US Defense Contractor Posts Job Offering For "Classified Contingency Operations" In Ukraine

A US contractor accidentally revealed a US military specialist deployment in the combat zones in Ukraine via an Job Advertisement on LinkedIn.

Similarly to the Atlantic Council’s report on independence of Eastern European countries, as well as the meeting between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, the posting comes days before the escalation in the Sea of Azov.

Mission Essential is a government contractor, which primarily serves intelligence and military clients. It began as the US government’s leading provider of translation and interpretation services.

Screenshot provided in case the advert times out or is “accidentally” taken down:

The preemptive job advert was posted on November 16th and seeks “linguist candidates who speak Ukrainian to provide foreign language interpretation and translation services to support classified Contingency Operations in support of the U.S. Military in Ukraine.”

The formal place of work is Mykolayiv, Ukraine. The port city is also significant, because that is where the US “logistical” naval facility is currently under construction.

The advert also requires candidates to be able to fit in the local culture and customs, in addition to “the ability to deal inconspicuously with local populace if necessary.” Which simply means that the interpreter needs to be able to hide the fact that he is not a Ukrainian citizen, at least partly.

Unsurprisingly, the individual needs to be able to serve in a combat zone “if necessary,” in addition to being able to “live, work, and travel in harsh environments, to include living and working in temporary facilities as mission dictates.”

Considering repeated claims by the US leadership that the US is not involved in the Ukraine conflict, the vacancy posting is an operational security failure by Mission Essential. Most other vacancies posted by the company are for analysts and various linguistical and project management positions, almost predominantly in different military facilities in the US.

It is quite possible that these specialists would assist US military personnel deployed in or near the “combat zones” in Ukraine – i.e. Eastern Ukraine, and as it was expected since as early as November 16th – the Sea of Azov.

https://southfront.org/us-military-contractor-is-hiring-personnel-to-support-classified-contingency-operations-in-ukraine/

Iraqi Intelligence Arrests Prominent ISIS Commander Who Participated In Attack On Palmyra

On November 30, the Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS) announced that its agents arrested Jamal Khalil Taha Znad Mashhadani, a prominent commander of ISIS who is known by the nom de guerre Abu Hamza al-Kurdi, during a special operation in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad last week. The terrorist commander was reportedly living in Turkey prior to his arrest.

“Al-Kurdi occupied several senior positions in Wilayat Shamal Baghdad and Wilayat Kirkuk, he also played a key role in the commitment of a number of criminal operations which caused the sacrifice of the pure blood of Iraqis during their reign,” the INIS said in an official statement.

According to the INIS, al-Kurdish, who was an intelligence officer in Saddam’s regime, is responsible for the 2016 chemical attack on the Iraqi city of Taza Khurmatu. The terrorist commander also participated in the attack on the ancient Syria city of Palmyra in 2015.

The INIS released a video of al-Kurdi confessions, in which he describes his only meeting with ISIS leader Abu Baker al-Baghdadi. According to al-Kurdi, al-Baghdadi was paranoid and suffered from several health issues, including diabetes.

Earlier this year, the INIS arrested five senior ISIS commanders in a security operation on the Syrian-Iraqi border. Among the captives was Saddam al-Jamal, an infamous commander of the terrorist group who is responsible for several massacres in Syria.

The INIS success in bringing these terrorists to justice will increase the pressure on the remaining ISIS commander who are still at large.

https://southfront.org/iraqi-intelligence-arrests-prominent-isis-commander-who-participated-in-attack-on-palmyra/

James Mattis blasts Putin as ‘slow learner’ and reveals Russia attempted to interfere with midterms

Defense Secretary James Mattis didn’t mince words on Saturday, as he never does, in speaking about Russian interference with American elections. Speaking Fox News anchor Brett Baier at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California, Mattis not only said that Russia attempted to interfere in our 2018 mideterms, but that the U.S. won’t tolerate their interference and will do what it takes to stop them.

“This is a very complex situation because Mr. Putin is clearly a slow learner,” said the former Marine General. “He is not recognizing that what he is doing is actually creating the animosity against his people. He’s not acting in the best interest of the Russian people, and he is actually causing NATO to rearm and to strengthen…the unified stance of all the democracies together.”

“What we are seeing Putin do, with his ripping up of international agreements, violating in the Kerch Strait this last week, a joint statement, agreement between Ukraine and Russia,” he continued. “We are dealing with someone that we simply cannot trust.”

Asked by Baier if the relationship has worsened in the last few years, Mattis said “there is no doubt the relationship has worsened.”

“[Putin] tried again to muck around in our elections this last month, and we’re seeing a continued effort along those lines,” said Mattis.

He said that Russia makes deceitful statements which don’t stick and that they are the ones making the relationship deteriorate.

Baier asked about cyber warfare more generally. “Why did you feel like the U.S. had to go on the offense to battle Russia and China in cyber? has the threat increased significantly?

“I don’t know that the threat is increased, it is continued efforts to try to subvert democratic processes that must be defended.”

Baier pressed for Mattis to say that would include going on the offense.

“We’ll do whatever is necessary to defend them,” said Mattis.

https://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/12/01/james-mattis-blasts-putin-as-slow-learner-and-reveals-russia-attempted-to-interfere-with-midterms