Leoj, that is a laugh coming from one who incessantly prattles on about Greens, Eastern Bloc, Trots, watermelons. Nearly ever post on every topic you let fly with, Greens, Eastern Bloc, Trots, watermelons. Maybe you don't notice yourself.

The professionalism is there and the risk assessments and treatments that Australia can afford and can best contribute to its alliances are also there in the main. The politics being played and largely because governments have short terms, do impact, but more so in delays rather than poorer choices one would hope.

There is much more noise now that the forever disaffected and serially protesting have access to social media and of course heaps of time through lack of anything worthwhile to occupy themselves.

Go looking for independent and competent information on defence from such 'sources' as Waleed Aly and Tony Jones and expect to be disappointed. They have their dumbed-down audience (the same ones) to feed like chooks.

Dear Paul,

He's now added Tony Jones and Waleed Aly to the mix.
How bizarre. What do they have to do with nuclear
subs? Why not add the "real experts" like Andrew Bolt,
and Alan Jones, and of course Cory Bernardi, and
the all knowing Pauline Hanson (she knows everything).
And then for an international expert of course we can
always rely for the "real news" on the US President -
Donald Trump.

It's all a case of "Deja Poo." The feeling that we've heard
all this crap before. (smiley face).

According to some, the only acceptable analysis is the one put forward by the so called experts who support a Capitalists feed belligerent militaristic approach which has failed Australia many times in the past. The concept of establishing Fortress Australia, from which we venture forth periodically to blast the perceived third world enemies, is well established.
The spending of $50 billion on these offensive submarines is ridiculous. Our aim should be the prevention and reduction of conflicts, not a policy which blindly links us to the US, and its confrontational foreign policies. A move to a non aligned stance would see Australia better respected on the world stage, and give us a meaningful voice in world affairs. Unfortunately, since WWII, because of our sycophantic support of US aggression throughout the world, others view Australia as an appendage of US militarism, with no worthwhile opinion or contribution to make.

Hi Foxy,

Rather strange that one, I thought he might have thrown in Eastern bloc, Trots, watermelon, Greens.
Leoj might have thought I was having a poke at him when I suggested he could be suffering from 'Sensory Processing Disorder', but I was not, I think he is a genuine sufferer.

Problem is we are at the mercy of incompetent politicians.
Just heard Bob Carr talking on the TV about how we cannot do anything
to stop Nth Korea if China won't act.
Nonsense "we" could stop Nth Korea in its tracks in about two days if
either China stopped its fuel supply or if they would not then if
somebody put a cruise missile into each tank in each tank farm.
Nth Korea would come to a halt in one or two days.

The same to power stations or HV switch yards. It takes at least
six months to get new transformers.