A special report by a committee appointed by the cabinet of the Papua New Guinea has declared the military forces of that country incapable of defending the nation. The problem, the report says, is that a succession of PNG governments have ignored the military, failed to provide money for training, diverted funds that should have been spent for facilities and equipment, and in many cases had delayed paying some troops for years. The committee called for a series of reforms and pay raises, which the Prime Minister ordered implemented. The military has grown from 3,000 to 5,200 over the last 10 years, and is now to be cut back to 3,000 by the end of this year.--Stephen V Cole
