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The world is watching the events of the Russian invasion of Ukraine unfold with a mixture of disbelief, dread, horror and, amazingly, inspiration and hope. The Ukrainian’s defence of their country against a seemingly irresistible Russian force provides important insights for Australia if we were ever to face a similar catastrophic and tragic fate. Even as a civilian observer, there are many emerging lessons to observe from the conflict. Of these, I have chosen just a few key areas to highlight in this …
“To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.” George Washington Introduction The government’s recent political announcement to expand the Australian Defence Force by 20,000 personnel is welcomed. To be a significant ‘land power’ deterrent, the Army will need the capability to expand numbers quickly with trained soldiers. Swiss history confirms the need for middle power nations to have a capable reserve force to mobilise in response to national security contingencies. The …
The Implications of the Precision Strike Revolution Introduction For several decades, the art of war has been in the midst of a revolution. The combination of pervasive sensors with long-range precision strike capabilities, that was first evident in the 1991 Gulf War, has spread globally. Once the Australian Army acquires HIMARS , it too will gain the ability to strike with precision and at distances which are currently beyond reach. Moreover, as the technology improves, the distance at which these weapons …
This Spotlight Brief provides an introduction and context to the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. It discusses Ukraine’s strategic circumstances and provides an overview of the chain of events which led to it. The Brief aims to provide a wide audience with a basis of knowledge to better understand the relationship between Russia and Ukraine and why the conflict occurred. … Spotlight Brief …
Four New Principles of War The Principles of War (POW) that we ascribe to have long been studied and advocated in military institutions. Based on the post-World War One work of Major General J F C Fuller CB, CBE, DSO, their importance as a foundation for the conduct of warfare has been reaffirmed over the years. Originally there were nine Principles, with the tenth being added subsequently (initially referred to as ‘Administration’, it is now known as ‘Sustainability’). The pace of technological advance …
A Framework for Irregular Warfare Australia has a long history with insurgency and considers its experience in Phuoc Tuy, Vietnam and Uruzghan, Afghanistan, as examples evidencing a reputation as a world leader in this space. An innate capability for insurgency and irregular warfare would seem logical given the frequency of insurgency in our region; almost all South-East Asian nations have experienced insurgency since World War II. [1] Despite this context and recent operational experience in Iraq and …
A Strategic Plan for Tunisia Tunisia is challenged by a dual insurgency, with affiliates of al-Qaeda and ISIS exploiting grievances within the population and leveraging Islam to mobilise support. The objective of these affiliates is to discredit the Tunisian authorities and install a sharia-ruled government. [1] Tunisia’s strategic partnership with Algeria has moderately suppressed a cross-border insurgency in Tunisia’s west, although the insurgency still leads the contest for the control of the …
The decision by President Biden’s Administration to withdraw from Afghanistan received strong criticism and opposition from many military veterans, former decision makers and policy analysts from Capitol Hill . While the basis for criticism is diverse, one common feature that emerges from the commentary is a strong sense that the US was unable to achieve an integrated civil-military strategy to underpin decision making in Afghanistan , and that the same fault beleaguered operations in Iraq and Syria. The …
The British Army on the Western Front 1917 By Ed Spencer Jones Helion , Warwick, 2022, 514pp, Images: 87 b/w photos, 21 maps 9781914059858 - Paperback Reviewed by BRIG Chris Roberts AM. CSC (Retd.) This is the fourth in the series of splendid books edited by Dr Spencer Jones which provide insights into the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) on the Western Front. Each volume covers a year of the war and this one delivers the same high standards of scholarship as its predecessors. The books’ value lies in …
The Defence of Portugal during the Peninsular War, 1807 – 1814 By Mark S. Thompson Helion , Warwick, 2021, 224pp, Images: 28 colour and 50 b/w illustrations, maps and diagrams 9781914059858 - Paperback Reviewed by BRIG Chris Roberts (Retd.) In this meticulously researched book, Mark Thompson delivers a comprehensive study filled with a wealth of information on the planning, construction, and defence of the Lines of Torres Vedras. Along the way, the author challenges some earlier held views, providing …
