MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – December 23, 2015

#CANvsISIL

• Commentary  “Opinion: Trudeau facing watershed moment on terror” – “Michael Den Tandt: Why Trudeau should keep CF-18*s in the fight against ISIL” – World Socialists: “Canadian Special Forces battle ISIS militants as calls grow for expanded war”

Everyone Else Against ISIL

• “Iraqi troops storm into centre of ISIS-held Ramadi” – “Ramadi assault: How a small change in tactics helped Iraqi forces” – “Iraq forces in final push to retake Ramadi” – Google News Ramadi
• “Control Map of Ramadi: December 22, 2015”
• “Military Strikes Hit ISIL in Syria, Iraq” (Pentagon)
• “Russian Airstrikes in Syria: December 13-21, 2015” (Institute for the Study of War)
• “Why the Islamic State is so Bad at Being a State”
• “ISIS’s propaganda machine goes mobile with app”

Syria/Refugees

• “Minister McCallum to provide update (this morning) on Canada’s plan to resettle Syrian refugees following his trip to Lebanon and Jordan …”

Philippines Kidnapping

• “Government troops have killed at least five al-qaeda-linked militants as the military continued its operations in Patikul town in the troubled southern island province of Sulu, according to military officials.   Maj. Gen. Mayoralgo dela Cruz, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, told reporters here that Marine soldiers encountered some 40 Abu Sayyaf bandits in the jungle of Barangay Liang, Patikul town at around 8:10 a.m. Tuesday … The Abu Sayyaf is listed as a terrorists organization by Philippines and US governments. It is still holding captives two Canadians, a Norwegian and a Filipina abducted on Sept. 21 on the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte, and other foreigners, including a Dutch national.”

Internal Security

• “U of T tool tracks if the NSA could be tracking you”
• “Terrorisme : Ottawa veut un accès rapide aux données des suspects”

What’s Canada Buying?

• Fixed Wing Search & Rescue (FWSAR) Project  “Embraer KC-390 to rival turboprops in Canadian FWSAR comp”

Way Up North

• “An Arctic Innovation: Canadian Airships?”

Other

• From the Colonel Ted Campbell blog:   “Sadly, for the past few years, what has passed for defence policy in this country has been far, far more concerned with trivia, buttons and bows issues, than with substance. Shame on us, Conservatives, and the government we elected …”
• “Canada and its allies need to better adapt to new forms of warfare, such as cyberattacks and unconventional forces, said a retired senior Canadian Forces officer …”
• “Un nouveau centre de support ouvre pour les militaires de Valcartier”
• Via the UK MoD Info-machine “Night Fighting Competition: Britain Vs. Canada”
• “Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame 2015 induction ceremony honoured giants in Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian civil aviation history …”
• “Santa Claus’ new sled”

World War Two

• “1000 Canadian WWII veterans finally receive France’s highest honour”

World War One

• “Monument to war hero beginning to take shape” – Francis Pegahmagabow (Canadian Encyclopedia)
• “Christmas, bloody Christmas: The holiday armistice that wasn’t for Canadian soldiers”

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