MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 16 August 2018

Op LENTUS – BC Forest Fires

• “Opération LENTUS: les troupes arrivent pour combattre les incendies en Colombie-Britannique”

#MLI – Op PRESENCE

• “La Force opérationnelle aérienne Mali maintenant pleinement opérationnelle”
• “Have The Skies Become Too Dangerous For Military Medevac Missions?”
• “Mali President Wins Presidential Runoff Vote in Landslide”
• “Keita re-elected Mali president with landslide”
• “Mali president Keita wins re-election with 67 percent of vote”
• “Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta reconduit pour cinq ans à la tête du Mali”
• “Déclaration de la Communauté internationale basée à Bamako sur l’Election Présidentielle du 12 août au Mali” (MINUSMA info-machine)
• “RAF helicopters ready to support French in Mali” (UK MoD info-machine)
• Elsewhere in Africa …
• “Chinese peacekeepers conduct emergency blockade and control action in Juba (South Sudan)” (CHN mil media)
• “Tongan PM tours Peace Ark with appreciation for China’s assistance” (CHN mil media)

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE

• “Canadian Armed Forces supports NATO enhanced Air Policing in Romania” (DND info-machine)
• “The Baltic States Never Stop Their War Preparations Against Russia” (pro-RUS think tank)
• “Poland wants permanent US forces stationed there”
• “US Plans to Upgrade Military Bases in Romania, Bulgaria”
• “Poland marks Army Day with parade, call for US military base”
• ” ‘Clearly Unfriendly’: Norway to Double US Marine Presence Near Russian Border” (RUS media)

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “Winnipeg firm defends $1M deal to send sniper rifles to Ukraine”
• “Lithuania to give almost EUR 1 mln for support of Donbas in 2019 – Donetsk regional administration”
• Battle Maps in #UKR:  UKR info-machine, 16 Aug 2018 – Pro-RUS rebel info-machine, 13-15 Aug (in Russian)
• “Ukraine’s special services preparing cleansings in nationalistic batallions – LPR MGB” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Ukrainian film director film ‘Donbass’ to be shown at International Film Festival in Toronto”

#CANinIRQ – Op IMPACT

• “Islamic State ‘Well-Positioned’ to Rebuild Caliphate”
• ‘FBI arrest suspected ISIS member in Arden Arcade Sacramento County”
• “ISIS Member Arrested in Sacramento, U.S. Says”
• “Sacramento Man Arrested For 2014 ISIS Murder In Iraq”
• “UN Sanction Monitor: US Stands by While ISIS In Syria Recuperates, Gains Money from Oil” (pro-RUS think tank)

Way Up North

• “Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan has wrapped up a three day visit to Canadian Armed Forces installations in the North where he saw first-hand how the Defence Team is enhancing its ability to operate in the Arctic …” (DND info-machine)
• “Swedish climate study icebreaker reaches North Pole”
• “The Marines are preparing for a potential ‘big-ass fight,’ and they may soon be spending more time in Alaska”
• “More Marines May Head to Alaska for Cold Weather Training: Senator”
• “With warming Arctic, Russian navy gets larger areas to patrol”
• “Russian fleet starts Arctic mission”
• “Russian Northern Fleet warships set off on Arctic voyage”
• “Russian Navy’s expeditionary unit goes on shore at Novaya Zemlya archipelago”
• “Military expedition continues across Novaya Zemlya”

What’s Canada Buying?

• ” Davie VP: Irving Shipbuilding ‘like a naughty child asking if his mummy still loves him’”
• Wanted:  “HEAVY MACHINE GUN SPARES, 50 CA”

#CAN-#SAU Fracas

• “Cancel Saudi arms deal now, don’t wait for the other shoe to drop”
• “Despite The Feud, Canada Remains Complicit In Saudi Arabia’s Abuses”

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “The Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, invites Veterans and their families to participate in a Veterans Town Hall on Monday August 20 at 5:30 p.m. (PDT) at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #26 (1380 Bertram Street, Kelowna) …”

Afghanistan

• “Afghanistan Retrospective Book and Review” (Saideman’s Semi-Spew blog) – “Operation Medusa: The Furious Battle That Saved Afghanistan from the Taliban” (Amazon.ca)

Internal Security

• “Parties boosting internal security in face of foreign interference fears — Communications Security Establishment officials have met with political parties, which are among the most at risk of cyber meddling when Canadians head to the polls next year …”
• “The Liberals promised to fix the no-fly list. It’s still broken.”
• “Irregular border crossings up in July, but far below predictions — The RCMP intercepted 1,634 people along the Canada-U.S. border in the month of July, a rise from June but far below predictions for this summer …”
• “They lost fingers entering Canada. Then what happened?” (BBC News)
• “L’ONU juge que le Canada a violé les droits d’une sans-papiers — Le gouvernement fédéral examine une décision du Conseil des droits de l’homme des Nations unies qui a conclu que le Canada a violé les droits d’une immigrante sans papiers en situation irrégulière en lui refusant des soins de santé essentiels …”

Other Military News

• “August 17, 2018 has been designated as Fly the Flag Day, during which all countries participating in Invictus Games Sydney 2018 will fly oversized Invictus Games flags at iconic, national sites …” (DND info-machine)
• “Four Canadian First World War soldiers to be buried in France” (DND info-machine)
• “Statement by the Prime Minister on the National Liberation Day of Korea” (PMO info-machine)

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 15 August 2018

BC Forest Fires

• “Canadian troops come to fight B.C. fires as some ask what took so long”

#MLI – Op PRESENCE

• “UN chief appeals for calm as Mali presidential election draws to a close” (UN info-machine)
• “Le Secrétaire général félicite le Mali pour la tenue dans le calme du second tour de l’élection présidentielle et appelle à maintenir une atmosphère paisible” (UN info-machine)
• “Mali President Claims Election Win Amid Fraud Accusations”
• “EU observers saw irregularities but no fraud during Mali vote”
• “Mali: After Mali’s Runoff, Challenges Remain”
• “Malijet Second tour de la présidentielle : la mission d’observation électorale CARITAS MALI fait le constat”
• “Mali: l’opposition rejette les résultats, UE et ONU appellent au calme”
• “In heart of West Africa, Burkina Faso faces rising extremism”

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “Canadian company confirms delivery of new LRT-3 sniper rifles to Ukraine” – LRT-3 (PGW Defence Technologies Inc.)
• “Ukraine: l’OSCE a repéré des équipements de conception russe en territoire séparatiste”
• “Briefing Note on Freedom of Movement” (UNHCR UKR info-machine)
• “(UKR) JFO HQ reports 1 KIA, 3 WIA amid 46 enemy attacks in Donbas in past 24 hours”
• “Two members of Russia-led forces eliminated by Ukraine’s army in Donbas”

#CANinIRQ – Op IMPACT

• “The Iraqi pro-government paramilitary troops has denied news on withdrawal from Nineveh province and handing over to the Kurdish Peshmerga force, an official said on Tuesday …”

What’s Canada Buying?

• “ABCO Industries to Build Landing Craft for Royal Canadian Navy’s New Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships”
• “Canadian Armed Forces invests in cutting-edge technology to improve communication in remote regions” (DND info-machine)
• “The Liberals want to ‘refresh’ the shipbuilding strategy. What does that mean?”
• “Irving Shipbuilding n’en démord pas. La Stratégie nationale de construction navale (SNCN) doit demeurer «intacte» et la construction des navires pour la Marine royale canadienne et la Garde côtière doit continuer d’être l’apanage exclusif d’Irving Shipbuilding et de Vancouver Shipyards …”
• “Le Projet d’équipement intégré du soldat à la fine pointe de la technologie”
• “Lawyers discussing trial dates in Mark Norman case over alleged ship secrets”

Other Military News

• “New direction at Royal Military College ‘a good first step,’ says AG — DND says it will offer a new academic program for the 2019-20 school year and review its cost structure after a 2017 audit found the Royal Military College didn’t produce better officers, despite costing twice as much to produce them …”
• “Memorial to honour UN peacekeepers, civilian personnel to be unveiled in Thorold”

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “Chinese military protests against US defense bill” (CHN mil media)
• “Three Chinese ministries strongly criticize US defense act” (CHN mil media)

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 14 August 2018

BC Forest Fires

• “Province requests wildfire assistance from the federal government” (BC Gov News info-machine)
• “Military supplying 200 troops to help “mop-up” BC wildfires”
• “Canadian Armed Forces to help as nearly 600 wildfires burn across BC”
• “Feux de forêts en Colombie-Britannique: les Forces armées canadiennes à la rescousse”

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “Canadian company to deliver sniper rifles to Ukraine – newspaper”
• “Winnipeg firm wins $1M deal to send sniper rifles to Ukraine”
• “Ukraine military to get Canadian -made .50 calibre sniper rifles”
• “OSCE spots amassing of heavy weapons, new ammunition crates in occupied Donbas”
• “Poland looking at Ukrainian modernization package for T-72 tanks”
• “Ruble in Russian-occupied Donetsk plunges more than in Russia itself” (UKR media)
• “Kiev forces plan terrorist attacks in DPR ahead of Ukraine Independence Day” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “UN says 36 civilians died in (2014) fighting over Ilovaisk” – “Human rights violations and abuses and international humanitarian law violations committed in the context of the Ilovaisk events in August 2014” (UN info-machine report) – “Donbas battalion denies UN allegations of torturing, killing civilians in Ilovaisk”

#MLI – Op PRESENCE

• “What We Are Doing in Mali: Canadians Contributing to Stability in the Sahel” (NATO Association of Canada)
• “EU observers saw irregularities but no fraud during Mali vote”
• “Mali opposition alleges fraud as vote counting continues”
• “Mali opposition leader rejects results as counting underway”
• “Poll Worker Killed in Tense Mali Presidential Runoff Vote”
• “Mali: l’opposition rejette les résultats, UE et ONU appellent au calme”
• ” « Les Maliens voient les élections comme une impasse » “
• Elsewhere in Africa …
• “Ark Peace arrives in Tonga for goodwill visit, to provide medical service” (CHN mil media)

#CANinIRQ – Op IMPACT

• “The Islamic State extremist group has up to 30,000 members roughly equally distributed between Syria and Iraq and its global network poses a rising threat — as does al-Qaida, which is much stronger in places, a United Nations report says. The report by U.N. experts circulated Monday said that despite the defeat of IS in Iraq and most of Syria, it is likely that a reduced “covert version” of the militant group’s “core” will survive in both countries, with significant affiliated supporters in Afghanistan, Libya, Southeast Asia and West Africa …” (Associated Press)
• “IS conflict: Up to 30,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq – UN”
• “Far From Dead: Tens of Thousands of IS Fighters Linger in Iraq, Syria”
• “Letter dated 16 July 2018 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities addressed to the President of the Security Council” (UN info-machine)

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE

• “US defense budget law includes call for bolstering Baltic air policing mission”
• “US defence budget law calls for change to Baltic Air Policing mandate”
• “The Government approved a new National Cyber Security Strategy” (Lithuanian DefMin info-machine)
• “Finnish poll shows mild support for NATO membership despite tensions with Russia” (FIN media)
• “US demands for Russia to accept new inspections for chemicals weapons as a condition for not imposing sanctions are absurd since an international authority has confirmed Moscow scrapped all of them, former Canadian diplomat Patrick Armstrong told (RUS media) Sputnik …”

What’s Canada Buying?

• “New equipment helping the Canadian Armed Forces stay better connected during operations” (CANSOFCOM info-machine)

Afghanistan

• “As Kandahar finds peace, Canada finds its own kind of vindication — Adnan R. Khan returns to Afghanistan’s formerly fraught southern region, where lessons from Canada’s failed mission more than a decade ago are inspiring America’s next steps …”

Internal Security

• “Ontario Asks Federal Government to Pay Full Cost of Illegal Border Crossers — $200 Million and Counting” (Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services info-machine)
• “How Canada’s ‘antifa’ groups are organizing to fight a growing far-right presence”

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 13 August 2018

#MLI – Op PRESENCE

• We’ll see … ” “We’re back”: Canada on the world stage in Mali”
• “Mali´s Fragile Peace”
• “Mali counts votes after poll worker slain”
• “Mali waits for results after high-security presidential runoff vote”
• “Mali: Soumalia Cissé cites more ‘fraud’ in Sunday’s run-off poll”
• “COMMENTARY: Unstable situation as Canadian peacekeepers hit ground in Mali”
• “La sécurité sera renforcée dimanche à travers le Mali pour le second tour de l’élection présidentielle, avec 20% de militaires en plus sur le terrain, afin de remédier aux « faiblesses » relevées lors du premier, a indiqué samedi l’entourage du Premier ministre …”
• “Mali: l’aide internationale, un moyen de pression limité sur le processus électoral”
• “Point de presse de la MINUSMA du 9 août 2018”
• “Les Maliens élisent leur président malgré la menace jihadiste”
• ‘Mali : IBK en route pour un second mandat”
• Elsewhere in Africa …
• “As part of Canada’s commitment to strengthen ties with Africa and to work with the continent to help address the challenges it faces, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development, will travel to Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire from August 13 to 19, 2018 …” (Global Affairs Canada info-machine)

#CAN-#SAU Fracas

• “By the numbers: Canada’s aid to Yemen vs. Saudi arms deal”
• “Canada’s liberal image gets snared by $11.5bn Saudi arms deal”
• “Canada, US Foreign Ministers Discuss Canada-Saudi Arabia Row, Sanctions on Iran”
• “Riyadh-Ottawa Row Spirals as Saudi Trolls Declare Quebec’s Right to Independence”
• “US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held telephone talks with Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland – Pompeo discussed Saudi Arabia, Iran and Ukraine with Canadian Foreign Minister”
• ” Secretary Michael R. Pompeo spoke today with Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland. They discussed the dispute between Saudi Arabia and Canada over Canada’s call for releasing civil rights activists. The Secretary also discussed Iran and Ukraine.” (US State Dept info-machine)
• “Ukraine could replace Canada to supply wheat to Saudi Arabia”

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “Rotation of US military instructors under JMTG-U takes place in Lviv”
• “Monitor Posts Video Of Truck Convoys Between Russia, Eastern Ukraine — The official European monitoring mission in eastern Ukraine has for the first time posted video footage showing convoys of trucks crossing from Russia into Ukraine and from Ukraine into Russia through a back road that has no border guards …” – “In response to media inquiries, the #OSCE SMM can confirm that its long-range UAV spotted convoys of trucks entering and exiting Ukraine in the middle of the night via a dirt track where there are no border crossing facilities. “ (OSCE info-machine, TouTube video)
• “OSCE SMM withheld information about Russian EW systems in Donbas for two weeks”
• “Ukraine reactivates unique S-300V1 strategic air defense systems”
• “Oleksandr Turchynov: Russia considers the Azov-Black Sea region as an important springboard for its further expansion” (National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine info-machine)
• “IS chief al-Baghdadi clinically dead following successful airstrike in Syria: Source”
• “Iraq says in dire need of $80 billion to reconstruct liberated areas, improve services”

#CANinIRQ – Op IMPACT

• We’ll see … “IS chief al-Baghdadi clinically dead following successful airstrike in Syria: Source”

Way Up North

• “Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan will visit tkey Canadian Armed Forces locations in Northern Canada (starting today)” (DND info-machine)

#Afghanistan

• Yes, it should  “Canada should do the right thing and bring Afghan interpreters to safety”

What’s Canada Buying?

• “Quebec’s Davie shipyard wins $610M contract to convert icebreakers for coast guard” – “Davie: 610 M$ d’Ottawa pour trois brise-glaces”
• “Canada’s military bases falling apart due to lack of funding: National Defence audit”
• More on uniforms  “Les Forces armées canadiennes font le point sur les prochains uniformes de combat” – “Fit, Function, Fight: Our Uniform, Our Future” (DND info-machine via Maple Leaf)
• Wanted:  “The Department of National Defense (DND) Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has a requirement for the supply and delivery of an Aircraft Arrestor System (AAS) in support of RCAF and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) or (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) (NATO) partner fighter aircraft flying in Canadian airspace for operations or training. Currently the RCAF operates 36 identical aircraft arrestor systems at 10 different locations across Canada to support safe fighter aircraft operations. Recently due to increased demand on these existing systems the RCAF requires one additional system to sustain operational requirements …”
• Wanted:  “Research Services on Diagnostic Biomarkers for Decompression Sickness”
• Wanted:  “Air Pistol Pellets … The Department of National Defence (DND) requires an annual supply of 13,660 packs of firing pellets, diabolo shape, wadcutter head pellet (.177 caliber / 4.5 mm, 7.87 gr plus or minus .20 gr weight), match grade, 500 per pack …”

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “Veteran launches proposed class-action lawsuit over disability benefit formula”
• “Securing Military Victims’ Rights An Easy Pre-Election Win For Trudeau”
• “Canada’s oldest association for military veterans is gathering in Saskatoon for their regular national convention. Delegates from the Army, Navy, and Air Force Veterans in Canada Association are gathering for the 54th Biennial Dominion Convention to discuss ways to better serve veterans and their families in Canada …”

Internal Security

• “Man found not criminally responsible for attacking soldiers wants to attend Mohawk College”
• “Une vingtaine de Hells Angels et de sympathisants se sont présentés dimanche au Beachclub de Pointe-Calumet où ils ont été escortés par un agent de sécurité vers la tente géante qu’ils avaient réservée en plein cœur des installations …”
• “Les Hells Angels prêts pour une «démonstration de force» en Montérégie”
• “Les policiers et les motards se narguent au Canada Run”
• “La grand-messe des Hells Angels se déroule sans heurts”
• “An Assessment of U.S. Women in Islamic State-related Cases” (Divergent Options paper)

Other Military News

• “On Blockchain Technology and its Potential Application in Tactical Networks” (Defence Research and Development Canada)
• “Indigenous war hero Francis Pegahmagabow the focus of musical tribute” (CAF Army info-machine)

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE

• “The (U.S.) Navy Is Gearing Up For A Fight With Russia In The North Atlantic”
• “On Tuesday an accident involving a Spanish jet fighter, which fired a rocket for currently unknown reasons, gave plenty of material to the Russian propaganda industry. On the day of the accident, the Russian online channel-monitoring tool, Propamon showed up to 20 units of press releases and on Wednesday, there were 78 more hits added. This is Propamon’s all-time record …” (propastop.org)
• “The Potemkin Village Is Falling Down: The Kremlin’s efforts to pretend that the Russian military is a modern, capable force are not working”
• “Twitter Cracks Up as NATO Accuses Russia of ‘Build-Up’ on Alliance’s Borders”
• “Majority of Finns would not want NATO membership: new poll”

Koreas/Pacific Rim

• “Progress with North Korea stalled over Korean War declaration”
• “North Korea’s Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center: Work Continues on 5 MWe Reactor’s Cooling System” (38 North)
• “North Korea Is a Threat Once Again: North Korea adding new conditions before it will consider beginning to denuclearize”
• Point:  “US Navy plane warned over South China Sea — High above one of the most hotly contested regions in the world, CNN was given a rare look at the Chinese government’s rapidly expanding militarization of the South China Sea …” (CNN)
• Counterpoint:  “Former (CHN) defense spokesman: US military and CNN jointly make show in S. China Sea” (CHN mil media)
• “A United Nations human rights panel said on Friday that it had received many credible reports that 1 million ethnic Uighurs in China are held in what resembles a “massive internment camp that is shrouded in secrecy.” …”

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 9 August 2018

CAN-SAU Fracas

• “Canada’s Foreign Intelligence Desert — The recent flare-up in relations between Canada and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) places into sudden relief the challenges in Canada’s foreign intelligence architecture …” (National Security Law Blog)
• “Hajj Disrupted for Canadian Muslims as Saudi Airlines Cancel Flights Amid Spat”
• “Saudi man granted release after UN requests Canadian government halt deportation”
• “Saudi Arabia- Canada spat: Here’s everything to know about the feud”
• “Aid group calls on Canada to condemn deadly Saudi-led airstrike on Yemeni school bus”

#MLI – Op PRESENCE

• “Mali’s security forces are facing allegations of killing civilians, dozens of whom were summarily executed during recent operations against Islamist militias, according to a UN report seen by AFP on Thursday …”
• “Sahel or high water: Mali’s political fatalism” (European Council on Foreign Relations)

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• Public Battle Maps  9 Aug 2018 (UKR info-machine) – 6-8 Aug 2018 (pro-RUS rebel page, in Russian)
• “Ukraine announces mass production of modern artillery ammunition” – “President: Ukraine is ready for mass production of various types of ammunition” (UKR pres info-machine) – “President opening the production line for the manufacture of large caliber shells: This is a powerful contribution to our victory” (UKR Pres info-machine) – “President: The words “Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!” will be the official greetings of the Armed Forces of our state” (UKR Pres info-machine)
• “Ukraine: Overcrowded, damaged and inaccessible – Challenges in service delivery in Yasynuvata raion continue with little alleviation in sight” (REACH Initiative)

Way Up North

• “(RUS) Northern Fleet’s pilots survey Arctic ice to lay out sea routes”
• “(USA) National Defense Act has heavy Arctic focus”
• “With warming Arctic, Russian navy gets larger areas to patrol”
• “(RUS) Seismic vessels push Arctic limits”

Internal Security

• “The federal government has stripped one of Ottawa’s largest mosques of its charity status over “activities that promote hate and intolerance,” …”
• “Bill Blair has been the cabinet minister in charge of border security for three weeks now — but it’s still not clear what he’s being asked to do …”

What’s Canada Buying?

• “Plan to outfit Canadian troops with U.S. uniforms a waste of $500M: top camouflage designer”
• “Alion Submits Final Proposal for CSC Program” (Alion info-machine)
• “First innovation contracts awarded under the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) Program” (DND info-machine) – “IDEaS awards its first innovation contracts to recruit, retain, and reach 25% representation of women in the CAF by 2026” (DND info-machine)
• Wanted:  “Study and development of new protection concepts for Canadian military platforms … The nature of the work to be performed by the Contractor is divided into six main tasks (electronic design, software/firmware programming, optical design, opto-mechanical design, laboratory manipulation and testing, and project management) …”
• Wanted:  “Surveillance of Space 2 RFI … This industry consultation process seeks information from industry on its interest, capacity and ability to produce and deliver the systems that meet the requirements for the Department of National Defence Surveillance of Space 2 (SofS 2) project. This industry consultation process provides industry the opportunity to provide feedback in the development and refinement of the requirement, including the proposed technical requirement, the procurement strategy and methods of leveraging economic benefit for Canada …”

Other Military News

• “Spouses Supporting Transition: Are You The Spouse Of A Medically-released Veteran?” (Veterans Ombudsman)
• “Young people give up sleep for a chance to fall in line with the military”
• “Statement by the Prime Minister on National Peacekeepers’ Day” (PMO info-machine) – “Statement marking National Peacekeepers’ Day” (DND info-machine)

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 8 August 2018

CAN-SAU Fracas

• “Spat with Saudis hits home for armoured vehicle plant in southwestern Ontario”
• “As Saudi-Canada feud escalates, here’s how axing armoured vehicle deal could hurt Trudeau in 2019”
• “Spat with Saudis hits home for armoured vehicle plant in southwestern Ontario”
• “Arabie saoudite: armes, mensonges et intimidation”
• “Did Saudis Just Threaten Canada With 9/11-Style Attack for Crime of Criticizing Their Atrocious Human Rights Record?”
• “Saudi-Linked Twitter Account Appears To Threaten Terrorist Attack On The CN Tower” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• “Saudi Group Apologizes for Tweet Interpreted as 9/11 Style Threat to Canada”
• “Block All Sales Of Canadian Armoured Vehicles To Saudis, Buy Those Vehicles For Canada’s Military Instead” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• “Trudeau Spent Our Tax Dollars Building A Road For The Jordanian Army. They Sided With Saudi Arabia Over Us” (Spencer Fernando blog)

#MLI – Op PRESENCE

• “Canadian UN peacekeepers return to Africa after 24 years”
• “Depuis les airs, les Casques bleus canadiens découvrent le Mali”
• “Canadian UN peacekeepers return to Africa after 24 years”
• “Des casques bleus canadiens déployés au Mali”
• “Canada enters dangerous year-long peacekeeping mission in Mali, Conservatives still want House debate and vote”
• “Suspicion of vote fraud revives Mali’s ethnic tensions”
• Elsewhere in Africa …
  
• “China sets up its 2nd peacekeeping helicopter detachment to Sudan” (CHN mil media)

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “Canadian sniper rifles expected to be in the hands of Ukrainian military by fall, (Conservative) MP says” – “A deal that will put Canadian-made sniper rifles in the hands of Ukraine’s military will likely see the weapons delivered in time for any new outbreak of fighting with Russian-backed forces this fall, according to the Canadian Conservative Party’s defense critic …”
• “Military training of reservists has been launched in the Western territorial administration of the law enforcement military agency of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The training is being held with the participation and under supervision of representatives of the Armed Forces of Lithuania and Canada, according to the press service of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine …”
• “With the participation of representatives of NATO member states on the basis of the Western Territorial Department of the GSP, the Armed Forces of Ukraine began a meeting with the reservists” (UKR MoD info-machine, in Ukrainian)
• “Minister of Defence of Ukraine, ‘Units from 15 partner nations will march on Kreschatyk Street on August 24’ “ (UKR MoD info-machine)
• “Ukraine Hits Back — Putin’s Invasion Army Flounders in Donbas” (pro-UKR media)
• “Pillar of NATO: Romania’s Ambition in the Black Sea Region”
• “Russia’s Latest Attempt to Smear Bellingcat Over MH17 – Unsuccessful”

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE

• “Russia used lessons from Georgia war in Ukraine conflict”
• “NATO, the US and that Whole Article V Thing” (Saideman’s Semi-Spew blog)
• Oooopsie … “NATO Jet Accidentally Fires Missile During Baltic Practice” – “Estonia Searching For Missile Accidentally Fired During NATO Air Exercise” – “A Spanish fighter jet accidentally launches an air-to-air missile in the Estonian air space”
• “Canada urges Russia to allow EU monitors’ access to Abkhazia, South Ossetia”

Way Up North

• “Royal Canadian Navy ships leave Halifax to take part in Arctic exercise”

What’s Canada Buying?

• “Government of Canada awards contract to GeoSpectrum Technologies Inc. of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia … GeoSpectrum Technologies Inc., based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, was awarded a $3,435,625-contract to provide replacement parts for hydrophone sonars currently being used on the Royal Canadian Navy’s Victoria-class submarines …” (Public Svcs & Procurement Canada info-machine)
• Wanted:  “Cut and Sew Service – Chemical Warfare Coveralls”
• “Minister Sajjan to announce first contract awards under the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) Program (Thursday)” (DND info-machine)
• Col. Ted on another plane that needs replacing  “Another aircraft … there is another aircraft that is even older and is in need of replacement: the venerable CP-140 Aurora Long Range Patrol Aircraft, which entered service nearly 40 years ago …” (Col. Ted)

Internal Security

• “CSE’s Cyber Threat Assessment to Canada’s Democratic Process” (NATO Association in Canada) – “Cyber Threats to Canada’s Democratic Process” (CSE report)
• “Inside Russia’s invasion of the U.S. electric grid”
• “Mentally ill stabber in army recruiting centre attack allowed to attend Mohawk College”
• “50% of Toronto residents avoiding large crowds, public areas: Ipsos poll” – “Four in Five (81%) Think There is a Serious Gun Problem in Toronto, Relatively Few (28%) Feel the Issue is Being Blown Out of Proportion” (Ipsos Reid)
• “On Asylum-Seekers, Canada Needs Solutions — Not Semantics: Senator Omidvar” (Senate info-machine)

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “For veterans transitioning to civilian life, ‘the amount of care available is limited’: ombudsman”
• “Anciens Combattants Canada élargit l’accès aux services de santé mentale à Longueuil”
• “Winnipeg police cleared in fatal 2007 shooting of Canadian Forces vet”

Other Military News

• “Alberta launches pilot project to help military families relocate”
• “Finely crafted coins recall Canada’s finest military moments in the Royal Canadian Mint’s latest numismatic offering” (RC Mint info-machine)
• “Former RCAF pilots inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame” (RCAF info-machine)
• “The Honourable Seamus O’Regan marks the centennial of the Battle of Amiens and Canada’s Hundred Days” (VAC info-machine) – “Land Battles – Amiens” (Canadian War Museum info-machine)

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 6 August 2018

#MLI – Op PRESENCE

• “Quebec provincial police could join Mali peacekeeping mission”
• “Risk to Canadian soldiers in Mali – Col. Chris McKenna, commander of Canada’s troops in Mali, spoke to Power and Politics guest host Catherine Cullen about the peacekeeping mission and the risks faced by Canadian soldiers …” (CBC via YT)
• “Les oiseaux de la mort du Canada (hélicoptères militaires) dans une Afrique très maganée.” (Ivory Coast media)
• “Mali: German peacekeepers patrol ‘road of death’ for clues of explosive devices”
• “Mali opposition candidates allege vote fraud, head to court”
• “A Gao, les soupçons de fraude électorale réveillent les tensions ethniques”
• “Présidentielle au Mali: 18 candidats “exigent” le départ du ministre chargé des élections”

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE

• “Disinformation about NATO’s Saber Strike drills analyzed” – “#BalticBrief: Sputnik Targets NATO Exercise, Reveals Wider Narrative Trend — Pundit in Kremlin outlet asserts “prostitutes” were only beneficiaries of NATO exercise …” (DFRLab Digital Forensic Research Lab report)
• “Latvia in line to buy four Black Hawk helicopters” – “The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Latvia of four (4) UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters and related equipment for an estimated cost of $200 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale …” (US Defense Security Cooperation Agency info-machine)
• “… Each of the three Baltic States has a slightly different approach to dealing with the Russian threat but together are recognized as leaders in developing innovative defense policies to deal with the Russian military threat. This is important because Russia has been resourceful in developing new techniques for attacking and subduing neighbors. Russia has been doing this for centuries and the neighbors are well aware of it. The Baltic States, however, have developed defensive plans that seek to use some of the clever Russian plans against the Russians …”
• “Latvia may be up for diverse new coalition (in parliament), says politics expert”
• “Adding to the Russian Tool Set: The Role of Russian “Private” Military Contractors”

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• Latest Public Battle Maps  Ukrainian info-machine version – Pro-RUS Rebel info-machine version (in Russian)
• “Flight tracking websites expose a sort of “close encounter” between a U.S. Air Force RC-135 spy plane and some Russian Tu-214 special mission aircraft over the Black Sea”
• “Ukraine considers termination of railway traffic with Russia” – “Ukraine may halt railway communication with Russia – infrastructure minister” – “In Ukraine, they announced a desire to cancel the railway connection with Moscow” (in Ukrainian) – “Ukraine wants to cut railway communication with Russia” (RUS media)

#CANinIRQ – Op IMPACT

• “Casques blancs: Freeland accuse Moscou de «cover up» “
• “Alternative Futures: Options for the Deployment of Iraqi Peacekeepers” (Divergent Options)

What’s Canada Buying?

• “Rheinmetall to Supply Additional Argus Soldier Systems to the Canadian Armed Forces”
• Wanted:  “The Department of National Defence has a requirement to dispose of, through Ship Breaking, three (3) auxiliary vessels (YDG 2 Deperming Barge, YRG 60 Fuelling Barge and YDT 12 (Granby) Diving Tender). The Contractor will be required to prepare the vessels for transfer, transfer the vessels to the Approved Site and subsequently break (dismantle and dispose or recycle) the vessels in an efficient and environmentally responsible manner …”
• Wanted:  “… The Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces (DND/CAF) is informing the Telecommunication Sector with respect to the Government of Canada’s intention to proceed with the replacement of the Deployed Operations Private Branch Exchange Replacement by DND/CAF in Canada …”
• Commentary  “(Fmr DefMin) MACKAY: Made in Canada best option for our armed forces gear”

Internal Security

• “Déploiement policier excessif au G7, selon le rapport d’observateurs”
• ” ‘We are desperate for help’: Asylum seekers in Micronesia accept Trudeau’s Twitter ‘invitation’ “
• “Canada’s border ‘crisis’ shouldn’t be a point of division. It should be a point of pride”
• What the Toronto Sun columnist says:  “Mosque sermon calls on Allah to slay non-Muslims ‘one by one’ … We don’t know whether Hussain was exposed to these prayers …”
• What one text of said sermon says:  “O Allah! Wage war against the tyrants who reject Your messengers, and prevent [men] from your path, and are fighting against those who are devoted to You …”
• ” FBI Cyber Bulletin: Identified Qakbot Malware Variant Found on Thumb Drive Manufactured in China”

Other Military News

• “Canada to host international military Reserve Officer Summer Congress in Quebec” (DND info-machine)
• “Flying full circle with Sea King CH-1240”
• Col. Ted’s Take:  “… the key to success is the future, whether the war is fought at sea or in a densely populated mega-city will be: Tough, superbly disciplined, well trained and adequately equipped sailors, soldiers and air force members; Good, solid, practical leaders who work within a well organized, efficient and effective structure; and Clarity of purpose and of command and control. I do not think Canada, at least, has totally lost the vital human elements, despite repeated attempts to apply politically correct social engineering to the Canadian Armed Forces, but I am afraid that the second and third elements have all but disappeared from the Canadian military …”

#CHN-Pacific Rim

• “Seoul tells N. Korea to speed up denuclearization, U.S. to faithfully keep promises”
• “How the French military’s ‘political messengers’ are countering Beijing in the South China Sea”

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