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The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide had planned to deliver a special report to the Governor-General in June 2024, detailing a proposal for a new independent implementation entity to follow the Royal Commission. This will now be included as part of the Final Report (to be delivered to the Governor-General on 9 September this year) and will be the centrepiece of the Royal Commission’s recommendations. This entity would provide independent oversight – including monitoring the implementation of the Royal Commission’s recommendations – and help to ensure that the prevention of Defence and veteran suicide and suicidality is a paramount consideration for the Government.

RSL Australia will continue to strongly advocate that the Government support the establishment of an independent implementation entity and establish a National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Wellbeing to ensure there is a sustained and permanent watch on the health and wellbeing of current and ex-serving ADF members. RSL Australia is also advocating for a national peak body for the ESO sector to represent and advocate for the needs of Australian veterans, their families, and ESO organisations.

By: Stephen Kuper – Defence Connect

Politics aside, it is time to have an honest conversation with people about American President Joe Biden and the message he himself conveys to a world full of circling, predatory nations.

First things first, this is not a political declaration nor is it a statement of allegiance to one side of America’s political debate over the other, it is a statement on observable reality and a statement of concern for an elderly man very clearly in the grips of dementia.

Late last week, for those interested, we got a glimpse of just how significantly US President Joe Biden has deteriorated in recent months despite repeated reassurances from the White House, Democratic lawmakers, and various media pundits that the President was thriving in his role and was an intellectual dynamo putting his competitors to shame.

Yet on the shores of Normandy, alongside his French counterpart, the world outside of political junkies was exposed to the frailty of the 81-year old President as he paused, seemingly squatted and stared off into the distance before being ushered away from the limelight as French President Emmanuel Macron was left to thank the American service personnel and veterans of D-Day.

This is just the latest in a long, long list of incidents involving the President as the physical incarnation and standard bearer of America’s mission, promise, vitality, and strength in the world at a time when there is rising multipolarity across the globe and revisionist nations like Putin’s Russia, Xi’s People’s Republic of China, and Iran, along with the threat posed by the Houthis and Hamas.

Again, I must reiterate, this is not to belittle the President. This is about raising the alarm as a concerned Australian and stalwart promoter and defender of the Australia-US partnership.

So, can we please have an honest conversation about the President and his declining mental faculties?

No matter which way one cuts it, President Biden’s term has been characterised by an international affairs dumpster fire, beginning with the disastrous US withdrawal from Afghanistan (now yes, the plan was designed under the Trump administration) but it was implemented in full by the Biden administration, which saw 13 US service personnel killed and in excess of US$7 billion (AU$10.5 billion) worth of US military equipment fall into the Taliban’s hands.

As if to make matters worse, the international fallout revealed the chaotic and transactional approach of the United States towards its allies as footage of desperate Afghans clinging to US military cargo aircraft was beamed around the world, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealing following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early-2022, “When it comes to Russia’s war against Ukraine, if we were still in Afghanistan, it would have, I think, made much more complicated the support that we’ve been able to give and that others have been able to give Ukraine to resist and push back against the Russian aggression.”

Leading us to President Biden’s handling of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing international fallout and what can be characterised as a rather lacklustre response, mostly from the European NATO members who have repeatedly failed to meet their obligations to support the beleaguered Ukrainian war effort and been slow to respond to Russia’s aggression on their eastern borders.

Nevertheless, the Biden administration has struggled to maintain domestic bipartisan support both in the halls of power and more broadly among the American people as they struggle through immense cost-of-living pressures and an administration that seems focused on niche domestic and international issues or prosecuting its political opponents (which no matter what way you cut it, it looks bad).

As if things couldn’t get worse, then October 7 happened and the Middle East once again became a volatile powder keg, with the Israeli counter response now threatening international shipping in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea area, while also revealing the true scale and scope of the rapidly developing parallel global order being spearheaded by Russia and China.

Closer to home, President Biden’s lacklustre international performance has seen Beijing rapidly accelerate its antagonistic actions in the South China Sea and Western Pacific, actively injuring Australian Navy divers among other hostile actions against the ADF and others, while also actively bullying and intimidating the Philippines, Vietnam, and of course, Taiwan, with the rising superpower edging daily toward a dangerous and disastrous miscalculation over the island democracy.

All of this has drawn little in the way of coherent condemnation from the US President. Then, we have the classic moments like Biden falling asleep at the COP26 International Forum or Biden falling up the stairs of Air Force One, all of this is before we look at Biden’s record on the domestic front.

Just on sheer optics it is hard to be enthusiastic about the future of the United States as the “Leader of the Free World” and its capacity to actively compete in a multipolar world order.

If the President is supposed to embody the vigour, competence, and resilience as well as the hope, optimism, and vibrancy of the American system and its people, equally, it is hard to see much beyond President Biden’s ailing health and clear cognitive decline.

In a world where the revisionist powers of Russia, China, North Korea, Iran and others are led by robust “strong men”, authoritarian leaders who are actively pursuing policies of expansionism, hostility, and aggression towards the post-Second World War order and the nations that hold it together.

Final thoughts

I sincerely hope that we can have an open, frank, and honest conversation about Biden and his capacity to serve in the role of president, and also to wish him well at a personal level, I have watched as loved ones declined under the insidious and cruel impact of age-related cognitive decline or dementia.

Regardless of whether we are in a “pre-war” or traditional “Cold War” environment, it is clear that successive generations of Australian leaders have let the country down, too entranced and seduced by the promise of “Peace Dividends” and the “End of History” to recognise the cold reality of the world, particularly developing concurrently with the “Clash of Civilisations” during the Global War on Terror.

Equally, many an academic, strategic thinker, and policymaker were seduced by the march of hyper-globalisation and the ultimate triumph of liberal democratic values that either naively overlooked the importance of historical context, religion, ethnic loyalty and rivalry and ideology that has left Australia dangerously exposed and unprepared for the challenges we now face.

But it isn’t too late if we pivot and accept the realities we now face both globally and closer to home in the Indo-Pacific, we just have to, as the US Marines say, “embrace the suck”.

Responding to the challenges arrayed won’t be easy, but if we can engage the Australian public and industry early and bring them along, I promise it will be worth it in the long run.

Because if we don’t, when it comes to paying the bill, the cost will be too devastating to comprehend.

This is an incredible video of an Israeli drone on patrol.

The Australian War Memorial was defaced with pro-Palestine graffiti early Friday morning, sparking outrage among veterans and the public. A man allegedly vandalized three sections of the national memorial around 1 am, with the incident captured on CCTV.

By 9 am, the graffiti was covered up with a tarp. City Police Station Acting Inspector Lisa Broomhall condemned the act, stating that criminal damage to a national institution would not be tolerated.

Police will be investigating this matter thoroughly in an effort to ensure those involved are brought before the courts.”

At the time of the incident, the suspect was wearing a black jumper and face covering, along with khaki pants with dark knee patches. ACT Policing has urged anyone with information that could assist in identifying the man or details about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers.

CLICK LINK to watch News report.

Canberra war memorial allegedly defaced with pro-Palestine message | Watch (msn.com)

On June 6, Ramstein Air Base hosted Europe’s inaugural basic fighter manoeuvres exercise, Ramstein 1v1, featuring over 37 fighter aircraft. Participating models included F-35A Lightning IIs, F-16 Fighting Falcons, Eurofighter Typhoons, Dassault Rafale Cs, F/A-18 Hornets, and a Douglas A-4 Skyhawk from nine NATO countries.

Lieutenant Colonel Michael Loringer, Chief of Weapons and Tactics for US Air Forces in Europe and Africa, highlighted the importance of basic fighter manoeuvring (BFM), stating it tests pilots’ reaction time, physical stamina, and situational awareness. “BFM is a coveted and timeless skillset, dating back to World War I. Engaging in one-on-one BFM fights builds trust in a pilot’s aircraft and skills,” he said.

The exercise aimed to enhance rapid decision-making and precise reactions in high-pressure settings, essential for fighter pilots. It also fostered relationships among NATO allies, enhancing communication, interoperability, and collective resolve.

Participants included aviators from the US, UK, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, and Germany. The US 86th Airlift Wing personnel provided crucial installation support, while the 86th Maintenance Group and 86th Logistics Readiness Group facilitated flightline operations. Coordination of airspace, take-offs, and landings was managed by the 86th Operations Group and German counterparts.

“This exercise is about readiness and projecting airpower throughout Europe and Africa,” said Airman Basic Regis Dickerson II, emphasizing the importance of trust and teamwork. Lt Col Loringer added, “Ramstein 1v1 was only possible with the combined efforts of the fantastic Ramstein team.”

A recent poll by the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) highlights that Australians prioritize affordable and reliable energy over net zero targets. Conducted by Dynata in early June, the survey asked, “What should be the main focus of the federal government’s energy policy?”

Key findings include:

• 57% of respondents prioritize affordability, up from 41% in 2022.
• 24% emphasize reliability, a decrease from 31% in 2022.
• Only 19% focus on meeting the net zero emissions by 2050 target, down from 28% in 2022.

IPA Deputy Executive Director Daniel Wild noted that the combined preference for affordability and reliability has risen from 72% to 81% since 2022. He argues that the focus should shift back to affordable and reliable energy, especially during the current cost-of-living crisis.

Additionally, the poll revealed:

• 48% of Australians are unwilling to pay anything to achieve net zero by 2050, up from 42% in 2022.
• 54% believe the country should pause its net zero commitment until energy supplies are sufficient to avoid blackouts.

Wild emphasized the need for more coal and gas generation to ensure affordable and reliable energy, criticizing current efforts towards a costly and unreliable renewable transition.

In early 1971, US Army Captain Stuart Herrington arrived in Vietnam to serve as a Phoenix/Phụng Hoàng counter-intelligence program advisor. Post-War, he described his arrival and allotment to the program:

“Three days in Saigon convinced me that I didn’t want to draw an assignment there. The city was filthy, overcrowded, hectic, and overrun with hustlers of all types. You name the negative modifier, it fit Saigon in early 1971. Not even the graffiti on the latrine walls at the reception centre could dampen my enthusiasm for getting out of Saigon – the sooner the better. … (a pejorative on the Vietnamese and their flag has been omitted from this text) … .  I (Herrington) had a game plan to get a good assignment, if indeed there was such a thing in Vietnam. A friend of mine had just returned from a tour in Phuoc Tuy, a coastal province southeast of Saigon best known for its resort town of Vung Tau. He had described duty in Phuoc Tuy in glowing term – silver beaches, giant lobsters, and not too many Vietcong. There was even a contingent of fun-loving Australians stationed in the province, and my friend told incredible tales of their non-military exploits. The plan was for me to go to the officer assignment folks at headquarters (in Saigon), rattle off a few words of Vietnamese, and Vung Tau, here I come. It didn’t work. The sergeant in the assignments branch merely laughed as he explained that Phuoc Tuy province would not hold all of the men who had volunteered to go there in the defense of democracy. The best I was able to do was to wrangle orders to Military Region III, the area around Saigon. I was to report the following morning to Bien Hoa city, a few miles north of Saigon, for an interview with a colonel who would decide where I would actually be assigned.” Captain Herrington was assigned to the Phoenix/Phụng Hoàng program in Hậu Nghĩa Province (40km west of Saigon via Route 22, bordering Cambodia) until late 1972.

1. Chamberlain Endnote: Phước Tuy was not an “operational backwater” in 1971 – with 1 ATF engaging the 274^thVC Regiment and the 33^rdNVA Regiment in the north of the Province (eg: Operations Phối Hợp, Overlord, Ivanhoe – and the Battle of Núi Lê etc).

ED: Thanks Ernie.

Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas has been denied the opportunity to compete in the Paris Olympic Games after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled against her case challenging World Aquatics’ eligibility rules. The court’s decision confirms that individuals who have undergone male puberty cannot compete in the female category.

Thomas, 25, sought to overturn World Aquatics’ regulations, arguing they unfairly barred her from competing. However, the court ruled she lacked the standing to challenge the policy, as she was not a member of USA Swimming, an affiliated organization of World Aquatics.

British swimming champion Sharron Davies expressed support for the decision, stating: “No elite female athlete will have to lose out to this mediocre 6’4″ male swimmer.” Former US swimmer Valentina Gomez echoed this sentiment, celebrating the protection of women’s sports.

Thomas, who transitioned after competing in men’s events, became a trans woman and won the female 500m NCAA college title in March 2022, igniting controversy. An ongoing legal case involves 16 US women claiming the National Collegiate Athletics Association institutionalized discrimination by allowing Thomas to compete.

World Aquatics emphasized the importance of fairness and equal opportunities, stating the ruling is a significant step forward in protecting women’s sports. The court concluded that Thomas was not entitled to participate in elite events under USA Swimming Policy, and thus could not engage with eligibility requirements for World Aquatics competitions.

This decision reinforces the importance of maintaining fairness in women’s sports while upholding the integrity of competition standards.

The US is facing a new challenge: potential terrorism links within its borders.

The United States has taken decisive action against eight Tajikistan nationals residing in the country. Following the discovery of potential ties to terrorism, federal agents quickly arrested the individuals in major cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia.

• Initially, no red flags were raised when they entered the US via the wide-open Southern border with Mexico.
• However, subsequent investigations revealed possible connections to ISIS members overseas.

This operation was a coordinated effort between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the FBI’s joint terrorism task forces. The individuals are now detained, awaiting removal proceedings.

• Public and partner bulletins have indicated a heightened threat environment in the US.
• The decision to expel the eight was made to prevent the risk of a potential plot unfolding on American soil.

While investigators do not believe these individuals received training abroad, the arrests have raised serious concerns.

• Those arrested had expressed extremist rhetoric.
• The extent of the association of the others with the group remains unclear, highlighting the complexities of counterterrorism efforts.

Under President Biden’s administration, the open border policies have led to a significant increase in illegal immigration. Critics argue that these policies have compromised national security and strained resources at the border. The relaxed enforcement and welcoming rhetoric are seen as invitations for migrants to cross into the United States without proper documentation, creating a chaotic and unsustainable situation that is placing the country at risk.