Few peoples define themselves through their military history more stridently than Australians. The truth, though, is that our military history primarily is one of imperial subservience, self-delusion and denial. (more…)
Category: Defence
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Can someone in government explain why we are buying tanks?
When did US generals become arbiters of Australia’s strategic policy like it’s some banana republic. (more…)
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Australian Defence policy is a shambles and an election issue
For nearly a decade Coalition governments have overseen defence policy. Now Defence policy is in need of serious reform. (more…)
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AUKUS exposes Australia’s incoherent defence policy
Environmentally, the submarine acquisition could be a disaster. Where in Australia are the submarines to be based? Could their home ports become contaminated? Where do we dispose of their reactors at the end-of-service life? (more…)
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An unreliable buddy: our US security blanket will fray if Trump returns
The US alliance is defended as maintaining a rules-based international order, to Australia’s benefit. Yet Trump’s return may see a rapid retreat.
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Herald indulges UK Foreign Secretary’s demented remarks on China
Australia’s foreign and defence ministers are giving respectability to Britain’s lunge for old-time glory. (more…)
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A mutual suicide pact: Australia’s undeclared nuclear weapons strategy
As the world’s nuclear arsenals build even more killing power, the need for Australia to abandon this perilous defence arrangement only increases. (more…)
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Australia’s nuclear submarine deal: very high risk for no reward
Although it will be Australia’s biggest military purchase, the submarine deal is mired in strategic uncertainties.
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History repeats: Billy Hughes on Japan and now Scott Morrison on China
Our leaders are uneducated on history. They’re repeating mistakes that had catastrophic consequences for Australia in the Pacific in the 20th century. (more…)
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Through US base at Pine Gap, Australia is complicit in US war crimes
As Australia locks itself into the US military machine, we increase the risks of retaliatory attacks on Pine Gap in the Northern Territory.
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More than an acronym: AUKUS must be an election issue in 2022
When the nuclear-powered submarines are delivered they will be expensive white elephants. The project will distort defence policy for a generation.
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In spying on East Timorese, Australia forgets its neighbour’s sacrifices
Australian forgetfulness of the wartime friendship and suffering of the Timorese people was crowned in 2004 by a grubby act of government greed.
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How to avoid security crises in Ukraine and Taiwan
To peacefully resolve the brewing crises over Ukraine and Taiwan the major powers will need to consider the strategic perspectives of the other side.
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Government chooses ‘jobs and growth’ over peace with defence spending
Militarisation has become a means of promoting economic welfare, and the ‘defence industry hub’ in Geelong is just the latest such project.
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Who is the real winner from AUKUS? It’s not Australia
Britain is the greatest beneficiary of the nuclear submarine deal for an array of reasons – the gains for the US are minor while the benefits for Australia are debatable.
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Royal commission will let politicians avoid blame for futile wars
The terms of reference for the defence suicide royal commission ignore the direct cause of the issues that affect veterans — war.
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Where Australian fools rushed in: the Afghan war was always unwinnable
America’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, where it had aimed to bolster international security, will create a new breeding ground for terrorism.
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Dutton leads us down a dangerous pre-World War I path
Peter Dutton’s support for the US over China risks putting wind beneath the wings of Washington’s hawks. We have been here many times before. (more…)
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Submarine sideshow: Does Australia even need a military?
There are many potential benefits to Australia not having any submarines — it should even consider it needs a military at all.
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Real reasons for submarine bid fiasco must come to the surface
The nuclear sleight-of-hand, the budgeted billions and the diplomatic debacle warrant deep examination — it’s time to bring it all out in to the open.
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Dangerous liaisons: Pine Gap (and the Alice) as nuclear target, then and now. Part 4
Amazingly, it is only four decades since it was believed that a nuclear strike on Pine Gap would do little damage to Alice Springs. No longer.
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In too deep: the risks behind Australia’s nuclear submarine deal
The controversial AUKUS deal has potentially dangerous implications for a global non-proliferation regime already facing an array of challenges.
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Dangerous liaisons: Pine Gap is key to America’s nuclear war apparatus. Part 3
The most egregious example of our assistance to US missions could be terminated without threatening genuine US strategic interests, or the alliance.
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Dangerous liaisons: Australia’s involvement in nuclear war. Part 2
While never spelled out by our government, the nuclear deterrence pact means that Australia would ask the US to commit genocide in its defence.
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Paul Keating on Australia’s national interest, Taiwan, and the absurdity of war
Australia is still trying to find its place in Asia, Paul Keating says, which explains why we’re so preoccupied with Taiwan and China.
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Dangerous liaisons: America’s huge, little-known military footprint in Australia. Part 1
More than ever, Australia is a suitable piece of real estate for the US espionage and war-gaming. A detailed analysis by Richard Tanter. (more…)
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Reflections for Remembrance Day: the right to question is incontestable
The first Anzacs challenged the reasons for war, so the federal education minister’s insistence that Anzac Day cannot be ‘contested’ at school is political pantomime. (more…)
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Australian War Memorial expansion is a disgrace beyond words
Words matter, and the way the Australian War Memorial’s spruikers talk about its expansion and displays speaks volumes.
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America’s never-ending war on the world
Driven by its military-industrial complex the United States depends on continual war. As the War on Terrorism peters out a new enemy is invented — China.
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The ‘independent’ think tank that writes its own history!
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s claims of fearless independence ring hollow as foreign governments and corporate entities shower it with money. (more…)