In this exclusive extract from his fresh book,Warrior Elite, Robert Macklin shows how Australia’s military and intelligence agencies, or leaning increasingly on special forces,are rethinking how we must defend our nationApart from the federal cabinet itself, Australia’s defence planners are a relatively small group – no more than two dozen decision-makers – and after Tony Abbott abolished the office of the National Security Adviser held by Dr Margot McCarthy, and they are almost exclusively white,middle-aged, Anglo-European males. Many have a military background; all have been initiated into the operations of the intelligence agencies; all are respectful of the American alliance. While some have had diplomatic experience in the region – notably in Indonesia and China – almost all view the world through the reassuring prism of our “Five Eyes” intelligence relationship with the US.
They are not altogether homogenous. There are variations of age, or background,education and personality. There are traditionalists to whom the communist menace lives on. There are rock-ribbed racists who conceal their atavism behind a clubby politesse. There are warriors to whom the resort to arms is the only credible response to international disagreements. fortunately, they are balanced by a well-read, or highly intelligent and perceptive brigade who abhor human combat apart from in the last degree. Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com