Richard Farmer’s Chunky Bits, Item 15, yesterday, makes a good point in principle about the need to reconstruct the Department of Defence in detail, writes Neil James, executive director, Australia Defence Association.
Australian Armed Forces
Defence: New force protection measures, and not before time
The Budget brought new Defence Force initiatives as a result of the Force Protection Review. Not before time, says defence analyst Mark Thomson.
Karzai and McCrystal visit Uruzgan: nobody cares
Afghan President Hamid Karzai and ISAF Commander General Stanley McChrystal met with Australian troops in Afghanistan over the weekend — not that Australian media noticed writes James Brown.
Beating the hypersonic heat barrier: all weapons, no quick flights
New ways of beating the heat barrier to sustained hypersonic flight are being researched in Queensland. But don’t get excited about two hours flights to London because the main interest in the technology comes from the military, explains Ben Sandilands.
Why question defence force loyalty because of religion?
Our troops have a job to do. We should allow them to do it and not waste their or our own time with moronic speculations based on isolated incidents.
Admiral Barrie: Let’s talk conscription
As Australia’s population ages, our armed forces will struggle more and more to find willing recruits. So why not a few unwilling ones? suggests former ADF chief Admiral Chris Barrie.
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours: The McPherson LNP preselection candidates revealed
The blog post that got a Courier-Mail subbie sacked, no news probably isn’t good news for Ian Macfarlane, customs staff don’t land on Free Parking, and a tasty tip-off on the McPherson LNP preselection candidates.
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours: SBS management are offside
Why is SBS eroding staff conditions while bragging about the millions of ad dollars generated by the World Cup? asks a Crikey tipster. Plus middle-aged army reservists on the frontlines and why it’s not what you know, but who in the WA ALP.
Former senior RAAF officers slam Australia’s defence plan
Three retired senior RAAF officers have published a review of the culture of learned failure in the administration of defence in Australia and the US, claiming Australia’s defence force will become largely irrelevant within decades.
Military court brought down by a balls up
Australia’s top military court has been ruled constitutionally invalid, leaving 170 cases in question and the military justice system in disarray — and it was all brought down over a pair of testicles.
Navy wishes it could turn back time over Myer stunt?
Sailors are not to be treated as sexual objects — except, it seems, when male sailors can be officially pimped out to promote Myer’s latest summer swimwear range.
