Monday 21 November 2005

Bi-weekly report from the Nautilus Institute at RMIT, Australia.

1. Allies Running Out Of Time
2. Coming To A Country Very Close To You
3. Ruddock Asks For Secrecy In Trial
4. Australians To Join NATO Force In Afghanistan
5. Missile Interception Achieved

1. Allies Running Out Of Time,
   Geoffrey Barker, AFR, 2005-11-21

   In the context of reports that Britain may withdraw 5500 of its 8500 troops from Iraq next year, and hints of coming foreign troop reductions by Iraqi spokesmen, including national security adviser Muwaffak al-Rubaie, a fair reading of the remarks by Rumsfeld, Hill and Downer is that the coalition partners are edging towards declaring victory and reducing troop numbers in Iraq * next year.

   *subscription required

2. Coming To A Country Very Close To You,
   Brendan Nicholson, Age, 2005-11-19

   GIANT American strategic bombers will practise long-range raids on the Delamere bombing range in the Northern Territory under a new joint US-Australian training and exercise agreement reached at the AUSMIN talks.

   Of related interest: Australian and US military agree to environmental management for combined military activities.

3. Ruddock Asks For Secrecy In Trial,
   Geesche Jacobsen, SMH, 2005-11-18

   The Federal Government may ask to keep certain evidence secret to protect national security, a court hearing before upcoming proceedings against the accused terrorist Faheem Lodhi was told. Lodhi’s barrister said “Many issues that the Crown will consider matters of national security are not perceived so by the defence.”

4. Australians To Join NATO Force In Afghanistan,
   Brendan Nicholson, Age, 2005-11-16

   Australian troops are set to become part of a major NATO operation for the first time with cabinet expected to approve this month the deployment of a 200-strong army reconstruction team to Afghanistan. Senator Hill said NATO was keen for the Australians to work closely with Dutch forces.

   Of related interest: Australian Defence Department, Operation Slipper

5. Missile Interception Achieved,
   Audrey McAvoy (AP), Honolulu Advertiser, 2005-11-18

   The US Navy yesterday said it intercepted and destroyed a warhead as it separated from its booster rocket during a test off Hawai’i – the first time a ship at sea has shot down a multistage missile.

   Of related interest: Lockheed Martin has announced that it has completed its second successful mission for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA’s) Targets and Countermeasures Program.

   Aegis Ship-Based BMD: Missilethreat.com