MILNEWS.ca Highlights – July 13, 2016
#CANvsISIL
- CAN DefMin Drops By “Harjit Sajjan Discusses ISIS Fight With Counterparts In Iraq” – “Canadian defense chief in Erbil as Ottawa decides to send bomb disposal trainers” – “Canada’s defence minister in Iraq’s Kurd region” – “President Barzani Receives Canada’s Minister of National Defense” (Kurdish President statement) – “Barzani meets with Canadian defense minister in Erbil” – “Media availability with the Minister of National Defence — Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan will host a teleconference on (today) to provide an update on Canada’s contribution to the Global Coalition to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) …” – “Canada Continues Providing Humanitarian and Military Aids to KRG” – “Canada reaffirms humanitarian, military aid for Kurdistan Region”
- Also Dropping By … “Barzani and Pentagon Chief Discuss IS” – “President Barzani Receives a United States Military Delegation” – “Carter reaffirms U.S. support for Peshmerga in fight against ISIS” – “U.S. signs military protocol with Kurdistan Region” – “US to provide direct military and financial support to Peshmerga” – “MoU Between US and KRG Secures More Support for Peshmerga: Official” – “Erbil-Washington MoU Promotes Cooperation, Strengthens Ties” – “US to provide direct military and financial support to Peshmerga”
Iraq
- Good question … “What is Trudeau’s war strategy in Iraq?”
- “Sadrists to Demand Iraqi President and PM to Step down“
- “Iraqi Forces Tightening Noose Around ISIS in Mosul” – “Cautious optimism as US troops help to retake Mosul from ISIS”
- “Iraq officials: Suicide car bomb kills 8 in Baghdad district” – “Suicide bomber kills four at Iraq checkpoint” – “Latest Baghdad bombing jeopardizes diverse neighborhood” – “Iraq officials: Deadly car bomb targets Baghdad district” – “SRSG Condemns Baghdad Market Attack: One More Proof of the Terrorists’ Wicked Ways” (UN Assistance Mission for Iraq)
- “An Iraqi militia leader threatens to publicly execute a number of prisoners in the southern province of Dhiqar whom he says have been charged with terrorist acts across the country if judicial and government authorities delay the death sentences any further …”
- “Who are Iraq’s militias?”
- “Life on the frontlines in Iraq”
- Humanitarian Bits “Fallujah Crisis: Emergency response over the last 45 days (22 May – 5 July 2016)” (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) – “Iraq: Flash Update – 12 July 2016” (UN High Commissioner for Refugees)
Syria
- “Russia’s Putin, John Kerry to discuss Syria and Ukraine on Thursday”
- “US to give Syria an additional $439 million in aid” – “U.S. Humanitarian Assistance in Response to the Syrian Crisis (12 July 2016)” (US Department of State)
- “Syrian rebels say Russian jets hit refugee camp along Jordan border” – “Kremlin says Russian airstrikes in Syria not retaliation for pilots’ death” – “Russia’s Long-Range Strikes in Syria Part of Routine Aerospace Operation”
- “Reconciliation agreements signed with four more Syrian settlements”
- “UN emergency stocks too thin to feed Syria’s Aleppo if under siege” – “Hundreds of Thousands Face Besiegement in Aleppo”– “UN Not Calling to Evacuate Aleppo Citizens Despite Violence Concerns” – “Joint statement on escalating violence in Aleppo, Syria” (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Syrian Arab Republic) – “Syria: “Nobody wants to live near a hospital in Aleppo” ” ( International Committee of the Red Cross)
- “Lebanon’s Hezbollah training Afghan snipers to fight for Assad”
Libya
- “Security Council Must Lift Libyan Arms Embargo to Support Counterterrorism”
- “Turkey welcomes Libya’s unity govt’s move to new HQ”
- “Russia Plays Important Role in Libyan Settlement – UN Envoy to Libya”
- “Libya Working to Reopen Oil Ports After Unifying Crude Producer”
- “Another humanitarian aid shipment from Italy to Libya” ( Government of Italy)
Ukraine/Eastern Europe
- “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits Canadian troops in Ukraine” – “Matthew Fisher: Trudeau the reluctant cold warrior salutes Canadian soldiers at close of Ukrainian visit” – “Prime Minister concludes visit to Ukraine” – “Canadian PM visits Yavoriv training ground” – “Trudeau caps eastern European trip visiting Canadian troops in Ukraine” – “Canadian PM visits Yavoriv training ground”
- “Belgium to Send 150 Servicemen to Lithuania for NATO’s New Battalion”
- “Cartoons And Memes About NATO Summit In Warsaw In Russian Pro-Kremlin Media” (MEMRI)
- Commentary “Now is the time for diplomacy with Russia” (Ceasefire.ca) – “Obama Wants Russia to Take the Bait, Overreact to NATO’s Next Moves”
What’s Canada Buying?
- F-35 Tug o’ War “Replacing the CF-18: What’s the plan, Mr. Sajjan?” – “Paul Manson: When it comes to procuring new fighter jets, there’s only one way forward”
Canada’s Saudi Arms Deal
- “Majority of Canadians oppose selling military goods to countries with poor human rights records: poll”
- “Exclusive: Canada isn’t being totally honest about its plan to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia”
- “Canada Conceals Provision of Military Resources Under Arms Deal With Riyadh”
Internal Security
- “CSIS Perpetuates A Culture Of Fear With Unannounced Visits — With additional extraordinary powers granted to CSIS since the passing of Bill C51, one only can wonder whether these visits are becoming the norm rather than the exceptions. The disruption powers included in Bill C-51 allow CSIS to seize documents or computers, enter people’s properties, spy on them without a judicial warrant …”
- “We must learn from British debacle on spy oversight“
Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)
- “Soldiers with PTSD learn to sail — and heal — on P.E.I.”
- “Minister Hehr announces contract award for new resource for Veterans’ caregivers”
Other
- “Petawawa soldier who sexually assaulted women and videotaped them pleads guilty” – “Gallagher videotaped sexual assaults: court”
- “Canadian Armed Forces teams depart for the 100th annual Nijmegen Marches”
- “Meanwhile, behind the scenes at the airshow….”
- “Former Army commanders on life after the Army”
- “408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron celebrates 75th Anniversary”
MILNEWS.ca #UKR Update – 130040UTC July 2016
- “OSCE SMM Chief Monitor Calls for Full and Sustainable Ceasefire”
- “(DNR Boss) Zakharchenko’s ex-guard surrenders to Ukraine forces”
- Canada Drops By “Chiefs of General Staff of Armed Forces of Ukraine and Defence Staff of Armed Forces of Canada hold meeting in Lviv oblast” – “Trudeau pays visit to Lviv” – “Canadian PM Trudeau visiting Yavoriv training ground” – “Canadian PM Trudeau Visits Troops In Ukraine”
- On Canada & Training “Canada to continue training Ukrainian military – meeting between President of Ukraine and Prime Minister of Canada” (UKR Presidential statement) – “Canada stands side by side with Ukraine in implementation of reforms and protection of territorial integrity …” – “Canadian military experts to work in Ukraine for another year”
- Canada Continues Ongoing Training “Canadian Advanced Combat First Aid Instructor course kicks off in Kyiv”
- Others Training Others “RFE\RL: FBI train Special Forces of Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau”
- Updates From All Sides “Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 11 July 2016” – UKR govt ATO map, 12 July 2016 – UKR govt ATO map, 11 July 2016 – “Situation Update, east of Ukraine as of July 12, 2016” (UKR MoD) – “Situation Update, east of Ukraine as of July 11, 2016” (UKR MoD) – “Military sitrep of the DPR for 11th July” – “Ukraine reports 13 KIA’s, 59 WIA’s in Donbas war in past six days” – “Armed hostile forces shelled DPR territory 600 times last 24 hours” – “Donbas: Large-caliber artillery shells Ukrainian positions in Donetsk region”
- “Hostile locals in occupied Horlivka confront OSCE monitors” – “OSCE is afraid to go out from the car, dwellers of Gorlovka dishonor them”
- “Village 24 km from Ukraine’s strategic port city (Shyrokyne) remains hottest spot in Donbas war”
- “OSCE Project Co-ordinator promotes best practices of democratic control over defence and security sector in Ukraine”
- “Kyiv is expecting mass provocations during the upcoming celebrations of Kyivan Rus’ Christianization …”
- “Military men can early break contract with Armed Forces prior to end of special period in Ukraine – law”
- “Rada approves amnesty for ATO fighters in 2016”
- Ooopsie? “General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces dares to hide crime of two officers by falsifying their alcohol tests results – journalist”
- “Captive Russian soldier calls on Donbas comrades-in-arms to go home”
- “MP: Ukraine will only start fulfilling law on ‘special status of Donbas’ after Russia does” – “Russia has yet to meet commitments regarding Donbas, pressure should continue” – “Is it Time to Scrap the Minsk Agreement?”
- From the Info-fight “Ukrainian Media Watchdog Suspends Broadcasting of 9 Russian TV Channels” – “Moscow Lists Crimean Journalists, Activists As ‘Terrorists’ And ‘Extremists’ “
- “Elections” in the East “In Donetsk, we presented the first group of international observers to the nationwide primaries, 2016” (DNR News Agency, in Russian) – “The observer from Finland expressed confidence that the 2016 primaries will be held successfully” (DNR News Agency, in Russian)
- Elsewhere in the ‘Hood “Moldovan president, former Moldovan, Ukrainian leaders discuss settlement in Transdniestria, Donbas”
MILNEWS.ca #UKR & Eastern Europe Update – 101430UTC July 2016
Ukraine
- Updates from All Sides UKR govt ATO map, 9 July 2016 – UKR govt ATO map, 10 July 2016 – “Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 8 July 2016” – “Ukraine reports 3 KIA’s, 16 WIA’s in past day” – “Number of Victims in Donbass in June Was a Record for the Last 10 Months” – “Ukrainian military 585 times during one day open fire on DPR territory” – “Fighting in Donbass in June Lead to Largest Number of Civilian Casualties” – “Russian proxies intensify shelling in all sectors in Donbas in last day”
- “Bridge Linking Crimea to Russia Pushed Back Another Year”
- “Russian Federation Hurries to Build Military Bases Near the Ukrainian Border. Part 1: Klintsy” – Google Map, Klintsy, Bryansk Oblast, Russia
- “Poroshenko: Donbas election to take place “when Russians stop killing Ukrainians” “
- “(UKR) National Guard to receive observer status in Association of European and Mediterranean gendarmeries and police”
- “Remarks by Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the OSCE Alexander Lukashevich at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council on the situation in Ukraine and the need to implement the Minsk Agreements, Vienna, July 7, 2016 – Ukraine” (RUS Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Ukraine & NATO
- “NATO Not to Cooperate With Russia in Usual Way Until Minsk Deal Fulfilled”
- “Level of Ukraine-NATO cooperation is unprecedented – Joint statement of Ukraine-NATO Commission” (UKR MoD) – “(UKR) President and NATO Secretary General: Our common responsibility is to change Russia’s aggressive behavior” – “Ukraine-NATO Commission: Ukraine and NATO enhance cooperation. Complex package of aid in security and defense sector has been approved” (UKR MoD)
- “(UKR) Deputy PM for Euro-Atlantic Integration backs stepping up NATO and Ukraine cooperation”
- “NATO, Ukraine Had ‘Open, Constructive’ Talks at Warsaw Summit – Poroshenko”
- “Ukraine Joining NATO Should Be Decided Only By Two Sides – Stoltenberg”
Canada & NATO
- “Canada to send 450 troops, armoured vehicles to Latvia for long haul” – “Video: Canada sending 450 troops to Latvia as part of NATO force” – “Breaking down Canada’s military commitments to NATO in Eastern Europe” – “Trudeau pledges troops, frigate, fighter jets to deter Russia” – “Canada to Deploy Frigate, CF-18 Fighter Aircraft in Europe to Support NATO”
- “Latvians welcome tiny Canadian force to help dissuade Russia’s military adventurism”
- “Petawawa troops could be heading to Latvia”
- Commentary “Matthew Fisher: Trudeau insists there are other ways to help NATO rather than just simply spending money” – “Saideman’s Semi-Spew: NATO Spending and Doing” – “Defending Canada’s borders by securing NATO’s”
- “Make-up of NATO battalions in east taking shape” – “Belgium to Send 150 Servicemen to Lithuania for NATO’s New Battalion”
- “NATO enhancing military presence in eastern part of Alliance due to Russia’s actions in Ukraine – Stoltenberg”
- “Putin seen as both partner and adversary as NATO bolsters East”
- “Moscow accuses Canada of bringing back the Cold War”
Russia on NATO
- “Russia ‘Has All Reasons’ to Assume NATO Buildup is Directed Against It”
- “Thanks to NATO, ‘Cold War Shadow Spreading’ From the Baltics to the Balkans”
- “Mikhail Gorbachev says Nato is escalating Cold War with Russia ‘into a hot one’ “
- “NATO and Russia want dialogue, not a new Cold War”
- “Russia’s ‘collision course’ with NATO: Your guide to the new Cold War”
- “Deploying NATO Battalions in Baltic States Attempt to Blackmail Russia”
- “This is Who NATO’s Real Enemy is and It’s Not Russia”
- “NATO focuses on “containment” of non-existing “threat from East” — Russian diplomat”
- “NATO: A criminal and a liar” (PravdaReport)
What Else is Russia Up To?
- “Putin Lures, Warns Finland Over Defense Ties”
- “US Navy Concerned Over ‘Russian Spy Ship’ Monitoring Drills Near Hawaii”
- “Caspian Flotilla ship grouping is arriving to the permanent locations after the exercise : Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation” (RUS MoD)
- “Russian and Belarusian paratroopers hold first planning conference on preparation for the joint exercise” (RUS MoD)
Ten Years Ago Today …
Corporal Anthony Joseph Boneca
Lake Superior Scottish Regiment
February 13, 1985 – July 9, 2006
We will remember.
