RO YAL RO U YAL U N I N T E S D E S I L E A R T W V I C H E T E S U O I N S S S D T W I E T N U F T E O E L S E A R W V I H C T E U S O I S N S W T E I T N U F T O E RO YAL U N IT E S D E S L E A R W V I H C T E U S O I N S S W T E I T N U F T O E United Service Journal of the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, New South Wales, Incorporated Informing the defence and national security debate since 1947 Volume 70, Number 2, June 2019 – ISSN 1038-1554 CONTENTS NEWS General Sir Thomas Blamey who, during World War II, had been commander-in-chief of the Australian Military Forces and, National President’s Column – Anker Brodersen .............2 concurrently, commander of the Allied Land Forces in the South- Institute News ......................................................................3 West Pacific Area, was recalled from retirement in 1950 and promoted to field marshal. Recent research in the Australian Erratum.................................................................................3 archives has revealed that the accepted story surrounding his promotion contained several myths, including that the British War OPINION Office resisted the promotion. Editorial: Islamic and white supremacist terrorism in our region – David Leece and Ian Pfennigwerth.....................4 BOOK REVIEWS Letter: Defence and political developments in Indonesia – Base nation: how U.S. military bases abroad harm America and the World by David Vine – Ian Ingleby............................................................................4 reviewed by Marcus Fielding ..............................................8 Base Nation examines the social and economic impacts that INSTITUTE PROCEEDINGS 800 United States overseas bases have on the communities and Assessing Australia’s bargaining power in the countries where they are located. United States alliance at a time of regional power War by Gwynne Dyer – reviewed by Marcus Fielding...20 shift – Thomas Wilkins .......................................................5 This modern classic is one of the most compelling analyses of The advent of the Trump Presidency, coupled with the rise of the history and psychology of armed conflict throughout the ages. China, has put considerable strains on the ANZUS alliance It is more relevant than Clausewitz or Sun Tzu. between Australia and the United States. Wilkins presents a methodology for assessing Australia’s putative bargaining power Flesh and steel during the Great War: the within the alliance, demonstrates how Australia’s position has transformation of the French Army and the invention been weakened overall by Trump and China, and proposes of modern warfare by Michel Goya – options for Australia going forward. reviewed by David Leece .................................................21 Task Group Afghanistan 2018: a commander’s Flesh and Steel describes the transformation of the French perspective – Peter Connor ................................................9 army from a 19th century force in 1914 to arguably ‘the most The commander of Australia’s task group in Afghanistan from modern in the world’ by 1918. November 2017 to September 2018, Brigadier Peter Connor, “The man who took the rap”: Sir Robert Brooke- describes the geostrategic context in which the task group Popham and the fall of Singapore by Peter Dye – operated, the functions it performed, some of the more significant events, and operations undertaken. He concludes with his reviewed by Bob Treloar ...................................................22 observations on the experience. This is a biography of Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke- Popham whose career spanned the development of air power The tragedy of Korea – Michael Pembroke....................13 from 1912 to 1938. The fall of Singapore was a footnote. Pembroke traces the history of Korea in the 20th century from Total onslaught: war and revolution in southern its occupation by Japan from 1910 to 1945; through its military occupation by the Soviet Union and the United States in 1945 and Africa since 1945 by Paul Moorcraft – the formation of two states, North Korea and South Korea, in reviewed by Ken Broadhead ............................................23 1948; to the war from 1950 to 1953, which started as a civil war This book is about the conflicts in southern Africa which and became a global conflict, with China supporting the North and followed World War II and which have continued to a greater or the United States and its allies, the South. The war ended in an lesser extent in different countries up to the present. armistice. Red star over the Pacific: China’s rise and the CONTRIBUTED ESSAY challenge to U.S. maritime strategy by Toshi Yoshihara & James R. Holmes – reviewed by Ian Pfennigwerth....24 Some myths relating to the promotion to field This book assesses how the rise of Chinese sea power will marshal of Sir Thomas Blamey in 1950 – affect U.S maritime strategy in Asia. It examines the PLA Navy’s David Deasey ...................................................................21 operational concepts, tactics and capabilities. FRONT COVER: Australian Army Corporal Sam Kirley of Force Protection Element 10, Kabul Garrison Command, in Kabul, Afghanistan, on 7 April 2019. Brigadier Peter Connor, who commanded Australia’s Task Group in Afghanistan in 2017-2018, shares his experiences beginning on p. 9. [Photo: Corporal Chris Beerens, Department of Defence]. United Service 70 (2) June 2019 Page 1 United Service Royal United Services Institute for Journal of the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies Defence and Security Studies New South Wales, Incorporated Informing the defence and national security debate since 1947 Australia Limited Editor: Dr David Leece, PSM, RFD, ED Promoting national security awareness Business Manager: Mr Graham Brown Patron: His Excellency, General The Honourable Editorial Advisory Committee: Sir Peter Cosgrove, AK, MC (Ret’d) Dr David Leece, PSM, RFD, ED – chair Governor-General of Australia Mr Ken Broadhead, RFD National President and Board Chair: Vacant Air Vice-Marshal Bob Treloar, AO, RAAFAR Deputy National President and Acting Board Chair: Dr Ian Pfennigwerth Air Commodore Anker Brodersen, CSC, RAAFAR United Service is published quarterly. 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