It wasn’t always like this. For a brief moment Australia stood apart. (more…)
Category: Defence
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The shrinking US Navy submarine force – Implications for AUKUS Pillar 1 (Part 1)
The US Navy’s attack submarine force had been predicted to reduce to 49 in 2030. (more…)
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Military experts warn of climate wars
“Accelerating climate disruption is the greatest threat to the human future: our safety and well-being, our homes and communities, and how and where we live and work,” a group of leading Australian military and security experts says. (more…)
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If you really want some subs – try this
While there is no doubt that our acquisition of nuclear subs from the US will either be massively delayed and over budget or binned on some Trumpian whim, what’s worse is that we may never get our multi-billion dollar deposit back if that occurs. (more…)
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Marking September 2: Lest we forget
This week marks 80 years since the end of World War II. While Europe celebrated the end of the war in May, hostilities dragged on for several months in the Far East until Emperor Hirohito announced the surrender of Japan on 15 August 1945 and this declaration was formalised on 2 September. (more…)
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Chasing a chimera: The political dream of AUKUS that consumes reality
For the sake of taxpayers, let’s hope that the Audit Office is inspecting the AUKUS books closely. (more…)
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For 35 years after Vietnam, we had a self-reliant defence policy. We need it again
The US is almost always at war, not in defence of values and democracy but in its “manifest destiny” as the world hegemon. (more…)
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Silver foxholes: A moral argument for older soldiers
The Australian Defence Force’s recruitment efforts are targeted primarily at teenagers and young adults. (more…)
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Germany’s arms embargo on Israel isn’t betrayal, it’s a moral reckoning
The arming of Israel now, so that it can carry out its plan to take control of Gaza and carry out ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity in the territory, is one of the most antisemitic and anti-Israeli measures imaginable. (more…)
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The British experience with nuclear-powered submarines: Lessons for Australia
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Layered perversion of Australia’s defence policy
An amazing thing has happened. Our taxpayer-funded think-tank Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) has commissioned analysis by Robert Macklin which shows that the public debate on Australia’s defence has been biased. (more…)
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Hiroshima anniversary – RAAF flying boat vs atom bomb
In World War II, did Aussie airmen in slow old flying boats do more to stop Japan than America’s atomic bombs – and leave a lesson for today? (more…)
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US Senate Dems vote to block arms sales to Israel – the tide is turning, says Bernie Sanders
“The American people do not want to spend billions to starve children in Gaza,” said Senator Bernie Sanders. “The Democrats are moving forward on this issue, and I look forward to Republican support in the near future.” (more…)
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US integration of Pacific allies into war plans must be opposed
The United States is increasing its military footprint on Australia and Pacific and Pacific Rim countries as it prepares for war against China. (more…)
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Britain’s back, China’s the target. We’ll likely pay the price again
Britain’s HMS Prince of Wales has docked in Darwin, flanked by other warships and declarations. (more…)
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What about the RAAF in the AUKUS equation?
All the commentary about AUKUS is predicated on some kind of conflict with China over Taiwan. That is foolishness personified. But there is another factor that is even more bewildering. Both sides of the argument appear to have forgotten the existence of the RAAF. (more…)
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Let’s (not) choose sides and fight
It would be harder to stoke homicidal zeal if everyone understood that behind all our hostilities is the simple, though stark, reality that humanity faces climate change and resource depletion. (more…)
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Time for Foreign Minister Wong to put her foot down
In an ideal world, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) should be the government’s principal agency in seeing that relations with other countries best serve Australia’s interests. (more…)
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Despite denials, Australia has exported F-35 parts to Israel
Leaked documents show Canberra has been supplying Israel with the means to maintain F-35 fighter jets so it can continue its genocidal campaign in Gaza, Peter Cronau and Kellie Tranter report. (more…)
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A memo to Albo on nuclear weapons
Sent by People for Nuclear Disarmament and the Human Survival Project
To Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, the Parliamentary Committees on Foreign Affairs and Defence and DFAT.
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Donald Trump and his minions may yet do us a favour in ending AUKUS
The US must be told that we will not be involved in any way and at any time in a war with China over Taiwan. (more…)
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Trump wants us to spend a bomb on defence. We should think twice
While I was on holiday, I had a kind of nightmare: suddenly, every rich country in the world — including us — is vowing to spend many billions more on defence each year. This will cost taxpayers an absolute bomb. Why exactly are we doing this? (more…)
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The Western allies of the US as vassal states
A vassal state is one that retains some autonomy at home but is effectively dominated by another power in its foreign affairs. (more…)
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How spending more on defence harms the nation
Anthony Albanese is taking a battering from ill-informed commentators for thinking Australia can be defended by spending a little over 2% of GDP on its military forces. (more…)
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AUKUS project has worsened Australia’s ties with China
I have argued elsewhere (Asia Sentinel, 24/5/2025) that five factors could throw the US$245 billion AUKUS deal off balance following the recent decision by Washington to review the deal. (more…)
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Why Asia-Pacific should be rooting for Iran
Setting aside any thoughts I may have about theocratic rulers (whether they be in Tel Aviv or Tehran), I am personally glad that Iran was able to hold out against the US-Israeli attacks this month. (more…)
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Iran’s internet blackout left people in the dark. How does a country shut down the internet?
In recent days, Iranians experienced a near-complete internet blackout, with local service providers — including mobile services — repeatedly going offline. Iran’s Government has cited cyber security concerns for ordering the shutdown. (more…)
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Is Albo reverting to compulsive secrecy?
Anthony Albanese is falling back into the sort of bad habits that could bring him down as Labor leader. (more…)
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AUKUS submarines would be obsolete before Australia gets them
Before the drawings have been completed, new detection technology has already made RN SSN AUKUS obsolete. (more…)
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Strategic security partnerships in the region
In reading analyses of how we can develop the seemingly logical argument by Paul Keating and others that Australia should be seeking its security in Asia rather than from Asia, the issue of official and personal contact in building such ties always seems to be neglected. (more…)