MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 16 October 2018

• What’s Canada Buying? (1)  Big Honkin’ Ships Documents Court Case
• ” ‘Who are they protecting?’: Vice-Admiral Norman’s trial erupts in Commons”
• “Suspended vice-admiral’s lawyers demand secret documents”
• “Accusé d’abus de confiance, le vice-amiral Norman passe à l’attaque et implique un ministre”
• “With Mark Norman trial, Liberals stuck in a situation they cannot win”
• What’s Canada Buying? (2)  Other Stuff
• “Irving Shipbuilding pushing for two more Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ships, all Halifax-class work”
• “Naval ships all sight, no fight”
• Latest on “Ground-Based Air Defence (Letter of Interest)” – all the public bid documents so far (PDF)
• Latest on “Contract for Individual Meal Packs” (with Pizza Pasta, Smoked Meat with Demi-glace Sauce & Southwestern Chipotle Chicken entrees) – all the public bid documents so far (PDF)
• “Media representatives are invited to attend the fourth edition of the Symposium on the Canadian Defence and Security Market, a Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) initiative, organized by STIQ and Aéro Montréal …” (Gov of Canada info-machine)
• Internal Security
• “Conservatives hammer Trudeau government for inaction on Canadian ISIS fighters”
• “ANALYSIS: Captured Canadians in Syria unlikely a legal problem for Trudeau, only a political one”
• “WATCH: Freeland Calls Treasonous ISIS Terrorists “Foreign Fighters” ” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• “Is the far right extremist threat really that big in Canada?”
• “Soldiers of Odin Edmonton Chapter Shuts Down, Rebrands As ‘Canadian Infidels’ “
• #MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa
• “The man who led Canada’s troops in Afghanistan said the Canadian peacekeeping mission in Mali has “no prospect of immediate success.” “The political overtones and what’s going on in this country and this mission are ugly,” retired major-general David Fraser told CTV’s Power Play host Don Martin on Monday …”
• But no visit to Mali, which is next to Burkina Faso &  Côte d’Ivoire???  “Governor General to Visit West Africa … She will undertake State visits to Burkina Faso, from October 23 to 26; to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, from October 26 to 28; and to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, from October 28 to 30 …” (GG info-machine)
• “Serrer l’étau autour de la maladie à virus d’Ebola : un consortium ouest africain pour la recherche créé … Prennent part à cette conférence de Bamako, les participants (chercheurs) venus du Bénin, du Burkina Faso, de la côte d’ivoire, du Ghana, Sénégal, de la France, du Canada… “
• #CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT
• “Are ex-ISIS fighters joining Popular Mobilization Unit militias in Iraq?”
• “A strong Kurdistan region is good for US in Iraq”
• “Iraq’s Sadr calls on Kurds to abandon ‘quotas’ “
• “US General: Fight to Defeat Islamic State Facing ‘Danger of Complacency’ “
• #UKR – Op UNIFIER
• “Two Pilots Die In Ukrainian Fighter Jet Crash, U.S. Pilot ‘Involved'”
• “… We have seen reports claiming a U.S. casualty and can confirm a U.S. service member was involved in this incident. It is currently under investigation and we will continue to provide more information as it becomes available …” (USAF info-machine)
• “Su-27 fighter crashes in Vinnytsia region during Clear Sky drills”
• “Su-27 crashes during practice flight in Vinnytsia region”
• “Kyiv Says Ukrainian Soldier, Two Separatist Fighters Killed In East”
• “Donbas escalation: 37 enemy shellings, 1 KIA, 3 WIAs”
• “One soldier dies in Donbas conflict zone”
• “Almost 2,900 Ukrainian soldiers deceased in Donbas, – Poroshenko”
• “900 soldiers died in Donbas conflict due to murders, suicides”
• “Trump says he shows firmness regarding Putin, helps Ukraine strengthen army”
• “Turchynov predicts further cooperation with U.S. on lethal weapons”
• “Turchynov, NATO PA President discuss strategy to counter Russia’s aggression in Azov-Black Sea region”
• ” Participants of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army (UVA) are leaving the frontline in Donbas, stated Commander Dmytro Yarosh, former leader of the Right Sector. “This day I announce that the 5th and 8th separate battalions of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army are leaving the frontline but we are not leaving the war. As long as there is a war, we will participate in it,” he said …”
• “Yarosh announced the withdrawal of the battalions of Donbass”
• “Ichnia ammo stocks could be blown up via cell phone, – Chief Military Prosecutor”
• “Hungary promises to continue blocking Ukraine-NATO commission”
• “This is a direct interference in the internal affairs and an element of hybrid aggression – Head of State on the decision of the RF Security Council to protect the Russian Church in Ukraine” (UKR Pres info-machine)
• #LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0
• “Sputnik Sounds Alarm About NATO Convoy’s ‘Suspected’ Move Through a NATO Member State”
• “Igor Panarin, Head Of Russian Information Spetnaz?” (To Inform is to Influence blog)
• “The United States may disintegrate soon: the expert named the date when the fate of America will be decided” (“Information Special Forces” Association blog, based in RUS)
• Way Up North
• “US Marines launch exercise in northern Norway ahead of Trident Juncture”
• “Russia’s largest landing ship to sail north through major NATO exercise”
• “UK Defence Focuses on the Arctic – More Investment Needed”
• “Another two (RUS) ice-breaking LNG carriers are on their maiden voyage in Arctic waters”
• “Last three reactor compartments from Cold War subs to be pulled from Russia’s waters next year”
• Other Military News
• “Team Canada departs for Invictus Games in Sydney, Australia” (DND info-machine)
• “Former (CAF) military captain detained for months in U.S. on decades-old marijuana charge in Canada”
• “The Future of War: The Risks in Confronting China and Russia”
• “U.S. combat vet looks to Canada for sanity –In Canada, cannabis goes legal for civilians and military alike …”
• “Food bank dedicated to helping Calgary veterans opens its doors in Northeast Calgary”
• “A British petty officer has testified he overheard a woman who alleges she was gang raped tell her friend that she was going to “sleep with” a sailor on the night in question …”
• The Koreas
• “Koreas, U.N. Command to discuss disarming Joint Security Area in DMZ”
• “Two Koreas, UNC hold first trilateral talks to disarm JSA”
• “U.S. seeks Russia’s cooperation on N. Korea”
• “Seoul Bans N.Korean Defector from Reporting on Cross-Border Talks”

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 1 September 2018

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “Bomb in chandelier: Media disclose details of Zakharchenko hit” (UKR media)
• “Blast At Donetsk Cafe Kills Two, Including Ukrainian Separatist Leader Zakharchenko” (RFE/RL)
• “Zaharchenko’s entourage trying to flee ‘Donetsk people’s republic’ “ (UKR media)
• “Eleven Casualties in Zakharchenko Assassination Explosion” (RUS media)
• “Separatist Leader Zakharchenko Was A Thorn In The Side Of Both Kyiv And Moscow” (RFE/RL)
• “Tragic news from Donetsk – Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Alexander Zakharchenko was killed in a terrorist attack. We express our condolences to Alexander Zakharchenko’s friends and family and wish prompt recovery to the wounded and injured in the blast, and we wish Donbass residents courage and stamina …” (RUS MFA info-machine)
• “Three-day mourning declared in LPR over the death of DPR Head Alexander Zakharchenko” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Zakharchenko’s funeral to take place on September 2 in Donbass Opera” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Zakharchenko’s assassination prompts extension of curfew across DPR” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Trapeznikov: DPR preserves current social and economic policies” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• 1 Sept 2018 video/statement from pro-RUS rebel info-machine (YouTube)
• “DPR Head Died From Wounds Received In Terrorist Attack In Donetsk. State Of Emergency Declared In DRP” (pro-RUS page)
• “Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov on the liquidation of Zakharchenko” (National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine info-machine)
• “Ukrainian Separatist Leader Zakharchenko Dies In Cafe Blast” (RFE/RL)
• “Kremlin warns Ukraine rebel’s murder could derail peace process” (FRA media)
• “Lavrov: Killing of rebel leader in Ukraine aimed against Minsk treaty” (DEU media)
• “Donetsk Residents Honor Memory Of Assassinated DPRs Leader Zakharchenko” (urdupoint.com)
• “Zakharchenko killed as a result of eliminating witnesses, conflict on commercial grounds – SBU head” (UKR media)
• “Assassination of Zakharchenko a provocation aimed to cause Minsk agreements’ collapse – Lavrov” (UKR media)
• “There is every reason to believe Kiev regime behind Zakharchenko’s murder — diplomat” (RUS media)
• In other #UKR news …
• “Kyiv asks Ottawa to extend the stay of Canadian military trainers in Ukraine”
• “Ukraine’s Independence Day parade in Kyiv … There were units from the U.K, the U.S., Canada, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Romania, Moldova …”
• “Volker Says U.S. Ready To Widen Arms Supplies To Ukraine”
• “Donetsk intelligence notes regrouping of Ukrainian forces — official”
• “Orthodox Church Heads Discuss Ukraine Bid To Split With Russia”

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE

• “Massive Russian Armada Begins Historic War Drills in the Mediterranean Sea” (pro-RUS blog)

#MLI – Op PRESENCE

• “Canadian peacekeepers battle extreme weather in Mali helicopter exercise”
• “Food, security and peace desperately needed in Mali – UN deputy relief chief” (UN info-machine)
• “Western countries urge calm after deadly Tripoli clashes”
• Elsewhere in the ‘hood & Africa …
• “Mauritania: UN chief urges peaceful, credible elections” (UN info-machine) – “Mauritanians vote in last election before key presidential ballot”
• “Xi Jinping: China and Niger are good friends and partners”
• “Xi Jinping’s remarks on China-Africa ties” (CHN mil media)
• “Beijing set to pledge billions more for Africa despite concerns over Chinese lending”

#CANinIRQ – Op IMPACT

• “Drought puts Iraq at risk of jihadist resurgence: study”
• “Dutch former defence minister appointed UN Iraq envoy” – “UN Secretary-General Appoints New Special Representative for Iraq” (UN Assistance Mission for Iraq info-machine) – Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert (Wikipedia)
• “Kurdistan Region hosts new rounds of government formation talks”

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “Court’s refusal to hear benefits lawsuit a ‘slap in the face,’ says Alberta veteran”

Other Military News

• “Trudeau rejigs parliamentary secretaries in lead up to the return of the House” – “Le premier ministre nomme un nouveau secrétaire parlementaire à la Défense” – Serge Cormier (House of Commons profile)
  
• “Tribute to the Merchant Navy set for Monday”

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 24 Mar 2018

• Mo’ on #MLI mission
• “Liberals dropped ball on explaining Mali mission to Canadians: Diplomats — Foreign diplomats are frustrated about the way the Trudeau government handled this week’s announcement that Canada will send military helicopters to Mali. The concern isn’t that Canada has committed to the peacekeeping mission; that decision has been greeted with relief- tinged applause after years of perceived footdragging by the Liberals … But the diplomats feel the government failed to explain why the mission is needed — or that the Canadians will be relatively safe compared with the thousands of other peacekeepers working across the country …”
• “The Spectator’s view: Send Canadian forces into Mali with our eyes open”
• “With Mali mission, Canadian troops are entering a madhouse”
• “Canada’s military heads to Mali — does it know what it’s getting into?”
• “Watch out for Mali ‘mission creep’ “
• “Send Canadian forces into Mali with our eyes open”
• Over in #UKR …
• “N.S. military officer connects with Ukrainian heritage, locals on Forces mission — Sydney River-born officer visits grandfather’s Ukrainian hometown …”
• “Petawawa troops home from successful Ukraine mission”
• “Spy agency chief says new powers would help stop cyberattacks before they happen”
• Wanted:  Ribbons & bows for CANSOF tps  “Cloth Accoutrements for Special Operations Forces Distinctive Service Uniforms (SDSU) … The Department of National Defence has a requirement to establish a Standing Offer for Cloth Accoutrements for their Special Operations Forces (SOF) Distinctive Uniforms (SDSU) to be provided on an “as and when required” basis. The Accoutrements include rank patches, name tapes and “CANADA Flag” shoulder patches for use with the new SDSU …” – More details in bid documents
• Wanted (again):  “Advanced Combat Uniforms … The Department of National Defence (DND) has a requirement for Commercial-Off-The-shelf Advanced Special Operations Forces (SOF) Combat Uniforms (ASCU) to be supplied in accordance with DND specifications …”
• A medicinal blast from the past
• “MPs say Ottawa should reach out to soldiers who took mefloquine”
• “Surgeon General Task Force Report on Mefloquine” (DND info-machine, June 2017)
• Mefloquine (Wikipedia)
• Mefloquine (Centres for Disease Control)
• “Ottawa shelving million-dollar job app for veterans”
• “MPs freed from House of Commons as Tories bring standoff tactics to an end — Retaliation after Liberals oppose having national security adviser talk to committee about India trip …”
• #SkripalPoisoning smoke machine generating mo’ fog …
• “Russian Nerve Agent Scientist Admits Selling Deadly Toxin to Chechen Mobsters”
• RUS fanboy media:  Maybe RUS “lost” toxin the same way USA “lost” manpads that shot down SYR jets?

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 19 Mar 2018

• It’s now official!
• “Canada Announces Second Peacekeeping Smart Pledge – Will send Aviation Task Force to UN Mission in Mali” (DND/Global Affairs Canada info-machines)
• “Roughly 250 Canadians troops are heading to Mali — what dangers will they face?” (Globalnews.ca)
• “Canada sending 6 helicopters to help UN mission in Mali” (CBC News)
• “Le Canada enverra au Mali une force opérationnelle aérienne de 6 hélicoptères” (45nord.ca)
• “Canada to send helicopters to U.N. Mali mission, allies relieved” (Reuters)
• Interesting point … “Canada to send troops to Mali but the details remain unclear” (The Globe and Mail)
• … with some tea leaves to be read in the latest report (December 2017) from the UN mission there (check page 11 of the PDF linked here):  “… MINUSMA continues to require an explosive ordnance disposal company, a tactical transport aviation unit, a special forces company and a medium utility helicopter unit … One medium armed utility helicopter unit for Sector North remains a critical gap …”
• “Mali choppers face crash threats, but can shoot back at militants: Vance” (National Post)
• “Canada to deploy troops, helicopters to UN Mali mission” (Radio Deutsche Welle
• “Canadian peacekeepers head to Mali, a country broken by civil war” (The Globe and Mail)
• “Canada will send peacekeepers to Mali in the UN’s most dangerous mission” (VICE News)
• The Conservatives’ take?  ” ‘Mali is a war zone’: Conservatives want debate on 12-month UN peacekeeping mission“
• And Some Commentary …
• “It will take more than a few Canadian choppers to help Mali” (Ottawa Citizen)
• … including some whiny bits  “Canadian Troops Should Never Be Put Under UN Command” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• “Canada returns to peacekeeping, but we’re no Ethiopia”
• News from Mali via Google News & EU NewsBrief, with backstory from the International Crisis Group
• Elsewhere in Africa …
• “Two Canadian naval vessels arrive in Ghana” (Ghanaian media)
• … and in Iraq
• “Canadian Forces hospital to stay in Iraq until early 2019”
• Cyber threats from Russia … “Notorious Russian troll farm also took swipes at Canadian targets: oil, PM”
• … and China  “Former top Canadian security officials warn Ottawa to sever links with China’s Huawei”
• “Minister Sajjan concludes Trip in Middle East”
• Guess who won Russia’s election?  (via Google News)
• Canadian commentary on Skripal poisoning:  “Nerve agent theory has too many holes”

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 14 Mar 2018

• The Poisoning …
• UK’s response:  “Russian spy: UK to expel 23 Russian diplomats” – “Novichok nerve agent use in Salisbury: UK government response” (UK Prime Minister info-machine)
• RUS Foreign Affairs Ministry: “The March 14 statement made by British Prime Minister Theresa May in Parliament on measures to “punish” Russia, under the false pretext of its alleged involvement in the poisoning of Sergey Skripal and his daughter, constitutes an unprecedented, flagrant provocation that undermines the foundations of normal dialogue between our countries …”
• RUS Embassy in UK:  “On 14 of March Russian Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko was summoned to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office where he was informed that 23 diplomats were declared personae non gratae. We consider this hostile action as totally unacceptable, unjustified and shortsighted …”
• Canada’s response:  “Russian spy attack: Canada condemns ‘likely’ Russian involvement as U.K. expels 23 diplomats” – “Statement by Minister of Foreign Affairs on chemical weapon attack in United Kingdom … “Canada stands in solidarity with its close ally, the United Kingdom, and the British people. We offer our heartfelt support to the victims of the March 4th chemical attack in Salisbury …” (Global Affairs Canada info-machine)
• RUS Embassy in Canada:  “We regret Canadian Foreign Minister’s hasty support for the unfounded and unacceptable accusations on the part of UK with regard to the Skripal case. The British blame game based on the word “likely”, but not on trustworthy investigation, hard facts and proper international procedures, is highly reprehensible and extremely counterproductive.”
• NATO:  “…Allies expressed deep concern at the first offensive use of a nerve agent on Alliance territory since NATO’s foundation. Allies expressed solidarity with the UK, offered their support in the conduct of the ongoing investigation, and called on Russia to address the UK’s questions including providing full and complete disclosure of the Novichok programme to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons …”
• A reminder of history from the odessatalk.com blog:  “… “The policy and practice of the Russian government has always been to push forward its encroachments as fast and as far as the apathy or want of firmness of other Governments would allow it to go, but always to stop, and retire when it met with decided resistance” – Lord Palmerston circa 1858 …”
• In other news …
• “Veterans say Trudeau Liberals broke promise on education benefit”
• “Former Winnipegger convicted of terror gets 45-year sentence in New York court”
• Wanted:  Snack cakes for Petawawa – List of types, quantities (PDF)
• I guess someone’s belly button needs a flag 🙂  “Navel Ensign” (via Buyandsell.gc.ca)
• I don’t suppose one could do worse, right?  “Put farmers, fishers, veterans in the Red Chamber, senator urges”
• Fledgling academic:  CAN missed a chance to have a good anti-terror partner by cancelling chopper deal w/the Phillippines
  
• And from the doubting socialists  “Canada touts military-strategic alliance with Washington to win exemption from Trump’s tariffs”

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 1 Mar 2018

• One more reason to worry Trump’s proposed steel tariffs?  “Trump’s steel tariff could drive up Canada’s military procurement costs”
• Speaking of trade with the U.S. …  “DND gas mask fight a sign of toxic Canada/U.S. trade climate, say experts — U.S. firms taking ‘swipes’ at Canadian procurement are following White House lead, says former Tory minister …”
• Another good question  “Does the Canadian Forces need an additional aircraft for close air support? Who knows?”
• Ooopsie … “Canadian Air Force drops inflatable raft through Florida home’s roof” (The Canadian Press)
• More from Budget 2018 … 
• “Psychiatric service dog handlers to get tax credit”
• “The memory of Canadian soldiers will be better preserved thanks to millions of dollars in the federal budget to maintain military graves in poor condition…” (La Presse, in French)
• “Trudeau government promising $42M to assist thousands of disabled veterans”
• What’s Canada Buying (1)?  “(Request for Information) – Defensive Cyber Operations Project … Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), on behalf of The Department of National Defence (DND) / Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), is releasing this Request for Information (RFI) to inform Industry and to seek input on the possible procurement and costing for the Defensive Cyber Operations – Decision Support Project (DCO-DS) and the Cyber Security Awareness Project (CSA) …”
• What’s Canada Buying (2)?  Navy has new small UAV  “AeroVironment-MDA Team to Provide Small UAS for Canada’s Maritime Operations”
• Clamping down on fakers  “Alberta man accused of posing as (U.S.) marine at Remembrance Day event faces charge”
• USS Little Rock still stuck in ice in Montreal  “Inconvenienced by a warship stuck in the harbor” (Journal de Montreal, in French)
• “US, Canada Eye Ways to Counter Cruise Missile Attacks — The head of U.S. Northern Command last week said the U.S. and Canada are working on upgrades to protect against cruise missile threats posed by countries such as Russia and North Korea — the first substantial buildup in more than two decades …”
• If this IS true, I guess Russia’ll stop bellyaching about missile defences on its borders, riiiiiiiiiiight?  “Putin boasts that Russia has a nuclear-powered cruise missile that can penetrate U.S. defense shields” – “Russia says NATO’s missile shield has holes in it – agencies” – “Russia’s new weapon systems may reduce US missile defense efforts to nothing — analyst”
• China’s military into movies (via CHN military media) … “Military movies strike a chord in China” – “Chinese military action film “Operation Red Sea” released in U.S.” – “China’s Military Finances Blockbuster Movie About Heroic Chinese Marines in Yemen”
• … and a few philatelic tidbits  “PLA Air Force releases video and commemorative envelopes of J-16 warplane”

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – February 20, 2018

Cold War 2.0:  Russia/Baltics/Eastern Europe

• “Canada’s deal on AWACS – less money and no RCAF personnel”
• “New report: actors manipulating the online conversation are changing tactics” (NATO StratCom info-machine) – “Robotrolling 2018/1” (NATO StratCom report)
• “Germany to triple number of soldiers for NATO’s drills to contain Russia” (Pravda)
• “Test of Arrow 3 Missile Defense System Completes Successfully” (US DoD)
• “Russian Navy begins aerial refuelling training for its combat pilots”
• “The testing of 12 units of Russia’s newest 152 mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH), the 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV, is under way and will continue until 2020, when state trials are expected to be completed and a decision made on serial production of the system, said Russian Deputy Defence Minister Yuriy Ivanovich Borisov on 9 February …”
• “Russia’s Electronic Warfare Capabilities to 2025” (EST gov’t via To Inform is to Influence blog)
• “Iraqi Defense Ministry receives T-90S tanks from Russia”

Ukraine

• “Two U.S. Guided-missile Destroyers Now Operating in the Black Sea” – “U.S. show of force in Black Sea message to Russia – media”
• UN Peacekeeper Latest  “Nordic Peacekeepers for Ukraine: Back in Blue?” (Norwegian Institute of International Affairs) – “It is impossible to withdraw occupation authority from Donbas without UN peacekeepers, – (UKR) MFA” – “Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry: No Belarusian peacekeepers in Donbas without peers from NATO states” – “Belarus cannot send peacekeepers to Donbas because it is CSTO member”
• “Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine to hold press briefing in Mariupol (today)” (OSCE)
• Updates from All Sides
• “Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 18 February 2018”
• “ATO News: Situation Update, east of Ukraine as of morning, February 20, 2018” (UKR MoD)
• “ATO News: Situation Update, east of Ukraine as of morning, February 19, 2018” (UKR MoD)
• UKR govt ATO map, 20 Feb 2018
• “Donetsk Defense: Situation Report, 02/19/2018”
• “One Ukrainian soldier killed, four wounded in Donbas on Feb 19”
• “Ukraine reports 12 enemy attacks in Donbas, 1 KIA, several wounded in last day”
• “ATO HQ reports 12 enemy attacks in Donbas, 1 KIA, several wounded in last day”
• “One Ukrainian soldier died, four more wounded in Donbas”
• “Defense Ministry confirms information about one died, four wounded Donbas soldiers”
• “Ukrainian Army, Donbas militants keep moving closer to one another, – (OSCE’s) Hug”
• Rebel Info-machine on Pause???  “The official DONi Donbass International News Agency, placed in the Donetsk People’s Republic, has faced a temporary stoppage of its informational works due the organizational re-arrangements and structural changes …”
• “Stepan Poltorak, We have to use constructively Ukroboronprom’s potential. I am ready to cooperate; joint projects have great chance of success” (UKR MoD)
• “Ukrainian Army HQ: soldier shot fellow serviceman through negligence”
• “Russia sent a letter of protest to Ukraine over the attack on the Rossotrudnichestvo building in Kyiv” – “Ruslan Nimchinsky, Ukrainian Charge d’Affaires ad interim in Moscow, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on February 19 and was handed a note of protest against the continuing mayhem caused by Ukrainian Russophobic nationalists, who, on February 17 and 18, 2018 and at the behest of the Kiev authorities, staged provocative attacks on the Russian Centre for Science and Culture and the Rossotrudnichestvo office, as well as the Kiev-based offices of Russian banks …” (RUS MFA info-machine)
• “(UKR) Supreme Council of Justice not supports Interior Minister’s suggestion to lift security of courts” – “National Police, National Guard to continue protecting courts, other bodies of judicial system”
• “Poroshenko To Testify On Anniversary Of Maidan Bloodshed” – “Bitter questions as Ukraine’s leaders wax rhetorical about Maidan” (Human Rights in Ukraine)
• “Alleged decree banning travel to Ukraine is fake – DPR Head’s administration”
• “Report on the Results of Sociological Study: Features of Social Adaptation and Integration of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Local Communities of the Territories of Their Present Residence – October 2017” (Caritas)

#CANvsISIL

• DND’s latest on Operation IMPACT

Everyone Else Vs. ISIL

• “Daesh still capable of launching attacks in northern Iraq, say commanders”
• “Iraq hands 6-year jail term to German jihadist teen: judiciary”
• “French female ISIS fighter to be extradited following conviction in Iraq”
• “UN Releases Guidelines for Team Investigating ISIS Crimes in Iraq” – Terms of Reference (PDF)
• “Syria de-escalation zones should not turn into zones of foreign influence — diplomat”
• “Russia ready to help in Afrin conflict settlement — Foreign Ministry”
• “Escalation in Syria – How Far Can the Russians be Pushed?”
• “Turkey Warns US, Syrian Government Against Supporting Kurds”
• “Failed offensive at Deir Ezzor was planned by Wagner PMC Chief of Operations Sergei Kim” (InformNapalm.org)

Afghanistan

• “Lavrov: Russia Awaits US Response on Unidentified Helicopters in Afghanistan”

Cold War 2.0:  The Koreas 

• “Progress at North Korea’s Experimental Light Water Reactor at Yongbyon” (38 North)
• “North Korean ICBM Design Shows External Influence, Jane’s by IHS Markit Says”
• “S. Korean military to press ahead with joint drills with U.S. this year” – “KCNA Commentary on U.S. Moves to Resume Joint Military Exercises after Olympics” (via Anglo-Peoples Korea/Songun blog)
• “A looming trade dispute could cause friction in the U.S-South Korea military alliance, but leaders in Washington and Seoul maintain their economic disagreements will not impact their continued security cooperation to deal with the North Korean nuclear threat …”
• “South Korea’s president accepts Putin’s invitation to visit Russia”
• “Power and water supply in North Korea worsens in winter”
• “DC Comics’ New Aquaman Is N.Korean Defector”

Cold War 2.0:  China/Asia-Pacific

• “US Secret Service denies China ‘nuclear football’ skirmish”
• “Philippines: Risks Rising With China Challenging US at Sea” – China’s rising challenge to US raises risk of South China Sea conflict, Philippines warns” – “Rodrigo Duterte says Chinese military island bases are there to oppose US, not Philippines”
• “Royal Australian Navy Warships Set Sail for Exercise Ocean Explorer”
• “Singapore announces 4% increase in defence spending”
• “China Is Selling a New Tank. Could It Beat the M1 Abrams in a Fight?” – VT-4 (Wikipedia)
• “Indian deal on key Iranian port a potential check on China’s regional ambitions”
• “China has been quietly holding talks with Pakistani tribal separatists for more than five years in an effort to protect the $60bn worth of infrastructure projects it is financing as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor …”
• “Omar asks Delhi to explain Akhtar’s assertion about China’s involvement in Kashmir”

Way Up North

• “(RUS) Northern Fleet service personnel learn to drive new Aleuts”

What’s Canada Buying?

• Wanted:  “ROBUST “BEYOND LINE OF SIGHT” (BLOS) COMMUNICATIONS IN SATELLITE-DENIED ENVIRONMENTS … The Canadian Armed Forces uses both High Frequency (HF) and satellite communications (SATCOM) systems for beyond line of sight (BLOS) communications. While the HF band supports global communications, it is subject to widely varying performance due to interference, atmospheric conditions and, in times of conflict, jamming. Satellite communications can also be subject to denial jamming. The challenge is to consider new approaches to providing robust, over-the-horizon/BLOS communications in satellite-denied environments …”

Sexual Assault/Harassment in the CF

• “Special prosecutor to examine charges against top military judge and decide whether case should proceed” – “Poursuites contre le juge en chef militaire, un procureur spécial nommé” – “Director of Military Prosecutions appoints Special Prosecutor” (DND info-machine)
• “Canadian military rethinks morale tours in wake of Tiger Williams sex assault allegations” – “Booze-fuelled military flights spark calls for change”

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “Letter: One of Langley’s MPs defends Liberal record on veterans”

Other

• “US fight for military recruits not echoed in Canada but problems remain”
• “Interest in Canadian Armed Forces remains high”
• “Toronto Maple Leafs pay tribute to the Royal Canadian Navy” (RCN info-machine)
• Colonel Ted’s take:  “Everyman’s Strategic Survey: EU versus NATO? Does it matter? … Perhaps it is time for Canadians who really care about their country and its place in the world to start considering advocating for closer, stronger, strategic ties with Australia, India, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom … something of a CANZUK++ for military cooperation and coordination, but not a formal alliance. The threats we face are global, our friends and military partners should be global too.”
• “Henry J. Langdon: An RCAF, industry and union pioneer” (RCAF info-machine)
• “One of the first Black Canadian women soldiers tells her story” (Army info-machine)

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