National Defence Strategic Policy as a Function of National Leadership

摘要

In the development of defence strategic papers the questions often asked are: "How does this defence strategy relate authoritatively with the other elements of national strategy? Where is the national strategic guidance?" Also time and time again, and in leading article after leading article journalists and commentators bewail the lack of a strategic approach to particular issues. Governments in recent times have announced studies or white papers on defence, or relations with Asia, or infrastructure, the car industry or the Murray-Darling Basin; the list goes on. Yet in all cases of particular issues these are elements of a wider strategic outlook. These matters and many others should be coordinated within a national strategy and clearly they are not.