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| Down Under |
| Australia revamping military to deal with terrorism, WMD threats |
| 2005-12-15 |
| Australiaâs armed forces will be revamped to better fight terror and crack down on weapons of mass destruction under a new strategy unveiled by Defence Minister Robert Hill on Thursday. The new defence outlook is designed to make the Australian military more flexible and increase troop numbers, and puts the fight against terror and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction at the centre of planning. It also includes plans for major purchases, such as heavy-lift aircraft, to help Australian forces deploy quickly to regional troublespots and to help deliver aid in the event of regional disasters. âDefeating the threat of terrorism, countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and supporting regional states in difficulty remain the governmentâs highest priorities,â Hill said. Australia, a strong ally of the United States, has about 1,300 forces in and around Iraq, as well as 200 special forces in Afghanistan helping U.S. forces hunt down Taliban an al Qaeda fighters. Australia also has a military aid team in Pakistan. But Australia has also taken a stronger military role in the Pacific region in recent years, sending more than 5,000 troops to East Timor to quell militia violence in 1999, and sending 1,400 military personnel to the Solomon Islands in 2003 to help stop the countryâs decline into violence and anarchy. Australia is also strong supporter of the regional Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), designed to intercept the illegal transport of weapons of mass destruction, which has the support of 60 nations. Defence analyst Aldo Borgu, from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said the review had a stronger defence focus on global issues and Australiaâs regional interests. âThe problem is there is a big step up in the rhetoric in the strategy, but not a big step up in capability,â Borgu told Australian television. Hill said under the new defence outlook, Australia will pass new laws to allow the defence forces to help civil authorities in Australia during periods of national emergency. He said Australia aims to expand army troops numbers by 1,500 over the next 10 years, with the army to be restructured into new flexible battlegroups, while Australia would look at new tanks, helicopters, trucks and transport to help with army deployments. âIn the years ahead, we might also find ourselves facing challenges that cannot be anticipated or predicted easily,â Hill said. âThis puts a focus on forces that are versatile, robust, joint and integrated,â he said. Australiaâs army currently has about 42,000 soldiers, including 16,800 reservists and 25,400 permanent soldiers. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #3 Just for the record, there are 5mill known firearms in Australia, of which 2.5mill are registered. 1996 gun laws changes removed semi auto's and pump shotguns, unless you are a pro feral shooter. We dont know how many illegal weapons the Lebanese (and other) gangs have in Sydney, but guns or not us AUSSIES not putting up with it. |
| Posted by: Sundown 2005-12-15 16:09 |
| #2 The Great Wall of Lakemba should come out of the military budget. |
| Posted by: Grunter 2005-12-15 11:37 |
| #1 Fortunately Oz does not have Posse Comitatus since they disarmed their own citizenry just a while back. Wonder how many of their voters are rethinking that move? |
| Posted by: Phaiter Creasing4965 2005-12-15 10:41 |