MILNEWS.ca Highlights – June 2, 2016

Internal Security

• “Surrey, B.C., man accused of running terrorist training camp seeks PM’s help” – “Canadian officials not talking about B.C. terror camp claim” – “In letter to Trudeau, man accused of running ‘terror camp’ in B.C. denies allegation” – “Khalistan terror camp in Canada plotting attacks in Punjab: India to Trudeau govt” (Times of India) – screen capture of Times of India article – “Terror link: Canada mum, Nijjar claims innocence” (Times of India)
• “Spy agency accidentally shared Canadians’ data with allies for years”
• “Trudeau rebuffs calls for probe of RCMP spy operation against press”

#CANvsISIL

• “(CAN) Special Forces attacked in Iraq”
• “Canadian soldiers in Kurdistan Region may remove Kurdish flag patch from uniforms” – “Canadian military brass to review whether soldiers should continue wearing Kurdish flag”

Everyone Else Against ISIL

• From the Pentagon Info-machine:  “Strikes Continue Against ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq” – “Fallujah’s Liberation From ISIL Control Progressing, Official Says”
• “ISIS faces major assaults on two fronts in Iraq and Syria”

Syria

• “Transitional Governing Body Might Be Formed in Syria by August – Party”
• “Syrian opposition proposes nationwide Ramadan truce”
• “Russian army uses air defense experience gained in Syria – defense minister”
• “The New Syrian Army: America’s “Tip of the Spear” Against ISIS in the Syrian Desert”
• “SDF closes in on ISIL supply route in Syria’s Manbij”
• “Seven killed in PYD, regime attacks in N. Syria”
• “Turkey shells Islamic State in Syria west of US backed assault”
• “Russia uses its Syrian experience to build tank for city fighting”
• “Offensive in Syria aimed at cutting off IS supply route”
• “US, UK admonish Syrian government for blocking aid delivery” – “Western Countries Urge U.N. to Begin Airdrops to Besieged Parts of Syria” – “UK calls for UNSC assessment of humanitarian access in Syria” – “France, Britain push UN on Syria aid”

Iraq

• Good plan!  “Iraq PM urges MPs to stop squabbling, unite behind army” – “Iraq PM Abadi urges lawmakers to stop squabbling, rally behind army”
• “Iraq Situation Report: May 24 – June 1, 2016”
• “Timeline: Battle to retake Iraq’s Fallujah”
• “Iraq : Kurds increase pressure on ISIL near Mosul”
• “Iran to help Iraq fight Daesh terrorists: Zarif”
• “The Iranian Fingerprints on Iraq’s Fallujah Plan”
• “Iraq Denies Cooperation With Iran on Building Missile Base”
• “Iran Refuses Foreign Interference in Regional Crises: Abdollahian”

Libya

• “UN report: ISIS preparing to move to Libya”
• “UN Report Taps Libya as ‘Next Key Battleground’ for ISIS War”
• “Militias in Libya Advance on ISIS Stronghold of Surt With Separate Agendas”
• “Libya unity government force takes power plant near IS bastion Sirte”
• “Libyan forces lose 10 men in clashes with Islamic State near Sirte”
• “SAS Forces Use ‘Bollywood Music’ to Fight ISIS in Libya”

Way Up North

• “Canadian Armed Forces begins annual maintenance operations in the High Arctic”
• “Canada wants answers as Russian rocket set to fall into Arctic waters” – A bit of history:  The COSMOS 954 Accident
• “Borei-Class SSBN Joins Russian Navy’s Permanent Readiness Force”

Canada Into Africa? 

• Wonder who might be considering responding?  “UN Chief Recommends Adding 2,500 Peacekeepers to Mali Mission — Additional troops requested in light of series of recent deadly attacks in area, according to report to Security Council …”
• “Partners for Peace: Assessing Canada’s return to peacekeeping”

Time to Review Canada’s Military

• Saideman’s Semi-Spew  “What Do I think of Defence Review Thus Far”

What’s Canada Buying?

• F-35 Tug o’ War  “Another Danish Tragedy…”

Canada’s Saudi Arms Deal

• “Human-rights advocate calls for guarantees about Saudi use of combat vehicles — Belkis Wille says Ottawa must ensure Canadian-made armoured vehicles are not used by Saudi Arabia to wage their military intervention in Yemen …”

Veterans & Helping Veterans

• “Increase in benefits for disabled veterans applied unequally: advocates”
• “Trudeau’s Liberals Anything But Sunny Ways For Veterans”
• “Military Employment Transition conference draws hundreds”
• National Memorial Ride (Royal Canadian Legion)

Other

• “Largest Canadian Armed Forces military training exercise underway in Wainwright” – Pentagon’s take:  “Maple Resolve is for the birds”
• “Canadian officers to hold key positions in RIMPAC – U.S. politicians want to ban China from military exercise”
• More from the Pentagon Info-machine:  “U.S. Army, Canadian Army test Mongolian Armed Forces’ counter-improvised explosive device skills during Khaan Quest 2016” – more (photos & videos)
• “NORAD Deputy Commander Statement on the Death of Col Brian Derry, M.S.M., C.D.”
• ” ‘Diesel gets in your blood:’ Submariners a rare breed in Canadian Forces”
• “Dead soldier’s family banned from home on N.S. base, military refuses to release will”
• “Canadian Army hosts Brazilian Army Commander”
• “Gay pride flag raised at 15 Wing (Moose Jaw)”
• Message from the CF Ombudsman:  “New Online American Sign Language (ASL) video functionality created to better serve our constituents”
• “RCAF search and rescue training photographed to advantage”

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