Acknowledgements

This book is the extension of an ‘accidental’ trilogy on Australia in the Pacific War that Peter edited and which was published between 2012 and 2015. At the conclusion of that series, Tristan raised an obvious question – why hasn’t anyone looked at Australian strategy and operations in the early Cold War as a whole? The result of that conversation is this book.

The editors would like to thank the authors for their production of fine chapters, all of which complement each other and speak to the central focus of the book. Edited books are only as good as the faculty that is gathered around the central theme. It is their subsequent hard work that turns an idea and a theme into a book. All the authors have been a pleasure to work with and have juggled this project among the plethora of other tasks they had on their plates. They have our thanks and gratitude. Dr Greg Raymond, the editor of the ANU Press Asia-Pacific Security Studies series, was forever supportive and patient with the editors as deadlines slipped and 2020–21 had its full impact, as it has with all of us across the globe. We wish to also thank the team at ANU Press for their hard work and support. Thanks also go to the Department of Defence, whose support for the University of Western Australia Defence and Security Program through a Strategic Policy Grant made the final stages of this book possible.

Finally, thanks to family, friends and colleagues. As each of the authors in this book can attest, writing is only sometimes a solitary activity. Colleagues are crucial in the thinking process, sharing the pain and the joy of the process. Family and friends not only act as sounding boards, but also as sources of support, cajoling or advice that maybe one should just go outside for a walk.