With more than 300 wildfires and growing concerns about deteriorating weather, the B.C. government announced today that a state of emergency would go into effect at midnight. Initially for 14 days, it empowers the to, among other things, order evacuations and to prohibit travel. The Department of National Defence confirmed preparations to support civilian firefighters. [node:read-more:link]
A former regimental medical office in an artillery battalion points out that the foes Canada fights are increasingly non-military. Dr. Kevin Patterson suggests that the Canadian Armed Forces should build on its reputation for addressing domestic challenges. [node:read-more:link]
The U.S. Navy and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have begun studying a COVID-19 outbreak in one of its aircraft carriers in the hope of contributing to a better understanding of the pandemic. More than 17 per cent of its crew of 4,845 have tested positive. [node:read-more:link]
Earlier this month, the Department of National Defence issued a request for proposals for delivery of a readily-deployable “biocontainment aeromedical evacuation system” as developed and refined by the U.S. Air Force in the aftermath of the 2013-2016 Ebola crisis. The RFP seems to have been precipitated by the deployment of Canadian Armed Forces personnel during the COVID-19 outbreak. [node:read-more:link]
Canadian Armed Forces personnel deployed to help civil authorities with long-term care facilities during the COVID-19 crisis have confirmed conditions in facilities which critics say have been known for some time. A CAF report states that personnel found that equipment was used on both infected and non-infected patients without being disinfected, and that a disregard for basic cleanliness had resulted in insect infestation and rotten food. [node:read-more:link]
Legal experts are parsing President Donald Trump’s threat to deploy the U.S. military to put down continued and sometimes violent protests in several cities after the death of a black man in police custody. Even though the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act precludes that kind of intervention, the 1807 Insurrection Act does give the President authority to deploy federal forces in states unable to put down an insurrection or where federal law is being defied. The exports do agree that legal challenges are inevitable and some state governors are calling Trump’s move an overreaction. [node:read-more:link]
A series of often violent protests in several major cities following the death of another black man in police custody in Minneapolis prompted President Donald Trump to insist 1 June that state governors call out their National Guard units to resolve the situations. “If a city or state refuses . . . I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them.” [node:read-more:link]
A series of often violent protests in several major cities following the death of another black man in police custody in Minneapolis prompted President Donald Trump to insist 1 June that state governors call out their National Guard units to resolve the situations. “If a city or state refuses . . . I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them.” [node:read-more:link]
Former U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis has denounced President Donald Trump’s threat to deploy Army personnel to quell protests in several U.S. cities. “We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution,” the retired Marine General writes. Mattis quit the cabinet in 2018 over Trump’s policy on Syria. [node:read-more:link]
U.S. Army Gen Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, says the Department of Defense is taking a close look at how National Guard operations could be complicated in situations where police are dressed and equipped like troops. The decision was prompted by controversy over whether Guard personnel had recently helped to remove protestors near the White House and Milley told Congress 9 July that it is critical to have “a clear definition between that which is military and that which is police.” [node:read-more:link]
All former U.S. Secretaries of Defense have rebuked elements within President Donald Trump’s administration for considering martial law as an option in his ongoing campaign to overturn the latest election results. Stating that "the time for questioning the results has passed," they say such action would take the country into “dangerous, unlawful and unconstitutional territory." [node:read-more:link]
Canadian Armed Forces base commanders have been given detailed “pre-pandemic planning” orders for how to address the new coronavirus domestically and overseas. Among other things, commanders can cancel large gatherings in the event of a Covid-19 spike and other precautions include reviews of all non-essential travel. [node:read-more:link]
The Canadian Forces has spent more than $1 million to train its operatives on "behavior modification" techniques for use in Canada. Examples include the mission to manage public perception surrounding Op Laser (COVID response) and the more bizarre mission that had our military creating and disseminating fake news and forged letters to warn the Nova Scotia public that wolves were causing problems in the province (which was untrue). [node:read-more:link]
The first of 16 H125s configured for U.S. Customs and Border Protection Services’ air and marine operations has been delivered by Airbus Helicopters in Texas. The rest are to be built at a Missouri plant where 40 per cent of the workforce are military veterans. [node:read-more:link]
In anticipation of Canada's Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) Request for Proposal (RFP), Team Artemis has stepped up with powerful Heron TP capabilities that are ideally suited for Canadian requirements. [node:read-more:link]
