2nd Commando Regiment // Balikatan '22

Whipped up a couple of gifs for myself but I decided to share them instead. These are from Balikatan 2022 held in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines featuring U.S Navy SEALS, Australian Special Forces (2CDO) and Philippine Special Forces.

video c: Times Archives

Australian Army Soldiers during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2015 at Fog Bay, Australia.

The U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Louis Rojas/Released (2015).

RIMPAC 2022 // Australian Army

YouTube: gives me an army ad

This is based off the video you’re watching and your interests

The video: Sims 4 Dine Out

My interests: Not the Army™️

war is dumb (censored)

The ANZACs sailed from Albany to a cheering crowd They were searching for adventure and to show the Krauts They were set upon the headland, mud up to their knees and gunned down by the hundred for his majesty and they were cut down by the thousand for his majesty

Listen now on… Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/4C26BHLAL2Lt2EvFm3hD3S Sound Cloud - https://soundcloud.com/warisdumb/war-is-dumb iTunes - https://music.apple.com/us/album/war-is-dumb-single/1624413967 youtube - https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=OnH0XZGlRMA

A woman waits in Geraldton looking out to sea wondering did he get my letter and tin of bickies She's scanning the horizon, searching for a crumb The birds proceed to mock her crying war is [ _ ] dumb and the birds they seem to mock her crying war is [ _ ] dumb

We swept up all our young men sent them to Khe San. Made complicit with a genocide while marching to a band Scarred with images and faces, thinking back to where they're from, a child tugging at his coattails, "papa, war is [ _ ] wrong" a child tugging at your coattails saying "war is [ _ ] wrong"

Our Diggers went to Timor, across the dire strait Our intelligence betrayed them, they were spying on our mates At the time we did not know it, but we found the shoe that fit the bill signed Alexander Downer p.s. wars a [ _ ] [ _ ] and we made him our Ambassador, what a [ _ ] dick He dishonored our brave soldiers, yeah, wars are [ _ ] [ __ ]

Lest we may forget the wars we choose not to see We tried to cleanse Tasmania of Aborigine Thank Christ we did not prevail, but there's a price to pay We still choose to discriminate, saying "war is [ __ ] gay", Do you think that we might change the date of Australia Day?

This 11th of November, would you spare a thought my friends for all our brave young soldiers who met a bloody end Have a snagger and play two up, would you like to place a punt

One thing that you can bet on, wars a bloody bad idea, it's a mad idea my friends With violent means, we'll reap a violent end

One thing that you can bet on… war is [ _ ] dumb We still choose to discriminate… war is [ _ ] dumb the bill signed Alexander… war is [ _ ] dumb a child tugging at your coattails saying… war is [ _ ] dumb the birds that seem to mock her crying… war is [ __ ] dumb

There's one thing we know for certain, yes, i think we can agree… please because it echoes through our history books "war is [ _ ] dumb" it echoes through our history books "war is [ _ ] dumb"

References

Australian War Memorial - www.awm.gov.au First Australian Imperial Force in World War 1 - www.anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/military-organisation/australian-imperial-force HMAS Sydney II Memorial - www.hmassydneymemorialgeraldton.com.au The Brereton Report - https://afghanistaninquiry.defence.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-11/IGADF-Afghanistan-Inquiry-Public-Release-Version.pdf Behind the investigation into torture allegations by Australians in Timor - www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/465420/behind-the-investigation-into-torture-allegations-by-australians-in-timor Witness K and the 'outrageous' spy scandal that failed to shame Australia - www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/aug/10/witness-k-and-the-outrageous-spy-scandal-that-failed-to-shame-australia Court documents claim Alexander Downer called Timor-Leste an 'open book' in 2000 years before bugging scandal - www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-09/australia-may-have-bugged-timor-leste-political-leaders-in-2000/100815352 Explainer: the evidence for the Tasmanian genocide - www.utas.edu.au/news/2018/1/18/513-explainer-the-evidence-for-the-tasmanian-genocide Was there slavery in Australia? Yes. It shouldn’t even be up for debate - https://theconversation.com/was-there-slavery-in-australia-yes-it-shouldnt-even-be-up-for-debate-140544 Royal Commission into the Protection & Detention of Children in the Northern Territory - www.royalcommission.gov.au/system/files/2020-09/report-overview.pdf

Australian Defence Force get access to new ISR data interface

Named Wagardi, the new capability was delivered in collaboration with Leidos Australia.

Australia’s Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy has announced that a new computer data interface is being introduced into service to keep defence personnel well informed.  

The new intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) integration capability, which is named Wagardi after the Larrakia word for dilly bag, provides users with access to a wide range of ISR data.

The interface enables the collection of ISR information across databases as well as the delivery of accurate data in a short time span.

Conroy said that the new capability is being introduced into service following the completion of its final operational capability in June.

The interface was developed under the first tranche of Joint Project 2096 Phase I.

Leidos Australia was the prime system integrator for the interface. The company will also work on delivering tranches two and three of the project. 

A multi-phased programme, the Australian Department of Defence’s (DoD) Joint Project 2096 aims to support military and intelligence force elements in their operations.

Conroy said: “This landmark integration capability will benefit a broad range of defence personnel by making it easier to access, discover and collaborate on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information.”

In 2019, the DoD selected Leidos Australia as the prime system integrator for the project and set aside $500m for the first part of the project’s Phase I.

Following the completion of tranche one, the next two tranches will focus on extending the search and discovery functionality to deployed users, as well as integrating data from allied, coalition and government data stores.

Conroy added: “Having Leidos, together with other Australian providers, deliver the final two tranches of the joint project will ensure approximately A$95m ($65.08m) is spent in Australia.”

What makes Zelenskyy an exceptional leader, according to four experts who’ve seen him up close and personal.

•

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It’s Not Enough for Ukraine to Win. Russia Has to Lose.

Anything less will encourage Russian imperialism and embolden autocrats around the world.

The Atlantic

Shared via Apple News

Proud to support not only the worst NRL team but also the dumbest. 

Australian Defence Force explosive ordnance disposal dog handler with 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment during a combined urban clearance at Exercise Talisman Sabre 21 in Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland, Australia.

The U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michael Jefferson Estillomo (2021).

Two planes of the Royal Australian Air Force Roulettes aerobatic team during the Australian International Airshow Aerospace and Defence Expo at Avalon Airport in Geelong.

Photograph: Paul Crock/AFP/Getty Images

Australia orders Israeli Spike anti-tank guided missiles

Australia orders Israeli Spike anti-tank guided missiles #India #Israel #Australia #defence #defense #defencenews #military #army #missile #strategy #nationalsecurity #engineering #Rafael #Varley #ADF #SpikeMissile #antitankmissile

Australia orders Rafael’s Spike LR2 anti-tank guided missiles: Australia has finalized a finalised a substantial acquisition contract with Israel’s Rafael’s Australian subsidiary Rafael Australia for supply of the Rafael’s Spike LR2 anti-tank guided missiles to Australian Defence Forces (ADF) under the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) systems programme, Rafael Australia said on…

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A Crash, A Tragedy, and A Wake-Up Call: The Talisman Sabre Exercise

In the late hours of Friday, July 28, 2023, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) was dealt a devastating blow. Four of our finest, our diggers, were lost in a helicopter crash during the Talisman Sabre Exercises in Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Queensland. The fallen, Corporal Josh Paul, Private Benjamin Roberts-Smith, Private Zachary Larkham, and Private Mitchell Scott, were more than just…

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New aircraft for military

March 3, 2023The NationalMain Stories AUSTRALIA will deliver two aircraft to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force this year to increase its sovereign aviation capabilities. Australia Defence Force commander General Angus Campbell said it was “another significant chapter in our aviation cooperation, following Australia’s support to the PNGDF to help re-establish the airworthiness of its first PAC…

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There is also a public letter addressed to the prosecutor of the ICC that australians can sign to support the investigation.

The brief explains that Australia’s backing for the genocide has extended beyond the provision of political and diplomatic, to active material involvement. This includes:

“Since 2017, Australia has approved 322 defence exports to Israel, including 49 permits for Israel-bound exports in 2022 and 23 in the first three months of 2023, which may cover both military-specific goods and also dual-use devices.” The contents are hidden behind national security provisions.

“Australia is a member in the Lockheed-Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter global supply program and part of the global supply chain… No bombs could be dropped on Gaza by an F-35 without parts manufactured for the F-35s by Melbourne company, Rosebank Engineering (RUAG Australia).” Other firms are also involved.

“Other material support provided by Australia includes a dispatch of a ‘significant contingent’ of troops and two aircraft to the Middle East amid the ongoing Israeli attack on Gaza.”

“Further, Australians have been permitted by the Federal Government, whether explicitly or implicitly, to travel to Israel to join the IDF and its attacks on Gaza.” Australian citizens are banned from serving in any foreign defence force, aside from that of Israel.

“During the Premiership of Prime Minister Albanese, Australia also appears to have provided not insignificant intelligence assistance to Israel. The US-run Pine Gap surveillance base, located outside of Alice Springs in Australia’s Northern Territory, collects an enormous range of communications and electronic intelligence from the Gaza-Israel battlefield—data which is then provided to the IDF and which may aid its campaign in Gaza.” The role of Pine Gap was revealed by Declassified Australia in November, and has been buried by the official media ever since.

“Australia has supported Israel’s genocidal intentions in the Gaza Strip by suspending key humanitarian support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (‘UNRWA’), which supports Palestinians across the Occupied Territories.” That move, based on now discredited Israeli allegations, means Australia is a direct party in the use of starvation against the Palestinians as a means of ethnically-cleansing them. (article)

At least three people have been killed in the worst unrest in New Caledonia in more than 30 years, as rioting continued and schools remained closed after France adopted controversial reforms to the Pacific territory’s voting rules.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday convened a defence and national security council meeting to discuss the riots, cancelling a scheduled trip to a French region.[...]

Despite heavily armed security forces fanning out across the capital, Noumea, and the ordering of a night-time curfew, rioting continued overnight virtually unabated. The curfew has now been extended until Thursday night, said Butler.[...]

Anger has been simmering for weeks over plans in Paris to change the constitution to allow more people to vote in New Caledonia’s provincial elections.

Critics say the move would marginalise the Indigenous Kanak people, who make up about 40 percent of the population, by allowing more recent European arrivals to vote.[...]

Denise Fisher, a former Australian consul general in New Caledonia, said she was not surprised at the violence of the past few days and told Al Jazeera it showed “a real and fundamental breakdown in the way the territory is being managed”.The voting rules are part of the so-called Noumea Accord of 1998.

Under the deal, France agreed to cede the territory more political power and to limit voting in New Caledonia’s provincial and assembly elections to those who were residents of the island at the time.

About 40,000 French citizens have moved to New Caledonia since 1998, and the changes expand the electoral roll to include those who have lived in the territory for 10 years.[...]

On Wednesday, the main pro-independence Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) urged calm and condemned the violence, calling in a statement for the rioters to return home.

Socioeconomic marginalisation, land dispossession and disenfranchisement of the Kanaks have long been a source of violent civil unrest in New Caledonia.

15 May 24