MILNEWS.ca Highlights – February 13, 2019

NATO DefMins Meet

• “The Coalition and its partners need to address the causes for the rise of the so-called Islamic State and ensure that the group does not re-emerge, a Canadian official said on Wednesday. Canada’s Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan made the comments ahead of meetings with other defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Feb. 13 and 14 …” (Kurdish media)
• “(ROM) DefMin Les meets counterparts of Canada and Georgia in Brussels” (ROM media)
• “NATO Defence Ministers meet to address Russia’s violation of the INF Treaty” (NATO info-machine)
• “NATO Defence Ministers meet in Brussels” (NATO info-machine)
• “New NATO hub will gather the Alliance’s cyber defenders” (NATO info-machine)

Way Up North

• “Canada, U.S. must do more to check Russian military in the Arctic, says NORAD chief”

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “NATO Chief Says Allies Keen to Avoid Arms Race With Russia”
• “UK to deploy deadly Apache helicopters in Estonia”
• “Apache and Wildcat to touch down in Estonia as UK bolsters its commitment to NATO” (UK MoD info-machine)
• “Chinese embassy refutes Lithuania’s hype of “China Threat”: ridiculous and absurd” (CHN mil media)
• “America the Mercenary: Trump’s plan to bill NATO” (European Council on Foreign Relations)
• “Moscow Orders Ground-Based Kalibr Cruise Missiles”
• “Russian anti-material sniper rifle spotted in Yemen”
• “Russian army to get newest Proryv-3 tanks by 2020”

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “Iraq Will Not Accept Foreign Military Bases on Its Soil”
• “US defence chief says Washington will respect Iraqi sovereignty”
• “(IRQ) PM says Iraq to repatriate Iraqi IS fighters held in Syria”
• “UK fighters returning from Syria face up to 10 years in jail”
• “Germany says it has arrested two former Syrian intelligence officers alleged to have been involved in torturing critics of President Bashar al-Assad …”

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “Alleged Torture Case Renews Focus on Russian Military Contractors in Central Africa”
• “US gives lift to French forces (in Africa)” (US Army info-machine)
• “Rebel incursion risks Chad’s partial withdrawal from regional counter-terrorism operations, but unlikely to threaten president’s position”

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “US ‘must use all military and diplomatic means’ to defend Taiwan against Beijing”
• “Huawei, US-China tensions and West’s 5G fears on the agenda as Beijing joins security talks”
• “China’s Huawei Soft Power Push Raises Hard Questions”
• “Former British surveillance head says calls to freeze Chinese companies out of 5G telecoms in Western countries are ‘short on technical understanding’ “
• “Rules aim to build up PLA combat abilities” (CHN mil media)

Internal Security

• “Snowden Reveals Extent of Canada’s Spying on Behalf of NSA” (pro-RUS think tank)
• “More Threats From Yellow Vesters. More History of Criminal Conduct” (Anti-Racist Canada)

What’s Canada Buying?

• “F-15X?” (http://bestfighter4canada.blogspot.com)

Mental Health in the CAF

• “Virtual reality to help more military and other public safety workers cope with PTSD is central to the work of a new group launched in Edmonton. Heroes in Mind, Advocacy & Research Consortium (HiMARC) is made up of those who want “to serve the men and women in uniform who have served us and continue to serve us daily,” Bob Haennel, dean of the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, said in a Wednesday release …”

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “Mental health course offered for veterans , families”

Other Military News

• “Renewable energy system takes first Defence Innovation Challenge prize” (DND info-machine)

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – February 12, 2019

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “La ministre des Anciens Combattants, Jody Wilson Raybould quitte le cabinet”
• “Sajjan acting veterans affairs minister after Wilson-Raybould’s resignation”
• ” ‘Revolving door’ of ministers in the veterans affairs department causing worry”
• “Read Jody Wilson-Raybould’s resignation letter”
• “La démission de Wilson-Raybould «incompatible» avec ses propos, dit Trudeau”
• “Trudeau says he’s surprised, puzzled by Wilson-Raybould’s resignation”
• “PM Trudeau ‘surprised and disappointed’ by (VAC Minister) Wilson-Raybould’s resignation”
• “Big news and more tangled webs (this is #5, I think)” (Col. Ted)

Big Honkin’ Ship Document Leak Case

• “Vice-Admiral Mark Norman’s pretrial judge questions independence of public prosecution service”
• “Alleged political interference in Mark Norman case ‘more concerning’ than SNC-Lavalin accusations: defence”
• “Canada’s top prosecutor insists her office is independent”
• “In light of comments made in the press regarding the prosecution of Vice Admiral Mark Norman, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada would like to clarify the context of the conversations between PPSC counsel and counsel for the Privy Council Office …” (PPSC info-machine)
• “Cost to taxpayers for Mark Norman prosecution may never be known, already estimated at more than $10M”

Way Up North

• “Canada, U.S. must do more to check Russia’s military moves in the Arctic, says NORAD chief”
• “Norad chief urges speedy defensive upgrades amid spectre of new Cold War”
• “États-Unis et Canada à l’heure des choix pour le futur du NORAD”
• “Finnish President to speak about Arctic Security at Munich Conference”
• “Canada’s new Arctic policy could be done by June, minister says”
• “Russian jets led mock attack on Arctic Norway radar, (NOR) intel director says”
• “UK Apaches complete Arctic training”
• “Russia’s top brass ready for serious dialogue with Finland on alleged GPS signal jamming”
• “New bases and helipads to make tours to Russian Arctic five times cheaper”

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “Stoltenberg: NATO will not eliminate nuclear weapons unless Russia and China do so”
• “NATO chief claims alliance preparing defensive measures for INF-free world”
• “Lithuanian-led arms control inspection team to conduct evaluation visit to a Kaliningrad-based military unit” (LTU MoD)
• “Elections in Lithuania: Expectations of Ukraine, the West and Russia” (UKR commentary)
• “The European Court of Human Rights will examine a lawsuit filed by a Saudi national who claims he was held in a secret CIA prison in Lithuania. The United States considers Mustafa al-Hawsawi, currently being held at the U.S. military’s Guantanamo Bay prison, a suspect in the 9/11 attacks …”
• “Russian Military Innovation Technopolis Era will start work on the creation of arms based on new physical principles and of systems for detecting underwater objects, the office of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov, who is in charge of the defense industry, told Sputnik on Wednesday …”
• “U.S. Permanent Military Base in Poland: Added Value for Defense and Deterrence” (Warsaw Institute)
• “Permanent U.S. Base: Strengthening NATO‘s Defensive Potential on its Eastern Flank” (Warsaw Institute)
• “US Basing in Poland and NATO’s Mobility Challenge” (Warsaw Institute)
• “Russian, Chinese lasers threaten US satellites: Pentagon”
• “US defence agency report on Chinese space programme is smokescreen to hide arms race, Beijing says”
• “Challenges to Security in Space” (Def Int Agency, PDF, 46 pgs)
• “Why Anti-China Spy Wave Starts in Europe?”

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “PLA spokesman urges US to stop provocative actions in South China Sea” (CHN mil media)
• “US Submarine to Participate in Japan’s Naval Competition – US Navy”
• “China targets military training in renewed combat readiness mission”
• “Xi signs order on trial regulation to supervise military training” (CHN military media)
• “China ‘likely’ to boost defense budget” (CHN mil media)
• “Indo-Pacific Command Worried About China’s Path”
• “China Sends Air NZ Flight Home Over Mention of ‘Taiwan’: Local Media”

The Koreas

• “US commander sees no change in North Korea military threat”
• “U.S. Forces Korea Commander: Tensions Down, But Guard Still Up”
• “Pyongyang holds public execution of chief of state guesthouse for embezzling $3 million: report”
• “N.Korea’s State Guesthouse Chief Executed in Public”
• “N.Korea Asks Russia for Free Wheat”

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• ” ‘Urgent need’ to stop Mali violence with ‘effective’ military response: UN expert” (UN info-machine)
• “Estonian Minister of Defense Juri Luik awarded mission medals to the approximately 50 members of the Estonian defense forces who served as part of the French-led anti-insurgent mission Barkhane in Mali …”
• “China, it was revealed last week, has been “an exemplary partner” to the African Union (AU) providing $180 million worth of funding to the continental body’s peace and security efforts …” (CHN mil media)

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “Acting U.S. defense chief Patrick Shanahan told Iraqi leaders that Washington understood its forces were in Iraq at Baghdad’s invitation, aiming to steady relations after President Donald Trump said U.S. troops were needed to keep an eye on Iran …”
• “(IRQ) PM to Pentagon chief: Iraqi decision is independent, not affected by any dictates”
• “Pentagon leader in Iraq for talks on U.S. military presence”
• “Israel confirms strike in Syrian Golan, further cracking ambiguity policy”
• “Turkey, Russia at Odds Over Syria Ahead of Key Summit”
• “Netanyahu confirms Syria strike: Israel operating constantly against Iran in Syria”
• “Netanyahu confirms latest Israeli strike in Syria”
• “ISIS makes its last stand with a surprise counter-attack in Syria”

Afghanistan

• “Russia ready to take steps for lifting UN sanctions on Taliban”
• “China to Fund Installation of Modern Facilities at Pakistan-Afghan Border Crossings”

Internal Security

• “Canadian ISIS fighter detained (in SYR)”
• I guess he’s been too busy to read the latest Criminal Code updates  ” ‘I broke no laws there’: Canadian ISIS fighter wants help to return home”
• “Calgary police have charged three people in a drug trafficking investigation that turned up Canada Post, Telus and Canadian military uniforms along with several weapons and credit card forging equipment …”

What’s Canada Buying?

• Future Fighter Capability Project – Suppliers List Invitation (W847A-180210/A) – Buyandsell.gc.ca
• “Calian Group Awarded IT and Software Development Services Contract” (Calian Gp info-machine)

Sexual Assault/Harassment in the CF

• “Victims of improper sexual conduct in Canadian Forces aren’t well supported, MPs told”

Other Military News

• “Chief of the Defence Staff announces Canadian Armed Forces General and Flag Officer senior appointments, promotions, and retirements” (DND info-machine)
• “Nominations, promotions et départs à la retraite d’officiers généraux des Forces armées canadiennes”
• “Minister Sajjan to travel to Europe for Official Meetings” (DND info-machine)
• “Leadership immersion: Intensive summer training offers Regular and Reserve leaders a different perspective” (Canadian Army Today)

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – February 11, 2019

Way Up North

• “Russia expands reach in Arctic with no answer from Canada”
• ” ‘Strategic messaging’: Russian fighters in Arctic spark debate on Canada’s place”
• “Canada Should Not Ignore Russia Sending Fighter Jets To Arctic: Expert”
• “Editorial: Why Canada needs to make the Arctic a national priority”
• “Canada Should Not Ignore Russia Sending Fighter Jets To Arctic: Expert”
• “UK Sends Fleet of Apaches to Arctic as Message to ‘Whole Range of Adversaries’ “
• “Britain attempts to intimidate Russia by sending helicopters to Arctic” (pro-RUS site)
• “New more powerful tank rolls into (RUS) Northern Fleet garrisons”
• “Moscow accuses Norway of northern military buildup – Here is map of submarine ports”
• “(RUS) Northern Fleet fears saboteurs, steps up protection of surface vessels”
• “For the first time in the main base of the Northern Fleet, a new detachment against underwater saboteurs took up combat duty on combat duty.” (RUS MoD, in Russian)
• “Why China’s Arctic claims cut no ice”
• “Norway wary of China’s growing presence in Arctic Russia”
• “How the Pentagon Countered China’s Designs on Greenland”
• “GPS jamming hindering construction work in Arctic Norway”
• “Construction workers frustrated with GPS jamming near border to Russia”

Internal Security

• “Appeal court upholds stiff sentence for Canadian trying to join terrorist group”
• “The Ontario Court of Appeal released its decision today on the conviction and sentence appeal of Mohamed Hassan Hersi, 32. The Court dismissed the appeal and upheld the conviction and sentence …” (Public Prosecution Service of Canada)
• “T.O. ISIS bride nabbed: ‘I believe in Sharia, wherever Sharia is’ “
• “Police in Ontario free 43 Mexicans brought to Canada by alleged human traffickers”

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “Rwanda, 25 years later: A primer on the genocide and Canada’s mission”
• “The forgotten Rwanda mission: How Canada remembered genocide and failure, but ignored the successes that came after”
• “The United Nations in Mali: A New Approach to Peacekeeping?”
• Région de Tombouctou : Des adductions d’eau pour faciliter la vie des habitants et le retour des déplacés” (MINUSMA)
• “Rapport mensuel de monitoring de protection N° 12 – Decembre 2018” (Mali — UN High Commissioner for Refugees)
• “Security Report Reveals Surge in Terrorist Attacks in Africa’s Sahel”
• “Terrorism ‘expanding’ in Sahel, African Union security chief warns”
• “Sahel Islamist groups’ networking skills growing”
• “Ansaroul Islam and the Growing Terrorist Insurgency in Burkina Faso” (Combating Terrorism Center at West Point)
• “Service and sacrifice of African peacekeepers ‘at the forefront of our minds’: UN chief” (UN info-machine)

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “Tomahawks in the Baltic States? Russia Is Making a Fuss” (Warsaw Institute)
• “Russian Foreign Ministry says US has not responded to all Moscow’s concerns on INF Treaty” (TASS)
• “U.S. Permanent Military Base in Poland: Favorable Solution For the NATO Alliance” (Warsaw Institute)
• “NATO may consider deploying missiles in Czech Republic in response to Russia’s violation of INF treaty”
• “Metnar has not ruled out discussions about the location of the American base in the Czech Republic” (RUS state media, in Czech)
• “Defense Minister Metnar did not exclude the US base in the Czech Republic.” (SVK media, in Slovak)
• “The United States, after withdrawing from the INF, will force Europe to deploy US mid-range and short-range missiles aimed at Russia. And Moscow will have to react symetrically, said Igor Korotchenko, Editor-in-Chief of the National Defense magazine …” (RUS state media, in Czech)
• “U.S. sends additional helicopters to Latvia as part of next rotation of troops”
• “USA deploys more than a dozen combat helicopters in Latvia”
• “Introducing comprehensive national defense among biggest challenges for coming years – (LVA DefMin) Pabriks”
• “NATO fighter jets to conduct training flights in Estonian airspace”
• “Data on interceptions of aircraft completed near the Baltic States’ borders February 4 – 10, 2019” (LTU MoD)
• “Estonian Army Officer, Father Jailed For Spying For Russia”
• “Estonia to install radar towers with cameras on border with Russia”
• “Poland announces purchase of HIMARS rocket systems from U.S. – media”
• “U.S. military to inspect Belarusian army unit” (BLR state media)
• “US Admiral Wants To ‘Push First’ Against Russian Ships – Reports”
• “Putin dismisses nine generals”
• “Latvia and Lithuania resolve disagreements over air navigation over Baltic Sea”
• “Chinese Intelligence Operations Getting Aggressive In Baltics”
• “S-300PS surface-to-air missile systems repel heavy air attack during drills” (TASS)
• “Russian strategic bombers carry out missile strike during military drills” (TASS)
• “Russia wraps up state trials of advanced shipborne air defense missile system” (TASS)
• “One of Russia’s Neighbors Has Security Lessons for the Rest of Us — Estonia’s online militia offers advice to the U.S. and Europe on preparing for increasingly digital war …”
• “Lithuania set to ban fake news from Russia”

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “As the Threat of ISIS Recedes, Iraq Looks to Its Neighbors to Spur a Recovery”
• “Russia repatriates 27 children of IS members from Iraq”
• “U.S. Commander: Syria Pullout Likely To Begin Within Weeks”
• “US Defense Chief: ‘Significant Progress’ Against Islamic State in Syria”
• “Islamic state in Syria: US-forces attack caliphate in eastern province”
• “Fears of ISIL regrouping in Afghanistan after Syria defeat”
• “US-backed Syrian forces battle to capture last ISIL enclave”
• “US-Allied Syrian Kurds Reportedly Sell Oil to Damascus Government”
• “Russia to upgrade Ka-52 ‘Alligator’ attack helicopter considering Syrian experience” (TASS)

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “China Says US Aims to ‘Stir Up Trouble’ With Naval Sail-By”
• “UK to send new aircraft carrier loaded with F35 jets into South China Sea – CNBC”
• “China participates in Pakistan’s naval drills in a big way” (CHN mil media)
• “What Will The China-India Relationship Look Like In 2019?” (CHN mil media)
• “China eyes building next-generation fighter jets by 2035” (CHN mil media)
• “China’s EU mission calls ‘spying’ report groundless” (CHN Communist Party media)

#VEN Crisis

• “A Short Guide for Canadian Anti-Imperialists on the Current Crisis in Venezuela” (socialistproject.ca)
• “Alternative Futures: United Kingdom Options in Venezuela” (Divergent Options paper)

Afghanistan

• “ON TARGET: More than a decade later, Taliban talks prove Jack Layton right”

Big Honkin’ Ship Document Leak Case

• “Norman’s defence accuses Trudeau PMO of attempting to direct prosecution”
• “Mark Norman lawyers protest ‘strategy’ talks between Crown, federal lawyers”

What’s Canada Buying?

• “Design unveiled for the future Canadian Surface Combatants” (RCN info-machine)
• “L3 Technologies key member of team for Canadian combat-ship program”
• “CMS 330 selected for Canadian JSS”
• “More on the major warship contract” (Col Ted)

Sexual Assault/Harassment in the CF

• “N.L. judge says DND not liable for 1970 cadet sex abuse incident at CFB Greenwood”

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “Finding solutions to support families of serving and retired members of the Canadian Armed Forces and first responders suffering with post-traumatic stress (PTS)” (Medavie Blue Cross info-machine)

Other Military News

• “Assault Pioneers returning to the Canadian Army” (DND info-machine)
• “Canada’s Air Force is losing too many experienced pilots — and the clock is ticking”
• “Royal Canadian Air Force wants more than a few good pilots as it’s losing many of them to commercial jobs”
• “$227M Coast Guard ship making crews too seasick to work”
• “Military to conduct training exercise in Campbell River, Quadra Island, Nanaimo and Comox”
• “Military disaster training exercise coming to eastern Vancouver Island”
• “NORAD: Beyond Modernization” (U of Manitoba paper, PDF)

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – February 9, 2019

What’s Canada Buying?  Big Honkin’ Ships

• “Feds award design contract for $60B warship fleet to Lockheed Martin”
• “Canada Officially Selects Design for CSC”
• “Conception des navires de combat canadiens: c’est officiel, c’est la frégate de type 26 de BAE”
• “Government of Canada selects design for Canadian Surface Combatants” (Gov’t of Canada info-machine)
• “Canadian Surface Combatant design and design team selected” (Gov’t of Canada info-machine)
• “Designing our future Canadian Surface Combatant” (Gov’t of Canada info-machine)
• “Vancouver’s MDA, consortium land navy contract with $60b potential”
• “MDA Chosen for Design Phase of Canadian Surface Combatant Program”

Internal Security

• “The Crown is going to Ontario’s highest court to try to block a mentally-ill man who stabbed three soldiers at a Canadian Forces recruiting centre from attending Hamilton’s Mohawk College without supervision …”
• “Quebec City mosque shooter sentenced to at least 40 years in prison”
• “Quebec City Muslim community ‘astonished and very upset’ by Alexandre Bissonnette’s sentence”
• More on Alexandre Bissonnette sentencing (Google News)
• “Cyber security expert briefs parties on protecting themselves during election campaign”
• “Process Nerd: What can Elections Canada do to counter ‘fake news’ on the campaign trail?”
• “Social engineering is the new method of choice for hackers. Here’s how it works.”
• “Canada’s plan to counter foreign interference is a good start, but the work’s not done”
• “Élections Canada a peu d’emprise contre les fausses nouvelles”

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “2 Canadian women with children surrender to U.S.-backed forces in ISIS-held Syrian territory” cbc
• CNN interview with the two Canadian women who came out of ISIS territory yesterday and into YPG custody
• “The Desperate Exodus of ISIS Wives and Children”
• “US weapons given to UAE and Saudi Arabia are diverted to al-Qaeda-linked groups”

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “Two RCMP officers make up Mali policing arm that pledged up to 20” (ipol)
• “Dutch honour for Canadian task force commander in Mali” (RCAF info-machine)
• “Ex-jihadists among 5,000 to sign up for Mali disarmament program”
• “Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita: ‘Everyone wants peace’ “
• “Creating a long-lasting peace in Mali: SIPRI and partners launch first White Book for Peace” (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute)
• “Mali: Livre Blanc de la société civile pour la paix et la sécurité au Mali” (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute)
• “Burkina Faso president overhauls army commands in wake of ‘terrorist’ attacks”

#VEN Crisis

• “US Military Option in Venezuela Risks Long Unpopular War”
• “Canada mobilizes support for US coup in Venezuela” (World Socialist Web Site)
• “Canadian policy in Venezuela about imperialism, not democracy” (rabble.ca)
• “Corporate Interests Could Underlie Canada’s Support for Venezuela Coup”

Cold War 2.0

• “Kremlin: Russia will not deploy missiles in Belarus in response to US withdrawal from Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty”
• “Everyman’s Strategic Survey (No 47, I think, but I may have lost count): Russia is a rogue, not a peer; China is a peer, not a rogue” (Col. Ted)

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “Trump likely to sign executive order banning Chinese telecom equipment next week”
• “Beijing sends fleet of ships to disputed South China Sea island ‘to stop Philippines building facilities’ “
• “China intimidates Philippine reconstruction on Thitu Island”
• “Manila Undeterred by Chinese Ships Near South China Sea Isle”
• “US shift on South China Sea ‘grey zone’ aggression signals stronger response ahead”
• “CANADA STOCKS-TSX futures dip amid Sino-U.S. trade row”
• “Fear of China is what killed this Cold War treaty”
• “Chinese billionaire Huang Xiangmo slams ‘lies’ and ‘prejudice’ behind stripping of his Australian residency over political links”
• “Australia Investigates Apparent Hacking of National Parliament’s Computers”

The Koreas

• “Black Swans In The Land Of The Morning Calm: Civil Affairs And The Possible Futures Of The Korean Peninsula”
• “North Korean Flag at Heart of New Loyalty Campaign”

Way Up North

• “Russia accuses Norway of northern military buildup”
• “Russia Pledges Response to Norwegian Military Activity”

Sexual Assault/Harassment in the CF

• “Ex-judge who advised Forces on sex assaults says reforms slow”

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• Parliamentary Budget Officer:  New ask for “$323 million for Veterans Affairs Canada to improve services to veterans and their families.”
• “Veteran shocked by ‘wellness check’ performed by SWAT team”
• “Goal therapy treatment helps ease life for veterans with PTSD”
• “Seats still available on free cruise to France for D-Day veterans”
• “Foundation Medicine Inc. announced a nationwide contract with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Precision Oncology Program to provide comprehensive genomic profiling for eligible Veterans with advanced cancer …” (company news release)
• “RCAF Airwomen planning June reunion”

Other Military News

• “Winter war training in Thedford (Ontario) area”
• “The Royal Canadian Mint Scores an Ace as its February Collection Opens With a New Silver Coin Honouring Flying Legend Billy Bishop” (RC Mint info-machine)
• “1 oz. Pure Silver Coloured Coin – Billy Bishop – Mintage: 7,500 (2019)” (RC Mint)

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – February 7, 2019

Internal Security

• “Two Canadian women flee ISIS pocket, surrender to Kurdish forces” (Kurdish media)
• “Ottawa Refuses to Take Back Canadian IS Members Held in Syria” (Kurdish media)
• “Ottawa won’t heed U.S. call to return ISIS fighters”
• “Canada may not have to repatriate ISIS fighters from Syria: experts”
• “What drives ISIS to stalk free Yezidis in Canada?” (Kurdish media)
• “Quebec City mosque shooter Alexandre Bissonnette could receive longest prison term ever in Canada”
• “Alexandre Bissonnette, guilty of the murder of six faithful at the mosque of Quebec in January 2017, the worst attack against a Muslim place of worship in the Western world, will be sentenced Friday …” (in French)
• Quebec City mosque shooting (Wikipedia)
• “Hackers targeting Canadian banks, mining companies, expert tells MPs”
• “Hundreds of ex-slaves in Libya coming to Canada, immigration minister says”
• “750 anciens esclaves en Libye pris en charge par le Canada”

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “US to Allies: Prepare for ‘New Stage’ in Fight Against Islamic State”
• “Kurdistan PM meets Iraqi counterpart in Baghdad to discuss Erbil-Baghdad ties”
• “Peshmerga, Iraqi Army form committees to start joint ops in disputed areas” (Kurdish media)
• “Peshmerga, Iraqi defense officials discuss steps toward joint security” (Kurdish media)
• “General underscores Iraq and Peshmerga have common enemy in extremism” (Kurdish media)
• “Kurds in Iraq say US withdrawal from Syria a mistake”
• “Any transfers of suspected foreign jihadists and their relatives out of Syria should be transparent, Human Rights Watch told AFP, as camps in the northeast fill with families of different nationalities …” (Kurdish media)

#VEN Crisis

• “Le gouvernement canadien recommande d’éviter «tout voyage» au Venezuela”
• “How Chrystia Freeland Organized Donald Trump”s Coup in Venezuela” (pro-RUS think tank site)

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “Le Mali s’engage à une nouvelle réforme constitutionnelle”
• “Burkina Faso Plagued by Terror Attacks, Rights Allegations”
• “Opération barkhane: Point de situation du 1er au 7 février 2019”
• “UN calls on international community to release funds pledged to G5 Sahel”
• “Le G5 Sahel tarde à recouvrer les fonds promis”
• “US General Warns of Russian, Chinese Inroads in Africa”

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE

• “Russia Would Be Open to U.S. Proposals for New Nuclear Pact, Minister Says”
• “Russia Welcomes Trump Offer of New Nuclear Pact, Awaits Details”

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “China trying to infiltrate US colleges to recruit spies, indoctrinate students, intelligence agencies say”
• “Why Does China Want a Carrier Fleet?” (The Dignified Rant blog)
• “Senior US Navy Adviser Suggests Rulebook With China to Avoid Close Calls at Sea”
• “Australia Denies Passport to Chinese Billionaire, Political Donor”

Way Up North

• “On guard at the top of the world (@ CFS Alert)”
• “Canada awards contracts for R&D to beef up Arctic surveillance”
• “Arctic Conflict With Russia ‘Not Likely In The Short-Term’, Analyst Says”
• “Army National Guard Soldiers learn arctic survival from northern neighbors” (US Army info-machine)
• “Exercise Clockwork: Taking To The Skies Over The Arctic Circle” (UK MoD info-machine)
• “Deputy Minister for the Russian Far East put in charge of Arctic development”
• “(NOR) Intelligence Service no longer confirms Kirkenes as home port for spy ship”

Afghanistan

• “Taliban continues to host foreign terrorist groups, despite assurances to the contrary” (FDD’s Long War Journal)
• “New audio message from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan: “Interview With Zabīh Allah Mujāhid On The Moscow Summit” ” (Links to non-terrorist site)

What’s Canada Buying?

• “Les premiers F-18 australiens usagés arriveront au Canada dans les prochains jours”
• “Seaspan Selects Lockheed Martin’s CMS 330 for Joint Support Ships”
• “Changes in the shipbuilding sequence, as part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, will delay the construction and delivery of the second and final Joint Support Ship …” (in French)

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “Canada House Wellness Group Inc (CNSX:CHV) CEO on Expanding Clinic Network — Canada House Wellness Group Inc (CNSX:CHV) (OTCMKTS:SARSF) (FRA:509A) is an integrated cannabinoid therapy company. Founded by military veterans, Canada House Wellness serves veterans and non-veterans alike …” (company news release)
• “Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould and MP Anita Vandenbeld announce funding for The Vanier Institute of the Family” (VAC info-machine)

Other Military News

• “Armed Drones to Patrol Canadian Airspace in Future”
• “No evidence of munitions or chemical weapons in Bras d’Or Lake, says DND”
• “Royal Canadian Navy’s Naval Support Ship, MV Asterix Departs for Operational Deployment Following Planned Maintenance Period”
• “Asterix deploys for year-long world-tour” (Davie Shipbuilding info-machine)
• “Le NCSM Regina et l’Astérix partent en déploiement en Asie‑Pacifique et au Moyen-Orient”
• “Confront or Appease: Canada (and Others) Face Tough Choices” (Saideman’s Semi-Spew blog)
• “Canada’s last living Dambuster, Fred Sutherland, died on January 21, 2019. Now only one person who participated in the daring raid to destroy German dams nearly 76 years ago is left alive: Great Britain’s George “Johnny” Johnson …” (RCAF info-machine)

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – February 6, 2019

Internal Security

• “Canada will not be making U.S. ‘suggestion’ to repatriate ISIS fighters a priority: Goodale”
• “Goodale says Canada won’t follow U.S. suggestion to repatriate foreign fighters”
• “Goodale says he won’t put Canadians ‘at risk’ to bring ISIS fighters home for trial”
• “Former ISIS sex slaves sheltered in Canada threatened with phone calls, texts”
• “Former ISIS sex slaves in Canada threatened by terrorist captors” (The Rebel media)
• “Foreign hackers targeting Canadian banks and government, cyber-security expert tells MPs”
• “Cyber-warfare could be entering a new and alarming phase, ex-CIA analyst tells (Cdn) MPs”
• “Canada is an ‘attractive target’ for new cyberattack techniques, security expert testifies”
• “Parliament’s security service looks for cyber guru”
• “Over the next year, the top-secret National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians plans to probe the threat foreign interference poses to Canada, and examine how the military collects and uses information about Canadians …”

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE

• “Memorandum of understanding on establishment of military headquarters North in Adazi to be signed by Latvia, Denmark, Estonia”
• “German air superiority fighters in Estonia scrambled 30 times over six months”
• “Nudol ASAT was tested from Plesetsk in December 2018” (Russian strategic nuclear forces blog)
• “Yars launch from Plesetsk” (Russian strategic nuclear forces blog)
• “{Denmark, France and the Netherlands have received the first shipment of new anti-tank weapons under the Land Battle Decisive Munition (LBDM) multi-national NATO project. The LBDM project allows allies to acquire land munitions, including mortars, artillery shells, rockets and missiles, in a cost-effective and flexible way …”
• “Finnish Defense Forces Buy Israeli Counter-Battery Radars”
• “Inside NATO’s cyber defence centre”
• “Lithuania blocks investment made by Russian oligarch because of threat of espionage”

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “Mission in Mali — In Mali, the environment is not your friend. That is true for many people in this West African nation, which encompasses vast swaths of the brutally hot Sahara desert and semi-arid Sahel region. But it is especially true if your task is to operate aircraft on complex missions at a moment’s notice …”
• “Mali: La MINUSMA offre Cinq points de contrôle aux FAMa à Mopti” (MINUSMA info-machine)
• “Mali: Quarterly Factsheet: « Strengthening the resilience of populations displaced by the instability in Northern Mali » October – December 2018” (UN High Commissioner for Refugees)
• “Jihadists retaliate after Burkina Faso military offensive”

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “UN report: IS responsible for most attacks in Iraq and Syria”
• “Eighth report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) to international peace and security and the range of United Nations efforts in support of Member States in countering the threat” (UN info-machine, 17 pg PDF)
• “Kurds oppose Turkey’s presence in security zone on border with Syria”
• “Syria withdrawal not ‘the end of America’s fight’ against ISIS, Pompeo reassures allies”
• “Russia Offers to Mediate between Hamas, Fatah and Israel” (Warsaw Institute)

Afghanistan

• “On Visit to Russia, Taliban Says It Wants U.S. Pullout in Months”
• “Participants in intra-Afghan talks urge withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan”
• “Taliban Insists On Foreign-Troop Withdrawal At Moscow Talks”
• “Participants in intra-Afghan talks call for lifting sanctions from Taliban leaders”
• “Afghan Military Rejects Russia’s Allegation of U.S. ‘Liberating Islamic State Leaders’” (polygraph.info fact checking site)

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “Chinese internet users jump on Justin Trudeau’s Lunar New Year message to chide Canadian PM over Huawei”
• “Chinese state-owned broadcaster registers with US as foreign agent under anti-propaganda law”

The Koreas

• “New UN Report Shows North Korea voiding Sanctions”
• “Russia to repatriate all N. Korean workers by end of 2019, labor minister affirms”

What’s Canada Buying? (1):  Big Honkin’ Ship Document Leak Case

• “Norman case sheds light into deliberately dimmed chambers”

What’s Canada Buying? (2):  The Rest

• “(RCAF) aiming to have armed drones in the air in next six years: commander”
• “New schedule will shave months off construction of navy support vessel: Shipyard”
• “Fighter jet fiasco indicative of bureaucratic procurement system: Senator Eaton” (Senate of Canada info-machine)

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “Call for Nominations for the Veterans Ombudsman Commendation”

Other Military News

• “Canada Deploys Warship to Asia-Pacific, Mideast”
• “HMCS Regina departs for deployment to the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions” (DND info-machine)
• “RCAF’s Cyclone helicopter undertakes third operational deployment with HMCS Regina” (RCAF info-machine)
• ” ‘White man’s war’: Military Museums exhibit takes honest look at ugly period”

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – February 5, 2019

Internal Security

• “Goodale says Canada won’t follow U.S. suggestion to repatriate foreign fighters”
• “Former Guantanamo Bay prisoner Omar Khadr is asking Alberta youth court to order his release and declare his eight-year sentence — imposed by a widely maligned military commission in the United States — to have expired. In a separate application before Federal Court, Khadr is attempting to force national parole authorities to grant him a hearing at which he would argue for release. The overriding idea, Khadr’s Edmonton-based lawyer said in an interview Tuesday, is to ensure an end point to the eight-year sentence the commission imposed on him in 2010 …”
• “Why Has The Trudeau Government Treated Omar Khadr Better Than Vice-Admiral Mark Norman?” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• “Concerns raised over national security amid refugee screening backlog”
• “National security committee to probe Border Services activities”
• “Harassment, sexual assault among alleged misconduct by border agents investigated by CBSA”

Way Up North

• “Canada awards two contracts to boost Arctic surveillance”
• “General Dynamics Boasted of Three Land C4ISR Contracts”
• “Earth’s Magnetic Pole is Quickly Moving Toward Russia, Models Say”
• “The North Pole is mysteriously moving, and the U.S. government finally caught up”
• “The magnetic field near the Arctic is acting weird”
• “Polar express: magnetic north pole speeds towards Russia”
• “Magnetic north pole leaves Canada , on fast new path”
• “The Russian Defense Ministry will deploy two squadrons of MiG-31 interceptors at the Monchegorsk airfield in the Murmansk region; they will eventually be merged into an air force regiment to boost combat power of the Northern Fleet, the newspaper Izvestia said on Tuesday …”
• “What role for China and India in the Arctic?”

#VEN Crisis

• “Guaido backs Canada, allies call for military back Venezuelan opposition”
• “Canada’s leadership on Venezuela is misguided, misdirected – and a mistake”
• “Ottawa wrong to support military solution in Venezuela”
• “Venezuela’s crisis: Why now and what’s next?”
• “Venezuela opposition warns military against preventing entry of aid”

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “Canada, China, and the Trump Doctrine” (Centre for International Policy Studies)
• “Chinese Dissidents to be Resettled in Canada, Thai Lawyer Says”
• “A Chinese student has been sentenced to a year in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally taking photos of a U.S. military installation …”
• “A senior military official on Sunday called on media as well as literary and art workers of the military to promote innovation and development in their work, so as to provide solid support for strengthening and revitalizing the armed forces …” (CHN military media)

The Koreas

• “A new research project examines the link between North Korea and various European Communist secret police agencies following the end of World War II, including documents recording the transport of Korean War orphans from the peninsula to Poland, as well as information on American and British prisoners of war (POWs) …”
• “Kim Jong Un, Donald Trump to meet in Danang at the end of February: source”
• “US President Donald Trump names Vietnam for second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un”

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “Russian recruitment offices refuse to grant veteran status to soldiers fighting in Syria”
• “Recruitment offices do not put hot spots — Families of combatants in Syria are forced to seek payments due to them through the courts …” (in Russian)

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE

• “According to the Estonian Ministry of Defense, the expansion of training ranges suggested to the Baltic states by a report of the International Center for Defense and Security (ICDS) so as to receive additional NATO forces is time-consuming and expensive, public broadcaster ERR reports …”
• “Estonia outlines defence development objectives for 2020–23”
• “Lithuanian State Security Dep’t Lists Russia Among Key Threats to Country”
• “Latest National Threat Assessment presented” (LTU Mod info-machine)
• “Intelligence: Russia uses drones for monitoring in Lithuania”
• “Lithuania fears Russia will attempt to sway its elections”
• “Belarusians Apparently More Resilient to Russian Propaganda Than Many Fear” (Jamestown)
• “Alleviating Tensions Between Russia and Belarus: Two Paradigms” (Jamestown)
• “Dostoevsky Knew: Jews’ Seizure for World Power Predicted by Literary Giant” (pro-RUS site)
• “Russian tanks would be a nightmare for NATO if World War III erupts” (pro-RUS site)

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “Sahel leaders meet against backdrop of new violence”
• “G5 nations meet in Burkina Faso day after deadly attack”
• “14 civilians killed in jihadist attack in Burkina Faso”
• “Burkina Faso forces kill 146 jihadists after civilian attack”

What’s Canada Buying? (1):  Big Honkin’ Ship Document Leak Case

• “Shipyard at heart of Norman trial received secret cabinet documents in error”

What’s Canada Buying? (2):  The Rest

• “Ottawa pushes navy’s planned supply ships to the front of the construction queue”
• “DND seeks industry input for Land electronic warfare”

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “Wounded Warriors in Red Deer raising money for service dogs for veterans with PTSD”

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