Writer
Cameron Leckie
Cameron Leckie served as an officer in the Australian Army for 24 years. An agricultural engineer, he is currently a PhD candidate.
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A price paid in blood: Australia secretly deploys to another Middle East war
Will Australia involve itself in another war in the Middle East? One that promises to be far more destructive and damaging to Australia than our previous misadventures. Continue reading »
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Ukraine: Taking leave of our senses
My first article published here at Pearls and Irritations, titled Built on a tower of lies, described how positive feedback loops have created at a societal level an enormous tower of lies that guide public discourse. I further warned that if we failed to dismantle this tower the consequences would be traumatic. Unfortunately, the horrifically Continue reading »
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Is Australia currently at war?
Historically, it used to be clear when one country was at war with another. Not so today. Indeed, that is one of the Department of Defence’s objections to war powers reform, where it stated in its submission to the Armed Overseas Conflict Inquiry that “the growth of grey-zone activities and offensive operations in the space Continue reading »
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The United States is in decline, with AUKUS, so too is Australia
It is all but finalised. Australia has handcuffed itself, essentially in perpetuity, to the United States. As a result, Australia’s future is inextricably intertwined with the future of the United States. Continue reading »
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Ukraine: The ignominious unravelling of the West has begun
Western powers appear to have no viable strategy to bring the Ukraine war to an end. The best they can do is keep Ukraine on life support. But, as Sun Tzu put it, tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat. Continue reading »
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An open letter on Australia training Ukrainian Troops
An open letter to Prime Minister Albanese, Defence Minister Marles and Foreign Minister Wong on Australia’s decision to train Ukrainian troops. Continue reading »
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The Defence Strategic Review: Three dangerous assumptions underlying our defence planning
To navigate the rapidly changing international system, we must replace three dangerous assumptions underpinning Australia’s defence planning. Continue reading »
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The Defence Strategic Review and the decline of the US led western world
It is time to take the path less travelled. The Defence Strategic Review must recommend an independent defence and foreign policy if Australia is to successfully navigate the emergence of a multi-polar world. Continue reading »
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Ukraine: The demise of the West
The more events proved them to be wrong, the stronger their defences became against admitting this to be the case’ – Norman Dixon (On the Psychology of Military Incompetence) Continue reading »
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The Ukraine – a decisive transfer of the balance of power from west to east
The 2022 Russo-Ukraine is also a proxy war between Russia and the Western world. We should be prepared for a decisive transfer of the balance of power from West to East…The bulk of the fighting is in the Donbas where there are few or no Western journalists. Continue reading »
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Ukraine crisis is a pivotal moment in history — for the US, not Russia
While the media focus on the Russian ‘invasion’ narrative, we are actually witnessing the end to Washington’s unipolar moment. Continue reading »
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Why Australia’s electric vehicle strategy is going nowhere
The soaring cost of raw materials for batteries and production challenges mean rising prices will push electric vehicles out of the reach of most Australians for many years. Continue reading »
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AUKUS alliance highlights US decline and Australian humiliation
By joining Australia and the UK in the AUKUS agreement, the US has highlighted its decline. And if that decline continues, Australia will find itself increasingly isolated. Continue reading »
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Shock and Awful – The Collapse of the Empire
We are witnessing the accelerating collapse of the United States’ imperial system. Yet despite the potentially awful consequences Australia remains wilfully blind. Continue reading »
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Australia’s alliance with the United States: passed its use by date
Australia’s alliance with the United States has become an unthinking custom and practice. It has already cost us dearly in both blood and treasure with little to show for it. It is time to look at the alternatives. Continue reading »
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ASPI: The Tabloid Think Tank
Is it true? Or did you hear it from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute? Continue reading »
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Australia is playing in the international greyzone: it is time to get out of our unthinking alliance with the US
Unbeknownst to most of the population, Australia is a willing player in a global game of Risk. The risks are great, the rewards less so. We do not need to play this game. Continue reading »
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Government refuses to address Australia’s future liquid fuel risks
$90 billion for submarines that may never be used in conflict. Only $200 million for Future Fuels that every Australian depends upon every day. There is something seriously awry with the Government’s priorities. Continue reading »
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And then there were three – Australia’s dwindling oil exports
With a growing dependence on imports, Australia will become more vulnerable to disruptions to supply. It will not be easy to quantify the disadvantages. And it will be extremely difficult for governments to decide what level of insurance against disruption would be appropriate. Continue reading »
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Electric Vehicles, A Partial Solution At Best
Claims have been made that Electric Vehicles can largely replace oil fuelled vehicles. These claims overlook critical factors that indicate that Electric Vehicles are a partial solution at best to Australia’s liquid fuel predicament. Continue reading »
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Oil, our sword of Damocles
Eighty percent of global oil production needs to be replaced by 2040 to meet projected demand. It is increasingly likely, particularly post COVID, that much of this oil production will not be replaced. There is an urgent and existential need to structurally reduce Australia’s oil dependence. Continue reading »
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The opportunity cost of the new cold war.
Australia, perhaps unwittingly and with very little in the way of public debate, has unnecessarily involved itself in a new cold war between the United States and its allies on one side and Russia and China on the other. Continue reading »
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Avoiding a century of humiliation for ourselves.
The “Century of Humiliation” is indelibly imprinted in the psyche of modern China. Australia’s current position towards China is inviting our own century of humiliation as we ratchet up tensions alongside a United States whose hegemonic power is rapidly collapsing. Continue reading »
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CAMERON LECKIE. Fear mongering by a think tank funded by arms manufacturers.
Having a strategic policy think tank co-funded by some of the world’s largest arms manufacturers is inconsistent with providing sound policy advice that is in the broader national interest. Peter Jennings recent Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) Strategist article is a desperate attempt to wrangle more taxpayer’s dollars for unnecessary defence expenditure. Continue reading »
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CAMERON LECKIE. False Assumptions a Threat to National Security
Crucial assumptions underpinning Australia’s defence posture have now been proven false. The Australian Defence Force is also becoming too expensive to operate and changes are required in the interest of national security. Continue reading »
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CAMERON LECKIE. Catabolic Collapse: Round 2
COVID-19 is far from being the end of the world, but it does signify the start of the second cycle of a process known as catabolic collapse. Continue reading »
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CAMERON LECKIE. The Real China – Russia Threat
The real threat posed by China and Russia to the Western world is not a military one. Continue reading »
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CAMERON LECKIE. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute is mired in the past.
The latest fearmongering by ASPI on the military threat posed by the Russia – China partnership is not helpful to either our future security or prosperity. Continue reading »
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CAMERON LECKIE. The Australian Mainstream Media: Propagandists on Chemical Weapons
One of the most effective tools of the propagandist is the power of leaving out. Continue reading »
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CAMERON LECKIE. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons: Corrupted!
Two whistle-blowers from the world’s chemical weapon watchdog raise serious concerns about the impartiality of the OPCW. The whistle-blowers indicate that the findings of the OPCWs report into the alleged 2018 Douma chemical weapons incident do not align with the evidence/analysis compiled by the investigation team. The Australian Government should seek a formal investigation into Continue reading »
