The timing of the accusations against WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange are curious, to say the least, even if one hesitates short of any conspiracy line.
Afghanistan war
Forget the Taliban. Obama should be worried about the Democrats
The mid-term election is going to be very bad for the Democrats, with one or both houses lost, writes Michael Wolff of Newser.com.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: WikiLeaks and the “barbarism that is war”
Crikey readers weigh in on the debate surrounding WikiLeaks and the war in Afghanistan.
Whatever their motivation, WikiLeaks undermine international humanitarian law
The vast bulk of material recently released by WikiLeaks would not be new in nature to those who keep up with the Afghanistan War or the difficulties and perennial moral quandaries of fighting wars generally, writes Neil James, executive director, Australia Defence Association
Australian forces remain in Afghanistan. Why no WikiLeaks coverage?
Australia is a party to the Afghanistan war and sustains — and causes — casualties. So why the lack of interest from the local media?
Separating politics and war
Jeff Sparrow (“Should politicians attend military funerals”) seems to be catching up with arguments advanced by the Australia Defence Association for many years, writes Neil James, executive director, Australia Defence Association.
The war in Afghanistan remains out of the sight out of mind
Most Australians now oppose the conflict in Afghanistan. Yet, perversely, its very unpopularity has led to less rather than more public debate about the war.
Political snippets: Richard Farmer’s chunky bits
An hour long and shown early. There’s very little point in this Sunday night’s election debate really. Being shown four weeks before polling day, after a very unexciting first week of campaigning, interest will not be high. Unless someone makes an absolute howler — and that’s unlikely with two experienced television performers — the impact on voting is going […]
Crikey Says: Our grief is not diminished, so let’s keep asking questions of this war
Most people want out. Of Afghanistan, that is. But why do we only discuss the war in depth when Australians die?
Digger’s wife: our troops believe in the Afghanistan cause
Three more Australian defence personnel are dead in Afghanistan, so how high a price are we willing to pay? A Digger’s wife responds — those serving, she says, believe in the cause.
Ill-informed pollies and journalists undermine our war efforts
Reactions to the recent combat deaths of two Australian Diggers in Afghanistan again demonstrate serious problems in how we decide to initiate, fight and end our wars, says Australia Defence Association head Neil James.
Terror white paper: shiny new language, same old laws
The counter-terrorism white paper issued today is long overdue and foreshadows a welcome shift in discourse on terrorism, writes Greens Senator Scott Ludlam.
Pakistan’s martyrs and the image problems of suicide bombers
How long can we delude ourselves that doing this will improve the lives of ordinary Pakistanis when we prop up those who oppress them?, asks Benjamin Gilmour.
Guy Rundle: Afghanistan has descended into a Pulp Fiction mess
Afghanistan is a Tarantino war — pointless, ill-thought, derivative, and organised around senseless violence.
Former Bagram detainee speaks out
An Afghan farmer who was detained by US forces at Bagram prison shares his experiences and explains why the US troops are still failing to win the locals’ hearts and minds.
Olympics over, let’s consider the mess we’re making in Afghanistan
Regardless of having such powerful allies as the US and UK Karzai’s Kabul cabinet seems to hold little sway outside the capital, writes Irfan Yusuf.
Overstretched ADF can’t supply backup to Tarin Kowt
Joel Fitzgibbon’s admission that there is no immediate solution to the problem of insufficient helicopters at Tarin Kowt to evacuate injured Australian or allied personnel is deeply alarming, writes Bernard Keane.
Reality check: Digger’s death v Can-crushing bar maid
News of the death of another Australian soldier in Afghanistan broke too late for stories about it to make the top five lists of most Australian media websites this morning but it was featuring prominently everywhere so it should be on the lists tomorrow, writes Richard Farmer.
Historically Hung Over: The Crikey Guide To The 2010 Federal Election
