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The case has been front page news in Australia and has even made headlines around the world, on CNN and the BBC, for example.
It has prompted much analysis about Australia’s defamation laws. Continue reading What does the Ben Roberts Smith trial mean for news?
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Every front-line soldier knows war is hell. It’s an enormous responsibility to pick out an enemy fighter, aim a weapon at them and then pull the trigger knowing death is the likely result. That’s why in conflict there are very … Continue reading Soldier’s heartbreaking journey for forgiveness after horror in Afghanistan | 60 Minutes Australia
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jun/01/ben-roberts-smith-committed-war-crimes-in-my-country-his-targets-are-the-forgotten-victims-of-australias-afghan-war Continue reading Ben Roberts-Smith committed war crimes in my country – his targets are the forgotten victims of Australia’s Afghan war
A massive tranche of closely guarded photographs, messages, police reports and private war stories has been released in the twilight days of Ben Roberts-Smith‘s defamation trial giving never before seen insight into many of the key witnesses and war crime accusations. Read more here Continue reading New documents have been released in Ben Roberts-Smith’s defamation trial, shedding light on its most closely guarded moments.
An article originally written in 2008 for the ABC by former academic Tony Smith for ABC online where he argues that the tradition of Australians fighting other people’s wars began in WWI. This article was updated in 2020. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-11-11/38318 Continue reading Anzac: the legend’s problem
Among the many horrors and sadism of the SAS toward the Afghan people, animals did not escape cruelty. This story is not about the sentient creature who lost his/her life in that hideous war, but it’s what caught my eye as I learn more and more about the Australian troops’ unspeakable behaviour in Afghanistan. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/may/04/who-shot-the-dog-the-canine-killing-that-could-play-a-crucial-role-in-the-ben-roberts-smith-defamation-trial Continue reading Who shot the dog? The canine killing that could play a crucial role in the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation trial
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By Henry Reynolds Apr 25, 2022 Australian and New Zealand soldiers marching to Westminster Abbey to commemorate the first Anzac Day, London, 25 April 1916. Image: Wikimedia Commons The evidence suggests that the Federal government sees Anzac as an attractive tool to open a new front in the culture wars and one where the Labor party might well be wedged. The ongoing discussion between State and Federal education ministers about a national curriculum drafted by the Australian Curriculum Assessment Authority is still not finalised. There have been a number of sticking points, none more persistent than what history should be offered … Continue reading ANZAC’s contested legacy
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Published: March 6, 2012 1.59pm AEDT Author Ben WadhamSenior Lecturer, Flinders University Disclosure statement Ben Wadham does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Republish this article Last week the world became a very scary place for television host Yumi Stynes when she quipped that Victoria Cross recipient Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith, looking buffed, ripped and tattooed in a public swimming pool, was “… going to dive down to the bottom of the pool to see if … Continue reading Yumi and Ben: the militarisation of Australia and the democratisation of hate
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This website is about a project i’ve thought about for long time: militarism and its consequences. My focus is the Australian media’s relationship with the military, and why there’s not enough scrutiny of defence? What makes defence so untouchable, so immune to criticism? And why is Anzac so sacrosanct? Over the time of this project i will explore these issues and hopefully find some answers to that why question. Please join me. Continue reading War narratives, Anzacs and the media 
Blogging on the military 