Russia's power in decline, says Bishop

By Australian Associated Press
02:11 15 Oct 2015, updated 02:11 15 Oct 2015

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says Russia's power is in decline as China, India, Japan and Indonesia become established global powers.

Ms Bishop told a forum in Washington on Thursday (AEST) the economic rise of Asia was bringing with it increasing strategic importance, military might and "soft power".

"At the same time relative power elsewhere is declining," she told the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

While Ms Bishop affirmed she was not referring to the United States - which would be a "global leader in the foreseeable future" - the minister singled out Russia.

"Some powers are in decline, and not withstanding President Putin's more recent assertive displays, I would put Russia in this category," she said.

"It is certainly a lesser player than was the Soviet Union."

This was shown by Russia's share of the global economy falling to 1.6 per cent, making it the 15th largest economy, compared to the USSR which accounted for 7.7 per cent in 1980 or the fourth largest economy.

Just how smooth is the transition to new powers will depend on how countries compete for relative power, she said.

"Russia's annexation of territory, military incursions and support for separatist movements has flouted the principle of state sovereignty," she said.

China's behaviour on the international stage had been more nuanced, as it sought a greater role in global forums such as the United Nations.

However, its reclamation activities in the South China Sea had "ignored sensitivities in the neighbourhood and escalated regional tensions".

In September 2013, members of ISIL killed the Ahrar ash-Sham commander Abu Obeida Al-Binnishi, after he had intervened to protect a Malaysian Islamic charity; ISIL had mistaken its Malaysian flag for that of the United States.

I have got a question, in Malaysia, what are the circumstances that would allow for civilians to salute?

DYMM, Defence minister and veterans can give formal salute, other than that I don't think so
Though its not like its a law or anything, not like its going to make you in trouble if you suddenly saluted a military personnel

Unless if you're US marines, they take it seriously this kind of thing

what about placing right hand on the heart when saluting flag? Westerners and even Singaporeans do this a lot when facing the flag (when it is raised, lowered especially)

Growing numbers of Islamic State militants in Syria have become discontent with their command and deserted the ranks of the militant group amid the Russian anti-terror operation, Moscow's Defense Ministry said on Friday.

"The majority of armed gangs are demoralized. Discontent with field commanders is growing amid the fighters, and there are instances of disobeying orders," senior Russian General Andrey Kartapolov told a media briefing.

Cases of desertion among the jihadists are no longer isolated, with them now fleeing "en masse," the colonel general, who heads operations in the Russian general staff, added.

Meanwhile, some of the strikes conducted in Syria by the US led coalition destroy objects of civilian infrastructure, the Russian military official said, adding that it results in the growing flows of refugees fleeing from their native lands to the European Union.

On October 11 a Syrian thermal power plant was destroyed by the coalition strikes, Kartapolov said, adding that the location had been bombed repeatedly for several days. As a result, civilians in the city of Aleppo were left without electricity and sewerage stopped functioning, the general told defense attaches and journalists.

2016 Budget: A Preview

Marhalim Abas
October 17, 2015
budget, Kementerian Pertahanan

SHAH ALAM: ARMED Forces chief General Zulkifeli Mohd Zin is not known to shy from a fight. But even the veteran soldier seemed uncomfortable when the conversation turned to the 2016 Budget at a function on Thursday.

He did not really say anything on the budget – he would have to if I had followed up with a question – but his body language was enough to show – at least to me – that the Defence Ministry will get a big hit when the Prime Minister presented the 2016 Budget on Oct 23, 2015.

General Zulkifeli was speaking to the press after a ceremony to honour serving and retired Armed Forces personnel who were injured in service. During the meet and greet session prior to the ceremony, Zulkifeli even said the food served for lunch was too little “due to the economic crisis”. It could have been a joke but the lunch menu seemed to reflect what he had said.

At the Press conference later, General Zulkifeli acknowledged that one question he could not answer was “when will the disability pension be increased?”. It was the most repeated questions especially from those who had retired. He said the Armed Forces had forwarded the request to the government and hopefully “it will be raised when the government can afford it”.

It was at this point I knew I could asked about the 2016 Budget, but I decide against it. There are still less hot-button issues – the AV4, Blackhawks, Yemen and others – that had not been asked. So I decided to focus on the issues and leave the budget questions to the politicians.

Anyhow, as I stated before it is likely that the budget for the Defence Ministry and the Armed Forces will be reduced next year. No one I spoke too was able to come out with a figure though so its up to me to come with it based on my conversations and a review of the budget for the last ten years.


A graphic from the Finance Ministry 2015 budget document on the allocation for the Defence Ministry.

(The budget from 2011 to 2014 are the final allocation for the financial year including the additional funds sought during the mid-year, an annual ritual)

Based on the graphic above, we can surmised that the 2016 budget – the first in the RMK11 – could even be lower than the 2011 figure (RM14.2 billion). How much lower? It will be RM12.1 billion, of which RM11.3 billion will be the Operating Expenditure (OE) while whats left will be the Development Expenditure (DE) or procurement budget.

What they are going to do with around RM800 million for procurement then? Not much really, apart from all of the project already in the books like the LCS, AV8, A400M (one this December, with two more in 2016) and the Pilatus PC-7 Mk II (to be delivered by early next year).

If thats the case, can the Ministry signed on for new stuff? Yes, they can as most of the payment only starts when the items are delivered.

General Zulkifeli was speaking to the press after a ceremony to honour serving and retired Armed Forces personnel who were injured in service. During the meet and greet session prior to the ceremony, Zulkifeli even said the food served for lunch was too little “due to the economic crisis”. It could have been a joke but the lunch menu seemed to reflect what he had said.

dah la perut buncit boroi... leher pon dua lapis... masih tak cukup?

red velvet airborne backing... means full combat equipment jump right?

yep a PAC veteran, even went to Bragg

i thought velvet backing only for active full equipment jumpers... every year have to jump at least once... with his size i doubt can jump anymore shouldnt he wear without the velvet backing? like the badge on top.. the top one is from singkie right?

Three-D printing could potentially enable the Defense Department to reduce inventory and storage space, and thereby lower costs, she noted. It could also allow the military to print obsolescent parts that are no longer being manufactured.

As the technology advances, some military leaders want to give 3D printers to depots and deployed troops to facilitate maintenance and operational readiness and save money. The Navy is particularly gung-ho about the technology, having created a “Print the Fleet’” project two years ago to develop procedures for building, qualifying and delivering parts. In recent years, the U.S. military has 3D-printed basic items like oil caps and medical supplies. Going forward, officials envision printing out larger, more complex objects such as aircraft wings or even small drones.

“Soon there will be no physical tether to the supply chain,” Vice Adm. Phillip Cullom, deputy chief of naval operations for fleet readiness and logistics, said at an additive manufacturing conference earlier this year, according to a Navy news release.

But integrating 3D printing into the force on a large scale isn’t as simple as buying the machines and materials and installing them downrange. Many issues and challenges need to be addressed, analysts and industry executives said.

Jim Joyce, a specialist leader at Deloitte Consulting’s manufacturing and operations office, said ensuring quality is the key obstacle.

wtf is that

wtf is that