MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 13 November 2018

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• Rita Katz (SITE) on Twitter:  “#JNIM claimed its 1st attack on #British , #German, & #Canadian forces at a military HQ in #Gao, #Mali where it operates regularly (mainly against French forces). This also marks its 1st suicide op since July, when it targeted #French forces (also in Gao) …”
• “Jihadists claim responsiblility for Mali bombing that allegedly targeted Canadian Forces”
• “Canadian Forces safe after attack in Mali; jihadists claim responsibility”
• “Bomb explodes in Mali where Canadians are deployed”
• “Canadian Forces safe after suicide bombing in Mali”
• “Three civilians killed in attack on UN contractor in Mali”
• “3 civilians killed in attack on UN contractor in Mali”
• “Car bombing kills 3 civilians in Mali”
• “Mali: à Gao, les ministres française et allemande dénoncent l’attentat de la veille”
• “Op PRESENCE – Mali: Continuity Over Change in Canada’s “Return to Peacekeeping” in Africa” (CGAI paper)
• “Settling local disputes is key to peace in Central Mali” (Institute for Security Studies)
• “French, German defence ministers in Mali amid concern over G5 Sahel force”
• “G5 Sahel force unequipped: visiting French, German ministers told”
• “French, German defence ministers in Mali talks”
• “Germany opens new military camp in Niger”
• “Niger: Germany Opens New Military Camp in Niamey”
• “Russia’s hired guns in Africa” (European Council on Foreign Relations)

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “Minister Sajjan Concludes Successful Trip to Romania”
• “New NATO scientific projects to help with the fight against terrorism” (NATO info-machine)
• “Russia’s Baltic Cyber Campaign Leaves NATO Endangered”
• “China and Russia suspected of hijacking Google internet traffic in ‘war game experiment’ “
• “Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland host NATO Allies for exercise ANAKONDA 2018” (NATO info-machine)
• “What’s NATO’s intention to hold Anakonda-2018 military drill?” (CHN mil media)

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “#MinskMonitor: The Russian Drone Wagons of the Donbas” (@AtlanticCouncil’s Digital Forensic Research Lab)
• “In 2020, local elections should take place provided that the whole territory of Ukraine is covered by united communities – President” (UKR pres info-machine)
• “President about the holding of fake elections in the occupied Donbas: Nobody will recognize these elections” (UKR pres info-machine)
• “Occupied Donbas cannot be artificially implanted into democratic Ukraine – Klimkin”
• “Donbass election promotes dialogue on implementation of Minsk accords — Russian diplomat” (RUS media)
• “OFFICIAL: Denis Pushilin wins the Head Election with 60.85 percent” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “OFFICIAL: Pasechnik and Mir Luganschine win Elections” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Cut-Price Food, Prizes For Voters In Ukraine’s ‘Illegal’ Separatist Elections”
• “Controversial Local Election Held in Eastern Ukraine Amid International Criticism”
• “Russian State Media Proclaims the Elections in Donetsk ‘Democratic’ – Based on Unqualified Observers”
• “Russia lies about Minsk Agreement to justify support for fake ‘elections’ in occupied Donbas” (Human Rights in Ukraine)

Way Up North

• “Russia denies disrupting GPS signals during Nato Arctic exercises”
• “Northern Sea Route’s navigation extends by one month in warming climate”
• “Nuclear-powered cargo ship could boost fish shipments along Northern Sea Route”

Internal Security

• “China’s silent invasion of Western universities”
• “Cybersecurity can’t be an afterthought”
• “Canadian spy chief has heard audio of Khashoggi murder, CSIS says”
• “Khashoggi: le Canada a obtenu les enregistrements du meurtre”
• “Canadian soldiers suspended for selling Rhodesian merchandise”

What‘s Canada Buying?

• “Complications in the fighter follies” (Col. Ted)

Sexual Assault/Harassment in the CF

• “Military withdraws sex assault charges, including one against senior officer, because of court ruling”

Mental Health in the CAF

• “Canadian study finds major traumatic injury increases risk of mental-health diagnoses, suicide”

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “Wait Times For Vets Targeted — The NDP are working to cut wait times for Canada’s veterans. MPP Jennie Stevens has tabled legislation that would give priority to veterans for long term care beds across Ontario …”
• “NDP tables legislation to help veterans access long-term care” (Ontario NDP info-machine)
• “Why 2 Canadian vets say ‘abysmal’ broken promises could see suicides top Afghan War deaths”

Other Military News

• “Canada’s showpiece satellite project has been hit with another launch delay, five years after the first of three spacecraft was scheduled for orbit. The RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) is now set to be launched from a California air force base sometime between Feb. 18 and Feb. 24, 2019. It’s the fifth such delay since the $1 billion project was hit with technical troubles and other problems …”
• Chief of Defence Staff:  “A soldier never stands alone”
• “Feds dropped ball with First World War commemorations, historians say”
• “Asbestos in Newfoundland hangar forces move of RCAF search and rescue crews”
• “Proposed (Halifax) CFL site may need to be searched for munitions before kickoff”

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “China’s growing role in South Pacific nations cannot be stopped, says vice-minister Zheng Zeguang”
• “NATO Chief Worried About China Developing New Nukes”
• “PLA Air Force plans expansion into space to modernize capability” (CHN mil media)
• “China’s J-20 Stealth Fighter Is Successful”

The Koreas

• “N. Korea running at least 13 undeclared missile operating bases: CSIS”
• “Undeclared North Korea: The Sakkanmol Missile Operating Base” (Beyond Parallel)
• ” “Nothing new” in Monday’s CSIS report on North Korean missile bases, ROK says”
• “In North Korea, Missile Bases Suggest a Great Deception”
• “US analysts locate more than a dozen secret North Korean missile sites”
• “North Korea’s Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site: Minor Cleanup Activity” (38 North)

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 11 November 2018

#WeRemember

• “The last man: Canadian WW I soldier died at 2 minutes to peace”
• “Identifying Canada’s lost soldiers a “dream job” for young scientist”
• “Première guerre mondiale: Un petit cimetière belge au centre de l’histoire canadienne”
• “Canadian Jon Snyder helped save 50 Afghan recruits from the Taliban. Three days later, he died”
• “Enigma of Canada’s most decorated WWI soldier endures”
• “Trudeau among world leaders in Paris marking 100 years since end of WW I”
• “Secretary General joins world leaders in Paris to commemorate the end of the First World War” (NATO info-machine)

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “Canada deeply concerned by illegitimate elections in Russian-occupied Donbas”
• “Canada deeply concerned by illegitimate elections planned in Ukraine” (Global Affairs Canada info-machine)
• “Ukraine’s Separatists Hold Vote Seen By Many As Kremlin-backed Sham”
• “Donbas Separatists Using Cheap Eggs, Salary Hikes, Corny Videos To Get Out The Vote”
• “Statement by the President of Ukraine regarding the holding of fake elections in the territory of Donbas occupied by Russia” (UKR Pres info-machine)
• “President about the holding of fake elections in the occupied  Donbas: Nobody will recognize these elections” (UKR Pres info-machine)
• “Observers: turnout high, elections well-organized, no major irregularities” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Observers: People queueing at polling stations, turnout unexpectedly high” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Observers report high voter turnout, no important irregularities” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Russia-Installed Head Of Crimea’s Capital Removed”

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “The Patriot “Business”: Toughing it out at (Latvia’s) National Guard camp”
• “Video Places Putin-Connected Oligarch At Top-Level Military Talks”

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “Mali: Humanitarian Response Plan – Financial Tracker (as at 08 November 2018)” (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)
• “DDR : Ce qu’il faut savoir”
• “Security in the Sahel: Radicalization in Sub-Saharan Africa” (NATO Association in Canada)
• “Security in the Sahel: Lessons Learnt” (NATO Association in Canada)
• “Six Special Forces Team Members Reprimanded For 2017 Niger Ambush that Killed Four Green Berets”
• “One Major General Was The Fall Guy For The Niger Ambush. The Real Fault Lies Elsewhere” (Task & Purpose blog)

Afghanistan

• “Freeland orders internal review of Afghan aid”

Way Up North

• “The Cold, Hard Facts Behind NATO’s Show Of Strength In The Arctic” (Eurasia Review)
• “Past threats, future danger – war games also about remembering”
• “Finland and Norway are telling airline pilots to be ready to fly without GPS, and some think Russia is up to something”
• “Russia suspected of GPS jamming in northern Finland during NATO war games”
• “Second Public Report of the Information Special Forces Association — The Threat of Terrorism in Eurasia” (RUS “Information Special Forces” Association)

What’s Canada Buying?

• “Ottawa n’a pu jusqu’ici dépenser que 4 des 6,5 milliards $ prévus en équipement militaire”
• “BYOB: Bring your own boots” (Canadian Army Today)
• “Here Are the Companies Gunning for Canada’s $12 Billion Fighter Jet Deal”
• “The consequences of politicized procurement for Canada’s military”

Internal Security

• “B.C. ISIS supporter “playing games” by refusing to co-operate with his deportation, says CBSA”
• “The Canadian Armed Forces has confirmed that four members have been suspended pending an investigation into their connection with a Calgary-based online business that sells merchandise deemed racist …”
• “Meet the Canadian soldiers behind a white supremacist military surplus store” (Ricochet.media, 29 Oct 2018)
• “Canadian-led movement aims to seize assets from dictators to remedy refugee crisis”

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “Legacies of the First World War: Canadian veterans’ battle for benefits, support”
• “Why Many Say The Government Is Falling Short Of Its Promise To Veterans”
• “Charity calls on government to help fund training of PTSD service dogs for veterans”
• “ATCO has unveiled the first completed tiny homes i a village setting for veterans struggling with homelessness. ATCO is building the 275-square-foot houses for the Homes For Heroes Foundation based in Calgary. Each home is equipped with a kitchen, a three-piece bathroom and a living room with a Murphy bed …”
• “Homeless (Montreal) veteran gets second chance with housing-first program”
• “For thousands of veterans living on the street in Canada, the battle isn’t over”
• “Lowered expectations new norm for Canada’s veterans”
• “Ready for anything — the business advantage of military experience: Don Pittis”
• “Quebec plans to issue new set of special license plates commemorating veterans”

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “China Warns U.S. to Avoid Islands It Claims in South China Sea”
• “Top US officials reject Chinese demand to stop military moves that ‘undermine’ Beijing’s sovereignty in South China Sea”
• “US Presses China on Religious Rights, South China Sea, Taiwan”

The Koreas

• “North Korea’s Sohae Satellite Launching Station: Low Level Activity Continues” (38 North)
• “North Korea’s Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site: Minor Cleanup Activity” (38 North)

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 8 November 2018

What’s Canada Buying?   Big Honkin’ Ships …

• “Construction of sixth Arctic patrol ship at Irving to cost $800M — double the cost of other five”
• “Steel costs for sixth patrol vessel could be steeper”
• “Sixth Arctic and offshore patrol ship about readiness, not fairness, experts say”
• … and The Rest
  
• “Ottawa on track to invest less on new military kit than promised for second year”
• “Canada seeks buy-in for access to US MUOS satellite system”
• “90% of Canadians want to kill future Saudi arms deals”
• “Canadian company CTS (Hall B, Stand B075) offers disruption technology for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and unexploded ordnance, based on a scientific approach. Like many of its products, the CTS Lance disrupter derived from the company’s close work with explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians combined with its own extensive R&D and engineering expertise …”
• “Brazilian Armed Forces select Simthetiq Training Simulation Center”

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “Minister Sajjan to Visit Canadian Forces Personnel Deployed in Romania from November 8 to 10” (DND info-machine)
• “Moscow Set to Re-Activate Cuban Base It Closed in 2002 and Perhaps Open New Ones”
• ““Funeral Teams for NATO Soldiers”: a Week of Disinformation Scare-Mongering, Exaggeration and Mockery” (EU StratCom Disinformation Review)
• “The Secrets Of Russia’s Warrior Graves –The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has published the identities of 206 men who it says served for a shadowy Russian mercenary group called Vagner, in conflicts including Ukraine and Syria. Gravestones in Tolyatti, western Russia, record when four of those men died — but where and how? …”

Way Up North

• “Strategic spillover: Global competition adds new dimension to Arctic security”
• “Un bilan terre, mer et air de Trident Juncture”
• “#PutinAtWar: Disinformation Targets Trident Juncture” (@AtlanticCouncil’s Digital Forensic Research Lab)
• ” ‘There’s No One Else to Fight’: Russian Analysts Not Fooled by NATO Drill Jargon” (RUS media)

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “US War on Terror Kills Nearly 500,000 in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan”
• “Costs of War” (Brown University study)
• “US grants Iraq sanctions waiver to buy Iranian electricity”
• “Pull your forces out of Syria, US envoy tells Tehran”
• “US expresses concern over deployment of Russian S-300 missile systems in Syria”
• “Erdogan: Turkey will not support US sanctions on Iran” (pro-RUS site)

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “Rada intending to double zone of Ukrainian control in Black Sea”
• “U.S. Sanctions Persons, Entities Over Activities In Russian-Occupied Crimea”
• UKR mil info-machine, 8 Nov 2018
• pro-RUS rebel info-machine, 5-7 Nov 2018
• “OSINT expert: Self-proclaimed republics continue preparations for “elections” “
• “Estonia condemns elections announced for Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk regions”
• “Ukraine: Security and Justice in Ukraine: Perspectives from communities in Donetsk, Luhansk and Zhytomyr oblasts (2018)” (UN Development Programme)

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “Mali militia demobilization underway”
• “Les Forces Armées Maliennes rétablissent la situation à Banamba après la fermeture de plusieurs écoles par les terroristes”

Internal Security

• “Canada and United States not facing asylum seeker crisis: UNHCR official”
• “Man, 21, dead after blast led police to car packed with explosives in Sherwood Park”
• “RCMP identify suspect in Sherwood Park explosions as Kane Kosolowsky”

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “Ontario to offer free fishing licences for veterans and current military members”
• “Ontario Gives Back to its Heroes — Province to Offer Free Fishing to Veterans and Active Armed Forces Members …” (Govt of Ontario info-machine)
• “Research gives a voice to family members as war veterans transition back to civilian life” (University of Calgary info-machine)
• “How an Indigenous vet who was programmed to kill found his spirituality”

Other Military News

• “Number of generals will grow, says Canada’s top soldier”
• “Exercise COMMON GROUND 2018: Preparing future Leaders of the Canadian Army” (DND info-machine)
• “Military investigating series of fires, power outages on board naval vessels”
• Col. Ted’s take on “the party flight”  “Another scandal … The solution, it seems to me is simple: stop annoying the soldiers and sailors with costly visits by second rate, minor league celebrities. If the CBC wants to send some semi-professional singers and dancers on a tour of Europe or the Middle East then let the CBC foot the bill … that is what the Montreal Canadiens did in the 1960s. These VIP trips looks more like welfare for washed-up or never was ‘celebrities’ than entertainment or morale boosting for our sailors, soldiers and air force members. As scandals go this is a small one, but it is damaging to the reputation of the leadership of the Canadian Forces …”

World War 2

• “Helmut Oberlander loses key battle in fight to stay in Canada”
• “Federal court deals blow to Helmut Oberlander”

Remembering

• “Governor General to Take Part in Remembrance Day Commemorations in Canada and in Belgium” (GG info-machine)
• “Commander Canadian Army marks Aboriginal Veterans Day” (DND info-machine)
• “Statement by (Indigenous affairs) Minister Rickford on Aboriginal Veteran’s Day” (Gov’t of Ontario info-machine)
• “New war memorial commemorates veterans of Afghanistan conflict in Sioux Narrows, Ont.”
• “J.L. Granatstein: This November 11th, remember Canada’s heroic 100 days”
• “Veterans fought for our democracy. Now, they face fights against their own government”
• “Canada’s Siberian dead: How we’ve failed to bury the past”
• “‘Forgotten’ MP who died by suicide after returning from WW1 to get plaque outside House of Commons”

The Koreas

• “No further dismantlement at N.K. missile site: 38 North”
• “North Korea’s Sohae Satellite Launching Station: Low Level Activity Continues” (38 North)

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “(CHN) Defense chief’s US visit signals consensus amid frictions” (CHN military media)

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 7 November 2018

What’s Canada Buying:  F-35 Tug o’ War

• “Dassault pulls out of race to supply Canada with jets”
• “Dassault pulls out of race to supply Canada with jets – sources”
• “European fighter-jet manufacturer pulls out of Canadian competition to replace CF-18s”
• “Dassault withdraws from Canada’s fighter jet competition”
• “Dassault is Out” (bestfighter4canada blog
• “Remplacement des CF-18 canadiens: le Rafale de Dassault se retire de la course”
• “Pas d’offres de Dassault pour remplacer les CF-18 canadiens”

What’s Canada Buying?  Saudi Arms Sale

• “Ottawa taking longer to approve weapons export permits following controversial arms deal with Saudi Arabia”

Recent Ship Troubles

• “No known link between fires aboard 2 Halifax-based navy ships”
• “Military investigating series of fires, power outages on board naval vessels”
• “Incendies et pannes d’électricité à bord de plusieurs navires de la Marine royale canadienne”
• “Over the past two weeks there have been a series of technical issues that have affected deployed Royal Canadian Navy ships. Specifically there have been two fires in gas turbine enclosures, power failures, and a loss of propulsion. The fact that there have been this many instances in such a short period of time is of significant concern to the Royal Canadian Navy …” (RCN info-machine)

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “Pensions for Life to result in three-tier approach to veterans, critics argue”
• “Parliament unanimously approves plan to stop leaving money unspent at Veterans Affairs Canada”
• “Motion a victory for veterans : MP”
• “Fonds inutilisés d’Anciens Combattants Canada: unanimité à la Chambre des communes”
• Text of Motion (copied from Hansard)
• Debate on motion (5 Nov 2018, Hansard)
• Vote on motion (Hansard, 6 Nov 2018)
• “Veterans Ombudsman 2017-18 Annual Report tabled today” (Vets ‘Budman info-machine)
• Annual Report 2017-18 (Veterans Ombudsman)

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “A Crisis in Cameroon & Peacekeeping in Mali: Discussing Canada’s Approach to Africa” (CGAI podcast)
• “Lithuanian troops to be decorated after Mali deployment”
• “Kidal: démarrage du processus DDR-intégration accélérés pour les ex-combattants”
• “Mali : L’insécurité dans l’espace universitaire : La défaillance des autorités scolaires et de l’AEEM”
• “Mali: UNHCR Mali Situation: 2018 Funding Update (as of 5 November 2018)” (UN High Commissioner for Refugees info-machine)
• “Admiral to rule whether SEALS to be charged over Mali death”

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “Yezidi survivor freed from IS publishes book recounting terrifying experiences”
• “US Offers Reward for Information on Senior PKK Figures”
• “New joint US-SDF patrols in northern Syria are ‘unacceptable’ – Erdogan”
• “Syrian Kurds call on Germany to support northeast Syria, not only Idlib”
• “Syrian War Report – November 1, 2018: SDF Halts Operation Against ISIS In Euphrates Valley Because Of Turkish Attacks” (pro-RUS site)
• “Minister hints Israel will strike Russian manned S-300 in Syria if necessary”
• “Israel threatens to strike Syria’s Russian-supplied S-300s”
• “Russia: Israeli military action in Syria increases regional tensions”
• “Russia sets S-300 systems in Syria on combat readiness”
• “Israel taking de-escalation measures after Il-20 incident”
• “Russia and Saudi Arabia Negotiate S-400 delivery” (pro-RUS site)

Way Up North

• “NATO’s Arctic Exercise is a Good Start to Standing Up to Russian Militarization of the High North”
• “China’s ‘Polar Silk Road’ Versus Russia’s Arctic Dilemmas”

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “Parliament allows Lithuania to send more troops to international operations”
• “This year’s biggest military drills, Anakonda-2018, to begin in Poland”
• “NATO Begins Anakonda-2018 Drills in Poland”
• “Lavrov expresses concern over NATO activity near Russian borders”
• “NATO war games spark Russian Twitter feud”
• “Russia’s Intermediate-Range Missile Production Challenge”

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “Ukraine defense official names security areas to be enhanced to effectively counter hybrid threats”
• “Command system of Ukrainian Armed Forces to be transformed in stages”
• “Naval combat: Ukraine vs Russia in the Sea of Azov”
• “Explosions at Ichnia depots occurred due to diversion, – Prosecutor’s office — The law enforcement officers believe that someone broke in the depot and planted an explosive …”
• “Environmental hazard: Donbas militants burying Russian radioactive waste”
• “In the occupied Donbas and annexed Crimea, Russia is grinding technologies that threaten not only Ukraine – President” (UKR Pres info-machine)
• “Trump Blames Obama ‘Regime’ For Ukraine’s Loss Of Crimea”
• “Latvia to open consulate in Donetsk region — In addition, Ukraine and Latvia agreed on sharing experience in creation of self-defense militias, an organization of work of civil-military administrations …”
• “Nearly 50 international observers registered for upcoming elections” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)

Internal Security:  Here …

• “Canada to dramatically hike, expedite deportations to “secure” borders” (World Socialist Web Site)
• … and Elsewhere
  
• “Why Has The US Not Been Hit With A Devastating Cyber Attack?”

Sexual Assault/Harassment in the CF

• “Government of Canada unveils the Canada Pride Citation” (GoC info-machine) – What the new citation looks like (JPG)

Other Military News

• “Liberals, bureaucrats try to mislead media about true cost of booze-filled “mile high” party” (The Rebel)
• “La nécessaire modernisation du système de recrutement des Forces armées canadiennes”
• “The RCAF’s first CC-177 Globemaster, which was delivered to the RCAF in 2007, has surpassed a major milestone: 10,000 accumulated flying hours …” (RCAF info-machine)
• “Premier at 8 Wing to announce consultations, hotline to support military families”
• “Ford puts focus on military families”
• “Improving Delivery for Ontario’s Military Heroes and Their Families … Premier Doug Ford, accompanied by Bill Walker, Minister of Government and Consumer Services, and Todd Smith, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade and MPP for Bay of Quinte, was in Trenton to announce the launch of consultations with military families to establish a one-stop-shop hotline that will make it easier to get information about schooling, job opportunities, child care, licensing for drivers and vehicles, and other programs and services …” (Gov’t of Ontario info-machine)

Remembering

• “Commemorative ceremony to honour all First Nations, Inuit and Métis Veterans” (VAC info-machine)

The Koreas

• “How to Structure Sanctions Relief in Any Future DPRK Deal” (38 North)

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “China’s latest stealth drone goes on display at Airshow China 2018”

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 6 November 2018

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “Ottawa to save money with new veterans’ pension plan, despite saying it will cost billions — The federal government will save nearly $500-million over five years as a result of its move away from lump-sum payments to monthly pension payments for life for disabled veterans. But Ottawa is not committing to using those savings to close gaps so that all former military personnel are compensated equally …”
• “BETRAYAL: Trudeau Government ‘Pension For Life’ Promise To Veterans Actually CUTS Almost $500 MILLION Over Five Years” (Spencer Fernando blog)

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “The father of a British-Canadian dual national held by Kurds in Syria pleaded Tuesday for Ottawa’s help to rescue him and at least 18 other Canadians, amid concerns that some of them pose a security risk … nine Canadians including the younger Letts as well as at least 10 of their children — some taken to Syria, some born in the war zone — are currently being held by Kurdish authorities on Syrian soil …” (Kurdish media)
• Global’s Stewart Bell on Twitter: “Canadian ISIS hacker Abu Usama Al Kanadi “killed in a drone strike on an ISIS department building in the city of Raqqa,” reports @MEMRIReports …”
• “YPG/PKK, Daesh allegedly made deal to swap US soldiers” (TUR media)
• “Major Turkish media outlet Anadolu reports that Seven US soldiers were released under an exchange deal between ISIS and the Kurdish terrorist organization PKK, according to reliable local sources in Deir al-Zour province, in eastern Syria …” (pro-RUS page)
• “More than 200 mass graves discovered in Iraq: UN report”
• “U.N. finds 200 mass graves in former Islamic State-controlled Iraq”
• “ISIL’s legacy of terror: at least 200 mass graves in Iraq, says UN report” (UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Assistance Mission for Iraq)
• “Elimination of ISIS ‘could take years,’ Pentagon inspector general says”
• “Lead Inspector General for Operation Inherent Resolve — Quarterly Report to the United States Congress I July 1, 2018 – September 30, 2018” (US DoD Office of Inspector General)
• “Dutch intelligence says IS using Turkey as base to reorganize threats to Europe” (Kurdish media)
• “The legacy of Syria, global jihadism remains a threat for Europe” (Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service, in Dutch)

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “Observers from 22 countries confirm readiness to arrive in LPR for Nov 11 elections – CEC … “Participation in the monitoring has already been confirmed by 45 foreign observers from the Russian Federation, Finland, Holland, Norway, Ireland, Belgium, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Serbia, Yemen, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Syria, Palestine, Turkey, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Brazil, Canada and the United States of America,” …” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Early voting begins in DPR prior to parliamentary, Head of Republic election” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “At Minsk talks, Russia officially recognizes “elections” in occupied Donbas – Gerashchenko”
• “Russia says it will recognize ORDLO pseudo-elections results”
• “Ukraine: Press Statement of Special Representative of OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Sajdik after Meeting of Trilateral Contact Group on 6 November 2018”
• “Freedom of Navigation at Stake in Sea of Azov: Security Consequences for Ukraine and Wider Black Sea Region”
• “Ukraine as Clandestine Testing Ground for Russian Electronic Warfare”
• “Hug’s words about Russian military in Donbas are his personal opinion, – OSCE SMM”

Way Up North

• “Open Source Monitoring of NATO Trident Juncture Exercises” (bellingcat)
• “Self-sufficient military units established in Arctic, Crimea — Russian Defense Ministry” (RUS media)
• “USS Harry S. Truman Conducts Flight Operations in Arctic Circle” (Pentagon info-machine)

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “Highlights of int’l military exercise Iron Wolf in Lithuania”
• “Russian Defense Ministry Evades Accusations of ‘Unsafe’ Flyby”
• “Russia’s Assembling a Drone-Jamming Force”
• “Putin: Russia’s Bilateral Weapon Contracts Not Aimed to Harm Other States” (RUS media)
• “Countering Russian Social Media Influence” (RAND)

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “Mali Jihadists Prevent 2,000 Children From Attending School”
• “US counter-terrorism assistance to G5 Sahel member states almost doubles to $111 million”
• “2000 élèves privés d’école par des menaces djihadistes au nord de Bamako”
• “Mauritanian Activists Cheer US Move to End Trade Deal Over Slavery”

What’s Canada Buying?

• “Should Trudeau keep arms deal with Saudis? More than half of Canadians say yes: poll”
• “Nine-in-ten Canadians say ‘no’ to future arms deals with Saudi Arabia; divided over cancelling current one” (Angus Reid news release)

Internal Security

• Here …
• “Spy service says federal pipeline purchase seen as ‘betrayal’ by many opponents”
• … and Elsewhere
  
• ” ‘I Didn’t Do [It] For ISIS’: Failed (NY) Port Authority Suicide Bomber Found Guilty”

Other Military News

• “Canadian Forces misled media and public on $337,000 taxpayer-funded VIP booze flight”
• “Fly the “Party Flight” with Canadian (Forces) Airways!” (Quotaliciousness blog)
• “Premier Ford to Deliver Remarks (in Trenton) on Helping Families of Canadian Military Heroes” (Govt of Ontario info-machine)

Remembering

• “The red poppy: an enduring symbol of remembrance around the globe since the First World War” (Canadian Army info-machine)

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 5 November 2018

 

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• Ooopsie …
• “Ottawa short-changed more than 270,000 veterans on pensions, disability payments”
• “Liberals and Conservatives confirm support for NDP plan to ‘end the theft’ of money meant to help veterans”
• “Erreur de comptabilité en défaveur des vétérans entre 2003 et 2010”
• “Veterans Ombudsman uncovers an estimated $165 million accounting error shortchanging thousands of Veterans receiving a disability pension” (Ombudsman info-machine)
• “Minister of Veterans Affairs issues statement on compensation for corrective adjustments to annual Disability Pension calculations between 2003 and 2010” (VAC info-machine)
• “Projet pilote au Québec de GardaWorld et La Patrie gravée sur le cœur pour les anciennes combattantes”
• “Veterans Ombudsman Awards 2018 Commendations”
• “Lightening the Burden for Ontario’s Legion Halls — Ontario’s Government for the People reiterated its commitment to ease the burden on Ontario’s Royal Canadian Legion halls by ensuring they pay no property tax and looks forward to tabling legislation shortly …” (Gov’t of Ontario info-machine)

Way Up North

• “Media Opportunity (6 & 7 Nov) with Canadian Commanders following successful NATO Exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE 2018” (DND info-machine)
• “A SAPPER from 5 Combat Engineer Regiment (5RGC), Canadian Military Engineers, mans his gun and scouts the terrain during NATO exercise Trident Juncture 2018, in Kivkne, Norway on November 4th, 2018 …” (Pentagon info-machine photo)
• More CAN pix from the Pentagon info-machine
• “Russian Navy Tu-142 Flies “Over” USS Mount Whitney involved in Ex. Trident Juncture in the Norwegian Sea”
• “Trident Juncture 18: Tupolev russe au-dessus du navire amiral USS Mount Whitney”
• “Russian recon aircraft makes low pass over NATO command ship”
• “Russian spy plane shows up uninvited during massive NATO war games in the Arctic”
• “Russia turns up uninvited to major NATO wargames”
• “Arctic Yearbook’s 2018 edition focuses on China in the Arctic”
• “Is the Arctic Route the Future of Shipping?”
• “Russia expects China to enter Arctic LNG-2 project” (RUS media)
• “Murmansk Shipping Company enters agreement to deliver coal along Northern Sea Route”
• “Russian Arctic Sea Route Shipping More Than Quadruples in 5 Years”
• “Russian Warnings That A War With Extraterrestrials Has Started In The Arctic”

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “Force opérationnelle aérienne en Roumanie: un bilan à mi-mandat”
• Latest DND info-machine pix of CAN tps in Latvia
• “We call on Canada to work with Europe to save the INF Treaty” (ceasefire.ca)
• “Finland ready to back new nuclear disarmament talks, says president Niinistö”
• “NATO Stocks Up on Bombs, Giving Smaller States More Punch”
• “Iron Wolf military exercise kicks off in Lithuania”
• “How Estonia Secures Its Electronic Elections From Kremlin Attacks”
• “Russian Military Budget Cuts Are No Olive Branch”
• “Russia’s Giant Dry Dock Sank With an Aircraft Carrier Inside”
• “Nuclear Subs Starving the Fleet (Part I)” (Russian Defense Policy blog)
• “BELARUS: WE’RE WITH RUSSIA AND WILL RESPOND MILITARILY IF POLAND HOSTS U.S BASE” (pro-RUS site)
• “Successful launch of a Glonass-M satellite” (Russian strategic nuclear forces blog)
• “Foreign Affairs Ministers meetings – Brussels, 4-5 December 2018” (NATO info-machine)
• “Russia Predicts Next Presidential Election Could Cause a Second American Civil War”

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “Danger Zone: Russian Fighter Comes ‘Really, Really Close’ To Navy Plane (over Black Sea)”
• “A Russian Su-27 fighter jet has intercepted a US Navy EP-3E Aries spy plane over the Black Sea and escorted it away in compliance with security and safety requirements, Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Monday …” (RUS media)
• “Russian Su-27 Intercepts US Spy Aircraft Over Black Sea – US Navy” (RUS media)
• “JFO conducts air defense and strike aviation exercises in Donbas”
• “Ukraine’s Joint Forces conduct air defense, combat drills in Donbas”
• “Kyiv Says Ukrainian Soldier, Three Separatist Fighters Killed In East”
• “Donbas war update: One Ukraine soldier killed, four wounded in past day”
• “14th brigade fighter Maksym Pasychnyuk dies in Donbas conflict zone”
• “Ukrainian air defense units, warplanes underwent combat readiness test, – JFO HQ”
• “Volunteers published new data on Russian paratroopers who participated in occupation of Crimea”
• “Soldiers of the 34th Brigade and Private Kozlov Reveal Russia’s Military Secrets” (InformNapalm.org)
• “Poroshenko: Ukraine would welcome Turkish peacekeepers’ deployment to Donbas”
• “Former Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine Alexander Hug has said he doesn’t consider Russia an aggressor country …” (UKR media)
• “Former deputy head of OSCE SMM in Ukraine Alexander Hug claimed he did not treat Russia as an aggressor state. He said this in his interview to the Ukrainian press …” (UKR media)
• “Former First Deputy Head of the OSCE in Ukraine Alexander Hug Does Not Consider Russia to be an Aggressor” (pro-RUS page)
• “French observer: Elections of Donbass leadership are rightful, transparent and logical”
• ” “Frozen Conflict” In Eastern Ukraine Seems Not So Frozen. More Casualties Reported As Clashes Erupt” (pro-RUS site)
• “The leader of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate says steps toward independence from Moscow must be carried out carefully to avoid giving the Kremlin a pretext for further Russian incursions into Ukrainian territory …”

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “Nato Mission Iraq begins work to boost security institutions”
• “Iraq deploys soldiers in border with Syria”
• “Iraq Kurdistan’s trade ties with Iran remain active – official”
• “Assessing Turkey’s Future Role in the Middle East” (Divergent Options paper)

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “Burkina : un combattant d’Al-Mourabitoune suspecté d’être le coordonnateur des attentats de Ouaga”
• “W.Africa security forum opens amid concerns over G5 Sahel force”

Internal Security

• In Canada …
• “Letter to senior Canadian ISIS member complains about sandwich shortage”
• “How Canada barred adoptions from Muslim countries — and used Shariah law to do it”
• “Too many of Trudeau’s errors in judgment have a common thread – radical Islam” (Toronto Sun)
• … and Elsewhere
  
• “The Release and Community Supervision of Radicalised Offenders (in Australia): Issues and Challenges that Can Influence Reintegration” (Terrorism and Political Violence journal)
• “(U//FOUO) U.S. Army North Operation Faithful Patriot Presentation” (Public Intelligence blog)

What’s Canada Buying?

• “QinetiQ Target Systems and Canadian UAVs Sign Memorandum of Understanding for Commercial and Military UAV Services in Canada” (company info-machine)

Mental Health in the CAF

• “Statement on Veterans’ Week from the Mental Health Commission of Canada”

Other Military News

• “Military’s top commander applauds Legion’s Silver Cross Mother appointment”
• “La Juge avocat général des Forces canadiennes reçoit le Prix du juriste du secteur public”
• “The best explosive threat is one that never exists” (Canadian Army Today)
• “… What we do not want and cannot afford is people who cannot do their job under harsh, difficult, stressful conditions … that means we need people who are both physically and mentally fit. The late, great Field Marshall Lord Wavell called it “robustness,” and he defined it as the capacity to withstand the shocks of war …” (Col. Ted)

Afghanistan

• “Canada’s role in failed Afghanistan mission needs probe”

Remembering

• “Conscription divided Canada . It also helped win the First World War.”
• “Ottawa is doing a lousy job of honouring Canada’s fallen from WWI”
• “Canadian Armed Forces personnel arrive in Europe to support commemorations for 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War” (DND info-machine)
• “Government of Canada encourages the public in the Ottawa area to participate in key Veterans’ Week activities” (VAC info-machine)
• “Harjit Sajjan: To our soldiers and veterans, please know your sacrifices are not in vain”

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “China, Distrusted in Asia’s Chief Maritime Dispute, Offers to Share Data”

The Koreas

• “Koreas, UN Command to hold talks over (Joint Security Area) disarmament”
• “DPRK Notches Up the Warnings” (38 North)
• “Toward a Ban on Deployment and Production of Kim’s Missiles” (38 North)
• “N.Korea ‘Still Mining Uranium’ “

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MILNEWS.ca: Inbox Highlights, 1 November 2018

What’s Canada Buying?

• “Feds grant $7B in contracts to three shipyards for Royal Canadian Navy ship maintenance”
• “Frégates de classe Halifax: Davie aura sa part des 7 milliards $ de contrats de maintenance”
• “Minister Sajjan to make an announcement regarding the future Royal Canadian Navy fleet” (DND info-machine)
• “Is this the future … The Sea Hunter is unarmed, for now, but if unmanned air vehicles can carry (and) fire weapons with great precision then, presumably, it is not beyond the wit of man to sit and use precision weapons on an unmanned surface vessel. The Sea Hunter is closer in size and cost to Canada’s Orca class training vessels. Could this, an autonomous, unmanned surface vessel, be the future of patrol ships for some Navies?” (Col. Ted)
• Wanted: “Black Powder”
• “Squaring the circle (2) … Between contradictory election promises and a fabricated capability gap, the Trudeau government, if that’s the right word, has screwed the pooch on this project but they have managed to kick the can down the road far enough …” (Col. Ted)

Way Up North

• “Canada Eyes UK Frigate Purchase to Counter Russia in Arctic – Report”
• “Canada’s Arctic security efforts can’t only be domestically focused”
• “Canada Prepares Response to ‘Russian Threat’ in Arctic” (pro-RUS media)
• “Canadian Rangers Celebrate 25 Years of Service”
• “Is the Arctic set to become a main shipping route?”
• “International observers visit exercise Trident Juncture 2018” (NATO info-machine)
• “NATO’s Trident Juncture Exercise as a Deterrence Signal to Russia” (Russian Military Reform blog)
• “Russia to test-launch rockets near Norway’s Arctic coast in last days of Trident Juncture”
• Nuclear analyst Hans Kristensen on Twitter: “Here are the coordinates and dates for the Russian NOTAMs for navy rocket launches during NATO exercise #TridentJuncture18 The southern launch area inside the exercise area is provocative …”
• “Russian strategic bombers patrol Arctic seas amid NATO drills”
• “Russian bombers fly mission along Norwegian coast: report”
• “Russian Strategic Bombers Stay Airborne For Some 10 Hours Over Arctic Seas – Military”
• “Finnish Authorities Reportedly Raided The Russian Military’s Secret Island Hideouts”
• “Sino-Russian expedition provides Arctic data” (CHN media)

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “UN asks Canada to resettle more refugees displaced in Horn of Africa”
• “Mali: fin de la grève des magistrats”
• “Niger: G5 Sahel countries unveil plans to ward off extremism”
• “La lutte contre le terrorisme est une priorité pour le Président du Faso, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, qui a abordé le sujet, dans la matinée du mercredi 2 août 2017 à Ouagadougou, avec le président du Conseil économique, social et culturel du Mali, Boulkassoum Haïdara …”

Internal Security

• Here …
  
• “National security fears overblown over Chinese collaboration, prof says”
• “N.B. prof helping man fight to bring home radicalized son imprisoned in Syria”
• “Canada’s border is secure but renewal of immigration system is essential: Senators Omidvar, Pratte” (CAN Senate info-machine)
• “Canada Border Services Agency moves to ‘substantially’ increase deportations”
• “Baloney Meter: Has there been a significant reduction in irregular migration? … given that there has been an overall increase in the number of asylum claims from irregular migrants so far this year compared to last year, Blair’s statement that there has been a significant reduction contains “some baloney.” …”
• “Rhodesian flags, white supremacist podcast appearance prompts Canadian Forces investigation”
• … and Next Door
  
• “Chinese Intelligence Officers Charged In US With Jet Engine Hacking Conspiracy”
• “Chinese Intelligence Officers and Their Recruited Hackers and Insiders Conspired to Steal Sensitive Commercial Aviation and Technological Data for Years” (US DoJ info-machine)
• “How the MAGAbomber and the Synagogue Shooter Were Likely Radicalized” (bellingcat)

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “Canada ‘very proud’ of White Helmet resettlement effort: Ahmed Hussen”
• “Key US allies ‘temporarily’ halt campaign against ISIS in Syria following clashes with Turkey”
• “Kurds in Syria: We Have Right to Respond to Turkish Attacks”
• “The US-Backed Militia Fighting ISIS Is Once Again Dodging Bullets From Turkey”
• “US-backed Syria Kurds accuse Turkey of thwarting fight against Islamic State by shelling them”
• “US: Detainees Transferred from Syria to Iraq” (Human Rights Watch)
• “US transferring Daesh suspects from Syria to Iraq: HRW”
• “US: Detainees Transferred From Syria To Iraq, Says HRW”
• “Geir Pedersen appointed as UN Special Envoy for Syria”

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “Russia re-equipping military storages in Crimea for nuclear weapons – Ukraine’s permanent representative to the UN”
• “OSCE’s Hug on Russian involvement in Donbas war: “Facts speak for themselves” “
• “Hug denies claiming there was no Russian military interference in Donbas”
• “Mark Etherington assumes office of Deputy Head of OSCE SMM in Ukraine”
• “Merkel: UN peacekeeping mission should be created to achieve peace in Donbas”
• “US: Russia’s actions in Sea of Azov infringe on Ukraine’s sovereignty”
• “Missile tests to take place in Kherson region in early November”
• “Ukraine to close part of airspace over Black Sea for missile tests”
• ” ‘Systematic Escalation’: Ukraine Closes Airspace Over Black Sea” (pro-RUS media)
• “Spot report by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM): SMM follows up on its lost long-range unmanned aerial vehicle” (OSCE info-machine)
• “Germany, France blame Moscow for downing of OSCE drone over eastern Ukraine”
• “Statement by Germany and France on the recent attack against equipment of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine” (DEU info-machine)
• “OSCE Mission’s Drone Shot Down After Spotting Russian Missile In Eastern Ukraine”
• “Kiev troops in Donbass have foreign-made armaments — diplomat citing OSCE” (RUS media)
• “Verified images place Russian military satellite communications systems in eastern Ukraine” (14 Oct 2018)
• “Russia Claims Its ‘Humanitarian Convoys’ to Donbas are Inspected by Customs, But Whose Customs?” (polygraph.info, fact checking site)

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “NATO-Russia Council meets in Brussels” (NATO info-machine)
• “Estonian government announces snap military exercise”
• “Helme: With enough defence capability, Estonia can ignore allies’ advice”
• “Russia Detected 17 Foreign Spy Jets Near Border Over Past Week” (RUS media)

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “A 95-year-old veteran launches a class action suit against the Government of Canada, the Government of Quebec and the West Island of Montreal Integrated University Health and Social Services Center regarding the disastrous transfer of Hospital between different levels of government …” (45enord.ca, in French)

Other Military News

• “Power outage hits HMCS Toronto days after fire breaks out aboard sister ship”
• “HMCS Toronto headed to Belfast for repairs after electrical problems cause loss of power”
• “Second Royal Canadian Navy ship hit by fire while deployed off Europe”
• “Canada’s Halifax-class frigates: Ready for duty, now and in the future” (Public Services info-machine)
• “Special ops corporal charged with theft, trafficking”
• “Accusations de trafic de biens volés contre un membre des Forces spéciales”
• “Canadian special forces soldier charged after gun parts, military gear recovered, equipment sold on-line”
• “Possession and trafficking of stolen goods charges laid against military member” (CF info-machine

Remembering

• “Winnipeg mom of soldier who died by suicide after Afghan tour named Silver Cross Mother”
• “No longer forgotten: Silver Cross Mother recognizes death by suicide for first time”
• “Mother of Canadian soldier who died by suicide named 2018 Silver Cross Mother”
• “Visit the Canadian Virtual War Memorial” (RCAF info-machine)
• ‘Cobourg awarded LAV III monument to honour Afghanistan veterans”
• “Public invited to events to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Valenciennes and honour Victoria Cross recipient Sergeant Hugh Cairns” (VAC info-machine)
• “Premier Doug Ford Honours Canadian Heroes” (Gov’t of Ontario info-machine)

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “Canada debuts warship at biennial military drills between Japan, US”

The Koreas

• “Koreas halt all ‘hostile’ military acts near border”
• “Kim Jong-un Resumes on-Site Inspections”

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