Re: Joint Task Force 2

by **Lincoln** Wed 04 Dec 2019, 8:41 am

Stealing from the military is stealing from the taxpayer

OTTAWA CITIZEN EDITORIAL BOARD December 4, 2019

https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/letters/todays-letters-stealing-from-the-military-is-stealing-from-the-taxpayer

by **Apollo** Thu 02 Jan 2020, 2:00 pm

Canadian military wants spy 'role players' to help train special forces on surveillance, counter-surveillance

TOM BLACKWELL - January 2, 2020

https://thestarphoenix.com/news/wanted-by-military-spy-role-players-to-help-train-special-forces-on-surveillance-and-counter-surveillance/wcm/5289e560-33bd-4073-8df9-005bcb643c45

Joint Task Force 2 - Page 2 1126_attic_military

by **RunningLight** Fri 24 Jan 2020, 1:44 pm

Canadian special forces soldier
convicted in connection with theft
to be released from the military

DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN ----- January 24, 2020

Joint Task Force 2 - Page 2 Can-sof-in-iraq-copy

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/canadian-special-forces-soldier-convicted-in-connection-with-theft-to-be-released-from-the-military

by **Forcell** Tue 11 Feb 2020, 9:27 am

Liberals pull plug on decade-old plan to move elite Joint Task Force 2 unit out of Ottawa

The Canadian Press
Lee Berthiaume

February 10, 2020

https://nationalpost.com/news/liberals-pull-plug-on-decade-old-plan-to-move-elite-joint-task-force-2-unit-out-of-ottawa

by Xrayxservice Thu 17 Sep 2020, 8:08 am

Canada's special forces seek outside intelligence advice

Murray Brewster · CBC News · Posted: Sep 17, 2020

Joint Task Force 2 - Page 2 Recon-soldier-in-latvia

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/special-forces-intelligence-1.5726861

by Charlie Thu 12 Nov 2020, 9:00 am

CANSOFCOM - Canadian Special Operations Forces Command

Nov 5, 2020

A tribute video for the Men and Women of CANSOFCOM. In memory of Sergeant Andrew ‘Drew’ Doiron who was killed in action in 2015.

by Looper Sun 11 Apr 2021, 4:04 pm

Canadian special forces supported major
Iraqi military assault on ISIL last month

Apr 11, 2021

OTTAWA — The commander of Canada’s special forces says his soldiers supported a major military offensive last month that U.S. and Iraqi officials say killed dozens of Islamic State fighters.

The two-week offensive codenamed Operation Ready Lion took place in a mountain range in northern Iraq and involved using Iraqi and coalition airstrikes to flush ISIL fighters from their tunnel complexes and bunkers.

Those who fled were either captured or killed by Iraqi military snipers.

The Canadian Armed Forces has been relatively quiet about what its roughly 200 special forces soldiers in Iraq have been doing in recent years.

But in an exclusive interview with The Canadian Press, Maj.-Gen. Peter Dawe says his troops helped plan the operation and then helped with surveillance, resupplies and medical evacuations as it was underway.

The federal government recently extended Canada’s anti-ISIL mission, which first started in late 2014, currently includes hundreds of other troops in addition to the special forces soldiers until next March.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2021.

The Canadian Press

https://ckpgtoday.ca/2021/04/11/canadian-special-forces-supported-major-iraqi-military-assault-on-isil-last-month/

by Caliber Thu 12 Aug 2021, 9:22 pm

Canadian special forces ready to evacuate embassy after Kandahar falls to the Taliban

Murray Brewster · CBC News · Posted: Aug 12, 2021

Joint Task Force 2 - Page 2 Afghanistan-suspicious-neighbors

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/afghanistan-kabul-kandahar-herat-special-forces-1.6139450

by Ravenson Wed 09 Feb 2022, 7:39 pm

Special forces soldier faces scrutiny for alleged support of convoy protesters

Depending on what the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command determines, the military could decide to take either administrative or disciplinary action against the soldier.

David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: Feb 09, 2022

The Canadian military is looking into whether a special forces soldier whose house allegedly has a large banner supporting convoy protesters displayed outside has violated any rules.

Canadian Forces members complained that the soldier, who is with the Joint Task Force 2 counter-terrorism unit, should not have such a symbol displayed outside his home in Stittsville.

Department of National Defence spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier confirmed the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command is examining whether the display of the banner violates military rules.

“While these are difficult times for our country, we expect all members of the Canadian Armed Forces to remain above the fray and to uphold the values and ethos we espouse,” he explained. “All allegations will be treated seriously and investigated accordingly.”

The banner reportedly displays the slogans “Truckers for Freedom” and “Mandate Freedom.”

Some protesters and supporters have advocated for the overthrowing of the democratically elected federal government. Others have called for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to be tried for treason or executed.

Le Bouthillier said Wednesday that, depending on what the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command determines, the military could decide to take either administrative or disciplinary action against the soldier.

Some protesters who have occupied downtown Ottawa since Jan. 28 have been criticized for flying Confederate and Nazi flags and dancing on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Members of the public have reported being harassed or threatened by protesters.

Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly had recently suggested the Canadian Forces might be needed to deal with the protesters. But Trudeau previously said that using the military in such a situation was not being considered.

The Canadian military is already in the midst of another investigation of one of its members who recently went on Twitter with a video supporting the Ottawa protesters.

The man appeared in a Canadian Forces uniform, in front of a Canadian flag, and identified himself as Riley MacPherson, a member of the military. He praised those taking part in the protest, including truckers, farmers and “everyone standing up for our rights and freedoms.”

He noted that those are the same “rights and freedoms I signed up to protect.”

“Thank you for your courage,” he added in his message to the protesters. “Thank you for your sacrifices. Thank you for your strength. I stand with you. Hold the line.”

The Canadian Forces confirmed the man is a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force and is located at 19 Wing Comox, B.C.

“The member’s chain of command has been made aware and will conduct a fulsome investigation into the matter and ensure appropriate corrective action,” Le Bouthillier said. “Members of the CAF must remain impartial when communicating publicly and are not permitted to express their personal views when in uniform.”

Le Bouthillier said any member of the Canadian Forces who brings discredit to the military “through either conduct or performance deficiencies, be it through actions or words, will be held accountable.”

The RCAF member’s account included retweets of material critical of Trudeau as well as other material questioning vaccines. The Twitter account, which had been locked down, is now public again with retweets of content supportive of the protesters.

In May 2021, a Canadian Forces member who called on fellow military personnel to refuse to help with the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines was charged with an offence related to mutiny. It’s believed to be the first time in decades that the Canadian military has laid such a charge. A court-martial hearing will be held in September for that individual.

Defence Watch

by **Stargunner** Wed 04 Jan 2023, 7:29 am

Canadian special forces involved in U.S. military team accused of killing scores of innocent people in Iraq, Syria

Canadian special forces involved in U.S. military team accused of killing scores of innocent people in Iraq, Syria

David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen

Published Jan 03, 2023

Canadian Forces personnel were involved in a controversial U.S. military team that has been accused of killing scores of innocent people in Iraq and Syria.

But details about the Canadian special forces role in the team, code-named Talon Anvil, is still secret. One Canadian special forces soldier was part of the 20-member team in 2015 while other Canadian military personnel played a supporting role or were briefed on its activities, according to documents obtained by this newspaper as well as information provided by military sources.

In December 2021 the New York Times revealed that Talon Anvil was responsible for launching tens of thousands of bombs and missiles against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq but in the process had killed hundreds of civilians. The reckless actions of the Talon Anvil team, which operated from 2014 to 2019, alarmed members in the U.S. military and even the C.I.A., the newspaper reported.

Rules designed to protect civilians were circumvented. People who had no role in the conflict, including farmers trying to harvest crops, children playing in the streets, families fleeing fighting, and villagers sheltering in buildings, were killed, the New York Times investigation found.

Two days after that newspaper published the first of several articles on Talon Anvil, Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) raised concerns that questions could arise about its own involvement in the team.

“Were any allegations as described in the NYT article known to CANSOFCOM leadership at the time or have come to light since?” one officer noted in an email to Brig. Gen. Martin Gros-Jean.

Gros-Jean was appointed in 2020 to a new position as deputy commander support, which oversees the daily force management of CANSOFCOM.

The advice and information provided to Gros-Jean was censored entirely from the documents obtained by this newspaper using the Access to Information law. The Canadian Forces cited reasons of national security for withholding the information.

But National Defence, in a separate statement to this newspaper, has acknowledged one Canadian special forces member was part of Talon Anvil. The department did not provide details on what role the individual performed on the 20-member team but noted the special forces soldier was embedded with the U.S. military at the time.

Talon Anvil was led by U.S. special forces known as Delta. CANSOFCOM has a close relationship with Delta, as well as other U.S. special forces.

The Canadian special forces soldier was assigned to Talon Anvil from April to October of 2015, according to the department. “CANSOF Command leadership is aware of allegations against the US military unit, which was investigated at the time by U.S. Forces,” the statement added. “As the investigation was U.S.-led, we have no additional information to provide.”

The New York Times reported that only one airstrike launched by Talon Anvil that resulted in civilian deaths is being examined. Talon Anvil, which was located in Erbil, Iraq and later moved to Syria, was responsible for around 80 per cent of the 112,000 bombs and missiles launched at Islamic State targets.

Independent investigators and human rights groups have estimated that at least 7,000 civilians were killed by coalition airstrikes in Iraq and Syria.

National Defence noted that Royal Canadian Air Force personnel were not assigned to the Talon Anvil team. But it is unclear what role, if any, Talon Anvil played in Canada’s airstrikes on Islamic State forces.

Talon Anvil had three groups working around the clock gathering information from allied ground troops, including Canadian special forces, as well as surveillance data collected by drones and other aircraft and intercepts of radio and electronic transmissions.

Canadian CF-18 fighters conducted 251 airstrikes from Oct. 30, 2014 to Feb. 15, 2016. At total of 606 bombs were dropped, mostly on targets in Iraq. The Canadian Forces has stated that it has no information about any civilian casualties from those bombing missions.

Pentagon officials, however, have acknowledged it was difficult to get reliable counts of civilian deaths or investigate allegations innocents were killed in bombing raids as most occurred in territory controlled by the Islamic State.

The previous Conservative government sent Canadian special forces to northern Iraq to train Kurdish troops starting in 2014. That program was expanded by the Liberal government, with Canadian special forces calling in airstrikes and taking part in gun battles with enemy forces. At the time the Liberal government and the Canadian military leadership insisted that such activities shouldn’t be seen as combat.

The Canadian military did release some details on the fighting as part of its strategic communications strategy. For instance, it co-ordinated the release of information to the news media in 2017 about a Canadian special forces sniper making a kill shot on an Islamic State gunman almost 3.5 kilometres away.

That information was released just days before the Liberal government’s announcement it was renewing the Iraq mission for two years. It was designed to highlight what the Liberals and military say was a successful mission, defence sources noted at the time.

Defence Watch

by Geoman Thu 16 Feb 2023, 9:14 am

Canadian military investigates unauthorized release of JTF2 sniper video

Current and former members of Canadian special forces are required to sign agreements prohibiting them from discussing classified information.

David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen

Published Feb 15, 2023

The Canadian military has demanded a U.S. podcaster remove parts of an interview with a former JTF2 commando as well as classified video of a long-range sniper shot in Iraq because it could harm this country’s national security.

Former JTF2 sniper Dallas Alexander went on the Shawn Ryan podcast last week to discuss details of his time in the Ottawa-based counter-terrorism unit as well as the killing of an Islamic State gunman in 2017. The U.S. podcast also included classified JTF2 video of that killing.

The military confirmed it never authorized publication of the video and it was looking into how the JTF2 imagery was released into the public domain.

Ryan, who is in Tennessee, later posted on Twitter that he had pulled the video, but it had already been copied and shared on other social-media sites.

In the podcast, Alexander described his conversation with another JTF2 member named Josh who was on his sniper team in Iraq. He told Ryan the bullet travelled around 10 seconds before it struck the gunman. JTF2 commandos could be heard cheering on the video once the man was hit by the bullet.

The Canadian Forces has previously acknowledged a special forces sniper conducted the shot from more than 3,500 metres away, but it has declined to release any further information. The shot is considered a world record for a sniper. JTF2 continually refuses to acknowledge many aspects of its operations and equipment, claiming the release of such information could help enemy forces.

Alexander stated in a separate video on social media that the demands to remove the material were akin to censorship and that he consulted with fellow special forces members before going on the podcast. “It appears that I’m in some hot water,” Alexander said.

But he also claimed he had received widespread support for his actions from military personnel.

Lt. Cmdr. Jordan Holder, a spokesperson for Canadian Special Operations Command, or CANSOFCOM, noted in an email to this newspaper that the command had been in touch with the podcast company over its concerns about the content. “We have no additional information to provide at this time,” Holder added.

Ryan posted a copy of a Feb. 10 letter he received from a military lawyer assigned to CANSOFCOM. It was a notification that the podcast “contains information or material that has been properly classified and protected, and which is sensitive information such that its release is injurious to Canadian national security, national defence and international relations.”

The letter also noted that any photographs or data provided by Alexander had been collected during his service with the military and was Canadian government property.

Ryan’s lawyer responded with a letter to CANSOFCOM pointing out that, since Ryan is a U.S. citizen, the Canadian government has no authority over his actions. The letter also noted that a second podcast with Alexander was edited to remove discussions of military operations.

Current and former members of Canadian special forces are required to sign agreements prohibiting them from discussing classified information.

In a Twitter post, Ryan claimed the letter from CANSOFCOM was linked to the Canadian government’s “attempt to silence Dallas from explaining that he left the command for refusing the COVID vaccine.”

In a second podcast, Alexander explains his opposition to Canadian government vaccine mandates, although he claimed he was not an anti-vaxxer. He stated that, when he was in JTF2, he refused to get a COVID-19 vaccine or to wear masks. “I’m starting to get into administrative trouble because I’m not playing the mask charade,” he recalled of his time in JTF2.

During the podcast, the two men talked about how COVID-19 death numbers were supposedly overblown and how the government was using the pandemic to try to scare the population.

Alexander also talked about his concerns about supposed plans by governments around the world to create an international digital identification system for people.

He also complained the military, including JTF2, had embraced a woke agenda and he was required to take “sensitivity” courses because of that. The Canadian Forces has been conducting training to reduce the large number of sexual assaults and harassment that have hindered its recruiting efforts.

In addition, Alexander said, next on the government agenda would be efforts to deal with climate change.

Alexander said he asked for and received a medical discharge from the Canadian Forces. The podcast, however, claimed he was “fired” from the military.

Last year, Alexander tweeted out a number of photos of JTF2 personnel, including some of himself on overseas missions. “Justin Trudeau thinks I’m a misogynist and racist with unacceptable views,” he tweeted with the hashtag “Trudeau Must Go.”

This newspaper reported last year that two serving members of JTF2 were under investigation after taking part in convoy protests in downtown Ottawa.

Protesters in Ottawa wanted the government to remove the rules intended to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but other demonstrators called for the overthrow of the Canadian government and Trudeau’s execution.

JTF2 is the unit that would be called upon to deal with terrorism and at times provides protection for VIPs such as the prime minister.

The actions of a third Canadian Forces member, who had served with JTF2, but is now assigned to the Department of National Defence procurement section, were also under scrutiny last year for their involvement in the convoy protest.

CANSOFCOM has not released the outcome of the investigations. It did not reveal the names of JTF2 members that took part in the convoy protests, but retired and serving Canadian Forces personnel were the ones who sounded the alarm about the involvement of serving JTF2 personnel.

They alleged that some serving members of JTF2 had openly voiced anti-vaccination and anti-government views while at work at the Dwyer Hill counter-terrorism training centre. Some of those anti-government views have been directed specifically at Trudeau and have centred on Liberal government gun control policies, they allege.

Around 10 members of CANSOFCOM refused to be vaccinated and decided to leave the military.

Defence Watch

by Rocko Fri 17 Feb 2023, 5:11 pm

Former Canadian sniper says he consulted with military colleagues before releasing video of 'kill shot'

Published Feb. 17, 2023

Judy Trinh CTV National News, Ottawa Correspondent

by Viper Tue 21 Mar 2023, 4:31 pm

Liberals announce $1.4B investment in Ottawa's Dwyer Hill Training Centre

CBC News · Posted: Mar 21, 2023

Joint Task Force 2 - Page 2 Military-racism-20220425

CBC News

by Armoured Thu 23 Mar 2023, 7:59 pm

JTF2 base expansion deal inked four months ago, but defence minister waited until Biden visit to make announcement

The U.S. government has put intense pressure on Canada to spend significantly more on its military.

David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen

Published Mar 23, 2023

The Liberal government quietly awarded the first contract for the expansion of the Canadian military’s special forces base at Dwyer Hill four months ago, but waited until the week U.S. President Joe Biden visited Ottawa before making the announcement.

The Liberals approved the $1.4-billion expansion in June 2022, and government signed the first contract Nov. 22, 2022, federal government records show. Public consultations and environmental studies for the expansion of the installation, home to Joint Task Force 2, had been ongoing since spring 2021, according to the government’s website.

But Defence Minister Anita Anand waited until Tuesday to announce the significant infrastructure deal.

Military officials privately acknowledge the announcement was delayed until the week of Biden’s arrival in Ottawa so as to send a message to the U.S. government that Canada was focused on increasing military spending. They point out that construction is to start in May, indicating the project is well underway. The expansion project has already cost $800,000.

Anand’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

During media interviews, Anand was asked whether the timing of the announcement was linked to Biden’s visit to Ottawa on Thursday and Friday, but she didn’t directly answer, instead pointing to the Liberal government’s already announced commitments to increase defence spending.

The U.S. government has put intense pressure on Canada to spend significantly more on its military. David Cohen, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, acknowledged to the National Post last May that Canada was the sixth largest spender in NATO, but said it still needed to do more.

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump also pressured Canada to boost defence spending.

NATO and the U.S. want Canada to increase defence spending to two per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), a commitment that alliance nations have supported. To do that would require the Canadian government to add up to $18 billion a year to the defence budget for the next five years, the Parliamentary Budget Officer says.

But polls continue to show the Canadian public is more interested in improved health care and access to housing and is worried about rising food prices. Spending tens of billions more on the Canadian Forces does not appear as a public priority.

In addition, Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, arguably the most supportive leader of the Canadian military the country had seen in decades, dismissed the notion of reaching the two-per-cent target even though his government signed onto that NATO goal. Harper has countered that it’s the amount of actual spending and capability of a country’s military that matters, not a GDP measurement.

Anand has been highlighting military equipment projects to U.S. lawmakers, noting Canada is buying the U.S.-built F-35 stealth fighter and will spend tens of billions on joint U.S.-Canadian radar systems and defences.

In addition, many of the armaments and ammunition Canada is providing to Ukraine come from U.S. industry via the American government.

Anand has also been pushing for the purchase of U.S.-built surveillance aircraft, although she has faced pushback from some Canadian firms arguing she is more interested in creating American jobs than building up the domestic aerospace industry.

Work on the expansion of the JTF2 facility, also known as the Dwyer Hill Training Centre, has already started with the clearing of brush. A new security fence will be installed around the property. In May, contractors will begin moving earth and installing underground utilities and services. Concrete work on the new buildings will start next year.

The 10-year construction project at Dwyer Hill will meet JTF2’s long-term growth, training and high-readiness operational needs, Anand said. Work includes replacing 89 aging and temporary structures with 23 new facilities, renovating seven buildings and upgrading the site’s utilities.

In a 2017 defence policy paper, the Liberal government announced it would increase the size of Canadian special forces and spend $1.5 billion on new equipment ranging from surveillance aircraft to boats. Special forces, it noted then, would be increased to around 2,500, but the government did not detail the timeframe for this to take place.

In 2008, the Conservative government announced that Joint Task Force 2 would be moved from Ottawa to Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ont. To prepare for that, the government expropriated a 90-hectare family farm in the area.

But by 2018 Canadian military leaders decided that JTF2 needed to be close to the nation’s capital in case of a terrorist attack. In February 2020, the Liberal government announced it was no longer considering moving JTF2 to CFB Trenton.

Defence Watch

by Covert Tue 28 Mar 2023, 11:33 am

Special forces base expansion to include construction of a bridge across Franktown Road

The 54-metre-long bridge won’t be open to the public, but will instead allow special forces to move equipment and personnel from one portion of the Dwyer Hill Training Centre to another situated across the road.

David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen

Published Mar 28, 2023

A bridge will be built across Franktown Road as part of the $1.4 billion expansion of the Canadian special forces base at Dwyer Hill.

The 54-metre-long bridge won’t be open to the public, but will instead allow special forces to move equipment and personnel from one portion of the Dwyer Hill Training Centre to another situated across the road.

The bridge will span Franktown Road about 300 metres east of the intersection of Franktown Road and Dwyer Hill Road, according to National Defence.

Work on the expansion of the special forces installation, home to Joint Task Force 2, has already started with the clearing of brush. A new security fence will be installed around the property.

In May, contractors will begin moving earth and installing underground utilities and services. Concrete work on the new buildings will start next year.

Work on the bridge is scheduled to start in spring 2026 and be completed in 2027, said National Defence spokesperson Dan Le Bouthillier.

The 10-year construction project at the Dwyer Hill Training Centre will meet JTF2’s long-term growth, training and high-readiness operational needs, according to Defence Minister Anita Anand. Work includes replacing 89 aging and temporary structures with 23 new facilities; renovating seven buildings; and upgrading the site’s utilities.

Approximately 2,000 jobs will be created throughout the project, with as many as 250 to 300 people working on-site during peak construction periods, according to the federal government.

“As with any large infrastructure project, we expect increased traffic from construction vehicles, noise and dust during construction, but will make every effort to minimize impacts to our neighbours and the community as much as possible,” said Le Bouthillier.

Construction work is largely expected to take place between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday to Friday, he said.

The entrance for construction personnel during construction will be off Jock Trail, but National Defence acknowledged there will be increased traffic on Richmond Road and Dwyer Hill Road.

The main entrance to the training centre will remain on Dwyer Hill Road.

A new entrance for employees will be created off Dwyer Hill Road, south of Franktown Road, Le Bouthillier said.

In addition, National Defence noted it has completed a hydrogeology assessment to look at potential impacts of the construction on local water tables, including nearby residential well water.

“We will also offer to carry out baseline well water tests at nearby properties before construction begins,” Le Bouthillier said. “This will allow us to compare baseline water values to future water test results if any issues or concerns arise during construction.”

The Liberal government quietly awarded the first contract for the work on the Dwyer Hill installation four months ago, but waited until the week U.S. President Joe Biden visited Ottawa before making the announcement.

The Liberals approved the $1.4 billion expansion in June 2022 and government signed the first contract Nov. 22, 2022, according to federal government records. Public consultations and environmental studies for the expansion of the installation had been ongoing since spring 2021, according to the federal government’s website. A total of $800,000 has already been spent on the expansion project.

Military officials privately acknowledged the project announcement was delayed until the week of Biden’s arrival in Ottawa so as to send a message to the U.S. government that Canada is focused on increasing military spending.

But Anand’s spokesperson, Daniel Minden, told this newspaper the announcement was aligned with the beginning of initial work at the Dwyer Hill Training Centre. “We will continue to keep Ottawa residents, and Canadians, up to date on important infrastructure projects like this,” he stated.

In 2008, the Conservative government announced that JTF2 would be moved from Dwyer Hill to Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ont. To prepare for that relocation, the government expropriated a 90-hectare family farm in the area.

But by 2018, Canadian military leaders decided that JTF2 needed to be close to the nation’s capital in case of a terrorist attack. In February 2020, the Liberal government announced it was no longer considering moving JTF2 to CFB Trenton.

Defence Watch

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