ED: From my inbox from Brian Hurlock

The world is slowly waking up to the fact that people have been deceived by the most costly and environmentally destructive fraud in history: the so-called Catastrophic Anthropogenic Climate Change theory and its false alarmism based on the demonization of CO2.

As my mate, author John Dawson, wrote in his book “Climate Alarmism”:

“CO2 does not pollute the planet; it greens the planet. Plants evolved when there was up to 6,800 ppm of CO2 in the atmosphere, 16 times more than today, so plants are now on a CO2 starvation diet. Nearly all plants grow faster with higher levels of CO2. Greenhouse growers have known this for a long time, which is why they raise CO2 in their glasshouses to 2,000 ppm about the level you breathe in a crowded or poorly ventilated room.”

Forget the propaganda about CO2 being a pollutant driving the modest, naturally cyclical “global warming” period. And consider the trillions of dollars wasted worldwide on the fraudulent fantasies of so-called “renewables” money that was needed for other essential areas of life and development. This has left the Western world with degrading infrastructure and huge cost-of-living increases, which should make you not only sad but angry! Nearly every financial difficulty faced by grassroots people in the Western world can be blamed on the false alarmists of the Climate Change fraud and their pursuit of the insane idea that so-called “renewables” will ever be economically viable, reliable, or efficient enough to provide baseload power 24/7, 365 days a year, now or in the future!

And the cost!

Hooroo 4 now,

Brian Hurlock

Click Link below

500 Million Years of Unrelatedness between Atmospheric CO2 and Temperature

By Jo Nova – Sunday

And Then the Climate Pledges Evaporated

The tech giants are backing away. Microsoft and Google have quietly given up on their carbon neutrality goals, no longer boasting about their environmental efforts. This comes after their emissions have increased by 29% and 50%, respectively, over the past four or five years. More than 500 companies had pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2040, but 96% of them are failing to stay on track.

To distract us from discussing how the climate bubble has burst, some companies are now blaming artificial intelligence (AI). The claims the world is facing mass death and boiling oceans, and despite wind and solar power still not being as cheap as claimed, Big Tech is retreating from their role in “saving the world.” Why? Because AI uses a lot of electricity? It’s as if these CEOs, once hailed as saviours of the planet, are now more focused on capturing the AI market than preserving the environment. The so-called planetary heroes have reverted to being robber barons in business.

Dr. Jemma Green, who sells software for renewable energy markets, is trying to spin a tale of bad luck, but it doesn’t add up. The truth is, if net zero technologies were truly cheap and effective, and if CEOs genuinely cared about the planet, they wouldn’t be abandoning their commitments. But they are.

Why Are Big Corporations Quietly Abandoning Their Climate Commitments?

Jemma Green, in a Forbes article, discusses AI’s energy demands and corporate climate hypocrisy. Companies like Google, Microsoft, and Shell once positioned themselves as leaders in sustainability, setting ambitious net-zero goals to align with global environmental efforts. However, the rapid rise of energy-hungry AI is forcing these companies to reconsider—or even abandon—these commitments.

Corporate climate pledges surged recently, with over 500 companies globally committing to net-zero emissions by 2040. This momentum continued between June 2022 and October 2023, with a 40% increase in new net-zero targets. Yet, as the AI revolution gains traction, cracks in these promises are beginning to show. Recent analysis reveals that only 4% of these companies are on track to meet their goals, highlighting a disconnect between corporate rhetoric and reality.

Despite the headline, Green isn’t even trying to explain why this shift is happening. After blaming AI for a few paragraphs, she notes that other giants like Shell, Gucci, and EasyJet are also stepping away from their goals, which pokes a hole in her thesis that AI is the sole culprit. After all, Gucci isn’t exactly trying to sell AI programs.

What Green is documenting is the corporate world quietly erasing their mistakes. For instance, Shell has abandoned its 2035 target of a 45% reduction in net carbon intensity, citing “uncertainty in the pace of change in the energy transition.” This target was a key milestone towards Shell’s broader goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Similarly, luxury fashion house Gucci, which once committed to carbon neutrality through verified carbon offsets, quietly removed its claim of being “entirely carbon neutral” from its website in May 2023.

The truth is, if the Earth were in real danger, smart CEOs and billionaires—who have to live on the planet too—would be pushing for nuclear power as if their children’s lives depended on it. Instead, it seems it was all just an intellectual fashion contest, a quick subsidy grab, and maybe some even believed wind and solar power would be useful. But they don’t anymore.

Defender Blog

Australia’s fuel supply, a critical component of national security, depends heavily on maritime routes through the western Indian Ocean. Despite the Royal Australian Navy’s long history of operations in the region—ranging from counter-piracy and counterterrorism to supporting the Gulf Wars—Australia’s focus on the western Indian Ocean has been limited. This oversight could have significant consequences as the region becomes increasingly contested.

Australia’s engagement in the western Indian Ocean is often seen as part of its alliance responsibilities with the United States or a means of gaining operational experience. However, the fundamental reason for maintaining a presence in this region is that maritime security there directly impacts Australia’s national security, particularly its fuel supply.

Since the introduction of the ‘Indo-Pacific’ concept in the 2013 Defence White Paper, Australia has predominantly focused on the eastern Indian Ocean. This focus was reinforced in subsequent documents, including the 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper and the recent National Defence Strategy (NDS). The NDS highlights Australia’s primary military interest as the area encompassing the Northeast Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. This focus is logical, given the strategic importance of oil and gas reserves on Australia’s northwest shelf and the Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok straits, which are vital to Australia’s maritime trade.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has taken steps to strengthen its presence in the northeastern Indian Ocean. This includes naval diplomacy through the Indo-Pacific Endeavour, upgrades to facilities on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and the expansion of HMAS Stirling, Australia’s primary naval base in Western Australia. These initiatives align with Australia’s broader strategy of bolstering its military capabilities in the region, ensuring the security of its northern approaches and the critical maritime routes that pass through them.

However, confining Australia’s Indian Ocean strategy to the northeastern quadrant is a mistake. The western Indian Ocean is of strategic importance, not only due to population growth in Africa and trade relationships with the European Union but, most importantly, because of Australia’s dependence on fuel imports. Australia imports 90% of its fuel, and any disruption to this supply chain would have immediate and severe consequences for the nation’s economy and defence capabilities.

While Australia imports refined fuel primarily from South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia, the crude oil needed to produce that fuel largely comes from the Middle East, crossing the western Indian Ocean. A disruption in this supply chain—whether due to piracy, conflict, or strategic moves by other nations—would directly threaten Australia’s fuel supply. For example, China’s growing influence in the region, exemplified by its base in Djibouti and investments in regional ports, poses a potential risk to Australia’s fuel security.

Australia cannot afford to ignore the western Indian Ocean in its maritime strategy. While Australia has historically relied on its partners and allies for security in this region, it has also maintained an independent presence through nearly three decades of continuous naval deployments. This combination of alliances and independent operations has been crucial in ensuring maritime security, and it must be continued and expanded.

To safeguard its national security, Australia must increase its engagement in the western Indian Ocean. This can be achieved through more frequent deployments of naval vessels and aircraft, as well as investments in regional capacity building. Such actions would not only strengthen Australia’s presence in the region but also build relationships and enhance the Royal Australian Navy’s ability to operate effectively in the western Indian Ocean.

Australia’s focus on the northeastern Indian Ocean is understandable, but it should not come at the expense of neglecting the western Indian Ocean. As this region becomes more contested, Australia must adapt its maritime strategy to ensure that its fuel supplies—and, by extension, its national security—are protected. This means becoming more active in the western Indian Ocean, both independently and in collaboration with allies, to secure the maritime routes essential to Australia’s survival and prosperity.

For the war fighter, extended aircraft time in the air can make all the difference. The ability to refuel mid-flight, allowing for longer mission durations, is a game-changing capability. The film “FLOW” showcases how a tenacious team successfully applied aerial refuelling technology to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, transforming it into an even more capable asset for the U.S. Navy.

The dedicated team behind this innovation includes former Navy aviators and pilots, whose expertise and perseverance led to a historic milestone: the first successful in-flight fuel transfer from a tanker aircraft to an E-2D. This achievement marks a significant advancement in the E-2D’s operational capabilities, enabling it to remain airborne for extended periods, thus enhancing its mission effectiveness.

The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is a pivotal asset in the U.S. Navy’s battle management command and control. Often referred to as the “digital quarterback,” the E-2D sweeps ahead of strike groups, managing missions, and ensuring that carrier battle groups remain out of harm’s way. Its role in advancing naval missions is unparalleled, providing war fighters with expanded battlespace awareness, particularly in the realms of information operations, battle management, theatre air and missile defence, and sensor fusion.

Equipped with a two-generation leap in radar sensor capability and robust network-enabled capabilities, the Advanced Hawkeye delivers critical, actionable data to joint forces and first responders. These advancements compress the time between initial threat detection and active engagement, giving the war fighter a decisive edge in dynamic combat environments.

As the cornerstone of the U.S. Navy’s theatre air and missile defence architecture, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye operates effectively across various environments, including littorals, overland, and open seas. Its superior technology and global performance have earned it a prestigious ranking among the U.S. Navy’s top five acquisition programs for 2024.

The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye continues to redefine naval warfare, ensuring that the U.S. Navy remains a dominant force on the global stage.

Picture: Carlos Hathcock taking aim in Vietnam. (Photo: USMC archives)

Carlos Hathcock was a self-taught marksman, much like Alvin York and Audie Murphy before him. From a young age, he dreamed of becoming a U.S. Marine and enlisted in 1959 at just 17 years old. By the time he joined the Marines, Hathcock was already an exceptional sharpshooter, winning the prestigious Wimbledon Cup shooting championship in 1965, a year before deploying to Vietnam where he would change the face of American warfare.

Deployed in 1966 as a military policeman, Hathcock immediately volunteered for combat duty and was soon transferred to the 1st Marine Division Sniper Platoon, stationed at Hill 55, south of Da Nang. It was here that he earned the nickname “White Feather” for the white feather he daringly wore on his bush hat, challenging the North Vietnamese to spot him. This is where Hathcock would solidify his status as the Vietnam War’s deadliest sniper, undertaking missions that seem as though they were taken straight from a comic book.

White Feather vs. The General

Hathcock preferred to strike during the early morning or late evening, a tactic that became crucial during one of his most famous missions — the assassination of a North Vietnamese Army general. With minimal information about the mission, Hathcock volunteered and began a gruelling four-day and three-night crawl of over 1,500 yards, inching closer to the general’s position without food or sleep, a movement he referred to as “worming.” For the first and only time, Hathcock removed the feather from his hat.

After reaching a tree line near the NVA encampment, Hathcock observed his target at 700 yards. The general stepped onto a porch, and as his aide moved away, Hathcock seized the moment. He fired a single shot that struck the general in the heart. As enemy soldiers frantically searched the area, Hathcock began his slow retreat, evading detection for three days.

“Carlos became part of the environment,” said Edward Land, Hathcock’s commanding officer. “He had the patience, drive, and courage to do the job. He felt very strongly that he was saving Marine lives.” With 93 confirmed kills — including one at 2,500 yards — and an estimated 300 more, Hathcock wasn’t driven by the act of killing.

“I really didn’t like the killing,” he once told a reporter. “You’d have to be crazy to enjoy running around the woods, killing people. But if I didn’t get the enemy, they were going to kill the kids over there.”

“The Best Shot I Ever Made”

One of Hathcock’s most notorious targets was a female Viet Cong platoon leader known as “Apache.” She was infamous for her brutality, capturing and torturing American soldiers in the area around Hathcock’s unit.

In November 1966, Apache captured a Marine private and tortured him within earshot of his own unit. The private was skinned, mutilated, and left to die near the wire of his camp. This act was the last straw for Hathcock. Determined to end her reign of terror, he set out to kill Apache. Days later, he got his chance.

While observing an NVA sniper platoon, Hathcock spotted a figure squatting to urinate — it was Apache. At 700 yards, Hathcock took the shot, killing her instantly. “She was a bad woman,” Hathcock recalled. “I stopped her. I put one extra in her for good measure.”

White Feather and The M2

Hathcock revolutionized the use of the M2 .50 calibre machine gun as a long-range sniper weapon during the Vietnam War. He designed a mount for the rifle, allowing him to make shots at unprecedented distances. His longest confirmed kill with the M2 was at 2,460 yards, a record that stood until 2002.

“If I hadn’t gotten him just then, he would have gotten me,” Hathcock recalled of the shot.

His exploits made him a prime target for the NVA, who placed a $30,000 bounty on his head. This led to a deadly game of cat and mouse with an NVA sniper known as “The Cobra.” After a tense encounter, Hathcock spotted the glint of the Cobra’s scope and fired, killing the enemy sniper before he could take his shot.

A Hero’s Legacy

In 1969, Hathcock’s career as a sniper came to an end when a vehicle, he was in struck a landmine, leaving him severely injured with burns over 40% of his body. Despite his injuries, Hathcock managed to pull seven Marines from the burning wreckage, an act of heroism for which he was awarded the Silver Star in 1996.

After recovering, Hathcock founded the Marine Sniper School at Quantico, where he trained future snipers while battling Multiple Sclerosis, the disease that eventually claimed his life. Carlos Hathcock’s legacy as one of America’s greatest snipers endures, a testament to his skill, dedication, and the lives he saved.

ED: This Current Affair story is a bit of self-indulgence. I am a great fan of country pubs along with my good caravaning mate Geoff Hall (Ex 35 Sqn). Each year we set off on a historic pub tour or as our wives call it, our annual pub crawl. Over quite a number of years we have visited many country pubs with the criteria that they were built before 1900. We all agree that these pubs are the life blood of the towns, 95% of the publicans have amazing personalities and are prepared to share the pubs history and provide information about things we must see around the town.

Japan is on the verge of becoming the world’s third-largest military spender, with a proposed defence budget of 8.5 trillion yen ($59 billion) for the upcoming financial year. This unprecedented move is driven by increasing military threats, particularly from its authoritarian neighbour, China.

The proposed defence budget by Japan’s Defence Ministry is a staggering 8.5 trillion yen ($59 billion), marking an unprecedented increase in military expenditure. This budget is a crucial component of a five-year military expansion plan, with the ambitious goal of doubling the nation’s annual defence spending to approximately 10 trillion yen by 2027. This significant boost in defence funding reflects Japan’s growing concerns over regional security and its commitment to enhancing its military capabilities.

Japan’s strategic focus with this budget surge is on strengthening its defence, particularly in the southwestern islands, where tensions with Beijing have been escalating. The budget allocates 970 billion yen ($6.7 billion) specifically for “strike-back capabilities,” emphasizing Japan’s intent to bolster its military presence in areas of strategic importance. Key investments include long-range missiles and advanced Aegis-class destroyers, aimed at ensuring Japan can respond effectively to any potential threats.

In the modern era, no defence budget is complete without a focus on cutting-edge technology. Japan is heavily investing in unmanned systems and artificial intelligence (AI) as part of its military expansion. The budget includes 103 billion yen ($710 million) for the development of drones, showcasing Japan’s commitment to reducing human casualties and enhancing the capabilities of its defence forces. Additionally, 314 billion yen ($2.17 billion) is earmarked for new multipurpose compact destroyers, further highlighting Japan’s focus on modernizing its military fleet.

Japan’s defence budget surge is a clear indication of the nation’s response to growing regional tensions and its determination to secure its interests amid an increasingly complex global security environment. With these investments, Japan is positioning itself as a formidable military power, ready to address the challenges of the 21st century.

Media Release – 30/08/2024

Today marks a pivotal moment in Geelong’s history, signalling a new era in our economic and industrial landscape. Known historically for our automotive industry, with Ford establishing its presence here in 1928, Geelong faced a significant challenge when Ford announced in 2013 that it would cease manufacturing, affecting about 900 local jobs.

However, we now stand on the brink of a major transformation with the opening of Hanwha’s new facility, the first phase of a project that will play a crucial role in both our local economy and national defence. This facility will produce 28 self-propelled howitzers, known as the Huntsman, and 14 supply vehicles. These will be joined by two additional howitzers and another supply vehicle currently being built in Korea, with delivery to the Australian Army coinciding with the start of local production in just a few months.

This is just the beginning. The second phase of this facility will see the construction of 129 infantry fighting vehicles, the Redbacks. When fully operational, Hanwha’s facility is expected to support 1,800 jobs, underscoring its significance not only to Geelong but to Victoria and Australia as a whole. This development not only strengthens Geelong’s industrial base but also contributes critically to our nation’s defence capabilities. The Huntsman and Redbacks will significantly enhance the Australian Army, with the Redbacks scheduled to enter service in 2027, years ahead of the original timeline.

Rod Thompson – Newcastle Weekly

A plan to manufacture and service missiles at Williamtown is expected to generate $100 million in economic benefits to the region.

The Australian Government revealed on Thursday 22 August of its intention to build a factory in the Newcastle Airport precinct, in partnership with Kongsberg Defence Australia.

Construction of the facility, anticipated to start later this year, represents a leap forward for the Australia Defence Force (ADF).

It’s understood Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) and Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) will be produced at the plant.

The $850 million project is also estimated to create more than 500 jobs in the construction phase and, once complete, secure employment for 100 people.

“This is about investing in our advanced, high-tech manufacturing industry and developing our sovereign defence industrial base in areas which have been identified as strategic priorities, which in turn means we can accelerate capability delivery to the ADF,” Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy said.

“We cannot deliver the generational uplift in capability outlined in the National Defence Strategy without our industry partners, and we look forward to working with Kongsberg Defence Australia as a Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Strategic Partner.”

The GWEO Enterprise is backed by a commitment of up to $21 billion over the coming decade through the government’s 2024 Integrated Investment Program.

It delivers on priorities in the 2024 National Defence Strategy to both develop the ADF’s ability to precisely strike targets at longer range and manufacture munitions in Australia.

The JSM – which can be fitted to the F-35A aircraft – and NSM are modern anti-ship cruise missiles designed to defeat highly-capable enemy warships.

Both can be deployed against land-based targets, too.

The NSM will enhance the maritime and land strike capabilities of Hobart class destroyers and Anzac class frigates, and replace the Harpoon anti-ship missile, supporting the increased lethality of the enhanced surface combatant fleet.

Locally, the announcement was welcomed by the Newcastle Liberals.

“Much like the previous government, it’s encouraging to see the Hunter is being recognised as an ideal location for defence industry development,” Lord Mayoral candidate Callum Pull said.

“It’s a significant moment for our city and our region.

“We look forward to the positive impact this project will have on our local economy and the future opportunities it will bring.

“The Greens once again demonstrated their lack of understanding of our national and regional interests by opposing crucial defence industry developments in the Hunter.”