MILNEWS.ca Highlights – December 13, 2018

Internal Security:  #HuaweiCFOArrest + Spinoff

• “Ex-Canadian envoy detained – China’s Foreign Ministry said that the organization a former Canadian diplomat (Michael Kovrig) works for has not registered in the Chinese mainland, indicating that its employees’ activities in the mainland have violated Chinese laws …” (CHN nationalist tabloid)
• “Coercive measures have been taken against two Canadians on suspicion of jeopardizing China’s national security, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said Thursday …” (CHN Communist Party media)
• “China Confirms Holding Two Canadians in ‘National Security’ Investigation”
• “Canada says second person questioned in China after detention of ex-diplomat Michael Kovrig”
• “China Confirms Detention of Second Canadian”
• “Affaire Huawei: deux Canadiens soupçonnés en Chine de menace à la « sécurité nationale »”
• “Two Canadians Suspected Of Endangering Сhina’s State Security – Beijing”
• “US, Canada risk opening Pandora’s box” (CHN nationalist tabloid)
• “China won’t tolerate bullying of citizens: FM” (CHN nationalist tabloid)
• “Canada can end Huawei case, but will it?” (CHN nationalilst tabloid)
• “China to Canada: Trampling on the rights of Chinese citizens comes with a high cost” (CHN Communist Party media)
• “China will never sit by and watch any bullying act against Chinese citizens: FM” (CHN Communist Party media)
• “Canada Has Chosen “Soft” Scenario for Ending the Huawei Crisis – Scholars”
• “Scheer blames Trudeau’s ‘naive approach’ to China for Huawei crisis”
• “Michael Spavor, the Canadian idealist who soared on his hopes for a better North Korea brought crashing back to earth in China”
• “Biographical sketches of 2 Canadians detained in China”

Internal Security:  Other Stuff

• “AP Analysis Reveals Iran Hackers Hunt Nuclear Workers, US Targets”

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “Turkey conducts airstrikes against PKK targets in Iraq”
• “Turkish jets carry out bombardment in Shingal, Makhmour district”
• ” US forces and Iraqi fighters are facing each other in a ‘Wild West situation’ on the Iraq-Syria border”
• “Amnesty International: Islamic State Wrought Havoc in Rural Iraq”
• “Amnesty: Iraq should use oil revenue to fund reconstruction of war-torn areas”
• “Amnesty says ISIL ‘annihilation’ of rural Iraq is a war crime”
• “Amnesty Says ISIS Destructive Legacy Decimated Rural Iraq”
• “Iraq: Islamic State’s destructive legacy decimates Yezidi farming” (Amnesty International)

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “Suspected jihadists kill 42 in Mali’s nomadic Tuareg camps”
• “Suspected jihadists kill dozens in attacks on nomadic Tuareg camps in Mali”
• “Mali: des dizaines de tués dans une attaque près de la frontière nigérienne”
• “Mali : 5 djihadistes tués”
• “Sweeping Change to US Policy for Africa Announced”
• “US Rethinking Peacekeeping Role in Africa”
• “US-Africa: Bolton unveils plan to counter Russia and China influence”
• “Reprise des opérations du G5 Sahel”
• “Niger: Escalating violence uproots farmers and herders in Niger” (UN High Commissioner for Refugees)
• “The death of a jihadist: A chance to curb Mali’s conflict”
• “Gunmen kill more than 40 Tuaregs in ongoing Mali violence”
• “Mali: 47 civils tués par des inconnus armés près de Ménaka”
• “Several dozen killed near Mali’s border with Niger”
• “Mali : démantèlement d’une cellule terroriste”

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “Kiev Aggression on Donbass Imminent” (Pravda RUS media)
• “Moscow Warns That Kiev is Preparing Military Offensive Against Donbass” (pro-RUS site)
• “Don’t Let Ukraine Drag America Into War” (pro-RUS site)
• “DPR says Ukraine amassed chemicals at central Mariupol factory” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “DPR urges UN, OSCE, ICRC to prevent chemical attack in Mariupol” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Ukraine Wants Nuclear Weapons: Will the West Bow to the Regime in Kiev?” (pro-RUS think tank)
• “Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 12 December 2018” (OSCE info-machine)
• “Situation Update, east of Ukraine as of morning, December 13, 2018” (UKR MoD info-machine)
• UKR mil info-machine map, 13 Dec 2018
• Pro-RUS rebel info-machine map, 10-12 Dec 2018 (in Russian)
• “NATO Secretary General and President Poroshenko discuss developments in and around the Sea of Azov” (NATO info-machine)
• “Stepping up NATO presence in the Black Sea will prevent further escalation and ensure security in the region – meeting between the President of Ukraine and the Secretary General of the Alliance” (UKR Pres info-machine)
• “NATO concerned by heightened Russia-Ukraine tensions, – Stoltenberg”
• “NATO Pledges Support For Ukraine Over Sea Of Azov Incident” (US-funded media)
• “NATO to keep an eye on situation in Sea of Azov — Poroshenko”
• “Bolton: No Trump-Putin Meeting While Russia Holds Ukrainian Ships, Sailors” (USA-funded media)
• “No Trump-Putin meeting while Russia holds Ukraine ships – Bolton”
• “Russia Says No to OSCE Monitors in the Azov Sea and Kerch Strait”
• “Some Lessons From Germany’s Failed Proposal on the Azov Sea and Kerch Strait”
• “Conflict in the Kerch Strait, Information War, and Destabilization of Ukraine” (InformNapalm.org)
• “EU Leaders Prolong Economic Sanctions On Russia”
• “Donbass Brothers: How Serbian Fighters Were Deployed in Ukraine”

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “Poland to take lead in NATO Baltic Air Policing mission”
• “Rencontre entre le chef d’état-major russe et un haut responsable de l’Otan”
• “Russian military chief accuses Nato of buildup on borders”
• “Increasing NATO Forces Near Russian Borders Will Only Increase Tensions – (RUS) MoD” (RUS state media)
• “Here’s How A Conventional War Between NATO And Russia Could Go Down” (Task & Purpose blog)
• “War With Russia Could Look a Lot Like War With the Soviets Did” (War is Boring blog)

Way Up North

• “Shipbuilders lay down icebreaker for Russian Navy”

What’s Canada Buying?

• “Christie Blatchford: The shipshow prosecution that Mark Norman is facing”
• Col. Ted on VADM Norman prosecution: “… this prosecution looks, to me, to have gone from nasty and unnecessary to desperate …”

Other Military News

• “Agent Orange Investigations at Base Gagetown” (DND info-machine, updated 13 Dec 2018)

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “Russian ambassador to China hails Russian-Chinese military cooperation” (CHN mil media)
• “Can South China Sea conflict between Washington and Beijing be avoided?”

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – December 12, 2018

No #MapleFlag2019

• “Canada decided to not conduct Maple Flag exercise in 2019”
• “Postponement of Exercise Maple Flag” (RCAF info-machine)
• “Maple Flag exercise postponed so improvements can be made to Cold Lake base and range”

Internal Security:  #HuaweiCFOArrest + Spinoff

• “Second Canadian missing in China after questioning by authorities: Freeland”
• “Michael Kovrig Accused of Harming China’s National Security as Second Canadian Goes Missing” (China Digital Times)
• “China: Canadian Diplomat Arrested on Charges of Endangering Security”
• “Amid Row Over Huawei Case, China Detains a Former Canadian Diplomat”
• “China Detains Michael Kovrig, a Former Canadian Diplomat”
• “Michael Kovrig, and China’s reward-and-punishment diplomacy”
• “Canadien arrêté en Chine: « un pion », selon des proches et experts”
• “Meng Wanzhou is out on bail — but could be in legal limbo for years”
• “La vie sous haute surveillance de l’héritière Huawei à Vancouver”
• “Is Canada Goose cooked? Shares slide as Chinese buyers demand boycott over arrest of Huawei CFO Sabrina Meng Wanzhou”
• “Chinese Arrest and Trump Boast Drag Trudeau Into Huawei Feud”
• “Huawei arrest fires warning shot to foreign business executives, as US law enforcers makes targeting individuals a ‘top priority’”
• “”Trump’s willingness to intervene in Meng detention roils Canada’s justification”
• “China’s threats over Huawei arrests send a clear signal to Canada”
• “Glavin: Squeezed by China and Trump, Canada must rewrite policy, fast”

Internal Security:  Other Stuff

• “Liberals, Conservatives spar over threat posed by return of foreign fighters to Canada”
• “Government response to motion on bringing ISIS members to justice emphasizes prosecution challenges”
• “Rapport public de 2018 sur la menace terroriste au Canada: le niveau demeure le même”
• “Liberals Fail to Bring ISIS Terrorists to Justice” (CPC info-machine)
• “Edmonton truck attack suspect had encrypted device cops couldn’t crack: ex-chief”
• “Peshdary knew of four ‘brothers’ intending to join ISIL in Syria, star witness testifies”
• “The ARC Collective: My Observations Concerning Saturday’s Anti-UN Migrant Compact Protests” (Anti-Racist Canada blog)
• “FUREY: Omar Khadr keeps coming back for more – and still shows no regrets”
• “Rightsizing the Transnational Jihadist Threat” (Crisis Group)

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “Islamic State eyes comeback in Iraq”
• “On the Syria-Iraq border, Iran-backed militia eyes U.S. troops”
• “Syria war: Turkey warns of fresh anti-Kurd offensive in north”
• “Threatening to invade Syrian Kurdistan, Erdogan uses phrase ‘terrorist Kurds’ “
• “US warns Turkey not to attack Syria”
• “Unilateral military action into northeast Syria ‘unacceptable’: Pentagon”
• “New War in Syria? U.S. Allies to Soon Be Targeted in Military Action by Turkey”
• “Syrian Kurds: Threat of Turkish Action Impacts Anti-IS Fight”
• “Turkey expanding military operation in northern Syria: Erdogan”
• “Syria war: Turkey warns of fresh anti-Kurd offensive in north”

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “DPR sends note to OSCE concerning Kiev-prepared assault in Donbass” (proRUS rebel info-machine)
• “MAJOR: Ukraine’s President Describes WAR Against Russia” (pro-RUS site)
• “Russian spies ‘launched major cyber attack on Ukraine’ prior to naval incident” (intelnews.org)
• “EU to offer Ukraine help over Azov Sea at summit” (Reuters)
• “Sea of Azov Crisis: Ukraine and Russia Clash, as do Competing Visions of European Security” (RUSI)
• “Kremlin disagrees with Poroshenko’s claim Kerch Strait incident was act of aggression” (RUS state media)
• “Ukrainian Intelligence withdraws from CIS Intelligence Services Cooperation Agreement” (UKR media)
• “Martial Law in Ukraine: A Rehearsal for War”
• “Special Representative of OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Sajdik welcomes transfer of detainees not related to conflict from (certain areas of Luhansk region) to territory controlled by government of Ukraine” (OSCE info-machine)

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “Russian Defense Ministry: 80% of this year’s autumn recruits fit for military service” (RUS state media)
• “Russia Considers Deploying Military Aircraft in Venezuela Long Term, Media Reports”
• “Russia’s strategic bombers spark panic among Venezuela’s opposition, says top legislator” (RUS state media)
• “Looks like a Topol-E failure in a launch from Kapustin Yar” (Russian strategic nuclear forces blog)
• “Russia to Build Huge, Luxurious Military Church to Promote Christian Values in Armed Forces”
• “Russian Official Threatens to Block Google Over Violations”

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “Mali says foiled New Year’s Eve terror attacks”
• “Germany extends Heron contracts for Afghanistan and Mali”
• “Mali: New law will reinforce the culture of impunity for human rights violations Amnesty International · 1 day ago” (Amnesty Int’l info-machine)
• “Mali : Rapport de suivi des activités humanitaires | avril à septembre 2018” (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)
• “Amnesty International demande au Mali de modifier la loi d’entente nationale”
• “US military probes Niger crash that killed French soldier”
• “Russia can take part in building Trans-African railway”

What’s Canada Buying?

• “Canada’s military procurement legacy somehow gets even stupider”
• “Commons committee questions DND over fighter capability”
• “John Ivison: As Trudeau decides fate of Saudi LAV deal, he weighs idealism against electoral reality”
• “Court hears departments, officials collecting own files in Norman case”
• “Crown’s change of strategy in Vice Admiral Mark Norman case bound to raise questions”

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “Military, Veterans Affairs won’t pay for Air Force officer’s prosthetic leg, leaving her with $34,000 bill”
• “Government refuses to pay for veteran’s prosthetic leg”
• “Canada’s military veterans are finding a home in corporate cannabis”

Other Military News

• “HMCS Calgary charts a series of firsts at sea”
• “Interview de fin d’année avec le vice-amiral Ron Lloyd, commandant de la Marine royale canadienne” (video)

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “US believes Chinese intelligence was behind massive Marriott hack, as Mike Pompeo decries Beijing’s ‘cyberattacks across the world’ “
• “Marriott Data Breach Is Traced to Chinese Hackers as U.S. Readies Crackdown on Beijing”
• “China-India military drill kicks off in SW China” (CHN mil media)
• “Operation Z machine: China’s next big weapon in the nuclear ‘arms race’”
• “Russia’s Pacific Fleet to get corvettes and submarines armed with cruise missiles”

The Koreas

• “North Korea’s Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site: Current Status and Future Inspections” (38 North)
• “Korean Soldiers Verify Removal of Border Armed Guard Posts”
• “2 Koreas Inspect Demolition of Guard Posts”

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#RUS Poised to Escalate #UKR Campaign? (counterpoint)

And here, a more “glass is half full” assessment, recommended via social media by people I respect who know their stuff (thanks @eriq49 and @MarkGaleotti) …

“… This is not the first time breathless reports have warned that war is about to break out. The image of hundreds of tanks lined up at a new Russian military base on the outskirts of Kamensk-Shakhtinsky in Russia’s Rostov Oblast close to the Ukrainian border has been widely circulated on social media and TV shows. It has been used as proof that Russian forces are building up, ready to invade. However, the image is from Google Earth and from October 13, over a month before the clash between Russian and Ukrainian navy on Sea of Azov. It has already snowed in Rostov and there is no snow in the image. 

Before I dive into this I should say at the outset I remain extremely sceptical of the idea that Russia would ever invade Ukraine, let alone now. There are many reasons to believe this. To save time let me just list some of the points made against invasion recently and we can leave the debate over each for another time:

• It’s winter and it’s a really bad idea to start a war in the east in winter;

• Invading Ukraine would bring down extreme punitive sanctions on Russia – far worse than the current regime – which it can ill afford;

• Moreover new and even more stringent sanctions would undermine the Kremlin’s efforts to lift the current sanctions when the will in Europe to keep them in place is clearly weakening;

• An attack would prompt the US to rapidly increase its military supplies of lethal weapons to Ukraine that would lead to dramatic escalation of the military conflict;

• An invasion could lead to a military response by the US/EU/Nato in support of Ukraine (albeit highly unlikely);

• Russia can ill afford the cost in human life and money, which would have political and budgetary repercussions at home;

• Russia could occupy Ukraine quickly, but it could not defend it for any length of time if counter attacked nor secure it against a prolonged guerrilla counter offensive;

• Plus Russia would never “win the peace” amongst the locals, who have already ousted two presidents with popular uprisings; and

• The destruction an invasion would cause would only escalate the cost of reconstructing the economy to massive proportions, if an invasion were successful – just the annexation of Crimea has already proven a drain on the budget …”

So now, we wait, I guess …

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“Russia Poised to Escalate Ukraine Campaign” (?)

The signs appear to be there, as assembled by a pretty reliable source, but my fingers remain crossed ….

“Russia will likely escalate militarily against Ukraine imminently. Russia is setting military conditions to prepare its forces for open conflict with Ukraine. Russia is already creating the pretext to escalate by circulating the false narrative that Ukraine and the West are preparing imminent attacks, including a chemical weapons attack, in Eastern Ukraine. Russia may fabricate evidence of a chemical weapons attack – or may itself conduct a chemical weapons attack — near Russia-backed areas of Ukraine to create chaos, justify the overt involvement of the Russian Armed Forces, and set conditions for future military operations. NATO’s inaction following Russia’s escalation in the Sea of Azov is likely emboldening Putin to continue challenging the West in Ukraine. NATO must reassess the threat that Russia poses to European security and the rules-based international order and respond decisively to deter an increasingly likely Russian military escalation in Ukraine itself.”

Some highlights since the beginning of December from the various Russian/pro-Russian/rebel/pro-rebel info-machines:

 

• “Russia calls on US not to turn a blind eye on Kiev’s preparations for Donbass offensive” (RUS state media)
• “DPR People’s Militia ready to counter Ukrainian army aggression in southern Donbass – Pushilin” (pro_RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Senior DPR commander expects Ukrainian army’s offensive on Mariupol direction” (pro-RUS rebel media)
• “Ukraine sets up for a possible winter offensive in LDNR” (pro-RUS site)
• “Kiev is preparing for the attack at Donbass from the south” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Massive Ukrainian offensive to begin on December 14 – Basurin” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Kiev Antagonizing Donbass for WAR, Conducts Firing Line Training” (pro-RUS site)
• “Ukraine on Verge of Launching WAR against Donbass” (pro-RUS site)
• “Ukrainian and British military cannot decide on scenario of chemical attack in Donbass” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Poroshenko Government May Stage Chemical Attack To Provoke New Round Of Hostilities In Eastern Ukraine” (southfront.org, pro-RUS site)
• “Kiev’s Kerch Strait Gambit Shows Telltale Signs of Western-Backed Provocation to Force Russia’s Hand” (pro-RUS think tank)

The latest on Canada’s training mission in Ukraine, Op UNIFIER, here.

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – December 11, 2018

Internal Security:  Report on Threats to Canada (including Terror Tourists)

• “Government not expecting many more foreign fighters to return to Canada”
• “No flood of extremist returnees to Canada expected, federal report says”
• “Report: No surge of extremist returnees to Canada expected”
• “Goodale doesn’t want a ‘generation of orphans’ by bringing home children of ISIS fighters”
• “Launch of National Strategy on Countering Radicalization to Violence and Update on Terrorist Threat to Canada: Terrorism threat level unchanged” (Public Safety Canada info-machine)
• “2018 Public Report on the Terrorism Threat to Canada”
• “National Strategy on Countering Radicalization to Violence”
• “As government prepares response to calls to bring ISIS members to justice, some walk free”

Internal Security:  Huawei CFO Fracas

• “Huawei’s CFO to be freed on $10M bail as she awaits extradition proceedings”
• “Huawei executive facing possible extradition to U.S. granted $10M bail by B.C. judge”
• “Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou granted bail; judge requires $7-million in cash and $3-million collateral”
• “La directrice financière de Huawei libérée sous caution”
• “Huawei Executive Granted Bail In Canada, Former Canadian Diplomat Is Detained In China”
• “Huawei CFO gets bail; China detains ex-Canadian diplomat”
• “Ex-Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig reportedly detained in China”
• “China Detains Former Canadian Envoy”
• “Former Canadian ambassador to China warns Beijing’s detention of Kovrig has precedence as an act of reprisal”
• “Ottawa considering increasing China travel risk warnings for Canadians”
• “Donald Trump says he would intervene in arrest of Huawei CFO Sabrina Meng Wanzhou if it helped secure trade deal with China”
• “China says arrest of Huawei CFO part of ‘political conspiracy’ by Canada, U.S.”
• “If three consecutive national intelligence chiefs suggest re-examining Canada’s security policy on Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, then it should be done, Canada’s former privacy commissioner says …”
• “Intelligence warnings about Chinese technology unheeded by B.C. universities”
• “Japan bans Huawei and ZTE 5G networking hardware; will Canada be next?”

Internal Security:  CANEX cyberattack

• “Military store warns shoppers to check credit cards after ‘malicious attack’ “
• CANEX victime d’une cyberattaque”

Internal Security:  Other Stuff

• “Ottawa terror trial’s key Crown witness describes how he became an RCMP agent”
• “Assessing Outcomes of Online Campaigns Countering Violent Extremism: A Case Study of the Redirect Method” (RAND)

What’s Canada Buying?

• “Feds given green light to award warship contract after tribunal reverses course”
• “Government gets OK to give warship contract to Lockheed Martin as trade tribunal backtracks”
• “Warship contract pause lifted”
• “Pursuant to subsection 30.13(1) of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal Act, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal has decided not to conduct an inquiry into the complaint …” (Canadian International Trade Tribunal)
• “Canada extends military A310 support deal until 2023”

The Koreas

• “Canadian warship witnesses possible violations of North Korea sanctions”
• “Canadian warship HMCS Calgary witnesses potential violations of North Korea sanctions”

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “Rally in support of Ukrainian political prisoners held in Ottawa”
• “Ukrainian Defense Ministry funding to increase by nearly 20 percent in 2019” (pro-RUS rebel site)
• “Preparation for annual Ukrainian-American “Sea Breeze-2019” drills begins in Kyiv” (UKR media)
• “Russia in Review: Russia Poised to Escalate Ukraine Campaign” (ISW Blog)
• “Why the West Needs to Step Up in Ukraine” (Foreign Affairs)
• “Owners of ships that blocked Kerch Strait do business in Ukraine – media investigation” (UKR media)
• “Diplomat sees Ukrainian lawmaker’s call to destroy Crimean Bridge as inciting terrorism” (RUS state media)
• “Azov Sea, Kerch Strait: Evolution of Their Purported Legal Status (Part Three)”
• “Azov Sea, Kerch Strait: Evolution of Their Purported Legal Status (Part Four)”
• “Ukrainian Security Service: Moscow Patriarchate helped Girkin prepare for annexation of Crimea” (UKR media)
• “The Geopolitics of Ukraine’s Newly Independent Church”
• “Kremlin expresses regret over the termination of the Friendship Treaty with ‘brotherly Ukraine’”
• “DPR People’s Militia website comes under DDoS attack” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Russia calls on US not to turn a blind eye on Kiev’s preparations for Donbass offensive”
• “DPR People’s Militia ready to counter Ukrainian army aggression in southern Donbass – Pushilin” (pro_RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Senior DPR commander expects Ukrainian army’s offensive on Mariupol direction” (pro-RUS rebel media)
• “Ukraine sets up for a possible winter offensive in LDNR” (pro-RUS site)
• “Emergency briefing of the head of Donetsk People’s Republic Militia Basurin on the situation on 10.12.2018” (pro-RUS site)
• “The Baltic Countries Keep Dreaming About “the Russian Occupation” ” (pro-RUS site)
• “Rada extends agreement with the Netherlands on mission to protect investigation of MH17 crash until Aug 1, 2019”
• “Ukrainian Court Reinstates Nasirov After He Was Charged With Embezzlement”

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “U.S. reacted strongly to deployment Russian strategic bombers to Venezuela”
• “Moscow Deploys Latest Electronic Warfare Systems in Kaliningrad”
• “Latvia’s spyware threat under examination”
• “Russia’s Approach to the Development of Intermediate-Range Missiles”
• “New Union State Military Doctrine Will Not Change Status Quo in Belarusian-Russian Military Alliance”
• “French Air-Defense Missile Systems Instead of Russian Coastal Missiles for Azerbaijan”
• “The U.S. Government’s Plan Is to Conquer Russia by a Surprise Invasion” (pro-RUS site)
• “Testing NATO’s limits: Actionable Policy vs. Deterrence and Soft Power” (NATO Ass’n of Canada)

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “US-Backed Forces Make ‘Significant’ Incursion Into Last IS Stronghold “
• “Task Force Commander: ISIS Forces Degraded From Caliphate to Caves” (US DoD info-machine)
• “Baghdad’s Fortified Green Zone Opens to Public After 15 Years”
• “Iraq seeks exemption from U.S. sanctions on Iran, PM says”
• “Iran tries to control the appointment of Iraq’s key cabinet posts”
• “Iraq premier says lagging govt formation ‘not his decision’ “

Way Up North

• “Russia’s New Arctic Drones Are Built to Spot Ships”
• “Russia company makes drones for Arctic work”
• “Nuclear Power Becomes Critical To Arctic Dominance” (OilPrice.com)

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “Tonight @GlobalNational: A decorated Air Force officer lost her leg at the hip and her baby boy in a tragic car accident. Military documents show 2 investigations determined she was on duty at the time, but the military is refusing to pay for her prosthetic leg …” (Global News, via Twitter)
• “Seamus O’Regan draws scorn for comparing his career arc to veterans’ struggles”
• “Veterans affairs minister announces better care for returning military members”
• “Le Programme de formation du personnel navigant de l’avenir va de l’avant”
• “Conservatives go after O’Regan over conflicts with veterans ‘ advocate”
• “Mise sur pied d’une nouvelle unité pour la transition et le soutien aux blessés”

Other Military Stuff

• “Testing tech for complex urban environments” (Canadian Army Today)

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – December 10, 2018

Internal Security (1):  #CHN tech exec still in jail in #CAN

• “Bail hearing for embattled Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou will go to a third day”
• “Jailed Huawei CFO’s bail decision pushed to Tuesday as tensions persist”
• “Huawei senior executive is not a threat to jump bail, lawyer assures court”
• “Huawei’s detained CFO pledges to wear tracking device if granted bail”
• “Why China ratchets up pressure on Canada as it scolds US over Huawei executive’s arrest”
• “China Pressures US, Canada Ahead of Huawei Hearing”
• “China accuses Canada of violating agreement over Huawei arrest”
• “China Slams Treatment of Huawei Executive Held in Canada as ‘Inhumane'” (RUS media)
• “Trading blows: Canada next in China’s crosshairs?”
• “Canada will pay ‘a heavy price’, China warns in new stance over Huawei executive’s arrest”
• “On the Huawei extradition case, Canada’s legal system better stand up to scrutiny”
• “Huawei Arrest Raises Thorny Questions of Law Enforcement and Foreign Policy” (Lawfare blog)
• “Minitrue: Do Not Report on Arrest of Huawei CFO” (China Digital Times CHN govt censorship notice)
• “China bans import and sale of most iPhone models”
• “Huawei has long had a significant presence in Canada”
• “When will Canadians accept what China really is?”

Internal Security (2):  Pro/Anti Immigration Protest in Ottawa

• “9 arrested as pro- and anti-migration protesters clash in Ottawa”
• “9 arrested during protest against UN migration pact on Parliament Hill”
• “Ottawa: manifestation tendue contre le pacte de l’ONU sur les migrations”
• “The ARC Collective: Anti-Migrant Protests: Maxime Bernier No-Shows in Ottawa and Brief Notes on Other Protests” (Anti-Racist Canada blog)
• “Alberta yellow vest protests lack violence seen in Paris, but anti-immigration anger simmers”

Internal Security (3):  Other Stuff

• “Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Omar Khadr wants Canadian passport to travel, permission to speak to sister”
• “Omar Khadr Says He’s “Suffering,” Wants Permission To Travel To Saudi Arabia & Speak To His Pro-Al-Qaida Sister” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• “On Tuesday, December 11th, Government of Canada officials will host a media technical briefing regarding National Security and will answer questions from the media …” (Public Safety Canada info-machine)
• Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)
• “Military turns page on oft-criticized support unit for ill, injured troops”
• “Military closes book on oft-criticized support unit for ill, injured troops”
• “New unit to help soldiers transition to civilian life”
• “Stand up of the Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group: a commitment to look after members, veterans, and their families” (DND info-machine)
• “Ministers Sajjan and O’Regan announce stand up of Transition Group focused on improving the transition experience of Canadian Armed Forces members, veterans, and their families” (DND/VAC info-machine)
• “Seamus O’Regan draws scorn for comparing his career arc to veterans’ struggles”
• “O’Regan Compares Leaving Journalism To Veterans Struggling Leaving The Military” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• ” ‘A really dysfunctional culture’: Public directory of Veterans Affairs staff made secret for safety reasons, officials say — Almost all of the more than 3,000 employees of Veterans Affairs have removed their names from a public on-line directory, with the department claiming that front-line staff have to be protected from the veterans they are supposed to serve …”

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “Canadian special ops helping Iraqis roll up remaining ISIS opposition, says Vance”
• ‘Former child captive of ISIS behind campaign to give bikes to refugee kids”
• “Syria state media removes Damascus air strike report, situation unknown”
• “Syrian air defense systems repel airstrike near Damascus international airport – TV”
• ” Syrian air defenses intercept enemy targets near Damascus – state TV “
• “Syrian news agency removes report of Damascus air attack — The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) issued a report on Sunday saying Syrian air defences had intercepted enemy targets around Damascus international airport, but later in the day said the attack had not happened …”
• “ISIS Gone? Trump Claims Group is Defeated But One Year After Losing Iraq, It’s Hanging on in Syria”
• “Iraq Marks Anniversary of ISIS Defeat Amid Public Discontent”
• “A year after ISIS defeat, Iraq is mired in political crisis”
• “Iraq’s Yazidis ‘forgotten by world’ since ISIL attacks”

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “The purchase of sniper rifles for the UAF in Canada is completed” (UKR mil int info-machine, in Ukrainian)
• LRT-3 sniper rifle (PGW Defence Technologies Inc info-machine)
• “Canada to allocate $2.5 mln to Ukraine for combating Russia’s propaganda”
• “Canada to allocate 2,5 million dollars to Ukraine for fighting Russia’s propaganda”
• “First meeting of the GUAM Council of Ministers for Foreign Affairs – Canada on the sidelines of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s 25th Ministerial Council” (Global Affairs Canada info-machine)
• “Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 9 December 2018”
• “Situation Update, east of Ukraine as of morning, December 10, 2018” (UKR mil info-machine)
• UKR mil info-machine map, 10 Dec 2018
• Pro-RUS rebel update (w/map), 6-9 Dec 2018, in Russian
• “One Ukrainian soldier killed, one wounded amid 13 attacks in Donbas in past 24 hours – JFO HQ”
• “Ukraine reports 1 KIA, 1 WIA in Donbas over past day”
• “One Ukrainian serviceman died, one injured in Donbas, – Ukrainian military”
• “President signed Law on the termination of the treaty on friendship with Russia” (UKR Pres info-machine)
• “Kiev tears up Friendship Treaty with Russia ahead of presidential election, says expert” (RUS state media)
• “Ukraine Has Potential to Create Nuclear Weapons, says Ukrainian General” (pro-RUS site)
• “Ukrainian General: Ukraine has unique opportunity to create nuclear weapons” (UKR media)
• “” We are not afraid of anything ”: the diplomat told about the nuclear weapons of Ukraine” (in Ukrainian)
• “Kiev is preparing for the attack at Donbass from the south” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Massive Ukrainian offensive to begin on December 14 – Basurin” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Kiev Antagonizing Donbass for WAR, Conducts Firing Line Training” (pro-RUS site)
• “Ukraine on Verge of Launching WAR against Donbass” (pro-RUS site)
• “Moscow Patriarchate cleric denied crossing contact line in Donbas” (UKR media)
• ”Metropolite of Moscow Patriarchate Orthodox Church of Ukraine denied access to Donetsk region” (UKR media)
• “SBU warns Russia may use religious feuds combined with terror acts as pretext for open invasion” (UKR media)
• “DPR Head outraged by denial of entrance to metropolitan bishop of Donetsk and Mariupol” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Ukrainian security service turns away orthodox metropolitan at the contact line” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Ukrainian Orthodox Church fumes at Kiev ban on top cleric from crossing disengagement line” (RUS state media)
• “Poroshenko asks church to mediate in release of Ukrainian sailors captured by Russia”
• “Satellite imagery shows hundreds of Russian tanks near the border with Ukraine”
• “Russia Launched Cyber Attacks Against Ukraine Before Ship Seizures, Firm Says”
• “FSB holds briefing on Kerch Strait crisis” (pro-RUS site)
• “US Flies Recon Plane over Ukraine in Provocative ‘Warning’ to Russia” (pro-RUS think tank)
• “Satellite spots hundreds of Russian tanks near border with Ukraine” (UKR media)
• “Russia deploys latest cruise missile corvette in occupied Crimea – media” (UKR media)
• “Operational reserve of Ukraine’s Armed Forces more than 200,000, most ready to report for duty” (UKR media)
• “Russian Black Sea Fleet will get 12 new warships in 2019”
• ” “Head of Crimea” thanks Pskov Mayor “for paratroopers and special forces soldiers in spring, 2014” “
• “Russia blocking Kerch Strait passage to over 100 ships – Ukraine border guards”

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “Assessment of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Forces in the Baltic States: Credible Deterrent or Paper Tiger?” (Divergent Options paper)
• “Russia sends 2 nuclear-capable bombers to Venezuela”
• “Two Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers arrive to Venezuela” (RUS state media)
• ” Russia Sent Warplanes To Venezuela And The Pentagon Isn’t Having It” (Task & Purpose blog)
• “Russian embassy hopes attackers of Soviet monument in Latvia will be punished” (RUS media)
• “UK to strengthen its military presence in Estonia”
• “Estonia was attacked again on Kremlin TV” (Propastop.org)
• “France Investigates Possible Russian Influence on Yellow Vest Riots” (independent RUS media)
• “(UKR) Security Service announces “Russian trace” in protests in France”
• “Ukraine’s SBU on “yellow vest” riots in Paris: “Practical examination” of Russia’s foreign agents”
• “Russia Did Not Interfere in Domestic Affairs of France, Kremlin Says” (RUS state media)
• “Russian general: withdrawal of Soviet troops from Germany was a ‘state treachery’ “
• “The four dangerous Ds … The one place where, it seems to me, that all four Ds, Disorder, Discontent, Decay and Disillusionment, are at high levels is Russia and that, in my opinion, makes Russia a very pressing danger to the world.” (Col. Ted)

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “Mali: Dangerous Upsurge in Abuse by Ethnic Militias”
• “Le Niger craint de nouvelles attaques de Boko Haram début 2019”
• “Le président burkinabè Roch Marc Christian Kaboré a appelé lundi ses concitoyens à “faire preuve de solidarité” dans la lutte contre le terrorisme auquel est confronté le Burkina Faso depuis mars 2015 …”

What’s Canada Buying?

• “Why Canada’s Jet Fighter Problems Mean Trouble for the U.S. (and the F-35)”
• “Canada’s WWII-era pistols dangerously unreliable — but the quest to find a replacement drags on”
• “Keel Laid for Canada’s Third Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship”
• “Government staffer named in Mark Norman document leak case suspended from job”

Mental Health in the CAF

• “Lionel Desmond murder-suicide inquiry to begin early next year”

Other Military News

• “Plan to move aircraft testing centre from Cold Lake to Ottawa ‘sad’: mayor”
• “Cold Lake mayor concerned by plans to move military aircraft testing to Ottawa”
• “U.S. military aircraft makes emergency landing in Halifax, no injuries reported”
• “Liberals move Trudeau fundraiser off Canadian Forces base”
• “Liberal Party moves Trudeau fundraiser from military base”
• “Canadian and American families join forces to remember fallen soldiers from both countries”
• “Light urban search and rescue technicians train in Massachusetts” (RCAF info-machine)

The Koreas

• “Fighter Jets Scrambled as N.Korean Choppers Buzz Border”
• “U.S. Imposes Sanctions on 3 N.Korean Officials”
• “US Sanctions Three N. Korean Officials for Suspected Rights Abuses”
• ” Treasury Sanctions North Korean Officials and Entities in Response to the Regime’s Serious Human Rights Abuses and Censorship” (US Treasury info-machine)

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• ” ‘Ram It’: Chinese Colonel Offers Solution to US Ships Transiting South China Sea” (RUS media)
• “Expert: If US warship illegally violates Chinese territorial waters again, bump against it” (CHN mil media)
• “Guangzhou Launches World’s First Icebreaking LNG”
• “The 31st fleet from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy has left the port city of Zhanjiang in south China’s Guangdong Province for the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia to escort civilian ships …” (CHN mil media)
• “US is better off with less intervention and less military use” (CHN mil media)

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – December 7, 2018

Internal Security (1):  CHN Tech Official Nabbed in CAN

• “Chinese Tech Executive Appears in Canadian Court”
• “Canada Arrests Huawei CFO for Extradition to U.S.”
• “Huawei CFO Detained in Canada to Face Fraud Charges in US”
• “Canada’s envoy to Beijing briefs China on arrest of Huawei executive: Freeland”
• “Canada had no choice but to arrest Huawei executive at Washington’s request: expert”
• “China demands Canada release executive of tech giant Huawei”
• “China retaliation against Canadian companies unlikely for now: experts”
• “Stephen Harper urges Canada to ban Huawei from 5G network in Fox News appearance”
• “Stephen Harper Is Right. Canada Needs To Ban Huawei From Our Network Infrastructure.” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• “China separates arrest of Huawei executive Sabrina Meng Wanzhou from US trade talks”
• “Arrest of Huawei CFO pours cold water on optimism” (CHN state media)
• “Huawei CFO arrest part of US ploy” (CHN state media)
• “With executive’s arrest, US wants to stifle Huawei” (CHN state media)

Internal Security (2):  Other Stuff

• UN Committee against Torture report (PDF) recommends mo’ protections under security certificates and counter-terrorism laws
• “Premier Ford and Premier Legault Call for Federal Compensation for the Cost of Illegal Border Crossings by Migrants” (Govt of Ontario info-machine)

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “Canadian Army commander assesses threats to Ukraine” (UKR media)
• “Canadian government non-committal on arming Ukraine as tensions escalate between Kyiv and Moscow” (UKR diaspora in CAN info-machine)
• “Canada to allocate $24 mln to support electoral reforms and democracy in Ukraine”
• “Ukraine vows to send naval ships through Kerch Strait soon”
• “Kyiv Says Russia Blocking Kerch Strait, Plans To Send Ukrainian Navy Ships”
• “Russia Allegedly Sends Sub to Kerch Strait as Tensions With Ukraine Soar” (RUS state media)
• “Russian troops bring armored vehicles in restricted areas in Donbas, – OSCE SMM”
• “Ukraine’s Naval Forces continue to use Kerch Strait for ships’ passage, – Defense Minister” (UKR media)
• “Russia’s attack on Ukrainian naval ships in Black Sea: First shots of winter war?” (UKR diaspora in CAN info-machine)
• “Ukraine comes up with idea of UN-OSCE peacekeeping mission in Donbas” (UKR media)
• “Russia still impedes passage of ships through Kerch Strait, – Ukraine’s Border Guard Service” (UKR media)
• “Most bomb hoaxes across Russia come from Ukraine, interior ministry says” (RUS state media)
• “Ukrainian and British military cannot decide on scenario of chemical attack in Donbass” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “USELESS ATTEMPT: Russia is Able to Neutralize American Ships in the Black Sea” (pro-RUS site)
• “DPR shows classified document proving Kiev’s plans for large-scale offensive” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Kiev plans mass land plots confiscation in Donbass” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• ” In a war with Russia, both sides could focus on this 60-mile stretch”
• “Russian Lawmaker: Poland’s ‘Fort Trump’ Would ‘Become a Target’ ” (Breitbart)
• “Cunning plan: Poland wants to set up a US military base right next to Russia’s Kaliningrad” (RUS state media)
• “NATO is COMPLETELY VULNERABLE to Russian Electronic Warfare Systems” (pro-RUS sites)
• “Lithuania, Russia could launch demilitarization in Baltic — Lithuanian ex-president” (RUS state media)

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• From the UN info-machine:  “Speakers in Security Council Call for Robust, Coherent United Nations Cooperation With Regional Bodies as Global Challenges Grow Increasingly Complex … CATHERINE BOUCHER (Canada) expressed support for efforts to find more predictable, flexible and sustainable financing mechanisms for African-led peace operations. Fundamentally, preventing conflict and sustaining peace is about building trust between Governments and their populations. This trust cannot be established haphazardly. Only by fostering inclusive institutions that bring in and amplify diverse voices – including those of women, youth, and indigenous, ethnic and religious minorities ‑ can meaningful and sustainable peace take hold. For its part, Canada is assisting the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali to better understand the conflict dynamics and sources of resilience in Ansongo, Bourem and Gao, she noted. This process has involved consultation with local authorities, women’s groups, youth groups and security and defence forces to find consensus-based solutions …”
• “Le Mali a lancé la première phase du programme DDR”
• “Centre du Mali: de 4 à 7 morts dans un affrontement impliquant l’armée 7”
• “Mali: “We Used to Be Brothers” Self-Defense Group Abuses in Central Mali” (Human Rights Watch)
• “Terrorisme et l’extrémisme violent: les acteurs mutualisent les moyens”
• “Mauritania: Sahel Countries Secure $2.7 Billion in Funding”

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “Attacks Continue as Iraq Marks One Year Since Islamic State Victory”
• “ISIS evolving into ‘effective clandestine organization’ US Pentagon warns”
• “Northern Iraq’s KRG fires police over alleged human trafficking”

Way Up North

• “Regions in Review: Is Canada Taking Arctic Security Seriously?” (NATO Association of Canada)
• “The Arctic sees escalating militarization” (CHN mil media)
• “National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency issues $15M contract for arctic surveillance data”

What’s Canada Buying?

• “Quebec’s National Assembly unanimously adopts a motion in support of the Federal government’s refresh of the National Shipbuilding Strategy” (Davie Shipebuilding info-machine)
• “Upgrading the Halifax-class Frigates’ Detection System” (DND info-machine)
• “Mise à niveau du système de détection des frégates de la classe Halifax”
• “Dans l’affaire du vice-amiral Mark Norman, la Couronne dévoile sa stratégie”

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “Ministers Sajjan and O’Regan to announce the stand up of the Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group (Monday)” (DND/VAC info-machines)

Sexual Assault/Harassment in the CF

• “The Sexual Misconduct Response Centre hosts first forum on sexual misconduct with Five Eyes partners” (DND info-machine)

Other Military News

• “L’Opération CARIBBE prend fin avec un total de plus de 17 000 kilos de stupéfiants saisis”
• “Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Edmonton will participate in a major offload of cocaine in San Diego. The drug was seized in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, during Operation CARIBBE 2018 …”
• “Canadian Armed Forces’ Operation CARIBBE disrupts the trafficking of over 17,000 kg of narcotics” (DND info-machine)
• Operation CARIBBE (DND info-machine info page)
• “Operation PROJECTION Media Opportunity — Media are invited to participate in a telephone conference interview with the Commanding Officer of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Calgary and the Officer in Command of Naval Replenishment Unit (NRU) Asterix (Tuesday) …” (DND info-machine)

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