1. Afghanistan: Not the Best Strategy
2. Diggers’ Duties in Iraq Extended
3. Keelty: Terrorism not Fault of Muslims
4. Australian: Chief of Army Philippines Visit
5. Solomon Islands PM Drops Einfeld
6. Warning on Travel to East Timor
7. Are the Wharves our Weakest Link?
8. Iranian Nuclear Issue Putting the Region, Global Peace at Risk

1. Not the Best Strategy, Patrick Walters, Australian, 2006-09-16

   As the battle against the Taliban heats up, Australia plans to bring home its elite troops. As British and Canadian troops continue to fight and die in significant numbers (the British have lost 35 personnel since July) the formidable Australian special forces are coming home. According to federal government insiders, Howard accepted defence chief Angus Houston’s advice that it was an appropriate time for the special forces task group to return home.

   • Diggers Kill 150 Taliban Fighters, Australian, 2006-09-13

   • Afghanistan: A Deadly New Front Opens Up, APO, William Maley, 2006-09-14

   • Afghanistan: A Lost Cause? Graham Usher, Al-Ahram Weekly (812), 2006-09-14

      

2. Diggers’ Duties in Iraq Extended, Patrick Walters, Australian, 2006-09-16

   An extra 20 soldiers will be sent to bolster Australia’s 450-strong task force in southern Iraq. Troops in southern Iraq are to extend their security tasks, taking on an overwatch role in Dhi Qar province, the neighbouring province to Al Muthanna. The Australians are now based at Tallil airbase providing backup for Iraqi security forces who assumed full responsibility for security in al-Muthanna province in July.

   • Dirty Dozen: The Pentagon’s 12-Step Program to Create a Military of Misfits, Nick Turse, TomDispatch, The Nation Institute, 2006-09-14

   • Iraq’s Diverse Shia, Peter Harling and Hamid Yasin, Le Monde Diplomatique, 2006-09-05

      

3. Keelty: Terrorism not Fault of Muslims, George Megalogenis, Australians, 2006-09-16

   Federal police commissioner Mick Keelty has urged people to back off Muslims, insisting Islamic Australia is not to blame for terrorism. “I remind people that the first person who was convicted of a terrorist offence in Australia was a person with the unlikely name of Jack Roche,” the police chief said. And Mr Keelty said he did not like the phrase “the war on terror”, because it did not apply in Australia.

    

4. Chief of Army Philippines Visit, Defence Department, Media Release CPA 246/06, 2006-09-15

   LTGEN Leahy, Chief of Army, is in the Philippines on a routine counterpart visit. Australia and the Philippines are working together on the Army Watercraft Project, to improve the ability of the Philippine Army to patrol the marsh and riverine areas of the southern Philippines. Australia will provide 18 to 30 boats to support the project.

   • Australian Defence Participation in the Philippines, Australian Embassy [undated]

   • Australia-Philippines Relations: Defence and Security Cooperation, Republic of the Philippines Country Brief, DFAT, September 2006

   • Invitation to Register for Provision of Watercraft and In-Service Support in the Philippines, AusTender ATM ITR MWV 01/06 Details, 2006-06-03

   • Australian Counter-Terrorism Proposal Faces Rocky Road in Philippine Senate, Kit Collier, Asian Analysis, December 2005

      

5. Solomon Islands PM Drops Einfeld, Criticises Aust Govt, Dorothy Wickham and Steve Marshall, ABCNews, 2006-09-18

   The Solomon Islands Government has cancelled the appointment of the former Australia judge, Marcus Einfeld, to head a commission of inquiry into the rioting in Honiara this year. Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare says Australia’s decision to pull multi-entry visas for Solomon Islands Members of Parliament was bullying and harsh.

    

6. Warning on Travel to East Timor, Age, 2006-09-18

   The Australian Government has warned against travelling to East Timor. “The potential for anti-Government protests, street demonstrations and other civil unrest activities is likely to increase during the period 17-19 September, 2006, and the following week,” the Foreign Affairs Department said in an advisory, without explaining the significance of the dates.

    

7. Are the Wharves our Weakest Link? Nick McKenzie, Age, 2006-09-16

   Serious questions are being raised about Australia’s maritime security. Despite millions being spent on upgrades, some experts suggest our wharves could be exploited by terrorist groups. In the next few weeks, the Australian Crime Commission will ramp up an intelligence operation targeting criminality in the maritime sector.

   • Keeping Cargo Safe: Container Security Initiative, US Customs and Border Protection [regularly updated]

   • Strategic Plan 2006/2007 – 2008/2009, World Customs Organization, 2006-09-16

      

8. Iranian Nuclear Issue Putting the Region, Global Peace at Risk, Anak Agung Banyu Perwita, Jakarta Post, 2006-09-14

   What role can the Muslim world and particularly Indonesia play in helping seek a solution to the Iranian nuclear issue? As the biggest Muslim country in the world with close relations with Iran, the Indonesian government needs to campaign for the importance of efforts to avoid open conflict that could harm global peace as part of the constructive approach in dealing with the issue.

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