MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 27 July 2018

Canadian Military Journal article: “Just how advanced have ground-based unmanned weapons systems become and what military advantages do they now provide? Today, Gary Martinic reviews the rapidly developing capabilities of these systems and assesses their future impact on ground warfare ….”
From the RCAF Info-machine “16 Wing (Borden) “In Focus” “

MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – August 17, 2014

17 August 1417 August 14 ~ milnews.ca ~ Leave a comment

Ukraine (1) Note to Russian news agency RIA Novosti writers and headline editors: sleeping bags, helmets and body armour are not considered “munitions” by most conventional definitions “Canada has delivered the third and last batch of munition to Ukraine’s border guard detachments, the spokesperson for Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council said Sunday ….”
Ukraine (2) Commentary “Should businesses foot the bill for Canada’s sanctions war with Russia?”
Ukraine (3) Commentary “Memo to the PM: Treat Putin like Ignatieff”
Ukraine (4) Commentary “While it may be common practice for politicians to claim the moral high ground from which to point the finger of blame at a perceived foe, it is shameful when the media not only cede them that platform but then clamber up there themselves to add their own accusatory wagging digits. To date, there is no conclusive proof that Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 was shot down by Russian troops or concrete evidence that Russia supplied Ukrainian rebels with the weapon system believed to be responsible for the tragedy. Nevertheless, within hours of the disaster, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird echoed other world leaders in directly blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin for what they claimed to be a mass murder of 298 innocent civilians. The rash of editorial cartoons and commentary that followed these unproven allegations of Russian complicity would have one believe that Putin had deliberately fired that missile himself ….”
Ukraine (5) More of the latest from Ukraine here and here
“RCAF’s drone plan grounded — The Canadian military’s almost decade-long quest to buy unmanned aerial vehicles has been partly hung up by an internal debate about whether the air forces needs one — or two — different fleets of drones. A series of internal briefings, stretching back over two years, show that military planners were forced to go back to the drawing board in early 2013 after consultations determined what the country wants to accomplish with the remotely piloted planes might be too broad for just a single type of aircraft ….”
“Exercise STALWART GUARDIAN 2014 sees thousands of troops train in southern Ontario” – more
“Live fire exercises leave (CFB Valcartier) neighbours on edge”
From the Pentagon Info-machine “Canadian allies train with the 415th Chemical Brigade CBRN Soldiers during the Red Dragon exercise taking place at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. The Red Dragon is an exercise used to develop, train and assess the capabilities of CBRN units. This year, Soldiers from the Canadian army will participate in the training here to enhances their defense against weapons of mass destruction. “This training here is very important to us,” said Capt. Bill Mountan, operations officer, of the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment, from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. “The threat of weapons of mass destruction is real, and our country is beginning to focus on this type of training.” ….”
Also from the Pentagon Info-machine “As the withdrawal of Soldiers in Afghanistan continues and combat deployments become less common, Soldiers deployed to Egypt with Task Force Sinai are focusing on getting back to the basics, and they are doing it with the most unlikely battle-buddies. U.S. Army Soldiers partnered with service members from Colombia, Fiji, Canada and Hungary during two weeks of Modern Army Combatives training Aug. 4-14, on the multinational force and observer’s North Camp, (in El Gorah, Egypt). The purpose of the class was to familiarize each service member with the basic techniques used for close-quarter combat and to help instill confidence in each other’s abilities ….”
“Military vets coping with post-traumatic stress find solace in back-to-nature programs”
“Terrorism expert says isolation driving Calgarians to join ISIL”

MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – April 29, 2014

29 April 1429 April 14 ~ milnews.ca ~ Leave a comment

Ukraine (1a) Romania it is! “The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P., for Niagara Falls, Minister of National Defence was on hand this morning to mark the departure of Canadian personnel and six CF-18 fighter aircraft headed for Romania. These fighter aircraft, along with support personnel, are travelling to Romania in order to conduct training activities in support of immediate reassurance measures. They will join Romania and other NATO Allies currently operating in the region as part of NATO Reassurance Measures to Central and Eastern Europe ….”
Ukraine (1b) More details about the deployment “…. The Canadian Air Task Force is composed mainly of personnel from 2 Air Expeditionary Wing and 3 Wing, which are both located at Bagotville. 2 Air Expeditionary Wing, a relatively new organization, is capable of deploying rapidly as a self-contained unit – employing air power and providing associated support wherever needed, across Canada or around the world. 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta, 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario, and 19 Wing Comox, British Columbia, are also contributing to the Task Force, which will include the following: Six CF-18 Hornet fighter jets from 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron, 3 Wing Bagotville, Quebec; A Command and Control Element, which provides tactical-level command support; A Mission Support Element, which provides logistical support including lodging; food services; supply; transportation; and construction, electrical and mechanical engineering; An Operational Support Element, which provides operational support to air assets, including force protection, intelligence, aerospace management and maintenance coordination; An Air Movements Detachment, which coordinates the movement of personnel and material in and out of the deployed location. In all, about 228 personnel are deploying. In addition to the Air Task Force, 15 Canadian Armed Forces planning personnel have already deployed to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Casteau, Belgium, and have begun reinforcing planning efforts ….”
Ukraine (1c) Good to hear …. “Six CF-18s and hundreds of Canadian Forces personnel left for Romania today to assist NATO forces in Eastern Europe amid uncertainty over the length and scope of the mission. “There is a lot of uncertainty about what we’re going to be doing over there,” Lt.-Gen. Yvan Blondin said, as the jet fighters left Bagotville, Que., for Romania Tuesday morning ….”
Ukraine (2) NATO’s take “Allies enhance NATO air-policing duties in Baltics States, Poland, Romania — Fighter jets from Poland, the United Kingdom and Denmark take over NATO air policing duties over the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on Thursday (1 May 2014) as part of enhanced collective defence measures agreed to by Allies earlier this month ….”
Ukraine (3) Ooopsie …. “Ottawa is washing its hands of an “unfortunate” pay dispute that has sparked rebellion in the advance team for Canada’s ambitious mission to monitor the upcoming Ukrainian election. The first wave of 15 Canadian observers already on the ground is the pointy tip of a civilian deployment that will eventually number 500 Canadians for Ukraine’s crucial presidential vote on May 25. But on Monday, the advance team went public with a story of broken promises, accusing bureaucrats of tearing up their financial agreement after the fact and imposing a frugal new compensation package that some say will leave them subsidizing the mission out of their own pockets ….”
Afghanistan (1) “Today, the Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of National Defence, invites all Canadians to join in on National Day of Honour activities taking place across Canada on May 9 in recognition of Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan. Additional details were unveiled on the National Day of Honour website which offers Canadians information on the many parades taking place at Canadian Forces Bases and in communities across the country, as well as an afternoon program of events being held in conjunction with the national parade in Ottawa on Parliament Hill …. A full list of events happening across Canada is available at http://www.app.forces.gc.ca/ndoh-jndc/ndoh-activities.html ….”
Afghanistan (2) “In the warzone, the only thing Alison MacLean shoots is her camera. But in her hands, it is just as powerful as the weapons of the soldiers she’s working alongside. Back in July 2010, the independent documentary filmmaker spent three weeks embedded with Canadian troops through Operation Athena in the Kandahar Province. From her footage, she created the documentary, Outside the Wire. “Outside the wire” is a military term used to describe when those in a war zone go past the perimeters set up around operations and camps. They do so at great personal risk. Blatant and with no-frills, the 55-year-old South Surrey resident brought in an unbiased angle, highlighting women in the Canadian and coalition troops working in Afghanistan. “These people are the frontline soldiers of change on all levels and I know that women embrace that, and they embrace this new job and they go forward with it,” MacLean said. Over the last five years, MacLean has made a point of featuring the stories of women in combat because she feels that they have been underrepresented ….”
From the Navy Info-machine “Who says you can’t eat healthy and get fit at sea? The ship’s company of HMCS Regina is helping to lead the way to promote health and fitness for the rest of the fleet during the ship’s overseas deployment for Operation ARTEMIS. They have implemented a number of initiatives over the course of the last four months including diet and weight counseling, anti-smoking assistance, a Biggest Loser weight loss contest and regular meetings of the ship’s fitness club. “We are reaching the mid-point of our deployment and we need to sustain our energy levels and stay healthy for the remainder of Operation ARTEMIS,” said Cdr Dan Charlebois, Commanding Officer of HMCS Regina ….”
“The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), General Tom Lawson, ordered today that an external independent review is to be conducted of workplace policies and procedures within the Canadian Armed Forces. This review will be focused on examining the workplace of the Canadian Armed Forces, the policies and programs which are in place to combat occurrences of sexual misconduct, the measures which are in place to protect victims, and measurement of the effectiveness of the policies ….”
“A soldier who stalked and attacked two women on his Ontario military base four years ago was sentenced to jail for another 18 months. Cpl. Christopher Chaulk has already served four years in jail while awaiting the end of his trial into the terrorizing attacks on two women on CFB Petawawa in 2010. During his sentencing Monday, Chaulk apologized to his victims ….”
“A former Canadian Forces medical technician who was sentenced to 30 months in jail after being convicted of sexual assault and breach of trust will remain free while he appeals the verdict in his case ….”
“Sailor Derek de Jong charged with desertion was harassed, wife claims — Lieutenant is now facing court martial after leaving HMCS Preserver ….”
“There’s no doubt that it takes “the right stuff” to succeed in the demanding field of military aviation. But exactly what is “the right stuff” in the 21st century? And how can the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) ensure that it is selecting the men and women with the right stuff to carry out three of the most challenging jobs in the Air Force? ….”
“Canada is being urged to lead a new international effort to ban so-called “killer robots” — the new generation of deadly high-tech equipment that can select and fire on targets without human help. The Campaign to Stop Killer Robots is pushing for a new international treaty to ban such weapons from the battlefields of the future ….”
Way Up North (1) “Russia’s oil and gas monopoly Gazprom has disclosed the brand name by which crude oil, produced at the Prirazlomnaya rig inside the Arctic circle, will be known in the world markets. The announcement came shortly after the first tanker with ARCO (Arctic Oil) left the platform carrying an oil load purchased by one of Europe’s major energy companies ….”
Way Up North (2) “Greenpeace International is sending out a ship to protest a tanker bringing the first oil produced at a new Russian offshore platform in the Arctic Circle to Rotterdam. The environmental group said Monday it has sent the “Rainbow Warrior III” to meet the Mikhail Ulyanov, a tanker chartered by Russia’s state-controlled oil company, Gazprom OAO. Greenpeace spokesman Ben Ayliffe would not comment on what kind of protest is planned. “The tanker is currently heading south into the North Sea as it makes for Rotterdam, so we expect the two ships to meet at some stage in the coming days,” he said ….”
Khadr Boy “Wednesday April 30, 2014 @ 9:30am Omar Khadr will be appearing in the Court of Queen’s Bench in Edmonton for an appeal hearing. Please try to make it out to show your support. Dennis Edney, lawyer for Omar Khadr is set to appeal the decision that denied his request to be transferred out of Edmonton’s federal penitentiary into a provincial facility. The case will be heard by the Alberta Court of Appeal. Edney has argued that his detention in a Edmonton maximum security institution was illegal because he was 15 when the crimes were committed, and his eight-year sentence amounts to a youth sentence in provincial jail ….”
“Royal Canadian Legion branches across the country have long marked Nov. 11 each year with parades and wreaths placed at local cenotaphs in memory of the country’s war dead. But few have continued to make note of an equally important date in Canada’s war history: June 6, 1944 ….”
“Against All Odds: Canadian Veteran Recalls Battle of Kapyong — 63 years since Canada’s triumph in epic Korean War battle ….”

MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – December 18, 2013

18 December 1318 December 13 ~ milnews.ca ~ Leave a comment

Please do what you can to spread the message that folks who are having a tough time this time of year don’t have to suffer alone – #sendupthecount – more here on Facebook and here at milnet.ca (Disclosure: I’m a moderator at milnet.ca)
Some vets: “There’s a dire need to directly involve Canadian society to help our Canadian Armed Forces veterans move closer to a productive life and away from the darkness of suicide. How can we move towards an approach that not only promotes healing measures, but increases the opportunity for a successful and more fulfilled life after the uniform comes off? What would the first steps to this military-civilian dialogue look like? For starters, mutual understanding is key. Never in Canada’s history has there ever been such a wide gulf of understanding between civilians and military while civilian compassion and sympathy for our men and women in uniform has reached a post World War II all-time high ….”
Vets’ forum update on clawbacks of VAC payments “…. Over the past year, the CVA has been steadfast in seeking equitable resolution on the issue of retroactivity for those who are covered by the War Pensioners Allowance (WPA) or Bill C-55’s Earning Loss Benefits (ELB) programs. To the government’s credit, the Manuge case principles of non inclusion of VAC Pain and Suffering awards were applied to the ELB and, earlier this year, legislated into effect for those who are supported finically through the War Pensioners Act provisions. The government has ceased deducting these awards in ELB/WPA financial determinations yet has yet to honour the retro-activity protocols accorded to the thousands of veterans affected by the Manuge – SISIP case Retro-activity ….”
VAC gets Legion members to visit vets in nursing homes “The Honourable Julian Fantino, Minister of Veterans Affairs, (yesterday) brought holiday greetings to Veterans in long-term care at the Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, and launched a partnership with the Royal Canadian Legion to visit Veterans in long-term care (LTC) facilities across the country. The Long-Term Care Outreach and Visitation Initiative helps to ensure Veterans who live in long-term care facilities across Canada get the care and support they deserve …. Through the Long-Term Care Outreach and Visitation Initiative, close to 4,000 Veterans in long-term care facilities will have the option of a social visit and conversation with a fully trained and qualified Royal Canadian Legion volunteer ….”
Well done all involved! “After a terrifying hour watching sections of Kingston, Ont., turn to ashes below him, a trapped crane operator was saved Tuesday afternoon in a dramatic helicopter rescue. “The poor gentleman was quite scared, and hanging on to dear life, as we say, so he had to be convinced to let go and give himself up to the search and rescue technician,” said Lt. Col. Jean Bernier, commanding officer of CFB Trenton-based 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron, which dispatched the CH-146 rescue helicopter. The crane operator had begun his day at an under-construction block of student housing, when, at 2:30 p.m., the wooden structure burst into flames. As fire stations scrambled throughout Kingston, as well as neighbouring Loyalist and Napanee, firefighters came upon towering walls of flame dwarfing anything in the surrounding area ….” – pix here and here, more here and here
“The Canadian Army has parked some of its big trucks and smaller transports to save money. Defence sources say the decision affects up to half the army’s so-called B-fleet, including heavy and medium trucks used to transport troops and equipment, as well as support vehicles, such as ambulances. Military records indicate there are a total of some 6,800 trucks among the affected fleets. National Defence confirms the move, but an official says it involves vehicles too expensive to maintain and due to be replaced. The spokesman would not say how many vehicles were being mothballed. The sources say the commander of the army, Lt.-Gen. Marquis Hainse, presented the strategy at recent command council meeting. The savings are apparently being plowed back into keeping the army’s fleet of armoured vehicles, including Leopard 2 tanks and light armoured vehicles, on the road ….”
“The Canadian Armed Forces have wrapped up a naval mission in the Caribbean and Central America that resulted in the seizure of about 5,080 kg of cocaine and 13,793 lbs. of marijuana over 11 months, the defence department says. Operation CARIBBE involved seven ships, four CP-140 Aurora planes and a submarine to search for drugs on other ships in international waters, the government said in a press release. The mission was focused on the western Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean near Central America ….” – more from the Info-machine here
“A Canadian general was selected …. to become the next Force Commander for the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO), an independent international organization to supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli Treaty for Peace. Brigadier-General Denis Thompson of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) will assume the duties of Force Commander for the MFO in March, 2014, at the rank of Major-General, succeeding Major-General Warren Whiting of the New Zealand Defence Forces. The MFO was established in 1981 and is comprised of over 1600 personnel, consisting of army, air and naval components from 13 countries; including CAF personnel currently deployed on Operation CALUMET, Canada’s contribution to the MFO. As Force Commander for the MFO, Brigadier-General Thompson will oversee the organization tasked with supervising the implementation of the security provisions outlined in the Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace and the prevention of any violation of its terms ….” – more on MFO here
“The Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR) conducted a successful multi-unit readiness exercise in the County of Prince Edward this November thanks largely to the cooperation of local officials and residents. The exercise was also a success due to the participation of soldiers from 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (2 CMBG), who portrayed both adversarial forces and indigenous partnered forces for the training. As members of the Canadian Armed Forces, both CSOR and 2 CMBG train to maintain readiness in order to respond when asked to by the Government of Canada. This joint training enabled personnel from each organization to apply their skill sets and learn from each other ….”
Philippines/typhoon “Leave or stay, that was the moral choice facing Master Corporal Erik Estrada and Sergeant Éric Gauthier when they learned that the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) was about to deploy in support of relief and stabilization operations in the Philippines. MCpl Estrada is an Aviation Systems Technician from 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, based in Edmonton. “Seeing the pictures of the devastation distributed by the global media, I was profoundly touched. As a CAF member first of all, no question about that, but also as a Canadian citizen of Phillipino origin,” he pointed out. He volunteered almost immediately. But then he had to tell his loved ones, which wasn’t easy with a wife more than 28 weeks’ pregnant. “The decision was heart-wrenching for both of us”, he went on, deeply moved. “But Rachel understood that I was going there to do something good, she knew that’s why I enroled”, he continued. “The most difficult thing was telling her that I probably wouldn’t be there for the birth of our child. My wife was really great; she told me, ‘Our parents were born over there, I still have family there, go and help them.’ ” ….”
Afghanistan Editorial “Is this what Canadian troops fought for in Afghanistan? So that President Hamid Karzai’s government could reduce the clout Afghan women have in the country’s provincial councils? So that some benighted lawmakers could muse about bringing back the barbaric practice of stoning people for adultery? And so authorities could turn a blind eye to violence against women? …. This is an ominous spate of backsliding as Afghanistan prepares at long last to take its political destiny, and its security, into its own hands. The Canadian government and its allies should remind Afghanistan’s power brokers, forcefully, that rolling back women’s gains will only embolden the Taliban, discourage foreign donors and drag the country back to darker days.”
Syria (1) Media headline: “As many as 100 Canadians could be fighting in Syria against Assad regime, think tank says”
Syria (2) Think tank report: Between 9 and 100 Canadians could be fighting in Syria against Assad regime
Heating up again in Southern Sudan? “Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird …. issued the following statement: “Canada is concerned by the recent fighting in Juba and appeals for calm. We call for the rule of law to be obeyed, for the lives and property of civilians to be fully respected and for the political differences that may have led to this violence to be addressed through dialogue.” ….” – more on the latest fracas here
Lux ex Umbra blog on what “the rules” say about CSEC collecting signals intelligence on economic stuff

MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – October 7, 2013

7 October 137 October 13 ~ milnews.ca ~ Leave a comment

“Government of Canada to make shipbuilding announcement” this morning in Vancouver – stay tuned to my Twitter feed for the latest.
Meanwhile, reporters get to look at some military documents, then ask some questions to military people they’re not allowed to identify, two hours after the Vancouver announcement – wonder if they’re linked?
Commentary from parent of soldier who committed suicide “…. Why is there an ever-growing chasm between what our veterans deserve and have earned, versus what the bean counters at Veterans Affairs will allow them? ….”
Head’s up: Canadian wounded warriors’ video part of an upcoming film festival in Ottawa at the end of this month
“Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Toronto has made an important drug seizure early (Saturday) morning during her patrol in the Arabian Sea region, while deployed on Operation Artemis. This drug seizure marks HMCS Toronto’s seventh narcotics shipment disruption as part of ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the Indian Ocean …. HMCS Toronto intercepted and boarded a suspected smuggling vessel approximately 500 nautical miles east of the Horn of Africa, and discovered 154 bags of heroin weighing more than 180 kilograms. The illicit narcotics were then catalogued and later destroyed, thus ensuring they would not reach their intended recipients ….” – more here, here and here
“The decision to combine three military headquarters as part of a massive budget-cutting exercise could mean savings of up to $18 million annually, says one of the country’s top commanders. How that will be reflected in the overall bottom line at National Defence remains to be seen, however. It has been a year since the amalgamation took place and the joint operations command was created. Lt.-Gen. Stuart Beare, who is in charge of the combined headquarters, says when stacked against the three commands it replaced, the new organization has saved the department about 25 per cent ….”
Even if Canada’s navy couldn’t make it to the International Fleet Review on Sydney Harbour in Australia), the RCAF made it “A Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CP-140 Aurora aircraft from 14 Wing Greenwood had the honour of representing the Canadian Armed Forces (Saturday) at the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) International Fleet Review in Sydney, Australia. The RAN invited more than 50 countries to send warships, tall ships and aircraft to participate in the event from October 3 to 11, to mark the 100th anniversary of the first entry of the RAN’s Fleet into Sydney Harbour. The review is the largest commemorative event ever undertaken by the RAN, and more than 8 000 Australian and visiting personnel are expected to participate ….”
“Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Sunday) announced that Canada and Malaysia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will enhance security cooperation between the two countries and help address the threats of terrorism, human smuggling and organized crime in Southeast Asia and beyond. He also announced Canadian support for four projects that will strengthen front line institutional capacity in Malaysia. The Prime Minister made the announcement during a bilateral visit to Malaysia ….”
Egypt “Egypt’s military-backed authorities have released two Canadians held without charge for seven weeks, the Canadian government says ….” – more from the Canadian government here, and other media here
Syria Commentary “…. Before entering any debate about a potential western intervention in Syria, perhaps we should admit the magnitude of our mistake in Libya. Two years of anarchy is not a victory.”
An American military analyst tips his hat to a CF media monitoring web page while much of the Pentagon’s Info-machine is on pause
“The Supreme Court of Canada has a well-earned reputation for being an open, public and transparent court. Its hearings are televised and its rulings often reinforce the notion that courts function best when they are transparent. It once famously warned of “the mischief that flows from a presumption of secrecy.” So it is somewhat ironic that the Supreme Court will be holding a secret, in camera hearing later this week. It’s a hearing so secret that the court will not even confirm where it is being held because of national security concerns. At the centre of the hearing is a little-used immigration tool called a security certificate, which allows suspects to be detained for years without charge on national security grounds ….”
“Canadian indigenous chiefs and delegation took part in a wreath-laying and pipe ceremony honouring First Nations loyalty to the Crown in London, England. A delegation of two dozen First Nations chiefs, veterans, elders and leaders, representing indigenous peoples from Canada took part in the ceremony held at the Royal Military Chapel, the Guards’ Chapel on Saturday. “Generations of Canadian Indians have stood forthright, to repay the loyalty and commitment of the Crown to the indigenous population of Canada,” stated Dr. William Beaver, officiating chaplain of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. In the late 1800s, First Nations chiefs who entered into treaties with the Crown were guaranteed freedom from military conscription. Nevertheless, First Nations people served for such service ….”
“A new monument to Canada’s most decorated aboriginal soldier was unveiled Sunday (in Winnipeg) in a ceremony that brought together descendants of Sgt. Tommy Prince, dignitaries, military veterans and a cadet corps named in the soldier’s honour. The boulder with Prince’s name is located at the Veteran Military Plaza located south of Battery Street and Selkirk Avenue. It replaces one that was vandalized. It caps 16 years of efforts by former serviceman Donald Mackey to honour Prince, a man he knew when both were in the military in the 1950s ….”

MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – November 14, 2012

14 November 12 ~ milnews.ca ~ Leave a comment

Joshua Baker, 1985-2010, R.I.P. “The Calgary reservist charged with manslaughter in the death of a soldier in Afghanistan entered not guilty pleas Tuesday morning on the first day of his court martial trial. Maj. Darryl Watts is on trial and alleged to have been negligent in the friendly fire death of Edmonton-based Cpl. Joshua Baker in Afghanistan in 2010 at a training range outside of Kandahar City. Watts, an 11-year Calgary firefighter and reservist with the King’s Own Calgary Regiment, is scheduled to be on trial for up to five weeks at the Mewata Armoury. The prosecution alleges that Watts was in charge during a live fire training exercise with a weapon called the C19. It is a mix of plastic explosives and 700 ball bearings. When detonated that day, Feb. 12, 2010, the weapon killed Baker and injured four others ….” – more here, here and here.
Afghanistan (1) More medals being presented by the GG, including one to a soldier who rescued an Afghan man and his son under fire in April of last year.
Afghanistan (2) Review of “Afghanistan: Requiem for a Generation” “It was a moving evening of tributes to the fallen, remembrance of sacrifice, and commemoration of the daily grief experienced for loved ones by those left behind. The cornerstone work at the Calgary Philharmonic’s War and Peace Festival featured the world premiere of composer Jeffrey Ryan and librettist Suzanne Steele’s emotionally powerful Afghanistan: Requiem for a Generation. It is rare to have a commission of this magnitude, the largest in CPO history. Ryan was supported by the Canada Council and Steele, chosen as the first official War Artist in the Canadian Forces Artist Program, was embedded with the 1st Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in Afghanistan. The Requiem intermixed the Latin text headers for each movement with Steele’s English poetry, and included some French and Pashto. Images taken from the Afghan missions were projected upon two large screens over the stage. Ryan offered a balanced score, with equal opportunity for all participants to shine, including four vocal soloists and orchestra members, with particularly outstanding contributions from the CPO Chorus and the Cantaré Children’s Choir. ….”
War Monument Vandalism in Toronto “On behalf of the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Eve Adams, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Member of Parliament for Mississauga–Brampton South, (yesterday) inspected the recently vandalized Victory Peace War Memorial at Coronation Park. “Our cenotaphs and war memorials are powerful symbols of our national remembrance and must be respected and maintained,” said Minister Blaney. “Disgraceful and disrespectful acts of vandalism like this need to be addressed. That is why our Government is proud to support Bill C-217, which will increase penalties for those convicted of these heinous crimes.” “Seeing our local war memorials treated with such disrespect is incredibly troubling, especially on such an important day of national remembrance,” said Parliamentary Secretary Adams. “I am pleased to be here today to see that this memorial has been restored to its honoured state.” ….” – more here.
Remember the food complaints from vets living in a Halifax nursing home? Here’s the latest from a column in the home-town newspaper, whose author has a copy of a review, but isn’t sharing it with the public yet: “…. allow me to reveal a few recommendations from the report: Switch from individual packets of condiments to table-size bottles. Change servers’ uniforms from hospital garb to “hospitality” outfits. Serve salads from a big bowl. The report cost $13,500. Unfortunately, the main problem — reheating day-old food — is only something to “explore” in the “medium term,” which isn’t defined. And in the “longer term,” which also isn’t defined, the report muses about renovating the kitchen and hiring a chef for the vets ….”
This from an independent MP’s (harsh?) take on CBC’s handling of a Bin Laden satire video from a mess dinner: “…. By engaging in yellow journalism and irresponsibly disseminating it for the world to see, the CBC hurt Canada’s image, our military’s image, and unnecessarily offended Arab’s around the world. By spinning this and putting it out for international consumption, the CBC is propagating racism. They took a video that was internal, personal, and limited to a very few, and turned it into an outward Canadian racial attitude for the rest of the world to believe. By calling upon CBC comedian Shaun Majumder – a visible minority – to speak out on the supposed ‘cultural insensitivities’ of this video is the height of hypocrisy, as Shaun has portrayed bin Laden as an Arab himself. The CBC attempted to detonate a racist scandal where there simply was none to be found …. In the face of this incident, we have to thank the men and women of our Canadian military who were doing nothing more than relieving themselves of the endless stresses of their jobs with a little bit of black comedy that from time to time many people of all races of all countries enjoy, and ended up showing us where the evil truly exists in this country – the CBC headquarters ….” I wouldn’t go as far as that last bit, but it is an interesting point about Majumder – here’s his take on Osama during H1N1 season, and here’s an Osama goodbye video Majumder headlines in. You be the judge.
“The Honourable Gail Shea, acting Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Central Nova, (yesterday) presented the second of the Canadian Coast Guard’s new Hero class vessels, the CCGS Caporal Kaeble V.C. The CCGS Caporal Kaeble V.C. is the second of the Coast Guard’s new Hero class of mid-shore patrol vessels being built by Irving Shipbuilding Inc. in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Kaeble was officially delivered to Coast Guard by Irving this November. The new vessel is named after the late Corporal Joseph Kaeble, V.C. who was born in St. Moise, Quebec in 1893. He enlisted in 1916 and was a member of the famed Royal 22nd Regiment. Corporal Kaeble died of wounds near Arras, France on June 9, 1918, after he single-handedly repelled a strong enemy attack on Canadian lines. Kaeble was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions, the first French-Canadian to receive this distinguished military decoration ….” – more on Cpl. Kaeble here and here, and on the story here and here.

MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – November 13, 2012

13 November 1213 November 12 ~ milnews.ca ~ Leave a comment

Remembering (1) From one soldier’s take on Remembrance Day “…. I noticed a Korean War Veteran pin on his jacket, so I asked him if he served in Korea and he said yes. So I thank him for his service, telling him that I am Korean and I appreciate what he did. This veteran became a bit emotional, because he could see the product of his sacrifice; a living proof that what he did was worth it. A Korean-Canadian who had the opportunity to live in liberty and freedom, because of him and other Canadians who served in Korea. If it weren’t for veterans like him, my father would not have had the choice to seek a better life for his family by immigrating to Canada. And the time gap between his tour in Korea to this event was more than 50 years ….”
Remembering (2) “…. It is not about victory or military prowess and national accomplishment, still less about victims and criminals. It is about people who died. To label them heroes or victims, to enlist them in some political debate, robs them of their humanity. Remembrance Day is about Harry Cherry and Pat McCarty and 100,000 others. The debates about war and peace will rage on, but let the dead have their two minutes ….”
Column: “Ottawa glorifies veterans — as long as they don’t cost anything“
Toronto War Memorial Vandalism Being Looked at as a Hate Crime – CBC was a little behind the others , but they too now have the story.
CBC talks to a bunch of folks about defence spending “Shrinking budgets in the years ahead is leading to questions about what kind of military Canada will have ….”
Joshua Baker, 1985-2010, R.I.P. “It was longest nine hours of Jim Scott’s life, from hearing his son was critically injured in an explosion, to learning the 24-year-old artillery soldier might just survive. The news from Afghanistan was grim — a mine had gone off at close range, the blast peppering Bombardier Dan Scott and his close friend Cpl. Josh Baker with 700 steel balls. Baker died quickly, even as Scott held his buddy’s hand in the ambulance. Scott was torn open by the mine, his internal organs shredded by the lethal shrapnel. And for horrified family back in Canada, the nightmare grew worse. Accurate news was hard to come by from the far-off theatre of war, and at first, the injuries sounded minor. But then Dan’s condition was downgraded to very serious — the worst condition possible before death. The commanding officer, who’d come to the family home to say Bombardier Scott was hurt but OK, left to put on the formal uniform required to break the news of death, if needed ….”
Good point “Last week the CBC got its hands on an amateur video produced by some of our soldiers for a comedy night at a military base in Nova Scotia back in 2010. It was a short, four-minute spoof making fun of Osama Bin Laden’s older brother, “Eugene.” The CBC says it got this video last month. But it sat on it for weeks, in order to release it as a big, breathless exclusive right before Remembrance Day. It’s obvious why. It was the CBC’s way of showing what it thinks of our Canadian Forces: That they’re a bunch of racist pigs. The CBC said the video was an exclusive. But it actually wasn’t. Because the CBC called the military police to come watch the video at the CBC offices. The CBC isn’t just reporting on this “scandal.” It is pitching it to the police, with the implication that the police should lay charges. The CBC isn’t even pretending to be reporters. It is an anti-military activist ….” The CBC called the Military Police to see some video? One wonders if the CBC would have been as co-operative if civilian cops asked for video shot by the CBC?
Way Up North (1) U.S. Coast Guard wraps up big Alaskan exercise ….
Way Up North (2) …. while Indian analysts mull why they should be interested in the Arctic, too
“When it comes to trust, a new Environics survey finds Canadians rank near the bottom of the pack — among citizens of 26 countries in the Americas — in having faith in their leader. The survey found Prime Minister Stephen Harper scores a rating of “a lot of trust” from only 16 per cent of Canadians. According to the Globe and Mail, that same survey finds we have a more peachy view of the Canadian Armed Forces. 53 per cent of respondents gave a thumb’s up to the military, compared to only 36 per cent for the RCMP. The Prime Minister wasn’t the only one to get a low mark. Parliament got a rating of only 17 per cent, just one percentage point ahead of Harper. Those of composing these stories in the mass media rated even more poorly, with a a trust rating of only 6 per cent.”
“Attempts to bundle several civil suits filed against convicted killer and former Canadian Forces colonel Russell Williams and his estranged wife will take another step forward this week. Lawyers handling the case are anticipating a draft order seeking permission to compile the multiple suits under one umbrella will make its way to the regional senior justice for approval later this week. The lawyers are calling for a Kingston, Ont., adjudicator to case manage the mounting files detailing damages sought by various victims. Williams is serving life in prison in Kingston. He was convicted in October 2010 of sexually attacking two Tweed, Ont., women and the first-degree murders of Cpl. Marie- France Comeau, 37, of Brighton, Ont., and Jessica Lloyd, 27, of Belleville. He was also convicted of dozens of break-and-enters and thefts in Belleville, Tweed and Ottawa. Administrative hiccups have been blamed for the slowed progression of the matter to its current stage, since Justice Robert Scott consented to recusing himself from the suit in September, agreeing that a Kingston judge handle claims being filed by plaintiffs and defendants in the multimillion-dollar civil suit ….”
No word on the obtained report being shared, so no word on what else is there, when the report was even produced “The Public Safety Department worries Canada is becoming a digital launching pad for – not just a target of – malicious cyber-activities, confidential briefing notes reveal. Traditionally, most cybercriminals are known for plotting their online schemes in places like Eastern Europe, East Asia and Africa, say departmental notes prepared for a closed-door meeting of the Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security. “This may be shifting to more developed countries such as Canada, the U.S. and France – countries with good reputations,” say the notes, obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act. “Plainly said, we may be moving from being mostly ‘targets’ of organized cybercrime hosted in outside jurisdictions, to ‘hosts’ of online cybercrime operations and activities.” The notes were drafted for an introductory discussion by Brett Kubicek, Public Safety’s manager of research and ac ademic relations, at the roundtable’s June meeting. The roundtable, which com-rises members of various ethnic backgrounds, tries to foster dialogue on security issues between government officials and minority communities. “When it comes to cyberspace, it’s likely that the flow of questions facing policy-makers will continue to outpace readily available and clear solutions for the foreseeable future,” say Kubicek’s notes. His comments followed an explicit warning from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service about homegrown websites that support and incite terrorist violence ….”
Something from the U.S. DHS, via publicintelligence.net from April 2011 “This Assessment examines terrorist threats to the Marine Transportation System (MTS) relevant to the U.S. and Canadian maritime borders, and updates unclassified judgments from the 2007 Canadian Integrated Threat Assessment Centre (ITAC) product, “Terrorist Threat to the Canadian Maritime Sector,” and the 2008 USCG Intelligence Coordination Center product, “National Maritime Terrorism Threat Assessment.” The information is provided in support of the activities of the Department and to assist federal, state, and local government counterterrorism and law enforcement officials in effectively deterring, preventing, preempting, or responding to maritime terrorist attacks against the United States and Canada. This document provides an updated baseline for MTS threats to support the activities of the Department and assist other federal, state, and local government agencies and authorities; the private sector; and other entities, both in implementing joint U.S. and Canadian strategies for northern border security ….”
“On behalf of the Honourable Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, (yesterday) announced the designation of Canada’s participation in the Royal Flying Corps as an event of national historic significance …. During the First World War, nine facilities were set up in Canada that trained 11,928 air force personnel of all ranks for the Royal Flying Corps (later the Royal Air Force), many of whom, after the war, would provide the foundation for the development of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Canadian airmen made a vital contribution to the success of the Royal Flying Corps’ war effort. Prominent members of the Royal Flying Corps included two recipients of the highest award for valour, the Victoria Cross: William Avery Bishop, with 72 credited victories, the second highest total in the Royal Flying Corps; and, William Barker, with 50 victories and one of the most decorated Canadian serviceman in history. This new designation will be included in Canada’s system of national historic sites, persons and events, on the recommendation of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada ….”

MILNEWS.ca News Highlights – 4 July 12

4 July 123 July 12 ~ milnews.ca ~ Leave a comment

Happy Birthday, U.S.A.!
Safe travels! “Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Regina depart(ed) Esquimalt (yesterday) at 11 a.m. for the Arabian Sea region. HMCS Regina will replace HMCS Charlottetown on Operation Artemis, Canada’s contribution to Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) to conduct maritime security operations in the Arabian Sea region …. Operation Artemisis the Canadian Forces’ (CF) participation in maritime security and counter-terrorism operations in the Arabian Sea region with the multinational CTF 150 ….”
Keeping the 20mm Gatling Gun going on HMCS Charlottetown “Weapons for fighting, radar for detection and navigation, the horizon-reference system that helps the Sea King helicopter land safely — all these systems are under the care of the Combat Systems Engineering (CSE) Department, which handles much of the crucial maintenance involved in keeping a ship combat-ready at sea. One piece of kit aboard HMCS Charlottetown is all too familiar to the members of the CSE Department: the Mk 15 PHALANX 20-mm Close-In Weapon System, abbreviated “CIWS” and known to most as the Sea Whiz ….”
Pacific Rim exercise to have Canadian air boss “It’s not very often you see a brigadier-general in the Royal Canadian Air Force wearing a flying suit at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. Yet as he prepared to deploy to Hawaii last week, Brigadier-General Mike Hood, an air combat systems officer by trade, looked every bit the career aviator returning to his roots. For the next month, BGen Hood will do what no other RCAF officer has ever done. He will command the air component of the largest naval exercise in the world – Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) – taking place in Hawaii (having started) on June 29 ….”
Two Vandoos talk to businessmen about unlimited liability “The first time I heard the phrase “unlimited liability,” about an hour ago, a slight shiver went up my spine. We do everything to avoid such a predicament. Car insurance, health insurance, mortgage/income/life insurance. Noncompetes, nondisclosures, incorporation, employment contracts. You name it, we limit our liability to it. The last thing we want is to be subjected to unlimited liability. Unless we’re in the military. Then it describes the nature of military service. When everyone else runs from disaster, these women and men enter the fray. While the rest of us are grabbing the silverware, they are heading, contrary to their natural instincts, into the conflict zone. They don’t limit their exposure to risk. They face losing their lives as part of their jobs. They face unlimited liability ….”
“In a ceremony held …. at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Mr. Chris Alexander, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, presented Colonel Homer Tien, a Canadian military trauma surgeon, with the Canadian Forces Major Sir Frederick Banting Term Chair in Military Trauma Research …. Past Canadian Forces (CF) research into the management of blood flow and multiple trauma contributed to a 97 per cent survival rate for CF soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen who were evacuated to the Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit in Kandahar with vital signs. The CF has long embraced a collaborative care model, maintaining close relationships with the medical services of military partners and with civilian care providers such as Sunnybrook Hospital, to ensure that ill and injured CF personnel receive the best care possible ….”
What’s Canada Buying? “While it’s not the biggest procurement question the Department of National Defence faces, DND has outspent the rest of the government four-to-one on hockey pucks and wrist bands over the last five years. The federal government reported spending more than half a million dollars on promotional pucks, sports jerseys, plastic wrist bands and golf balls from 2007 to 2012, according to reports tabled in the House of Commons. Of the nearly $530,000 reported spent on these items from all departments and agencies for that period, $438,385 came from DND and the Canadian Forces. The Canadian Forces used the items to develop visibility for the work it does, DND spokesman Christian Tessier said in an email ….” The same certainly can’t be said for orange stress balls, can it?
Public Safety Minister: Way to go on nailing another one of those CBSA list guys! “The Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, commended the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal and Canada Border Services Agency today on the arrest of Mohamed Ratni, in Montréal. “This individual is wanted for violation of human or international rights under the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act or under international law. His arrest signals our government’s ongoing commitment to protecting Canadians and the safety of our communities”, said Minister Toews. “With the cooperation of police departments across the country, the success of the ‘Wanted by the CBSA’ program demonstrates that Canada will not be a haven for those who try to enter or live here illegally. The Government of Canada remains committed to identifying, detaining and removing those individuals who pose a threat to the safety and security of Canadians.” Ratni is the 26th individual apprehended from “Wanted by the CBSA” list. Since the launch of the list on July 21, 2011, the CBSA has removed 19 of these individuals from Canada ….”
“On behalf of the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, the Honourable Peter Penashue, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and the Honourable Peter Van Loan, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Member of Parliament for York–Simcoe …. announced up to $55,856 in Federal Government funding for two memorials in Newfoundland and Labrador to honour Veterans and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice ….”
Any media interested in paying ~$2700 per person to head to Dieppe next month? “The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, will lead an official delegation to France to mark the 70th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid. Commemorative ceremonies will take place between August 18 and 20, 2012, where at least 500 guests are expected, including Canadian Veterans who participated in the Dieppe Raid, a Canadian Forces contingent and Canadian cadets and scouts. Joining the delegation of Veterans and attending this unique event offers you and your organization the opportunity to profile the stories of remarkable individuals and to cover one of the darkest periods of the Second World War, but one where the lessons learned served to play an important role in later actions ….”