France has begun bombing ISIS, ‘entirely destroying’ its logistics depot in North-eastern Iraq

A remote camera shows a Rafale jet fighter, partially seen at right, and a pilot fly over Iraq Friday.

PARIS — Joining U.S. forces acting in Iraqi skies, France conducted its first airstrikes Friday against the militant Islamic State group, destroying a logistics depot, Iraqi and French officials said.
Rafale fighter jets accompanied by support planes struck in northern Iraq on Friday morning and the target was “entirely destroyed,” President Francois Hollande said.

The four airstrikes on an Iraqi military installation overrun by the militants hit a munitions and fuel depot, a French military official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss operational details.

Iraq’s military spokesman said dozens of extremist fighters were...(Click for more)


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No one has to wonder what France will have to do in order to combat ISIS on French soil. 

The Flames of War

The Islamic State goes Hollywood.

The Face of Things To Come

The Islamic State's vision for the future as illustrated by their own press release.

By: The National Bacon

While their reach may not yet meet the reality of their goals, the IS is certainly planning for a future that is striking in it's massive scope.  Many have asked if the IS would be a serious direct threat to the Western world, which of course is highly debatable.  However, in a globalized economic world even a significant regional change can produce significant effects across the globe.  

The regions the IS is looking to conquer not only contain valuable oil and gas resources, but also other materials, agricultural products, and significant cultural sites.  In terms of globally significant cultural areas, the IS has already pillaged their way through many areas of Syria and Iraq and destroyed archaeological sites.

It could also be argued that Europe faces the greatest direct threat from the IS, because of their relatively geographic location to the Middle East and North Africa and the fairly significant the IS is currently enjoying from elements of the populations of Western European nations.

Unfortunately we are faced with two grim scenerios; the IS as a destablizing regional problem or the IS as a rising global empire.  Either propostion deserves serious thought and serious action.

Trudeau Opposes Revoking Canadian Passports of Would-be Terrorists

TORONTO - Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau confused holding a passport with citizenship - but doesn't think the government should be able to take away either from Canadians suspected of being involved in terrorism.

The issue of homegrown terrorists has been in the spotlight since the onslaught of terror group Islamic State (ISIS), which claims to have established a caliphate - or Islamic state - in parts of Syria and Iraq and which has had alarming success in recruiting Western youth to fight for its cause.

Speaking with reporters Saturday at the Liberal Party of Ontario's annual general meeting in Markham, Trudeau said he believes the Canadian justice system is currently well enough equipped to handle homegrown terrorism.

Legislation passed in June allows the federal government to strip citizenship from dual citizens who are convicted of terrorism at home or abroad.
Trudeau and his Liberals opposed the legislation. He has often expressed his concern the bill creates a "two-tiered" system of citizenship.

Asked for his thoughts on revoking or denying passports to would-be terrorists, Trudeau appeared to conflate citizenship with having a passport, but ultimately said he believes the Criminal Code is the best tool to fight terrorism.

"I think that a lot of Canadians, including very conservative Canadians, should be worried about the state willing to, and taking the power to, arbitrarily remove citizenship from people," he said. "That's a slippery slope that I don't thin...(Click for more) 

Brian Toohey: Australia plays dangerous game with defense shift

Almost unnoticed, Australia has reverted to a forward defense doctrine abandoned during the Cold War in the 1960s.

 

Australian Army soldiers fire their weapons in a live fire exercise in Hawaii. © Reuters

     The change is all the more remarkable because the earlier policy did not threaten the profitability of the country's biggest businesses, while the resurrected policy appears to be aimed at its biggest trading partner, China.

     Although the specifics are classified, there is now backing across the political spectrum for preparations for the forward deployment of ground troops, ships and planes equipped for high-intensity warfare. Key components include large destroyers equipped to contribute to an anti-ballistic missile shield against China and North Korea; frigates that could help enforce a trade blockade; and big new submarines capable of firing cruise missiles into China. This may suit countries near China, but it represents a huge change for a more distant Australia.

     The switch began five years ago with the insistence by then-Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd that the defense White Paper should ditch the established doctrine defining the Australian military's area of operational interest as rarely extending beyond the archipelagic chain of Indonesian and Melanesian islands to its near north. Prime Minister Tony Abbott now enthusiastically promotes the new...(Click for more)

Canadians Don’t Want Combat Role in Iraq, Trudeau Says

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is cautioning against sending Canadian jet fighters to join U.S. air strikes against the Islamic State.

Trudeau questions value of combat role for Canada

U.S. President Barack Obama announced the air strikes against militants in Syria and Iraq in an address Wednesday night.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is cautioning against sending Canadian jet fighters to join U.S. air strikes against the Islamic State.

While Mr. Trudeau didn’t completely rule out supporting such a move eventually, he said Canadians aren’t enthusiastic about taking on such a “combat” role.

“Shifting toward a combat mission, which air strikes would be, will require a large shift in Canada’s positioning, and I just don’t see a tremendous level of enthusiasm or openness among Canadians, or Canadian parliamentarians, for taking on a combat...(Click for more)

75 Years Ago we Were at War: Lest We Forget

 

Time ticks by and memories fade, it would serve us well to remember the cost of ignoring the rise of tyrants and fanatics.