DEF MINISTER FITZGIBBON GONE

TEAM UZUNOV 1
JOEL FITZGIBBON 0

Australia's Defence Minister, Joel Fitzgibbon resigned last night.

TEAM UZUNOV was the first to break the story of the war within Defence Department and Fitzgibbon when an "outsider" Tim Holding was floated to act as a troubleshooter in Afghanistan.


http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=8746&page=0
At war with his own Defence Department
By Sasha Uzunov - posted Tuesday, 31 March 2009

The Australian media have finally laid down their pom-poms and ended the cheerleading routine in reporting how tough the Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon was in his war with his own Defence Department.

In January, I first revealed on my blog, TEAM UZUNOV, about the worsening relationship between the Minister and his own Department when an outsider, Mr Tim Holding, a Victorian State Minister, was being floated as go-between or trouble shooter in Afghanistan to gather information not being passed onto the Rudd Government by the Australian Army Chain of Command. Suzanne Carbone, of The Age newspaper, quoted me in her “The Diary” column take down of Holding on February 3.

Paul Daley, in The Sunday Age, on February 1, got the ball rolling in Fitzgibbon’s war against his
department:

"But there appear to be some serious Government doubts whether the facilities the young Australians are risking their lives to build are actually being used by the Afghan people.

"Anecdotal evidence suggests that through its proven methods of intimidation and murder, the Taliban punishes Afghans who dare to use such facilities. There are also stories that, for fear of Taliban reprisals, Afghans are reluctant to work in them."

During both visits to Afghanistan, the feisty Fitzgibbon had wanted more than just briefings. But despite his best efforts, sources are adamant Fitzgibbon has not been "outside the wire" - a euphemism for leaving the comparative safety of the Australian base - during either visit, much to his frustration.

Later, we had the SASR pay scandal with the Minister now officially at war with his own department over being kept in the dark.

Recently, we had Mr Fitzgibbon apologise for not declaring trips he undertook to China after the story was leaked allegedly by his enemies within the Defence Department.

I am not suggesting anything untoward in Mr Fitzgibbon's behaviour and respect his privacy. However, the sideshow has taken the focus off the real shooting war raging between the Taliban and Australian soldiers in Afghanistan ...

He can vent his “anger” as much as he likes through the media but it will not change the situation. With Australian soldiers fighting and dying in Afghanistan, the Defence Department cannot afford to be distracted by political squabbles over who controls turf.

The Defence Department is a universe of its own. Outsiders who do not know how to operate in this environment get chewed up pretty quick. Mr Fitzgibbon, through no fault of his own, lacks two things: he has never served in uniform and second, he does not hold the aces when it comes to playing political poker with his own Defence Department.

Only one man is capable of doing so: Colonel Iron Mike Kelly, Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support. “Iron Mike” Kelly is a former Army Colonel and lawyer who has served in Somalia, East Timor and Iraq.

He has the runs on the board: as an Army lawyer with the rank of Major he once wrestled and fought, in true Crocodile Hunter fashion, a warlord during the 1993 mission to African nation Somalia.

To demonstrate his political cunning, he turned the tables on his opponent, the sitting member for the New South Wales Federal seat of Eden-Monaro during the 2007 election.

Iron Mike, who was critical of the then Howard government’s decision to go to Iraq, was holding an election meeting and was heckled by Mr Peter Phelps, the chief of staff of the sitting Liberal member of parliament, Mr Gary Nairn.

Mr Phelps, criticising Iron Mike’s opposition to the Iraq War and the fact that he still served on the mission, said “… And you took part in it willingly because you weren't sent over there, you volunteered, didn't you?”

Mike Kelly: "No, I was a soldier, and I did what I was ordered to do."

Peter Phelps: "Oh, like the guards at Belsen, perhaps? Are you using the Nuremberg Defence? No, no, come on."

The Nazi Germany comparison would have lost a lot of public sympathy for Mr Nairn’s election campaign, which saw Iron Mike take the seat.

Moreover, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is no stranger to using military glory, such as the awarding of the first Victoria Cross medal for bravery in 40 years, to score political brownie points. So why not appoint Iron Mike Kelly as Defence Minister?

If this present government is serious about the Defence portfolio and in breaking with bad habits from the past, then it needs to practice what it preaches.

However, the underlying problem and largely ignored by some in the media with their own agenda is that when you place politicians who have never served in the Defence Forces as Defence Minister, they are too busy trying to make up for it by “acting tough”. We do not need those with emotional baggage to prove their manhood by risking soldiers’ lives.

The delicious irony in all of this is that a new war has emerged, that between the “Desk Warriors”: journalists, strategic analysts and defence experts who have never served in uniform but who hold a vice-like grip on the debate.

Daley, in The Sunday Age article “Unfriendly fire”, on March 29, wrote:

Fitzgibbon has polarised Defence in pursuit of his reform objectives, where a string of ministers before him have effectively surrendered. He has also upset those his allies call the "visiting fellows" - the many strategic studies and defence academics, journalists and think-tank commentators who are close to the generals but whose views Fitzgibbon has largely dismissed.
Up until recently, Daley was a charter member of the Desk Warriors, so why has he turned against his brethren? Maybe there is trouble in paradise?

As a freelance journalist I have, over the years, scrutinised why people without hands-on military experience dominate the defence debate. Daley, together with his Sunday Age colleague Tom Hyland, has dismissed such questioning as irrelevant. Hyland calls it a “curious crusade”.

Oh the delicious irony!
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http://teamuzunovmedia.blogspot.com/2009/03/media-end-cheerleading-of-def-minister.html

Friday, March 27, 2009

MEDIA END CHEERLEADING OF DEF MINISTER
MEDIA END CHEERLEADING OF DEFENCE MINISTER
by Sasha Uzunov
It was a case of the Australian media finally laying down their pom-poms and ending the cheerleading routine in reporting how tough the Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon was in his war with his own Defence Department.What civilians cannot understand is the Defence Department is a universe of its own. Outsiders who do not know how to operate in this environment get chewed up pretty quick. Mr Fitzgibbon, through no fault of his own, lacks two things: he has never served in uniform and secondly, he does not hold the aces when it comes to playing political poker with his own Defence Department.

Only one man, TEAM UZUNOV points out, is capable of doing so: Colonel Iron Mike Kelly, Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Defence.

It was a TEAM UZUNOV blog that first revealed the worsening relationship between the Minister and his own Department when an outsider, Mr Tim Holding, was being floated as go-between or trouble shooter in Afghanistan.Later, TEAM UZUNOV revealed that because of the war between Mr Fitzgibbon and his Department that the only honourable thing was for him to fall on his sword.The media have now revealed that Mr Fitzgibbon has apologised for not declaring trips he undertook to
Chinahttp://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25249324-601,00.htmlJoel Fitzgibbon admits woman friend Helen Liu paid for China trips

Brad Norington and Patrick Walters March 27, 2009
Article from: The AustralianTHE future of Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon was in doubt last night after he was forced to apologise for failing to declare two trips he made to China that were paid for by Chinese businesswoman Helen Liu.The admission drew an immediate call by Malcolm Turnbull for Kevin Rudd to sack Mr Fitzgibbon.Revelation of the trips came after it was reported yesterday a covert investigation by officials from Mr Fitzgibbon's own Defence Department allegedly unearthed security concerns about his links with Ms Liu. The Defence Department's internal security agency has begun its own urgent investigation into the allegations that Defence officials spied on the minister...

---TEAM UZUNOV is not suggesting anything untoward in Mr Fitzgibbon's behavior and respects his privacy. However, with a real shooting war raging between the Taliban and Australian soldiers in Afghanistan the sideshow has taken the focus off that...Mr Fitzgibbon was lightly rebuked by the Australian media when it was also revealed he had taken a mate on a joyride into a warzone on board a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) flight.http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/fitzgibbon-defends-friends-afghan-trip-20080730-3naf.htmlFitzgibbon defends friend's Afghan tripMaria HawthorneJuly 30, 2008Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon says he has no regrets about his decision to take a friend on an official trip to war-torn Afghanistan.University academic Scott Holmes paid his own way to accompany Mr Fitzgibbon to the Anzac Day service in Gallipoli, with the trip also taking in Ankara and the Middle East.But they made an unscheduled diversion to Tarin Kowt after Australian soldier Jason Marks was killed in Afghanistan on their last night in Ankara.The opposition has labelled the trip "Joel's joy flight" and questioned the additional cost and security risk of taking Professor Holmes, an economics specialist and part-time adviser in Mr Fitzgibbon's electorate office, into Afghanistan.-------------------------------------------------

It is a pity that the Australian media play follow the pack mentality when reporting defence issues. The recent change in that behaviour could be explained that Mr Fitzgibbon's position has become untenable so the media now feel safe to move against him, without losing the privileges of free embedded trips to the Australian Army base in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan.Such cynical behaviour by the media does not serve the Australian taxpayer and his or her right to know about the goings on with the Defence Department-------------------------------------

Thursday, March 12, 2009DEFENCE MINISTER MUST GO
By Sasha UzunovCopyright 2009
Regardless of the SASR pay dispute, you know it is time for Australia's Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon to fall on his sword when he publicly has to wage a media war to bring his department under control.So much has been made by some journalists, acting more like cheerleaders and unofficial spin doctors, about how tough, feisty and angry Mr Fitzgibbon is with the Defence Department.He has launched a well crafted media campaign where he has vented his “anger” at his department over being kept in the dark on a number of issues and the break down in communication of events in Afghanistan. In an unusual move, his predecessor, Dr Brendan Nelson, from the opposition, backed him up in Federal Parliament. Subsequent events, such as the SASR pay dispute, have confirmed what many have been saying for a long time, and that is Mr Fitzgibbon is out of his depth.read

more...http://teamuzunovmedia.blogspot.com/2009/03/defence-minister-must-go.html---------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, January 30, 2009 -
TEAM UZUNOV
MINISTER ON AFGHAN FACT FINDING TRIP?
ExclusiveTim Holding - Brumby’s man turned PM Rudd’s international man of mystery?

VIC MINISTER WON’T CONFIRM OR DENY AFGHAN TRIP
By Sasha Uzunov

Copyright 2009

Mr Tim Holding, a Victorian State government minister who is a former Australian Army Reserve Special Forces soldier, will not confirm nor deny speculation about him undertaking a short fact finding mission to Afghanistan on behalf of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

A prominent strategic analyst, who has the close ear of governments, and speaking on the condition of anonymity, said he wanted to “float the idea of Mr Holding undertaking a fact finding mission to the Australian base in Tarin Kowt province [in Southern Afghanistan].”read more:http://teamuzunovmedia.blogspot.com/2009/03/holding-peacemakercircuit-breaker.html---------------------

The Age, Diary Column,
Tuesday, 3 February 2009.
Timmy, don't forget to pack the water canteen
by SUZANNE CARBONE

TIM Holding was dubbed "Twinkle Twinkle" because he was considered a little star, and he's really made an impact in the water portfolio with those faulty four-minute shower timers that last for 40 minutes or four hours. But Dim's moment to shine may have arrived.Former Australian soldier Sasha Uzunov, now a photo-journalist, writes in his blog that Holding (below) could be destined for Afghanistan as Kevin Rudd's "eyes and ears" on the ground. You see, Holding is well credentialed as a former member of the Army Reserve in the 1st Commando Regiment - and he's Tourism Minister.A "prominent Canberra strategic analyst" told Uzunov: "Mr Holding is an intelligent young politician with links to special forces. The Australian media underestimate his ability, which is why he would be ideal for the mission: he would slip under the media radar."The analyst claimed the PM was not happy with the flow of information from Afghanistan so the analyst would suggest Holding embark on a "fact-finding mission" to the Australian base in Tarin Kowt. Diary asked Commando Holding about swapping a fluoro vest for a flak jacket, and he said:....read more

BYE, BYE BATTALION - 4RAR

Photo: Alpha Company, 4RAR (Cdo), Holsworthy Barracks parade background, marches off to deploy to East Timor in 2001. (Photo by Sasha Uzunov)

BYE, BYE BATTALION
by Sasha "Uzi" Uzunov

A very sad day for those of us who served as non-commando riflemen with Australian army unit, The 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment - Commando - 4RAR (Cdo). It will be renamed 2nd Commando Regiment with effect 19 June 2009.

Some of us have fond memories of our service with the unit--based in Sydney's Holsworthy Barracks-- in peacetime and on Active Service in East Timor 2001.

See the Department of Defence media release:

MSPA 183/09 Thursday, 4 June 2009


4 RAR (COMMANDO) TO BECOME THE 2ND COMMANDO REGIMENT

Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie, today announced that Army’s 4th Battalion (Commando), the Royal Australian Regiment, (4 RAR Cdo) will be renamed as the 2nd Commando Regiment (2 Cdo Regt) on 19 June 2009.

The decision follows a comprehensive consultation process with current and previous serving members of 4 RAR (Cdo), as well as their families and support associations.

“While there were vast opinions to consider, we accepted the strong desire amongst current serving 4 RAR (Cdo) soldiers to rename the unit and effectively raise 2 Cdo Regt,” Lieutenant General Gillespie said.“The name 2 Cdo Regt more accurately reflects the roles and capabilities of the commandos and their command structure, which are distinct from our conventional infantry battalions.”

Army’s infantry battalions are primarily used to seize and hold territory, where commandos focus on special operations including raids, interdiction of enemy communication lines, seizing points of entry and counter terrorism / hostage rescue.4 RAR began transitioning in 1996 when Government directed Army to establish a second commando regiment with the ability to conduct special recovery and strike operations.

4 RAR (Cdo) is now nearing maturity as a special operations unit, and the name change to 2 Cdo Regt recognises this achievement as well as the skills and qualifications of its members.“Army will continue to honour the contribution the past members of 4 RAR and 4 RAR (Cdo) have made to its rich history, and the unit name will not be lost. 4 RAR will remain on Army’s Order of Battle and may be reinstated in the future, if and when the need arises,” Lieutenant General Gillespie said.

The name 2nd Commando Regiment was chosen as it logically complements the existing 1st Commando Regiment, and also reflects the unit’s historical links to the Australian Independent Commando Companies that operated in the Southwest Pacific in the Second World War.

2nd Commando Regiment will join the Special Air Service Regiment, Incident Response Regiment, 1st Commando Regiment, the Special Forces Training Centre and the Special Operations Logistics Squadron as part of Army’s Special Operations Command.

(end)

Brief History, courtesy of 4RAR Association website

http://www.4rarassociationsaustralia.com/history.html
4th BATTALION, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN REGIMENT

Introduction

4th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment 4 RAR (Cdo) is a battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment whose roll is Commando. They wear the distinctive Commando Green beret with the badge of the Royal Australian Regiment and the Commando Green parachute wings. They operate however as a Special Forces unit under Special Forces Operational Command.

The Beginning 1964: 4th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, (4 RAR) also known as “The Fighting Fourth” was raised at Woodside, South Australia on the first of February 1964 and as such was the first Infantry battalion of the Australian Regular Army to be raised on Australian soil.

Malaysia 1965 - 1967: After rigorous training in Australia, some training performed for the first time by any unit, the Battalion relieved 3 RAR as the Australian battalion of the 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade located in Malacca in West Malaysia.

Borneo 1966: This was a period of war with Indonesia which was opposed to the newly formed state of Malaysia. After conducting advanced training in West Malaysia, 4 RAR deployed to Borneo in April 1966 for the next five months conducted operations against the Indonesian army. During this time two significant large scale cross border raids by Indonesian forces were neutralised by the Battalion. The Battalion also conducted approximately 12 secret, long range platoon sized patrols deep into Indonesia.The Borneo area of operations was either rugged mountainous jungle or fetid swamp. This difficult terrain and the nature of secret long range patrols into Indonesian Borneo (Kalimantan) demanded a high standard of patrolling and battlecraft skills that provided excellent operational experience for the Battalion’s subsequent tour of South Vietnam in 1968 to 1969.

4 RAR returned to Australia from Malaysia in October 1967 and was immediately warned for deployment to South Vietnam. The Battalion had only seven months in Australia before beginning its tour in South Vietnam in June 1968.

South Vietnam 1968-1969: On arrival in Vietnam the Battalion was to be reduced to three rifle companies (usually four) and incorporate two companies of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment and would be known as 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment/ New Zealand (ANZAC) or 4 RAR/NZ (ANZAC).During the Battalion’s twelve months tour of South Vietnam during 1968 and 1969, it took part in 11 major operations and spent a total of 270 days in the field operating as a battalion, in addition to five major company sized operations and many smaller operations. As a result of some 90 contacts with the enemy, the Battalion lost 19 men killed in action and 84 wounded in action. It accounted for more than 300 enemy dead.

After this tour, the Battalion returned to Brisbane in June 1969 and prepared for a further tour of South Vietnam in 1971.

South Vietnam 1971-1972: In May 1971, 4RAR, again as an ANZAC Battalion, began operations only a week after arriving in South Vietnam. The Battalion actually remained in the field for the next seven and a half months. From June to December 1971, when the battalion was continuously engaged in patrolling, ambushing and attacking enemy bunker positions. During this period the Battalion conducted nine major operations. This included the major battle of Nui Le on the twenty first of September 1971,when D Company fought a fierce battle against two battalions and the Regimental Headquarters of the 33rd Regiment of the North Vietnam Army. After the battle, the last major engagement by Australian forces in South Vietnam, the 33rd Regiment removed itself from Phouc Tuy Province and never operated as a unit again.In December 1971, most of the Battalion returned to Townsville, Queensland. D Company remained behind until March 1972 to protect the remainder of the Australians prior to the withdrawal of all Australian troops from South Vietnam as a result of the North Vietnamese signing a peace treaty.During this second tour of South Vietnam, the Battalion suffered nine soldiers killed in action and thirty eight wounded in action. The Battalion accounted for ninety one enemy dead but it is highly probable that a further significant number of enemy were killed or wounded in the battle of Nui Le.

2/4 RAR 1973 - 1995: In 1973, the 4th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment were linked together to form the Second/Fourth Battalion or 2/4 RAR. This was because after Vietnam, the Army went through a major reduction in personnel. The Royal Australian Regiment was reduced from nine battalions to five and several battalions were linked together.Although 2/4 RAR did not deploy overseas as a battalion during this period, many individuals from the battalion served overseas in peace-keeping rolls in Cambodia in 1993, Somalia in 1993 and Rwanda in 1994.

4 RAR Re-raised 1995: On the First of February 1995, the 2nd Battalion and the 4th Battalion were separated and 4RAR was re-raised, 31 years after it was originally raised. The Fighting Fourth took up its new home at Holsworthy, NSW.

4 RAR (Cdo) 1997: On the first of February 1997, 4RAR was converted to a Special Forces Commando unit and renamed 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) or 4 RAR (Cdo).The first four years as a commando battalion kept the Fighting Fourth very busy training soldiers for its Special Forces role. At the same time it was tasked in a counter terrorist role for the Sydney Olympic Games.

East Timor 1999: In September 1999, a small team from 4 RAR (Cdo) were sent to East Timor and were involved mainly in VIP protection.

East Timor 2001: From April to October 2001, the Battalion deployed to East Timor, now officially named Timor Leste after gaining independence on 20 May 2002, where it again opposed Indonesians who attempted to interfere with the emergence of East Timor as an independent country after it broke away from Indonesia.

Counter Terrorist Training 2002 - 2003: After returning from East Timor in October 2001, the Battalion commenced intensive training to meet its Special Forces and Counter Terrorist capabilities.

Iraq 2003 - 2006: In February 2003, a 4 RAR (Cdo) company group was included in the Australian force deployed to support the Coalition forces during the second Gulf War.This was the first time that the Battalion had deployed a force on operations to undertake commando specific tasks such as Combat Search and Rescue and support to Special Air Service operations. 4 RAR (Cdo) remained in Iraq until 2007.

Afghanistan 2006: In 2006, a large 4 RAR (Cdo) element deployed on operations into Afghanistan as part of the Australian Special Operations Task Group. Much of the battalion’s operations in Afghanistan is still subject to security restrictions, but the Battalion has been involved in some fierce fighting. After one such action described as the fiercest action since the battle of Nui Le in South Vietnam, a sergeant was subsequently awarded the Star of Gallantry and a corporal was awarded the Medal for Gallantry. 4 RAR (Cdo) was awarded the Unit Citation for Gallantry and the 4RAR (Cdo) members who made up the Special Operations Task Group were awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation.

East Timor 2006: 2006 also saw the return of elements of 4 RAR (Cdo) to East Timor where they remained until 2007.

Australia 2006: 4 RAR (Cdo) now provides a long standing counter terrorist capability with the emphasis on rapid response, within eastern Australia.

Afghanistan 2007: 4 RAR (Cdo) was again warned for operations in Afghanistan and departed for Afghanistan in mid May 2007.Summary4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) is the Australian Army’s first regular commando unit, capable of undertaking large scale offensive, support and recovery operations beyond the scope and capability of other Australian Defence Force units.

4RAR (Cdo) today spans the divide between conventional and unconventional operations, providing the Australian Defence Force with a highly effective and flexible capability in times of crisis. It is now regarded as the best Commando unit in the world.

4 RAR (Cdo) is made up of approximately 800 men including Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force personnel but 800 men do not make a battalion. The 800 men have to learn the soldiers’ trade and disciplines. Even then they are not a battalion. An effective battalion, ready to fight implies a state of mind, a state of grace and a state of duty. It implies that it is possible to say, ‘the battalion thinks’ or ‘the battalion feels’ and this is not an exaggeration.

4 RAR (Cdo) is definitely a battalion in this sense and always was. It is not an exaggeration to say that 4RAR (Cdo) is regarded by friend and foe alike as the best of the best. They live and fight by the motto of The Royal Australian Regiment . . . . . . DUTY FIRST

Sasha "Uzi" Uzunov, 1 Section, 1 Platoon, Alpha Company, 4RAR (1-1-Alpha), on a hearts and minds patrol, Balibo, East Timor, 2001.

LINKS:

http://www.edenmagnet.com.au/news/local/news/general/unsung-hero/808795.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_Battalion,_Royal_Australian_Regiment

http://www.specialoperations.com/Foreign/Australia/SASR/4SASR.htm

http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1033/story05.htm

http://www.etan.org/et2001b/june/24-30/25tandthe.htm

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20876,20531687-28737,00.html

youtube clip featuring some archival footage of 4RAR -2000-01 period

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj3wj5GrYso

TALIBAN TELEPHONE TRICKS

Exclusive
DEFENCE SAYS TALIBAN DIDN’T MAKE CRANK CALL
By Sasha Uzunov
copyright 2009

Australian soldiers serving in Afghanistan have been warned as a security measure not leave personal mail, postcards or any other correspondence or emails unsecured or not properly disposed of after it was allegedly falling into the hands of the Taliban terrorists, and used in psychological warfare.

An American military source contacted TEAM UZUNOV to allege that an Australian female soldier from Western Australia had a letter inadvertently fall into the hands of the Taliban who then telephoned her parents back home threatening the soldier’s life.

Australia’s Defence Department Media unit, to its credit, has spent over a month investigating details but has denied the veracity of the allegation.

A Defence spokeswoman said:“The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has no record of the incident that is raised in your question.

“The ADF practices strict information security procedures that protect operational and personal information from falling into the hands of our adversaries.”

Mr Neil James, Executive Director of the Australia Defence Association, noted:“Perhaps the problem in this instance, if it occurred as described, resulted from improper disposal, that is a letter ended up at the tip instead of being shredded.

“The ADA is not aware of any Australian cases of families at home being targeted by the Taliban. However, in the era of the Internet, satellite phones, Taliban propaganda on blog sites being absorbed subjectively by so many, general misinformation on the war being so common, and sympathy for the Taliban among at least some in Australian society, it certainly seems possible.
As with Vietnam, the longer the war goes on the greater the risk that Australian extremists may resort to such harassment (or worse), either out of direct sympathy with and support for the Taliban, or as extreme and callous publicity seeking for their own extremist causes”.

“The harassment of families of personnel deployed during the Vietnam War certainly occurred. It was quite vicious in several cases and included vandalism of houses, constant telephone calls and personal confrontations involving foul-mouthed abuse and occasionally assault. The perpetrators were Australian extremists opposed to us being in Vietnam and some sabotage of military equipment and bases also occurred.”

Mr James said that during the Vietnam War (1962-72) the laws and legal loopholes of that era did not allow prosecution for actions, deliberately or recklessly taken, that aided the enemy the ADF were fighting on behalf of us all, even where some Australians disagreed.

Since the passage of the Security Legislation Amendment (Terrorism) Act, 2002, an Australian citizen anywhere in the world again commits treason if he or she (among other things: intentionally assists, by any means whatsoever, an enemy, at war with the Commonwealth; intentionally assists, by ‘any means whatsoever’, another country or organisation that is engaged in armed hostilities against the ADF; or forms an intention to do any of the above acts and manifests that intention by an overt act.

The Executive Director of the ADA added: “this is as it should be in any liberal democracy where our defence force is lawfully committed to UN-endorsed action by a democratically elected government on behalf of us all. Members of our defence force, quite rightly, cannot disobey lawful orders.

“We therefore owe a responsibility to the ADF not to let them down in any way, no matter how much some Australians might disagree with the Government’s decision to send them. Lawful and peaceful dissent is OK, aiding the enemy is not. All dissent and associated action should be directed at our Government not the diggers”

(end)

TALK THE TALK IN THE A-STAN

Scott Taylor - Canada's number one war reporter. (above)

Chronicle Herald newspaper (Canada)

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1118902.html

Time for our soldiers to talk the talk in Afghanistan

By SCOTT TAYLOR On Target
Mon. Apr 27 - 6:00 AM

DURING MY LAST unembedded tour in Afghanistan, I teamed up with Australian war correspondent Sasha Uzunov. Like me, Uzunov is a former soldier, and when necessary we would carry weapons for self-defence.

When operating in the volatile Kandahar region, the two of us "horajees" (foreigners), even armed with Kalashnikovs, would have been easy prey for the Taliban or criminal hostage-takers. As such, we employed a small group of Afghan security guards.

The leader of this contingent was a huge, fiercely bearded Pashtun whom we jokingly dubbed Chew Bacca due to his uncanny resemblance to the Star Wars wookie. In his workmanlike English, "Chewy" also acted as our tour guide for the Kandahar district. He would proudly point to a muddy canal and proclaim with a toothy grin, "This is the Arghandab River."

To Uzunov and me, it appeared to be a virtually dried-up irrigation ditch, but to Chewy, it was on par with the mighty Nile.

Dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, Chewy advised us that he knew why the world has come to Kandahar.

"It is because this region is so fertile," he said. Sweeping his arm to indicate a smattering of freshly planted fields, he asked, "Have you ever seen such a fertile place?"

We didn’t have the heart to tell him that his homeland is one of the most desolate and arid regions on the planet that is still considered habitable. Anyone in Canada who has seen the images in the newspaper or watched the videos on the nightly newscasts would be hard pressed to call the Afghan landscape "lush."

We realized that Chewy was illiterate and had no access to the Internet, and the only world he knew was the infertile area around Kandahar and the even more desolate desert that surrounds it.

Chewy had no idea that inside the NATO airfield, the assembled foreign soldiers have access to three massive mess halls serving four meals a day, and fast-food outlets that include Burger King, Pizza Hut and Tim Hortons — complete with Timbits and iced cappuccinos.

In Chewy’s opinion, all these troops and all their technology had descended on his home province to secure the dried apricot harvest of Kandahar.

Obviously, this example serves to illustrate the enormous cultural gap between the local Afghans and NATO forces, due to mutual ignorance. As guests — unwanted or invited, it makes no difference — it is incumbent upon us, the international community, to bridge that gap.

Our troops make extensive use of young Afghan translators. Despite the fact that we have been deploying troops to Afghanistan for seven years, we still do not have a single soldier in our battle group who is fluent in either Pashtu or Dari.

Every effort needs to be focused on training our soldiers to acquire at least a conversational level of Pashtu. In the army’s newly published doctrine on counter-insurgency operations, this communication shortcoming is noted. That’s a promising start.

Learning to speak Pashtu and being able to converse directly with the locals and comprehend all discussions at meetings with local tribal elders would enhance the operational efficiency of our battle group. Admittedly, Pashtu is not an easy language to learn, and I know that the Canadian Forces have had difficulty finding qualified instructors from among the Afghan diaspora in Canada.

But we have managed to build three gymnasiums on the airfield in Kandahar, where organized basketball leagues play, and Canadians’ pride and joy — an outdoor ball hockey rink, complete with boards and bleachers.

And plenty of time and effort has been devoted to building the recreation centre known as Canada House to provide a relaxing area for our off-duty troops to battle boredom by watching the NHL playoffs on large flat-screen televisions. There are even instructors available at Kandahar airfield to teach the twice-weekly ballroom dance classes.

While no one would suggest that our soldiers don’t deserve time to unwind while in theatre, I’m simply stating that many of these off-hours could be better spent learning the local language so that we may better understand the Afghan culture.

Given that we are scheduled to remain in Afghanistan until at least December 2011, it’s not too late to start.


( staylor@herald.ca) - http://www.espritdecorps.ca/

ONLINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate
www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=8805

Vietnam nightmare ends with newsman’s death
By Sasha Uzunov - Friday, 24 April 2009

Legendary newsman John Sorell, aged 72, has died. Sorell made his name with the infamous and inaccurate Vietnam war crime story in 1968. It was a story that was to unfairly plague and stigmatise all of Australia’s Vietnam War veterans for decades.

When Mark Dodd, a reporter with The Australian newspaper, alleged on September 2, 2008 that Australian troops in Afghanistan in April of that same year were detaining Taliban suspects in dog pens, which was both insensitive to Islam and in contravention of the Geneva Convention, it sent shivers down the spine of Vietnam Veterans, who recalled Sorell’s Viet Cong Water torture story.

The Chief of the Australian Defence Force, Air Chief Marshall Angus Houston, testifying to the Senate on October 22, 2008, said the Dodd story was wrong:

"I am able to advise that the Inquiry found that the available evidence did not support the allegation that the enclosures used by the ADF to house detainees on 29-30 April 2008 were “dog pens”.

"This appears to be a colloquial term that was used by only a few individuals interviewed in the initial inquiry and is not representative of the actual function of the enclosures. The inquiry found the expedient enclosures had not previously been used to house dogs. "

Sorell, a Walkely Award winning journalist with the now defunct Melbourne Herald newspaper, went on to become the hugely successful Director of News at television station GTV 9 Melbourne for 28 years before retiring in 2003.

In October 1966 he was in Vietnam reporting on the war. Sorell, then with the Herald, together with two other members of the Australian press, were outside a tent at Nui Dat, the Australian Army’s base when they saw a young female Viet Cong prisoner dragged in for interrogation.

An Army Warrant Officer, Ken Borland, who was not authorised to conduct interrogations, was seen carrying a jerry can of water into the tent. All three newsmen, at no stage ever entered inside nor witnessed what transpired. Borland poured no more than a cup of water into the mouth of the prisoner in order to get her to talk. His superiors when alerted put a halt to proceedings. So what began as harassment of a prisoner later developed into a war crime. She was later handed over to the South Vietnamese.

Sorell sat on the story for nearly two years, claiming censorship had stopped him running the story at the time, a claim strongly denied by the Army.

Paul Ham, in his brilliant book on Vietnam, Vietnam: The Australian War and also in The Weekend Australia, wrote:

Eighteen months later, in March 1968, an American journalist Martin Russ “revealed” in his book “Happy Hunting Ground” that Australian soldiers had “water tortured” a Vietnamese civilian: his only source was a conversation with two Australian journalists, one of whom was Sorell … The water torture case became part of the popular mythology that Australian troops were routinely committing atrocities …

Russ later disowned his story: “I didn’t see the Aussies use torture. The incident with the girl I wrote about was hearsay.”

As Ham points out: “The episode supplied an ‘atrocity’ when the media was particularly receptive to one, and equipped anti-war groups with a new weapon.”

The unfortunate consequence of the Sorell story was that Australian soldiers were unfairly painted as savages involved in an immoral war. But the inaccurate water torture story is the only cited example of a blemish on an otherwise clean conduct record of those Australians who all served, suffered or died fighting in the Vietnam War (1962-72). This Anzac Day we need to remember this.

-- (end) --

Other articles by this Author

» At war with his own Defence Department - March 31, 2009
» When politicians should step aside - March 19, 2009
» CSI Dubrovnik: the Britt Lapthorne mystery - March 4, 2009
» 'Reverse Balkan blowback': good guys become bad then good - February 19, 2009
» VC winner heralds a new era of heroes - January 23, 2009

2006 WARNING: BIKIE THREAT TO ARMY

The Sydney Daily Telegraph newspaper ran an "exclusive" story titled "Army in lockdown over bikie threats" by Simon Benson April 07, 2009... It reads:

"MILITARY facilities are in lockdown across southwest Sydney over fears bikie gangs may try to break in to weapons armouries.

The security alert at Holsworthy army base has been elevated to "safe base charlie" since 11am on Friday - around the same time bikie laws were being brought in to effect - The Daily Telegraph has learned."

read more...
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25300385-5018886,00.html

However, I had warned in a 2006 Herald Sun article of the danger posed by Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs to the Australian Army, especially Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney's South-west...

read below


Army finds a smoking gun
Article from: HERALD SUN NEWSPAPER
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20979777-5006029,00.html
By Sasha Uzunov
December 28, 2006 12:00am

SASHA Uzunov writes: AN ASIO investigation into Defence Force security follows reports of stolen weapons falling into the hands of drug dealers, hardened criminals and terrorists.There are fears criminals have obtained shoulder-fired 66mm rocket launchers, which the Australian Army will now restrict to specifically authorised operations.

Couple this with the Private Jake Kovco scandal and our frontline troops in Iraq receiving inadequate equipment.

More scandals are likely to follow as the decades of damage done to the Defence Force by desk warriors comes to the surface.

Desk warriors are the highly paid experts with no hands-on military experience who have created the mess within the Defence Department.

The irony is that these powerful people label those who investigate them as loose cannons or trouble-makers.

But they are the ones who are creating dangerous mischief. The ordinary soldier on the frontline is now suffering because of inadequate equipment and the public is facing security concerns because of missing weapons.

Some media organisations are listening, but others appear to ignore what is happening.
If so-called medical experts are to be questioned as to whether they have medical training, why not defence bureaucrats?

I had experience with instances of stolen weapons when I was a soldier serving with an infantry unit based at Holsworthy Barracks in NSW.

Two sniper rifles were stolen from the unit in 1999.

In 2001, a soldier, who was a storeman at the barracks in Liverpool and suspected of taking the sniper rifles, was caught stealing a 9mm pistol.

Military police raided his home in the neighbouring suburb of Moorebank and found an enormous amount of missing equipment in his garage.

He was thrown out of the army. But the sniper rifles are still missing.

Other equipment, such as night-vision goggles, GPS, or global positioning systems, and firearms would regularly go missing from the unit.

Drug dealers, outlaw bikie gangs and even possible Middle-Eastern terrorists were under suspicion.

There was thought to be a racket to steal weapons from Holsworthy Barracks by supplying soldiers with drugs and then blackmailing them.

Another method was for young, attractive women of Middle-Eastern background to meet soldiers on internet dating sites.

Young soldiers, being young soldiers, would meet these women and take them back to barracks for sex.

The unit's commanding officer found out and banned women from being brought back to barracks.

In Darwin, bikie gangs obtained night-vision goggles from soldiers serving with 5/7 RAR in exchange for drugs.

For too long security at our army bases has been lax. And for too long desk warriors in the Defence Department have not been held to account.

I only hope the Australian public does not have to pay the price. Taxpayers have already had to foot the salaries of these experts.

SASHA UZUNOV is a freelance photo-journalist and former Australian soldier

WAR WITH DEFENCE DEPARTMENT

At war with his own Defence Department
On Line opinion - Australia
By Sasha Uzunov - posted Tuesday, 31 March 2009

The Australian media have finally laid down their pom-poms and ended the cheerleading routine in reporting how tough the Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon was in his war with his own Defence Department...

read more... www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=8746&page=0