In May of 2022, Australia changed its Federal government to a "progressive" Labor government, a welcome move which many thought would change the conservative direction 180º. This included our alliances with the USA, Britain & pivoting towards a more independent, nuanced and stronger stance regarding China, the Pacific and strategic partnerships.

Fast-forward to 11 June 2023. We have AUKUS, we have a hawkish Deputy PM who would rival McConnell in militaristic sabre-rattling, and we have the "inter-operability" between Australian & US troops, navy and air force. We also have the prospect of nuclear subs (AU$368bn) delivered up to 30 years into the future, thus breaking also the Treaty of Raratonga, to which Australia is a signatory. Briefly, it prohibits the carriage, use or passage of nuclear-armed military weapons in the Pacific.

As with what you have said of McConnell, the gaslighting and PR onslaught has been relentless and alarming, overwhelming opponents' questions with bleats about the Chinese Communist threat (sic) and our undying relationship and fealty to the US of A. Spare me! For those of us who think and raise logical questions about use, delivery times and what else AU$368bn could buy, we are vilified as Communist shills and apologists for putative "enemies". Unless these hawks take a cold shower and look at the reality of globalism as it affects them (i.e. economically adversely) and accept the inevitability of a shared future rather than dominance and supremacy, as a species, we (and others) are doomed to obliteration.

Too bloody late by then for me to say "I told ya so!"... *sigh*

PS: thank you for the McConnell piece - disheartening though it is.