MILNEWS.ca Highlights + #UKR Update – May 26, 2019

• Big Honkin’ Ship Document Leak Case
• “Vice Adm. Mark Norman and Gen. Vance hold first meeting but naval officer still not back on the job”
• “Vice-Admiral Mark Norman had talks with Gen. Vance about returning to work”
• “Mark Norman met with Chief of Defence Staff about returning to former post: source”
• Afghanistan
• Statement from the Chief of the Defence Staff: “… The best of intentions have led to unintended harm. When it comes to the opening last week of the Afghanistan Memorial Hall at the new National Defence Headquarters, we unintentionally went down that path. We owe the family and friends of our Fallen, all who served in Afghanistan, and Canadians an apology for not properly including you and not properly communicating with you. I am truly sorry for our insensitivity and the pain, anger and frustration that this decision caused you. I accept full responsibility for it all …”
• ” ‘I am truly sorry’: Vance apologizes to slain soldiers’ families over closed-doors Afghan war monument”
• “Vance ‘truly sorry’ for Afghanistan memorial decision”
• “New Afghanistan memorial will be opened to public, Gen. Jonathan Vance says”
• “New Afghanistan memorial will be opened to public, Gen. Jonathan Vance says”
• “Le général Vance réagit à la polémique sur le Hall commémoratif de l’Afghanistan”
• “Christie Blatchford: Retired soldier who helped bring back Kandahar memorial is furious, too, about its fate”
• #IRQ-Middle East/Op IMPACT
• “Trump Sends More Troops to the Middle East to Deter Iran”
• “Iraq Offers to Mediate in Crisis Between its Allies Iran, US”
• “Sources: Turkey Arms Syrian Rebels Facing Russian-Backed Assault”
• Way Up North
  “Russia and Canada may hold conference on Arctic in 2020”
• “Canada Applies to UN on Delimiting Its Outer Continental Shelf in Arctic”
• “Russia Launches Nuclear Icebreaker as It Eyes Arctic Future”
• “Russia launches world’s largest nuclear-powered icebreaker to open up Arctic shipping routes”
• “Russia Launches New Icebreaker As It Seeks To Dominate Arctic”
• “State-of-the-Art Russian Nuclear Icebreaker Floated Out in St. Petersburg”
• #UKR/Op UNIFIER
• “Ukraine’s President Zelensky invited to visit Canada on July 2 – Ambassador” (UKR media)
• “Canada expects Zelensky on June 2, – Canadian Ambassador” (UKR media)
• “Zelensky invited to visit Canada on July 2 – ambassador” (UKR media)
  

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• “A summary of the situation in the area of ​​the operation of the Joint Forces at 07:00 on May 26, 2019” (UKR MoD, in Ukrainian)
• “JFO: МAP – 26.05.2019” (UKR NSDC)
• “Summary of the situation in the area of ​​the operation of the Joint forces as of 18:00 on May 25, 2019” (UKR MoD, in Ukrainian)
• “JFO: МAP – 25.05.2019” (UKR NSDC)
• “Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 24 May 2019”
• “Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 23 May 2019”
  

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• “Kiev forces open artillery fire on DPR south, damage reported” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “JFO: Ukraine reports four enemy attacks in Donbas May 25” (UKR media)
• “LPR Air Defense downs Ukrainian reconnaissance UAV” (pro_RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Donbas war: Occupants violate ceasefire regime six times over 24 hours” (UKR media)
• “Kiev forces shell five settlements in Donetsk republic, official says” (RUS state media)
• “Day in Donbas: Occupant opens fire four times, no casualties” (UKR media)
• “Day in Donbas: Occupants violated ceasefire regime 17 times, one Ukrainian soldier died and one more wounded” (UKR media)
• “Russia-led forces mount six attacks on Ukrainian positions on May 25”
• “Day in Donbas: Occupants violated ceasefire regime 10 times, one Ukrainian soldier wounded” (UKR media)
  

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• “Names of Ukrainian servicemen captured in Donbas on May 22 became known” (UKR media)
  

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• “UN Maritime Tribunal Rules Russia Must Release Ukrainian Sailors, Ships” (USA govt funded media)
• “Case concerning the detention of three Ukrainian naval vessels (Ukraine v. Russian Federation), Provisional Measures” (International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea)
• “Russia’s aggression in Kerch Strait: Court allows to detain 15 Russian military”
• “Intl Tribunal for Law of Sea obliges Russia to release three Ukrainian vessels, 24 sailors, return them to Ukraine” (UKR media)
• “Russia Must Release Detained Ukrainian Sailors – Maritime Tribunal” (RUS independent media)
• “Russia ordered to immediately release 24 Ukrainian seamen in major victory for Ukraine” (Human Rights in Ukraine. NGO)
• “Maritime Tribunal obliges Russia to report on release of Ukrainian sailors no later June 25” (UKR media)
• “UN Tribunal rules Russia should release detained Ukrainian sailors” (RUS state media)
• “NATO demands release of Ukrainian sailors detained in Russia” (RUS state media)
  

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• “Setting Ukrainian sailors free, Rusia can signal its willingness to solve the problems in a civilized manner – President of Ukraine on the order of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea” (UKR Pres info-machine)
• “Zelensky: Russia’s execution of ITLOS order to release Ukrainian sailors could be signal of readiness to end conflict with Ukraine”
• “Execution of ITLOS order to release Ukrainian sailors by Russia could be first signal of readiness to end conflict with Ukraine” (UKR media)
  

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• “Russia says it won’t abide by ITLOS decision to free Ukrainian sailors”
• “UN Convention does not apply to Kerch Strait incident dispute – Foreign Ministry” (RUS state media)
• “Moscow: Int’l Tribunal for Law of Sea Has No Jurisdiction Over Kerch Strait Case” (RUS state media)
• #CHN/Pacific Rim
• “Relations ‘at rock bottom’, says China’s ambassador to Canada”
• “China’s navy is being forced to rethink its spending plans as cost of trade war rises”
• “China slams US maritime provocations” (CHN COmmunist Party media)
• What’s Canada Buying?
• “Matt Gurney: The Navy’s not our only fleet crippled by government incompetence”
• “Serco Inc. announced that the Company has entered into a definitive Asset Purchase Agreement to acquire Alion Science & Technology Corporation’s Naval Systems Business Unit, including its Canadian business and a small number of related contract operations (collectively ‘NSBU’), for $225 million …”
• Omar Khadr, Continued …
• “CBC’s ‘Tout Le Monde En Parle’ Suspended From Twitter For ‘Glorifying Terrorism’ After Disgraceful Omar Khadr Segment” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• Sexual Assault/Harassment in the CF
• “Canada’s military should stop dragging its feet on ending sexual abuse”
• Other Military News
• “Canadian naval ships to make first ever port call at Vietnam military base”
• “MAPLE RESOLVE 19: Canadiens et alliés s’entraînent pour faire face aux complexités des conflits modernes”
• “… There we have the Canadian defence policy dilemma, for the past 75+ years, in a nutshell: “Canada can either take an active part in our own security … [do enough, in other words, to prevent an alternative which ones hopes is unacceptable to most Canadians] … or leave it to the United States,” and, in effect, surrender our sovereignty to the Americans …” (Ted Campbell’s Point of View)
• “Canada faces a foreign-policy fork in the road. Are voters hungry for change?”
• “Exploring the Possibility of Mexican Membership in NATO”
• “Introducing the Canadian Defence and Security Network — The time has come to roll out the Canadian Defence and Security Network. We have been working on funding the CDSN for several years, so we are elated and just a wee bit anxious …” (Saideman’s Semi-Spew blog) – Canadian Defence and Security Network web site

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – May 23, 2019

• What’s Canada Buying?
• “Ottawa introduces $15.7-billion program to renew coast guard fleet, navy”
• “Canada builds new Arctic patrol vessels”
• “Trudeau unveils plan to address Coast Guard ship needs”
• “Trudeau pledges billions for new coast guard fleet but mum on how he plans to circumvent delays”
• “Canada to Spend $11.7Bln on New Coast Guard Ships – Statement”
• “Ottawa achèterait deux autres navires à Irving pour éviter des licenciements”
• Way Up North
• “Canada marks major milestone in defining its continental shelf in Arctic Ocean — After more than a decade’s worth of scientific and legal work to determine the limits of Canada’s undersea landmass in the Arctic, Canada today filed a 2,100 page submission with the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf at United Nations headquarters in New York …” (Global Affairs Canada info-machine)
• “Canada’s Arctic Ocean continental shelf submission”
• “For 2nd day in a row, US military jets intercept Russian bombers off Alaska”
• “U.S. Will Not Increase Presence in Arctic Until 2025”
• “Alaskans at war with U.S. military over readiness exercises”
• “Arctic Russia: Military towns growing while overall population slides”
• “US Aims at Turning Arctic Region into Theater of Military Operations: Moscow”
• “Putin appoints new leader of Northern Fleet”
• Afghanistan
• “Top soldier admits handling of Kandahar memorial ‘hit a nerve;’ vows access”
• “Private ceremony ‘slap in the face’ for families of dead soldiers”
• “Secret dedication of Afghanistan war memorial slammed by former mission commander”
• “EDITORIAL: Make the Afghan war memorial open to all”
• “A war memorial ‘built for soldiers by soldiers’ — that soldiers can’t even go see”
• Sexual Assault/Harassment in the CF
• “Canadian Military Has Made Minimal Progress On Sexual Misconduct Issue: Statistics Canada”
• “Sexual Misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces” (Stats Canada)
• “Sexual misconduct persists in military despite efforts to curb assault, StatsCan reports”
• “Sexual misconduct still a ‘destructive problem’ in the Canadian Armed Forces”
• “Minimal progress in military’s fight against sexual misconduct, survey finds”
• “Les inconduites sexuelles dans les Forces armées canadiennes” (StatsCan)
• “Pas de baisse des inconduites sexuelles dans l’armée malgré les efforts déployés”
• “Inconduites sexuelles dans l’armée: pas de baisse malgré les efforts déployés”
• “Christie Blatchford: Canadian military has bigger problems beyond the curse of sexual misconduct”
• #OpREASSURANCE/Russia-Baltics-Cold War 2.0
• “Russia and America Are Taking Turns Probing Each Other’s Air Space”
• “U.S., Estonia Sign 5-Year Road Map of Defense Cooperation” (USA DoD info-machine)
• “Estonia, US sign five-year road map for continued defense cooperation”
• “Baltic Sea mine warfare exercises Open Spirit concluded in Lithuania”
• “State Security Service has yet to observe foreign influence over EP elections in Latvia”
• “Russia Will ‘Take Measures’ Against U.S. Radar Near Its Border, Thought to Be Part of Missile Defense”
• #OpPRESENCE/#MLI-Africa
• “What to Make of the Government’s Decision not to Extend its Mission in Mali” (NATO Association of Canada)
• “Brazil expresses regret for attacked UN mission in Mali”
• “UAE offers Malian army tanks to fight terrorism”
• “Mission de paix : le Bénin prolonge le séjour de ses policiers au Mali”
• “Gros plan sur la mission des militaires belges au Mali”
• “G5 Sahel : le QG de la force conjointe indésirable à Bamako”
• “German government steps up military intervention in Mali” (World Socialist Web Site)
• “UNHCR Mali Situation: 2019 Funding Update (as of 21 May 2019)”
• “Atrocity Alert No. 155: Burkina Faso, Sri Lanka and Healthcare in Armed Conflict” (Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect)
• “We need a Marshall Plan for West Africa — to keep us all safe”
• Other Military News
• ” The Department of National Defence is looking to the entertainment industry to help fill its ranks as military membership continues to languish. Canada’s armed forces have struggled for years to attract and retain talent. The latest reports only highlight the growing gulf between the number of members required for a fully staffed service, and the lack of actual personnel. On May 7, Procurement Canada published an expression of interest notice asking the film and television industry to help boost the military’s brand among millennials and young Canadians …”
• “Interment ceremony for a Canadian soldier of the Second World War” (DND info-machine)
• “Canada and the Poundmaker Cree Nation to mark exoneration of Chief Poundmaker at special community ceremony” (Crown-Indigenous Relations & Northern Affairs Canada info-machine)
• Pitikwahanapiwiyin (Poundmaker) (The Canadian Encyclopedia)
• Pîhtokahanapiwiyin (Wikipedia)
• “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canadians need to learn the real story of a prominent Saskatchewan chief who was a peacemaker, not a criminal. Trudeau set the record straight Thursday by fully exonerating Chief Poundmaker of treason after the Cree leader’s conviction 134 years ago …”

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – May 21, 2019

• What’s Canada Buying?
• “US clears $1 billion in Raytheon weapons for Canada, South Korea and Japan … Canada has been cleared to purchase $387 million worth of MK 54 lightweight torpedo conversion kits …”
• “Canada – MK 54 Lightweight Torpedoes — The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Canada of MK 54 lightweight torpedoes with support for an estimated cost of $387 million …” (Defense Security Cooperation Agency info-machine)
• “Canada to buy 425 MK 54 lightweight torpedo conversion kits”
• “Boeing offered Super Hornet Block III fighters to Canada”
• Big Honkin’ Ship Document Leak Case
• ” ‘It was my decision and my responsibility’: Vance speaks on suspension of Vice-Admiral Mark Norman”
• “Liberals stymie Commons defence committee inquiry into Mark Norman case”
• “Liberals vote down attempt to launch probe into Mark Norman case”
• “Les libéraux refusent d’entendre Mark Norman en comité parlementaire”
• “Andrew Scheer veut une enquête publique dans l’affaire Mark Norman”
• “Conservatives say they’re ‘confident’ Mark Norman will expose more Liberal wrongdoing”
• ” ‘The fight of your life’: Mark Norman finally tells his side of the story”
• “Le vice-amiral Mark Norman raconte son cauchemar”
• “How the Liberals spent the week blaming everyone else for the Mark Norman fiasco”
• “Mark Norman has been vindicated – but the navy-procurement crisis ticks on”
• “Chantier Davie: une enquête de la GRC lancée après une colère de Trudeau”
• Afghanistan
• “Canadian Forces Afghan memorial dedicated in ceremony (14 May) – officials decided to limit publicity”
• #CHN/Pacific Rim
• “Canada sends delegation to China to press for release of citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor”
• “Canada sends delegation to China to press for release of citizens”
• “Two Canadians Arrested on State Secrets Charges”
• “Kovrig is ‘holding up as well as one could hope for,’ says Canadian detainee’s boss”
• “China’s offensive on Canada, in plain sight”
• “Chinese businessman-turned-Taoist leader confirms he is father of the student who was kidnapped in Canada”
• “USS Preble Sails Near Scarborough Shoal in South China Sea”
• “Coast Guard Gives US New Tool in Disputed South China Sea”
• “South China Sea: US Destroyer Conducts Freedom of Navigation Operation Near Scarborough Shoal”
• “China opposes US provocation in South China Sea” (CHN mil media)
• “Experts: It’s of little effect for US to gang up allies and stir up the South China Sea” (CHN mil media)
• “(US) Navy has four ships patrolling South China Sea”
• “What does the reduction of Okinawa-based US Marine Corps imply?” (CHN mil media)
• “Xi stresses military personnel education for strong armed forces” (CHN mil media)
• “Chinese, Russian senior diplomats agree to boost joint efforts on global strategic stability” (CHN mil media)
• “Trump Bans China’s Huawei In US Amid National Security Concerns”
• “Australia – caught between the U.S. and China – has banned Huawei. Why can’t Canada?”
• #OpPRESENCE/#MLI-Africa
• “Mali violence: Nigerian peacekeeper killed in Timbuktu”
• “Burkina Faso Seeks Broad Sahel Anti-Terror Coalition”
• “Christians in Burkina Faso seek refuge”
• “Islamic State claims it killed 28 Nigerien soldiers”
• “Group 1 of China’s 6th batch of peacekeepers to Mali return home” (CHN mil media)
• “G5-Sahel force five years on”
• Way Up North
• “Winning at all costs: the bizarre position of the Trump administration on the Northwest Passage”
• “Russia says its radio-electronic shield now covers the Arctic”
• “Moscow as Beijing’s ‘Useful Partner’ in the Arctic Region”
• “F-22s Intercept Russian Bombers, Fighter Jets Off Coast of Alaska”
• “U.S. fighter jets intercept Russian warplanes off Alaska”
• “U.S. fighters escort Russian strategic bombers over Arctic, Pacific oceans”
• “Denmark threatens Russia with fighter jets in Arctic region”
• “US fighter jets intercept Russian warplanes off the coast of Alaska”
• “Putin makes Arctic push”
• “The Arctic is America’s Next Maritime Frontier”
• “Chinese rig makes massive gas discovery in Arctic Russia” 
• #OpREASSURANCE/Russia-Baltics-Cold War 2.0
  
• “Lithuanian Armed Forces prepares for Exercise Defender 2020” (LTU MoD)
• “Russia’s Special Operations Forces Command and the Strategy of Limited Actions”
• Internal Security
  “Turkey willing to help Canada repatriate ISIS members held in Syria, official says”
• “NATO researchers consult federal government on foreign election meddling”
• “Protecting Elections: A Strategic Communications Approach” (NATO info-machine)
• “Canada introducing digital charter to combat hate speech, misinformation”
• ” ‘Distasteful alliances’: The secret story of Canada’s fight against migrants”
• Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)
• “Disabled Veterans Under attack by VAC” (open letter via Facebook)
• Sexual Assault/Harassment in the CF
• “The Department of National Defence and Statistics Canada will hold a news conference to address the findings in the 2018 Statistics Canada Survey on Sexual Misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces on Wednesday, May 22, at 9 a.m. (EDT) …” (DND info-machine)
• “Sexual Harassment and Violence in the Canadian Armed Forces” (Senate of Canada)
• “Inconduite sexuelle toujours omniprésente au sein des Forces armées canadiennes, conclut un comité sénatorial”
• “Former sailor remembers persecution that followed decriminalization of homosexuality”
• Other Military News
• Did the headline writer REALLY mean this?  “High schoolers go commando at military co-op placement”
• “Gen. Vance receives a raise – Trudeau recommended increase to upper limit of $306,500”
• “Canada, NATO, and the ‘Dumbbell’ Concept”
• “Better bang for a bullet: Artillery school aligns core exercises with courses” (Canadian Army Today)
• “Parliament Hill excavation uncovers pre-Confederation military complex”

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – May 14, 2019

#OpIMPACT/Middle East

• “NATO Mission Iraq Interview Opportunities” (DND info-machine)
• “Canadian Government Won’t Repatriate Toronto Man Who Joined ISIS”
• “ISIS's Opportunity in Northern Syria’s Detention Facilities and Camps … ISIS has a unique and dangerous opportunity to exploit conditions in detention and displacement facilities across Northern Syria … The U.S. must urgently help the SDF adequately secure these facilities and process their inhabitants …” (ISW blog)
• “No Iran threat in Syria or Iraq, top British officer says, contradicting US” “British general in Iraq says no elevated Iran threat”

What’s Canada Buying?

• “Magellan Aerospace Signs Agreement with BAE Systems for F-35 Aircraft Assemblies … Magellan, through its operations in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and BAE Systems have been working together to produce horizontal tails for the global F-35 program for more than a decade …” “The Canadian Armed Forces spent just under $125,000 on Viagra last year, but is only considering purchasing menstrual products after the federal Liberal government’s proposal …”
• “Canada-based marine acoustics house GeoSpectrum Technologies is preparing to conduct new at-sea trials of its Towed Reelable Active Passive Sonar (TRAPS) anti-submarine warfare (ASW) sonar system with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) …”
• “The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and the Navy’s premier science and technology research squadron, Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS-1), unveiled the UV-18 Twin Otter as the newest addition to the squadron’s unique fleet of aircraft research platforms, May 11 …”

#OpREASSURANCE/Russia-Baltics-Cold War 2.0

• “Ottawa braced for Russian retaliation after barring state media from Lima Group talks”
• “Pompeo tells Russia: no more election interference” “Putin tells Pompeo US and Russia can improve relations after Mueller report”
• “Lavrov says he and Pompeo agreed steps to normalize Russia-US relations”
• “Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s opening remarks during talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Sochi, May 14, 2019” (RUS MFA info-machine)
• “Russian Defense Ministry TV Host Falsely Slaps West for Russophobic Propaganda” (polygraph.info, fact checking site)

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “China conducts maritime exercise with advanced amphibious assault vehicles” (CHN mil media)

Way Up North

• “Washington plans to send U.S. Navy through Northwest Passage”
• “Pacific Fleet aircraft carrier takes part in exercise Northern Edge, for the first time in 10 years”
• “China, Russia move into the Arctic — and put US at risk”
• “New (RUS) icebreaking tanker chooses southern route for maiden voyage”
• “Washington Heats Up Its Cold War in the Arctic” (Strategic Culture, pro-RUS think tank)

Big Honkin’ Ship Document Leak Case

• “There’s no evidence Liberals interfered in Mark Norman prosecution”
• “Trudeau wants Norman affair to disappear, but it won’t” “Discussions avec la Davie : Mark Norman a agi avec l’autorisation du gouvernement Harper”
• “Davie says it provided documents to Vice-Admiral Mark Norman’s defence team in March”
• “Norman was told by Harper cabinet to talk to Quebec shipyard about leasing deal”
• ” ‘It’s part of how this town works’: Mark Norman was charged over a leak, but in Ottawa leaks happen every day”

Internal Security

• “2 men arrested in Richmond Hill, Ont., not related to national security: Goodale”

Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “Veterans Affairs features German, not Canadian troops”
• “Does Veterans Affairs’ video blooper signal something more seriously amiss in Canada?” (rabble.ca)
• “The legion goes punk: Music fans asked to join Royal Canadian Legion so live concerts can continue”

Other Military News

• “Canada’s top soldier attends cabinet meeting but appearance ‘had nothing to do’ with Norman case: official”
• “Chief of defence staff, DND deputy minister brief federal cabinet”
• “Trial opens for civilian pair charged in $1.3m fraud at CFB Shearwater”
• “Canadian Forces use of strategic communications on social media can backfire”

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – May 13, 2019

Domestic Ops

• “Army to remain in Quebec flood zones to help with cleanup operations”
• “Soldiers help protect Pembroke, Ont., against historic Ottawa River flooding”
  

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  F-35 Tug o’ War

• “Canada Caves to US Pressure on F-35, Stands to Lose $14 Bln in Benefits – Report”
• “Canada reportedly takes more lenient approach to fighter offsets”
• “New Canadian fighter jets will need U.S. certification: DND”
• “Government Says Canada Needs U.S. Permission On Fighter Jet Choice” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• “Why America and a Key Ally are Going to ‘War’ Over the F-35”
• “Lockmart Throws Tantrum … Gets Rules Changed … Slightly” (Best Fighter for Canada blog)
  

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  What’s Canada Buying?

• “QinetiQ Wins C$51M Contract to Supply UMS SKELDAR V-200 Unmanned Helicopter-Based ISTAR Solution to Canadian Armed Forces” (QinetiQ info-machine)
• “MDA Awarded $39M Contract to Deliver 10 SAR Repeaters for Canada’s MEOSAR System”
• “Government of Canada awards contract for new space-based search and rescue technology” (Gov’t of Canada info-machine)
• “Le gouvernement du Canada attribue un contrat pour une nouvelle technologie de recherche et de sauvetage spatiale”
• “Vard explores concepts for Canadian Coast Guard future fleet”
  

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  Big Honkin’ Ship Document Leak Case

• “In an inspired performance, Norman lawyer Marie Henein did incalculable damage to the Trudeau brand”
• “On Mark Norman case, heads should roll … and not the junior ones”
• “Harjit Sajjan won’t give Vice Admiral Mark Norman his job back after being vindicated”
• “Conservatives, NDP call for emergency committee meeting on Mark Norman case”
• “The Liberals may be ticked about Mark Norman, but they should be relieved”
• “Opposition force emergency meeting of defence committee on Norman affair”
• “Norman was told by Harper cabinet to talk to Quebec shipyard about leasing deal”
• “Questions abound over ‘ugly’ defence procurement system following Mark Norman case”
• “Sajjan says he regrets the process Mark Norman had to go through”
• “Investigation into Norman affair is doomed, but Trudeau still likely to take damage”
• “Mark Norman fiasco brutally lays bare Ottawa’s incompetence”
• “Peter MacKay says RCMP should have questioned Tories on Mark Norman case”
• “Blatchford: My top three ‘lessons learned’ from the Mark Norman case”
• “GoFundMe campaign for Vice-Admiral Mark Norman will remain active for now”
• “Mark Norman should be next chief of defence staff, says MacKay”
• “Mounties defend their handling of Vice-Admiral Mark Norman case”
  

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  #LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “Russia Won’t Start a (Conventional) War in the Baltics”
• “The largest Spring Storm military exercise is on the way in Estonia”
• “(UK) Armed Forces Minister meets 1,000 UK personnel based in Estonia on NATO mission” (GOV.UK info-machine)
• “Lithuania’s cyber security status report: more complex cyber-attacks, vulnerable devices and websites” (LTU MoD)
• “A member of the (EST) Defence Forces was turned into a propaganda scandal in Sillamäe” (propastop.org, fact checking site)
• “Baltic Pipe to Cut Poland’s Gas Dependence on Russia”
• “(BLR Pres) Lukashenko: overthrow of power in Belarus is impossible”
• “To What Extent Is Russia Cutting Military Spending?” (Warsaw Institute)
• “New Missiles for the ‘Bear’ and ‘Blackjack’”
• “MiG-35 Update” (Russian Defense Policy blog)
• “Proportion of advanced weapons in Russia’s strategic nuclear forces reached 82%”
• “Navy Command Swapped Out” (RUssian Defense Policy blog)
  

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  #MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “Mali: Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel – Report of the Secretary-General (S/2019/371)” (UN)
• “Mali: Conclusions du Conseil sur le Sahel (13 mai 2019)” (EU)
• “Militants kill 18 Mali civilians in double ambush: officials”
• “Mali: 15 morts et plusieurs blessés suite à une attaque contre le village Hermakono”
• “Mali [Urgent]: Au moins 12 civils tués dans une attaque dans le cercle de Niono”
• “Mali : 26 personnes perissent dans l’explosion d’une mine”
• “Assessment of the Efficacy of the French Military Intervention in the Northern Mali Conflict” (Divergent Options paper)
• “Six dead in Burkina Faso church attack”
• “Gunmen attack Catholic church in Burkina Faso; 6 killed”
• “UN condemns deadly attack on Burkina Faso church” (UN News)
• “Burkina Faso church attack reflects rising threat in the Sahel”
• “French army rescues four hostages in Sahel, two soldiers killed in operation — During the rescue operation to free four hostages in Burkina Faso, two French soldiers were killed. Many had given up hope as each day passed by, but the two French tourists kidnapped on May 1 along with the American and South Korean are now safe …”
• “French troops free hostages in Burkina Faso”
• “French Military Frees Foreign Hostages from Burkina Faso”
• “Deux Français enlevés au Bénin libérés par l’armée au Burkina Faso”
• “French military frees hostages in Burkina Faso, two commandos killed”
• “Au Burkina Faso, les djihadistes ne cessent de gagner du terrain”
• “Attacks in Burkina Faso — a simmering Islamist conflict”
• “Antiterrorisme : une guerre sans fin en Afrique ?”
  

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  #CHN/Pacific Rim

• “Canadian consular officials in China meet with detainee Michael Kovrig”
• “Relations between Canada and China at ‘worst since Tiananmen Square’: expert”
• ” ‘China is punishing Canada’: John Bolton latest Trump ally to condemn Beijing for detentions”
• “U.S. Sen. Jim Risch Says Canadians Michael Kovrig, Michael Spavor Face ‘Harsh’ Treatment In China”
• “Un sénateur républicain défend deux Canadiens détenus en Chine”
• “The “report on Chinese military power” undermines China-US mutual trust: spokesperson” (CHN mil media)
• “China, Japan to hold talks on maritime affairs” (CHN mil media)
• “Chinese guided missile destroyer suitable for mass production: experts” (CHN mil media)
• “Special Forces Of Russia’s Eastern Military District To Take Part In ASEAN Drills In China” (CHN mil media)
  

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  #CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “45,000 ISIS kids returning home a ‘ticking time bomb’ “
• “What signals does US carrier strike group deployment to Middle East send to Iran?” (CHN mil media)
  

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  Way Up North

• “Blog – Did Finland fail as Chair of the Arctic Council?”
• “Leaders downplay divisions at Arctic Circle conference in China”
• “China seeks a more active role in the Arctic”
  

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  Internal Security

• “Canada looked at ‘possible options’ for bringing back ISIS members, document shows”
• “Canada Considers Most Far-Reaching Intell Reforms in Decades” (Just Security blog)
• ” ‘We’re a target’: Canada’s places of worship are fortifying, and the government is helping pay for it”
  

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  Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)

• “17 ways the government can better care for Canada’s Veterans” (RC Legion info-machine)
  

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  Sexual Assault/Harassment in the CF

• “Tiger Williams’ sex assault case almost lost in Norman coverage”
  

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  Other Military News

• “Veterans Affairs bungles VE-Day video by showing Nazis”
• “Tips for spotting Nazis: The obvious signs of German soldiers that Veterans Affairs missed in their VE-Day tribute”
• “Canadian Armed Forces Announces Top Employers of Reservists” (DND info-machine)
• “Canada’s Minister of Defence is an Arms Pusher” (alternative media)

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights + #UKR Update – May 8, 2019

Big Honkin’ Ship Document Leak Case

• “Crown drops breach-of-trust case against Mark Norman”
• “Charges Against Vice-Admiral Mark Norman Have Been Dropped”
• “Federal prosecutors drop breach of trust charge against Vice-Admiral Mark Norman”
• ” ‘I acted with integrity’: Mark Norman claims exoneration after Crown stays breach-of-trust charge”
• “Stay Of Proceedings in R. v. Norman Prosecution” (PPSC info-machine)
• “Statement from the Chief of the Defence Staff — “On Wednesday, 8 May, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada stayed the proceedings against Vice-Admiral Mark Norman. “This stay eliminates the conditions that caused me to relieve Vice-Admiral Norman from his military duties in January of 2017– in accordance with the Queen’s Regulations and Orders section 101.09 …” (DND info-machine)
• “Sajjan says every decision on Mark Norman case, including stay of charge, was ‘independent’ “
• “Charge being dropped against Mark Norman would be major victory for senior naval officer”
• “INTERFERENCE? Mark Norman’s Lawyer Marie Henein Says PMO Was “Counselling Witnesses” ” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• “How the Crown’s case against Vice-Admiral Mark Norman unravelled”
• “A leak, a probe, a case closed: A timeline of the Mark Norman saga”

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

• “U.S. government again urges Canada to acquire American fighter jets, despite Pentagon threats”
• “Fighter jet procurement: US says Canada unfair, may pull F-35 out, but still wants Canada to buy US jets”
• “US Mulls Booting Canada From F-35 Programme, Denying Delivery of Jets – Report”
• “Canada’s CF-18 Replacement Competition Structure Seems To Have Already Disqualified The F-35”
• “US, Canada talks underway to decide if the F-35 will be pulled from Canada’s fighter competition”
• “Canada’s government is trying to address complaints about its military procurement process that have prompted threats from Washington to block Ottawa from buying Lockheed Martin Corp’s F-35, the Canadian air force’s preferred option for its new fighter jet, a government source said on Tuesday …”
• “Matt Gurney: Is it any wonder the U.S. is steamed at us over our fighter jet fiasco?”
• “More fighter follies” (Col. Ted)

What’s Canada Buying:  The Rest

• “Canada’s 2nd AOPS Structurally Assembled at Halifax Shipyard”
• “QinetiQ has been awarded a C$51 million contract to deliver unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) that will drive enhanced situational awareness for the Canadian Armed Forces …”
• “QinetiQ Wins $51M CAD Contract with the Canadian Armed Forces’ Unmanned Aircraft System Service Program”
• “CDR Names AIRBUS Canada’s Top Defence Company for 2019”

#CHN/Pacific Rim

• “Canada Puts Huawei 5G Decision on Back Burner With Allies Split”
• “Chinese Tech Executive Returns to Canadian Court for Extradition Hearing”
• “Is she their prisoner or their boss? Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou’s private jailers act like bodyguards, obstructing and photographing journalists”
• “Chinese Canadians ‘Support Rule of Law’ in Huawei Extradition Case: Poll”
• “U.S. Senate passes resolution commending Canada for its actions in Huawei case — The United States Senate has passed a resolution praising the Canadian government for the way it has conducted itself in the case of Huawei Technologies chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou …”
• “Canada’s diplomatic dilemma stems from lack of independence” (CHN Communist Party media)
• “In Sign Of Total Contempt & Disrespect, China Isn’t Even Responding To Canadian Officials Requests For Communication”
• “Chine: l’appel d’un Canadien condamné à mort examiné jeudi”
• “Canadian drug smuggler to appeal against death penalty in China”
• “Canadian drug smuggler Robert Lloyd Schellenberg to appeal death sentence in China”
• “Satellite images show how work on China’s new Type 002 aircraft carrier is coming along”
• “U.S. sends two destroys to Spratly Islands to challenge China’s claim over two reefs”
• “PLA conducts live-fire exercise north of Taiwan Straits” (CHN mil media)
• “China, Wary of US, Pushes to Accelerate Accident Prevention Deal in Disputed Sea”
• “China boosts its peacekeeping role” (CHN mil media)
• “Vietnam, Canada eye stronger defence ties” (VN media)

The Koreas

• “North Korea’s Newest Ballistic Missile: A Preliminary Assessment” (38 North)
• “North Korea: Recent Rocket Drill ‘Regular, Self-Defensive’ “
• “US, South Korea Shrug Off North Korean Missile Test”
• “Freak-Out Over North Korea’s Missile Test Defies Rationality” (Strategic Culture Foundation, pro-RUS think tank)

#LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0

• “Minister Sajjan hosting Artis Pabriks, Latvia’s Minister of Defence and Deputy Prime Minister” (DND info-machine)
• “Russia ready to supply fighters for Turkey”
• “Military Police to investigate deadly blast at Adazi training grounds”
• “(ALB) Minister Xhacka Visits Injured Soldiers in Latvia”
• “Minister Xhacka Meets Albanian Contigent in Latvia”
• “Naval Missile Unit Deployed to Estonia — “Polish minelayer-landing ship, along with an embarked Naval Missile Unit element, involving 6 vehicles and their crews, is taking part in a navigation-training deployment, during which the Polish assets would also participate in an exercise” – said Lt. Col. Marek Pawlak, spokesman for the Polish General Command of the Armed Forces …”
• “Belarus Adopts Information Security Concept Amid Growing Propaganda Pressure From Russia”
• “The claim on Russian state TV that NATO doubles defense spending is baseless” (stopfake.org)

#UKR – Op UNIFIER

• “President of Ukraine met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada” (UKR Pres info-machine)
• “As I promised, servicemen on the frontline will receive at least 27.6 thousand hryvnias (CAN $1405) – President — President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko underscored the increase in the monetary supply of Ukrainian servicemen who defend the Ukrainian land on the touch line. The Head of State told that during a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Chrystia Freeland …” (UKR Pres info-machine)
• “Poroshenko and Freeland discuss escalation of Donbas conflict and release of sailors” (UKR media)
• “Canadian Foreign Minister to Zelensky: Democratic Ukraine is an example for all countries of post-Soviet region” (UKR media)
• “Zelensky, Freeland discuss settlement of Donbas conflict, fight against corruption” (UKR media)
• “Trudeau, Tusk discuss ways of Ukrainian reforms” (UKR media)
• “Zelensky, Freeland discuss plans to combat corruption in Ukraine, ways for peaceful settlement of Donbas conflict” (UKR media)
  

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• “Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 7 May 2019”
• “Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 6 May 2019”
• “JFO: МAP – 08.05.2019” (UKR NSDC)
  

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• “DPR hands over body of killed marine to Ukraines” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Ukrainian soldier killed, two injured in Donbas May 7” (UKR media)
• “Kiev forces violate ceasefire nine times over 24 hours” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Two KIA, three WIA amid 25 enemy attacks in Donbas in past 24 hours” (UKR media)
• “JCCC: Kiev forces violate ceasefire 16 times damaging house in Donetsk” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Ukrainian serviceman dies during combat in Azov Sea” (UKR media)
• “One DPR soldier killed, two injured by Ukrainian attacks” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Ukraine accuses Donbas militants of unilaterally ending ceasefire” (UKR media)
• “Donbas war: One Ukrainian serviceman dies” (UKR media)
• “Escalation in Donbas: Two Ukrainian soldiers killed, three wounded in 25 enemy attacks” (UKR media)
• “Terrorist, aka ‘Rocker,’ killed in Donbas” (UKR media)
  

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• “Poroshenko dismisses Ukraine’s National Guard Commander” (UKR media)
• “Poroshenko enacts NSDC’s decision on measures to strengthen state’s defense” (UKR media)
• “Ukraine’s Defense Minister Poltorak signs order to increase Joint Forces’ allowances” (UKR media)
  

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• “Israel considers joint production of military drones with Ukraine” (UKR media)
  

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• “NATO chiefs to discuss security situation in Ukraine” (UKR media)
  

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• ” ‘Don’t Waste Your Time,’ Zelenskiy Tells Putin After Citizenship Offer To Ukrainians” (USA govt funded media)
• “Cabinet recognizes Russia’s passports issued in Donbas illegal, calls on other countries not to recognize them when crossing the border – Groysman” (UKR media)
• “Ukraine’s govt wants to sanction Russians for illegal issuance of Russian passports” (UKR media)
• “Kremlin: Russian passports to be issued in occupied Donbas despite Ukraine’s reaction” (UKR media)
• “Ukraine’s Cabinet outlaws Russian passports issued in occupied Donbas” (UKR media)
• “Russian passports of ORDLO residents to be declared illegal – Groysman” (UKR media)
  

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• “Former Ukrainian President Kravchuk: Ukraine was forced to take Crimea in Soviet times because Russia could not sustain it” (UKR media)
• “MiG-29 fighters left by Ukraine in Crimea completely obsolete, – Russian MP” (UKR media)
• “American drone made reconnaissance flight over Crimea and occupied part of Donbas” (UKR media)

Way Up North

• “NATO up North: Operation Nanook-Nunalivut”
• “US cold-shoulders Canada as superpowers square off over Arctic riches”
• “Arctic attack on Canada leaves Pompeo adrift at sea”
• “Lavrov: Russia will ensure safety of Northern Sea Route”
• “Quick progress on Russian upgrades to High Arctic airbase”
• “Arctic Russia: Chinese-built tanker tests ice in remote waters”
• “The Arctic Shipping Route No One’s Talking About — By mid-century, a Transpolar Passage will open across the Arctic Ocean via the North Pole. Few countries are preparing for this reality except China …”
  

#MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa

• “Semaine du Canada au Mali : Zoum sur le projet “Appui canadien à la Politique nationale genre du Mali pour améliorer le sort des Maliennes” “
• “Mali: 15 jihadistes présumés “neutralisés” près de la frontière burkinabè (sources militaires)”
• “Mali: 18 djihadistes libérés en échange d’un préfet et d’un journaliste”
• “L’ONU préoccupée par l’insécurité et les attaques armées dans le Sahel” (CHN national media)

#CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT

• “France open doors to ISIS orphans after jihadi parents die in Syria”
• “Kurdish-Led SDF Transfers IS Relatives to Home Countries”
• “Even in Defeat, Islamic State’s Foreign Fighters Expanding”

Internal Security

• “Government removes all mention of ‘Sunni’ and ‘Shia’ extremism from terrorism threat report”

Sexual Assault/Harassment in the CF

• “The Ottawa Crown Attorney’s office has dropped its sexual assault case against retired NHL enforcer David “Tiger” Williams after the former hockey player apologized for his regrettable behaviour aboard a drunken 2017 “Team Canada” trip that cost a military flight attendant her “dream career” and put her in the throes of PTSD …”

Other Military News

• “Canadian Admiral: Kids Won’t Join the Navy if Ships Don’t Have Wi-Fi”
• “CADPAT combat camouflage replacement options under consideration” (DND info-machine)
• “Strong, Secure, Engaged : A Two-Year Review” (CGAI report)
• “Last week, the social media platforms were set abuzz over a photograph depicting a squad of armed Canadian soldiers in combat uniforms, seemingly on patrol on the streets of Toronto. The majority of these soldiers wore regimental turbans adorned with the cap badges of several different militia units. They were in loose order, rather than in formed ranks and they carried their C-7 assault rifles at the “low-ready,” as if on patrol …”
• ” ‘Inappropriate’ or not, disregard for the rules shouldn’t be put on parade”
• “Scheer government would seek to join U.S. missile defence program”
• “In first major foreign policy speech, Scheer takes aim at ‘disastrous’ Trudeau”
• “A little joke used to make its way around the Harper Conservative government every time National Defence presented Andrew Scheer’s former boss with the bills for new equipment — about how Stephen Harper would emit an audible ‘gulp’ of alarm when they crossed his desk. Scheer, in the first of a series of election-framing speeches for the Conservatives, pledged yesterday to wrap his arms around Canada’s allies, take the politics out of defence procurement, buy new submarines, join the U.S. ballistic missile defence program and expand the current military mission in Ukraine in an undefined way …”

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – April 16, 2019

• #CANinIRQ/Mid East – Op IMPACT
• “Operation IMPACT Interview Opportunities (tomorrow) …” (DND info-machine)
• “La Coalition mondiale de lutte contre Daech a l’habitude de mettre en vedette ses partenaires et, cette semaine, elle mettra l’accent sur la contribution du Canada à la Coalition. La Coalition mondiale de lutte contre Daech a l’habitude de mettre en vedette ses partenaires et, cette semaine, elle mettra l’accent sur la contribution du Canada à la Coalition …”
• “Canada” (The Global Coalition Against Daesh)
• The Global Coalition on Twitter: “Partner Spotlight: This week’s partner spotlight will focus on the contribution @CanadaFP has made towards the Coalition …”
• “The caliphate has crumbled, but ISIS still haunts Yazidi refugees in Canada”
• “Will Canada Also Designate the IRGC as a Foreign Terrorist Entity?”
• “Seven key figures accused of transferring millions of dollars to Daesh in a network across the Middle East, Europe and East Africa are targeted with sanctions by US Treasury” (The Global Coalition Against Daesh)
• “NATO and Iraq strengthen cooperation on defence education” (NATO info-machine)
  

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• #MLI – Op PRESENCE/Africa
• “Liberal MP says Canada ‘not pulling its weight’ in peacekeeping as Mali mission draws to a close”
• “Where we should not be … Put simply: UN peacekeeping is a bad joke … it lines the pockets some of poor troop providing nations, and that’s about it. No one, including Justin Trudeau and UN Secretary-General António Guterres gives a damn about Africa or peace. Canada is doing a good job in Mali … a job that Rwanda, for example, could not do. But Canada has done enough and should not do more …” (Col. Ted)
• “Massacre in Mali Demonstrates Need to Prioritize Protection of Civilians in MINUSMA’s Mandate” (Int’l Peace Institute)
• “Another setback for stability in Mali” ( Institute for Security Studies)
• “Islamic State claims attack on Tuareg militia in Mali” (FDD’s Long War Journal)
• “On 5 April, thousands of Malians took to the streets of Bamako to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maïga and the departure of foreign forces from the country. This followed an appeal by Imam Mahmoud Dicko, President of the High Islamic Council, and the chérif of Nioro, Mohamed Ould Checknè, an influential religious leader based in western Mali …”
• “France reports major security operation in central Mali”
• “China’s peacekeeping engineers to Mali complete MOC camp construction with high standards” (CHN mil media)
• “American General: US ‘Not Winning’ Counterterror Fight in West Africa”
• “Sherbrooke woman missing in West Africa still alive, says Burkina Faso official”
• “Le Burkina assure qu’Edith Blais et Luca Tacchetto sont vivants”
• ” Missing Quebec woman is alive: Burkina Faso”
• “Burkina Faso minister says missing Quebec woman is alive, removed from territory”
• “Canada closes embassy in Sudan as army forces president Omar al-Bashir to step down”
• “Canada calls for Sudan’s military to step aside”
  

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• #LVA/Europe – Op REASSURANCE/Cold War 2.0
• “Analysts warn U.S.-Russia tensions could spiral into armed confrontation, nuclear war”
• “Canada to Russia: Interference Is Okay If It Destabilizes You but Not the Other Way Around” (pro-RUS site)
• “Menace russe sur les pays baltes: des armes non-conventionnelles évoquées”
• “A Pentagon-commissioned report published Monday envisions equipping Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with “resistance” cells armed with unconventional weapons to deter Russia from invading. These capabilities would range from cyber to drones to long-range mobile communications and non-lethal weapons as well as small arms, explosives, anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons, the Rand Corporation report said …”
• “Deterring Russian Aggression in the Baltic States Through Resilience and Resistance” (RAND)
• “The Suwalki Gap: The 40-Mile Line NATO is Ready to Go to War with Russia Over”
• “Putin’s Russia Symbolically Reenacts Stalin’s Push Into Europe”
• “On Thursday, March 11, the Baltic News Service (BNS) reported Lithuania’s decision to recall its ambassador to Russia, Remigijus Motuzas, for consultations. One of the reasons was the threats directed at Motuzas, after Vilnius District Court found former Soviet Union Minister of Defense, Dmitry Yazov, and a number of other Russians citizens guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity for their role in the case of January 13, 1991 events …”
• “Our Man in NATO: Why Putin Lucked Out With Recep Erdogan”
• “Dismantle NATO, Close Down 800 US Military Bases, Prosecute the War Criminals” (pro-RUS site)
  

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• #CHN/Pacific Rim
• “China a major threat to Canadian security: Ottawa”
• “A development financing arm of the United States government entered into a trilateral agreement with Canada and the European Union on Thursday, part of a US-led bid to offer emerging economies a development alternative to state-led models such as China’s “Belt and Road Initiative” …”
• “Spokesperson: recent cruise around Taiwan tests PLA’s joint operations capability” (CHN mil media)
• ” Taiwan is not intimidated by China’s military drills this week, President Tsai Ing-wen said on Tuesday, after the latest Chinese military maneuvers were denounced by a senior U.S. official as “coercion” and a threat to stability in the region …”
• “Taiwan ‘threatened’ but not intimidated by China military drills”
• “US approves F-16 support for Taiwan in face of pressure from Beijing”
• “State Department approves renewal of Taiwan military training program”
• “China builds world’s first armed amphibious drone boat that can lead land assault” (CHN mil media)
• “Will China’s new stealth amphibious drone boats guard its South China Sea outposts?”
• “Navy fleet escorts four Chinese civilian ships” (CHN mil media)
• “Hong Kong Democracy Activist Launches Legal Challenge to China’s Naval Dock Plan”
• “China’s modern navy embraces a multipolar world” (CHN mil media)
  

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• The Koreas
• “Kim Jong-un Tipped to Meet Putin”
• “Kim Set to Meet Putin, With Donald Trump on Both Men’s Minds”
• “North Korea’s Sinpo South Shipyard: Submarine Shipbuilding Continuing at Slow Pace” (38 North)
• “North Korea Tries to Secretly Get South Korean Rice Seeds Using Traders in China”
  

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• Way Up North
• “(UK) Army Team Ready For First-Ever Expedition On Canadian Arctic’s Largest Island” (UK MoD info-machine)
• “Military Drills in Arctic Aim to Counter Russia, but the First Mission Is to Battle the Cold”
• “Russian Arctic developers present a new dazzling target for Northern Sea Route”
• “As Russia Touts Expanded Arctic Sea Routes, US Observers See Veiled Threat”
• “Russia’s North Pole Barneo camp season cancelled before it started”
• “Russia claims to have demonstrated complex exercise outside Norway”
• “China and Russia Launch Scientific Cooperation in Arctic” (CHN’s The Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao) )
  

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• Internal Security
• “Canada removes mention of Sikh extremism, India fumes”
• “Trudeau visits Sikh temple in Vancouver after gov’t removes reference to Sikh extremism”
• “A storm of misinformation is coming. Our federal election could be at risk”
• “Cyber Interference in the Federal Election? Part 1” (Centre for International Policy Studies)
• “Cyber Interference in the Federal Election? Part 2”
• “Attempts to undermine Canadian election through disinformation are symptoms of a global problem”
• “Finding Asylum Just Got Harder”
  

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• What’s Canada Buying?
• “Canada’s fighter jet tender competition (finally) takes off next month”
• Magellan Aerospace Corporation announced, on April 12, an agreement with Atlas Elektronik Canada Ltd. for the design and development phase of the SeaSpider Anti Torpedo Torpedo (ATT) program …”
  

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• Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)
• “Injured veterans turning to medical marijuana in increasing numbers”
• “(North Island-Powell River) MP concerned about treatment of veterans”
• “Québec dévoile la plaque d’immatriculation unique pour les vétérans”
  

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• Other Military News
• “RCAF facing problems getting enough parts for C-130J Hercules transport planes – wheels being taken from older aircraft”
• “While Trudeau Gives Our Tax Dollars Away So Companies Owned By Billionaires Can Upgrade Fridges, The Canadian Air Force Is Cannibalizing Old Planes For C-130 Parts” (Spencer Fernando blog)
• “Army returns to dark blue or khaki berets for Foot Guards and technical corps” (Army info-machine via FB)
• “Canada’s military relaxes rules around women’s hair and dress”
• “Beards, bare legs, ponytails OK for Canadian military”
• “Military shaves restrictions on women in uniform wearing ponytails”
• “Beards and bare legs a slippery slope with scant benefit to military”
• “Military personnel sound off about letting their hair down”
• “Fin du tout premier cours de mortier par et pour la Réserve”
• “Simulated mass emergency at CHUM’s Hôtel-Dieu”
• “Grand exercice de simulation au CHUM avec les Forces pour «apprendre à gérer le chaos» “
• “Des dizaines de militaires sur le terrain pour une simulation médicale”
• “HMCS Regina crew names helicopter after Humboldt Broncos”
• “MAROON CHEF: une compétition savoureuse à la 5e Division”
• “Royal Canadian Navy visits Port Hardy, Port McNeill to remember Boomer’s legacy”
• “90 years ago he was the 1st pilot to land in the Yellowknife area; now he’s on a stamp … Dickins’s stamp appears alongside two other pilots and three planes: First World War ace William George Barker, aeronautical engineer Elizabeth MacGill, the ultralight Lazair airplane and the Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow supersonic interceptor airplane …”
• “Canadians in Flight: Official First Day Cover (Avro Arrow)” (Canada Post)
• “Canadians in Flight: Official First Day Cover (William George Barker)” (Canada Post)

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