Foreign aid to the Pacific is one of the things that can protect us from China, who is practising 'debt trap' diplomacy in Fiji and other island states, getting closer to us all the time. Our uninspiring government needs to start seeing aid as a defensive weapon before China owns the entire region.

The need for pacifists is indisputable.
The need for war is equally indisputable.

Dan

When the opening sentences of an essay are total bollocks, it doesn't bode well for the rest...

"I feel sorry for former UK Prime Minister Neville Chamberlin, for wanting peace for our time. He is often criticized for wanting to appease Hitler.He wanted peace, WWI had occurred, and he did not want another world war."

He's not criticised for wanting peace. Most people at that time wanted peace. Even Hitler wanted peace (so long as he could get what he wanted without fighting).

Chamberlain is criticised because he thought he'd bought peace by selling out a free and peaceful people - the Czechs. And instead he was played for the fool and still got war 18 months later.

The lesson here, and the reason Chamberlain is criticised, is that, had he not been so craven, had he stood up to Hitler, had he backed the freedom and independence of the Czechs, not only would he have saved them but he may well have avoided the war he eventually got. That's the lesson the peaceniks like the author miss.

The author also claims .."foreign aid, which can help to reduce conflict in the world". He doesn't offer evidence because there is no evidence. Just fervent hopes.





Its truly said that foreign aid is all about transfer money from the poor in rich countries to the rich in poor countries

4 billion dollars is a lot of money that could make a massive difference if properly directed at not for profit non-government agencies. As almost cost-free power and reticulated potable water.

As for China? We need to emphasise her huge double standards on human rights and climate change! Sort of like pointing to the sty in their eye while ignoring the plank in ours.

We cannot ever hope to outspend China! And anyone who espouses a spending war for control and influence has to have "ttbn" for brains! I know, it's a sycophantic compliment, but I couldn't find a better way of phrasing it without offending someone?

4 billion dollars would buy 40 or so thorium powered MSR, SMR's?
Or 20 a year, to power a similar number of high output deionisation dialysis desalination plants, P.A. And every time we roll out any of these gifts that keep on giving for decades, we change the game and their circumstances for the better every which way.

And much of the money we throw at the indigenous community should be just such gifts!

So they can use this power for numerous cottage industries/recycling etc of their choice and market gardens? Power to light and power their domiciles or recharge the electric tractors/utes they'd need for their intensive Agri pursuits. And electrically powered value-adding/processing,e.g., Copra, bananas, plums, bush tucker? Frozen or dehydrated foodstuffs? Plastic and waste rubber recycling? Cost-effective irrigation with desal!
The possible list is endless!

Our best way to preserve, foster and grow our influence in the Pacific, is to take climate change, demonstrably, seriously! Or simply vacate the field and get out of China's way!
Alan B.

4 Billion we could buy around 40 SAAB Gripen.
Safest is the village with the most menacing looking warriors. Always has and always will be the case. Unfortunately.

Pretty sure we all share the authors desire for peace and harmony but appeasement, meddling and disarmament would have to be the most tried and tested of failed ideas.

nhaze,
> had [Chamberlain] backed the freedom and independence of the Czechs, not only
> would he have saved them but he may well have avoided the war he eventually got.
That's one possible outcome. Another is that Germany would have immediately gone to war with, and defeated, an unprepared Britain.

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Alan B.,
> 4 billion dollars would buy 40 or so thorium powered MSR, SMR's?
If you want to spend billions on technology that hasn't been developed yet, why not go with carbon nanotube based desal?