MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 20 June 2018

• Welcome home HMCS Windsor!  “Canadian submarine ends five-month mission”
• “Canadian opposition calls for Ottawa to send weapons to Ukraine”
• “There has been no meaningful progress in the human rights situation in the armed conflict zone and other parts of Ukraine, says a report published today by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. The report covers the period between 16 February and 15 May 2018 …” (UN info-machine)
• “A 60-strong detachment of mortar specialists from the Czech republic has joined NATO’s enhanded Forward Presence (eFP) force in Latvia, the Czech Ministry of Defense has confirmed …”
• “Pot rules will be similar to those for alcohol, navy says”
• Wanted:  search robots  “Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Sys(tems) — The Department of National Defence has a requirement to procure High Risk Search, Remotely Operated Vehicle System (HRS-ROV). A combination of Remote Operated Vehicles, one small and one large, which will be used by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) field engineer sections in the roles ofintermediate and advanced search teams. The HRS-ROV will need to be man-portable and quickly deployable. They will need to be able to climb stairs, navigate culverts, and operate in a non-line of sight manner and in close spaces. A combination of ROVs, Small ROV System and Large ROV System, will be the best approach to address the task-specific balance of weight, payload and mobility …”
• Wanted:  “The Department of National Defence has a requirement to purchase an Advanced Search and Rescue Uniform … to replace the existing Coveralls, Search and Rescue, International Orange (IO) …”
• Col. Ted on the PM’s transport plane woes:  “… it might be possible to have someone other than the RCAF fly this sort of service … it is, after all, a service which is provided by many companies, large and small, and one suspects that a large carrier, like say WestJet or Air Canada could provide an ‘on call,’ flexible VIP aircraft service for an affordable fee. Maybe it is time for the Government of Canada to step back and rethink why and how it uses so-called VIP aircraft. maybe flying people around the world is not something that only the RCAF can do.”
• “The Canadian Forces have awarded Rheinmetall an important follow-on contract. The Canadian Navy plans to expand the MASS countermeasure systems installed on its Halifax-class frigates. The order is worth about CAD20 million (€12 million). MASS (Multi Ammunition Softkill System) is an automated decoy system that protects surface combatants from advanced anti-ship missiles …”
• “Group hopes to build PTSD treatment centre in Halifax”
• “Canada wants to change a bilateral agreement to allow it to turn back thousands of asylum seekers walking across the border but the United States is not cooperating, according to a Canadian official with knowledge of the discussions …”
• “U.S. defense chief to visit S. Korea over military exercises”
• “Allies test N. Korea’s will to denuclearize through suspension of military exercises”
• “China’s top shipbuilding firm released a photo on Wednesday of what is believed to be the country’s first aircraft carrier equipped with an electromagnetic aircraft launch system, with Chinese military experts speculating that China will have three aircraft carriers in the near future …” (CHN mil media)
• “Military shipyards in northern Russia want role in building Arctic LNG infrastructure”

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 19 June 2018

• “Happy 1st Anniversary NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup Latvia! …” (NATO Force Integration Unit Latvia FB) – “Happy one year anniversary #eFP Battle Group Latvia! Since it was stood up at Camp Ādaži, eFP BG Latvia has proven its ability to integrate and operate as part of a wider context of @NATO eFP forces deployed across the Baltics …” (CAF Ops on Twitter)
  
• Former Tory Defence Parliamentary Sec’y: “Canada has warehouses of weaponry that Ukraine needs. Why aren’t we aiding our ally?”
• Meanwhile, from the RUS-led rebel info-machine  “Poroshenko says new military operation in Donbass begins in May” – “DPR names Ukrainian army brigades with highest defector numbers” – ‘Ukrainian People’s Tribunal to announce sentence in Lugansk on June 22 — The Ukrainian People’s Tribunal for investigating the Poroshenko regime war crimes will announce the sentence to the incumbent Ukrainian president and his associates on Lugansk’s Teatralnaya Square at 9:00 on June 22 …”
• “NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg wants fewer tensions, improved relationship with Russia”
• “Russia Upgrades Nuclear Weapons Storage Site In Kaliningrad” (Federation Of American Scientists) – “Russian bunkers near Poland could be storing nuclear weapons, report says”
• RUS media:  “Analyst Explains Why EU, Canada and NATO Teaming Up Against Trump”
• “The Canadian Armed Forces are just weeks away from deployment to Mali, where they will replace a German helicopter contingent as part of the United Nations’ peacekeeping mission in the country. Questions have been raised about whether there is any peace to keep in the central African nation. So what is the mission? …”
• “Long-delayed terror trial of alleged ISIL recruiter Awso Peshdary underway”
• “Trudeau Government Has Photo Of Toronto ISIS Terrorist Shooting A Gun In Syria With His Face Fully Visible, Yet He Hasn’t Been Arrested” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• Commentary  “Canadian jihadists are bolder than ever, meanwhile Trudeau weakens our laws”
• “Atomwaffen, an American Neo-Nazi Terror Group, Is In Canada”
• “Hardening U.S. rhetoric on immigration could drive more migrants north: intelligence report”
  
• “Canada’s spy service is destroying undisclosed volumes of records relating to the communications of Canadians gathered over years …”
• “The Trudeau government is declining to discuss concerns raised by U.S. lawmakers about Huawei’s activities in Canada – even as a debate is unfolding in Australia about banning the Chinese telecom giant from its next-generation 5G mobile networks …”
• In the words of @Mark3Ds, “Lucky break for Canada if we buy (the) F-35 … “Lucky break for Canada if we buy F-35” “Fully 74% of Export F-35s Delivered Until 2023 Are Obsolete”
• Wanted:  “Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) for Defense Research and Development Canada (DRDC) is issuing this Request for Proposal (RFP) for the procurement and delivery of Ballistic Surrogate Plates …”
• “Government of Canada announces energy efficiency contract at Base Petawawa”
• “The cost of health claims related to hearing loss among members of Canada’s military is rising, due in part to the reluctance of members to wear protective equipment and because the most suitable devices aren’t always provided …”
• “Militaires homosexuels chassés des Forces: la Cour ratifie une entente de plus de 100 millions”
• “Military Training and Co-operation: Diplomatic Instrument and Combat Force Multiplier” (CGAI paper)
• “Why Canada needs a cyber security foreign policy”
• Here’s how at least one former assaulter is using his skills  “Retired JTF2 Assaulter Brings the Elite Military Experience to Civilian Men — Retired tier 1 special forces operator, Jeff Depatie, has created an 8-day undertaking for civilian men designed to facilitate post-traumatic growth and will identify superior non-military men who rise to similar standards of elite military individuals …” – The Special Forces Experience page
• “US prepares for return of war dead remains from North Korea”

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 18 June 2018

• “Amanda Lindhout kidnapper sentenced to 15 years in prison” – “Sentence in Hostage-Taking Trial” (Public Prosecution Service of Canada)
• CPAC on Twitter: “#QP 3/ @AndrewScheer Liberals are removing tools to deal w/ terrorists returning to Canada. How are we supposed to ensure Cdns’ safety? @CanadianPM Conservatives cut ~$400M from border agency…We respect work of security agencies doing everything necessary to keep Cdns safe… “
• “U.S. lawmakers warn Canada about Chinese telecom giant Huawei”
• “Près de 6 M$ pour loger les immigrants temporairement”
• “A federal judge has approved a landmark deal to compensate members of the military and other agencies who were investigated and sometimes fired because of their sexual orientation …”
• “Veterans Ombudsman in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu June 18-19, 2018” (Vets ‘Budman info-machine)
• “Veterans Ombudsman To Hold Town Hall On Veterans’ Issues On June 19 In Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu”
• “Fluctuating sensor delayed PM’s aging plane en route to India, emails show”
• “Le Canada compte acquérir 25 F-18 usagés”
• “The Royal Canadian Navy in the Indo-Pacific: A Discussion with Matthew Fisher” (CGAI podcast)
• “His Excellency, The Right Honourable David Johnston, the 28th Governor-General of Canada, will become the next Colonel of The Regiment of The Royal Canadian Regiment. Mr. Johnston will replace Major-General (Retired) James Ivan Fenton in a ceremony in Kingston on August 5, 2018 …”
• “Russia scores, mortars fly: What it’s like to watch the World Cup from a Ukrainian war zone”
• “EU Ministers Extend Crimea Sanctions For Another Year”
• “N.Korea Offers to Remove Long-Range Artillery from Frontline”
• “U.S., S.Korea to Suspend Large-Scale Drills”
• “Minister: S. Korea ‘flexible’ on timing, format of ending Korean War”
• “S. Korea Flexible on Ending Joint US Military Drills” – “DoD Halts Planning for Ulchi Freedom Guardian Exercise, Spokesperson Says” (US DoD info-machine) – “Statement by Dana W. White Chief Pentagon Spokesperson on Military Exercises on the Korean Peninsula”
• “No, North Korea Hasn’t Blown Up Missile ‘Launch Sites’ After the June 12 Summit”
• “After the Trump-Kim Summit: Now Comes the Hard Part” (Crisis Group)
• “China adds to nuclear arsenal amid military modernisation drive”

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 17 June 2018

• “Canada to purchase 25 used Australian F-18 jets if U.S. gives approval”
• “Canadian military supply shortage nothing new”
• “Saber Strike exercises wind up in Latvia”
• “Lithuania seeks U.S. military to combat to Russian menace”
• “Russia Challenges Ukraine in the Sea of Azov” (ISW Blog)
• “G7 countries eye threat of foreign fighters’ return — ISIS’s foreign fighters are either seeking their next jihadist spree or returning to their home countries …”
• One version:  “Most Canadians support helping Rohingya, split on border crossings: Nanos survey”
• Another version:  “Far More Canadians Want “Less Welcoming” Approach To Illegal Border Crossers” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• “Defence minister marks start of joint support ship construction at Seaspan” – “Le ministre Sajjan marque le début de la coupe de l’acier pour le premier Navire de soutien interarmées”
• “Les NCSM Oriole et Moncton en visite le long du Saint-Laurent et dans les Grands Lacs”
• Colonel Ted:  “Colony to Nation and Back to Colony … Colony to Nation and now, since about 1968, because “we’ve chosen to outsource a big chunk of our sovereignty to Washington,” it’s Back to Colony, again. The choice is clear: we either continue to surrender our sovereignty to Donald J Trump’s America or we must pay to have real, practical independence. Being an independent, sovereign nation means, inter alia, having the sort of hard military power we need …”
• “S. Korea proposes movement of N.K. long-range artillery away from border: sources”
• “China May Demand That US Remove THAAD From S Korea – Analyst”
• “US, China committed to full denuclearization of Korean Peninsula — US top diplomat”
• “Melting Ice, Thawing Relations: How International Law Can Ensure Peace In The Arctic”

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 15 June 2018

• “REPORT: ISIS Fighter In Toronto Brags To Media About Executing People, Discusses Threat Of Attacks In The West” (Spencer Fernando blog) – Stewart Bell on Twitter: “For Canadians, another deeply disturbing @rcallimachi podcast about a Toronto-area ISIS member, in which he expresses no remorse & a continued attachment to violent extremist ideology. And yet has not been arrested …” – NYT Caliphate podcast:  “One Year Later — What does the future hold for the ISIS returnee who confessed to murder? And what does he believe now?”
• “Saber Strike 18 (in LTA) comes to a close … Countries that participated in the exercise include Canada, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain and the United Kingdom …” (Pentagon info-machine) – “19 NATO Allies and partners wrap up exercise Saber Strike 2018” (NATO info-machine)
• “Canada will continue to support Ukraine – Trudeau” – “Canada’s ambassador in Kyiv speaks on big expectations in and about Ukraine … When asked whether any arms are headed to Ukraine, Ambassador Waschuk said that “there are ongoing discussions about using these new opportunities” between the Canadian private sector in the military-industrial space and the Ukrainian government .,..”
• “Russian navy put on high alert off Ukraine coast: sources”
• “Trade dispute could leave U.S. firms out of the running to sell military equipment to Canada”
• Big Honkin’ Ship Update  “Minister Sajjan marks the start of steel cutting for the first Joint Support Ship” (DND info-machine)
• “Lockheed Martin Canada Awarded 3 Year Extension on Halifax Frigate Support Contract”
• “Royal Canadian Navy ships visit St. Lawrence Seaway-Great Lakes communities” (RCN info-machine)
• “At this Ontario farm, Canadian veterans are taking control over their own healing — ‘Broken’ after his discharge from the army, ex-paratrooper Eric Coupal founded the Quartz Ridge Sanctuary, near Sudbury, to help his fellow vets …”
• “Iran Rebukes Canadian Move to Label Revolutionary Guard ‘Terrorists’ “
• “How quickly could Canada build an atomic bomb?”
• “Calgarians who fought in America’s wars muster for benefits”
• “White House Releases Fresh Trump-Kim Jong-un Summit Coin” – “Korea Peace Talks Coin, Summit Medallion …” (White House Gift Store)
• “More on North Korea’s Missile Test Sites” (38 North)
• “French, British Ships to Sail Disputed Asian Sea, Rile China”
• “China’s coast guard conducts South China Sea drills to sharpen skills in ‘complex’ waters” (CHN mil media)
• “China carries out missile drills in South China Sea amid heightened tensions” – “Chinese navy deploys drones in South China Sea missile drills”
• “Beijing Ready to Retaliate Against US Tariffs on Chinese Goods”
• “Russian navy kicks off largest naval maneuver in 10 years in a surprise exercise aimed to counter a massive enemy attack”

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 14 June 2018

• “Where are those missing Canadian military sleeping bags? Try Ukraine”
• DND info-machine, 8 Aug 2014:  “… On 7 August 2014, Canada conducted the first RCAF CC-130J Hercules flight of military supplies. The equipment being sent to the Ukraine includes sleeping bags, helmets, and ballistic eyewear, as well as medical supplies …”
• #UKR MFA info-machine, 7 Aug 2014:  “Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement announcing non-lethal security assistance to Ukraine – News from Ukraine’s diplomatic missions”
• Then-DefMin Jason Kenney, 17 Apr 2015:  “… This assistance includes initiatives to promote stabilization and economic growth in order to strengthen security and foster civil society in Ukraine. And this past year, Canada donated non-lethal equipment to Ukraine, notably a range of equipment needed for protection, logistics and medical care, including helmets, goggles, ballistic protective equipment, bullet-proof vests, first-aid kits, tents and sleeping bags. So this equipment has been extremely well received by the Ukrainians and I understand it has been very helpful …”
• Meanwhile, more recently in #UKR …
  
• “First Vice-Speaker meets Canadian foreign and defence prime minister’s assistant – The First Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Iryna Herashchenko met with John Hannaford, Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Foreign and Defence Policy) …” (Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine info-machine)
• … and from the #UKR separatist dis-info-machine …
• “Kiev deploys commandoes in Russian military uniforms to Schastye – LPR People’s Militia”
• “The Lugansk People’s Republic parliament approved the law on conscription and military service at the Thursday session …”
• Over in #MNG …
• “Multinational exercise Khaan Quest gathers 1400 troops from 52 countries (in Mongolia) … This year, over 1400 troops from 26 countries are taking part in the ‘Khaan Quest- 2018’ including Australia, the U.S., Nepal, Bangladesh, Belarus, China, South Korean, Turkey, India, Bhutan, he United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Indonesia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Canada, Malaysia, Qatar, Mongolia, Russia, Hungary, the Philippines, France, Germany, New Zealand and Japan …” – Ex Khaan Quest 2015 pix (DND info-machine) – “Int’l peacekeeping exercise Khaan Quest 2018 begins in Mongolia” (CHN mil media)
• … and in #LVA
• “For the first two weeks of June 2018, Intelligence analysts from the 217th Air Operations Group, Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, Mich., teamed with Latvian counterparts to test a newly-developed component of the European Partner Integration Enterprise (EPIE) that allows for the execution of coalition Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations in a deployed environment … Currently, Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and the U.S. are the primary developers of collaborative ISR capabilities at EPIE. More recently, Canada and Spain have begun expanding their roles; additionally Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Croatia, and the U.K. have supported EPIE activities in some capacity …” (Pentagon info-machine)
• “Where did Canadian materiels go?” – “Report on Exports of Military Goods from Canada – 2017” (Global Affairs Canada info-machine)
• “Senators call on Liberals to boost oversight on exports of military goods”
• “Union at Halifax shipyard building Royal Canadian Navy ships gives strike notice”
• “Senators say injured soldiers who retire still waiting months for needed benefits”
• “Veterans Ombudsman to hold Town Hall on Veterans’ Issues on June 19 in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu” (Vet ‘Budman info-machine)
• ” ‘Strategic Mistake’: Iranian FM Blasts Canadian Bill Limiting Ties With Tehran”
• Col. Ted’s take:  “Defending Canada in other ways … Canada should, always, be looking beyond just the USA and, indeed, beyond NATO for defence procurement partners. We need to recognize that countries like Israel, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and (non-NATO) Sweden have advanced defence industrial bases that can meet some, many, probably most of our military needs. The Department of National Defence can be used to defend Canada against Donald Trump’s protectionist attacks on Canada’s economy. Being less militarily integrated with or tied to the USA will please some of the Laurentian Elites and other constituencies upon which the Liberals depend.”
• Way Up North
• “RCN, Canadian Coast Guard sign historic Arctic operations agreement” (RCN info-machine)
• “Alarm-drill: 36 Russian warships sail out to Barents Sea”
• “Nordic fighter jets to train combat in skies above Lapland”
• “Chinese money for Northern Sea Route”
• “Chinese oil company considers investing in Russian Arctic LNG”
• “More U.S. Marines In Norway Could Cause ‘Growing Tensions,’ Russia Warns”
• Latest in, around #PRK
• “Pompeo: No Sanctions Relief for North Korea Before Complete Denuclearization” – “Pompeo Says China Will Maintain Sanctions on North Korea”
• “N.Korea to Destroy Tongchang-ri Missile Test Site”
• “No Indications of Missile Test Stand Dismantlement Yet at Sohae Satellite Launch Facility” (38 North)
• “Situation on Korean Peninsula better if US, ROK stop military exercise” (CHN mil media)
• “Beware of the Dragon: The Challenges of China’s Assertive Posture” (CGAI paper)
• “Man involved in theft of Griesbach military plaques gets jail time” – “Man who stole and damaged 18 plaques honouring Canadian war heroes sent to jail” – “Man who stole military plaques sent to jail”

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 13 June 2018

• “Canada is a real threat to US national security, eh?”
• “Ralph Goodale outlines goals of new cybersecurity strategy” – “National Cyber Security Strategy: Canada’s Vision for Security and Prosperity in the Digital Age” (Public Safety Canada info-machine)
• “How Canada’s military went viral after Donald Trump’s anti-transgender tweets — Documents detailing Canada’s response to Donald Trump’s tweets last summer banning transgender people from the military offered a stark contrast in policy—and a lesson in going viral …”
• “Wait to release soldiers until veterans services confirmed: Senate study” – “Military transition system failing veterans, Senate subcommittee finds” (Senate statement)
• “29 anciens vétérans sans-abri / en situation de crise identifiés grâce à VETS Canada”
• “Minister of Veterans Affairs to award Commendation to five Ottawa residents” (VAC info-machine)
• Wanted:  “Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Headsets”
• Wanted:  “Environmental Investigations Stony Point First Nations, Ontario — The Department of National Defence (DND) requires multi-year Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment (HHERA), and/or Risk Management services to facilitate development and implementation of: a Clearance and Remediation Plan for the clearance of Unexploded Explosive Ordnance (UXO); remediation of Areas of Environmental Concern (AECs); and infrastructure removal at the former Camp Ipperwash at Stony Point, Ontario …”
• “New Commander for Canadian Joint Operations Command” (DND info-machine) – “Un nouveau commandant pour le Commandement des opérations interarmées du Canada”
• “NATO multinational battle groups in Eastern Europe to counter Russia – here’s where its battle groups are located”
• “COMMENTARY: Still think outsourcing our national defence is a good idea?”
• Over to #PRK …
• “Historic First DPRK-U.S. Summit Meeting and Talks Held” (PDF @ non-Korean site, from PRK MFA)
• “Joint Statement from Kim Jong Un and Trump after Summit” (PRK MFA statement, PDF @ non-Korean page)
• Col. Ted’s prognostication: “… I fear that President Trump will prevail … that the US’ security guarantee to East Asia will be seen to be worthless and that North Korea, ever China’s lapdog, will do nothing. It will get away with doing nothing because its nuclear test programme may be on hold for a while. It will, likely, do some showmanship to e.g. dismantling some missiles while he hopes that Trump will do what it appears he (Trump) really wants and bring 32,000 US troops home from South Korea, leaving the peninsula ripe for reunification on China’s terms.”
• “Trump: No More Nuclear Threat from North Korea”
• “Trump Team Sees ‘Major Disarmament’ of North Korea in 2.5 Years”
• “North Korea should disarm by 2021, Mike Pompeo says as critics slam Trump-Kim summit agreement”
• “Pompeo: US Hopes for ‘Major Disarmament’ by N. Korea within 2 1/2 Years”
• “North Korea State Media Says Trump Agreed to Lift Sanctions Against North”
• “N.Korea state media says Trump agreed to lift sanctions against North”
• “Confusion as North Korea says US will lift sanctions”
• “U.S. President Donald Trump gave South Korean a shock on Tuesday with throwaway promises to end joint “war games” and by expressing hopes of pulling U.S. troops out altogether. “I want to get our soldiers out,” Trump told reporters in Singapore. “I want to bring our soldiers back home. We have, right now, 32,000 soldiers in South Korea, and I’d like to be able to bring them back home. But that’s not part of the equation right now …”
• “Pentagon weighs future of Korea drills after Trump nixes ‘war games’ “
• “Ending US-ROK Military Exercises: An Idea Whose Time Has Come” (38 North)
• “NATO and China resume military staff to staff talks” (CHN mil media)
• “Chinese military to cease all paid services by 2019” (CHN mil media)
• … and in #UKR
• “No consensus in Normandy format on deployment of UN peacekeepers to Donbas – Zerkal”
• ” “Let the UN Peacekeepers Stand Between Our Trenches”: Zakharchenko About the War, Ukrainian Oligarchs, and Trade with Europe” (pro-RUS site)

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