Posts by Andrew
Limited War – a cure for Counter-Insurgency ?
But if we didn’t do counter-insurgency, what would we do? COIN is not limited war. It is unlimited war by limited means ‘Unwanted, un-winnable and un-American’[1], limited war theory is today resiled by the very Western militaries who gave birth to it. Despite being waged successfully by many nations out of necessity and strategic choice, the question remains whether successful limited war is possible—a question both prospective and retrospective. Successful limited war is not only possible, it also presents an alternative to the current trend towards unlimited counter-insurgency (COIN). But like all military strategies, there are a few rules that...
Read MoreWith surpluses like these who needs deficits?
Some people have criticised the Howard and Costello years for their ‘reckless spending’. In fact the current treasurer may have used just those words. I would argue that whilst in the second half of their term spending may have been excessive, i.e. overly generous or even un-necessary it was not reckless. Excessive spending is spending spare cash inefficiently. Reckless spending rather, is spending money you don’t have on things you can’t afford. And for examples of reckless spending we need look no further than this year’s budget revisions, as former treasurer Peter Costello in the Sydney Morning Herald. Wayne Swan originally announced...
Read MoreThe Dark Knight Rises: Capitalism a love story (sorry Mike Moore)
The Dark Knight Rises: Capitalism a love story (sorry Mike Moore). How The Dark Knight Rises loves Capitalism and the fight against the cults of socialism and ecomentalism. If you haven’t yet seen The Dark Knight Rises, then beware; for as they say in the classics “spoiler alert”. The Uncommonwealth team are not usually comic book, sorry “Graphic Novel” fans, but I for one have come to love Batman. Not the super camp Adam West, nor the charming but cheesy world of Tim Burton and Michael Keaton. I am talking about Christian Bale’s tormented industrialist in Christopher Nolan’s latest incarnation. But how is Batman a symbol? Let’s consider the facts: Batman...
Read MoreBusiness on the Frontline
Do soldiers need an MBA to transition to the business world? Do Businessmen need a dose of ‘army training’ to become better leaders. This great article from the Economist thinks so. THE path from the military to business school is well yomped. A life in the armed forces teaches many lessons, but marketing, finance and entrepreneurship are rarely among them. So veterans looking for a move into the commercial world often need a crash course in the basics. But when they get there, they often find that there is also a lot that civvies can learn from them. Not surprisingly, most students from an armed forces background find the first weeks at business school a...
Read MoreTop 12 Politicians of Film and Television
In light of Governor Rick Perry’s recent decisions to drop out of the republican primaries we were saddened to think of the effect on at least one job. Josh Brolin is unlikely to be called upon to play President Rick Perry anytime soon. And with many current Australian politicians hard to tell apart from their core-flute cardboard cut-outs, we got to thinking here at the Uncommonwealth of Australia. Are there better options on the silver screen? We came up with our dozen favourite politicians of film and television. 12. David (Love Actually)Hugh Grant has fairly soft social policies – but his Pointer Sisters’ tribute dance gets our vote. As far as cinematic...
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