Defence and Security
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Morrison turns China ‘threat’ into an election wedge
Borrowing from the Vietnam War-era Coalition playbook, the prime minister is putting domestic politics ahead of long-term policy for dealing with Beijing. Continue reading »
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The most remarkable aspect of Western attacks on China over Xinjiang is the unabashed hypocrisy
The US (abetted by the UK and Australia) in the so-called ”War on Terror”, has killed nearly 1 million Muslims in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria and Yemen. Continue reading »
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Submarine sideshow: Does Australia even need a military?
There are many potential benefits to Australia not having any submarines — it should even consider it needs a military at all. Continue reading »
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Brexit tensions push Britain and Europe closer to a damaging trade war
Complications over the Northern Ireland Protocol and pressure from Brexiteers are straining already fraught UK-EU ties. Continue reading »
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Speak without fear, as long as you’re a white, male, Christian conservative
Who can and cannot express their truth is defined by the people who have always held power, and patrolled in the digital age by online shock troops. Continue reading »
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A Sino-US thaw would leave Australia stranded on a rock
As the US talks more about co-operation with China than competition, Australia’s lack of vision on China is on full display. Continue reading »
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School curriculum overhaul needed for Australia to find its place in Asia
The failure to properly resource Asian studies in Australian schools and universities is a problem for Australia’s long-term security. Continue reading »
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Real reasons for submarine bid fiasco must come to the surface
The nuclear sleight-of-hand, the budgeted billions and the diplomatic debacle warrant deep examination — it’s time to bring it all out in to the open. Continue reading »
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AUKUS: Our newest member of the acronym insecurity landscape
AUKUS is just the newest acronym in our foreign policy vocabulary, but what does this alliance mean for all the others? 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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In too deep: the risks behind Australia’s nuclear submarine deal
The controversial AUKUS deal has potentially dangerous implications for a global non-proliferation regime already facing an array of challenges. 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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What a relief to hear an Australian leader talking sense at last about China
The complex state of Beijing-Taipei relations that the anti-China hawks do not understand or probably worse don’t want to understand. 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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Paul Keating on Australia’s national interest, Taiwan, and the absurdity of war
Australia is still trying to find its place in Asia, Paul Keating says, which explains why we’re so preoccupied with Taiwan and China. 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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Diplomatic insanity: Canberra sacrifices China influence for US alliance
Australia continues to damage its most important trading relationship — with China — by supporting the US’s limitless ambition in the region. Continue reading »
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Reflections for Remembrance Day: the right to question is incontestable
The first Anzacs challenged the reasons for war, so the federal education minister’s insistence that Anzac Day cannot be ‘contested’ at school is political pantomime. Continue reading »
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Australian War Memorial expansion is a disgrace beyond words
Words matter, and the way the Australian War Memorial’s spruikers talk about its expansion and displays speaks volumes. Continue reading »
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Australia may be standing alone on China as the US does not ‘have our back’
Canberra sees any repercussions for ‘standing up to China’ as a badge of honour. But the US is grabbing our markets one after another — it’s now LNG. Continue reading »
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The French disconnection: Australia’s dysfunctional diplomacy
The alarming deterioration of relations between French leader Emmanuel Macron and Scott Morrison was driven by arrogance and ignorance on the Australian side. Continue reading »
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Did PM mount a shoddy defence of his deception? We don’t think, we know
Scott Morrison turned an accurate character assessment from Macron into a sledge against Australia, but the stain on his reputation will remain. Continue reading »
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America’s never-ending war on the world
Driven by its military-industrial complex the United States depends on continual war. As the War on Terrorism peters out a new enemy is invented — China. Continue reading »
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Farewell Chilcot and Barratt: public servants who truly served the public
Australian politicians could learn from two public officials — one who scrutinised the Iraq War, and one who sought change to the way we conduct war. Continue reading »
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Having lost Afghanistan, America has a new enemy in China. We blindly follow
Reversing the Morrison government’s policy on China is a matter of life or death. Continue reading »
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The ‘independent’ think tank that writes its own history!
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s claims of fearless independence ring hollow as foreign governments and corporate entities shower it with money. Continue reading »
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The moral morass behind Australia’s arms exports to Africa
The Defence Department and Australian arms manufacturers appear to have no qualms about selling weapons to countries where conflict and human rights abuses are prevalent. 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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Four Corners v Julian Assange: your ABC, their sneers
Who could imagine that a revered current affairs program could stoop to peddling slanderous allegations against an award-winning Australian journalist? Continue reading »
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US continues pursuit of Assange, and Canberra neglects its moral obligation to protect him
Surely the Australian government should leverage the AUKUS pact to save Julian Assange from the US government. Continue reading »