STRATEGY, NOT MORE TACTICS

the year lurches to a close. At times like this it's traditional to consider what the new year might bring for the government. 

PAKISTAN & AFGHANISTAN

It's no use simply repeating that Pakistan is part of the problem in Afghanistan. It has to be incorporated as part of the answer as well.

The West is not doing this. This column makes the argument that at least part of the reason for this is that our politicians are too interested in their own domestic agendas and re-election campaigns . . .

DISTRIBUTING THE WEALTH

We keep being told of the "trickle-down" effect: if someone gets a pay bonus then it eventually trickles down and the entire economy benefits from it.

Unfortunately, less and less money appears to be trickling down at the moment and instead it's only a few who are managing to hoover up the rewards of our increasingly sophisticated world, as this column points out . . .

UNCERTAINTY

Saturday's Column. Another three diggers wounded in Afghanistan.

This column attempts to look at the confusing situation for those based in the Patrol Bases who live, cheek by jowl, with the Afghan soldiers they are helping.

AFGHANISTAN WRAP

How to make sense of what's happening in Afghanistan?

I certainly don't have any concept of the way things are going to play out after my brief month in the country with the Australian Defence Force.

Nevertheless, it's incumbent on journalists to attempt to understand some of the more significant and pressing concerns that surround us, which is how I've attempted to frame this particular column . . .