All News

The Krakow Post

In a unified statement, foreign ministers from Western nations have condemned the escalating military collaboration between Russia and North Korea, describing it as a blatant violation of international law and the foundational principles of the United Nations Charter. This condemnation comes amid reports of Russia’s increasing dependence on North Korean weaponry, including ballistic missiles, which the West considers both unlawful and dangerous.

The ministers expressed their condemnation “in the strongest possible terms,” highlighting that Moscow’s procurement of ballistic missiles from Pyongyang represents a severe violation of international non-proliferation agreements and U.N. Security Council resolutions. The arrangement is perceived not only as unlawful but also as a dangerous precedent that threatens the stability of the Asia-Pacific region and undermines global efforts toward peace.

Central to the ministers’ statement is the assertion that Russia’s actions are a “further breach of international law, including the most fundamental principles of the U.N. Charter.” The U.N. Charter, established in 1945 to prevent aggression and promote peace, prohibits actions that threaten international stability or undermine sovereign rights. By engaging in military cooperation with North Korea, a country with a long record of defying global non-proliferation norms, Russia risks fracturing the post-World War II international order.

The Western response underscores the gravity of these actions, seeing them as a direct affront to the U.N.’s collective security principles. The acquisition of ballistic missiles and other weapons from North Korea reflects what Western leaders see as an increasing alignment between authoritarian regimes prepared to sidestep international norms in pursuit of mutual goals.

The ministers have called for international unity in addressing this issue, urging nations worldwide to stand firm in defence of the U.N. Charter and to consider further sanctions or diplomatic actions to curb this burgeoning alliance. They fear that, left unchecked, the cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang could lead to further regional instability, with North Korea potentially using its growing influence to accelerate its own military objectives.

In response, Western nations are likely to push for enhanced sanctions and a renewed focus on non-proliferation treaties aimed at preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

Picture: Alwyn Craig receiving his medals at Newcastle City Hall on Thursday. (ABC Newcastle: Keely Johnson)

Alwyn Craig has been presented with nine unclaimed medals and badges for his service in the Vietnam War.

The 76-year-old lived on the streets of Newcastle for 30 years, but his loved ones did not know where he was.

What’s next? Mr Craig has an apartment to live in now and has been reunited with family and friends.

Vietnam veteran receives war medals after decades of being homeless in Newcastle – ABC News

ED: This hit my inbox yesterday from a good mate in the US who fought in the Battle for Hill 65. Unfortunately, it arrived too late to be posted yesterday.

On November 8, 1965, fifty-nine years ago today, the 1/503 173rd Airborne Brigade, roughly 550 men strong, engaged in one of the fiercest battles of the Vietnam War during Operation Hump. This mission targeted Hill 65, a key position held by North Vietnamese Army (NVA) forces entrenched in the dense jungle terrain near Bien Hoa, just north of Saigon. Moving cautiously through the jungle, our unit was suddenly ambushed by a large, well-fortified NVA force. With the enemy positioned on higher ground, they unleashed a relentless assault, taking full advantage of their strategic location to counter our advance.

The battle that followed was intense and chaotic, with our paratroopers bravely pushing forward despite being outnumbered and caught off guard. Throughout the day, the 173rd Airborne fought valiantly, determined to hold their ground and drive back the NVA forces. Yet, by the end of the battle, we had suffered heavy casualties: 48 men were killed in action, and around 90 were wounded. These losses hit our unit hard, as each fallen soldier was a brother we had trained, worked, and fought alongside.

After the brutal fight on Hill 65, we assessed the cost on both sides. Our battalion counted, searched, and buried 403 NVA soldiers who had fallen in the engagement. It was a grim task that underscored the heavy toll of the encounter and reminded us of the unyielding resistance faced in Vietnam.

Years later, a tribute song was written to honor those who fought and fell in Operation Hump. A music video accompanying the song poignantly displayed images of each man who was killed in action on that fateful day, ensuring their memory would not fade. This heartfelt tribute to the men of the 1/503, 173rd Airborne Brigade on Hill 65 serves as a lasting reminder of their bravery and the sacrifices made by our battalion on that jungle battlefield.

CLICK LINK

Big & Rich – 8th Of November [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

ED: From my inbox

The first cohort of soldiers to complete the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) streamlined 12-month Officer Commissioning Program (OCP) at the Royal Military College Duntroon is nearing graduation. This new approach, launched in January 2024, condenses the training period from 18 months to 12 while maintaining the rigorous standards expected of Army officers. This marks a major step in the ADF’s two-year trial initiative to modernize and enhance its officer training curriculum.

Brigadier Jason Groat, Commandant of the Land Combat College, confirmed that the program is on track to meet all graduation standards, with the current class set to complete their final training module in early December. “Throughout the year, I’ve provided updates on how the trial 12-month OCP is tracking, and where we’ve made some adjustments to improve training outcomes and develop combat behaviours,” Brigadier Groat said. He commended the cohort for meeting all the training objectives, qualifications, and essential combat behaviours that defined previous classes under the longer 18-month model.

As part of the trial, the program includes the same critical modules and exercises found in the traditional OCP, such as the challenging Foundation Command and Foundational Leadership modules. The latter includes Exercise Shaggy Ridge, a mentally and physically demanding experience that tests leadership skills and character under intense conditions.

Additional adjustments have been incorporated into the 12-month format to better prepare cadets for the realities of field command. These include an added week in the Foundation Warfighting module, designed to enhance tactical field platoon command skills, and an increased investment in simulation exercises to build decision-making experience for post H Hour scenarios. Further, the curriculum has been updated to align with the ADF’s new planning doctrine, ensuring that cadets are trained under the most current military strategies.

Brigadier Groat expressed pride in the cohort’s accomplishments as they approach graduation, emphasizing the significance of this milestone not only for the graduates and their families but also for the Army as a whole. “The first Duntroon class to undertake the full 12-month Officer Commissioning Program is due to graduate in December. This is an important occasion for the graduates and their families, and for Army. It will also be my final parade as commandant of the Land Combat College,” he said.

Following their graduation, the new lieutenants will join their respective units, where they will continue their professional development in their designated corps or specialization. Brigadier Groat noted that the progress of these new officers would be closely monitored, and further program refinements would be made as needed.

The success of this inaugural 12-month OCP class is a promising indicator for the ADF’s future training frameworks, potentially setting a new standard for officer development within the Army. The two-year trial of the revised OCP aims to make military training both effective and efficient, with potential long-term implications for how the ADF equips its future leaders.

The focus on Northern Australia in Australia’s defence strategy is clear. The Defence Strategic Review, National Defence Strategy, and Integrated Investment Plan emphasize the importance of deterring threats approaching from the north. These strategic documents outline the need for a well-connected, resilient network of military bases in Northern Australia to enhance the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) operational readiness. Yet, on the ground, infrastructure challenges, declining troop numbers, and logistical constraints suggest a significant gap between these policies and practical implementation.

Recent investments by Australia and the United States in the Royal Australian Air Force’s Tindal base near Katherine underscore the region’s strategic importance, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. Upgrades have focused on enhancing Tindal’s capabilities, from airfield operations to logistics support, and the U.S. has also increased its deployments of aircraft and personnel. However, it remains unclear if the Northern Territory’s infrastructure—particularly transport and logistics networks—can support the high operational demands required by evolving security challenges.

Key logistical concerns persist. There are doubts about the availability of fuel trucks to supply Tindal from Darwin under high operational pressures, and without a dedicated rail link, transporting munitions and other critical supplies from Adelaide to Tindal is problematic. These issues cast uncertainty over the region’s readiness for rapid and sustained defence responses, highlighting a need for an infrastructure overhaul to support strategic objectives.

Training capacity in the Northern Territory has seen some improvements, with the ADF expanding training areas to better simulate diverse, real-world scenarios. But even as these facilities grow, the number of stationed ADF personnel has been reduced. The Darwin-based 1st Brigade, once the Army’s most formidable unit, has been downgraded from a mechanized force, losing its tanks and armoured vehicles in 2019 due to restructuring. By the end of 2024, all Darwin-based helicopters will be relocated to Townsville, consolidating air support away from the Northern Territory.

This restructuring continued in September 2023, with the 1st Brigade’s transformation into a light combat brigade focused on swift, littoral operations. Meanwhile, the 3rd Brigade in Townsville is now designated as an armoured brigade, set to operate in coordination with the Royal Australian Navy for amphibious missions. While most new amphibious vessels will be based in Townsville, the 1st Brigade’s vessels remain in Darwin’s overcrowded HMAS Coonawarra. The long-range fire units, essential to deterring adversaries in the north, will be stationed in Adelaide, where logistical challenges include rail and road vulnerabilities and limited airlift capacity for rapid deployment.

The Royal Australian Navy’s presence in Darwin includes Armidale-class patrol boats and the upcoming Arafura-class patrol ships. Although versatile, the Arafura-class vessels face limited support infrastructure in Darwin’s port, forcing them to journey significant distances for maintenance or re-arming, creating potential response delays during active operations.

This disjunction between policy and action in the Northern Territory is stark. The U.S. has bolstered its capabilities there, while Australia’s investments remain limited to base and training expansions. This lack of broader infrastructure and logistical planning leaves critical gaps in Northern Australia’s overall defensive readiness. A senior Australian official even acknowledged earlier this year that the Northern Territory lacks the support capacity for U.S. prepositioned equipment, citing limited space and inadequate industry resources.

It’s clear that cultural resistance within Defence to establishing a larger presence in the Northern Territory has delayed essential reforms. Moving forward, a nationally coordinated, simulated stress test of Defence and civilian capacity in the Northern Territory could reveal vulnerabilities. Such an exercise should incorporate real-time data from industry, state, and territorial sources, evaluating logistics, infrastructure, and force posture under simulated operational stress.

The findings from these stress tests would offer a clearer picture of what Northern Australia truly needs to meet policy goals. Closing the gap between vision and reality is essential, not only to meet today’s strategic demands but to safeguard Australia’s northern front for the future.

The Blog Review – Nick Warmsly

With just a handful of parliamentary sitting days left in 2024, the Labor government is making an urgent push to pass its controversial Misinformation Bill. This bill, which proponents argue is vital for combating false information online, has sparked widespread criticism for its potential to limit freedom of speech and broaden government control over public discourse. Labor’s timing introducing the bill as Australians turn their focus toward Christmas and summer holidays has fuelled concerns that the government is attempting to “sneak” it through while public attention is low.

The bill, if passed, would authorize the government to demand that social networking sites, video-sharing platforms, and even private messaging apps remove content classified as misinformation. This move has sparked a strong backlash from civil rights advocates, legal experts, and religious organizations, who argue that it could effectively give the government the power to decide what constitutes the truth. Critics are particularly concerned about the impact this might have on the 2025 election, fearing that the bill might be wielded to censor dissenting voices.

In recent weeks, the Law Council of Australia, the Human Rights Commission, and several civil liberties bodies have spoken out against the bill. They argue that, as it stands, the legislation could lead to government overreach, allowing the ruling party to stifle opposition and shape public perception in their favour. While the government asserts that the bill is meant to curb harmful misinformation, particularly on sensitive topics like health and election security, critics claim that it might do the opposite, chilling free expression and stifling legitimate debate.

Labor’s opponents argue that the Misinformation Bill threatens Australia’s democratic principles, as it opens the door for government officials to censor content at will. Without a clear framework to define misinformation or mechanisms for oversight, they fear it could become a tool for silencing dissenting voices under the guise of maintaining “truth.”

As Labor pushes forward, the bill’s future remains uncertain. Public scrutiny, if maintained, may yet influence its fate. Critics and concerned Australians are calling for vigilance, emphasizing that a balance must be struck one that protects citizens from harmful misinformation without sacrificing their fundamental freedoms.

ED: I have attached the magazine for each of the services, simply click on the links for each edition.

ARMY NEWS – November 7 2024

NAVY NEWS – November 7 2024

AIR FORCE NEWS – November 7 2024

The space satellite program was announced in April last year however has been axed amid reviews of current defence purchases.

“It’s essential technology. It’s just been cancelled. It was a $7 billion program that has been in the works for a very long time,” Mr Parker told Sky News host Erin Molan.

“This is a pattern of gross mismanagement of not just defence but also of the broader budget that Albanese and his team at Labor have done to our country and they are ripping and defunding money out of the Department of Defence which is making us weaker and is damaging our national security.”

CLICK LINK

Albanese government slammed over axing $7 billion ‘essential’ space satellite program

A shift in U.S. and European relations appears certain as Donald Trump prepares to assume office for a second term. Trump, who has long been a critic of under-spending among NATO allies, is receiving praise from new NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for encouraging member nations to increase their defence budgets. Rutte, who took the reins as Secretary General amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine, publicly congratulated Trump, acknowledging the former president’s impact on NATO defence spending as crucial to European security.

However, Trump’s return to office has raised questions about how his stance on global alliances might shape NATO’s approach to Russian aggression and the ongoing war in Ukraine. NATO allies and American foreign policy experts are watching closely, as Trump’s outspoken admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin and advocacy for a rapid end to the Ukraine conflict have sparked concerns over Washington’s long-term commitment to supporting Kyiv.

In a recent Atlantic Council briefing, John Herbst, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and current senior director at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Centre, underscored these concerns. “It’s essential for us to stop [Russian President Vladimir] Putin in Ukraine, and what Trump means for that is still unclear,” Herbst said. He highlighted how Trump’s inner circle, including former CIA Director Mike Pompeo and former National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien, may influence his decisions on Ukraine, possibly countering Trump’s more dovish inclinations.

Herbst went on to predict that Trump could face pushback from within his party if he opts for a ceasefire or peace negotiation favourable to Russia. “If he listens to the advice of the naives and begins to put into place a ceasefire or peace negotiation that clearly favours Russia, he will be called out by many, including Republicans, for being a ‘patsy’ for Putin,” he remarked. Trump’s recent conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, shortly after clinching the election, hints at the importance of Ukraine in upcoming U.S. foreign policy decisions.

Other experts at the briefing, including Matthew Kroenig, vice president for the Scowcroft Centre for Strategy and Security, and Rachel Rizzo, Atlantic Council senior fellow, echoed Herbst’s cautious outlook. Both expect Trump may try to negotiate a settlement with Russia as part of an effort to project strength on the world stage. Rizzo noted, “He’ll want to start his presidency looking like a leader rather than handing Ukraine to Russia and looking like a capitulator.”

Despite this diplomatic balancing act, Rutte’s praise underscores NATO’s unified priority on increasing defence budgets. He aims to push all NATO members toward stronger military readiness and deterrence capabilities, viewing these as vital in countering security threats.

For now, the world is left to speculate on how Trump’s return to office will shape U.S.-NATO relations and the broader Western response to Russia. The interplay between Trump’s advisors, party critics, and NATO allies like Rutte will likely be critical in determining the trajectory of the alliance’s policy toward Ukraine. Rutte’s statements suggest he believes that with NATO’s strengthened defence posture, the organization can withstand the potential changes Trump’s administration may bring, continuing to stand as a deterrent force against Russian aggression in Europe.

Washington Post – David Lancing

WASHINGTON: As Australia embarks on a transformative defence initiative through AUKUS—an alliance with the United States and United Kingdom focused on nuclear-powered submarine technology—the country faces increasing pressure to engage the public. Despite AUKUS’s potential to bolster Australia’s defence capabilities and reshape its role in global security, communication with Australian citizens has been limited. At the recent Submarine Institute of Australia conference, officials and experts urged a more transparent and proactive approach to gaining public support and understanding.

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles spoke at the conference, emphasizing the government’s commitment to transparency on the AUKUS project, estimated to cost $368 billion AUD over the next 50 years. He acknowledged that public scrutiny is essential for the success of such an ambitious initiative, particularly given the complex nature and significant financial investment involved.

Marles invited a “holding to account” of government actions, encouraging constructive criticism to identify any gaps or challenges. “We are not going to get through this without intense scrutiny, so give it to us,” he remarked. His comments underscored a shift in approach, contrasting with Australia’s traditionally cautious stance on public discussions surrounding defence matters.

Tracey Hanley, Deputy Director of the Defence Research Institute at the University of New South Wales, noted that Australia has been “a little bit slow off the mark” in communicating the significance of AUKUS to the public. However, she expressed optimism, stating that the importance of the pact is gradually gaining recognition. Hanley emphasized that openness, particularly on issues that can be discussed openly, is critical to securing the “social license” necessary for AUKUS to be accepted by Australian communities.

Social license refers to public approval and trust, especially in projects involving sensitive or complex technologies, such as nuclear-powered submarines. By openly discussing the strategic importance of AUKUS, the government can foster a greater sense of national interest and bring citizens on board.

A challenge for Australia’s military leaders is balancing transparency with security. At the conference, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, head of the Royal Australian Navy, addressed what he perceived as a “pattern of criticism” in media coverage of the Collins-class submarines and AUKUS. He highlighted successful operations that had gone unreported, arguing that positive developments often receive little media attention.

However, some defence experts questioned Hammond’s comments, noting that the military must proactively share information with reporters if they want positive stories covered. By selectively withholding information, the military may inadvertently create a climate of speculation and criticism.

Vicki Treadwell, the UK High Commissioner to Australia, emphasized the importance of “social license” for AUKUS, urging officials to build public trust by actively engaging with communities. “This new endeavour for Australia requires the Australian people to believe in it, to understand its strategic importance,” she said.

To achieve this, Treadwell encouraged officials to communicate positively about AUKUS in their daily lives, explaining its benefits for Australia’s security and technological advancement. She drew comparisons to British communities near naval bases, which, once involved, often play an active role in security by reporting suspicious activities to authorities. Treadwell also highlighted how the media could play a constructive role by focusing on job creation and technological innovation associated with AUKUS, rather than solely on potential risks.

The partnership involves not just defence, but also an integrated industrial base among the US, UK, and Australia. US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy noted the challenges in America’s submarine industrial base, which currently struggles to meet component demand for Virginia-class submarines. She proposed an “AUKUS visa” to facilitate cross-border collaboration and make it easier for defence industry workers and experts from the three countries to move between their respective facilities.

This proposal, still under discussion, has the potential to address workforce shortages and accelerate the transfer of knowledge and resources needed for AUKUS. Marles expressed support for the concept, indicating that discussions were ongoing with the US and UK to streamline international movement for AUKUS-related personnel.

For Australia, AUKUS requires a significant cultural shift in how the government and military communicate with the public. As officials embrace a more open and collaborative approach, they hope to foster a sense of shared responsibility and trust. This marks a notable change from Australia’s traditionally reserved stance on defence matters.

If successful, AUKUS could become a model for how to engage the public in defence and strategic partnerships. The challenge lies in balancing transparency with security needs and in addressing public concerns about safety, cost, and environmental impact.

By actively engaging with communities, building trust, and transparently addressing concerns, Australia can lay the groundwork for a long-term partnership that not only strengthens its defence capabilities but also secures the support and trust of its people. As AUKUS progresses, this effort to engage and inform the public will be crucial for its acceptance and success.