Only one week to this important lecture on national security
Dear , This morning’s The Australian newspaper had the headline “Long range: missiles on the yonder” above a story by Greg Sheridan about the government’s latest missile purchase. The missiles are not due to arrive until 2035, and the budget is only 25% of what they will cost. Well, I guess who cares? Our replacement subs don’t arrive until around then either, with luck, only 8 years after the year President Xi has nominated as the year he might precipitate a Pacific war by attempting to invade Taiwan. Our guest speaker, Major General (Ret) Mick Ryan AM would care, for one, but would you believe his concerns are even more pressing? Mick is concerned about what he calls the Adaptation War being waged by our authoritarian adversaries. It’s a term which describes a quick learning and adaptation environment where military advances are conceptualised, transmitted, implemented and deployed at light speed. Maybe even warp speed compared to Australia’s procurement practices. Mick will be speaking on Wednesday August 19, at the premises of PeopleIn, Level 6, 540 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley Q 4006 at 6:00 for 6:30 pm. To book click here. Member tickets are $30 with $20 concessions and include antipasto and drinks. War has always reflected the societies that wage it. But modern warfare increasingly turns on how quickly armies, industries and societies can generate ideas, test them, discard the failures and put the successes into the field. Ukraine is a good example of both. Not only have drone and robotic technology transformed the battlefront, but both the Ukrainians and the Russians have been conducting institutional reforms of their militaries to be more adaptive, innovative and effective with the tools they have. (You might have seen some of their sackings reported recently in the newspapers). Civilians and civilian institutions also play their role as the best ideas often aren’t in the military in the first place. I sometimes feel like I am living in Hobbiton when I look around Australia. The world is more dangerous than at any time in my lifetime, yet our political discourse seems increasingly concerned with making life comfortable rather than making the country secure. And I’m not just talking about the ALP government. I don’t see much urgency from either of our “conservative” parties. One Nation doesn’t have a defence policy up on its website, while the Liberals lump defence in with crime. That’s not just a reflection on them, it’s a reflection on us that they’re not getting a loud message about the need for defence. Look forward to seeing you next week. Just click here to book. Kind regards, GRAHAM YOUNG
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE ROR PROGRESS
|
