Australian defence force


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.

The last, no really, word on Wilfred Burchett

The issue of Wilfred Burchett is not merely a matter of political differences, it instead involves defining the boundary between lawful dissent and treachery, writes Neil James.

Beware of the stinky Norwegian Ludefisk, Mr Combet

Why does Combets believe criticism of the high risk F-35 program is “misguided and unfounded”? asks Eric L Palmer.

F-35: Untested, two years late and $15 billion more

Most of what the public has been hearing from Defence in relation to the F-35 is nothing more than marketing spin, writes Eric L Palmer.

The blue-sky marketing madness of the F-35

Australia and the Department of Spendthrift Defence, can’t afford this gold plated and unproven wonder, writes Eric L Palmer.

Stealth, the big con

The Defence establishment wants your hard earned tax dollars, and they will do anything to sustain the lifestyle they have become so accustomed to, writes Eric L. Palmer.

Defence is hush-hush about future fighter jet noise

The Defence community isn’t being honest about the F-35 to the Australian public, writes Eric L Palmer.

What Defence didn’t tell about the Joint Strike Fighter

Aircraft range and payload matter — the greater these are, the better, and the same goes for missiles, writes Peter Goon.

Reporting on Afghanistan: media v the military

The Australian military’s intolerance of independent reporting reflects a deeper anxiety that has its origins in the media management challenges posed by a long war, writes Kevin Foster.

Afghan dog pen demeans us and emboldens the insurgents

Joel Fitzgibbon should apologise for this breach of human rights by Australian soldiers, writes Keysar Trad.

Black Hawk down: Cowboys at the controls

The official report into the Black Hawk helicopter crash into the deck of HMAS Kanimbla in November 2006 spotlights a culture of slack safety standards in the Australian Army’s 171st Aviation Squadron, writes Alex Mitchell.

Tips and rumours

The rumour out Bennelong way is that the Exclusive Brethren have given their members special permission to vote at this election. Might at the very least help John Howard’s salvation locally. In contrast to the experiences of other ex-pats regarding absentee voting, the High Commission in Wellington New Zealand were well prepared and I voted […]

How to fix Australia’s air defence debacle

The big question which 4 Corners didn’t have time to address in last night’s superb feature on Australia’s air defence mess is how to repair the damage. The good news is that this has been studied carefully by a good number of very knowledgable people, writes Dr Carlo Kopp.

APEC: Sydney, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet…

We’re still a month away from the APEC summit, but disgruntled Sydney residents have so far tolerated the noise of Black Hawks passing over the city, had their Lord Mayor encourage everyone pack emergency ‘go-bags’ complete with radios and energy bars and had their hospital services cut back.

Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Comments, corrections, clarifications and c*ck-ups

How to destroy the Australian Defence Force … reflecting myth not fact on defence spending … the ludicrous surgeons’ monopoly … the elephant in the free trade room … GetUp! and go jump …

In Maningrida, fear is the real emergency

In the remote township of Maningrida in central Arnhem land the lack of communication from the federal government over its national emergency plan has led to unnecessary instability and fear and may well ensure the plan’s intended positive results become unachievable, writes Bill Fogarty.