APSNet Semi-Weekly Bulletin, October 22, 2007

Recommended Citation

"APSNet Semi-Weekly Bulletin, October 22, 2007", APSNet Semi-Weekly Bulletin, October 22, 2007, https://nautilus.org/apsnet/apsnet-for-20071022/

APSNet for 20071022

Austral Peace and Security Network (APSNet)

Twice weekly report from the Nautilus Institute at RMIT, Australia.

Monday 22 October 2007

  1. Change of Role in Iraq Long Planned: PM
  2. Georgia, Slovakia Offer to Fill Afghan Gap
  3. Voters’ Guide to International Policy
  4. Intelligence Outsourced
  5. Lepers Change their Spots: The Pacific Islands Forum
  6. Towards Sustainable Security: Alternatives to the War on Terror

Austral Policy Forum 07-18A: The Roots of Piracy in Southeast Asia – Carolin Liss


  1. Change of Role in Iraq Long Planned: PM, Age, 2007-10-22

    Prime Minister, Mr Howard flagged that the role of about 580 Australian combat troops based near Tallil, in southern Dhi Qar province, would be changing. He said Australia’s military commanders in Iraq would begin a review this week about how the role of combat troops in the south would change over the coming year.

  2. Georgia, Slovakia Offer to Fill Afghan Gap, Tom Hyland, Age, 2007-10-21

    The risk of Australian troops being left in the lurch in Afghanistan has receded, with two European countries promising to send troops to support the joint Australian/Dutch taskforce in the south of the country. Georgia has offered 200 troops, supported by helicopters, while Slovakia has offered 35 soldiers. According to Dutch news reports, the Netherlands Government is likely to extend the mission but with fewer troops.

  3. Voters’ Guide to International Policy, Lowy Institute, October 2007

    This report outlines the global issues that the next Australian government is going to have to deal with. It formulates questions that need to be asked of Australia’s leaders as they seek our support to govern. The focus is on the short term, namely the next five years. Issues discussed include: defence and security, Iraq and Afghanistan, non-proliferation and arms control, among others.

  4. Intelligence Outsourced, Cameron Stewart, Australian, 2007-10-22

    The army is now contracting out its own intelligence and security services. The move takes the trend towards outsourcing key defence roles to a new level and in part reflects a shortage of uniformed officers qualified for such tasks. The tender calls for the recruitment of eight senior civilian personnel “to provide intelligence and security advice to military personnel in locations in Brisbane, Darwin and Townsville”.

  5. Lepers Change their Spots: The Pacific Islands Forum, Economist, 2007-10-18

    The Forum joins Australia, NZ and 14 independent or self-governing island nations. Yet the larger nations in the SW Pacific have strengthened their own links through the Melanesian Spearhead Group. In the N Pacific, tiny Micronesian states care more about ties to the US or Japan. Islands in the central and E Pacific may have to revive plans for a Polynesian federation. It will take dextrous diplomacy to keep all these island states together under antipodean leadership.

  6. Towards Sustainable Security: Alternatives to the War on Terror, Paul Rogers, Oxford Research Group, October 2007

    The report analyses the Iraq War, discusses the conflict in Afghanistan, tensions with Iran, developments in US, British and coalition military postures and the wider global security environment including climate change. It argues for the adoption of a new security paradigm which is primarily political rather than military and is sustainable in the long term rather than responding to immediate threats with considerable force.

  7. Austral Policy Forum 07-18A – The Roots of Piracy in Southeast Asia – Carolin Liss

    Carolin Liss of Murdoch University writes that “combating piracy is a difficult and complex task, requiring more than the patrolling of piracy-prone waters.” Liss argues that five factors “are of particular importance in shaping piracy in Southeast Asia: over-fishing, lax maritime regulations, the existence of organised crime syndicates, the presence of radical politically motivated groups in the region, and widespread poverty.” After a detailed analysis of the impact these issues in Southeast Asia, Liss stresses that “in order to be successful, responses to piracy have to address most, if not all, of these problems and issues.” In a subsequent Austral Policy Forum, Liss will assess prevailing responses to piracy and Australia’s role.


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