03 September, 2010
US might cut JSF order
A planned restructuring of the US defence portfolio could make Australia’s purchase of 100 new fighter aircraft more expensive. US Defence Secretary Robert Gates is trying to find $US100 billion worth of savings in the US Defence. The wake of the global financial crisis is so vast that the US Government Accountability Office said the US may not be able to afford the purchase of 80 new Lockheed Martin F-35 strike aircraft this year. If that happens, however, that could raise the $16 billion outlay the government had planned to revamp the Royal Australian Air Force. Ashton Carter, acquisition chief for the Pentagon, said the average cost of each fighter was $95 million. Tom Burbage, program director for the joint strike fighter project for Lockheed Martin, said Australia will get the fighters “on budget” despite delays. But Andrew Davies, capability analyst for the Australia Strategic Policy Institute, said cuts to the US Department of Defence budget and the announcement by the USGAO could limit the supply of the F-35.
Australian Financial Review, p10
|
02 September, 2010
Out of Iraq, now Afghan campaign
US President Barak Obama's quitting of Iraq after almost a decade is driven by domestic economic demands and voter pressure over American deaths than by any other considerations. For Australia, despite 10 deaths since June, Afghanistan is expected to continue hosting our 1550 troops. If the US-led campaign can bolster Afghan security forces and self-rule, opportunities exist that could benefit many. Mining and agriculture, in particular, have been cited as areas of opportunity by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute think tank. It cites tin, tungsten, fluoride and coal deposits, along with value-added industries like apricot-drying, wool processing and tanneries enterprises that would broaden the 12th-century-like enterprises that presently characetrise Afghanistan.
Geelong Advertiser, p17
Geeling Advertiser Online
|
01 September, 2010
New generation Hornets delivery deadly sting
Five F/A-18F and about 100 aircrew and maintenance personnel from No. 1 Squadron at RAAF Amberley, Queensland, began testing air-to-ground weapons firing in the middle of the South Australian desert on Monday. The strike aircraft, affectionately known as the Rhino, is designed to replace the ageing F-111s, which are due to be retired later this year after three decades of service. At the time, then Defence Minister Brendan Nelson was criticised for purchasing an interim aircraft. Defence analyst, and Australian Strategic Policy Institute Program Director, Dr Andrew Davies is one of many who was initially critical of its capabilities, but now believes buying the strike fighter was the right decision.
Adelaide Advertiser, p5
Adelaide Advertiser Online
|
01 September, 2010
Afghan war a lost cause: ex-CIA officer
A visiting former Central Intelligence Agency officer says the war in Afghanistan is "unwinnable" and that Australia should pull its troops out of the troubled country as soon as possible. Mr Baer's criticisms came as the Australian Strategic Policy Institute issued a new analysis of Australia's military and civilian efforts in Afghanistan. Institute research fellow Raspal Khosa argues that with the departure of Dutch forces from Oruzgan Province, Australian forces will have to "work smarter" with an integrated strategy of "targeting Taliban command and control, providing population security, conducting security sector reform and governance capacity-building." Interviewed on ABC Radio, Mr Khosa argued that withdrawal from Afghanistan was not an option for Australia as it would do "incalculable harm to our relationship with the United States."
Canberra Times, p7
|
01 September, 2010
Mines, farms seen as key to Afghan peace
According to Raspal Khosa, Australian Strategic Policy Institute analyst, whichever party that forms government should adopt a more comprehensive method to Australia’s aid and military mission in Afghanistan - there should more emphasis placed on Afghanistan’s agricultural and mining sectors to promote long-term economic security. The bulk of Australia’s troops are based in Oruzgan province. In 2010 to 2011, the Labor government has allocated $123 million in aid for Afghanistan. 21 Australian troops have lost their lives since the 2001 invasion - 10 of them since June as the coalition troops have taken the fight to more Taliban areas after US President Barack Obama’s troop boost.
Australian Financial Review, p10
|
01 September, 2010
US and Iraq
Leon Compton discusses how there is a new phase of engagement between the US and Iraq. Compton plays an excerpt from Barack Obama's address. Compton notes that Australia's engagement with Iraq has been one of the biggest in a while and wonders if objectives have been achieved. Rod Lyon is the Program Director, Strategy and International, with the Australian Strategy Policy Institute, says it is wrong to take it as a national question and it is part of a larger context. Lyon says the war will be judged for some time, and is only partially successful which can be seen in Obama's reluctance to claim it. Lyon says it has been a divisive issue for the US and Brits and says it is part of a new form of war with no clear declaration at the end. Lyon discusses the effect the war has had on shaping the Middle East saying regime change was the objective that was running alongside the exposure of WOMD. Lyon notes that Iran's rise was occurring anyway regardless of action in Iraq and the same goes with the Israel and Palestine issue. Lyon says Iraq may end up 'kinder and gentler' but other areas in the Middle East have become more rampant. Compton discusses the efforts if Australian soldiers and Lyon says the soldiers themselves will take ownership and see the results of their efforts more that Australians at home.
ABC Darwin (Darwin) Morning Show - 10:41 AM Leon Compton
|
01 September, 2010
A paper from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute has called for more varied involvement in Afghanistan.
4BC (Brisbane) 10:00 News - 10:02 AM
6PR (Perth) 19:00 News- 07:03 PM
|
31 August, 2010
Faulkner Breaks 28-year FOI logjam
Outgoing senator John Faulkner, as the Defence Minister, told a parliamentary inquiry that the Department of Defence have reduced the amount of freedom of information requests from 33 to zero. In 2009, Senator Faulkner instigated a new FOI and records divisions to handle FOI requests. Mr Faulkner, while Special Minister for State, also introduced a FOI commissioner and an information commissioner to improve the FOI protocol. The Defence Act gives the government licence to censor or reject FOI requests, although FOI has been used by The Australian to chase costing details on Labor’s $43 billion National Broadband Network. But Mark Thomson, defence analyst for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, says the senator’s record in improving transparency in Defence is mixed. “The detail of the $20 billion Defence savings program is opaque,” says Thomson. The government also came under criticism for suppress information on the Collins class submarine fleet in the Defence budget. But Mr Thomson praised Senator Faulkner for his work on the Defence Capability Plan, where he reinstated the 10 year time frame after it was slashed to four years under previous minister Joel Fitzgibbon.
Australian Financial Review, p14
|
31 August, 2010
Australia urged to help Afghan farmers
Raspal Khosa, analyst for the Australian Strategic Policy Insitute (ASPI) provides insight into the current circumstances of the largely agriculture based area of Oruzgan Province in Afghanistan and explains what role Australia can play. Australia, a world leader in farming on arid lands, needs to devote some of that expertise to help struggling Afghan farmers, says a new study. A paper by ASPI said agriculture remained the main source of income for most of Afghanistan's population.
AAP - Yahoo News Australia
Brisbane Times
Nine MSN
Daily Advertiser, p12 (1/9/10)
|
31 August, 2010
Australia's role in Afghanistan examined
Raspal Khosa, analyst for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), speaks with Mark Colvin on ABC Radio about the new Australian role in Afghanistan.
Interview Transcript - ABC Online
Interview Recording - ABC Online
|
|