Articles and analysis

U.S. terrorism threats, alarums and excursions

By Fred Burton and Scott Stewart

Summer has arrived, bringing with it rumors of attacks against the U.S. homeland. Currently, we are hearing unconfirmed word of plans in place for jihadists to be dispatched from Pakistan to conduct coordinated suicide attacks against soft targets in as many as 10 U.S. cities.

This year, the rumors seem to be emerging a little later and with a little less fanfare than last year, when we saw a number of highly publicized warnings, such as that from Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and a National Intelligence Estimate saying al Qaeda was gaining strength.

Australian defence plans - update and status

By Great North News Services staff reporter

A new Defence White Paper was commissioned in February this year, "a vital planning document that will form the foundation of our future Defence capabilities", according to Defence Minister Fitzgibbon.

"We owe it to the Australian people to get this planning right. The White Paper will help the government make fully-informed and cost-effective decisions about the military capabilities we need to defend Australia and to promote our interests," he said.

A series of accompanying reviews (Companion Reviews) will be conducted across a range of defence areas to underpin the new White Paper. They will be a key input to developing defence business and budget priorities from now until 2030.

CDS Stakes was - and will be? - a two horse race

Sources close to the stables suggest that the extension of the tenure of Jock Stirrup as CDS (Chief of Defence Staff, UK MoD for our overseas readers) was, as the Duke of Wellington said, "a damn close run thing".

Perhaps surprisingly, Glen Torpy was the principal also-ran, much to the chagrin of Jonathan Band. Richard Dannatt was unsurprised, as he'd laid down promotion for his men (and women) – a sacrifice that bestows more merit than the future peerage the modern CDS might expect.

Articles and analysis

U.S. terrorism threats, alarums and excursions

Australian defence plans - update and status

CDS Stakes was - and will be? - a two horse race

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