Tag Archives: Douglas Newton

DOUGLAS NEWTON. The “Political Correctness” – of the Right

Posted on 8 March 2017

In a recent speech to CEDA, John Howard denounced an “avalanche of political correctness”. In fact, Howard has helped promote a stifling version of political correctness – on the Right of Australian politics.  

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DOUGLAS NEWTON. The forgotten and ignored German peace initiative of 1916.

Posted on 20 December 2016

Forgotten Great War Centenaries This month, truly important Great War centenaries are passing by quite unnoticed in Australia. A hundred years ago, diplomatic events occurred of far greater significance than any battle in which Australians fought. And – if true … Continue reading →

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DOUGLAS NEWTON. The Slide to World War I. Shades of 1914 today?

Posted on 28 October 2016

  Are there shades of 1914 in today’s international collisions? So much is different. Talk of ‘parallels’ is probably overstatement. But there are disturbing continuities. The setting in 1914 In 1914, the ‘Hobbesian’ fatalists who believe that nation states are … Continue reading →

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DOUGLAS NEWTON. ‘A 100 Per Cent Ally’ – ‘Utterly Dependable’ – conscience washing.

Posted on 8 July 2016

  The Chilcot report should prompt much heart-searching, and not only about Australia’s commitment to the Iraq War in 2003. It should prompt us to think about two long-standing problems: the use of the ‘war powers’ by the Executive, without … Continue reading →

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DAVID STEPHENS. A review of Douglas Newton’s five articles that take us behind the scenes in the Great War.

Posted on 21 May 2016

Douglas Newton confronts the really important questions about war David Stephens reviews five articles by Douglas Newton that take us ‘behind the scenes’ in the Great War

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Douglas Newton. The Centenary of the Great War – and Anzac

Posted on 7 May 2016

The Great War. What we fought for and why were peace initiatives resisted for so long. Many of those promoting the Anzac Centenary appear to believe that there are certain essentials the Australian people must learn about the Great War: … Continue reading →

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Douglas Newton. Lost opportunities for a negotiated peace during the Great War: from 1917 to 1918. Part 2.

Posted on 4 May 2016

During 1917-1918, the Australian divisions in France endured casualties far worse than at Gallipoli. There were huge losses.[1] New evidence shows that ‘four out of five’ of the AIF who survived were affected by disability of some kind.[2] Yet, for … Continue reading →

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Douglas Newton. Lost opportunities for a negotiated peace during the Great War: from 1914 to 1916. Part 1

Posted on 3 May 2016

A big centenary is approaching: the battle of Villers-Bretonneux, April 1918. Right now $93.2 million is being spent on the battle site to build the Sir John Monash Centre, ready for Anzac Day 2018.[1] Villers-Bretonneux is irresistible. It simplifies everything: … Continue reading →

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Douglas Newton. What we fought for: from Bullecourt to the Armistice, 1917-1918

Posted on 2 May 2016

From 1916 to 1918 on the Western Front, the Australian divisions suffered 181,000 casualties, including 46,000 dead.[1] Some 10,892 of these dead have no known grave.[2] They died mostly from shrapnel and high explosive shells designed to tear people to … Continue reading →

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Douglas Newton. What we fought for: from Gallipoli to Fromelles, 1914-1916

Posted on 29 April 2016

Formal speeches about Australia’s Great War normally follow simple rules. The focus is upon military achievement, and defining national values – service, sacrifice, and mateship. Hardship and horror are added, giving lustre to military achievement. National awakening is emphasised: the … Continue reading →

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Douglas Newton. The hard questions we should face on Anzac Day 2016.

Posted on 20 April 2016

On Anzac Day 2016, the centenaries of 1916 should loom large. In April 1916, the Australian divisions that had been mauled at Gallipoli were being despatched to the Western Front. The industrialised kill-chain at the Somme awaited them. Other centenary … Continue reading →

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Douglas Newton. Australia’s Leap into the Great War.

Posted on 6 November 2015

One of the great clichés of Australia’s entry into the Great War is that Australia stepped up to ‘answer the call’ of the Mother Country. Much of the press coverage of the centenary of Anzac repeats this claim and adds … Continue reading →

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