MILNEWS.ca #CANvsISIL Highlights – 091240UTC April 2016
#CANvsISIL
Syria
- “US military considers deployment of 250 special forces to Syria”
- “US Changes Plan of Building Air Base in Syrian Kurdistan”
- “Syrian opposition leader says Assad illegitimate , Kurds important part of Syria”
- “How to Dismantle ISIS’ Global Terror HQ in Raqqa”
- “Most of 300 cement workers abducted by ISIS in Syria freed”
- “Russian Legislators to Visit Syria, Hope to Meet Top Officials during Visit”
- “Syrian civilians return to ravaged town retaken from ISIS”
- “Syrian Army repels ISIS offensive at Deir Ezzor Military Airport”
- “Syria: Daesh advances in Yarmouk Camp as Nusra faces expulsion”
- “Al-Shaher Neighborhood of Handarat Camp captured by Syrian Army”
Iraq
- “Kerry salutes Iraq’s progress in retaking ground from ISIL” – “Coalition, Iraq to ‘turn up the pressure’ on IS group: Kerry” – “Kerry’s Iraq trip aimed to encourage Sunni states to step up ISIL fight” – “Kerry Says Washington will not Intervene in Iraq’s Internal Issues”
- “23 Daesh terrorists killed in Iraq’ “
- “Life after ISIS: RT travels to recently liberated town of Kabisa, Iraq”
Libya
- “Islamic State Threat in Libya ‘Almost Exaggerated’ — for Now”
- “France rules out Libya air strikes, says could help secure new govt”
- “Western powers press ahead with plans for new war in Libya” (World Socialist Web Site)
- “Libya: A Nation Dangerously Divided”
Kurds
- “US to Continue Supporting Peshmerga”
- “PM Barzani: Baghdad Must Preserve Constitutional Rights of Kurds”
- “Russia Using PKK against Turkey in Azerbaijan: Iranian diplomat”
MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – April 8, 2016
Philippines Kidnapping
#CANvsISIL
Syria
- “Aleppo Warning Update: April 7, 2016” (ISW)
- “UN special envoy expects Syria talks to resume on April 13” – “All ethnic groups should be included in Syria talks PYD argues” – “Kurds say all Syrian ethnic groups should take part in peace talks” – “United Nations delays Syria peace talks to ensure players are serious”
- “Syria’s Assad shows no willingess to compromise”
- “China’s new Syria envoy praises Russian military mission”
- “ISIS ‘kidnaps over 300 cement workers’ in Syria” – “ISIS massacres 175 of 300 cement workers it kidnapped outside Syria capital Damascus”
- “Nusra tightens grip in Syria’s Aleppo, despite civilian opposition” – “Militants Near Syria’s Aleppo Given 85 Heat-Seeking Missiles – Source”
- “Syria rebels force ISIS from town near Turkish border”
Libya
- “ISIS manpower in Libya doubled over 1 year, top US commander says” – “US commander: Islamic State has 6,000 fighters in Libya” – “U.S.: IS Group Doubles Number of Fighters in Libya” – “Islamic State fighters in Libya doubled but militias check growth: U.S”
- “Key countries back unity government in stabilizing Libya — Britain, France and Russia on Thursday backed the new U.N.-brokered unity government in Libya and called for international support for its efforts to reunite and stabilize the deeply divided country …”
- “Explainer: Libya’s fractured politics”
- “Russia’s UN envoy calls situation in Libya “almost catastrophic” “
- “France is considering reopening an embassy in Libya”
Iraq
- “Report: 1/3 of Iraqis believe US supports ISIS”
- “John Kerry just made a surprise trip to Iraq”
- “Military Spokesman: ‘We Don’t Set Up Bases Anywhere’; We ‘Get Invited by the Iraqis’ “
- “Turkish airstrikes continue inside the Kurdistan Region”
Time to Review Canada’s Military
- “Liberals ‘absolutely’ committed to military but it needs a tighter focus, defence minister says”
- “Canadian DND outlines major Defence Policy Review”
- “CADSI extends support to Canada’s Defence Review”
- “Another defence policy panel, another ‘decade of darkness’ for the Canadian Forces”
- “Boosting UN peace operations: Proceed with caution”
- Colonel Ted’s take: “… many people are, like me, convinced that Prime Minister Trudeau’s team has, already, “situated the appreciation” and that Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan’s team will just be tasked to flesh out the details. It suggests that we have grown too cynical .. and both Conservatives and Liberals are to blame for that …”
What’s Canada Buying?
- F-35 Tug o’ War “Canada’s defence policy review won’t delay CF-18 replacement comp(etition)” – “The F/A-18E Super Hornet Is What Canada Needs” – “Things Looking Better For F-35 in Canada”
Ukraine/Eastern Europe
Way Up North
Veterans & Helping Veterans
- “Taxpayers foot $2,600 bill for former veterans affairs minister’s farewell to public servants”
- “Veterans Affairs offices could re-open ‘within the next year’ “
Other
- “Le CMR Saint-Jean au Championnat régional de judo”
- “Naval Reserve chaplain to receive the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers”
MILNEWS.ca #UKR Update – 080115UTC April 2016
- So, how’d the Dutch vote go? “64% Dutch Say ‘No’ to EU-Ukraine Association, Preliminary Results Show” – “Dutch voters say ‘no’ to EU treaty with Ukraine” – “Dutch Reject EU-Ukraine Pact, Though Vote May Be Invalid” – “Dutch ‘No’ Vote on Ukraine Reverberates Across Europe” – “Ukrainians React To Dutch Vote With Little Surprise” – “Poroshenko: Rejection of the Netherlands – not an obstacle for Ukraine” – “President comments on the preliminary results of the referendum in the Netherlands on the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU” (UKR President statement) – “Netherlands, EU need time to digest what next steps on Ukraine-EU deal should be: European analyst” – More on the vote via Google News
- Oopsie … “OSCE Disgrace: Monitors spotted at Russian-backed separatist wedding” – “OSCE Expresses ‘Regret’ After Staff Shown At Separatist Wedding In Ukraine”MOSCOW, April 6. /TASS/. Ukraine will be unable to fully rule out the purchases of oil products of Russian origin since the oil products it imports from Belarus are also derived from Russian crude oil, a leading expert of Russia’s Fund for National Energy Security told TASS on Wednesday.
- Otherwise, the OSCE seems to have a lot to say today (and some more tomorrow, too) “Chief of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine concerned by increased violence, calls for a sustained ceasefire” – “OSCE helps improve safety of movement for people and goods in conflict-affected areas of eastern Ukraine” – “Spot Report by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM): SMM vehicle hit by bullet, and SMM threatened at gunpoint in Smile” – “OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine to hold news briefing in Kyiv tomorrow (Friday 8 Apr)”
- Updates from all sides “Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 6 April 2016” – “Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 5 April 2016” – “Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 5 April 2016” – “Mandate of the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk extended by three months to 31 July 2016” – “OSCE Extended Mission’s Mandate For Checkpoints ‘Hukovo’ And ‘Donetsk’ “ – UKR govt ATO map, 7 Apr 2016 – UKR govt ATO map, 6 Apr 2016 – “Situation in the ATO area as of April 6, 2016” (UKR Defence Intelligence) – “Situation in the ATO area as of April 7, 2016” (UKR Defence Intelligence) – “Mercenaries fire 35 mines on ATO positions in Mariupol direction” – “Stanytsia Luhanska Checkpoint Will Be Closed Since April 8” – “More atrocities by Kiev armed formations, 2 populated houses burnt in Spartak”
- “Contact Group on Ukraine discussed Poroshenko’s proposal on police mission at Donbas elections – Sajdik – The Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine met in Minsk on Wednesday to discuss Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s proposal to provide a police mission during the forthcoming elections in Donbas, OSCE Special Representative Martin Sajdik said …” – “OSCE offers no concrete proposals yet to send police mission to Donbass — mission chief”
- “List of hostages in Donbas, missing Ukrainians passed to OSCE”
- “Lt. Gen. Oleksandr Dublyan: Key principle of reforms within the Ministry of Defence will be a differentiation of political and administrative titles” (UKR MoD)
- “Four armoured artillery boats for Ukrainian Navy” (UKR MoD)
- “Stepan Poltorak along with Oleksandr Turchynov visited the hottest point in east of Ukraine” (UKR MoD) – “Turchynov does not rule out ‘large-scale offensive operations’ by adversary in Donbas, presses parliament for financing of military”
- “Probably in a really serious problem, even if the State Duma Speaker Naryshkin said that they will not last and four days fighting with a country like Ukraine …” (in Ukrainian) – “Speaker of the (RUS) State Duma of the great war with Ukraine: A maximum of 4 days” – ” “Russia has serious problems saying it won’t last four days in war with Ukraine” – Turchynov replied to Naryshkin”
- Savchenko latest “Ukrainian consuls have no access to Savchenko at Russia detention facility” – “Kyiv eyeing two options in Savchenko’s return: exchange and transfer of sentenced person to Ukraine” – “Talks on Savchenko’s fate proceeding with Russia at political and diplomatic levels – Ukrainian Justice Ministry”
- Crimea bits ” ‘The integration process of Crimea has not completed. It will take about three years’ — Realnoe Vremya online newspaper” – “Putin briefed on collapse of production in Crimea following annexation”
- Humanitarian updates “Ukraine: ICRC concerned by repeated attacks against civilian infrastructure in east” (International Committee of the Red Cross) – “Ukraine conflict and population displacement (Last updated 04/07/16)” (US Agency for International Development) – “Ukraine – Complex Emergency Fact Sheet #5, Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 (April 7, 2016)” (US Agency for International Development) – “Ukraine Situation Report #15, 29 March 2016” (World Food Programme) – “GIEWS Country Brief: Ukraine 05-April-2016” (Food and Agriculture Organization)
- Elsewhere around the ‘hood “A group of Russian troops staying in Moldova to guard depots of the disbanded 14th army will be withdrawn into Russia as soon as the issue of the armament pullout and disposal is resolved, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Sergey Gubarev said on Thursday. “These armaments can be withdrawn from Moldova into Russia only through the territory of Ukraine,” said Gubarev who is also Russia’s envoy at the talks on the Transdniestrian settlement …” – “Ukrainians will soon only be allowed into Belarus with foreign passports“
- Really? “Ukraine PM Says Oil To Be Added To List Of Banned Russian Goods” – “Expert says Ukraine can’t rule out all oil products of Russian origin”
MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – April 7, 2016
Time to Review Canada’s Military
- From the Info-machine … “Minister Sajjan Launches Public Consultations on Defence Policy Review” – “Canada Launches Public Consultations on Defence Policy Review” – “Ministerial Advisory Panel on Canada’s Defence Policy Review” – “Defence Policy Review Page” – “Defence Policy Review” – DefPolRev Terms of Reference – Defence Policy Review Public Consultation Paper
- … and from the media … “Liberals launch review to decide future of Canada’s military” – “Liberals launch long-awaited review on future of Canada’s military” – “Harjit Sajjan names blue-ribbon panel to review Canada’s defence policy” – “Liberals launch review to reshape military in face of new threats” – “Sajjan launches Defence Policy Review” – “Everything on the table during upcoming review of military, defence minister says” – “Sajjan shies away from endorsing controversial 2011 Leslie Report”
- … with a bit of early commentary as well “Canadian Defence Review: Substance or Paper” – “With defence review announced, generals need to speak out before they retire”
#CANvsISIL
Everyone else vs. ISIL
Syria
- “First Set Of Palmyra Residents To Return Saturday: Syrian Official”
- “Syria: ISIL alleged to have kidnapped 250 factory employees” – “Around 250 Syrians missing after IS attack east of Damascus: Residents”
- “US, Turkey discuss ways Syrian opposition can push Islamic State east”
- “Rockets fired from Syria injure two in Turkey”
- “Nearly one-third of Turkey’s wall along Syria complete”
- “If the Syria Cease-Fire Fails, Blame Putin”
Libya
- “The Libyan Government in Tripoli Has Changed Its Mind About Stepping Down” – “New Libya government rides on money, jihadist threat” – “Blow to Libya unity govt as Tripoli rival refuses to cede power” – “Libyan General Khalifa Haftar says he will support any unity government endorsed by parliament”
- “In Libya, you can buy an anti-aircraft gun on Facebook”
- “How Realistic Is Libya as an Islamic State ‘Fallback’?”
Iraq
- “Daesh Oil Revenue Falls as Group Loses Rich Territory in Iraq”
- “Iraq’s elite counterterrorism forces say they have entered the center of a strategically important western Islamic State-held town. Government forces reached the center of Hit on Wednesday …”
- “Mosul Campaign Hampered by Fear of Iraq’s Shia Army”
- “Horrors of life as a human shield for ISIS”
- “Fallujah civilians ‘trapped and starving’ as Iraq army besieges IS” – “Starving citizens caught in siege of Fallujah” – “HRW calls for aid to Iraq’s ‘starving’ Fallujah”
Internal Security
- “Security on military bases to be reviewed by all-party Commons committee” – Standing Committee on National Defence (NDDN) – Minutes, NDDN (42-1) 22 March 2016 meeting
- “Canada: trois ans de détention pour un adolescent voulant rejoindre l’EI”
- “The danger of preventive counter-terrorism powers — In the Kafkaesque world of preventive counter-terrorism, one can be treated like a criminal without actually being accused of any crime …”
Way Up North
- “Obama to talk terrorism, Arctic with Nordic leaders this summer”
- “Nordic countries discuss closer defense cooperation”
- “How Russia is fortifying the Arctic”
- “Arctic tests for Russia’s new frigate” – Admiral Grigorovich-class frigate (Wikipedia)
- “With sea ice at a record low maximum, the (U.S.) Navy closed its Arctic Ocean camp early” – “New record low sea ice extent forces Navy camp evacuation” – “Navy evacuating Arctic ice camp”
Other
- “A Way Ahead With Russia” (Canadian Global Affairs Institute paper)
- “Several Quebec police officers engaged in sexual misconduct while working as UN peacekeepers in Haiti, including at least two who had children with Haitian women during the course of their mission, Radio-Canada has learned …”
- “Kim Jong-il’s former bodyguard seeks asylum in Canada”
- “The RCAF tartan: The world’s first air force tartan”
World War One
MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – April 6, 2016
- We don’t expect cops to buy their own guns, so why do some Canadian soldiers have to buy their own boots because the cupboard is bare?
Time to Review Canada’s Military?
- “Defence Minister to announce public consultations on new defence policy on Wednesday” – “Minister Sajjan to hold press conference (this afternoon)”
- Colonel Ted: “… My fear is that the Prime Minister’s Office has, already, “situated the appreciation” so that the result will be a weakened (and less expensive) military that will be aimed at (useless) UN peacekeeping missions …”
More on Buttons & Bows
- A bit of a description, via the British Badge Forum, of what, exactly a “Vimy Star” (the new pips replacing the now-old-but-still-newish-a-month-ago pips) is – more discussion here
#CANvsISIL
Everyone Else Against ISIL
- Priority for U.S. President: Destroying ISIS (Google News hits)
Syria
- “Bloodthirsty ISIS crucify then shoot four men in Raqqa as Syrian troops push into Qaryatain”
- “Rebels shoot down second Syrian jet in a month”
- “Syrian Gov’t to Join Intra-Syrian Talks After Parliamentary Elections” – “Western States Block Kurdish Participation in Syria Talks Proposed by Russia”
- “US agrees with Russia that Syrian people should decide future leadership”
- “Militants Violate Ceasefire in Aleppo Province, Syrian Army Retaliates”
- “Russia says more than 1.5 thousand mines removed in Syria’s Palmyra”
- “Russian allegedly killed in Syria served 12 yeas ago – press bureau”
- “Internal forces in Syria commented on the death of the baker Vadim Tumanov” (in Russian) – “A number of media outlets reported about the death of the seventh in Syria Russian military. According to a source in law enforcement agencies, Vadim Tumakov, referred to in the publications are long finished his service in the Interior Ministry troops …” (RIA-Novosti, in Russian)
- “Hezbollah’s Shot at Permanency in Syria”
- “US Urges Russia to Push Syria to Allow Aid Access to Starving People”
Libya
- “One of Libya’s Two Opposing Governments Steps Down to Stop Further Violence” – “Tripoli authorities step down to end deep rifts in Libya” – “Libya’s Self-Declared National Salvation Government to Step Down” – “Libyan rival government resigns” – “Libya’s unity government takes hold as Tripoli authorities step down” – “Libya unity govt cements control after rival cedes power” – “Libya’s Tripoli-based government to step down”
- Still, some continue to be underwhelmed … “Abu Sahmain condemns State Council meeting, threatens court action as Ghwell “government” gives up” – “United Nations Libya coup takes shape”
- “France wants to reopen embassy in Libya to help unity government”
Iraq
- “U.S., Iran Keep Iraqi PM in Place as He Challenges Ruling Elite” – “New Cabinet imperative for Iraq despite strong resistance “
- “Qatar royal freed by Iraq kidnappers after four month ordeal” – “Two kidnapped members of Qatar hunting party freed in Iraq” – “Iraq kidnappers free hostages from Qatari hunting party”
- In Iraqi petronews … “Fire hits natural gas well in northern Iraq’s Kirkuk region” – “Huge oil tanker traffic jam builds at Iraq’s Basra port”
Ukraine/Eastern Europe
What’s Canada Buying (or Selling)?
- “Arms deal by Canadian firm violated international embargo: UN report”
- From the disarmers ceasefire.ca “Canadians say no to sending weapons to Saudi Arabia”
Way Up North
Veterans & Helping Veterans
- “Liberal government announcements provide limited hope for veterans” – “Mixed feelings surround federal funding for veterans”
- “Prince Harry will launch countdown on May 2 for Invictus Games in Toronto”
- “A 220-kilometre cycling journey of remembrance may seem like a long ride, but it will help wounded veterans take a few steps towards recovery. Andrew Godin and Daniel Hrechka are living proof there’s life beyond Post Traumatic Street Disorder. Standing in front of the Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial at Trenton’s Bain Park Monday, Godin, of Napanee and Hrechka, of Kingston remembered the sacrifices of fallen comrades …”
Other
- Mark Anthony Salesse, R.I.P. “Mother of dead soldier happy with military report” – “Military report makes six recommendations after Banff avalanche death”
- “HMCS Charlottetown crew member accused in security breach”
- “Tens of millions in severance paid yearly to military members who leave voluntarily”
- Commentary “Military base’s Facebook rules go too far”
- “Canadian military’s new CF-18 design honours war effort”
- “Unique Canadian Armed Forces program places artists into actual missions”
- “Last RCAF C-130 E Hercules flies into history – it will become a display at the aviation museum in Ottawa” – “RCAF retires Herc Legacy” – “The de-commissioning process behind the Hercules donation to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum”
Afghanistan
MILNEWS.ca #UKR Update – 052215UTC April 2016
- So, separatists, which is it? “Donbass republics guarantee security for observers and media at local election” – Joint DNR-LNR statement: “Creation of an armed international police force to ensure the security of elections, which is repeatedly said Poroshenko, provided by the Minsk Agreement, and directly contradicts them. Attempts to enter the territory of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republic international armed contingent, not only will not add stability, but on the contrary – will lead to large-scale clashes, turn into a real war, which will be directly involved Western countries …” (in Russian)
- “Ukraine president calls his country’s 1994 decision to give up nukes a mistake”
- Updates from all sides “Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 4 April 2016” – UKR govt ATO map, 5 Apr 2016 – “Situation in the ATO area as of April 5, 2016” (UKR Defence Intelligence) – “Dmitry Tymchuk: Military update 04.04″ – “DPR: Kiev troops getting prepared for offensive, move headquarters closer to contact line” – “Ukraine may close all checkpoints in Luhansk region due to militant attacks”
- “(UKR) Chief Military Prosecutor’s Office: about 3,500 war crimes took place in 2015”
- “Number of Russian regular troops deployed in Ukraine bigger than army of many European countries – Poroshenko”
- “Ukraine Contact Group political subgroup meeting in Minsk”
- From the separatists “Command of Armed Forces of Ukraine ordered discharged from the hospital the wounded security officials to be dismissed” (DNR, in Russian) – “The students of Ukrainian universities are forced to leave school, hiding in the LNR from the forced conscription” (LNR Interior Ministry, in Russian)
- “Poroshenko informs Savchenko of steps being taken to liberate her” – “Sentence issued to Nadia Savchenko came into force”
- “Two years of conflict leaves 1.5 million people hungry in eastern Ukraine – UN agency” – “Conflict In Eastern Ukraine Leaves 1.5 Million People Hungry” (WFP statement)
