Struggling for Self Reliance Four case studies of Australian Regional Force Projection in the late 1980s and the 1990s Struggling for Self Reliance Four case studies of Australian Regional Force Projection in the late 1980s and the 1990s Bob Breen Published by ANU E Press The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200, Australia Email:
[email protected] This title is also available online at: http://epress.anu.edu.au/sfsr_citation.html National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Author: Breen, Bob. Title: Struggling for self reliance : four case studies of Australian regional force projection in the late 1980s and the 1990s / Bob Breen. ISBN: 9781921536083 (pbk.) 9781921536090 (online) Series: Canberra papers on strategy and defence ; 171 Notes: Bibliography. Subjects: Australia--Armed Forces. National security--Australia. Australia--Defenses--Case studies. Dewey Number: 355.033294 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. The Canberra Papers on Strategy and Defence series is a collection of publications arising principally from research undertaken at the SDSC. Canberra Papers have been peer reviewed since 2006. All Canberra Papers are available for sale: visit the SDSC website at for abstracts and prices. Electronic copies (in pdf format) of most SDSC Working Papers published since 2002 may be downloaded for free from the SDSC website at . The entire Working Papers series is also available on a ‘print on demand’ basis. Strategic and Defence Studies Centre Publications Program Advisory Review Panel: Emeritus Professor Paul Dibb; Professor Desmond Ball; Professor David Horner; Professor Hugh White; Professor William Tow; Professor Anthony Milner; Professor Virginia Hooker; Dr Coral Bell; Dr Pauline Kerr Strategic and Defence Studies Centre Publications Program Editorial Board: Professor Hugh White; Dr Brendan Taylor; Dr Christian Enemark; Miss Meredith Thatcher (series editor) Cover design by ANU E Press Printed by University Printing Services, ANU This edition © 2008 ANU E Press Contents Abstract About the Author Acronyms and Abbreviations Preface vii ix xi xv 1. Relevance, Theory and Practice of Force Projection for Australia’s Defence 1 2. Australian Force Projection 1885–1985 11 3. Lead Up to Operation Morris Dance 23 4. Responses to Crisis 31 5. Lessons and Observations 45 6. Lead-Up to Operation Lagoon 53 7. Conduct and Aftermath of Operation Lagoon 71 8. Search for Joint Command and Control 85 9. Lead Up to Operation Bel Isi 93 10. Challenges during the first 12 months 109 11. Projection to East Timor 127 12. Reflections and Observations 155 13. Conclusion 165 Glossary Bibliography Index 177 185 213 v