Campaign against special forces a disgrace that should not have gained traction

Peter Dutton’s intervention in the deplorable attempt to trash the reputation of the Special Air Service Regiment and by association the ADF is a victory for common sense (“SAS survives to fight another day”, 11-12/9). The orchestrated campaign against our special forces was a national disgrace and should never have gained traction. Our ABC thought otherwise and took every opportunity to denigrate the SAS and ADF. The Chief of Army and the Chief of Defence Force should now seriously consider falling on their swords and retiring to write their collective memoirs, “Memories of Would-be Woke Warriors”. What a sad ending to the careers of two otherwise honorable men who stepped into the minefield of wokism.

Blade Johnstone, Wellington Point, Qld

Molan’s message

Jim Molan’s article (“War-gaming tomorrow”, 11-12/9) is sobering and should be read by politicians of all political persuasions. I grew up in the UK in the 1950s and ’60s and, like just about everyone of my generation, developed a sound understanding of the background of the two world wars. Complacency and a lack of political will meant US support to Britain, after Dunkirk and long before Pearl Harbor, and Britain’s ability to manufacture the Spitfires and Hurricanes that won the Battle of Britain were the only things that prevented Hitler’s takeover of the whole of Western Europe. History could have looked very different.

It is to be hoped that whichever party wins the next election it pays full regard to Molan and others with military backgrounds and a solid understanding of what it will take to protect Australia and the values it shares with like-minded countries. The updating of our military capabilities has years to work its way to fruition, whereas China’s plans almost certainly have a much shorter time frame. We are at great risk.

Robin Billen, Toorak, Vic

For once I agree with Paul Keating., in particular, his assessment that Australia’s ongoing “needless provocation” of China is leading us into a strategic dead end, or worse (“Libs go all in on the great China gambit”, 11-12/9). Hardly a week goes by without another episode of public anti-China sabre-rattling by assorted politicians, academics and defence analysts, the latest example being Jim Molan’s scarily forensic critique. Perhaps it’s time for Molan and others to go and take a cold shower and leave the business of repairing the fractured relations between our two countries to non-militarists.

Peter Austin, Mount Victoria, NSW

Rein in activists

“It is no exaggeration to say that Australia has evolved into a bureaucratic democracy” (“Why the left fears a bold humanitarian”, 11-12/9). In one sentence Lorraine Finlay suggests why our culture, despite being led by conservative-leaning governments for most of the past 25 years, is moving ever left. Perhaps it’s because we are ruled, not just by a bureaucracy – but by an activist bureaucracy. Certainly we are not strangers to activism in this country with activist journalists, judges and sportspeople. Four out of 10 of the last Australians of the Year could be described as activists. Our national broadcaster is proudly activist. And every classroom in which our children sit until they leave university is likely to be promoting at least one agenda unhelpful to their education.

So it’s blindingly obvious that our bureaucrats, educated in our universities and steeped in our culture, are likely to be concerned about an issue and, possibly, willing to work actively to reshape our nation. They can influence the information provided to government just as they can interpret instructions, enlarge their remit and flavour the delivery of services. Yet, there appears to be little appetite in government to rein in flagrant activism, let alone a subtle bureaucratic variety.

Political parties should take note. Any of them expressing a willingness to challenge the activism in which we are floundering will surely appeal to those hoping to arrest this leftwards march.

Jane Bieger, Brisbane, Qld

That’s the spirit

I note once again in 9/11 articles reference being made to PM John Howard being “bundled into a bunker beneath the Australian embassy in Washington”. I worked there for three years and there was no bunker as such. Beneath the embassy we had storage areas, a bar, and car parking, so I expect the PM was bundled to the bar, a far less dramatic destination. The bar by the way was where we had happy hour – called “prayers” – at 5pm on Friday afternoons. Our American interlocutors, being religious souls, were always gratified to be invited to “prayers” at the embassy. It also went down well with their bosses who were only too happy to give them an early mark to attend such an important and solemn activity.

C. Williams, Forrest, ACT