Playing with lead toy soldiers has been the undoing of many a good man, perhaps even Tony and certainly Howard.

Australia has few armed forces and couldn't defend itself from any other nation including Fiji so why are we kidding ourselves?

It's time to declare ourselves neutral and stop posing as a member of America's army of mercenaries and plunderers.

With no air force or navy to speak of, let's seek peace and, instead, strongly condemn the warmongers.

G'day Robert

About 90% of what submarines do during peacetime is:

1. intelligence gathering of other countries submarines, ships, coasts, harbours (all soughts of emissions are sucked up). This involves interaction with naval assets of friendly countries (eg. US and Singapore)

2, deterrence against opponent's naval assets getting too close (uninvited) to the Australian coastline.

In wartime 1 and 2 as well as more active defence against enemy naval elements - including elements who try to sink tankers going from the major refinery in Singapore to Australia.

Pete
Submarine Matters
at http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/