MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – March 2, 2015
#CANvsISIL
- Iraq Situation Report: February 26-27, 2015
- “Teacher denies radicalizing Canadian teens headed to Syria”
- “Canadian Muslim families are in the front lines”
- ” ‘They need to be persuaded they don’t need ISIS': Retaking key Iraqi city of Mosul will be no easy task”
- “ISIS’ propaganda backfires as it loses ground”
- “Statement by Ambassador Bennett on Abduction of Assyrian Christians in Northeast Syria”
- Commentary “Dealing with devil to fight ISIS” – “Trudeau faces great risk in debate about Canada’s military mission”
Internal Security
- “RCMP warned Ottawa last year of possible drone terror threat” – “Three days before October terror attacks, alarm bells were sounding, intelligence documents show”
- “Local police often not told of national security investigations, experts say — Security experts are not surprised local police were unaware a young woman was allegedly recruited by someone in Edmonton to join ISIS ….” – “Anti-terror law fails to guarantee agencies will share information, ex-judge says”
- “CSIS has little power to stop terrorist recruitment, experts say”
- ” ‘Soft security’ measures also needed to battle home-grown radicalism, experts say”
- Commentary “Canada invokes “jihadi threat” to pursue agenda of war and reaction — Canada’s Conservative government is steamrolling through parliament legislation that tramples on core democratic rights and dramatically augments the power of the state ….” – “Why is Stephen Harper’s anti-terrorism bill so popular?” – “How to minimize Islamic State lure for Canadian youth”
Way Up North
Ukraine
- “Canadian soldiers depart for Operation REASSURANCE in Eastern and Central Europe — Media are invited to attend the departure of approximately 125 Canadian Army soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (3 RCR), who will depart from 8 Wing Trenton, ON, on March 2, 2015 to join soldiers from 3 RCR currently deployed on Operation REASSURANCE ….” – “Canada Sends 125 Soldiers to East Europe for NATO Reassurance”
- “US, Canadian and Latvian Armed Forces Hold Joint ”Winter” Drills”
- “Canada’s Ukrainian diaspora raises $52,000 for troops at Toronto event” – “Saskatoon dinner raises funds for injured Ukrainian fighters”
- ATO map, 2 Mar 2015 (UKR govt, in English)
- ATO map, 1 Mar 2015 (UKR govt, in English)
- Ukraine Crisis Update: February 27, 2015
- “1 Ukrainian soldier was killed and 4 got wounded in the last 24 hours” (UKR Natl Security & Defence Council) – “Terrorists completed 32 attacks against ATO troops along the demarcation line” – “Ukraine: Azov Battalion fighters defend Mariupol” – “The “Withdrawal” of Heavy Equipment from Russia to the Donbas Continues. Cargo Train in Taganrog”
- “Ukrainian president suggests increasing army to 250,000 people” – “Kiev disbanding notorious (Aidar) volunteer battalion, new unit under army control”
- “UN rights office: Death toll in eastern Ukraine passes 6,000″ – “UN: more than 400,000 people suffer due to destroyed infrastructure in eastern Ukraine” – U.N. statement “Death toll in eastern Ukraine crosses 6,000, Zeid says, as UN releases new report” – “Report on the human rights situation in Ukraine” (28 pg PDF)
- “Ukraine’s leader urges peacekeeping mission for the east” – “President enacted the NSDC decision to apply to the UN and the EU on sending peacekeepers to Ukraine”
- “President: We must increase the number of OSCE representatives in Donbas to ensure truce regime”
- “Ukraine receives foreign lethal weapons – NSDC” – “Poroshenko approves abolition of import duties on military products” – “Ukraine scraps import tax on arms mostly from West”
- “Ukraine Emergency Service delivered 40 tons of humanitarian aid to residents of #Donetsk and #Luhansk regions in the last 2 days”
- “Most residents in DPR trust authorities, cannot imagine future as part of Ukraine – survey”
Veterans & Helping Veterans
- “Commission tackles issue of service dogs”
- “Why You Should Look At Injured Veterans Before You Write Off Unions”
Other
- Sgt. Mark Salesse, R.I.P. “Sgt. Mark Salesse laid to rest in Comox, B.C.”
- “Navy submarine fleet said to be ‘operational’ “ – “Royal Canadian Navy’s Victoria-class submarines finally make their debut”
- “Minister Jason Kenney visits the Royal Canadian Navy”
- “CFB Esquimalt’s emergency system to be tested Wednesday”
- “Spartans fly high with northern neighbors — Paratroopers with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division and paratroopers with the Canadian army celebrated a recent partnership jump with a wing exchange ceremony Feb. 26, 2015 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska ….”
- “Operation CROCODILE’s Canadian Task Force helping DRC government to stand alone”
- “Cop (and former CF sniper) who urinated on colleague can appeal to get his job back — An Edmonton cop who was fired and then reinstated and then fired again for drunkenly urinating on a fellow officer at a training exercise can appeal the latest decision ….”
- Commentary “It’s time to create a First Nations regiment”
- Oldish, but cool video “Canadian Army Takes A Jeep Apart In Three Minutes”
- “Canadian military predicted Libya would descend into civil war if foreign countries helped overthrow Gaddafi”
World War Two
- “The War From Here — PPCLI catches Germans by surprise”
- “Veteran journalist pays tribute to father Matthew Halton, ‘Canada’s Voice at War,’ with new book”
- “Winnipeg fire fighters helped battle blazes in the Blitz”
World War One
MILNEWS.ca #UKR Update – 281400UTC Feb 15
- More of the latest from Ukraine here and here
- ATO map, 28 Feb 2015 (UKR govt, in English)
- “Ukraine interested in deployment of EU peacekeepers, Poroshenko tells Merkel” – “President of Ukraine and Chancellor of Germany discussed the fulfillment of the Minsk agreements”
- “(UKR DefMin) Stepan Poltorak: If terrorists fail to fulfill the plan of peace, heavy weapon will return to the positions” – “Ukraine’s military reports significant fall in fighting” – “No Ukrainian soldiers killed over past 24 hours” – “New stage of weaponry withdrawal starts in Donetsk – DPR defense ministry” – -
- “Two organizers of Kharkiv terrorist attack hiding in Russia – SBU — Two organizers of the February 22 terrorist attack in Kharkiv are now hiding in Russia and catching them is a priority for Ukrainian law enforcement agencies and the security service, Security Service of Ukraine Chief Valentyn Nalyvaichenko has said ….” – “SSU frustrated criminal group, which committed an explosion in Kharkiv on February 22″
- “ICRC ready to become mediator over issue of prisoner exchange in Donbas”
- “US Plans to Use Private Contractors to Send Arms to Ukraine – Hacker Group” – “Spaniards suspected of fighting in Donbas say were struggling new Nazi threat in Europe”
- “Rebuilding territory liberated in Donbas requires $1.5 bln – Yatseniuk” – “Yatsenyuk: increasing salaries, pensions impossible due to military actions in Ukraine”
- “Humanitarian aid for Pervomaysk”
- “(RUS) Federation Council speaker: threat of Ukraine’s disintegration remains”
MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – February 27, 2015
#CANvsISIL
- “Up to six teens from Montreal, Laval might have joined Jihadists in Syria”
- “Terrorism suspects claim to be ‘proud’ members of Algonquin First Nation, says report” – “Ottawa twins charged with terror-related offences applying for Indian status”
- More on Canada’s Operation IMPACT here, and on news from around that part of the world here (list of links) and here (Twitter list)
Internal Security
- “Montrealer the target of terrorism-linked peace bond”
- “ISIS recruits’ beliefs usually known by families, Steven Blaney says”
- “Court appearance for man RCMP fears will commit a terrorist act”
- “Defence won’t call witnesses, evidence in Via Rail terror trial” – “No defence called in Via terror trial”
- “Canadian terrorists’ final hours revealed in coroner’s report”
- “Cyber security breaches hit several departments”
- “Bill C-51 defies key rulings on security certificates, lawyers say”
- Commentary “Canadian rights groups decry limited Parliamentary Committee hearings for Bill C-51, proposed major national security reforms” – “What’s the rush with federal anti-terrorism legislation?” – “Amend C-51 or kill it” – “Being stupid in the endless war on terrorism” – “So what’s terrorism? Whatever Harper says it is.”
Ukraine
- “Canada Considers Sending Troops to Ukraine”
- Leftist media “Nazi Kiev Official Greeted in Ottawa and Washington”
- ATO map, 27 Feb 2015 (UKR govt, in English)
- “Ukraine rebels seen withdrawing heavy weapons front line” – “Kiev ready to redeploy military hardware to contact line any time — Poroshenko” – “ATO forces start to withdraw the artillery systems” (UKR MoD) – “Armed Forces of Ukraine withdraw heavy weapons” (UKR MoD) – “Ukraine forces start heavy weapons pullout under monitors’ supervision — military official” - “Ukraine ‘starts heavy weapons withdrawal’ “ – “Emergency announcement of the Head of the DPR in regard to the withdrawal of heavy armaments”
- “300 Ukrainian military students in #Kharkiv graduated earlier due to RU aggression. First time since WW2″ (Nat’l Secur & Def Council Twitter) – “President addressed graduates-officers: Country needs your knowledge and patriotism as never before”
- “(UKR) President presented state awards to the ATO heroes, inter alia, heroes of Debaltseve bridgehead”
- “(UKR) Minister of Defense of Ukraine has not personal pages in social media”
- “Ukrainian defense official confirms Kiev receives lethal arms from abroad” – “DNR terrorists economize by killing mercenaries — journalist”
- “Arseniy Yatsenyuk at a meeting with the ICRC: Humanitarian catastrophe in Donbass caused by Russian aggression” – “Russian “relief aid convoy” delivers 41 fuel trucks to Donbas gunmen”
- “Full reconciliation in Donbas may take decades – Steinmeier”
- “Terrorists to try to seize Mariupol in spring – U.S. intelligence”
- More of the latest from Ukraine here and here
Veterans & Helping Veterans
- “Vet’s attack plan an extreme reaction to widespread frustration with Veterans’ Affairs”
- “Mentally ill soldiers are more likely to be let go: research”
- “Wounded Warriors Canada Set to Host the 2015 Heroes Hockey Challenge in Toronto”
Other
- From the Info-machine “Victoria-class submarines reach operational steady state” – “HMCS Hunter lowers the flag at iconic building” – “Forging the “Boxing Downeys” — The grandson of No. 2 Construction Battalion veteran George Downey explains how his grandfather’s spirit continues to inspire the “Boxing Downeys” ….” – “Newly minted Defence Minister visits 8 Wing Trenton” – -
- From the Pentagon’s Info-machine “Allies pull cords, strengthen relationships — Explosions rocked the Yakima Training Center, Washington, the last week of February as sappers from the Canadian military and U.S. Army conducted joint training. The 571st Sapper Company, 864th Engineer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade, 7th Infantry Division and the 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, Canadian Army worked together setting up different training events to learn each other’s tricks of the trade, so that they would know how each other would function in a joint environment ….”
- “Van Loan Shocked at Trudeau Liberals’ Rejection of Memorial to Victims of Communism” – more
World War Two
MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – February 26, 2015
Attacks on CF in Canada
#CANvsISIL
- “Parents of B.C. man who volunteered to fight ISIS support his ‘intense desire’ to defend Canadian values”
- “ISIS recruited Canadian woman to join fight in Syria” – “ISIS recruit ‘Toronto Jane’ on front line of Iraq, Syria war”
- “Minister Nicholson Condemns ISIL’s Abduction of 90 Assyrian Christians”
- Iraq Situation Report: February 24-25, 2015
- Iraq Situation Report: February 20-23, 2015
- Syria Situation Report: February 17-23, 2015
- More on Canada’s Operation IMPACT here, and on news from around that part of the world here (list of links) and here (Twitter list)
Internal Security
- “Glen Gieschen gets 4 years for firearms, explosive charges” – more – Google News “Glen Gieschen”
- “Man accused of being Canadian security threat says weapons purchases fueled by love of guns, not terrorism”
- “B.C. man accused in terror case wanted to be armed for Canada Day attack: trial”
- “CSE monitors millions of Canadian emails to government”
- “CSIS needs power to stop high-risk travellers, says Steven Blaney”
- “Political Activist Ken Stone Takes CSIS to Task for Alleged Harassment”
Way Up North
- “U.S. Navy Funds A Small Robot Army To Study The Arctic”
- “U.S. Releases ‘One Arctic’ Theme As It Readies To Take Arctic Council Chair”
- “Application For Russia’s Arctic Shelf Claim Out On Tender”
- “What Is Russia Up To in the Arctic?”
- “Russian bombers spotted in Icelandic air-space”
- “Russia builds new airfield on Franz Josef Land”
Ukraine
- “Canada considers joining U.S.-led military training mission in Ukraine” – “Canada set to wade deeper into Ukrainian crisis as Jason Kenney floats military training mission”
- Commentary “Canada quietly tiptoes into Ukraine-Russia war” – “Should Canada push the West to provide weapons to Ukraine?”
- “Minister Nicholson Calls for Russia to Release Ukrainian Air Force Pilot Nadiya Savchenko”
- “Readout from Meeting Between Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister and First Deputy Speaker of Ukraine’s Parliament”
- “Ukrainian farmers to receive grant assistance of 19 mln canadian dollars”
- ATO map, 26 Feb 2015 (UKR govt, lo-res, in English)
- ATO map, 20 Feb 2015 (pro-separatist, in Russian)
- “Ukrainian military hold line of Shyrokyne” – “Thirty bodies of Ukrainian military retrieved from under Donetsk airport debris”
- “Russian Army Gets Reinforcements at the North-Eastern Border of the Luhansk Oblast” – “Kharkiv People’s Republic? Russian Trains with Weapons and Equipment Spotted in Belgorod Oblast” – “Enemy concentrates troops in Mariupil direction and completes provocations against the Ukrainian army”
- “White House confirms possibility of positive decision on providing weapons to Ukraine” – “DPR: USA has already started arms supply to Ukraine, Pentagon denies” – “US inching toward sending arms to Ukraine”
- “Russian FM: Ukraine’s demand of full cease-fire ‘ridiculous’ “ – “Lavrov: West Shows ‘Unwillingness’ in Ukraine Truce” – “Kiev likely to order heavy artillery withdrawal: source” – “Kiev ignores Minsk accords by not withdrawing heavy weaponry — DPR official” – “Luhansk republic says its heavy weaponry withdrawal almost over”
- “UN discusses possibility of peacekeepers deployment in Ukraine” – “UN chief discusses Ukraine, other key issues with senior regional officials”
- “Foreign diplomatic officials visit the anti-terror operation region”
- “Ukraine is now recruiting an ‘iArmy’ “ – i-army.org (in Ukrainian)
- “Counter-Russian Information Warfare 101: Ukraine”
- UKR Nat’l Security & Def Council, via Twitter: “DPR is going to enlist criminal convicts to build military fortifications” – “#Luhansk teachers didn’t get paid 5 months. Gave ultimatum to militants: either money or all schools will stop working by March 9″
- “Donetsk republic permits use of world currencies amid shortage of Ukrainian cash” – “The self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) may partially switch to the ruble in trade with Russia, chief of the DPR administration Maxim Leshchenko said on Thursday ….”
- “Ukraine tightens economic blockade on self-proclaimed republics — DPR envoy” – “Kiev blocks food supplies to Donbass” – “With millions ‘seriously at risk,’ UN launches humanitarian appeal for Ukraine”
- More of the latest from Ukraine here and here
Veterans & Helping Veterans
- “Tories scramble to address veterans complaints ahead of vote” – “Veterans programs in line for more money?”
- “Veterans minister defends decision to axe survey”
- “O’Toole: Military Reservists’ Pension Problems ‘Specific And Small’ “
- “Opposition demands full medical coverage for misdiagnosed reservist”
Other
- “Canadian soldiers ordered to leave region threatened by Boko Haram”
- “Canada provides key maritime security training in Mauritius”
- “Father Of Man In Rehtaeh Parsons Case Questioned Amid Probe Of Online Comments — Military police arrested and released the father of one of the men involved in the Rehtaeh Parsons case amid an investigation into comments made about her online ….” – “Military police arrest, question Forces member over Rehtaeh Parsons edits”
- “Real-life incident puts military training exercise to the test at 19 Wing”
World War Two
MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – February 23, 2015
Blog admin note: I’m on the road with work for the next couple of days, so I’ll be back online later in the week. Meanwhile, enjoy the keeners on the Blog Roll, and have a great week!
Internal Security
- “West Edmonton Mall named in al-Shabaab video as possible target” – “Al-Shabaab Calls For Attacks On Malls”
- “A Canadian supporter of Islamic State in his own words” – Harun Abdurahman (@ReturnMemo) | Twitter
- “Kenney rejects call to increase oversight of national-security agencies”
- Commentary “Closing your eyes doesn’t make the bad news go away” – “Canada’s NDP belatedly opposes Conservatives’ draconian “anti-terror” bill”
- “Suspected ISIS thug (from Canada) faces Brooklyn trial in 2009 bombing”
#CANvsISIL
- “Canada considers taking fight against ISIS to Libya, Syria” - “Tom Mulcair calls possible ISIS fight expansion to Libya, Syria ‘disquieting’ “
- “Support for Iraq mission trumps Afghanistan war, poll says”
Way Up North
Ukraine
- “Minister Nicholson Condemns Ongoing Ceasefire Violations in Ukraine on Maidan Anniversary”
- “Ukraine preparing for ‘full-scale war,’ says former envoy to Canada — Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister says he’s is preparing for “full-scale war” against Russia and wants Canada to help by supplying lethal weapons and training to use them. Vadym Prystaiko says the world must not be afraid of joining Ukraine in the fight against a nuclear power ….”
- “Ukraine crisis: First prisoner exchange between military and rebels completed”
- ATO map, 23 Feb 2015 (UKR govt, hi-res, in English)
- ATO map, 20 Feb 2015 (pro-separatist, in Russian)
- “ATO forces defend positions along the demarcation line” – “DPR Defence Ministry: our positions shelled by Ukraine’s Azov battalion”
- “ATO Headquarters: Ukraine to start heavy weapons withdrawal when militants halt attacks” – “Ukraine Says No Weapons Pull-back until Full Ceasefire” – “Kiev says cannot withdraw heavy weapons as attacks persist” – “Ukraine: rebel attacks prevent weapons pullback”
- “Poroshenko pledges tough reaction to organizers of fatal blast in Kharkiv” – “Anti-terrorist operation launched in Kharkiv due to fatal blast on Sunday – Turchynov” – “Arseniy Yatsenyuk on events in Kharkiv: We won’t give up on our goals or our values” – “Alexander Turchynov: In Kharkov started anti-terrorism measures” (Ukrainian) – Turchynov statement, Google Translation into English – “Turchinov announced start of the ATO in Kharkov” – “Ukraine fears of war spread after (Kharkiv) blast” – Google News on Kharkiv Bombing
- “(UKR) PM orders to pay only for electricity supplied to state-controlled territory”
- “Russia starts forming next aid convoy for Ukraine’s east”
- “Ukraine completely blocks entry to country’s east — DPR official”
Ebola
- “Second group of Operation SIRONA personnel departs the United Kingdom”
- More on Canada’s Op SIRONA here, and news on Ebola here and here
Veterans & Helping Veterans
- “Soldiers who died by suicide are remembered in Guelph”
- “Victorious over cancer, Windsor woman now fights military”
- “New wrinkle develops in plan to fast-track veterans into civil service — Another wrinkle has developed in the Harper government’s push to give veterans preferred status for federal jobs: for many reservists, not all of their military pension counts towards their eventual civil service retirement ….”
Other
- Lookit the Canadian ships working with American, Mexican ships! (photos courtesy of the Pentagon’s Info-machine)
- “Marine Security Operations Centres boost cooperation among federal partners”
- “Cambridge Five spy interview unearthed by CBC archives”
MILNEWS.ca Ukrainian Update – 211300UTC Feb 15
- ATO map, 21 Feb 2015 (UKR govt, hi-res, English)
- ” ‘Plan of Actions Coordination and Realization Control to implement the Minsk Agreements’ signed” – “Ukraine wants peacekeepers in Donbass to be later replaced with EU police mission” – “EU has no official stance yet on peacekeepers in Ukraine – (RUS EU rep) Usackas”
- “Ukraine, rebels say cease-fire violations persist” – “One soldier killed, 40 wounded in Donbas in past 24 hours” – “West looks impotent as Ukraine ceasefire frays: analysts” – “Wounds of Ukrainian soldiers in ATO zone suggest use of experimental and banned weapons”
- “Activities within the fourth wave of mobilization have been accomplished by 80%” – ” ‘Support Ukrainian Army’ Campaign: MoD of Ukraine received UAH 154,989 mln. (CDN $6.9 million)” – “On February 21, the Ukrainian World Congress will present 3,000 fleece jackets to Ukrainian servicemen” – –
- “Debaltseve, captured while ceasefire” (Armed Politics blog analysis) – “Almost 3,000 militants killed near Debaltseve since year-start – defense minister aide Biriukov” – “Debaltseve: a Pyrrhic Victory for Russia” – “Up to 500 Kiev law enforcers remain encircled at Debaltsevo, says Donetsk republic” – “Authorities of the DPR and LPR provides the access to Debaltsevo for the OSCE on Sunday” – “Russian humanitarian aid delivered to Debaltsevo”
- “Ukraine Prisoner Swap Announced under Battered Truce” – “37 for 37 officers to be exchanged in Lugansk region — news agency”
- “Poroshenko: Revolution of Dignity becomes first victorious battle for Ukraine’s independence (video)” – “(UKR) President commemorated Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred together with Maidan: We are stronger for the Lord and the truth are with us” – “20,000 Anti-Maidan activists flock to central Moscow ahead of rally” - “Russia Marks Anniversary Of Ukraine ‘Coup’ “
- “Ukraine needs western arms to achieve peace, says (UKR) foreign minister”
- “Yanukovych Claims Ideas of Returning to Ukraine ‘Constantly’ on His Mind”
- More of the latest from Ukraine here and here
