More on Morrison, AOTY

Remember the Jedi Council?

‘Friendly fire’: When soldiers survive war, but are massacred on the battleground of Army politics. An article by Robert Ovadia.

It begins;

“Hi Rob, bad news from my front again as I’m back in hospital.”

It was the beginning of a text message I’d received the night before. ‘Hospital’ is where this man had been a number of times since 2013, with mental health issues. This time, though, it’s a ‘hospital hospital’. “Cut through my wrist but I’m still here,” it continues. “I’m currently listening to a guy who thinks he is God. All good.” The ‘PTSD wing’ of a military hospital is a colourful place. He is a former high-ranking officer in the Australian Army.

Former army chief, Morrison, made a name for himself surfing a tidal wave of support for a brutally eloquent speech castigating men in the army who demean women.

“The standard you walk past is the standard you accept,” he famously scowled through words written for him by someone else. It made him famous. He became an enigma, the enfant terrible of the Australian Defence Force. He spoke at a United Nations conference alongside Angelina Jolie. He became a champion of feminism, the darling of those who swooned at the narrative of the feminist general and now he is our Australian of the Year. Some republicans even suggest he would make an ideal president of Australia, one day.

Not a good recommendation for a man who is supposed to be leading an Army.

Brave military men left to fight in the dark. An article by Miranda Devind

ON the night of Australia Day, last Tuesday, a former lieutenant colonel we will call “Ken” sat in front of his TV and watched in despair as his old Chief of Army, David Morrison, was awarded the honour of Australian of the Year.

Ken drank too much that night and then he tried to kill himself. It was his second suicide attempt since Morrison stripped him of his command, destroyed his career, and publicly shamed him by incorrectly identifying him as a member of the so-called Jedi Council “sex ring”.
Loyalty is supposed to be a two-way street.

And then this appears in today’s The Australian

Former army chief David Mor­­rison is charging up to $15,000 for speaking engagements as Australian of the Year, up to three times more than his predecessor Rosie Batty asked for each appearance.

I’m actually offended by the fact that he is receiving vast sums of money simply because he made a speech denigrating the Army.

Time to go General.

I note in the pic above he is wearing a Stop Violence Against Women ribbon award.  I see your white ribbon general and raise you an Infantry Combat Badge. The ribbon is not a military award and should not be worn on Uniform.  The Generals in the Army I served in mostly had Active service medals and Bravery awards as would be expected of men charged with leading fighting soldiers.

This man sports a white ribbon.

I don’t think I’d fit in today’s military.

UPDATE:  Michael Smith notes the absence of an ICB as well

PS – Morrison calls himself a Veteran.   He joined the Army in 1979 and was commissioned into the RA Inf.   He must have worked very hard to avoid exposure to the ICB over those 36 years.   ICB, no, white ribbon apparently makes up for it.

 

Cat fight

morrisonand kateAfter being  bouyed and lifted by the Sgt Troy Simmonds’ interview we have this embarrassing picture and article as headline news in today’s The Australian.  For those who don’t know, the woman was a man and Lieutenant Colonel in the Army who changed sides. The guy is retired Major General Morrison, named yesterday as the Australian of the Year (AOTY). She is having a cat fight and isn’t happy that she didn’t get AOTY. It is supposed to be unifying, dignifying and above reproach. But the freshly minted 2016 Australian of the Year award is embroiled in bittern­ess, recrimination and division with a finalist from the beaten brigade, transgender military officer Catherine McGregor, shooting down the choice of David Morrison as “weak and conventional”. A rift between RAAF reservist Group Captain McGregor and her former boss, retired Lieutenant General Morrison, the former chief of the army, was aired in a gay and lesbian journal, the Star Observer, as the nation went back to work after Australia Day celebrations.
“He’s on a steep learning curve when it comes to LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex) and trans issues, he needs to learn a lot and rapidly,’’ Group Captain McGregor, a former polit­ical adviser, told the journal.
Catherine, nobody needs to be on learning curve about LGBTI issues be they steep or flat.  We aren’t interested in your medical condition and if you don’t believe that try and raise the subject in your local pub.  Shut up about it and go on with your life.  No reasonable person would condemn you for your affliction but we don’t need to hear about it every second day in the  media. It’s bad enough that the panel chose another activist as AOTY without cat fights from losers. While the good Sergeant was fighting the good fight his boss, the General commanding the Australian Army, was fighting  for gender equality in a video that went viral as a pidgeon pair with Gillard’s misogyny speech. (Scripted, I might add by Catherine when she was Malcom). It became his claim to fame and it is obviously the main consideration in his selection. What must  the western world think of us.  Our allies will be sniggering and the ADF simply embarrassed by it all.  

Australia Day

I could’ve picked the AOTY by just selecting the last person I would choose for the honour. Well, it used to be an honour and I used to think they were far better men or women than, me but over the last three years at least, it is not the case. Three years ago we had an Aboriginal whose claim to fame were as follows; He could play football, He publicaly ridiculed a teenage girl accusing her of racism, and He  found it hard to say “I am proud to be Australian” after seeing Pilger’s ‘Utopia’  Not proud to be an Australian…John Pilger…Utopia… We then had a woman, a long term victim of domestic violence, who left her young son in the care of the main perpetrator of this violence, whereupon he beat the kid to death with a cricket bat! My role model would’ve kept the kid away from the bastard, not hand him over for slaughter. Now today we have a retired General who’s only claim to fame is a speech he gave accusing the military of misogyny telling them if they didn’t like women in the the ADF they should get out. This seemed to be based on the fact that some male soldiers were hitting on some female soldiers. Some cases were criminal or offensive but the rate of such offenses in the military was much less than the civilian rate and anyway, if soldiers commit offences then charge them and if warranted discharge them. You don’t start with the premise that problems are rife when they clearly aren’t. The speech was written by an Army officer who was a man but now claims to be a woman. FFS The General says his main points over the tenure of his honour will be domestic violence, diversity, the gender pay gap and the republican movement. I would like to think the AOTY award would recognize people who had excelled in their field  thus representing what’s best about Australia, not some doom and gloom activist whose whole outlook is concentrating on the minuscule number of hormone driven offences, slaughtered babies or teenage football fans. Those indigenous of the perpetually offended type call it Invasion Day.  Some fool even had a pic of himself with a banner accusing Cook of invading in 1788, some years after Cook’s death.  Phillips, who was actually the guy who came in 1788 was very fair to the indigenous, tried to help where he could and showed restraint when attacked, but apparently the great unwashed occupying Facebook and Twitter don’t even know of Phillip.  The indigenous have done well from us whities but there are plenty of fools who would wish we had never came; what with our medicine, transport, alcohol, decent and plentiful food, roads, railways, sit down money and money for grants the whole thing makes me think of the Monty Python Sketch on What did the Romans ever do for us? The Left attack any sign of patriotism.  Flags are a no no as is lamb (currently cooking in my BBQ) and we all  should bow to the God of Multiculturalism.  Most who have come from overseas have fitted in well but the later Muslim wave is a worry.  They will always put religion before nation and seem to go out of the way not to fit in. Open borders would leave us in a fools paradise and if we’re not careful we well may experience the associated problems in Europe where member nations are asking Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel “What have you done?” Reminds me of Rudyard Kippling and his poem on the problem; This was my father’s belief And this is also mine: Let the corn be all one sheaf– And the grapes be all one vine, Ere our children’s teeth are set on edge By bitter bread and wine. Makes me think. But no too much as I have to get the lamb roast just right for tonight’s dinner.  I’m using the BBQ for the first time and all seems well.  Apple pie and custard (my Mum’s recipe) will follow. I’ll be thinking of what makes Australia great and that’s  a whole lot more than what might be wrong with this great nation. Have a good day and ignore the whingers. UPDATE: Quadrant has more on Morrison’s appointment.
What we don’t hear often are the voices saying that Morrison demoralised the army with his “feminisation” of the service, which scandalously included taxpayer-funded sex-change operations. Or that his concerns about gender-bashing came very late in his career. The enthusiasm for his YouTube clip effectively snuffed out any analysis of the Morrison style: the fierce, almost jihadist fanaticism in his eyes, the tightened facial muscles, what might be taken by some to be a self-righteous vindictiveness lurking in his delivery. Those who puzzled as to why the Chief of Army needed to deal so publicly with an internal disciplinary matter involving spotty cadets and a hidden video camera might just have glimpsed the unleashing of a political ambition fettered for four decades by military discipline.
And Miranda Devine has a go.
While Australian soldiers were dying in Afghanistan, Morrison was talking about social ­engineering concerns such as gender equity. Fourteen soldiers died between July 2011 and July 2014 in that dangerous and confusing war, when Morrison was chief of Army. But instead of the leadership that ​soldiers at the frontline may have ​craved, they got flowery speeches decrying masculinity and patriarchy to mark International Women’s Day at the United Nations.
 

Sack Her

MonaShindy

Captain Mona Shindy

When I was serving under the colours if you so much as hinted at a political opinion then the chances are you would be asked to resign your commission.  Professional ADF Officers are required to be apolitical. Or at least they were . Not any more it seems, particularly if you are a Muslim.  Captain Mona Shindy (pictured) is the Chief of Navy’s strategic adviser on Islamic affairs. Strategic adviser on Islamic affairs!  What the hell does that mean? In a Defence situation Strategy is the art of planning and directing overall military operations and movements in a war or battle but apparently not only has the requirement to be apolitical changed but so has the definition of strategy. So, is Captain Shindy’s role to advise the Chief of Navy on how to strategically defeat the Islamic Terrorists? No! It would appear her role is to attack any Australian politician who says anything negative about Islam.  As senior Muslim in the Navy Captain Shindy has been operating  a Twitter account. From The Australian;
A navy Twitter account has been shut down after its most senior Muslim officer retweeted a counter-terrorism expert mocking Tony Abbott following the Liberal Party leadership coup and backed the Grand Mufti’s ­response to the Paris terrorist ­attacks.
Two reasons to ask her to resign her commission right there in that one sentence.  Publicly Mocking a politician and siding with the enemy.
On November 18, five days after the Paris attacks, Captain Shindy used the @navyislamic account to declare Dr Abu Mohamed was a “righteous & courageous man who categorically denounces” Islamic State and terrorism, tweeting the hashtag #IStandWithTheMufti.
Take her uniform off her and let her #StandwiththeMufti who thinks causative factors such as foreign policy, the media and lack of opportunity were fuelling Islamic extremism. That is, the West are to blame. The Chief of Navy and the Minister for Defence need to be questioned by the Media as to how this situation has been allowed to continue.  However, that’s not going to happen anytime soon as the Media most probably think it’s a good thing.  As the ADF continues to march towards political correctness as dictated by the Left they are losing their emphasis on defending the realm. Sack her! Bernard Gaynor has a lot more about Captain Shindy but Defence reckons she’s a winner.

Give us a break Penny

pennywongALP are leaping on anything to detract people from the Trade Union Crime Watch report Royal Commission
Acting Opposition Leader Penny Wong said just four days into the 2016 election year the government was “in chaos” and that Mr Dutton’s texting mishap, in which he labelled a senior female journalist a “mad f—ing witch”, warranted a strong response from Mr Turnbull.
Settle down Penny, the government isn’t in crisis, the ALP are – remember 14%…TURC etc.  Turnbull is just getting rid of Abbott supporters as he battles to come across as In charge.  Men talk like that and to suggest that Dutton’s “mad witch” text is anything other than a miss pressed button is ludicrous.  A bit clumsy is all……unless he meant to do it but I can’t see any advantage in that…so let’s just call it clumsy. The mad witch herself didn’t seem to put out by the text so why should anyone else? Jamie Briggs had to go as he made no bones about being an Abbott man.   Prosecution at Twitter and in the media overall, and Prosecution they be, can only come up with “complimented a young staffer and then pecked her on the cheek when he left to go back to his room” Waiting for evidence of a crime that requires him to fall on his sword…waiting…waiting. Drunk?  No evidence…hitting on the girl…no evidence…Giving away State secrets whilst drunk in a bar…no evidence. Notwithstanding the lack of any crime, Briggs’ political career is most probably over so let’s forget him and move on to the real problem. Malcolm Turnbull.

Craig is broke.

thomson

Poor Craig

Disgraced former union boss and ex-ALP MP Craig Thomson has no money to pay any penalty imposed over hundreds of thousands of dollars in union funds he used without authority, including for prostitutes, the Federal Court has heard. That’s OK Craig, the courts have an answer for your problem  There is a formula of so many days in jail per thousands of dollars of fines so you can work it off. All the best and don’t drop the soap!

Wotif you are called to order

Here’s a thought.  If you use Wotif you are helping to close down the coal mining industry and by extension, lowering our standard of living and ability to help those in need.  You are also helping to stop millions of Indians escape poverty. An indigenous group trying to block Adani’s $16 billion Car­michael mine in central Queensland has abandoned claims of racism by the National Native Title Tribunal over its approval this year of a mining lease on its traditional lands. Ahead of a Federal Court challenge later this month to the tribunal’s decision in April, native title claimant Adrian Burragubba has also been dealt a blow, being ordered to pay court costs over changes to his original wide ranging legal suit to block the mining leases. Mr Burragubba, of the Wangan and Jagalingou people, originally had accused Adani of improper conduct in giving misleading analysis of future jobs and revenue from the megamine. However;
Earlier this year, it was revealed that Wotif founder Graeme Wood and former Greenpeace employee John Hepburn were involved in setting up a company, The Sunrise Project, to help Mr Burragubba fight Adani. Documents obtained by The Australian detail an offer of a $325,000 payment over one year “to initiate a community development program and explore their alternatives to mining on their country”. A “heads of agreement’’ between The Sunrise Project and a family council of the group, convened by Mr Burragubba, warned that assistance was contingent on continued opposition to the mine.
There should be a law against this type of radicalism and if there isn’t, one should be tabled in the house soonest and backed by LNP and the ALP.

Perpetually Offended

All Australia’s Catholic bishops (The Oz – paywalled) have been drawn into a national test case for freedom of religion and speech after Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Commission found they have a case to ­answer over humiliating gay, ­lesbian and transgender Australians by distributing a booklet supporting traditional marriage.
Archbishop of Hobart Julian Porteus was initially singled out in a complaint by transgender Greens political candidate Martine ­Delaney that she felt humiliated and that he had breached the ­Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Act by circulating a booklet to the parents of Catholic school ­students called “Don’t mess with Marriage”. Ms Delaney, who has changed from a male to a female and lives in a same-sex relationship with a woman, said she was humiliated by the booklet which only paid “lip service” to showing respect to same-sex attracted Australians but actually sent out negative messages about them.
A transgender Greens political candidate who has changed from a male to a female and lives in a same-sex relationship with a woman is always going to be offended and humiliated. Perpetually! Read an article about a hetero couple.  OMG, how humiliating.  An article about live cattle export. OMG, how humiliating.  If I emailed her and told her I drive a V8 she would be upset as well. Now the rules of debate on the SSM issue have been set.  If you think any gender can marry any gender, and there is apparently more than two nowadays, all well and good.  If you don’t, stand by to be called in front of a Kangaroo Court or Anti Discrimination Commission. She seems to afraid of debate and is trying to shut it down. Why? Maybe because most of the country doesn’t care and she knows it.  We have bigger issues to deal with and harping from the perpetually offended SSM/Green Activist crowd doesn’t help their cause.

My tribute to Gough

In today’s letters to the editor in The Australian,  old OCS  classmate John Mosel reminisces on that fateful day.
One of my army unit’s trucks had broken down at a crossing at Betoota in western Queensland. I persuaded my CO to let me go with the aircraft taking the gearbox to the repair crew who were waiting at a hotel located on the crossing. On approach the next day, we overflew the pub which was surrounded by many vehicles. This was surprising because there were no buildings, other than the pub, as far as we could see. As we made our approach to the strip, a short distance from the crossing, a ute pulled away from the pub and drove towards us. The driver of the ute,  a young woman, backed the vehicle up to the side of the plane and told the pilot and I to take one end of the gearbox while she would handle the other. While effortlessly lifting her end into the back of the ute, she said, “Have you heard? They sacked that bastard Gough! Are you joining us for a beer?”
We all had a celebratory beer in the mess I was in at the time as well. How did you celebrate?  

Turnbull’s Republic dreams still alive

Samantha Maiden plumbs the depths of poor manners in yesterday’s Sunday Mail when she quotes from a book Turnbull wrote years ago when he was pumping for a republic. Full of abuse and ridicule of Charles, the heir to the throne, it gives us an insight as to why Turnbull shouldn’t be PM. I’m not suggesting that Charles is a winner, in fact I think he’s rather loopy, but that’s just a private citizen’s opinion and isn’t as public as a book written by a man who is now our Prime Minister. A man who will shortly be obliged to entertain and welcome Prince Charles to Australia. I can only imagine Samantha Maiden is a Republican like Turnbull and thinks raising adultery and tampon conversations is all fair in the debate to rid Australia of the attachment to the Monarchy. In today’s The Australian Paul Kelly, who has written a book on The Dismissal, claims Turnbull plans to advise the Governor-General and the Queen to release correspondence between former governor-general John Kerr and the palace leading to the dismissal of the Whitlam government. This has Republic written all over it and it is obvious Turnbull still wants the debate on a republic. Like it or not, during the course of the next Government Turnbull will raise the issue of a Republic again. He will see it as his part in history, to dramatically change Australia on his watch. His ego demands it.
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