Our $16.7 billion spending on the war on terror had ended up in some interesting hands — and hasn’t necessarily reduced the threat of terrorism.
Defence
What has the war on terror cost taxpayers, and did they get value for money?
Spending on the war on terror is higher now than at the height of 9/11 hysteria. Budget papers show the Howard, Rudd and Gillard governments have spent more than $15 billion on the war since 2001.
Barker: has ANZUS passed its use by date?
Would abandoning the ANZUS treaty substantially affect Australia’s strategic circumstances?, asks Geoffrey Barker.
Crikey Says: Welcome to war on the internet
The information wars are underway, yet most of us toil away on the web, blissfully unaware of the artillery fire lighting up the distant horizon.
Labor row looms over life after Bushmaster
While the Bushmaster vehicle has been an outstanding success, its manufacturer is struggling to compete for other defence transport contracts.
Abbott’s real Afghan problem: his minister
The real Afghanistan problem for Tony Abbott lies with his Defence shadow, and a crumbling consensus on what we should be doing in Afghanistan.
New parliament, old hypocrisy
A little hypocrisy has always gone a long way in politics but in a hung Parliament it seems more important than ever.
Time for Defence to come clean on the JSF debacle
A new report on the JSF Joint Strike Fighter project was released in US Congress today, and it is a shocker: the cost has shot up 60-90% per jet, and they are running at least two-and-a-half years late. Time for our own government to admit it’s a flop, says Ben Sandilands.
Don’t spread Combet too thin on Defence
Minister Greg Combet is very competent but surely there are limits to even his talents, time and attention? asks the Australian Defence Association’s Neil James.
Joint Strike Fighter shambles continue
Enormous problems with Australia’s multibillion dollar commitment to the Joint Strike Fighter project have emerged from an audit review just delivered to the US Congress.
Expensive, unproven: meet the F-35 ‘Madoff’
If ignorance is bliss, the people who advised Australia’s defence minister, John Faulkner, on the status of the F-35 program, must be quite happy, writes Eric L. Palmer.
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.
Birmingham: We need the killing machines
If everything the Government says about the rise of China is true, the question is not whether we can afford this White Paper, but whether it goes far enough, argues John Birmingham.
Henderson: Australia should not kowtow to China on defence
Australia should project power as far as possible; our defence policy should not be determined by China’s wishes, writes Gerard Henderson.
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.
Why are we fighting in Afghanistan?
So we are going to send another 450 young Australians to fight in Afghanistan. We’d better be very sure it is worth putting our people in harm’s way, writes Brian Walters.
Defence blueprint could fuel arms race
Analysts are warning that Rudd’s new defence white-paper could encourage other countries in the region to stockpile weapons.
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.
Defence is simply too big for Nick Warner
Of course Nick Warner is the wrong man for the job of Secretary of the Defence Department. That’s because the job is beyond any single individual, and certainly beyond any single Minister, writes Bernard Keane.
Fitzgibbon affair points to bureaucrats out of control
There are a number of issues in play in the revelation that Defence has been spying on its own minister. All bear teasing out, writes Bernard Keane.
DMO to be cut loose from Defence Department?
Alarm bells rang across Canberra’s defence establishment this morning over the official report calling for the Defence Material Organisation to be cut loose from the Defence Department, writes Alex Mitchell.
Five-hour delay for wounded Australians
The wounding of two ADF personnel has again raised the question of the support Australian forces are providing for personnel conducting operations around Tarin Kowt, writes Bernard Keane.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Comments, corrections, clarifications, and c*ckups
Australian troops in Iraq … the public service … Andrew Wilkie and the Greens … Fairfax and windmills … ABARE …
Richard Farmer’s political bite-sized meaty chunks
Meaty snippets from the home of government plus the daily reality check and the pick of other people’s political coverage. Richard Farmer writes.
