Writer
Richard Tanter
<div dir="ltr"> <div class="gmail_quote"> <div> <div><span style="color: #272727;font-family: NHaasGroteskTXPro55Rg;font-size: medium">Richard Tanter works with the Nautilus Institute, and writes on intelligence and strategic questions. Richard is a former president of the Australian board of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, and was professor of international relations at Kyoto Seika University from 1989-2004. His webpage is at </span><span style="color: #272727;font-family: NHaasGroteskTXPro55Rg;font-size: medium"><a href="https://nautilus.org/network/associates/richard-tanter/publications/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://nautilus.org/network/associates/richard-tanter/publications/</a>. </span></div> <div></div> </div> </div> </div>
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‘AUKUS-plus and the realities of Australia’s involvement in US nuclear proliferation’
US attack submarines operating from Australia could be armed with US nuclear weapons at the stroke of a presidential decision; and US strategic bombers based in Australia could be nuclear-armed, as in fact USAF nuclear safety regulations permit in crisis already. Continue reading »
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Nuclear-capable B-52H Stratofortress bombers: a visual guide to identification
The primary aim of this Nautilus Special Report is to provide robust, authoritative and transparent information for use by governments and their publics in countries that host the B-52H Stratofortress bomber, as to which of the 76 B-52H aircraft in the current (as of mid- 2024) US Air Force active fleet are capable of delivering Continue reading »
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‘They will tell me.’ Malcolm Fraser’s Cold War nuclear heterodoxy and Labor’s willed ignorance today
The United States Government doctrine of neither confirming nor denying the presence or absence of nuclear weapons on board US aircraft has been virtually unchanged in almost 70 years, with a very small number of exceptions. Continue reading »
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WikiLeaks as a resistance to the US or any empire
In all liberal democracies, Australia included, national self-regard resists identification with the harsh implications of reliance on, or celebration of, military force – unless it can be viably represented as defence of freedom, just war, or wars against unspeakable Others. Continue reading »
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Pine Gap implicates Australia as complicit in Israel’s genocide in Gaza
A complaint concerning the Australian Signals Directorate to the Inspector General of Security and Intelligence. Continue reading »
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Mystifying Pine Gap – again
Brian Toohey’s article “Untruths, the CIA, and Whitlam’s dismissal”, (Pearls and Irritations, 14 February 2024), begins by dismissing as ‘astonishing’ a recent ASPI article by former Defence Deputy Secretary Paul Dibb on ‘Kissinger’s role in avoiding nuclear war, and the key part Australia played’ – ‘astonishing because it is riddled with major errors.’ Continue reading »
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Cover up: The Australian Government’s secret list of US bases
What do the governments of other US allies, including Hungary, Norway, the Philippines, and the former puppet government of Afghanistan, possess that Australian governments do not? The answer is a conception of genuine sovereignty, and obligations to transparency that are foreign to Australian governments, particularly the incumbent Albanese government. Continue reading »
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Reclaim the streets – trans day of visibility rally
In the face of the shocking anti-trans and neo-Nazi rally last Saturday in Melbourne, it’s a time for solidarity – visible solidarity with those we love and all who walk with them. Show your support by joining me at 5.30pm Friday, March 31st at the State Library, Melbourne. Let’s reclaim the streets together. Continue reading »
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AUKUS – “These are the horrors”
AUKUS. This is a horror for which I now fear for the lives of my children and their children. Every time a Labor member of parliament or senator puts foot outside their office to appear in public, turns up at a public meeting, we need to ask them: why have you betrayed us? Why have Continue reading »
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AUKUS and the threat of war with China
We are on the verge of an almost irrevocable historical choice to assist United States plans for an existential nuclear threat to China in the event of major conflict between the US and China. Continue reading »
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Prepping for a China war: the new arc of militarisation across northern Australia
In an arc of militarisation across northern Australia, successive Australian governments, in close concert with the United States, have responded to the rise of a newly assertive China in terms that constitute an almost historically irrevocable opposition to any accommodation with China as a regional great power. Continue reading »
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Captive media: what does the submarine scandal tell us about our “defence correspondents”?
Why did no Australian media outlet tell us the easily discovered truth about the compromising of the integrity of the Australian submarine decision process revealed by US journalists last week? Continue reading »
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Australia trashes the ‘international rules based order’ over AUKUS and nuclear proliferation
We have another entirely Australian own goal to China. Continue reading »
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Mr Albanese goes to Madrid: Australia on the alliance path to Global Nato
While most eyes rest on the remains of Scott Morrison’s failed attempt at a khaki election through last September’s announcement of a backward-looking AUKUS alliance, prime minister Anthony Albanese’s trip to Madrid for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation summit points to a much more significant shift in Australia’s alliance with the United States – ‘a Continue reading »
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Australia’s nuclear submarine deal: very high risk for no reward
Although it will be Australia’s biggest military purchase, the submarine deal is mired in strategic uncertainties. Continue reading »
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Dangerous liaisons: Pine Gap (and the Alice) as nuclear target, then and now. Part 4
Amazingly, it is only four decades since it was believed that a nuclear strike on Pine Gap would do little damage to Alice Springs. No longer. Continue reading »
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Dangerous liaisons: Pine Gap is key to America’s nuclear war apparatus. Part 3
The most egregious example of our assistance to US missions could be terminated without threatening genuine US strategic interests, or the alliance. Continue reading »
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Dangerous liaisons: Australia’s involvement in nuclear war. Part 2
While never spelled out by our government, the nuclear deterrence pact means that Australia would ask the US to commit genocide in its defence. Continue reading »
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Dangerous liaisons: America’s huge, little-known military footprint in Australia. Part 1
More than ever, Australia is a suitable piece of real estate for the US espionage and war-gaming. A detailed analysis by Richard Tanter. Continue reading »
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How US military culture worked its way into Australian defence policy
By participating in the US-led wars in the Middle East and Afghanistan, Australia has deepened its integration into US military strategy and operations. Continue reading »
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The alliance at the heart of Australia Part 4
Australia’s dependence on the United States is rooted in its anxieties about being a small, settler-colonial states. Continue reading »
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The reasons Australia’s US alliance has persisted Part 3
Australia’s relationship with the United States has unusual longevity, adapting through successive wars and terror threats. Continue reading »
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It’s in Australia’s national interest to look beyond military risks in foreign policy Part 2
Australian foreign policy has been preoccupied with the US and military risks, but needs to consider climate disruption and other risks to Australians’ well-being. Continue reading »
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Beyond repair: Alliance distortions of Australian national interest in foreign policy and defence. Part 1
Australian foreign and defence policy must be based on an understanding of national interest that reflects the real interests of all Australians. Continue reading »
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A flawed argument for Australian nuclear deterrence
Hugh White’s book on Australian defence amounts to an advocacy of nuclear weapons. Some aspects of his arguments are reckless and reveal a sense of denial. Continue reading »
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WikiLeaks as a resistance to the US or any empire
In all liberal democracies, Australia included, national self-regard resists identification with the harsh implications of reliance on, or celebration of, military force – unless it can be viably represented as defence of freedom, just war, or wars against unspeakable Others. Continue reading »
