Thursday 8 December 2005

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

1. Aust Out Of Place At Summit: Mahathir
2. JI ‘Near Death’ But Still A Threat
3. Australia Says Weapons Of Mass Destruction Pose Greatest Threat To Global Security
4. Anti-Terror Laws Rammed Through – Minus Debate
5. Kickbacks Poured In As Navy Led Iraq Blockade
6. Tight Security For Accused Terrorist’s Trial
7. $1bn Surveillance Fleet Boost
8. Top Guns To Wait Years For Fighters
9. Australia Would Consider Post-Kyoto Pact
10. Australia To Host Asia-Pacific Climate Meeting Next Month

1. Aust Out Of Place At Summit: Mahathir,
   Peter Lloyd, ABC News Online, 2005-12-07

   Malaysia’s, Mahathir Mohamad, has taken a swipe at Australia’s involvement in the first East Asia summit, saying John Howard will be there as the US “deputy sheriff” in the region. The summit consists of the 10 member states of ASEAN, plus China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

   Of related interest:
   Soft Power Matters In Asia, J. S. Nye, The Japan Times, 2005-12-05
   George W. Bush recently attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit, but he should continue to pay attention to another Asian summit to which he was not invited. In December, Malaysia will host an East Asian Summit that deliberately excludes the United States.

2. JI ‘Near Death’ But Still A Threat,
   Patrick Walters, Australian, 2005-12-08

   Jemaah Islamiah is “virtually finished” as a strong terrorist network but Indonesia still faces the threat of small-scale attacks by individuals, said Indonesian Defence Minister, Juwono Sudarsono. Mr. Sudarsono nominated poverty as the main security threat facing Indonesia.

3. Australia Says Weapons Of Mass Destruction Pose Greatest Threat To Global Security,
   AP, Jakata Post, 2005-12-08

   Alexander Downer told an Asia-Pacific security conference that one of the goals of the international community should be limiting the number of countries that produce biological, chemical or nuclear weapons, adding it’s only a “matter of time” before they fall into the hands of terrorists.

4. Anti-Terror Laws Rammed Through – Minus Debate,
   Jewel Topsfield, Age, 2005-12-07

   The new anti-terror laws have been passed. The Government cut short debate on the laws to enable them to pass the Senate in the last sitting week of the year. Labor supported the bill, the Australian Greens and the Australian Democrats voted against the laws.

5. Kickbacks Poured In As Navy Led Iraq Blockade,
   Marian Wilkinson, SMH, 2005-12-07

   The Australian Navy took command of the economic sanctions blockade against Saddam Hussein’s Iraq at the same time Australia’s wheat exporter, AWB, was increasing its illicit payments to the dictator’s regime.

6. Tight Security For Accused Terrorist’s Trial,
   David King, Australian, 2005-12-08

   Intense security will surround the trial of accused terrorist Faheem Khalid Lodhi. ASIO director-general Paul O’Sullivan has set out a list of security recommendations. Parts of the trial may be heard in closed court and the identity of some witnesses may be kept secret.

7. $1bn Surveillance Fleet Boost,
   AAP, Australian, 2005-12-07

   The Government will boost Coastwatch capabilities with 10 surveillance aircraft to be fitted with new radar and infrared sensors. Surveillance Australia, in Adelaide, is the preferred tenderer for the $1-billion civil maritime contract, starting in 2008 and running for 12 years.

8. Top Guns To Wait Years For Fighters,
   Brendan Nicholson, Age, 2005-12-07

   Australia is unlikely to have its first combat squadron of 16 – Lockheed Martin manufactured – Strike Fighter aircraft before 2014. This is four years after the RAAF’s ageing F-111 bombers are due to be retired and two years after the first of its F/A-18 Hornet fighters are to be withdrawn.

9. Australia Would Consider Post-Kyoto Pact,
   John Breusch, AFR*, 2005-12-06

   Minister Ian Campbell has sought to distance Australia’s stance on global warming from that of the US, saying that unlike Washington, Canberra would sign a post-Kyoto Protocol agreement as long as it covered all countries. But like the US, Australia has ruled out any agreement that set down timetables.
   * subscription required

10. Australia To Host Asia-Pacific Climate Meeting Next Month,
    AFP, TerraDaily, SpaceWar.com, 2005-12-07

    Australia will host the first meeting of an Asia-Pacific “partnership” against climate change in January 2006. The initiative includes the US, China, India, Japan, South Korea and Australia. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will attend, and the US delegation will include business representatives.

    Contact editor: Jane Mullett jane.mullett@rmit.edu.au