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Advertising legend John Singleton has explained why he took out a full-page newspaper ad in support of Victoria Cross winner Ben Roberts-Smith.

The ad, which was published in The Weekend Australian today, is headlined “an apology to Ben Roberts-Smith from a coward.”

In it he thanks the ex-SAS soldier “for his courage, strength, commitment and the torture you must now endure.”

“No, me neither,” he wrote.

Singleton, a multi-millionaire businessman and advertising legend, said he dodged the Vietnam War, “lied my way out of it.”

“Our Vets risked our lives for us. Were we there?” he said.

Singleton, 82, said he was motivated to place the ad by what he saw as the “unfairness of it all”, especially with Anzac Day coming up.

“I’ve never met Ben Roberts-Smith,” he said.

“I have read every book I can on the bloke. You can do the same to you or me or anyone. It is horrible what’s happening.”

“These guys who go (to overseas wars like Afghanistan), risk their life, time after time.”

Singleton said he’d met ex-SAS soldiers on training programmes and expeditions, including a Mt Kilimanjaro climb.

“I’ve admired what they do. But when you sit around the fire and hear what they’ve (been through) it is horrible,” he said. “They break down, these guys. They’re human like you and me.

“I didn’t have the guts to go to war. At least I can ask people to just think twice before we blame these young men.”

In the advert, Singleton, said Roberts-Smith wasn’t to blame for foreign wars.

“In god forsaken Afghanistan, in a war which has what to do with Australia, is a Corporal on his 5th or 6th Mission.”

“Have you ever spoken to any soldier who has seen frontline action? Look at the pain in their faces. The long silence that tells so much.

“The media just turn to gossip. They grab hold of an illegal leak from a public servant. They target big, tough, impressive VC winner… not given to showing any public exterior.”

“Ben Roberts-Smith can pay for it with his reputation. Disgraceful stuff.”

“He didn’t start our war.

“He killed as soldiers do, but is now guilty of doing his job whilst risking his life for us.”

Mr Roberts-Smith is currently waiting for three Federal Court judges to consider his bid to overturn his defamation loss to Nine Newspapers last year.

He has always denied any wrongdoing and has not been criminally charged.

Yesterday, we arrived home late from a delightful cruise through the South Pacific, that included exploring three ports in Fiji. Despite Julie and I catching a chest cold from a friend we were traveling with, we disembarked the ship in good spirits.

Currently, I find myself glued to my desk, sifting through a mountain of emails accumulated during my absence. It appears some missed my notification of a three-week hiatus, perhaps presuming I had met an untimely demise. Nonetheless, I plan to resume posting this afternoon and return to my regular routine for at least a week. Next Monday, we embark on a four-week caravan journey, a familiar annual excursion. Carrying my laptop, I’ll ensure the flow of information continues daily, seamlessly transitioning from the cruise to caravan life.

I hope you all had a most enjoyable Easter.

Ray

In the annals of aviation history, few projects have captured the imagination and intrigue of enthusiasts and military strategists alike as much as Lockheed Martin’s SR-72, the legendary hypersonic spy plane. Born from the vaunted Skunk Works division, renowned for pushing the boundaries of aerospace technology, the SR-72 was poised to redefine the limits of reconnaissance and strike capabilities.

The story of the SR-72 begins with the unveiling of its predecessor, the iconic SR-71 Blackbird, which soared into the skies during the Cold War era, setting records and gathering intelligence at speeds that seemed inconceivable at the time. Yet, as the world moved into the 21st century, the need for even more advanced and capable reconnaissance platforms became evident.

Enter the SR-72, a project shrouded in secrecy and speculation from its inception. Initial glimpses into its development were marked by sporadic bursts of media attention and tantalizing hints at its capabilities. However, the veil of secrecy surrounding the project was abruptly drawn tighter in March of 2018, leaving many to wonder about its fate.

Despite the sudden silence, whispers persisted within aerospace circles, suggesting that the SR-72 project was far from abandoned. Recent hints have reignited speculation, with suggestions that Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works division may have already delivered an advanced iteration of the hypersonic spy plane to the United States Air Force.

The allure of the SR-72 lies not only in its blistering speed but also in its potential to revolutionize reconnaissance and strike missions. With the ability to travel at speeds exceeding Mach 6, it could evade enemy defences and swiftly gather critical intelligence, providing decision-makers with unparalleled situational awareness.

Moreover, the SR-72’s hypersonic capabilities could enable rapid response and precision strikes against high-value targets, further bolstering the military’s ability to project power across the globe.

Yet, for all its promise, the true extent of the SR-72’s capabilities remains shrouded in secrecy, leaving the public to piece together fragments of information and speculation. As rumours swirl and hints surface, one thing is certain: the legend of Lockheed Martin’s hypersonic spy plane endures, standing as a testament to the ingenuity and innovation of the aerospace industry.

The final account of USA military equipment and cash left behind in Afghanistan per GAO Report

Thanks to the US Government Accountability Office, we now have a clear picture of just how much U.S. military equipment has fallen into the hands of the Taliban, with the bungled withdrawal from Afghanistan. Let’s have a look…

Aircraft: The Taliban now ranks #26 in the world in total military aircraft, thanks to us leaving behind

208 planes and helicopters:

110 helicopters

60 transport/cargo planes

20 light attack planes

18 intelligence/surveillance planes

Vehicles: You’ve probably seen the footage of the Taliban riding around in our Humvees.

We left a total of 75,898 vehicles:

42,604 tactical vehicles

22,174 Humvees

8,998 medium tactical vehicles

1,005 recovery vehicles

928 mine-resistant vehicles

189 armoured tanks

Weapons: Get ready for this…

599,690 of our weapons are now in the hands of the Taliban:

358,530 rifles

126,295 pistols

64,363 machine guns

25,327 grenade launchers

12,692 shotguns

9,877 RPGs

2,606 howitzers

And you can throw in a couple thousand night-vision goggles, surveillance drones, and communication devices on that list as well.

Price tag: In total, it adds up to nearly $84 billion dollars in tax-payer-funded U.S. military equipment.

Never prepared for such tragic news

NO one begins a day expecting not to be there at the end of it.

Life presents many hazards, most of which with care and attention can be managed though never eliminated.

There are some professions where risks are a normal challenge, the mining, aviation and maritime industries, community first responders and of course, the military.

Risk managers constantly reinforce the simple message, “there are no such things as accidents, there are unsafe acts and unsafe conditions or a combination of both”.

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Never prepared for such tragic news | Australian Defence History, Policy and Veterans Issues (targetsdown.blogspot.com)

While I was away, I have given a lot of thought about proposal by RSL Queensland to include the acknowledgment of country for Anzac Day ceremonies is not only misguided but also disrespectful to the solemnity and purpose of the occasion. Here’s why this proposal deserves strong criticism:

Anzac Day stands as a solemn national tribute, a sacred occasion to honour the valour and sacrifice of Australian and New Zealand servicemen and women. Yet, RSL Queensland’s proposed alteration hijacks this solemnity, shamelessly exploiting it as a platform for political posturing. Such brazen politicization desecrates the memory of those who gave their lives for their country, reducing their noble sacrifice to a mere tool for ideological agendas.

The proposed acknowledgment veers dangerously away from the core ethos of Anzac Day, diluting the reverence owed to our fallen heroes. By prioritizing a vague, politically correct narrative over the solemn tribute to our servicemen and women, RSL Queensland betrays the very essence of this national commemoration. This erosion of tradition and sacrifice is a disgraceful affront to the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of our nation.

The vehement backlash from veterans underscores the profound lack of consensus and consultation surrounding this ill-conceived proposal. Critical decisions regarding such sacred commemorations demand meticulous consultation with all stakeholders, particularly veterans and their families. RSL Queensland’s failure to heed this imperative demonstrates a callous disregard for the sentiments of those whose sacrifice Anzac Day exists to honour.

Anzac Day holds profound significance for veterans and their families, serving as a poignant testament to the indomitable spirit and unwavering courage of those who served. Yet, RSL Queensland’s proposed revision threatens to betray this legacy, relegating the sacrifices of our servicemen and women to the periphery of the commemorative narrative. Such a betrayal of veterans’ legacy is utterly reprehensible and demands resolute opposition from all who hold dear the values of remembrance and respect.

RSL Queensland’s feeble attempts to justify this revision as an homage to Traditional Owners and Indigenous heritage ring hollow in the face of widespread condemnation. The purported desire for a more “veteran-centric” acknowledgment crumbles under scrutiny, revealing instead a thinly veiled attempt to appease political sensitivities at the expense of solemnity and tradition. Such disingenuous justifications only serve to deepen the outrage and underscore the profound betrayal of Anzac Day’s sacred legacy.

In summation, RSL Queensland’s proposal to include their acknowledgment of country for Anzac Day ceremonies is an egregious betrayal of our nation’s sacred duty to honour and remember the sacrifices of our servicemen and women. It represents a shameful capitulation to political expediency, a callous disregard for tradition and sacrifice, and a profound betrayal of the veterans whose memory Anzac Day exists to honour. This proposal must be unequivocally rejected, and the sanctity of Anzac Day vigorously defended against such crass attempts at politicization and revisionism.

Ray Payne OAM

2 April 2024

PLEASE be seated as we draw inspiration from Isiah 55, which says, “Come, all you who are thirsty but have no money, eat buy wine and milk without money and without cost”.

Now I have your undivided attention, let’s address the vexed issue of religious affairs in the ADF.

Genesis 1:27 offers guidance, “So God created man in his own image, male and female he created them”, and in Romans 2:11, “God shows no partiality”.

Except in the ADF there is one who sits not at the right hand of God, he thinks he IS God.

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Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition | Australian Defence History, Policy and Veterans Issues (targetsdown.blogspot.com)

ED: Seeing that I’ll be away I’ll leave you with a laugh – See you all when I get back.

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Menopause Is Worse Than PMS – Jeff Allen – 1Funny.com