Afghanistan war
President Joe Biden has declared the war in Afghanistan over, but the 20-year legacy of bitter fruit will remain on our tongues for many years yet. The price for America’s “little revenge” has been paid by us all and we will keep paying it
Read MoreIn honour of David Beatson and after the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security’s report into our spies’ work in Afghanistan, I’m re-surfacing some of Beatson’s posts from 2008 and 2009 asking questions about how our soldiers handled detainees
Read MoreIt's too easy to call an inquiry just to put the questions to bed, so the Prime Minister has called it right. Why put people through the mill without incontrovertible evidence?
Read MoreWe can honour both our soldiers and the Afghans, but only by finding out what really happened on that August night in 2010... though that may not require a full inquiry
Read MoreAlmost a week after the release of Hit & Run, we have more questions than answers from the Defence Force and the Government.
Read MoreThe 2010 raid in Afghanistan detailed in Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson's new book, Hit and Run, was first revealed on a TV interview I produced in 2011. It's time for some official answers
Read MoreNational's decision to stand alongside our allies but not to 'go to war' strengthens our narrative as a small country with its own mind, but beware mission creep
Read MoreThe Taliban are planning to set up shop in Qatar – but in a good way. They'll have a physical address that could open the door to serious peace talks on Afghanistan and spark hopes of future stability
Read MoreNATO & Afghan forces repel most complex assault on Kabul in decade of war; 11 killed as Taliban strengthens its negotiating hand (+ analysis); China to target domestic growth and buy Euro debt; Moody's cuts ratings of French banks; US tries to block UN vote on Palestine; African Union asks world to seize moment against militant group; and more
Read MoreIt's looking increasingly as if 2014 will be a false deadline in Afghanistan, with more SAS hand-holding needed for years to come. With the government expected to come under renewed pressure to make a greater commitment, what choice is the PM likely to make?
Read MoreYemeni Vice President rejects offer to negotiate and keep Saleh from returning; Reports: Saleh has 40% burns and collapsed lung; Greece austerity measures questioned as it seeks second bailout; Opposition denies killing 120 security personnel in Syrian town; Thousands flee Chinese floods; and more
Read MoreSome say the media posing questions about our military presence in Afghanistan is 'disgraceful' and 'unpatriotic'. I say, regardless of the rights and wrongs, the opposite is true
Read MoreUS debt commission divided on austerity plan, struggles for consensus (+ analysis); Portugal PM says 'we do not need help'; Iran talks raise hopes, but will demand stiff terms; Chinese manufacturing growth eases jitters about Europe; and more
Read MoreWikileaks cables style Putin an "alpha dog", Karzai as paranoid and Merkel as risk averse (+ analysis); Portugal reaching crisis point as Ireland bailout fails to convince; North Korea to pay "a dear price"; Iranian nuclear scientist dies in bombing that echoes January death;
Read MoreIreland accepts EU bailout of both banks and government (+ analysis); As NZ waits, China rescues 29 trapped miners of its own; Obama tells Karzai to pull his head in as NATo commits until 2014; Abbas blames Isreal ahead of peace talks; and more
Read MoreRepublicans threaten to block nuclear treaty despite White House pleas (+ Clinton & Gates op-ed); China promises fire safety standards after 53 die in Shanghai; NATO leader talks of Afghanistan combat role beyond 2014; Iraq President refuses to execute Tariq; and more
Read MoreObama administration to cut billions from Pentagon budget; More than 700 die in Chinese landslide, millions displaced by flooding; 1200 civilians killed in Afghanistan so far this year; Hezbollah blames Israel for al-Hariri assassination; and more
Read MorePakistan floods force hundreds of thousands more from their homes, undermines anti-terrorism efforts; Gay marriage legal again in California; Troops in Afghanistan get new combat rules; South Korea's anti-submarine drills; and more
Read MoreUS admits losing billions of Iraqi dollars as it frets about lack of government (+ analysis); France "at war with al Qaeda" after engineer killing; Japan reaches out to skilled migrants; New BP boss reckons no more oil will flow into Gulf; and more
Read MorePetraeus to step up counter-insurgency strategy in Afghanistan as Republicans express doubts; North Korea warns off US and South Korea; Kosovo's independence ruled legal; Bernanke says economic outlook is "unusually uncertain"; and more
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