The Gulf Commitment: The Australian Defence Force's First War

Australia played a minor role in the Gulf War of 1990-91 but that involvement was an important episode in the history of the Australian Defence Force. Created in the 1970s, the Australian Defence Force is intended to reflect new defence priorities. In the Gulf War it faced its first test. How well did the Australian Defence Force perform? How quickly can it respond to the demands of the government? Does it have the capability to operate in the high threat environment of the modern battlefield? Answers to these questions measure Australia's defence policy as it has evolved over the past 15 years. "The Gulf Commitment: the Australian Defence Force's First War" provides an inside view of the workings of the Australian Defence Force and a record of its performance in Australia's first war for 20 years.