MILNEWS.ca Highlights – July 20, 2017

#CANvsISIL

• “Canadian special forces tasked with buying weapons for Kurds” – “Special forces take over ‘urgent’ weapons purchase for Kurds, but there’s no timeline”
• “Canada must choose which Iraq to support”
• “Winnipeg Yazidi refugee learns her 12-year-old son is alive after rescue from ISIS”
• “Canadian Women Who Joined ISIS Found in Tunnel Under Mosul’s Old City” – “Two Canadian women among ISIL fighters captured in Mosul: reports”

The Kurds

• “Kurdistan to Hold Parliamentary, Presidential Elections on November 1st” – “Barzani sets Nov. 1 for parliamentary and presidential elections in Iraqi Kurdistan … The call for the elections comes as the Kurdistan region will hold an independence referendum in September …”
• “Religious Components Reps Discuss Their Rights in Kurdistan Constitution”
• “Iraq’s Kurds, seeking independence, call vote hoping to ease row”
• “Barzani Slams Baghdad’s Anti-Referendum Stances”
• “Official: U.S. could play role in negotiation over referendum”
• “(IRQ PM) Abadi restates Kurdistan Region’s referendum ‘unconstitutional’ “
• “Group from electoral commission calls for elections with referendum”
• So, Which Is It?  “Turkey Recognises Independent Kurdistan Conditionally” – “Turkey reiterates its opposition to Iraqi Kurdistan independence vote”
• “Kurdistan seeks billions of dollars from Iraqi gov’t as compensation”

Everyone Else Vs. ISIL

• “The Comeback Caliphate: How ISIS Could Regain Control of Iraq”
• “Russia confirms deal to supply T-90 tanks to Iraq” – “Iraq to buy ‘large batch’ of advanced Russian T-90 tanks – Kremlin” – “Tanks: Russia to supply large batch of tanks to Iraq”
• “India Has Offered Military Assistance to Iraq in Fight Against ISIS: Iraqi Ambassador”
• “Iraq: Execution Site Near Mosul’s Old City — Investigate, Punish Those Responsible for Any War Crimes …” (HRW news release)
• “ISIS Is Deploying More Women Suicide Bombers”
• “World Bank to commence reconstruction and rehabilitation in Iraq”
• “Beyond Syria and Iraq , Faraway ISIS ‘Provinces’ Fight On”
• “How Al-Qaeda Survived Drones, Uprisings, and the Islamic State: The Nature of the Current Threat”
• “Eye on ISIS in Libya” July 19th, 2017

#Syria

• “CIA-backed aid for Syrian rebels frozen after Islamist attack – sources” – “Report: Trump ending secret CIA program to arm Syrian rebels” – “Trump ends covert CIA program to arm anti-Assad rebels in Syria, a move sought by Moscow” – “Senator says dropping CIA program in Syria may boost Russian-US cooperation” – “Donald Trump drops Syria programme ‘in bid to improve Russia ties’ “ – “Report: Trump to stop arming anti-Assad rebels in Syria” – “Donald Trump ends covert CIA aid to Syrian rebels in ‘win’ for Russia” – “Trump ‘ends programme to arm anti-Assad rebels’ in move sought by Russia” – “Trump cancels CIA program to arm, train Syrian rebels: report”
• From One NATO Ally to Another … “Turkey Just Blew Up US Military OPSEC In Syria, Potentially Endangering Troops” – “Pentagon ‘concerned’ after Turkey reveals secret locations of US bases in Syria” – “The US Is Furious Turkey Published Location Of US Troops In Syria”  – “Turkish state news exposes US military positions in Syria”
• “Dozens of Western ‘freelance fighters’ embedded with anti-ISIS forces in Syria”
• “Military Situation In Provinces Of Aleppo And Raqqah On July 20, 2017 (Syria Map Update)” (southfront.org, pro-RUS OSINT)
• “Exchange of experience gained during operation in Syria is one of the goals of the operational session of the Russian Armed Forces leadership” (RUS MoD)

#Afghanistan

• “The ‘Blackwater 2.0’ Plan for Afghanistan”
• “Trump Wants Troops To Tell Him How To Win In Afghanistan. Here Are Some Suggestions”

Cold War 2.0:  The Koreas

• “N. Korea preparing for new ICBM test in 2 weeks: CNN” – “US intelligence shows North Korean preparations for a possible ICBM test” – “North Korea may be preparing for another IRBM/ICBM test along with a SLBM test”
• “Russia US duel at UN over whether N Korea long-range missile”
• “Moon Jae-in sets out plans for treaty with North Korea”
• “UN chief welcomes Seoul’s proposal to reopen dialogue with Pyongyang”
• “North Korea dismisses South Korean overtures as “deceiving public opinion” “
• “U.S. leaves out N. Korea from terrorism sponsors list”
• “US General Doubts North Korean Nuclear Capabilities” – “Top US general North Korea might have the range but lacks in accuracy” – “US Military North Korean Missiles Can Reach America Lack Guidance”
• “North Korean defector may have been abducted and returned to Pyongyang”

Cold War 2.0:  China/Asia-Pacific

• CHN-IND Tensions  “Won’t talk until India withdraws troops: China” – “China trying to change status quo on border: India” – “Multiple military units are on the move today in Doklam as tensions continue to escalate between India and China “ – “Doklam Standoff: Misunderestimating Bhutan’s sovereignty” – “Doklam row: India-China bilateral talks ruled out till border standoff is resolved” – “Doklam plateau: No war, but skirmishes with China cannot be ruled out”
• “Chinese army mobilizes military assets to Tibet following live fire drills”
• “Report: U.S. Navy monitored China’s aircraft carrier Liaoning in the Taiwan Strait”
• “Chinese military monitoring waters around China”
• “(AUS) Defence Hosts Senior Chinese Military Delegation” (ADF info-machine)
• ” ‘Why China must do more to fight international terrorism’ “

Cold War 2.0:  Russia/Baltics/Eastern Europe

• “Estonian Defence Minister: Russia must invite observers to Zapad” – “Rinkevics calls on Minsk to ensure closer information exchange on Zapad 2017 exercise”
• “NATO, Russian Troops Rattle Swords Along Hundreds of Miles of Borderland”
• “NATO Is Staging War Rehearsals for the Ultimate Nightmare: A Russian Invasion”
• “European, U.S. Troops Conduct Joint Drills as Russia Tensions Grow”
• “U.S. and Russia clash over military exercises”
• “Estonian ambassador: Trump is right, Europe should pay for own defence”
• “Estonian President visits ‘Shabab Oman II’ in Tallinn”
• “Vilnius to host commemoration of US declaration condemning Baltics occupation”
• “Leadership of the state and the national defence system will observe multinational ground-based air defence Exercise Tobruq Legacy 2017 first time in Lithuania” (Lithuanian DefMin)
• “Northern Fleet’s ASW ships exercise in the White Sea” – “Russian Warships Conduct Military Drills in White Sea”
• “Chinese Navy ship group will arrive in Baltiysk to participate in the Naval Interaction 2017 exercise” (RUS MoD) – “Chinese warships to take part in celebrations to mark Russian Navy Day in St. Petersburg”
• “United Shield-2017 joint anti-terrorism drill wraps up in Belarus — The United Shield-2017 joint anti-terrorism drill, which was jointly held for the first time by the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force (APF) and the Internal Troops of the Belarusian Internal Ministry, wrapped up at a training center of the Internal Troops of the Belarusian Interior Ministry on July 18, 2017, local time …”
• “Russian Defence Ministry has plans to begin construction of an aircraft-carrying cruiser by 2025” (RUS MoD)
• “Russia’s Armata main battle tank may become operational in 2019”
• “Turkey to Take Out Russia’s Loan for S-400 Missile System Purchase”
• “Russia’s defense contractor ready to supply S-400 missile systems domestically and abroad”
• “Russian Capabilities in Electronic Warfare: Plans, Achievements and Expectations”
• From the Info-fight   Colonel Ted: “Lies, damned lies and politics … … my point, today, is … to remind readers that Soviet propaganda worked then and Russian proaganda will be used against us, in Canada, today.” – “Exploiting commemorations” (EU Disinformation Review) – “Children’s toy part of conspiracy against the Kremlin” (EU vs Disinformation)

#Ukraine

• “Exercise Sea Breeze 2017 Continues in Ukraine” (US DoD)
• “Russia to take mirror measures if USA ships lethal weapons to Ukraine”
• Updates from All Sides  “Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 18 July 2017” – UKR govt ATO map, 20 Jul 2017 –  UKR govt ATO map, 19 Jul 2017 – “Donetsk Defense: Situation Report, 07/19/2017” – “Nine Ukrainian soldiers killed, five wounded in ATO zone in Donbas over past day” – “Kiev forces violate ceasefire five times over 24 hours” – “Ukraine army’s heaviest casualties in past day: 9 KIA, 5 WIA in Donbas” – “30 ceasefire violations recorded in DPR in 24 hours” – “In ATO killed nine Ukrainian military”
• “DPR prosecutors open criminal case against Ukrainian officer complicit in Donetsk resident’s death on 17 July”
• “Two Ukrainians get 5-year prison sentences for ‘Russian world’ anti-Ukraine social network groups” (Human Rights in Ukraine)
• Latest on Malorossiya Thing  “EU Condemns Declaration Of ‘Little Russia’ By Ukrainian Separatists” – “Birth of Malorossiya – restoring peace and order, creating sovereign people’s federation” – “Ukraine’s separatists propose a new country: Little Russia. Kremlin denies any involvement”  –  “Kremlin withholds comments about Malorossiya” – “Creation of state of Malorossiya is inevitable – Russian lawmaker”
• “Identified: Zaza Khasia, member of the Putin Martial Arts Club, who was previously spotted in Donbas” (InformNapalm.org)
• “Russia special services step up activities in Ukraine – Marchuk”
• Various Meetings/Talks  “The next meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on Ukraine will take place on August 2 in Minsk” – “The negotiations of the leaders of the Normandy Four countries in the teleconference format are planned on July 24” – “OSCE announces date of next Normandy Four phone talks” – “DPR confirms video talks on prisoners swap scheduled for July 31” – “Humanitarian subgroup to hold video talks on July 31” – “Investigation of MH17 crash, OSCE access, hostages swap and fake documents discussed during TCG meeting in Minsk”
• “OSCE Project Co-ordinator trains and equips Ukrainian cyber police” (OSCE statement)
• “The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) sent six trucks with the humanitarian aids to the uncontrolled by Ukraine territory of Donbas”
• “Kremlin TV: Singing from the same hymn sheet”

Way Up North

• “Arctic team in Northwest Passage bid — CHINA’S eighth Arctic expedition, which sets off tomorrow, will be the country’s first attempt to go through the Northwest Passage linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans …” – “China’s ice breaker sets sail for Arctic rim expedition”
• “Historic Northwest Passage Voyage Begins — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Maple, a 225-foot seagoing buoy tender homeported in Sitka, Alaska, departed on a historic voyage through the Northwest Passage on Wednesday …”
• “Big federal contract for Nunavut drone company — Transport Canada chooses Arctic UAV to help shape rules for future drone use in Canada …”

Internal Security

• “Six months after a deadly mass shooting, this Quebec City mosque is receiving a flood of hate mail”
• “Government revokes group’s charity status, audit cites possible funding of Pakistani militants” – “Canadian Islamist Groups Lose Charity Status Over Potential Militant Financing” (The Counter Jihad Report)
• “Graeme Gordon: Liberals let terrorists keep their citizenship, yet revoke citizenship for lesser offences”
• “Karim Baratov, alleged Yahoo hacker, to fight extradition in September”

What’s Canada Buying?

• Big Honkin’ Ships  “Supply ship at the heart of Mark Norman scandal to be unveiled Thursday” – “Federal shipbuilding strategy good for navy, Canadian jobs”
• Wanted:  “Request for Abbreviated Proposals for Inspection, Testing and Minor Repair of Turbine Generator Set at the Central Heating Plant – PA123120 , Petawawa, (Ontario)”
• Wanted:   “SNIC … Work under this requirement consists of the provision of all labour, supervision, materials, tools, fuel, travel expenses and equipment to conduct snow and ice control (SNIC) operations to include ploughing, sanding, salting, snow hauling and sweeping, for various locations at Garrison Petawawa and the Pembroke Armouries …”
• Wanted:  “Airfield SNIC … Work under this requirement consists of the provision of all labour, supervision, materials, tools, fuel, travel expenses and equipment to conduct Airfield SNIC operations to include plowing, sweeping, application of de-icers and snow hauling for all areas located within the General Restricted Area (GRA) of the Garrison Petawawa Heliport …”
• “CAE wins new military contracts with Lockheed Martin, L3 and Airbus”

Sexual Assault/Harassment in the CF

• “Plaintiffs in Four National Class Actions Team Up to Take Canada to Court in Canadian Armed Forces” – “Veterans merge sexual-assault suits against Canadian military”
• “CAF presents innovative mobile app on sexual misconduct response and support” – “Une application des FAC pour l’intervention et le soutien en cas d’inconduite sexuelle”

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “Brig.-Gen. Brennan leaves JPSU job after less than three months, Misener to take over Thursday”
• “Military veteran protests use of antimalarial drug mefloquine”
• “Wounded Warriors event in N.B. gives Canadian Forces members place to relax, heal”
• “Opinion: Provincial collaboration needed to ease plight of military families”
• “IBM, DCC to teach veterans cybersecurity, fraud detection … The Veteran Employment Accelerator is offered at about 30 locations in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom …”
• “(PEI) Veteran celebrates 101st birthday with trip across Confederation Bridge”

Khadr Deal Fracas

• “Scathing responses from constituents on conservative MP Poilievre’s unsolicited email” (freeomar.ca)
• “Liberals say Conservatives’ Khadr campaign could impact NAFTA talks”
• “Canada Stabs The United States, Again”
• “Respect for Parliament and Canadians: Another forgotten Liberal promise “
• “Khadr is to Trudeau what the census was to Harper”
• “With Khadr saga, Conservatives have stopped trying to help Trudeau with Trump”

Other

• “The Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, to receive the title of honorary member of the Royal 22e Régiment” – “Justin Trudeau devient membre titulaire (honorifique) du Royal 22e Régiment”
• “Trudeau dodges ‘poodle’ label after caving in to Trump on arms build-up” (rabble.ca)
• “NORAD celebrates Canada 150”
• “#WeAreNATO – The Canadian engineer” (Pentagon Info-machine)
• “Avro Canada Museum rebuilding historic plane”

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