The Effectiveness of ADF Interaction with Government and Non-Government Agencies - Literature review Example

The Effectiveness of ADF Interaction with Government and Non-Government Agencies in Operations Since 1999 Name Course Tutor Date During various crises including the humanitarian crisis incidences, Australia has always strived to alleviate human suffering primarily through the instantaneous efforts from both the government and non-government agencies. As a significant component of Australia’s national effort, Australian Defense Force has often been charged with the responsibility of operating in various theatres and filling numerous operational roles. However, since the year 1999 that saw the deployment of the Australian Defense Forces in East Timor, the Australian Defense Force has been expected to perform several operational roles than any given time since its inception in the year 1975.Since 1999, for instance, the Australian Defense Force has carried out approximately 117 operational, disaster relief and humanitarian operations, with about 15 argued to be still ongoing. 1 As the Department of Defense (2004) highlights, the past few years have witnessed the country’s strategic environment fundamentally change2. New threats including terrorism and proliferation of the mass destruction weapons from the non-states sources have emerged, as a result, placing increasing demands on the ADF.In addition, addressing the various regional stresses have called for new cooperation as well as coordination levels between the military force and other elements of Australia’s national power. As such, the ADF has had to carry out new, complex and challenging missions in situations and locations not previously anticipated. It is in view of the above therefore that this particular paper intends to analyze the effectiveness of ADF interaction with government and non-government agencies in operations since 1999. The ADF interaction with government and non-government agencies in operations since 1999 has been without a doubt effective, as argued by the Department of Defense (2004) 3. This effectiveness is argued based on the fact that its defense operations have been a success in various missions including war on terrorism, protection of the national borders, patrols on the Southern-ocean fisheries, national building, indigenous support and domestic security. With regards to war on terrorism, the Australian Defense Force’s reaction to the year 2001 terrorist attacks was both rapid and significant. In a matter of days, the Australian government invoked the Australia, New Zealand, United States Security (ANZUS) Treaty, which is basically a military alliance treaty binding the listed states to cooperate on various matters regarding defense with the pacific ocean region, and currently applying to attacks globally. For more than 50 years, its alliance (association) with America had often been stronger; however its significance to the national interest of Australia was confirmed during the 2001 attacks where the security priorities of both countries converged. As they came to terms with the reality that such an attack ushered in a new terrorism era requiring new strategies and effective responses extending beyond the national borders, responsibilities and resources of any single nation, alliance-related response was mandatory (Australian Strategic Policy Institute,2011)4. The invocation of this particular treaty as well as the consequent development and implementation of the Australian and American alliance-related response thus made highly successful contributions from 2001 to 2002.These efforts saw the coalition attack the Afghanistan-based Al Qaeda cells, as a consequence, overthrowing the Taliban hosts linked to the Al Qaeda. According to Dickens (2001), Australia’s defense forces contribution towards war on terrorism activities still continues to date, and not just limited to Middle East or Central Asia operations5. The defense force is, for instance, undertaking a considerable cooperation program within the Australian region in order to improve on cooperation, dialogue and co-ordination between Australia’s regional neighbours so as to enable them respond appropriately to threats occasioned by terrorism in addition to enhancing consequence-management capabilities and regional counter-terrorism. As highlighted by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (2011), the effectiveness of the Australian Defense Force interaction with the government and non-government agencies has also been witnessed in terms of its national building efforts especially in East Timor6. The Australian Defense Force has played a significant contributory factor towards peacekeeping initiatives in East Timor since its deployment in the year 1999, which eventually led to a fully-independent East Timor and the enviable reputation with not the Timorese people but also the wider United Nations community. As highlighted by Dandeker (2000), the famous International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) witnessed the Australian Defense Forces deploy to the troubled East Timor on the 20th September 1999 as the militia forces devastated the country7. The INTERFET mainly consisted of about 11,500 personnel where Australia made a major contribution of approximately half the number of the involved forces. In addition, it contributed three groups of infantry battalion, support units, headquarters, maritime and air assets. According to the Department of Defense (2004), having already worked tirelessly in re-establishing East Timor’s stability and preparing the place for nation building and local elections by the United Nations, INTERFET relocated the country’s military command to United Nation’s Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) on the 23rd February 20008. Within a short time span of four years (2000-2004), the ADF contributed significantly to various events in the country since it held various leadership positions within the United Nations peacekeeping force where it retained the responsibility for various security issues on the very sensitive East Timor’s border with Indonesia until the 20th May 2004 when the formal security responsibility was now transferred to the country (East Timor) (Martin & Mayer-Rieckh,2005).Currently, the Australian Defense Force contributes approximately 100 expert in operations associated with light engineering, logistic support and aero-medical evacuation. In general, as argued by the Department of Defense (2004),the contributions of the Australian Defense Force and its interaction with the government and non-government agencies with regards to the East Timor situation has earned it respect and high regard globally9. Protection of the national borders is paramount to the national security of any state. As highlighted by the Department of Defense (2004), the Australian Defense Force professionalism along with its determination has played a key role in the country’s efforts towards reducing the incidences related to unauthorized arrivals of foreign boats to Australia, as a result, significantly reducing cases of unauthorized arrivals by complementing the government’s efforts10. By supporting the Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs in the management of arrivals, the Australian Defense Force has been patrolling the sea and the air approaches to the country while also providing facilities, equipments and logistical support. The Australian Defense Force assets and the capabilities involved in efforts towards protecting the country’s borders have included the navy (through its main fleet units and the patrol boats), Air Force (through its transport aircrafts and maritime patrol), Defense security in addition to the intelligence agencies. As asserted by Angevine (2009), the combination of all these elements has marked successful cooperation and coordination of activities between the Australian Defense Force and government agencies11. Interacting with the government and non-government agencies, the effectiveness of the Australian Defense Force has also been witnessed in terms of its indigenous support and domestic security. According to the Department of Defense (2004), the Australian Defense Force has often been strongly committed to assisting the isolated, indigenous communities all over Australia in terms of the development or expansion of local facilities, infrastructure and services12. This has often entailed road constructions, digging of wells and boreholes, fabricating buildings as well as the repair of infrastructure associated with local utilities. Additionally, in some given cases involving the movement of communities as necessitated by unexpected events including natural disasters, the Australian Defense Force has been cited by Greet (2008) as a key player throughout the process and that it has been integral in the process of relocation13. According to Greet (2008), various governmental agencies including several NGOs within Australia significantly contributed to the overall relief effort14. However, it was the Australian Defense Force capability to deal with local disasters and supporting humanitarian missions that highlights its unique and significant contribution towards the relocation process. In general, the Australian Defense Force’s programs focused on helping the indigenous communities in the country have been quite an exceptional success bearing the fact that they have led to numerous benefits not only to the local communities themselves but also the Australian Defense Force. On the other hand, regarding domestic security, attacks on America and Bali by terrorists brought about a new terrorism outlook hence calling for new response strategies. This clearly indicated that the country’s arrangements regarding its domestic securities required strengthening in order to effectively handle such new and emerging domestic threats. As such, the Australian Defense Force has maintained the capabilities to support the civil authorities during emergencies through Defense Aid to the Civil Community and the Defense Force Aid to the Civilian Authority arrangements. Apart from the arrangements, the Australian Defense Force has been contributing to the various initiatives relating to domestic security of other departments as well as agencies within the Australian government through a number of inter-departmental committees and working-level activities. According to Royal Australian Navy (2010), for instance, in April,2003 the Australian Defense Force responded effectively when PONG SU, a merchant vessel declined to stop following calls by the civilian authorities15. The Australian Defense Force provided the necessary boarding as well as apprehension capabilities argued to be beyond the ones of the Australian law-enforcement agencies. On the other hand, despite the tremendous achievements highlighting its effectives while working with both the governmental and non-governmental agencies, there is a criticism of the current direction set by the Australian Defense White paper (2009) for the modernization of the Australian Defense Force, as argued by Angevine (2009) 16.According to Angevine (2009), this modernization is not consistent with the actual realities of the country’s security situation17. Angevine (2009) further contends that the policies/strategies laid down prepare the defense force for eventualities that may not only fail to occur but also call for the use of a significant part of the countries limited resources on operations exceeding the defense force’s capability18. As stated by Angevine (2009), the policy makers in Australia still follow an Australian defense concept that is currently considered obsolete and which may not link the strategy to the multilateral mechanism treating the region of Asia-Pacific as whole/complete system19. As the policy makers endavour to strengthen the defense force’s 2030 capabilities to make them self-reliant, they have actually turned the defense force 2030 policy highly dependent on the military assistance from the United States to undertake mid intensity and low intensity operations. The likely outcome of this is ad hoc, weak and inadequate multilateral response requiring more resources. Conclusion From the above analysis, it is clearly evident that the Australian Defense Force interaction with government and non-government agencies in operations since 1999 has generally been effective. Beyond its warfighting duty, the defense force’s service with non-governmental agencies such as the United Nations and its assistance to those in critical and life-threatening situations, the Australian Defense Force has also availed crucial support to the needy nations and individuals in as far as their national capacity development is concerned. In general, the highlighted impacts are as a result of the defense force’s constructiveness, thus indicating its definite effectiveness despite criticism and challenges faced. Bibliography Angevine, John. Mind the Capabilities Gap: How the Quest for High-End Capabilities Leaves the Australian Defense Force Vulnerable to Mission Failure, A 21st Century Defense Initiative Paper, 2011. Australian Strategic Policy Institute. A Reliable Partner Strengthening Australia – Timor-Leste relations, Iss.39, Pp.4-15, 2011. Australian National Audit Office. The Australian Defense Force's Mechanisms for Learning from Operational Activities.2012. Retrieved on August 17, 2013 from Department of Defense.Winning in Peace, Winning in War: The Australian Defense Force’s Contribution to the Global Security Environment, 2004. Dickens, David. The United Nations in East Timor: Intervention at the Military Operational Level, Journal of Contemporary South East Asia, Vol.23, (2), Pp.213-232, 2001. Dandeker, P.The Military and Social Change in the Post Cold War Era: The Need for a Strategic Approach to Personnel Issues in the Armed Forces: Proceedings of the 42nd Annual Conference of the International Military Testing Association, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, 2000. Greet, Neil, ADF Experience on Humanitarian Operations: A New Idea? Journal of Security Challenges, Vol. 4, No. 2, Pp.45-61, 2008. Martin, I & Mayer-Rieckh, A. The United Nations and East Timor: From Self-Determination to State-Building, International Journal of International Peacekeeping, Vol.12, Iss.1, Pp.125-145, 2005. Royal Australian Navy. Australian Maritime Doctrine: RAN Doctrine 1 – 2010.Second Edition, Sea Power Centre, 2010 Read More