The mess in the Middle East continues with the resumption of hostilities between the US and Iran, with unpredictable consequences. Australia is an indirect participant through the continuing deployment of a RAAF Wedgetail Early Warning and Control aircraft to the UAE. We are told this is being used for defensive missions - but the only problem with that as we have no control over what the countries receiving it - including presumably Israel - do with the information.

Closer to home, a Chinese submarine launched ICBM that came down in the South Pacific has caused a stir, and indeed it is an unwelcome development. However, it was a routine test and when you fire these things they have to come down somewhere. The new Chinese missile - the JL-3 - has a range in excess of 10,000km, meaning all of Australia is in range of it.

Should we panic?

Not yet, but we need to be aware of it and it highlights our lack of preparedness for missile defence, for which we can squarely blame the 2023 Defence Strategic Review.

Finally, some words about Canada's decision to acquire 12 convention diesel electric submarines, which comes with massive economic benefits. Total German investment over the life of the program will be well over $100 billion. Compare this with the lunacy of Australia's approach to AUKUS Pillar One where we are giving away billions rather than receiving them. Why are we doing this? Because RAN submariners have bluffed our politicians and we will explain how.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US has celebrated Independence Day with President Trump giving a hugely bombastic and historically inaccurate speech saying that he leads the greatest country ever and the American military will kick sand in the face of anyone it wants. What an ally. Then we look at an important speech given by Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy on 2 July. It was meant to be about Defence reform but he included a reference to Prime Minister Robert Menzies being a Nazi appeaser.

This received a predictable reaction and it's unclear what the Minister hopes to gain by trying to turn Defence into a party political contest. At least he appears sincere about wanting to improve Defence - but for that to work the attitudes of people in the system have to change, along with some structural reform. He says that Defence has cumulatively wasted $29 billion - which is an extraordinary amount for which no one has been held to account.

On AUKUS the government has wheeled out Senator Raff Ciccone to defend the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines saying they are necessary because Australia is surrounded by water. This ridiculous argument gets repeated over and over. Of course Australia is surrounded by water - any idiot knows that. No one is saying we don't need a Navy - what we question are the security benefits from this vastly expensive, risky undertaking and the government has no answers.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Uncertainty continues in the Middle East with no one in the Trump administration having a clue about what they are doing; the government of Israel is out of control - and Iranian hardliners are in charge of their country. It is possible that Donald Trump is losing interest because the world economy hasn't yet collapsed. All the Australians who cheered on the US might wish to reflect on the consequences.

Then we look at some surveys showing that trust in the US as an ally has plummeted. The same pattern is true in Australia, but our politicians seem completely immune. Next, a major study of increased defence spending that shows Australia way down the list with no meaningful increase despite all the rhetoric from the government. Finally, some worrying information about the F-35 program - as if Australia is not already too dependent on US hardware.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.