Since World War II, almost all independent states in South-East Asia have been shaped by successful anti-colonialist movements. Australia stands alone in the region, marked by a dominant political culture fixated in a colonial mind-set.
Category: Defence
-
The French have much to be furious about
The Australian submarine contract was integral to France sustaining its defence sovereignty beyond Europe. Now the French feel betrayed by the contract’s cancellation and how badly it was mishandled by the Australians.
-
Brian Toohey: Australia’s nuclear submarine deal won’t make us any safer
Despite what some commentators say, China does not pose a nuclear threat to Australia: its submarines and other nuclear weapons systems are much inferior to those of the US.
-
In defence of Australia’s submarine decision
Swapping the expensive French conventionally powered submarines for nuclear submarines was the right decision, and it does not have to come at a cost to Australia’s independence.
-
Kim Carr: We need answers on both subs deals
Now the government’s scrapped its $90 billion contract with France to build diesel submarines, many unanswered questions about the new deal to acquire uncosted nuclear boats appear connected to the murky politics of the old one.
-
A people’s inquiry about the cost of the US alliance
Independent Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) is currently facilitating a people’s inquiry exploring the costs and consequences of the US alliance and US-led wars and exploring the alternatives. (more…)
-
AUKUS and submarines: Just what are we doing?
There has been so much commentary on the new AUKUS arrangements, especially the cancellation of the long-running submarine contract with the French. It’s timely to strip back all the hype and examine more closely what it all means.
-
Lest we forget: Lessons for AUKUS from the Anglo-German naval race
In the shadow of AUKUS, there are many echoes of debates from the era of the Anglo-German naval race, 1900 to 1914. Are there any lessons for us?
-
AUKUS: NZ happy to be left out of new alliance to protect its China trade
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she wasn’t approached about joining the new AUKUS agreement and nor would she expect to be. But to be left in the dark by ANZAC mates about AUKUS is a dose of cold reality for NZ.
-
AUKUS: We are moving fast from being a country with the self-respect of true independence.
The main British objective under their appalling political leadership seems to be to find something meaningful to do after the Brexit debacle… Joe Biden could not even remember Scott Morrison’s name. (more…)
-
AUKUS: How to make friends and influence neighbours the Australian way
First, a couple of ministers pop in on their way elsewhere. They pronounce warm relationships. A swap of bromides, nice photos, some pressies of vaccines to save lives and military gear to end them. Then hey ho, it’s off to the big show.
-
Without a clear strategy, Australia will not have a submarine navy. Part 2
We should be pleased to see the previous submarine contract cancelled, but not without a clear replacement program in place.
-
Why the US-led AUKUS security pact leaves Australia exposed
Signing on to a confrontational and provocative strategy to contain China exposes Australians to greater economic and security dangers — and reflects a further loss of independence for Australia.
-
Distracted by the submarine bauble, Labor and the media miss the point
Australia is about to become home to American bases, and potentially a nuclear target, and this seems to have escaped the attention of the Opposition and the media. (more…)
-
Submarines. Gross mismanagement, confusion and waste: Part 1
Australia’s submarines deal is a lesson in how to offend one country after another: Japan, Germany and now France. (more…)
-
AUKUS: A new acronym, an old story
Imagine this. A $US65 billion contract to build submarines. A dollar value more than the GDP of Croatia and 135 other countries. An agreement to have one of Australia’s allies to build those instruments of war torn up five years into the deal.
-
Review: The shock, horror and rage of Mark Willacy’s Rogue Forces
Respected journalist Mark Willacy’s Rogue Forces is imperative reading for its detonating exposé of Australian SAS war crimes in Afghanistan and the systematic cover-ups at varying levels of the Australian Defence Force operations.
-
Crying wolf: How to stop talk of war with China
How might it be possible to stop talk of war with China? Are our civil and military leaders, and their loyal press simply “crying wolf”? Or is there a real and present threat that might justify war talk?
-
How deep was the Saudi government’s involvement in 9/11?
The FBI is still coy on the Saudi government’s involvement in the 9/11 terrorist attacks but there’s enough in its latest document release to suggest that Saudi government officials assisted with hijacker logistics. (more…)
-
AUKUS ruffles Australia-France-South-East Asia relations
In one of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s first foreign policy speeches, he boldy asserted that regarding the struggle between the US and China for regional dominance, “Australia doesn’t have to choose”. (more…)
-
With AUKUS, Australian nationhood is dead in the water
Joe Biden’s new “pal”, the “uh, fella down under” has dramatically outdone all previous attempts to sabotage Australia becoming a real nation state.
-
Scott Morrison’s giant nuclear election ploy that will put us in the front line against China
Australia’s decision to join with the United States and the United Kingdom to build Australian long-range nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs) has little to do with the defence of Australia.
-
The AUKUS pact: ‘If you want peace, prepare for war’
Australia’s nuclear-power submarines will greatly enhance Australia’s ability to provide for its own self-reliant defence. Nevertheless, the new strategic approach confronts us with a number of almighty challenges.
-
Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines will risk opening a Pandora’s box of proliferation
The AUKUS decision to equip Australia with SSNs not only is a fool’s errand but also could pose a grave threat to regional and international security.
-
Protracted timeline shows the folly of Australia’s nuclear submarine deal
Buying ludicrously expensive nuclear submarines upsets our neighbours, inflates the defence spending budget, unbalances our military forces and does nothing to address the bigger security threat of global warming and species extinction.
-
Anxious white men look to bonds of ‘blood and history’ in AUKUS
Apprehensive of loss, the leaders of white men’s countries are invoking pride of race to spruik the AUKUS alliance to secure their primacy of place over China in a fast-changing world.
-
AUKUS security pact: a story of recklessness and delusion
The AUKUS security pact is another provocative alliance that can only end in blood and tears. And for no good reason other than a nostalgic addiction to imperial power.
-
The deputy sheriff rides again with AUKUS
The AUKUS deal will cost us a lot of money, a substantial loss of sovereignty, a lowering of our reputation in the world and the potential to get dragged into a war we should avoid. But we will get our tummy tickled by our great white fathers.
-
Mike Scrafton: Nuclear-powered submarines are just bad defence policy
Australian governments are now certain to be bedevilled by submarines for generations. (more…)
-
The ‘forever submarines’ go nuclear
The nuclear submarine deal intensifies Australia’s military cooperation with the US. It will be up to our regional neighbours to decide whether, as Scott Morrison says, the deal will help and not hinder them. (more…)