“As the situation in Syria grinds on and members of the global community consider increasing military action to fight the Islamic State group, a top US Senator today defended the US reluctance for large-scale military intervention…” DEFENSE NEWS: Kaine: ‘Scar Tissue’ from Iraq, Afghanistan Impacts Global Strategy Aaron Mehta

“The Pentagon expects the new Canadian government to allow Lockheed Martin Corp’s F-35 fighter aircraft to compete to replace Canada’s aging CF-18 jets, despite the Liberal Party’s stated opposition to the planes, U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work said on Saturday…” REUTERS: U.S. expects F-35 to be part of Canada’s next jet competition Phil Stewart

“Speaking at Nova Scotia forum with Tzipi Livni, US Deputy Secretary of Defense says Israeli strike in 2007 was a good thing…” ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS: US Official: Israel was right to hit Syrian nuclear facility Yaakov Levi

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 20th 2015 (Halifax, Nova Scotia) – The Honourable Harjit Sajjan, Canadian Minister of National Defence and Peter Van Praagh, President of the Halifax International Security Forum, will participate in a press conference to open the 7th annual Halifax International Security Forum. DATE: Friday November 20th, 2015 TIME: 12:15PM (Atlantic) LOCATION: Harbour…

“Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work plans to press Canada’s defense chief on Friday to explain how the new Liberal Party government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau intends to respond to a range of defense challenges – and whether it will follow through on Trudeau’s campaign pledge to withdraw from the F-35 program…” POLITICO: Top Pentagon…

“We live in disruptive times. Russia annexes Crimea and invades Ukraine. The Islamic State conquers a large swath of territory that crosses the old border between Iraq and Syria, and the rump government of Bashir Al-Assad bombs its own people…” NATIONAL POST: Janice Gross Stein: The order that held dysfunctional Middle East states together is over Janice…

“A common lament is that our leaders neglect strategy, leaving policy uncertain and inchoate…” NATIONAL POST: Sir Lawrence Freedman: Discouraging Foreign Policy Strategy Aside, One Should Not Underestimate the West Sir Lawrence Freedman

“On Oct. 10, 2015, two suicide bombers attacked civilians at the heart of Ankara that were gathered to rally for peace. This cowardly terrorist attack by the Islamic State (ISIL) claimed the lives of more than 100 innocent Turkish citizens, the worst terrorist attack in Turkish history…” NATIONAL POST: Abdullah Gül ISIL Must Not Succeed Anymore. We Must…

“The Pentagon’s No. 2 will sound out Canada’s new government on Friday on its defense plans following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s election on promises to scrap purchases of F-35 jets and pull Canadian aircraft from strikes on Islamic State…” THE ECONOMIC TIMES: US Military to Sound Out Canada’s New Government on Jets, Iraq Phil Stewart

“The Paris attacks will focus the world’s attention on how to defeat the Islamic State group, President Barack Obama’s former special envoy to the global coalition to counter IS said Wednesday. But retired Gen. John Allen said the U.S. doesn’t need to deploy a significant number of ground troops to do it…” WASHINGTON POST: Ex-Envoy…