Section: Ottawa Citizen (Canada)
NATO Secretary General calls on Russia to end “illegal” annexation of Crimea
NEWPORT, Wales – Here is what NATO Secretary General NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen had to say in greeting Ukraine’s president to talks with alliance officials today: “President Poroshenko, I welcome you here today at a testing time for your nation. An independent, sovereign and stable Ukraine, firming committed to democracy...
Letter: What does the West really want?
Unquestionably, the regular reader is finding it difficult to keep pace with Russian-inspired events in Ukraine. The annexation of Crimea by the “little green men” followed by the recent convoy invasion (mostly unsanctioned by the Red Cross and more threatened) is showing Russia at its worst. Victimized by the West, according to itself and some...
Canadian frigate to join exercises in the Black Sea
NEWPORT, England – A Canadian warship will sail into the Black Sea in the coming days to take part in a multi-lateral exercise with Ukrainian, U.S. and other vessels. HMCS Toronto, a Halifax-class frigate, will enter the Black Sea on Sept. 6 to begin the exercise starting on Sept. 8, military officials at the NATO summit here said Thursday. The...
NATO open to Iraq mission, says alliance’s secretary general
By David Pugliese Defence Watch NEWPORT, England – NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says the military alliance is ready to help Iraq deal with Islamic terrorists, raising the possibility that ground troops could play a role. Rasmussen said that Iraq has not yet requested help but if it did come NATO would “seriously” consider it. The...
The Gargoyle: Charlie Angus makes pen pals in the Senate
Charlie Angus wants to strengthen ethics rules in the House of Commons, and has turned to the Senate for a little help — but not before ripping the upper chamber for “numerous ethical loopholes” in the Senate’s conflict of interest guidelines. The NDP’s ethics critic made the suggestion in a sardonic letter Wednesday to the chairwoman...
Editorial: Canada’s tough guy act
When it comes to Vladimir Putin and Russia’s inexcusable incursion into Eastern Ukraine, Canada sure talks a big game. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said “the most important thing we need to do is to rally all of our allies throughout the Western world, and throughout the greater global community, to understand that peace and stability...
Canada paid for cash-strapped Hungary’s fighter pilot training
LONDON — NATO ally Hungary is so financially strapped that Canada has had to step in and pay for its fighter pilot training, according to documents obtained by the Citizen. Because of Hungary’s financial problems, it couldn’t afford the $9 million a year to send pilots to the NATO Flying Training Centre in Moose Jaw, Sask., according...
NATO Summit to formally open with a meeting on Afghanistan but all eyes on Ukraine
The NATO Summit will open on 4 Sept. 4. Here is the outline provided by NATO on how that will unfold: It will start at 11h45 with the Secretary General and NATO British Prime Minister Cameron officially welcoming Heads of State and Government. The Summit will formally open with a meeting on Afghanistan at 1 p.m. local time. The Allied Heads of...
Canada, Germany derail NATO bid to raise military spending targets
LONDON — NATO’s plan to get countries to agree to significantly boost their military spending has been derailed by Canada and Germany before it could be even presented to alliance leaders on Thursday when they meet in Wales. With a backdrop of the worsening situation in Ukraine, NATO’s top commander U.S. Gen. Philip Breedlove and...
Op-Ed: Can the news business survive?
ISIL. Ukraine. Ferguson. Ebola. So much for slow news summers. But while outlets have plenty to cover, they are worrying about the mounting cost of their coverage. The Internet has eroded so much of the news’ revenue base, the industry now resembles Wile E. Coyote after he’s run off a cliff: caught in mid-air, legs churning furiously,...
