Dear Oldstyle,

You really have some firm, fixed and certainly old-style and outdated prejudices regarding the Abrams tank and other ADF equipment. In the former case you certainly know little about how tanks operate. Furthermore, in terms of mobility you appear not to realise that most places you can ttransport or drive a large bulldozer you can operate a tank.

More importantly, if you bothered to actually research such matters before making incorrect and/or inaccurate comments you could easily update your views and fill in your obvious knowledge gaps. The Winter 2007 issue of "Defender", for example, has an article on the successful use of tanks in counter-insurgency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan written by An Australian tank officer currently serving in one of these theatres. This article (and others like it on most ADF weapons systems) can be readily downloaded from the "Defender" index at www.ada.asn.au.

Similarly, your comments on the new air combat capability are well behind contemporary informed debate. And any informed person would know the ADA has been a big critic of much Department of Defence thinking in this regard.

Neil James
Executive Director
ADA

Oldstyle

Further to Neil’s advice my informants tell me that when Kim Beazely (then Minister of Defence) had similar reservations to you regarding the operating sphere of tanks, he experienced the following:

In the Northern Territory, in a forest with trees 10-15 cm thick, Mr Beazely stood asking that question. Behind him, about 60 metres away charged a Leopard tank, tearing down those trees and doing a steady 40km per hour. Centurions operated in Vietnam through tropical forests and Abrams can do it even faster. The shock of motion to the enemy may be almost as effective as tank guns.

Needless to say Mr Beazely was almost thrown off his feet :) .

Regards

Pete
http://spyingbadthings.blogspot.com

Still boys with their toys! Your just a joke! I hope the yellow streak doesn't run down to the family level. I just have opinion! Don't get your undies in a knot. haft the world is a wake, and thank god(Roley eyes) your not in control. Defence is one thing, but you all hope it will continue for your own status.

Hi everyone, and thanks for putting up with my bull-crap! They say a little poke in the rib's can do wonders. This will be my last post.
I hope you find what you looking for, and sometimes the simple things in life are often the best. We will always fight for what we beleve in, and for me, I have lost-ed Faith in the human race and its all an ugly mess!
So look after yourselfs, and try to be kind to each other.

Good by!

Craig.