| Notes |
https://amp.heraldsun.com.au/news/united-arab-emirates-poaches-former-major-general-mike-hindmarsh-as-security-adviser/news-story/0b305b6047e7fefce4c5041378c47060
AUSTRALIA'S top special forces general has been poached by an Arab ruler to work as his national security guru.
Former major-general Mike Hindmarsh retired from his $230,000-a-year job last June after just months as head of the army's Training Command after a 12-month stint as commander of the Middle East Area of Operations.
The ex-Special Operations Command and SAS chief has moved to Abu Dhabi to work as national security adviser to the United Arab Emirates.
His salary is unknown, but senior advisers in oil-rich states that are not burdened by democratic processes such as parliaments can earn more than $500,000-a-year tax free.
Mr Hindmarsh reports to Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Crown Prince General Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Senior sources said the top-secret appointment was made after months of negotiations and was cleared by defence chief Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston and the Federal Government. "This has been going on for 18 months," one said.
Mr Hindmarsh was posted to the Middle East, based in Baghdad, as Australian Task Force 633 commander for a year from January last year.
He was a key player in the transfer of the Australian headquarters from Iraq to the UAE and had dealings at the highest security levels with senior officials and the UAE military.
His new role mirrors that of former special forces commander, Duncan Lewis, who is national security adviser to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Mr Hindmarsh's ex-boss.
Dozens of ex-Australian soldiers work for the UAE military in leadership, training and mentoring roles, developing links between the two armed forces. UAE is a federation of seven emirates including financially troubled Dubai.
It is run by Abu Dhabi's President and ruler, Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with Dubai's ruler, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister and Defence Minister. Sheik Mohammed is known in Australia for his race- horse interests.
Mr Hindmarsh graduated from Duntroon's Royal Military College into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps in 1978.
As SAS commander, he led an Anzac force in Kuwait during Gulf War I in 1998 and was special operations commander in the Middle East during the 2003 Iraq war.
In January last year he became an Officer of the Order of Australia for his command and leadership as Commander Special Operations Command, Australia. |