Just for a change, we start with some positive developments, including a bilateral security treaty with PNG. Another positive item is a contract with Bisalloy to start qualifying steel for Australian built nuclear powered submarines. That looks to be 15 years earlier than necessary and might have more to do with US reporting requirements rather than Australian needs. Speaking of which, one of the main AUKUS boosters in Congress is Joe Courtney. He seems like a very nice reasonable person – but his Congressional district includes the Electric Boat submarine yard in Groton. It is owned by General Dynamics, which also happens to be his largest single donor. There’s nothing improper in this – it’s just the way politics works in the US but Australians need to be aware of the connection. Regarding Israel’s continuing pounding of Gaza with horrendous civilian casualties: please stop. You are damaging your own international reputation and it won’t wipe out Hamas, which is an idea, not a building or a person.

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