Asia-Pacific Defence & Security Exhibition (APDSE).
ACTION AGAINST THE DEVELOPMENT OF HYPERSONIC WEAPONS.
NO WAR FAIR — STOP APDSE!
Closing date: 1st October, 2008. More details (includes these items):
THE CASE AGAINST AUSTRALIAN INVOLVEMENT
IN THE UNITED STATES MISSILE DEFENCE PROGRAM (pdf)
Submission regarding Australian involvement in Missile Defence (pdf)
Australia’s National Security - Briefing Paper (pdf)
Coversheet for Defence White Paper Community Consultation Submissions
StratCom and the Domination of (Cyber) Space.
May 2009
It seems an unlikely place from which to try to dominate the world…
A remote Air Force base in rural Nebraska, twelve miles south of Omaha. There's even a cornfield across the road. continued
Harsh new laws to hit Pine Gap protesters
Sydney Morning Herald, March 15, 2009
The Federal Government has quietly beefed up laws protecting the US spy station Pine Gap, ensuring protesters face seven years' jail if they go near or photograph the intelligence-gathering facility.
Continued
Support the Mugeon-ri farmers - No expansion of the military training area
Info. here
Harsh new laws to hit Pine Gap protesters
Sydney Morning Herald, March 15, 2009
Too Many Overseas Bases by David Vine
Foreign Policy In Focus. February 26, 2009
In the midst of an economic crisis that's getting scarier by the day, it's time to ask whether the nation can really afford some 1,000 military bases overseas. For those unfamiliar with the issue, you read that number correctly. One thousand. One thousand U.S. military bases outside the 50 states and Washington , DC , representing the largest collection of bases in world history. Continued
How the "Special Relationship’ Works
by Jake Lynch
“In building a balance of power that favors freedom, the United States is guided by the conviction that all nations have important responsibilities”. So says the US National Security Strategy, the 2002 version in this case, and just one more iteration of a long-established strategic posture: the so-called ‘hub and spoke’ doctrine of American foreign policy.
Countries are defined by their relationship with America, not each other; and they know where they have to come, to receive their orders: “Nations that enjoy freedom must actively fight terror. Nations that depend on international stability must help prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction. Nations that seek international aid must govern themselves wisely, so that aid is well spent. For freedom to thrive, accountability must be expected and required”. ...Continued
The Phantom Menace –
Labor’s Defence Review a blast from the past By Jake Lynch
By the mid-1970s, the old Soviet Union was in a state of advanced decay, its systems degraded to the point where keeping up with the West had faded to a distant dream. So, good news then, taking the pressure off military budgets and freeing up resources for social spending? Well, not for everyone. In Washington, CIA appraisals of the receding threat from Moscow were brushed aside by a team convened on the orders of President Gerald Ford – keen to prove, perhaps, that he really could walk and chew gum at the same time – to pore over the same field reports and raw data, and second-guess the assessments drawn up by the Agency’s top analysts. ...Continued
The New Art of War
By Walter Pincus
Monday, March 3, 2008
If there were any doubts that the United States is preparing for war in space and cyberspace, testimony before the Strategic Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee last week would have wiped them away.
According to Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, head of U.S. Strategic Command, "our adversaries understand our dependence upon space-based capabilities, and we must be ready to detect, track, characterize, attribute, predict and respond to any threat to our space infrastructure." ...Continued
Bringing It Home
by Jake Lynch
I live in the northern Sydney suburb of St Ives, in an area known as Ku-ring-gai, so called after the Aboriginal people who are its traditional owners and custodians. Ku-ring-gai was named in a survey last year as having the highest quality of life of anywhere in Australia. Australia being, at the same time, top of the UN’s Human Development Index, we could be said to enjoy the highest quality of life anywhere in the world (that grinding sound you can hear is the local real estate agents sharpening their pencils). ...Continued
Meeting basic needs or funding war?
The time to stop military spending is NOW!
continued
THE MANY AND THE FUGUE by Jake Lynch
Continued
Take Action Against the Development of Hypersonic Weapons
Demo. October 6, 2008.
Details
The Pine Gap 4 are acquitted of their convictions in Feb 2008
under the Defence (Special Undertakings)
Act 1952.
It was a unanimous decision by the full bench of the Northern Territory Court of Criminal Appeal.
The three judges agreed with our submission that there was a miscarriage of justice at last year's trial because we were not able to bring evidence before the jury about the function of Pine Gap.
continued.
A list of US Bases in Australia: While this list is not exhaustive it does purport to show the entanglements of the Australian military in the US military. continued
MAP: US military bases in Australia.
What is National Missile Defence (NMD): The stated purpose of the US National Missile Defence system (NMD or also called “Star Wars”) is to protect US territory from attack by a limited number of intercontinental-range ballistic missiles (ICBMs) armed with nuclear, biological, or chemical warheads. continued [Word doc]
Pine Gap: Notice to Quit: In November this year the Federal Government can give three year's notice that it intends to terminate the agreement which permits the United States base to continue operating at Pine Gap. Pine Gap is one of the largest and most important United States war fighting and intelligence gathering bases in the world. It is also a front-line base for the US Star Wars system. Between November 1 and November 14, email, fax, write, phone and/or call the Minister for Defence, demanding that the Government give notice to terminate the agreement and close down Pine Gap. continued.
Pine Gap — Analysis and Commentary:
Briefing Paper;
Background on Pine Gap;
The US military base at Pine Gap and Alice Springs.
Background issues:
Star Wars: The Armed Wing of Globalisation;
Theatre Missile Defence;
The Target is China.
Important newspaper articles:
Master of Space ;
Star Wars: The Next Generation;
Flawed defences: Bush's missile plan may explode in his face.
What is to be done?
Form letter to Australian Government and Opposition
Pine Gap AABCC Bulletin articles
(.pdf files open in new window):
Peace activists penetrate Pine Gap
[Issue No. 11, AABCC Bulletin]
Pine Gap – Notice to quit [Full story]
Bush uses Pine Gap to spy on Americans: [Issue No. 11. AABCC Bullletin]
Brigitte and Alice Springs and Pine Gap [Issue No. 4, page 4, AABCC Bulletin]
Qantas claims added security is to protect space base, not people.
[Issue No. 3, page 7, AABCC Bulletin]
Richmond Air Base: Richmond RAAF Base is a direct connection with the US spy base at Pine Gap near Springs. Richmond RAAF host a detachment of USAF Air Mobility Support Squadron its precise designation is Det. 1, 635th Air Mobility Support Squadron. Continued.
Pine Gap Desert Peace Protest 2002 report: Full report on 2002 Peace Protest
Photos: Pine Gap base | Desert Peace Protest
Desert Peace Protest Press Releases:
Sunday, 6 October 2002 - Anti-war activists to enter Pine Gap
Monday, 7 October 2002 - Pine Gap protesters heading home to NSW
STAR WARS - Analysis and Commentary:
Briefing Paper
Star Wars - The Armed Wing of Globalisation
Theatre Missile Defence
Text of senate motion March 2001
Star Wars AABCC Bulletin articles (.pdf files open in new window):
Australia Signs Up For Star Wars.[Issue No. 3, front page, AABCC Bulletin]
Canadian debate on Star Wars [Issue No. 3, page 2, AABCC Bulletin
Australian radar systems and Star Wars. [Issue No 4, page 2, AABCC Bulletin]
Missile defence for Australia: Vital development or strategic snake oil? [Issue No. 4, page 2. AABCC Bulletin]
Important Newspaper Articles:
Costs Mount for Full Spectrum Dominance
Susan M. Menke, Government Computer News Staff. 2 March, 2004
The integrated space-air-land-sea battlespace envisioned by the Defense Department and industry will cost about $200 billion over the next decade, Boeing Co.'s Roger Roberts said today.
1 Billion Dollar Question: Where Has All the Air Force EELV Money Gone?
John Kelly, Chris Kridler and Kelly Young. 25 August 2002
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Taxpayers may never know how Lockheed Martin Corp. and The Boeing Co. spend at least $1 billion in taxpayer money set aside to design, build and launch new rockets the military needs to lift heavier satellites into space.
US Seeks Foreign Aid for Missile Defence
Bradley Graham, Washington Post Staff Writer 29 June, 2002
The Bush administration is embarking on a plan to enlist foreign governments and firms in its missile defense program by launching a round of official visits next month to NATO capitals and later to Asian cities to discuss potential cooperation.
The Next Battlefield May Be In Outer Space
Jack Hitt, NY Times Article, Mon, 6 Aug 2001
The Defense Department's newest satellite technology, Warfighter I, sits inside a protected clean room in Germantown, Md. To enter, you must run your shoes through a cleaning device and then don a "bunny suit," a layered hooded outfit that covers every part of your body except your eyes.
Master of Space
by Karl Grossman - professor of journalism at the State University of New York/College at Old Westbury. The Irish Times, Monday, February 5, 2001
On November 1, the General Assembly of the United Nations voted to reaffirm the Outer Space Treaty - the fundamental international law that establishes that space should be reserved for peaceful uses.
Flawed defences: Bush's missile plan may explode in his face :
Special report: George Bush's America
The Guardian. February 6, 2001
The contradictions and paradoxes inherent in US missile defence plans are proliferating faster
than the weapons of mass destruction the Americans seek to neutralise.
Star Wars: The Next Generation
William D. Hartung and Michelle Ciarrocca. Baltimore Sun Jan. 31, 2001
When President Bush tapped Donald Rumsfeld for defense secretary, he signaled his intention to
assign this well-seasoned Pentagon veteran the task of selling missile defense to Congress and US allies.
WA Mooted as Site for Test Range
Ruth Callaghan, West Australian. 25 July 2000
FOUR ballistic missiles were fired from the north of WA in 1997, tracked as they travelled 117km through the air at high speed and allowed to land in the ocean.
America's Target WA Site for Secret Rock Base
Sean Cowan and Ruth Callaghan, West Australian 25 July 2000
Residents of northern WA
are up in arms over a proposal to use the area to test American missiles.
United States and Australian defence officials have slated WA as home to a site from which to launch ballistic missiles for US warships to use as target practice.
The plan could draw the State into an international row over weapons proliferation. MISSILE DEFENCE ("Star Wars") briefing paper - The US Missile Defence (MD) program involves developing a system to intercept in flight a limited number of intercontinental-range ballistic missiles (ICBMs) armed with nuclear, biological, or chemical warheads.
For Pentagon, Asia Moving to Forefront
Thomas E. Ricks, Washington Post Staff Writer 26 May, 2000
When Pentagon officials first sat down last year to update the core planning document of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, they listed China as a potential future adversary, a momentous change from the last decade of the Cold War.
Iraq - Analysis and Commentary:
Pine Gap's role in the attack on Iraq
by Dr Hannah Middleton Stop Star Wars campaigner,
Australian Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition
Sanctions, human rights and international law.
Denis Halliday speaking at the Centre for International Public Law,
Australian National Uni, Canberra. 11 April 2000
Australia's role in the threatened war against Iraq
by Denis Doherty, National Co-ordinator, AABCC
Press Releases:
6 February 2003: Is Powel using Pine Gap to tell lies?
by Denis Doherty, National Co-ordinator of AABCC.
War News:
Report of War on Iraq from 23-28 March 2003 based on Russian military intelligence reports.
Fact Sheet:
Spending on Australian military forces
Campaigning tools:
Letter to Sydney Morning Herald by Dr. Hannah Middleton;
Sample Media Release
Defence Review 2000:
AABCC Submission;
Youth Centre Submission;
Out of School Hours (OOSH) - Child Care Submission;
University Students Submission;
Julie Clutterbuck draft submission;
Defence Review 2000 by Dr Ian Buckley, MAPW;
Communist Party of Australia Submission to the Defence Review;
Comments on Defence Review 2000 by Dr Hannah Middleton;
Proposed UNAA Response to the Defence Review 2000;
Canberra Quaker Meeting Response to the Defence Review 2000;
Submission on Defence Review 2000 White Paper - Doug Everingham;
Australian Democrats Position on the Proposed Defence White Paper.
Contribution to Community Consultation:
Public Meeting
Papers from the Medical Association for Prevention of War (MAPW):
Appendix 4 - Pine Gap & Nurrungar & Appendix 5 - The Target is China
Sydney Peace Bulletin: Non-Violent Protests Disturb Talisman Sabre
Talisman Sabre 2009 Stop the War Games
Talisman Sabre Details (pdf)
Talisman Sabre Travel Details (pdf)
..........
2007: The Talisman Sabre military exercise will took place in June 2007 with thousands of US and Australian troops practising bombing, parachute drops and on-shore landings, combining land, sea, and air forces.
The establishment of three new Australia-US ‘training facilities’ (Bradshaw and Delamere Range in NT and Shoalwater Bay in Qld) and increased joint training send out a clear message of antagonistic military might. The war games are not designed to defend Australia or protect its people.
Talisman Sabre involves US nuclear-powered vessels and the US fleet may carry nuclear weapons and depleted uranium munitions. Nuclear-powered vessels put our environment at risk. Nuclear weapons put our planet at risk.
Talisman Sabre affects world heritage areas, such as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, and natural heritage listed sites which include habitat for threatened species such as dugongs and humpback whales.
Environmental impacts include air quality, fire potential, noise pollution, waste disposal and spills and erosion from amphibian craft landings and weapon.
Talisman Sabre '07 Peace convergence report & photos
2005:
10-13 March Peace Convergence Report & Photos.
Report of the 2005 Protests against Talisman Sabre:
[Anti-Bases Bulletin Issue No. 9. pdf - opens in new window)
DU Background info.
Action Sheet.
Submission on the Lancelin Extensions by Denis Doherty, AABCC Co-ordinator
About Crocodile 2003 Military Training