October - December 2002: CONTENTS:

Where is Australia heading?

In mid-year a number of changes in senior ADF appointments took place at a time when for several reasons defence issues were receiving much closer-than-usual public attention.
The principal changes were those of Chief of the Defence Force (CDF), Chief of Navy (CN) and Chief of Army (CA): the Chief of Air Force (CAP) remained in place. The deputies of CDF, CN and CA also changed.
It might be though odd to change three of the four senior ADF officers at the same time, but leaving this aside the incoming Chiefs took up their appointments in different circumstances to those their predecessors had inherited.
First and foremost was the September 2001 terrorist attack on New York's World Trade Centre and its consequences which, together with the government's "border protection" policy, placed considerable pressure on an ADF already under strain as a result of the East Timor and other peace-keeping/making commitments. The outcome of the American Presidential election and the Australian Federal election also played apart in focussing public attention on other than local events.
It is almost beyond belief that countries including Australia, still paying for the human and material costs of 2Oth Century wars, should again be considering war as a solution to problems. If ever there was a time for far-sighted and cool headed national leadership, this would seem to be that time.
Australia's political leaders will no doubt consult the armed forces chiefs when determining the path the country is to follow in the immediate and near future; it so happens the present Chiefs are well qualified to provide advice, perhaps unusually so, and it might be accepted their counsel will be heeded.

By Geoff Evans