Some tech issues …

… so no headlines tonight — full catch-up set once I’ve sorted things out.

Meanwhile, enjoy the blogroll & have a great night!

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 17 October 2018

Big Honkin’ Ships (1):  Ships Themselves

• “Feds plan to name winning design for $60-billion fleet of warships by end of October”

Big Honkin’ Ships (2):  Big Honkin’ Ships Documents Court Case

• “Top general’s communications with Trudeau, media to come under spotlight as Mark Norman case proceeds”
• “Treasury Board official denies ‘cozy relationship’ between Brison and Irvings”
• “More on shipbuilding in Canada … I looks to me as though Irving wants to set itself up as, at the very least, the Atlantic Fleet’s primary (only) repair and refit contractor, de facto, shutting Quebec’s Chantier Davie out of the process. I’m not sure that makes economic, political or military sense …” (Col. Ted)

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “Meet Captain Leah Woolley, an Intelligence Officer with 3 Intelligence Company in Halifax and one of 5th Canadian Division’s Army officer mentors who participated on Exercise MAPLE ARCH 2018 (Ex MAPLE ARCH 18) at the Nemencine Warfare Training Centre …” (CAF Army info-machine)
• “Why is Germany beefing-up its military?”
• “Belarus Finds Itself Between a Rock and a Hard Place”

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “Pentagon Confirms Death Of U.S. Airman In Ukrainian Fighter Jet Crash”
• “US pilot killed in Ukraine fighter crash identified as California Air National Guard service member”
• “Air Force identifies Guard pilot killed in Ukraine crash”
• “Ukraine’s Su-27 crash: Clear Sky-2018 drills to continue”
• “Cause of Ukrainian Su-27UB crash in Vinnytsia region still unknown, but flight recorder has been found”
• “The Ukrainian Su-27 That Crashed With an American Soldier Onboard Had Never Been Repaired During Ukraine’s “Independence” ” (pro-RUS page)
• “Kyiv Says Five Killed In Fighting In Eastern Ukraine”
• “JFO HQ reports 2 KIA, 1 WIA in Donbas over past day”
• ” ‘This Is A Crime’: Putin Responds To Crimea Attack”
• “Investigative Committee: 13 killed, 50 injured in Kerch explosion”
• “Crimean Blast: Poroshenko expresses condolences to families of deceased and injured”
• “Prosecutor General’s Office instituted proceedings regarding the terrorist attack in Kerch – President” (UKR Pres info-machine)
• “Denis Pushilin extends condolences over Crimean college mass murder” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Pasechnik extends condolences over mass murder in Crimean vocational college” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Crimean blast can be used as reason for war in Azov, assault on Mariupol, – official”
• “Russia stops calling the Kerch mass killing terrorism when it can’t blame Ukraine or Crimean Tatars” (Human Rights in Ukraine)
• “DPR recognizes Russian courts decisions on civil acts registry” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Opinion: Integration with Russia key priority in DPR development” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “65 people brought to justice due to fires at artillery depots”
• “NATO confirms readiness to assist Ukraine in enhancing protection of ammo depots – media”
• “Putin May Try to Launch New Offensive in Ukraine and Absorb Belarus to Stop Autocephaly”
• “Independence for Ukrainian Church is no guarantee for national unity”

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “Iraq PM-designate to present new cabinet for approval next week: statement”
• “Is There Hope for Reform in Post-Election Iraq?”
• “Dunford: ISIS And Al-Qaeda Will Rise Again If We Get Complacent”
• “Threat From Violent Extremism Not Gone, Could Reemerge, Top U.S. General Says”
• “US Says Committed to Syria, Iraq Beyond Anti-IS Efforts”
• “US Envoy: ‘Some’ Militants Have Withdrawn From Syria’s Idlib”
• “Veteran UN Syria Envoy to step down, pledges to work ‘until the last hour’ for peace” (UN info-machine)
• “Syria war: UN envoy Staffan de Mistura to step down”
• “UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura to step down in November”

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “The (Sri Lankan) army’s second contingent consisting of a 260-strong Combat Convoy Company (CCC) will fly to Mali for UN peacekeeping assignments. Once there, the troops will engage in the United Nations Multi-dimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission (MINUSMA) …”
• “Mali : peut-on faire confiance aux rebelles touaregs ? “
• “Mali President pledges support for increased global information sharing via INTERPOL” (INTERPOL info-machine)

Way Up North

• “In the Arctic, Increased Vessel Traffic Brings Concerns Over Pollution”
• “US Marines land in Iceland in initial phase of exercise Trident Juncture” (NATO info-machine)
• “Overcoming challenges facing Polar Silk Road” (CHN media)

Internal Security

• “Scheer accuses Trudeau government of ‘proactively’ reaching out to ‘Jihadi Jack’ “
• “WATCH: Scheer & Trudeau Clash On Government Proactively Assisting ISIS Terrorists” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• Wanted:  “Preventing Contraband Delivery via Air and Ground … Correctional Services Canada (CSC) is seeking an innovative and cost-effective technology solution to detect, track and prevent contraband items from entering the perimeter via Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), commonly known as drones, and fence throw-over …”

Other Military News

• “Équipe Canada met le cap sur les Jeux Invictus à Sydney, en Australie”
• ” ‘It gives people a direction, a purpose’: Veteran survivors of sexual assault to compete at Invictus Games”
• “A former Canadian army captain has been released from custody in the United States where he spent months behind bars because of a decades-old marijuana conviction for which he had been pardoned in Canada …”
• “Canadian Forces Health Services Group members honoured with top awards at the Military and Veteran Health Research Forum” (DND info-machine)
• “Defence closes case in British sailor’s gang rape trial”
• “Centenaire de la Première Guerre mondiale: une nouvelle pièce de 2 $ sur l’Armistice de 1918”

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “Mainland reiterates opposition to military contact between U.S., Taiwan” (CHN mil media)
• “Chinese, Philippine officials to meet on South China Sea issue”
• “Everyman’s Strategic Survey: NOT Cold War 2.0 … I believe that the West must accommodate China’s rise back to great power status we do not want Navarro6100509-ctm-johnbolton-qa-1564677-640x360to accept Chinese domination of the global order. The best way to do that is to contain China’s worst ambitions without provoking an all out war. That seems to be too subtle for the Trump brain trust of Peter Navarro and John Bolton, both of whom seem wedded to a scorched earth or all-or-nothing strategy vis-à-vis the Chinese. I doubt that Europe, Asia and even Canada will or should sign on to that strategy …” (Col. Ted)
• “China’s Secret H-20 Stealth Bomber to Be Revealed in 2019 – Reports”
• “US Defense Officials Fear Chinese Moon Probe Could Become Anti-Satellite Weapon” (RUS media)

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 16 October 2018

• What’s Canada Buying? (1)  Big Honkin’ Ships Documents Court Case
• ” ‘Who are they protecting?’: Vice-Admiral Norman’s trial erupts in Commons”
• “Suspended vice-admiral’s lawyers demand secret documents”
• “Accusé d’abus de confiance, le vice-amiral Norman passe à l’attaque et implique un ministre”
• “With Mark Norman trial, Liberals stuck in a situation they cannot win”
• What’s Canada Buying? (2)  Other Stuff
• “Irving Shipbuilding pushing for two more Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ships, all Halifax-class work”
• “Naval ships all sight, no fight”
• Latest on “Ground-Based Air Defence (Letter of Interest)” – all the public bid documents so far (PDF)
• Latest on “Contract for Individual Meal Packs” (with Pizza Pasta, Smoked Meat with Demi-glace Sauce & Southwestern Chipotle Chicken entrees) – all the public bid documents so far (PDF)
• “Media representatives are invited to attend the fourth edition of the Symposium on the Canadian Defence and Security Market, a Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) initiative, organized by STIQ and Aéro Montréal …” (Gov of Canada info-machine)
• Internal Security
• “Conservatives hammer Trudeau government for inaction on Canadian ISIS fighters”
• “ANALYSIS: Captured Canadians in Syria unlikely a legal problem for Trudeau, only a political one”
• “WATCH: Freeland Calls Treasonous ISIS Terrorists “Foreign Fighters” ” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• “Is the far right extremist threat really that big in Canada?”
• “Soldiers of Odin Edmonton Chapter Shuts Down, Rebrands As ‘Canadian Infidels’ “
• #MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa
• “The man who led Canada’s troops in Afghanistan said the Canadian peacekeeping mission in Mali has “no prospect of immediate success.” “The political overtones and what’s going on in this country and this mission are ugly,” retired major-general David Fraser told CTV’s Power Play host Don Martin on Monday …”
• But no visit to Mali, which is next to Burkina Faso &  Côte d’Ivoire???  “Governor General to Visit West Africa … She will undertake State visits to Burkina Faso, from October 23 to 26; to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, from October 26 to 28; and to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, from October 28 to 30 …” (GG info-machine)
• “Serrer l’étau autour de la maladie à virus d’Ebola : un consortium ouest africain pour la recherche créé … Prennent part à cette conférence de Bamako, les participants (chercheurs) venus du Bénin, du Burkina Faso, de la côte d’ivoire, du Ghana, Sénégal, de la France, du Canada… “
• #CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT
• “Are ex-ISIS fighters joining Popular Mobilization Unit militias in Iraq?”
• “A strong Kurdistan region is good for US in Iraq”
• “Iraq’s Sadr calls on Kurds to abandon ‘quotas’ “
• “US General: Fight to Defeat Islamic State Facing ‘Danger of Complacency’ “
• #UKR – Op UNIFIER
• “Two Pilots Die In Ukrainian Fighter Jet Crash, U.S. Pilot ‘Involved'”
• “… We have seen reports claiming a U.S. casualty and can confirm a U.S. service member was involved in this incident. It is currently under investigation and we will continue to provide more information as it becomes available …” (USAF info-machine)
• “Su-27 fighter crashes in Vinnytsia region during Clear Sky drills”
• “Su-27 crashes during practice flight in Vinnytsia region”
• “Kyiv Says Ukrainian Soldier, Two Separatist Fighters Killed In East”
• “Donbas escalation: 37 enemy shellings, 1 KIA, 3 WIAs”
• “One soldier dies in Donbas conflict zone”
• “Almost 2,900 Ukrainian soldiers deceased in Donbas, – Poroshenko”
• “900 soldiers died in Donbas conflict due to murders, suicides”
• “Trump says he shows firmness regarding Putin, helps Ukraine strengthen army”
• “Turchynov predicts further cooperation with U.S. on lethal weapons”
• “Turchynov, NATO PA President discuss strategy to counter Russia’s aggression in Azov-Black Sea region”
• ” Participants of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army (UVA) are leaving the frontline in Donbas, stated Commander Dmytro Yarosh, former leader of the Right Sector. “This day I announce that the 5th and 8th separate battalions of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army are leaving the frontline but we are not leaving the war. As long as there is a war, we will participate in it,” he said …”
• “Yarosh announced the withdrawal of the battalions of Donbass”
• “Ichnia ammo stocks could be blown up via cell phone, – Chief Military Prosecutor”
• “Hungary promises to continue blocking Ukraine-NATO commission”
• “This is a direct interference in the internal affairs and an element of hybrid aggression – Head of State on the decision of the RF Security Council to protect the Russian Church in Ukraine” (UKR Pres info-machine)
• #LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0
• “Sputnik Sounds Alarm About NATO Convoy’s ‘Suspected’ Move Through a NATO Member State”
• “Igor Panarin, Head Of Russian Information Spetnaz?” (To Inform is to Influence blog)
• “The United States may disintegrate soon: the expert named the date when the fate of America will be decided” (“Information Special Forces” Association blog, based in RUS)
• Way Up North
• “US Marines launch exercise in northern Norway ahead of Trident Juncture”
• “Russia’s largest landing ship to sail north through major NATO exercise”
• “UK Defence Focuses on the Arctic – More Investment Needed”
• “Another two (RUS) ice-breaking LNG carriers are on their maiden voyage in Arctic waters”
• “Last three reactor compartments from Cold War subs to be pulled from Russia’s waters next year”
• Other Military News
• “Team Canada departs for Invictus Games in Sydney, Australia” (DND info-machine)
• “Former (CAF) military captain detained for months in U.S. on decades-old marijuana charge in Canada”
• “The Future of War: The Risks in Confronting China and Russia”
• “U.S. combat vet looks to Canada for sanity –In Canada, cannabis goes legal for civilians and military alike …”
• “Food bank dedicated to helping Calgary veterans opens its doors in Northeast Calgary”
• “A British petty officer has testified he overheard a woman who alleges she was gang raped tell her friend that she was going to “sleep with” a sailor on the night in question …”
• The Koreas
• “Koreas, U.N. Command to discuss disarming Joint Security Area in DMZ”
• “Two Koreas, UNC hold first trilateral talks to disarm JSA”
• “U.S. seeks Russia’s cooperation on N. Korea”
• “Seoul Bans N.Korean Defector from Reporting on Cross-Border Talks”

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 15 October 2018

What’s Canada Buying? (1)  Big Honkin’ Ships Documents Court Case

• “Lawyers in Mark Norman case take aim at Liberal minister, court documents reveal”
• “RCMP probe of cabinet leaks did not stop with Mark Norman”
• “Scapegoat? … someone broke that confidence seems evident … and that someone should be charged and tried and, if convicted, punished. But it looks a lot like Vice Admiral Mark Norman was not that someone ~ I say “looks a lot like” because we know that Ms Henein is a very capable barrister who is unlikely to tell a judge something that she cannot prove. So, why has he been charged? …” (Col Ted)

What’s Canada Buying? (2)  Other Stuff

• “Shipbuilders at Halifax’s Irving Shipyard have launched a campaign to keep their work in Nova Scotia, as concerns mount over the possibility of repair work on Halifax-class navy ships being transferred to Davie Shipbuilding in Quebec …”
• “Confirmation Bias: Canadian Defence Procurement Edition” (Saideman’s Semi-Spew blog)
• “Another critique of defence procurement” (Col. Ted)

Internal Security

• “EXCLUSIVE: Extended interview with captured Canadian ISIS fighter” (YouTube)
• ” ‘Would you like to come to Canada?’ What officials are doing for Canadians held in Syria over ISIS allegations”
• “TREASON: Trudeau Government Trying To Help ISIS Terrorists – Including ‘Jihadi Jack’ – Come To Canada” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• “Are Democratic Countries Like Canada Funding Terrorism?” (Quiggin @ New Dehli Times) – “THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA IS FUNDING TERRORISM WITH TAXPAYERS’ MONEY” (The Quiggin Report, via canadiancitizens.org)  – Tom Quiggin (bio, Mackenzie Institute)  – “Highly Respected Expert Requests RCMP Investigate Trudeau Government For Potential Funding Of Terrorism With Taxpayer Dollars” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• ” ‘ISIS Wives’ Should Be Permanently Banned From Canada” (Spencer Fernando blog)

#MLI – Op PRESENCE

• “En marge du 17e Sommet de la Francophonie à Erevan, en Arménie, le Président de la République, Ibrahim Boubacar Kéïta, a eu un échange bilatéral avec le Premier Ministre canadien, Justin Trudeau, qui a promis de renforcer son soutien au Mali …”
• “Canada’s mission in Mali: modern colonialism”
• “What is NATO doing in Mauritania?” (NATO Association of Canada)

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “EU extends advisory mission to Iraq until 2020”
• “Ezidi leader: Iraqi forces cannot protect Ezidis”
• “Iran and Iraq: From foes to friends”
• “Cleric Sadr directs message to Kurds, calls for unity to ‘save Iraq’ “
• “Syrian FM: border crossing with Iraq should open soon”

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “OSCE catches Russia bringing anti-aircraft gun, other military hardware by night to Donbas” (Human Rights in Ukraine)
• “OSCE drone again records military trucks in Donbas near border with Russia”
• “Poltorak quits military service, continues to lead Defense ministry as civilian – Poroshenko — According to the law on national security, a civilian must hold the position of Ukraine’s Defense Minister starting from January 1, 2019 …”
• “#MinskMonitor: Russian Communications System and Separatists”
• “Poroshenko says Ukraine getting prepared to repel military aggression coming from Sea of Azov”
• “Poltorak quits military service”
• “Minister of Defense Poltorak resignes (sic.) from military service (to become civilian def minister)”
• “Ukrainians Mark Holiday With Nationalist March, Thanksgiving Prayer In Kyiv”
• “Ukrainian Nationalists Commemorate Controversial Paramilitary”
• Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) (Wikipedia)
• “What Comes Next As Ukrainian Orthodox Church Pushes For Independence From Moscow?”
• “Head of State: Church autocephaly is the most important event similar to the Ukrainian aspiration to join the European Union and NATO” (UKR Pres info-machine)

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “WATCH NATO Allegedly Try to Move Troops, Armor Through Czech Republic, Slovakia” (RUS media)
• “The Legacy of the Soviet Union in the Baltics: Influence Through Corruption” (NATO Association of Canada)

Way Up North

• “Canadian Rangers in Quebec receive new C-19 rifle”
• “Russia attempting to provoke Dutch and UK Marines in Arctic Circle – media”
• “Russian Military Maneuvers In Arctic Comply With International Regulations – (RUS) Admiral”
• “Russian officials update maps of radioactive debris sunk in Arctic”
• “China Expands Its Global Governance Ambitions in the Arctic”
• “Survey on Future Trends in Arctic Shipping”

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “Minister Sajjan and Minister O’Regan hold departure event for Team Canada Invictus Games 2018” (DND info-machine)

Other Military News

• “Canada is ‘concerned’ with Khashoggi’s fate but will sell arms to Saudis anyway – Trudeau”
• “US military services, 10 countries compete in 18th annual International Sniper Competition … This year 10 teams represent the countries of Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Israel, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden and the United Kingdom …” (Pentagon info-machine)
• “Le 5e Régiment d’artillerie légère du Canada à l’entraînement dans la MRC de Valcartier”
• “Modernization of courts martial: a matter of priority”
• “OPINION: Canadian military justice system shaken to its core”
• “Militarists’ Grip Over Canada’s Parliament” (Antiwar.com Blog)
• “Alternative Futures: Argentina Attempts a Second Annexation of the Falkland Islands” (Divergent Options paper)

World War One

• “Royal Canadian Mint commemorates the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War with $2 “Armistice” circulation coin” (RCM info-machine)
• Royal Canadian Mint – Remember the Armistice
• “Government of Canada commemorates Canada’s Hundred Days with public events in Fredericton, NB” (VAC info-machine)

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “China’s armed Z-19E helicopter ready for batch production” (CHN mil media)
• “The silhouette of an unknown aircraft was spotted at an evening gala for China’s strategic bomber division, leading military observers to speculate on Sunday that it could be the new H-20 stealth bomber. The gala was held on October 7 at an unspecified strategic bomber division under the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command, the official PLA Air Force website reported on Thursday …” (CHN mil media)
• “Military units, private firms sign deals worth 2b yuan (CDN $375 million)” (CHN mil media)

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 12 October 2018

Internal Security

• “Exclusive: ISIS fighters’ Canadian wives want to return home”
• “What should we do with Canada’s ISIS fighters?”
• “What is this federal government’s agenda as far as terrorists are concerned?”
• ” ‘It was like a nightmare’: Police investigate fire started at Toronto hotel housing refugees”

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “Iraq’s new prime minister faces expectations to change, rebuild the country”
• “Iraqi Army Strengthens Control of Country’s Border With Syria – Statement”
• “Russia Presses Europe to Break With Trump and Help Rebuild Syria”
• “US up to plunge in dangerous game in Syria with idea of unified Kurdistan, warns Lavrov” (RUS media)
• “Russia has information on upcoming chemical weapons provocations in Idlib — envoy” (RUS media)
• “Sacramento ISIS suspect denies any involvement, lawyers say”

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “Five Eyes intelligence alliance builds coalition to counter China”
• “United States, Intelligence Allies Expand Effort to Contain Chinese Influence”
• “U.S. senators urge Justin Trudeau to drop China’s Huawei from Canada’s upcoming 5G network”
• “US senators urge Trudeau to block Huawei from 5G”
• “US lawmakers urge Canada to snub China’s Huawei from 5G network design out of ‘grave concerns’ over US security”
• “China’s military recruits private (sector) experts to work on defence technology projects” (CHN mil media)
• “Cold War 2.0 … President Trump seems hell bent on a full blown Cold War with China; and he seems intent on forcing America’s allies to sign on to it, too. I’m sure most thinking people would like a world dominated by Xi Jinping even less than we like one dominated by Donald Trump but I’m not convinced that Cold War 2.0 is either desirable or winnable …” (Col. Ted)
• “China-Russia relationship a role model for neighboring countries” (CHN mil media)

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “Putin ordered nuclear exercise with launches of multiple missiles — Ballistic missiles were launched from submarines in the Barents- and Okhotsk Seas. Long-range aircraft were also in the air with dummy nukes …”
• “What happened to the ICBM part of the exercise?” (Russian strategic nuclear forces blog)
• “A Europeanized NATO? The Alliance Contemplates the Trump Era and Beyond”
• “Civil society supports NATO nuclear rethink” (Ceasefire.ca)
• “The Latvian Russian Union (LKS) and Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools (HPRS) organized a demonstration in the capital city of Riga, on September 15. The publicized goal of the event was to “prevent educational reform in Latvia, which will lead to a total degradation of ethnic Russians living in Latvia, and their full assimilation with the Latvian population” (Tvzvezda.ru, September 15). Russian propagandists have claimed that extinction of Russian in the school curriculum will result in Russian children turning into “real Europeans with a Latvian mentality” …”
• “NATO robust, spending to increase, says (EST) foreign minister Mikser”

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “Visit to NATO by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine” (NATO info-machine)
• “Poroshenko: Conscripts not to be sent to front line”
• “Poroshenko says conscripts won’t be sent to front”
• “Volker says Russia continues to fuel fighting in eastern Ukraine”
• “Volker says he discussed with Surkov UN peacekeeping mission to Donbas”
• “President checked the readiness of troops to deflect possible Russian aggression from the Sea of Azov” (UKR Pres info-machine)
• “Poroshenko checking Ukrainian army’s readiness to repel enemy on Azov Sea coast”
• “NATO Parliamentary Assembly to come to Ukraine to discuss Azov Sea”
• “Ukrainian nazi and drug addict expelled from LPR – State Security” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “DPR People’s Militia: Poroshenko reveals true self clearing army to use any weapons in Donbass” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Ukraine: Crossing the Line of Contact: Monitoring Report, September 2018” (UN High Commissioner for Refugees)
• “Prayers Answered: Ukrainians Greet Church Split With Open Arms, Despite Moscow’s Warnings”
• “Amid Church Rift, Kremlin Vows To ‘Protect Interests’ Of Faithful In Ukraine”
• “Ukrainian MFA comments on Kremlin’s statements on ‘protecting interests of Orthodox Christians’ in Ukraine”

#MLI – Op PRESENCE

• “La coopération Mali-Canada renforcée”
• “The role of women in West Africa’s violent extremist groups” (ISS Africa)

Other Military News

• “Back to barracks: A Canadian commander on returning to the military post-9/11”
• “Canadian submarines conduct highly successful simultaneous deployments” (RCN info-machine)
• “Snyper drone clears path for future systems” (RCN info-machine)
• “Robotic weapon system puts soldiers’ skills to the test” (Canadian Army Today)
• “Ottawa’s mercenary world of pro- military lobbying” (rabble.ca)
• “Peace movement is on the march again” (rabble.ca)

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 11 October 2018

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “Three foreign ISIS terrorists, Turkish, German and Canadian, captured as a result of special operation” (YPG statement, 8 Oct 2018)
• “YPG announces arrest of 3 ISIS foreign fighters in northern Syria” (The Defense Post blog)
• “Kurds in Syria say they hold 900 foreign IS fighters”
• “Syria Kurds hold 900 foreign Daesh terrorists”
• ” ‘I’m going to die here’: Wives of ISIS fighters want to return home to Canada”
• “October 11: Updated: Senior ISIS facilitators arrested in Iraq” (CENTCOM info-machine)
• “Kurdistan Election Commission will announce final results in about two weeks: Spokesperson”
• “Mike Pompeo: Syrian Kurds are “great partners;” We’ll ensure them a “seat at the table” “
• “Iraq’s PM-designate in hot water after meeting Iranian envoy”
• “Iran’s Proxies in Iraq” (The Cipher Brief blog)
• “Pompeo says Trump administration will leverage aid to Syria to remove Iranian troops”
• “Russian military thwarts terrorist attempt to kidnap families of pilots in Syria — The Russian military recently uncovered a terrorist sleeper cell that belonged to the outlawed Jama’at Al-Tawheed wal-Jihad in the western part of Siberia’s Tomsk Region, the Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Wednesday …” – “The FSB of the Russian Federation, in cooperation with the units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Federal Service of the National Guard of the Russian Federation, detained the leader of the Russian wing and leaders of the regional structure of the international terrorist organization in the special operation in the Republic of Tatarstan” (FSB info-machine, in Russian)
  

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “The Netherlands, Canada, US propose banning nerve agent used in Salisbury” (RUS media)
• @Sumita_Dixit (Deputy Perm Rep to #OPCW) “#US, #Canada and #Netherlands proposed today that the type of chemical agent used in the #Salisbury, UK attack be banned”
• “Russian Defence Minister summarises Vostok 2018 maneuvers” (RUS MoD info-machine)
• “Strategic nuclear forces’ drills held in Russia — The Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces were put on alert for drills on order from President Vladimir Putin, the Defense Ministry said in a statement on Thursday …”
• “UK and German forces test military mobility en route to NATO’s biggest exercise in decades” (NATO info-machine)
• “U.K., Netherlands Lead EU Push for New Cyber Sanctions: Document”
• “Russian Website Names Third GRU Officer Involved in Salisbury Poisoning”
• “Ex-KGB officer tells court they were in Vilnius in 1991 on Gorbachev’s orders”
• “Russian tried for 1991 crackdown in Vilnius says Soviet army was misused”

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “Ukrainian government agencies targeted in another cyber attack – SBU”
• “Four Ukrainian Soldiers Killed In Country’s East”
• “Putin Aide promises Donbas militants higher ‘pay’ & help with ‘elections’ that breach Minsk Agreement” (Human Rights in Ukraine)
• “U.S. Special Envoy Urges Moscow Not To Back ‘Illegitimate Elections’ In Eastern Ukraine”
• “New DPR leadership has to strengthen integration with Russia – Zhelytakov” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “The Ukrainian Army continues profound modernization of armament and military equipment – President” (UKR Pres info-machine)
• “Designers reveal missile cruiser to be manufactured for Ukrainian Navy”
• “Ukraine, Moldova agree on supply, modernization of military equipment”
• ” ‘Everything Was Blasting’: Ukrainians Recount Panic To Escape Massive Munitions Fire”
• “President says that staffing decisions will be made due to the situation related to the explosions in the ammunition depots in Ichnia” (UKR Pres info-machine)
• “Ukraine’s prosecutors probing into involvement of Ukrainian companies in construction of Kerch Strait Bridge”
• “A play within a play (or diplomatic gamesmanship) NATO-Ukraine & the SBU” (OdessaTalk blog)
• UKR Church Breakaway
  
• “Ukraine wins approval for historic split from Russian church”
• Video:  UKR Orthodox church split in simple terms (RFE/RL video)
• “Ukrainian Orthodox Church not ready to unite with extracanonical churches — archbishop” (RUS media)
• “Moscow rages as Ukrainian Church’s independence recognised”
• “Statement by the President of Ukraine regarding the decision of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate” (UKR Pres info-machine)
• “Poroshenko says only Moscow agents can ignite religious war in Ukraine”
• “Russia, Ukraine, and the battle for religion” (European Council on Foreign Relations)

#MLI – Op PRESENCE

• “Mali not fulfilling its ‘sovereign role’ in protecting its people: UN human rights expert” (UN info-machine)
• “Mali – Violences intercommunautaires : comment en est-on arrivé là ?”
• “Mali: “Real climate of fear and insecurity in country’s north and centre,” says expert” (UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights info-machine)
• ‘Mali : mort de quatre soldats maliens suite au passage de leur véhicule sur un engin explosif au centre du pays”
• “Blast kills 3 soldiers in central Mali”
• “RAF C-17 Aircraft Gives Support To French Mission In Mali” (UK MoD info-machine)
• “Burkina Faso attacks open new front in France’s anti-terror fight”

Way Up North

• “Kremlin downplays possible Putin-Trump Arctic summit”
• “Finnish president says first ever Arctic summit likely in early 2019”

What’s Canada Buying?

• “Purchase of three spy planes from the U.S. could cost Canada $140 million more than planned”
• Wanted:  “… This statement of work (SOW) sets forth the requirements for accommodation in Lake Havasu City, Arizona for the Winter Deployment of 2019 for the period of 17 January to 3 February 2019 and 14 February to 3 March 2019. Up to 35 Military Personnel will require accommodation for up to two weeks at a time …”

Internal Security

• “GAO study: ‘Nearly all’ U.S. weapons systems vulnerable to cyberattack” – “DOD Just Beginning to Grapple with Scale of Vulnerabilities” (GAO, 9 Oct 2018)

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “New service launched to help PEI veterans transition to civilian life”

Other Military News

• “Canada deploying military plane to assist with relief efforts in Indonesia”
• “Le gouvernement du Canada envoie de l’aide humanitaire en Indonésie”
• “Government of Canada sends humanitarian assistance to Indonesia — As part of Canada’s response to the devastating effects of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Sulawesi, Indonesia on September 28, 2018, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development, and the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, today announced that Canada has deployed a CC-130 Hercules aircraft to the region …” (Global Affairs Canada info-machine)
• “Pentagon Orders Entire F-35 Fleet Grounded”
• “The pilot retention crisis facing Canada’s air force: New MLI commentary” (Macdonald-Laurier Institute)

World War One

• “Government of Canada commemorates Canada’s Hundred Days at local college and Thomas Ricketts, VC, at Kiwanis-Thomas Ricketts Memorial Peace Park” (VAC info-machine)

The Koreas

• “N. Korea appears to have altered launch pad fuel/oxidizer bunker: 38 North”
• “Unification minister says Seoul not considering lifting N. Korea sanctions”
• “Moon says two Koreas will reach complete denuclearization”

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “New armor material boosts attack chopper’s capability” (CHN mil media)
• “US curbs China nuclear exports as Trump warns that Americans are not ‘stupid’ “

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 10 October 2018

#CANinIRQ – Op IMPACT

• ” ‘I just want to go back’: Canadian ISIS fighter captured in northern Syria speaks out”
• “Ralph Goodale mum on what Ottawa will do with returning Canadian ISIS fighters”
• “IS chief Baghdadi orders 320 followers to be killed for disloyalty: reports”
• “The Kurds After the ‘Caliphate’: How the Decline of ISIS has Impacted the Kurds of Iraq and Syria” (International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation)
• “UN’s Iraq chief examines commission’s probe into electoral fraud”
• “After Four Decades of Chaos is Iraq Finally Stabilizing?”
• “Turkey okays release of more water supplies to Iraq”

#MLI – Op PRESENCE

• “UN reports sharp deterioration in Mali as Cdn peacekeeping mission starts”
• “Security, food needs in Mali worsening”
• “Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Mali – September 2018” (PDF, UN info-machine, 2 Oct 2018) – Rapport en français (PDF)
• “MINUSMA HEBDO” (PDF, in French, 10 Oct 2018)
• “G5 Sahel joint counter-terrorism force to launch three operations ‘in coming weeks’ “
• “Libya Repatriates 158 Illegal Immigrants to Mali”

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “As the Russians go Tom Clancy, Canada still ignores defence”
• “How Russia’s Sub-Launched Missiles Threaten NATO’s Wartime Strategy”
• “Russia vows to respond to UK cyber attacks”
• “War’s Future: The Risks and Rewards of Grey-Zone Conflict and Hybrid Warfare” (CGAI policy paper)
• “(LVA) Military facility near Daugavpils to be vastly extended — The Meža Mackeviči military facility near Daugavpils, eastern Latvia, is currently hosting the Tomahawk Soaring exercise which includes the participation of Czech, Italian, Polish, Canadian, and Spanish allies …”
• “Latvia launches comedy campaign against fake news”
• “Did a ‘Pro-Russian’ Party Win Big in Latvia?”
• “Alleged Western Fingerprints in (UKR) Separatist Assassination Smudged”

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “Ukraine reports 1 KIA, 2 WIA amid 32 enemy attacks in Donbas in past 24 hours – JFO HQ”
• “Ukraine Seeks To Boost Forces In Sea Of Azov”
• “Sabotage Suspected in Huge Ukraine Arms Blast”
• “Tanks, Aircraft Used To Battle Fire At Ukrainian Arms Depot”
• “Shells exploding every 3 minutes at Ichnia ammo depot – Poltorak”
• “Over 100 pyrotechnic experts demining four villages near Chernihiv region ammo depot”
• “Cabinet to allocate UAH 100 mln (CDN $4.6 million) to eliminate fire consequences in Ichnia ammo depots”
• “Poroshenko orders ministers to agree with NATO on financing of ammunition security”
• “Ukrainian army depot fire occurred after NATO officials’ visit – Bezsonov” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “LPR approves procedures of accrediting foreign observers at elections” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Delay in SBU reform could undermine confidence in Ukraine’s top officials – NATO Mission”
• “Living with loneliness and trauma in Eastern Ukraine” (Médecins Sans Frontières)

Internal Security

• “CSIS sees ‘significant’ jump in far-right activity online”
• “If The Trudeau Government Can’t Even Stop Traitorous Terrorists From Returning To Canada, What The Hell Are We Paying Taxes For?” (Spencer Fernando blog)

Sexual Assault/Harassment in the CF

• “Canada’s military justice system is in danger of being blown up following a bombshell court ruling that found the current process of trying service members for serious crimes — including sexual assault and murder — violates their charter rights …” – Beaudry v. R. (Court Martial Appeal Court)
• “Prosecution wraps case at gang-rape trial of UK sailor in Halifax”

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “Feds looking at longer deadlines for answering veterans’ requests for service”
• “No changes to veterans ‘ licence plate eligibility (in BC) following consultations”

Other Military News

• Well done!  “Soldier home for Thanksgiving performs first aid on shooting victim” – “Canadian soldier comes to the aid of downtown Windsor shooting victim”
• CAN officer one of the speakers at a Network Centric Warfare conference in Rome in February 2019
• “Reserve force commanders dumped, racial incidents alleged: Army units in Ontario dealing with crisis in leadership”
• “General Vance is correct … The military has a whole hockey sock full of problems, racism is one of them … but it is, I assert, a minor one and I am confident that General Vance knows how to deal with it.” (Col. Ted)
• “Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members have said they would like more opportunities for personal expression with Canadian Army Operational Dress (Op dress) – also known as Canadian Disruptive Pattern (CADPAT) uniforms – and their leaders are listening …” (CAF Army info-machine)
• “Government of Canada Signs Defence Cooperation Arrangement with Mexico” (DND info-machine)
• “New school facility opens for children of Canadian Armed Forces members in Belgium” (DND info-machine)
• “Minister Sajjan attends Conference of Defence Ministers of the Americas” (DND info-machine)

The Koreas

• “Inter-Korean Dialogue and Denuclearization—Will the Twain Ever Meet Again?” (38 North)
• “North Korea’s Sohae Satellite Launching Station: Activity at a Launch Pad Fuel/Oxidizer Bunker” (38 North)
• “Anti-Tank Barriers Torn Down on the Way to Seoul”

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “Trial flight soon for new type of Chinese stealth bomber” (CHN media)
• “PLA’s H-20 stealth bomber to take to the skies soon”
• “Trial flight soon for new type of Chinese stealth bomber” (CHN mil media)
• “China is ‘broadest, long-term counter-intelligence threat’ facing the US, says FBI chief”
• “US Charges Chinese Spy Over Aviation Secrets”
• “Chinese spy caught in ‘rare’ sting after ‘plot to steal US trade secrets’ “
• “Chinese Intelligence Officer Charged with Economic Espionage Involving Theft of Trade Secrets from Leading U.S. Aviation Companies” (US DoJ info-machine)
• “China launches anti-halal campaign in Xinjiang”

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