*But then we feel comfortably numb, oblivious to our own surroundings as if the gathering storm will dissipate on its own and somehow we will be spared and survive.*

No...not comfortably numb; never: Disempowered, in the face of political manipulation.

The thing is, Alon, that nobody can ever get what they do not deserve, good or bad - including a leader, so it is a mistake to expect your salvation to come from someone else.

You mentioned Yitzhak Rabin: yes, he made one good decision in his life - but what about the others? "Saint" Rabin was a murderer: during the Altalena affair he gave the order to use the "holy cannon" to kill a score of defenceless unarmed swimmers in Tel-Aviv's beach. As prime-minister, he ordered the army to raid Arab villages at night, take all their men out to a forest and there break their arms and legs. Obviously he didn't volunteer to die for the cause of peace, but was rather shot without notice.

http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART1/678/702.html
http://www.kibush.co.il/show_file.asp?num=9670

Mostly, sad but true commentary? Even so, courage of conviction is far too easy when the lives risked or spent are always others!?

We here in OZ have plans to build twelve subs.

Just once I'd like to see the pollies who demand the potential blood sacrifice of others to spend a month or two in the confined bowels of these metal whales as sea trials are conducted to test the hull in maximum depth deep dives etc.

Or in the eternal hide and seek to test our technology and theirs. Or how well the slow and lumbering (deliberate political choice) tolerate a depth charge run.

And actually avoidable given the sheer speed of (we don't need it) nuclear power as the motive driving force.

I wonder if spending time on a comparatively noisy conventional diesel (operational) sub was a requirement for high office, how many would have a hand up? A courageous redoutable Donald Trump perhaps? P.M. Turbull? Ha, ha,ha, oh my aching ribs.
Rhrosty.