“…of course full debate should be encouraged, there should be frankness and transparency about our progress in Afghanistan.”
Australian defence force
Gillard wants answers on WikiLeaks’ Australian troop info
Julia Gillard has ordered the Defence Department to establish a taskforce to examine the impact of the Wikileaks Afghan War Diary on the Australian Defence Force, writes Luke Miller.
Australian forces in Wikileaks’ Afghan War Diary
Whistleblower website Wikileaks recently released its explosive Afghan War Diary. Australian forces appear throughout it, mostly under the code AUS RTF, writes Luke Miller.
Why we want out of Afghanistan
Most Australians want us out of the Afghanistan conflict. It doesn’t matter how old they are, how they vote, or how much they earn, says the Essential Research results.
Time to bring the troops home?
Daily Media Wrap: The government’s resolve to stay in the war in Afghanistan has again been called into question following the grim news yesterday that another three Australian soldiers have been killed.
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.
Australia being misled about the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter project is bleeding money, and for no good reason. Defence blogger Eric L. Palmer weighs in.
Weekend warriors fear Defence razor gang
Continued cuts to the Defence budget will impact on the ability of the Army Reserve to train and retain soldiers, reservists have told Crikey. Tom Cowie goes behind the lines.
Defending the indefensible: overspending and government stuff-ups
Australia’s Defence Department spends $26 billion and the shambolic waste and mismanagement in that department is worse than perhaps any other. Ben Eltham investigates the mistakes.
Chopper choices? Another tough defence decision
How do we best equip Australia to defend itself and maintain defence credibility and superiority? The choice of an anti-submarine warfare helicopter platform for the RAN is an interesting third option, writes Ben Sandilands.
Let them tweet! ADF families want soldiers to get connected
The US military has taken a bold step in telling its two million personnel they’re trusted to blog, poke, tweet and upload YouTube clips at work. The Australian military is finally catching up, writes Harley Dennett in Washington DC.
Politicians haven’t done homework on Joint Strike Fighters
Australia’s national security committee may make an approval on the Joint Strike Fighter project today. But what do they have to base a sound purchase decision on? Nothing, says Eric Palmer.
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.
What is our military hiding from the media?
A Dateline journo reporting on the war in Afghanistan, John Martinkus, was repeatedly denied access to Australian military or embraced so whole heartedly that no just reporting could occur. What is the ADF trying to hide?
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: Pay cuts in the Army Reserve?
Crikey’s tipsters today send in word on the street about Anna Bligh’s unfortunate school evacuation moment, KPMG’s nuclear-powered report and pay cuts in the defence forces.
War no longer a battle of the sexes
After Greg Combet’s comments about allowing women on the front line, the defence force should prepare itself for a “seismic shift”. War will no longer be secret men’s business, writes Rebecca Wilson.
East Timor: billions given but poverty remains
Billions spent on East Timor’s U.N nation building effort may have helped preserve the peace, but most of the money went to international security forces, not to the Timorese economy or its people.
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.
Australia’s coastline defence: one submarine
Don’t tell Indonesia: the Australian Navy has just one of six Collins Craft subs left in service.
White Paper budget increase high enough to induce nose bleeds
Rudd’s Defence White Paper will rely on the rise of China to fund our defence against the, erm, rise of China.
Defence spending boosted to 20-year high
Despite the economic downturn, the Australian armed forces’ budget is expected to rise to almost $24 billion this year, the highest level in 20 years.
Joel Fitzgibbon vs the mysterious men and women of the Australian Defence Force
Deep in the secret bowels of the Defence Department…
Mission to Afghanistan: keeping the least worst warlord in power
Overwhelming military power coupled with a vague confidence in our benevolence doesn’t usually end up so well, writes Jeff Sparrow.
