MILNEWS.ca Highlights – January 15, 2019

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “Distance a challenge for Cdn peacekeeping mission in Mali, commander says”
• “Midway through Canada’s involvement, security in Mali worsens”
• “Non, 200 soldats maliens ne se sont pas “volatilisés dans la nature” au Canada”
• “Briefing sur le Mali : le Conseil de sécurité sera informé de la situation au Mali”
• “In eastern Burkina Faso, local grievances help militancy take root”
• “International Criminal Court acquits former president Gbagbo of war crimes in Côte d’Ivoire” (UN info-machine)
• “Laurent Gbagbo case: Ivory Coast leader’s acquittal rattles ICC foundations”
• “Kenya Official: Deadly Nairobi Hotel Attack Under Control”
• “Top UN officials strongly condemn ‘horrible terrorist act’ in Nairobi” (UN info-machine)
• “Somali Islamist Extremists Claim Responsibility For Attack In Nairobi”

Internal Security

• “Canadian caught in Syria was commander of ISIS unit, according to U.S.-backed forces”
• “Toronto man allegedly fighting for ISIL captured in Syria”
• Amarnath Amarasingam on Twitter: “… Public Safety Minister @RalphGoodale spoke in Regina today and provided some much detail to the foreign fighter and returnee issue. Some of his quotes below. And thanks much to @janicedickson for sharing the transcript …”

#CHN/#CAN “Guests”

• “Canadian Sentenced to Death in Drug Smuggling Retrial”
• “China’s Death Sentence For Canadian Prompts Protest, Warnings”
• “Canadien condamné à mort: la Chine ferme face à Trudeau”
• “‘Your country deserves much better’: B.C. judge warned Canadian (in 2012) sentenced to death in China”
• “Canada warns citizens about China’s ‘arbitrary enforcement of laws’ after drug smuggling death sentence”
• “Canada Issues Travel Advisory For China, Communists Retaliate With Warning Of Their Own” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• “Ottawa warns: travel to China at your own ‘arbitrary’ risk”
• “Exercise a high degree of caution in China due to the risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws …” (Global Affairs Canada travel advisory)
• “China retaliates against the US and Canada, issuing its own travel warning for Chinese citizens”
• “China is not politicising Canadian drug smuggler it sentenced to death, state media claims”
• “Le ton monte entre Pékin et Ottawa après la condamnation d’un Canadien”
• “Analysis: China Pulling out All Stops in Canada Tensions”
• “China sends a message … Canada has done nothing wrong and there is nothing to be put right; we are a whipping boy and we need to take out lashes, now, manfully. There’s nothing much for Justin Trudeau to do and there is, equally, little point in chastising him for doing nothing.” (Col. Ted)
• “Ex-Canadian diplomat not qualified for immunity: FM” (CHN Communist Party media)
• “Huawei Founder Denies His Firm Spies For China”
• “Huawei founder says company would not share user secrets”
• “Huawei’s Mysterious Founder Denies Spying for China, Praises Trump”

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “Senior Chinese military official meets with chief of US Naval Operations” (CHN military media)
• “DIA’s China Military Power Report Details Leaders’ Strategy” (US DoD info-machine)
• “Some Chinese military tech surpasses US, Pentagon admits, citing hypersonic weapons”
• “China won’t tolerate interference in Taiwan, military chief warns US”
• “Chinese companies have their eyes on what used to be the US Navy’s biggest base in the Pacific”
• “Senior (CHN) military official calls for new advances in anti-graft fight” (CHN mil media)
• “China’s Belt And Road Initiative Faces Obstacles in 2019”

The Koreas

• “Kim Jong-un’s Right-Hand Man ‘to Visit U.S.’ “
• “North Korea Could Have 100 Nuclear Warheads By 2020: Report”
• “S. Korea Removes ‘Enemy’ Reference to N. Korea in New Defense Report”
• “Four Problems on the Korean Peninsula: North Korea’s Expanding Nuclear Capabilities Drive a Complex Set of Problems — North Korea’s Expanding Nuclear Capabilities Drive a Complex Set of Problems …” (RAND)
• “Making the Korean Peninsula a lasting peace zone” (PRK info-machine)

#RUS/#CAN “Guest”

• “US, Irish diplomats soon to visit espionage suspect Paul Whelan”
• “Moscow court to consider complaint against arrest of suspected US spy Whelan January 22”

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE

• “Trump repeatedly mulled leaving NATO military alliance, report claims”
• “Faced with Trump’s wavering support for NATO, Nordic nations stick together”
• “Russian Military Increasingly Consists of Seriously Undermanned Units”
• “NATO Expansion in EU a Cold War Relic: Putin Says Russia Doesn’t Want Arms Race”
• “Russia not going to enter any arms race, says (RUS) security chief”
• “Belarus and Russia Dispute the Fundamentals of Their Relationship”
• “Belarus’s Sovereignty and Russia’s Brotherly Embrace”
• “Russia’s New Tool for Wielding Information” (ISW Blog)

What’s Canada Buying?

• “Airbus open to a fighter plane assembly plant in Quebec ahead of federal bids”

Sexual Assault/Harassment in the CF

• “Military court ruling to remain in place pending Supreme Court hearing”
• “Top court rejects Ottawa’s bid to stay Charter ruling that guts military justice system”

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “Is Veterans Affairs ‘political purgatory’? Jody Wilson-Raybould is about to find out — A department that’s seen seven ministers since 2010 could use some continuity, critics say …”
• “Calgary Military Museums honour forgotten Canadian Vietnam veterans”

Other Military News

• “New CTF 150 Commander conducts first official visit in Oman” (RCN info-machine)
• “Government of Canada launches pilot project to construct new facility for the Royal Canadian Dragoons” (DND info-machine)
• “Le gouvernement du Canada lance un projet pilote visant la construction de nouvelles installations pour le Royal Canadian Dragoons”

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – January 14, 2019

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• Habemus new minister …
  
• “… Jody Wilson-Raybould, currently Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, becomes Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence …” (PMO info-machine)
• Jody Wilson-Raybould on Twitter: “It is an honour to have the opportunity to serve as Minister of Veterans Affairs. I look forward to hearing from and working with Canada’s Veterans and their families and to provide them with the benefits and services they’ve earned.”
• “John Ivison: Wilson-Raybould couldn’t hide her disappointment at move from justice minister”
• “Jody Wilson-Raybould’s Surprise Shuffle Isn’t A Demotion, Trudeau Says”
• “Wilson-Raybould moved to Veterans Affairs, Lametti named justice minister in Trudeau cabinet shuffle”
• “Wilson-Raybould to bring ‘deft’ touch to Veterans Affairs: Trudeau”
• “Jody Wilson-Raybould devient ministre des Anciens Combattants et ministre associée de la Défense nationale”
• “… The big loser, it seems to me, is Jody Wilson-Raybould who certainly appears to be being demoted from Justice Minister to Veterans Affairs. But, as some observers have pointed out, veterans are, as they were in 2014/15, a big and delicate political problem. Most people don’t understand veterans’ issues but they sympathize with the plight of the men and women who were wounded, in body and spirit, in Canada’s service. Ms Wilson-Raybould is a very accomplished person, but she had some mixed reviews for her time as Minister of Justice …” (Col. Ted)
• “Whatchu Smokin? Trudeau Says Seamus O’Regan Showed “Tremendously Positive Experience & Abilities” At Veterans Affairs” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• In other VAC news …
  
• “Anatomy of a blunder: How Veterans Affairs quietly buried a $165M accounting error”

Internal Security

• “Alleged Canadian ISIS member captured in Syria, according to Kurdish forces”
• “One of the longest-running national security cases in Canada has resulted in a massive civil lawsuit, as an Egyptian-born Toronto man is suing the federal government for repeatedly trying to deport him over alleged ties to the 1998 terrorist bombings of U.S. embassies in Africa …”
• “Terrible: Bob Rae Compares Canadian Yellow Vests To ‘Brownshirts’ ” (Spencer Fernando blog)

#CHN/#CAN “Guests”

• “Canadian PM Justin Trudeau accuses China of ignoring detainee Michael Kovrig’s ‘diplomatic immunity’ in Huawei arrest fallout”
• “Trudeau says China ignored ‘diplomatic immunity’ in detaining Canadian”
• “Detained Canadian not entitled to diplomatic immunity, despite Trudeau’s complaint: China”
• “Canadian MP Michael Cooper calls China’s treatment of detainees ‘unacceptable’ “
• “In Chinese court, Canadian drug smuggling accused’s defence is attack on the man he hired as translator”
• “Trudeau accuses China of ‘arbitrarily’ applying death sentence in Canadian case”
• “China Sentences Canadian to Death for Drug Smuggling”
• “Chinese Court Sentences Canadian to Death Over Drug Trafficking Case – Report”
• “Globe editorial: For China’s government, the rule of law is a foreign concept”
• “VIDEO: Trudeau Responds To China’s ‘Basic Dictatorship’ Sentencing Canadian Citizen Robert Lloyd Schellenberg To Death Penalty” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• “After Suspicious ‘New Trial,’ Communist China Sentences Canadian Citizen To Death” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• “China Turns Away Jailed Dissident’s Canadian Daughter”

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “China opposes foreign participation in Taiwan submarine production”
• “Ex-(PHL) Navy chief warns about Chinese takeover of Subic shipyard”
• “As gov’t eyes Hanjin strategic investor, ex-Navy chief frets over national security”
• “US, Australia Kick Off Anti-Submarine Drills Near Guam – Pentagon”
• “Senior Japanese, Russian diplomats to hold consultations on peace treaty”
• “Russia’s sovereignty over Kuril Islands not negotiable, says Lavrov”
• “Development plans make speculations about Kurils handover irrelevant — acting governor” (TASS)
• “Russia Says Major Disagreements Remain in Peace Talks with Japan”
• “A note on PLAN orbat — It seems that changes are occurring to the PLAN orbat the last six months: At least three new Frigate Flotillas (one per theater command, Northern, Eastern, and Southern) has been commissioned to home all those newly minted Type056s and Type054As. Some Fast Attack Flotillas are being recommissioned as Frigate Flotillas as well …” (China Defense Blog)
• “China eyes to double recruitment of aircraft carrier cadet pilots” (CHN mil media)
• “China’s ‘Underground Steel Great Wall’ capable of defeating hypersonic weapon attacks” (CHN mil media)
• “Remote Military Outpost will Help Indonesia Resist Chinese Maritime Expansion”
• “China and UN Peacekeeping” (Centre for International Policy Studies)

The Koreas

• “U.S. Forces Japan Lists N.Korea as ‘Declared Nuclear State’ “
• “Xi Jinping set to meet Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang in April, South Korean sources say”
• “Sharp fall in China’s trade with North Korea as UN sanctions bite”

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “Media Opportunity with the outgoing Commander of Task Force Mali (tomorrow)” (DND info-machine)
• “Canadian Troops Pose With Chinook As It Sticks A Pinnacle Landing While On Deployment In Mali”
• “Des déserteurs maliens au Canada ? Une parodie devenue une fausse info”
• “How a spoof story about Malian soldiers deserting in Canada became ‘fake news'”
• “Mali: MINUSMA Deployment, December 2018” (UN Cartographic Section)
• “Mali: the army takes terrorists by surprise”
• “Mali – Guerre ouverte entre les leaders musulmans et le pouvoir”
• “Risk is real as Irish special forces to deploy to Mali”
• “Burkina Faso extends state of emergency in north by 6 months after attack”
• “Jihadists kill 12 civilians in Burkina Faso”
• “Can Ad Hoc Security Coalitions in Africa Bring Stability?” (International Peace Institute)

#RUS/#CAN “Guest”

• “US, UK, Canada, Ireland Envoys Discuss Whelan Espionage Case – Whelan’s Brother”
• “Kremlin denies reports of possible exchange of Paul Whelan for Russian agent Maria Butina”
• “Family of US citizen detained in Russia starts petition to get him released”
• “Here’s Why Paul Whelan Probably Isn’t a Spook – His Bizarre Story” (pro-RUS site)

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE

• “Russia’s Baltic Fleet to embark on over ten long-distance missions in 2019” (TASS)
• “Frigate Admiral Gorshkov to carry out first long voyage this year”
• “Russia plans to place over 30 Poseidon underwater nuclear drones on combat duty”
• “Russian Navy to put over 30 Poseidon strategic underwater drones on combat duty – source” (TASS)
• “Russian Air Force got 50 new combat aircraft in 2018”
• “Russia to Complete Military Satellite Constellation Blagovest in April – Source”
• “Army Commanders” (Russian Defense Policy blog)
• “Russian Defense Ministry Proposes Law To Allow Shooting Down Of Passenger Planes”
• “On the order of use of weapons and military equipment in the protection of the state border of the Russian Federation in the airspace of the Russian Federation” (RUS govt, in Russian)
• “Russia Will Shoot Down Any Aircraft That Violates Its Borders”
• “Data on interceptions of aircraft completed near the Baltic States’ borders on January 7–13, 2019” (LTU MoD)
• “PEAK PARANOIA: Elite US University Introduces ‘Russian Hybrid War’ Course, Hires Hysterical Propagandist” (pro-RUS site)
• “Russia forced to sell technology to China in exchange for repairing ill-fated Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier”
• “Countering Russian disinformation the Baltic nations’ way”
• “NATO launches new multinational force in Romania”
• “Poland plans to build an island in the Baltic Sea”
• “An artificial island will be built on the Vistula Lagoon. Poland will expand by 181 hectares” (in Polish)
• “Lukashenko suggests starting oil delivery to Belarus via Baltic countries” (BLR state media)
• “An Assessment of North Atlantic Treaty Organization Cyber Strategy and Cyber Challenges” (Divergent Options paper)

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “Damascus Confirms Talks With Kurds Intensified Due to Threats by Turkey”
• “Syrian government looks to ramp up talks with embattled Kurds”
• “Erdogan, Trump Discuss Creation of Security Zone in N Syria – Turkish Official”
• “Trump, Erdogan discussed ‘ongoing cooperation’ in Syria: White House”
• “Trump threatens to ‘devastate’ Turkey if it attacks Kurds”
• “Trump threatens Turkey’s economy if it attacks Syrian Kurd militia”
• “Pompeo: U.S. withdrawal from Syria ‘incredibly clear’ “
• “Al-Qaeda’s shadow still hangs over Syria’s Idlib: Analysts”
• “ISIS Commander Left For Dead By ‘Brothers’ After He’s Shot”
• “White House sought military strike against Iran”

Way Up North

• “US plans to send warship to the Arctic”
• “Arctic May Heat Up as US Mulls Sending Warships to Area Amid Russia Tensions”
• “As Arctic Melts, US Navy Moves Into Region”
• “Swedish defence agency warns satellite station could be serving Chinese military”
• “Magnetic North Pole Shifting Rapidly and Unpredicatably”
• “Earth’s north magnetic pole is erratically shifting at a speed at 50 km per year”
• “North magnetic pole’s movement forces unprecedented navigation fix”

What’s Canada Buying?

• “Eurofighter Typhoon to bid to replace Canadian CF-18 fleet”
• “New logistics trucks delivered to Valcartier” (DND info-machine)
• “Nouveaux camions logistiques livrés à Valcartier”
• “Big ships … I am persuaded that there is a case for new, big ships in the Royal Canadian Navy … we had them from 1943 (HMS Nabob was a British aircraft carrier commanded and crewed by Canadians) through HMCS Magnificent (1948-57) until HMCS Bonaventure (1957 to 1970). I suspect that the military case for such ships is fairly easy to make, but the political case would be much more difficult …” (Col. Ted)

Sexual Assault/Harassment in the CF

• “Military court ruling on sexual-assault case to remain in place pending Supreme Court hearing”
• “Supreme Court rejects bid to block court ruling that left dozens of military prosecutions in limbo”

Other Military News

• “Fires and rollovers plague Canadian Army’s $600 million fleet of new armoured vehicles”
• “Smol: Is it time for Canada’s military to unionize?”
• “Gagetown soldiers take a new road to counter-IED training” (Army info-machine)
• “Trudeau’s Weakness & Canada’s Lack Of Military Strength Means Nobody Takes Us Seriously” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• ” “Game changing” mast installation underway for submarines” (RCN info-machine)
• “Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and colleagues will be visiting the Québec region from January 15 to 16, 2019” (DND info-machine)
• “4 Wing Cold Lake welcomes new honorary colonel” (RCAF info-machine)
• “Digitizing Joint Fires” (Canadian Army Today)
• “Canada in space … Canada needs to be in space, the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces need to be doing more in space. Canada needs to strengthen its ties with the USA, especially in the continental ballistic missile defence system and Canada, on its own and as part of NORAD, needs to build and operate a national, military satellite surveillance system. But those are decisions that politicians must take, first …” (Col. Ted)

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – January 7, 2019

Internal Security

• “Hackers Wanted: Canadian Intelligence Service is Hiring” (RUS state media)
• “Network Exploitation Analyst” (Canada.ca) http://bit.ly/2C39R0V
• Network Exploitation Analyst Canada : Government of Canada : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
• “Is There A Radical Right Racism Problem In The Canadian Armed Forces?”
• Col Ted on dealing with “tourist terrorists”: “A study in contrasts”

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “Mali threatens to end any military alliance with Canada” (MLI media, in French)
• “Mali president visits village massacre site as UN calls for action”
• “Mali president visits village massacre site as UN calls for action”
• “Mali : le président IBK se recueille sur les tombes de 37 villageois peuls”
• “Sept civils tués au Burkina Faso le 31 décembre, 39 morts dans des représailles”
• “(IRL) Govt considering proposal to send army rangers to Mali”
• “La présence de l’ONU dans le Centre du Mali “est en passe d’être renforcée” (Antonio Guterres)”
• “Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Mali (S/2018/1174)” (PDF, UN info-machine)
• “Gao : Une école entièrement réhabilitée et rééquipée par la MINUSMA” (MINUSMA info-machine)
• “Ouvrir la voie à la réconciliation au centre du Mali” (MINUSMA info-machine)
• “Mali: opération anti-terroriste à Boni, dans le cercle de Douentza”
• “Canadian and Italian tourists feared kidnapped in Burkina Faso”
• “Quebec woman Edith Blais and Italian friend Luca Tacchetto missing in Burkina Faso”
• “Canada treating disappearance of Quebec woman in Burkina Faso as kidnapping”
• “Burkina Faso: Dozens killed in clashes, UN chief condemns attacks” (UN info-machine)
• “Successful Niger joint operation against militants”
• “Russian private military contractors spotted in Sudan”
• “Still No Word On Location, Fate Of Abducted Russian Sailors Off West Africa Coast”
• “Has the United States Withdrawn from Africa?”
• “China plays constructive role in safeguarding peace, security in Africa: (CHN) FM” (CHN media)

Cold War 2.0/Multinational “Guest” of #RUS

• “Russia receives request from Canada to visit Whelan – Foreign Ministry”
• “Russia ready to organize Whelan’s meeting with officials from countries he is citizen of”
• “American held on espionage charges in Russia has three other citizenships” (intelNews.org)
• “Marine Vet Arrested In Russia Tried To Steal $10,000 From US”

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE

• “Media Opportunity, Operation REASSURANCE Maritime Task Force (ROTO 9) — Media are invited to participate in a one-on-one telephone interview with the Commanding Officer of HMCS Ville de Québec, currently deployed on Operation REASSURANCE Maritime Task Force, Canada’s support to NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe …” (DND info-machine)
• “Data on interceptions of aircraft completed near the Baltic States’ borders on December 31, 2018 – January 6, 2019” (LTU MoD info-machine)
• “German Jets To Conduct Training Flights Over Estonia Starting Monday – Defense Forces”
• “Russian defense export agency fakes photo of new T-90S tank”
• “Fiddle Me This: Villain Behind Cuban ‘Sonic Attacks’ Not Moscow But Crickets” (RUS state media)
• “Drawing the Line on US Reassurance to Eastern Europe” (Lawfare blog)

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “Canadian tourist held in Syria: official” (Kurdish media)
• “Canada Can’t Do Much To Help British Columbia’s Kristian Lee Baxter, Detained In Syria Over 1 Month Ago”
• “B.C. ‘adventure’ traveller detained in Syria, missing for more than one month”
• “Nanaimo ‘adventure’ traveller detained in Syria, missing for more than one month”
• “2 British soldiers wounded, YPG fighter killed in ISIS missile attack: SDF” (Kurdish media)
• “Two British special forces soldiers injured by Isis in Syria”
• “British soldiers wounded in Syria ISIL attack”
• “Reports: 2 British soldiers wounded in IS attack in Syria”
• “Trump adviser outlines conditions for US pullout from Syria”
• “Syria conflict: Bolton says US withdrawal is conditional”
• “US Official: No Abrupt Pullout of Troops From Syria”
• “Kurdish Official Asks for US Clarifications Over Withdrawal”
• ” Map: Russia and Iran Prepare for New Syria Battlefield” (ISW blog)
• “SDF announces arrests of 2 Americans, 2 Pakistanis, Irishman in Deir ez-Zor — Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) captured five foreign ISIS fighters this week in eastern Syria, the group announced on Sunday …” (Kurdish media)
• “Isis members from US and Ireland captured in Syria”
• “Iran Says It Is Planning Naval Drills With Russia in Caspian Sea”
• “Iran plans naval drills with Russia in Caspian Sea”
• “Russia and Iran to hold joint military exercises in the Caspian Sea”
• “Trump’s Security Adviser Arrives in Turkey for Key Talks”
• “The United States Can’t Rely on Turkey to Defeat ISIS” (RAND)
• “Syrian Kurdish groups attempt to unify after Trump withdrawal decision” (Kurdish media)
• “US, Turkey Set for Negotiations on Fate of Kurds”
• “YPG Offers to Surrender its Zones in Syria for Kurdish Autonomy – Reports”
• “Syrian Kurds deny Trump’s claim they sell oil to Iran” (Kurdish media)
• “Russia Now Juggling Challenges of War-Wracked Syria”
• “US blocks sale of Sukhoi Superjets to Iran” (pro-RUS site)
• “Three Iraqi delegations visited Israel in recent months: report”
• “Secret delegations from Iraq visit Israel”
• “CJTF-OIR erases ISIS propaganda cells — Operation Inherent Resolve continued supporting Coalition partner forces with precision strikes and coordinated fires to make further progress in the fight against ISIS in the Middle Euphrates River Valley, Syria, during the week of Dec. 23 – 29 …” (CENTCOM info-machine)

Way Up North

• “Prince Harry ‘to join 1,000 British troops on elite Arctic war exercise’ “
• “The Embassy of the Russian Federation: the British royal family trying to engage in the anti-Russian campaign” (TASS, in Russian)
• “Russia alarmed by Prince Harry’s participation in Norway military drills”
• “Russia Trembles as Prince Harry Comes out of Retirement to Join British Marines in ‘Show of Force’ vs Moscow”
• “Prince Harry Will Reportedly Join ‘Biggest’ War Games Against Russia”

What’s Canada Buying?

• Wanted:  “… Currently, DND and first responder command personnel rely on a number of techniques and tools to track and/or replenish their resources, from spreadsheets to more sophisticated software applications. Responders need the ability to integrate data from all stakeholders to identify which resources are available for a response and anticipated timelines for delivery. The Department of National Defense (DND) is seeking a solution that could create future state systems and tools based upon an evaluation of current available technologies …”
• “Vice-Admiral Norman’s case takes another revealing turn — If one Canadian Armed Forces witness is right, the former vice-chief of defence staff’s case could point to a dangerous circumvention of access-to-information rules in DND …”
• Col. Ted on used F-18’s fm AUS: “A colossal waste of money … Justin Trudeau is wasting scarce Canadian taxpayer’s dollars, your dollars, to coverup an attempted scam. It must be pretty clear to anyone who is paying attention that neither he nor Harjit Sajjan cares about Canada’s Air Force … their sole, compete and total involvement is designed to get them off a messy political hook …”

Other Military Stuff

• “Military expert suggests Canada may want to consider its own space force”
• ‘The Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) Submarine Force has had a busy year marked by two highly successful, simultaneous, out-of-area deployments …” (defence.frontline.online)
• “Canada’s Air Force: Destined to Become Old an Obsolete?” (The National Interest)
• “Recrafting the Fighter role” (defence.frontline.online)
• “Operational influencers — Influence activities (IA) operations were one of the main focal points at Exercise Maple Resolve 2018 (Ex MR 18), and the Canadian Army intends to substantially increase IA personnel by the end of 2019 to meet escalating demand …” (Canadian Army Today)
• ” Air and Space Power Operations Course breaks down “stovepipes” (RCAF info-machine)”
• “Mountain Operators teach Gunners to manage avalanches in British Columbia” (Army info-machine)

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• ” ‘Important’ that Canadian delegation didn’t cancel China trip, conflict expert says”
• “Ottawa, Beijing Discuss Issue of Canadians Detained in China – Reports”
• ” ‘Nothing held back’ as Canadian delegation raises detainee issue in China”
• ” The US military is warning that China’s fishing boats are bullies and could start a war on the high seas”
• “Chinese fighter pilot issues warning to foreign aircraft in East China Sea air identification zone”
• “US Navy Conducts First Freedom of Navigation Operation of 2019 in South China Sea”
• “After Russia, US destroyer USS McCampbell challenges China’s territorial claims with freedom of navigation operation”
• “China warns US after guided-missile destroyer sent to patrol disputed islands”
• “US navy ship sails in disputed South China Sea as trade talks begin”
• “China opposes US provocation in its territorial waters: FM” (CHN media)
• “US warship sails near disputed Paracels in South China Sea as trade talks under way in Beijing”
• “China opposes US provocation in its territorial waters” (CHN mil media)
• “Tsai Calls on China to “Face Reality” Over Taiwan”
• “China’s air force in recruitment drive for J-20 stealth fighter pilots”
• “How worried should we be about Xi’s tough talk on Taiwan?”
• “China Plans to ‘Sinicize’ Islam as Muslims Warn of Eradication Campaign”

The Koreas

• “North Korean authorities demand stop to joint military drills of South Korea, US”

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – January 4, 2019

What’s Canada Buying?

• “Deal to buy used Australian fighter jets finalized, with Canadian Forces set to be flying them by summer”

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE

• “A first group of about 165 soldiers left Québec City on January 3 for Latvia …” (2 Cdn Div FB, in French & English)
• “Premier départ de troupes de Valcartier déployées en Lettonie”
• “Canadian air task force finishes Romanian mission, personnel coming home later this month”

Cold War 2.0:  #RUS Charges #CAN Nat’l with Spying

• “Who is Paul Whelan, the ex-US Marine arrested in Russia?”
• “American Detained in Moscow Also Has British, Irish and Canadian Passports”
• “American held for spying is also British, Irish, Canadian”
• “Russians Amused by Reports Alleged US Spy Also Has Canadian, UK Citizenship”
• “Russia warned not to use people as ‘pawns’ as Canadian-born man held on spy charges”
• “Russian Foreign Ministry Confirms US National Held for Spying has UK Citizenship”
• “Russian diplomat says Britain requested consular access to Paul Whelan”
• “American Paul Whelan charged with espionage in Russia”
• “Britain Cautions Russia After U.S./UK Citizen Detained for Spying”
• “Paul Whelan’s Arrest in Russia Brings Civilians Back Into the Crosshairs”
• “Jailed American spent years collecting Russian contacts”

Cold War 2.0:  Other Stuff

• “Russia announces successful flight test of Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle”
• “The gun-making group moving into the Eldridge Industrial Park this spring is bringing with it a $25 million contract to make rifles for a European military. Lewis Machine & Tool, which is relocating from Milan to its new and much larger plant in Eldridge, is supplying the Estonian Defence Forces with 16,000 rifles, company officials announced …” (Quad-City Times)
• “LMT Awarded Estonia Defence Rifle Contract” (LMT company news release)
• “US makes Turkey an offer for Patriot air-defense systems”
• “Polish F-16s take over policing the skies over the Baltic States”
• “Estonian, Finnish defence ministers commemorate War of Independence dead”

#CHN/Pacific Rim:  Canadians in Detention

• “China ‘will protect the rights’ of Canadians held since arrest of Huawei CFO, justice official says”
• “China Detained 13 Canadians After Huawei Executive’s Arrest”
• “13 Canadians Detained Since Huawei Arrest”
• “Canada says China has detained 13 of its citizens since Sabrina Meng Wanzhou arrest”
• “Treize Canadiens ont été détenus en Chine depuis le 1er décembre”
• “Canada Says 13 Citizens Detained in China Since Huawei CFO Arrest”

#CHN/Pacific Rim:  Other Stuff

• “Beijing will keep military pressure on Taiwan after Xi Jinping’s call for unification – analysts”
• “China should expect more US provocations” (CHN Communist Party info-machine)
• “Xi orders armed forces to enhance combat readiness” (CHN mil media)
• “China tested its most powerful non-nuclear weapon”
• “China’s first carrier-borne fighter jet pilot dedicated to training pilot teams” (CHN mil media)
• “PLA wants FC-31 fighters on its aircraft carriers”
• “Britain considering a new military base in South China Sea post-Brexit”
• “Japan Plans to Push for Peace Treaty With Russia, PM Says”

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “Iranian Navy Flotilla to Voyage Into Atlantic Waters”
• “Iran to deploy its warships in the Atlantic”
• “USS Cole Bombing Mastermind Reportedly Killed In Yemen Strike”
• “US Strike Targets USS Cole Bombing Mastermind in Yemen”
• “Le cerveau de l’attentat contre l’USS Cole pourrait avoir été tué au Yémen selon le Pentagone”
• “Syrian Kurds say Germany should establish no-fly zone”
• “Heads of Russia’s General Staff, US JCS discuss Syria – Russian Defense Ministry”
• “U.S. has no timeline for U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria: U.S official”
• “US withdrawal from Syria might reignite extremist organizations” (CHN mil media)
• ” How The US Went From ‘Rapid Withdrawal’ To ‘No Timeline’ In Syria”
• “Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response” (Congressional Research Service, 2 Jan 2019)
• “U.S. says no timeline for Syria withdrawal as fighting continues”
• “2 Russians Killed in U.S.-Led Airstrikes in Syria, Official Says”
• “Russian Woman, Child Killed in Coalition Airstrike in Syria Deir ez-Zor”

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “Mali – Conflict and forced displacement (DG ECHO, media, international aid organisations) (ECHO Daily Flash of 04 January 2019)” (European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations)
• “Mali : le chef de l’Etat se rend au village où 37 Peuls ont été massacrés”
• “UN Peacekeepers Provide Free Clinic in Remote Village in Troubled Mali”
• “Witness: At Least 48 Civilians Killed in North-Central Burkina Faso”
• “Dozens killed in worst Burkina Faso violence in years”
• “Burkina Faso – Violence (DG ECHO, Government of Burkina Faso) (ECHO Daily Flash of 04 January 2019)” (European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations)
• “Pirates seized a cargo ship off the coast of the West African country of Benin, robbing crew members and sailors and abducting six hostages before fleeing, Russia’s Interfax and marine news websites report …”
• “Vessel Attacked by Pirates Off Benin Coast Had 26 Crewmembers – Russian Embassy”

Way Up North

• “Alaska drilling, China, and the Arctic Council handover to Iceland : Northern news to watch for in 2019”
• “Russia’s foothold in the Arctic: Moscow admits to flying more than 100 patrol and recon flights from Arctic bases”
• “Moscow tries to adapt to a fast-warming Arctic”

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “(Calgary) Veterans come together in support of Veterans Association Foodbank”
• “Canadian Veteran Brock Blaszczyk Tells Andrew Scheer That Veterans Are “Tired Of Being Used As Pawns During Every Election” ” (Spencer Fernando blog)

Other Military News

• “Meet Brigadier-General Jennie Carignan, one of the highest-ranking women in the CAF”
• “Canadian charity used donations to fund projects linked to Israeli military”
• “Canada charity used donations to fund Israel army bases”
• “Canadian charity used donations to fund projects linked to Israeli military”

The Koreas

• “North Korean ambassador to Rome missing since November, says Seoul”
• “N.Korean Ambassador in Italy Seeks Asylum”
• “Kim Jong Un’s New Year’s Address: The Art of Propaganda” (38 North)
• “Russia protest Korea’s arms sales to India”

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – December 29, 2018

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “Trudeau has Christmas dinner with Canadian aircrew, medical technicians in Mali”
• “Justin Trudeau greets troops in Mali, defends decision not to extend mission”
• “Trudeau insists Canadian presence in Mali making a difference”
• “Mali : un gendarme tue un consommateur de drogue actualité de la Guinée”
• “Mali : le difficile processus de désarmement dans le centre, confronté à la présence de jihadistes”
• “Mali receives armored vehicles from Qatari Armed Forces”
• “PM: Anti-Jihadist Forces to be ‘Strengthened’ in Mali”
• “Mali: le Qatar livre 24 véhicules blindés et renforce sa coopération avec Bamako”
• “G5 Sahel Force Struggles with Funding, Coordination”
• “US cuts troops in Africa to shift anti-terrorism responsibilities and risks to its African partners” (CHN mil media)
• “10 Burkina Faso Police Officers Killed in Ambush”

Other Peacekeeping

• “Canada to deploy cargo plane part time for UN missions in new year”
• “Trudeau defends pace of peacekeeping deployments as next election looms”
• “Canadian police presence on peacekeeping missions hits 13-year low”

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “Canada’s response to Rohingya crisis gets middling grade”
• “Donald Trump makes surprise visit to meet with U.S. troops in Iraq”
• “Iraq Demands U.S. Troop Withdrawal After President’s Trip”
• “Trump’s visit unites Iraqis against US military presence”
• “Top U.S. general says forces will stay in Iraq”
• “L’armée syrienne annonce son entrée dans Minbej, après l’appel des Kurdes”
• “YPG Invites Syrian Army To Manbij” (pro-RUS site)
• “Syria army enters Kurdish-held Manbij: state media”
• “Syrian army says it has entered Manbij after appeal from Kurdish militia”
• “The Latest: Turkey-backed Syrians brace for key town clash”
• “Erdogan says Turkey has no business in Syria’s Manbij if YPG militia leaves”
• “Turkey won’t abandon Syrian Kurds to the mercy of the PKK, says Erdoğan”
• “PLA Daily: Balancing interests behind US troops’ withdrawal from Syria” (CHN mil media)

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “Russian Embassy in Canada Uses Butina Case to Attack #MeToo and Feminism” (polygraph.info fact checking site)
• “Return of Independent Spetsnaz Companies” (Russian Defense Policy blog)
• “US Army criminals are on the way to the Baltic States”
• “Avangard system is tested, said to be fully ready for deployment” (Russian strategic nuclear forces blog)
• “Over 3,000 servicemen practice liquidating aftermath of nuclear attack in Russia’s south”
• “Lithuania to procure additional NASAMS combat and inert missiles from Norway” (LTU MoD info-machine)
• “Did a ‘Pro-Russian’ Party Win Big in Latvia?” (polygraph.info fact-checking site)
• “Lukashenka, Putin Meet In Moscow To Discuss Energy Pricing … Lukashenka said that relations between the two countries were no longer “fraternal,” saying it would be more accurate to refer to Belarus and Russia as “partners.” …”
• “The US Would Suffer A ‘Decisive’ Defeat In A War With Russia Or China: Report”
• “Providing for the Common Defense” (U.S. National Defense Strategy Commission)
• “The Baltics Are Responsible for Dragging the EU into a Conflict with Russia” (pro-RUS site)
• “NATO Increases Presence of Strategic Weapons Near Russian Borders” (pro-RUS site)

Way Up North

• “China launches first domestically built icebreaker” (CHN media)
• “China Issues Its Arctic Policy”
• “The State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China published a white paper titled “China’s Arctic Policy” on Jan 26 …” (full text via CHN gov’t info-machine)
• “China’s Icy Silk Road: Beijing’s Ambitions to Use Arctic Circle for Military and Economic Goals”
• “Is Russia Leading the Trillion Dollar Race for Arctic Dominance?” (Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute)

What’s Canada Buying?

• “ADVANCE PROCUREMENT NOTICE FUTURE FIGHTER CAPABILITY PROJECT (FFCP), VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN CANADA … The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) requires infrastructure that can support a Future Fighter Capability (FFC) that will maintain the Defence of Canada, fulfill the role of a strong & reliable partner in the Defence of North America, and provide Canada with an effective and modern air capability for international operations. The infrastructure must provide shelter and a working environment capable of supporting the operation and maintenance of a yet to be determined advanced fighter aircraft …”
• “Criteria for “Boeing clause” in fighter jet competition to be outlined in the new year”
• “New fighter jets ‘can’t arrive quickly enough,’ Canada’s top military commander says”
• “Feds, Irving ask trade tribunal to toss challenge to warship contract”
• “Light armoured vehicles shipped to Saudi Arabia despite Saint John protests”
• “Canadians like to think of themselves as peacemakers. The Saudi arms deal suggests otherwise”
• “Cancelling Canada’s contract to sell LAVs to Saudis could be an Avro Arrow-sized disaster”
• “More on supply ships” (Col. Ted’s take)
• “Canadian Forces to investigate scheme designed to hide documents from admiral’s lawyers”

Internal Security

• “Le Canada «finalise» un protocole dans l’éventualité d’une alerte de missile”

Other Military News

• “Naval supply ship under repair in Victoria before heading to Asia Pacific waters in a month”
• “The RM of Dundurn has filed a class action lawsuit against the Canadian government over the closure of an access road through a military base south of Saskatoon …”
• “Interview de fin d’année avec le major-général Peter Dawe, commandant des Forces spéciales canadiennes”
• “Forever on guard –A story that began nearly 70 years ago with a military plane crash in Canada’s Arctic is coming full circle after a chance meeting in a pub thousands of kilometres away …”
• “Ortona, 75 years later: The tragedy of Canada’s ‘Little Stalingrad’ “

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “China releases detained Canadian teacher Sarah McIver”
• “Affaire Huawei: encore un Canadien devant les tribunaux chinois”
• “Chinese reconnaissance plane flies over South Korea, Japan as geopolitical tensions grow”
• “Japan Intercepts Chinese Spy Plane Over East China Sea”
• “China’s second aircraft carrier may be undergoing fourth sea trial including J-15 jet fighter test” (CHN nationalist tabloid)
• “US Defense Chief’s Resignation Stirs Doubts in Asia about Help Resisting China”
• “China’s new light tank for mountainous areas goes into service”
• “China accepts new Type 15 light tank”
• “Options for Countering the Rise of Chinese Private Military Contractors” (Divergent Options paper)

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – December 12, 2018

No #MapleFlag2019

• “Canada decided to not conduct Maple Flag exercise in 2019”
• “Postponement of Exercise Maple Flag” (RCAF info-machine)
• “Maple Flag exercise postponed so improvements can be made to Cold Lake base and range”

Internal Security:  #HuaweiCFOArrest + Spinoff

• “Second Canadian missing in China after questioning by authorities: Freeland”
• “Michael Kovrig Accused of Harming China’s National Security as Second Canadian Goes Missing” (China Digital Times)
• “China: Canadian Diplomat Arrested on Charges of Endangering Security”
• “Amid Row Over Huawei Case, China Detains a Former Canadian Diplomat”
• “China Detains Michael Kovrig, a Former Canadian Diplomat”
• “Michael Kovrig, and China’s reward-and-punishment diplomacy”
• “Canadien arrêté en Chine: « un pion », selon des proches et experts”
• “Meng Wanzhou is out on bail — but could be in legal limbo for years”
• “La vie sous haute surveillance de l’héritière Huawei à Vancouver”
• “Is Canada Goose cooked? Shares slide as Chinese buyers demand boycott over arrest of Huawei CFO Sabrina Meng Wanzhou”
• “Chinese Arrest and Trump Boast Drag Trudeau Into Huawei Feud”
• “Huawei arrest fires warning shot to foreign business executives, as US law enforcers makes targeting individuals a ‘top priority’”
• “”Trump’s willingness to intervene in Meng detention roils Canada’s justification”
• “China’s threats over Huawei arrests send a clear signal to Canada”
• “Glavin: Squeezed by China and Trump, Canada must rewrite policy, fast”

Internal Security:  Other Stuff

• “Liberals, Conservatives spar over threat posed by return of foreign fighters to Canada”
• “Government response to motion on bringing ISIS members to justice emphasizes prosecution challenges”
• “Rapport public de 2018 sur la menace terroriste au Canada: le niveau demeure le même”
• “Liberals Fail to Bring ISIS Terrorists to Justice” (CPC info-machine)
• “Edmonton truck attack suspect had encrypted device cops couldn’t crack: ex-chief”
• “Peshdary knew of four ‘brothers’ intending to join ISIL in Syria, star witness testifies”
• “The ARC Collective: My Observations Concerning Saturday’s Anti-UN Migrant Compact Protests” (Anti-Racist Canada blog)
• “FUREY: Omar Khadr keeps coming back for more – and still shows no regrets”
• “Rightsizing the Transnational Jihadist Threat” (Crisis Group)

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “Islamic State eyes comeback in Iraq”
• “On the Syria-Iraq border, Iran-backed militia eyes U.S. troops”
• “Syria war: Turkey warns of fresh anti-Kurd offensive in north”
• “Threatening to invade Syrian Kurdistan, Erdogan uses phrase ‘terrorist Kurds’ “
• “US warns Turkey not to attack Syria”
• “Unilateral military action into northeast Syria ‘unacceptable’: Pentagon”
• “New War in Syria? U.S. Allies to Soon Be Targeted in Military Action by Turkey”
• “Syrian Kurds: Threat of Turkish Action Impacts Anti-IS Fight”
• “Turkey expanding military operation in northern Syria: Erdogan”
• “Syria war: Turkey warns of fresh anti-Kurd offensive in north”

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “DPR sends note to OSCE concerning Kiev-prepared assault in Donbass” (proRUS rebel info-machine)
• “MAJOR: Ukraine’s President Describes WAR Against Russia” (pro-RUS site)
• “Russian spies ‘launched major cyber attack on Ukraine’ prior to naval incident” (intelnews.org)
• “EU to offer Ukraine help over Azov Sea at summit” (Reuters)
• “Sea of Azov Crisis: Ukraine and Russia Clash, as do Competing Visions of European Security” (RUSI)
• “Kremlin disagrees with Poroshenko’s claim Kerch Strait incident was act of aggression” (RUS state media)
• “Ukrainian Intelligence withdraws from CIS Intelligence Services Cooperation Agreement” (UKR media)
• “Martial Law in Ukraine: A Rehearsal for War”
• “Special Representative of OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Sajdik welcomes transfer of detainees not related to conflict from (certain areas of Luhansk region) to territory controlled by government of Ukraine” (OSCE info-machine)

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “Russian Defense Ministry: 80% of this year’s autumn recruits fit for military service” (RUS state media)
• “Russia Considers Deploying Military Aircraft in Venezuela Long Term, Media Reports”
• “Russia’s strategic bombers spark panic among Venezuela’s opposition, says top legislator” (RUS state media)
• “Looks like a Topol-E failure in a launch from Kapustin Yar” (Russian strategic nuclear forces blog)
• “Russia to Build Huge, Luxurious Military Church to Promote Christian Values in Armed Forces”
• “Russian Official Threatens to Block Google Over Violations”

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “Mali says foiled New Year’s Eve terror attacks”
• “Germany extends Heron contracts for Afghanistan and Mali”
• “Mali: New law will reinforce the culture of impunity for human rights violations Amnesty International · 1 day ago” (Amnesty Int’l info-machine)
• “Mali : Rapport de suivi des activités humanitaires | avril à septembre 2018” (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)
• “Amnesty International demande au Mali de modifier la loi d’entente nationale”
• “US military probes Niger crash that killed French soldier”
• “Russia can take part in building Trans-African railway”

What’s Canada Buying?

• “Canada’s military procurement legacy somehow gets even stupider”
• “Commons committee questions DND over fighter capability”
• “John Ivison: As Trudeau decides fate of Saudi LAV deal, he weighs idealism against electoral reality”
• “Court hears departments, officials collecting own files in Norman case”
• “Crown’s change of strategy in Vice Admiral Mark Norman case bound to raise questions”

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “Military, Veterans Affairs won’t pay for Air Force officer’s prosthetic leg, leaving her with $34,000 bill”
• “Government refuses to pay for veteran’s prosthetic leg”
• “Canada’s military veterans are finding a home in corporate cannabis”

Other Military News

• “HMCS Calgary charts a series of firsts at sea”
• “Interview de fin d’année avec le vice-amiral Ron Lloyd, commandant de la Marine royale canadienne” (video)

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “US believes Chinese intelligence was behind massive Marriott hack, as Mike Pompeo decries Beijing’s ‘cyberattacks across the world’ “
• “Marriott Data Breach Is Traced to Chinese Hackers as U.S. Readies Crackdown on Beijing”
• “China-India military drill kicks off in SW China” (CHN mil media)
• “Operation Z machine: China’s next big weapon in the nuclear ‘arms race’”
• “Russia’s Pacific Fleet to get corvettes and submarines armed with cruise missiles”

The Koreas

• “North Korea’s Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site: Current Status and Future Inspections” (38 North)
• “Korean Soldiers Verify Removal of Border Armed Guard Posts”
• “2 Koreas Inspect Demolition of Guard Posts”

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – December 10, 2018

Internal Security (1):  #CHN tech exec still in jail in #CAN

• “Bail hearing for embattled Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou will go to a third day”
• “Jailed Huawei CFO’s bail decision pushed to Tuesday as tensions persist”
• “Huawei senior executive is not a threat to jump bail, lawyer assures court”
• “Huawei’s detained CFO pledges to wear tracking device if granted bail”
• “Why China ratchets up pressure on Canada as it scolds US over Huawei executive’s arrest”
• “China Pressures US, Canada Ahead of Huawei Hearing”
• “China accuses Canada of violating agreement over Huawei arrest”
• “China Slams Treatment of Huawei Executive Held in Canada as ‘Inhumane'” (RUS media)
• “Trading blows: Canada next in China’s crosshairs?”
• “Canada will pay ‘a heavy price’, China warns in new stance over Huawei executive’s arrest”
• “On the Huawei extradition case, Canada’s legal system better stand up to scrutiny”
• “Huawei Arrest Raises Thorny Questions of Law Enforcement and Foreign Policy” (Lawfare blog)
• “Minitrue: Do Not Report on Arrest of Huawei CFO” (China Digital Times CHN govt censorship notice)
• “China bans import and sale of most iPhone models”
• “Huawei has long had a significant presence in Canada”
• “When will Canadians accept what China really is?”

Internal Security (2):  Pro/Anti Immigration Protest in Ottawa

• “9 arrested as pro- and anti-migration protesters clash in Ottawa”
• “9 arrested during protest against UN migration pact on Parliament Hill”
• “Ottawa: manifestation tendue contre le pacte de l’ONU sur les migrations”
• “The ARC Collective: Anti-Migrant Protests: Maxime Bernier No-Shows in Ottawa and Brief Notes on Other Protests” (Anti-Racist Canada blog)
• “Alberta yellow vest protests lack violence seen in Paris, but anti-immigration anger simmers”

Internal Security (3):  Other Stuff

• “Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Omar Khadr wants Canadian passport to travel, permission to speak to sister”
• “Omar Khadr Says He’s “Suffering,” Wants Permission To Travel To Saudi Arabia & Speak To His Pro-Al-Qaida Sister” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• “On Tuesday, December 11th, Government of Canada officials will host a media technical briefing regarding National Security and will answer questions from the media …” (Public Safety Canada info-machine)
• Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)
• “Military turns page on oft-criticized support unit for ill, injured troops”
• “Military closes book on oft-criticized support unit for ill, injured troops”
• “New unit to help soldiers transition to civilian life”
• “Stand up of the Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group: a commitment to look after members, veterans, and their families” (DND info-machine)
• “Ministers Sajjan and O’Regan announce stand up of Transition Group focused on improving the transition experience of Canadian Armed Forces members, veterans, and their families” (DND/VAC info-machine)
• “Seamus O’Regan draws scorn for comparing his career arc to veterans’ struggles”
• “O’Regan Compares Leaving Journalism To Veterans Struggling Leaving The Military” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• ” ‘A really dysfunctional culture’: Public directory of Veterans Affairs staff made secret for safety reasons, officials say — Almost all of the more than 3,000 employees of Veterans Affairs have removed their names from a public on-line directory, with the department claiming that front-line staff have to be protected from the veterans they are supposed to serve …”

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “Canadian special ops helping Iraqis roll up remaining ISIS opposition, says Vance”
• ‘Former child captive of ISIS behind campaign to give bikes to refugee kids”
• “Syria state media removes Damascus air strike report, situation unknown”
• “Syrian air defense systems repel airstrike near Damascus international airport – TV”
• ” Syrian air defenses intercept enemy targets near Damascus – state TV “
• “Syrian news agency removes report of Damascus air attack — The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) issued a report on Sunday saying Syrian air defences had intercepted enemy targets around Damascus international airport, but later in the day said the attack had not happened …”
• “ISIS Gone? Trump Claims Group is Defeated But One Year After Losing Iraq, It’s Hanging on in Syria”
• “Iraq Marks Anniversary of ISIS Defeat Amid Public Discontent”
• “A year after ISIS defeat, Iraq is mired in political crisis”
• “Iraq’s Yazidis ‘forgotten by world’ since ISIL attacks”

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “The purchase of sniper rifles for the UAF in Canada is completed” (UKR mil int info-machine, in Ukrainian)
• LRT-3 sniper rifle (PGW Defence Technologies Inc info-machine)
• “Canada to allocate $2.5 mln to Ukraine for combating Russia’s propaganda”
• “Canada to allocate 2,5 million dollars to Ukraine for fighting Russia’s propaganda”
• “First meeting of the GUAM Council of Ministers for Foreign Affairs – Canada on the sidelines of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s 25th Ministerial Council” (Global Affairs Canada info-machine)
• “Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 9 December 2018”
• “Situation Update, east of Ukraine as of morning, December 10, 2018” (UKR mil info-machine)
• UKR mil info-machine map, 10 Dec 2018
• Pro-RUS rebel update (w/map), 6-9 Dec 2018, in Russian
• “One Ukrainian soldier killed, one wounded amid 13 attacks in Donbas in past 24 hours – JFO HQ”
• “Ukraine reports 1 KIA, 1 WIA in Donbas over past day”
• “One Ukrainian serviceman died, one injured in Donbas, – Ukrainian military”
• “President signed Law on the termination of the treaty on friendship with Russia” (UKR Pres info-machine)
• “Kiev tears up Friendship Treaty with Russia ahead of presidential election, says expert” (RUS state media)
• “Ukraine Has Potential to Create Nuclear Weapons, says Ukrainian General” (pro-RUS site)
• “Ukrainian General: Ukraine has unique opportunity to create nuclear weapons” (UKR media)
• “” We are not afraid of anything ”: the diplomat told about the nuclear weapons of Ukraine” (in Ukrainian)
• “Kiev is preparing for the attack at Donbass from the south” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Massive Ukrainian offensive to begin on December 14 – Basurin” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Kiev Antagonizing Donbass for WAR, Conducts Firing Line Training” (pro-RUS site)
• “Ukraine on Verge of Launching WAR against Donbass” (pro-RUS site)
• “Moscow Patriarchate cleric denied crossing contact line in Donbas” (UKR media)
• ”Metropolite of Moscow Patriarchate Orthodox Church of Ukraine denied access to Donetsk region” (UKR media)
• “SBU warns Russia may use religious feuds combined with terror acts as pretext for open invasion” (UKR media)
• “DPR Head outraged by denial of entrance to metropolitan bishop of Donetsk and Mariupol” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Ukrainian security service turns away orthodox metropolitan at the contact line” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Ukrainian Orthodox Church fumes at Kiev ban on top cleric from crossing disengagement line” (RUS state media)
• “Poroshenko asks church to mediate in release of Ukrainian sailors captured by Russia”
• “Satellite imagery shows hundreds of Russian tanks near the border with Ukraine”
• “Russia Launched Cyber Attacks Against Ukraine Before Ship Seizures, Firm Says”
• “FSB holds briefing on Kerch Strait crisis” (pro-RUS site)
• “US Flies Recon Plane over Ukraine in Provocative ‘Warning’ to Russia” (pro-RUS think tank)
• “Satellite spots hundreds of Russian tanks near border with Ukraine” (UKR media)
• “Russia deploys latest cruise missile corvette in occupied Crimea – media” (UKR media)
• “Operational reserve of Ukraine’s Armed Forces more than 200,000, most ready to report for duty” (UKR media)
• “Russian Black Sea Fleet will get 12 new warships in 2019”
• ” “Head of Crimea” thanks Pskov Mayor “for paratroopers and special forces soldiers in spring, 2014” “
• “Russia blocking Kerch Strait passage to over 100 ships – Ukraine border guards”

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “Assessment of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Forces in the Baltic States: Credible Deterrent or Paper Tiger?” (Divergent Options paper)
• “Russia sends 2 nuclear-capable bombers to Venezuela”
• “Two Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers arrive to Venezuela” (RUS state media)
• ” Russia Sent Warplanes To Venezuela And The Pentagon Isn’t Having It” (Task & Purpose blog)
• “Russian embassy hopes attackers of Soviet monument in Latvia will be punished” (RUS media)
• “UK to strengthen its military presence in Estonia”
• “Estonia was attacked again on Kremlin TV” (Propastop.org)
• “France Investigates Possible Russian Influence on Yellow Vest Riots” (independent RUS media)
• “(UKR) Security Service announces “Russian trace” in protests in France”
• “Ukraine’s SBU on “yellow vest” riots in Paris: “Practical examination” of Russia’s foreign agents”
• “Russia Did Not Interfere in Domestic Affairs of France, Kremlin Says” (RUS state media)
• “Russian general: withdrawal of Soviet troops from Germany was a ‘state treachery’ “
• “The four dangerous Ds … The one place where, it seems to me, that all four Ds, Disorder, Discontent, Decay and Disillusionment, are at high levels is Russia and that, in my opinion, makes Russia a very pressing danger to the world.” (Col. Ted)

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “Mali: Dangerous Upsurge in Abuse by Ethnic Militias”
• “Le Niger craint de nouvelles attaques de Boko Haram début 2019”
• “Le président burkinabè Roch Marc Christian Kaboré a appelé lundi ses concitoyens à “faire preuve de solidarité” dans la lutte contre le terrorisme auquel est confronté le Burkina Faso depuis mars 2015 …”

What’s Canada Buying?

• “Why Canada’s Jet Fighter Problems Mean Trouble for the U.S. (and the F-35)”
• “Canada’s WWII-era pistols dangerously unreliable — but the quest to find a replacement drags on”
• “Keel Laid for Canada’s Third Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship”
• “Government staffer named in Mark Norman document leak case suspended from job”

Mental Health in the CAF

• “Lionel Desmond murder-suicide inquiry to begin early next year”

Other Military News

• “Plan to move aircraft testing centre from Cold Lake to Ottawa ‘sad’: mayor”
• “Cold Lake mayor concerned by plans to move military aircraft testing to Ottawa”
• “U.S. military aircraft makes emergency landing in Halifax, no injuries reported”
• “Liberals move Trudeau fundraiser off Canadian Forces base”
• “Liberal Party moves Trudeau fundraiser from military base”
• “Canadian and American families join forces to remember fallen soldiers from both countries”
• “Light urban search and rescue technicians train in Massachusetts” (RCAF info-machine)

The Koreas

• “Fighter Jets Scrambled as N.Korean Choppers Buzz Border”
• “U.S. Imposes Sanctions on 3 N.Korean Officials”
• “US Sanctions Three N. Korean Officials for Suspected Rights Abuses”
• ” Treasury Sanctions North Korean Officials and Entities in Response to the Regime’s Serious Human Rights Abuses and Censorship” (US Treasury info-machine)

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• ” ‘Ram It’: Chinese Colonel Offers Solution to US Ships Transiting South China Sea” (RUS media)
• “Expert: If US warship illegally violates Chinese territorial waters again, bump against it” (CHN mil media)
• “Guangzhou Launches World’s First Icebreaking LNG”
• “The 31st fleet from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy has left the port city of Zhanjiang in south China’s Guangdong Province for the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia to escort civilian ships …” (CHN mil media)
• “US is better off with less intervention and less military use” (CHN mil media)

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