After a campaign full of drama and tumult, the first round of Jakarta’s gubernational election on 15 February produced a result widely forecast in polls: the incumbent governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (‘Ahok’) topped the tally, …
Debate: "General"
I was invited to appear last week at a hearing of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee Review of the Department of Defence Annual Report 2015–16. The review is an …
The argument stretches over decades: can France stay in the South Pacific and, if so, on what terms? Being in the Pacific may serve the glory of France, but can France also act as …
There’s been some solid work out recently that draws a line between authoritarianism and the tendencies of the new American President, including David Frum’s cover story for The Atlantic (to which we linked a few …
Within days, Australians will get to see the first of the RAAF’s new Joint Strike Fighters—just months after the jet’s noisiest critics told an inquiry it was a ‘jackass of all trades and masterful of …
If Donald Trump’s Twitter feed and the words of his Secretary of State Rex Tillerson are to be believed, Washington is set to defend disputed islands and reefs in the South China Sea from being …
Most of us would agree that the Fall of Singapore in February 1942 remains the biggest strategic shock Australia has ever received, but we pay too little attention to why it was such a shock, …
The Beat Ice on the airwaves There’s interesting discussion this week in light of Ice Wars, ABC’s provocative TV series. While acknowledging the impressive and compassionate police work on display, many pundits find the show’s …
The North Korean missile test over the weekend has emphasised the point President Obama reportedly made to President-elect Trump shortly after his electoral success: North Korea should be at the top of the new President’s …
Russian media recently claimed that the Federation’s new intercontinental ballistic missile will be able to penetrate even America’s most effective defence systems—but are they right? Russia claims the new RS-28 Sarmat heavy ICBM, being introduced …
Nothing in history is inevitable but the fall of Singapore Island after the defeat of British forces in Malaya came close to it. In December 1941 the Japanese established complete air and naval dominance in …
Cyber news remains a bit topsy-turvy state-side thanks to the new US President. While Donald Trump was expected to drop a new Executive Order on cybersecurity a few weeks ago, it never “officially” materialised, though …