Best Defense
Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Australian Army take on the future of war, plus some good thinking on other issues

This document is worth perusing, but hardly earth-shaking. It is the first time I’ve ever seen an official military document take note of the concept of "R2P," a.k.a. "responsibility to protect" (p. 20, paragraph 64). It is better written that most U.S. military documents. Overall, I’d call it a B paper — accurate but not ...

By , a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy.
Via Wikimedia/U.S. Army
Via Wikimedia/U.S. Army
Via Wikimedia/U.S. Army

This document is worth perusing, but hardly earth-shaking. It is the first time I've ever seen an official military document take note of the concept of "R2P," a.k.a. "responsibility to protect" (p. 20, paragraph 64).

This document is worth perusing, but hardly earth-shaking. It is the first time I’ve ever seen an official military document take note of the concept of "R2P," a.k.a. "responsibility to protect" (p. 20, paragraph 64).

It is better written that most U.S. military documents. Overall, I’d call it a B paper — accurate but not illuminating, worth keeping in your files. But remember that when I was a teacher many decades ago, I was a tough grader.   

Also, the Australian Army here does a nice look at some military educational issues I grappled with in my book The Generals.

Finally, an Australian officer proposes a radically different approach to having women in the military.

Thomas E. Ricks is a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy. Twitter: @tomricks1

Read More On Australia | Military

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