using C-150 flights in KAF,” said a Nov. 1, 2010, briefing note prepared for Defence Minister Peter MacKay. The Canadian military designates its Airbus passenger jets as the CC-150 Polaris but often refers to it simply as the C-150. The air force initially certified the Airbus aircraft to fly into the war zone in 2007. But their use, according to the documents, was considered a “last resort” and a “calculated risk” by commanders on the ground ….”  Um, the Hercules planes flying into and out of Kandahar are “unarmed”, too, although the article is a bit more specific about the risk later on:  “…. The Airbus planes do not have a defensive suite to deflect incoming missiles and are generally considered a civilian aircraft not suited for a war zone ….”
• What’s Canada Buying:  Big Honkin’ Ship Edition (1)  “Vancouver should brace itself for significant change if Vancouver Shipyards Company wins a portion of the $35-billion in federal contracts for new warships and other vessels this fall, a company executive says. In an interview shortly after the company submitted its bid, John Shaw, a vice-president at the parent company Seaspan Marine Corp., said winning the contract would mean expansion of training and apprenticeship programs, and a search for more than 2,000 new employees. “We would be rebuilding an industry. … We’re at a point where we would have to train a whole new generation on shipbuilding,” Mr. Shaw said. “It would be a huge change here.” ….”
• What’s Canada Buying:  Big Honkin’ Ship Edition (2)  “…. That isn’t to say money won’t be wasted or mistakes made. This project is too big and too spread out across the country to work perfectly. But MacKay’s well-timed slap three years ago might have set the stage for a more effective and coherent shipbuilding program this time around. And that is what’s important. Expensive as it is, this project will provide much more than cash and jobs: It will encourage technology development and trade, and stimulate business right across Canada. It had better be done right.”
• What’s Canada Buying?  Remember research being done on mine plows from a few years back?  Looks like a bit more work’s being done.
• “Senator Yonah Martin, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, was joined by the Honourable Sung Choon Park, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs for the Republic of Korea, to mark the 58th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice and the service and sacrifice of Veterans of the Korean War. A brief ceremony was held today at the Monument to Canadian Fallen followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial …. From 1950 to 1953, more than 26,000 Canadians served in Korea, working to restore peace and stability to the area. There were 516 Canadians who made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of peace, freedom and justice for the people of South Korea ….”
• More on the War of 1812 commemorations coming up. “Next year, Canada will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 — a three-year war that sent the invading Americans retreating home on the losing side of history. So will Canadians, known for their quiet patriotism, celebrate that victory with respect for our now closest ally and most valuable trading partner? Or, will it turn into a scene of chauvinistic triumphalism, a trait sometimes fairly or unfairly attributed to Canada’s neighbours to the south? “You don’t want to all of a sudden say, ‘We’ve kicked your butts,’ but there’s ways of presenting it,” said Clark Bernat, manager of Niagara Falls Museums, who is among the planners for local upcoming bicentennial celebrations in the city. “This is a war that has led to 200 years of peace between our two countries. There was a reason for them to do battle 200 years ago and we have to provide the reasons why it happened and what the results were.” ….”

MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – 23 Jul 11

 

• Canada’s PM on explosion, multiple killings in Oslo, Norway:  “…. We deeply regret the loss of life and injuries resulting from the explosion which occurred today in the government quarters, where the Prime Minister’s Office and other government offices are located. We were also horrified to learn that a gunman has opened fire at a youth camp at Utøya. Canada condemns these barbarous and senseless acts of violence and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, witnesses and all those affected by these attacks ….”  More on the attacks here, here, here and here.
• CF help with northern Ontario forest fire evacuations, Operation FORGE, winding down.  “After successfully evacuating more than 3,600 residents from seven northern Ontario communities that had been threatened by wildfires, Canadian Forces airlift is no longer needed as part of the Province of Ontario-led evacuation efforts …. Six CC-130 Hercules military transport aircraft flew a total of 42 missions, evacuating 3,614 people from Deer Lake, Cat Lake, Fort Hope, Keewaywin, Kingfisher Lake, Kasabonika and Sandy Lake since July 6, 2011. Half of those flights took place in the past three days ….”
• Ooopsie.  “The Royal Canadian Legion is accusing the Conservative government of discrimination for offering support services only to Afghanistan veterans instead of all military personnel. At issue is the Legacy of Care Program announced in September 2010 by former Veterans Affairs Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn and Defence Minister Peter MacKay, which promised five major support services to Canadian Forces veterans. But an amended statement released this month says support programs, such the attendant care benefit, the caregiver benefit and the spousal education upgrade benefit would be restricted to only those who served in Afghanistan. “Here at the Royal Canadian Legion we believe that all veterans are equal in their service and sacrifice to their country and should be treated equitably,” Legion spokesman Pierre Allard told the Toronto Star Friday. The program promised five initiatives: barrier-free transitional accommodations, support services while in transitional accommodations, the Canadian Forces attendant care benefit, the spousal education upgrade program and enhanced case management support for seriously ill and injured personnel. “There was no mention that any element of this was going to be Afghanistan only,” Allard said. Patricia Varga, the Legion’s Dominion president said in a statement she was “appalled that such blatant discrimination is taking place.” ….”  More from Global News here, and good discussion on this one at Army.ca.
• Afghanistan (1a)  “Canada’s last combat commander in Afghanistan returned home Friday to proclaim victory after nearly 10 years of fighting a war that took the lives of 157 Canadians. “We definitely flattened the insurgency,” a smiling Brig.-Gen. Dean Milner said after arriving aboard a military airbus with 117 returning soldiers. Tears, hugs, kisses and shouts of joy echoed through a large hangar as families stood on tiptoes, snapping pictures of loved ones marching from the plane after months of separation. Defence Minister Peter MacKay, Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Walt Natynczyk and Lt.-Gen. Peter Devlin — responsible for land forces — welcomed the troops while a lone piper played. Canada’s combat role ended earlier this month – a responsibility now in the hands of the Americans ….”
• Afghanistan (1b)  “The commander of Canada’s last combat mission in Kandahar arrived home Friday, confident that his soldiers had “flattened” insurgents and put the troubled region on the path to stability. “Afghanistan still has its challenges but we feel that there is significant improvement in the fight against the insurgents,” said Brig.-Gen. Dean Milner. “I’m guardedly optimistic that things are moving in the right direction.” Milner arrived at Ottawa International Airport along with more than 100 soldiers who had worked in Canada’s military headquarters in Kandahar. The combat mission ended on July 1 with Canada transferring responsibility to the American military ….”  Even more at CBC.ca.
• Afghanistan (1c)  CF’s Info-Machine version of the General’s arrival:  “Brigadier-General Dean Milner, the last commander of Canada’s combat mission in Afghanistan, and the final members of his team returned home from Afghanistan this afternoon. Meeting them at the Ottawa International Airport from Afghanistan were friends and family of the returning members, as well as the Honourable Peter MacKay, the Minister of National Defence, General Walt Natynczyk, the Chief of the Defence Staff, and Lieutenant-General Peter Devlin, the Chief of the Land Staff. “Today’s return of members of the Canadian Forces marks a great milestone in Canadian history. Brigadier-General Milner, his troops, and their predecessors have made incredible contributions to improving the lives and security of the people of Afghanistan, have earned the respect of their NATO peers, and have given Canadians from across the country a newfound pride in our men and women in uniform,” said Minister Peter MacKay …. “
• Afghanistan (2)  NOW the media comes up with stories about the CF & Afghanistan, after the mission and highlighting some of the heroism (specifics on awards here and here).
• Afghanistan (3a)  One columnist’s view:  “Yours and mine weren’t the hearts and minds Canadian soldiers were aiming for when they first landed in Kandahar amid the stratospherically high hopes of early 2002. But as the last of our combat troops trickle home nearly a decade later, few would dispute it is Canada they won. Death by death, injury by injury, the hard slog of the longest war transformed not only the Canadian Forces, but the way Canadians see them ….”
• Afghanistan (3b)  More on the interpreters trying to get into Canada.  “…. The lights are set to go out on Ottawa’s fast-track immigration program for Afghan interpreters who have worked on the Canadian mission. Falstan worked for the Canadian army for three months and technically does not qualify for entry to Canada. A terp needs one year of service to qualify, he said. “The danger is the same whether you work for five years — or two days. No different,” he said. “That is the big trouble for everyone. The Taliban, they know about me. They will kill me. They’ll never let me live in Afghanistan.” ….”
• Afghanistan (4)  “Canada’s foremost expert in military law said legislators should look into possibly changing certain aspects of the National Defence Act, which bars active servicemen and women from having sexual relationships with one another. Retired Col. Michel Drapeau spoke to QMI Agency after retired Brig.-Gen. Daniel Menard was demoted and fined Thursday after admitting to having a sexual affair with a subordinate while in Afghanistan. Menard, 45, was a rising star in the Canadian Forces. He was appointed 18 months ago to general at just 43 years of age. Now, Menard said that his criminal record for having consensual sex with a soldier is hurting his ability to find a post-military job. Drapeau said that the non-fraternization rule is important but questioned whether violating this rule should be a criminal offence …. “I’m suggesting that there is something for parliamentarians, and the legislature in particular, to have a look and say, ‘Is this the best way to deal with this issue?’” Drapeau said. “How you apply (the law) and whether or not you criminalize it, as we have done in this case, is maybe open for federal debate.” ….”
• The political backlash has begun over even the slightest potential of military search and rescue services being privatized.  “Two federal members of parliament from Newfoundland and Labrador are alarmed at news that the federal government is looking at privatizing some elements of search and rescue services. “The notion of privatization of search and rescue capability is abhorrent,” said Jack Harris, the MP for St. John’s East and the NDP defense critic. A statement from the government on Thursday said that the Department of National Defence, which is responsible for fixed-wing search and rescue, is looking at all options to ensure the best possible equipment and service ….”  More from the St. John’s Telegram here.
• Latest on Big Honkin’ Ship Building:  “The East Coast will be competing against the West Coast to win the right to build $25 billion in warships for the Canadian navy. Officials with the Halifax and Vancouver shipyards confirmed Thursday that their parent companies have bid on both federal shipbuilding contracts up for grabs. “We are very confident in our bids, our facilities, our partnerships, and most importantly, our workforce,” Jim Irving, CEO of Irving Shipbuilding Inc., which owns the Halifax yard, said in a news release. A spokeswoman for the third bidder, a consortium that includes Davie Yards of Levis, Que., said the newly restructured shipyard is “mainly focusing on the non-combat package.” ….”
• F-35 Tug o’ War  Former signals officer/signals intelligence processor says we need the F-35s, bad.  ”…. a nation that is incapable of contributing to its own defence is a lame-duck nation, vulnerable to any manner of exploitation and oppression. We need to maintain a warfighting capability, because military capabilities take decades to acquire, develop and hone, precluding the possibility that we can just purchase it if ever the need should arise. We need the F-35 to provide Canada with an effective, multi-role, inter-operable air warfare capability.”
• What’s Canada Buying?  Remember the search for someone to check out the naval cemetery at CFB Stadacona (13th bullet here)?  More on that from The Canadian Press:  “They are scattered throughout a small military cemetery in Halifax — dozens of weathered headstones dating back more than a century, bearing the names of seamen and civilians associated with the Royal Navy. The grave markers were meant to stand as enduring tokens of respect, but they also serve as a reminder of the many more men, women and children buried here whose names cannot be found on any memorial. Now the Department of National Defence has launched a project in hopes of preserving potentially hundreds of unmarked graves at Canadian Forces Base Halifax. “The hope is to find out where all these graves are,” says historian Rick Sanderson, executive director of the Maritime Command Museum located on the base. “The graveyard is very important to the navy because the origins of the Canadian navy are with the British navy and to a certain extent, the French navy as well.” ….”
• “A Canadian Forces pilot hailed for ejecting from a fighter jet moments before a crash a year ago is now working as a flight instructor in Saskatchewan.  Capt. Brian Bews was making a low-speed pass at low altitude on a practice run for the Alberta International Airshow on July 23, 2010, when he had to eject from the jet seconds before it smashed into the airstrip at the Lethbridge airport. The one-year anniversary of the crash has brought back many memories, said Bews in a recent interview from CFB Moose Jaw ….”
• Well done, marchers.  “After four difficult days of walking, and hundreds of sore feet, the members of the Canadian Forces (CF) contingent successfully completed the 95th annual International Four Days Marches Nijmegen. Consisting of more than 200 soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen from units across Canada, the Canadian contingent can be proud of themselves for having finished one of the most prestigious long-distance walking events in the world …. the Canadian contingent …. marched 40 km a day, for four days in a row, while wearing standard combat clothing and carrying a military rucksack weighing at least 10 kilograms.  After completing the grueling 160 km march, members of the CF contingent were presented the Four Day Marches Cross by (Brigadier-General J.C. Madower, Assistant Chief Military Personnel) during a ceremony held at Charlemagne Field, Nijmegen ….”
• Remember Canada’s call to help track down the Top 30 War Criminals in Canada?  “Immigration Minister Jason Kenney says suspected war criminal Cristobal Gonzalez-Ramirez has been arrested in Alberta after authorities received several tips from the public. Kenney made the announcement at a press conference in Montreal on Friday, just one day after the government launched a website containing the names of 30 alleged war criminals. “Our government received a strong mandate from Canadians to keep our streets and communities safe, and maintain the integrity of our immigration system,” Kenney said in a statement. “We asked the public for assistance in apprehending these individuals and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.” ….”
• New Winnipeg Jets logo channels old RCAF emblems (more from media here and here):