While it is flattering that a former officer of Brigadier David Buring’s seniority has written a six-page review of my book, it is remarkable that he has overlooked the first requirement of book review writing: to understand the work under review. Buring’s misreading of The Minefield begins in his first sentence where he states that the book is ‘on the Australian Army’s mine warfare experience in Vietnam’. The subject is, rather, the minefield Brigadier Stuart Graham ordered First Australian Task Force …

The interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq have highlighted the difficulties in building a sustainable peace and a conceptual and institutional ‘gap’ in the UK’s peacebuilding capabilities. Consequently, both operations have witnessed the introduction of new approaches to managing stability operations. Whilst these are unlikely to resolve the broader strategic challenges, they represent a range of useful developments in the delivery of a ‘stabilisation’ effect. The core ideas are the focus on …

Distinguished guests, colleagues, friends, ladies and gentlemen. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to this year’s Chief of Army’s Military History Conference. I have watched the progress and development of these conferences over the years and regard them now to be a major element in both the development of Army’s professional military education and in our interaction with the Australian community. The study of military history is important. It forms a part of our learning cycle. What is happening …

Abstract This article examines the role that chaplains could possibly play in the future Army. The author argues that, if properly resourced, tomorrow’s chaplains could be employed as interagency leaders of the ‘Welfare Warfighter’ community on operations. This arrangement could provide commanders with a valuable capability applicable across Adaptive Campaigning ’s five lines of operations. How can Army enhance the contribution that chaplains make to our warfighting capabilities, and how do Australia’s …

Abstract This article examines the dichotomy of planning versus thinking. Examining a diverse range of historical factors, the author concludes that planning—with its comfortable certainty—has replaced the troublingly uncertain act of thinking. This trend must be addressed if the Army is to have the best chance for success in the uncertain future that lies ahead. One Marine officer remembered walking into the Army’s big operations center at Camp Victory that spring (2004) and being appalled. He surveyed …

Abstract This article explores the role that Army health capabilities could play in an Adaptive Campaigning operational framework. The authors argue that, as the Army begins to recognise the importance of health support to the population, Army health personnel must take on responsibilities additional to their normal combat health role. These include the temporary provision of obstetrics, paedeatrics and midwifery to the indigenous population, the adoption of more flexible health unit organisations, and the …

Abstract This article outlines three separate critiques of the Australian Army’s new Adaptive Campaigning concept. The author argues that both the ‘Adaptive Action’ and ‘Adaption Cycle’ elements of the new concept are superfluous given that other sound concepts like JMAP and the OODA loop already exist. The author also takes exception with the Joint Land Combat vision, which he perceives as being ‘inwardly focused and process driven’, and which he maintains too readily cedes the initiative to the enemy. …

Abstract With the Australian Army’s Complex Warfighting in mind, this article delves into the debate surrounding the nature of future wars and future warfare. Drawing on prominent figures in the current literature, the author concludes that while the fundamentals of war will remain solid, they will manifest themselves in ways that appear, at least initially, unrecognisable. The author argues that Clausewitz’s ‘Trinitarian’ conception of war—properly understood—provides a suitable framework for …

Abstract This article examines the factors that most often make up the motivation behind suicide attacks. The author argues that it is rarely one issue that influences the behaviour of individuals and groups who resort to suicide attacks, and addresses several misconceptions that exist regarding these dangerous enemies. Do not kill yourselves. God is merciful to you, but he that does that through wickedness and injustice shall be burned in fire. That is easy enough for God. - Koran, Surah 4:29 In recent …

Abstract This article examines the issue of casualty aversion. The author concludes that this is more of a myth than a reality, and exists largely within the minds of the decision-making elite. The article explores the ramifications of this fact, demonstrating that casualty aversion and excessive force protection cedes a valuable asymmetric advantage to the enemy and prevents the full range of strategic options from being exercised in pursuit of political goals. For a nation at war Australia has been …