ANZAC DAY, 2014

Anzac Day. Again.

It's so hard to write about.

So this was my attempt to conjoin other people's losses with my own experience of someone terrific, SSM Frank Tattersall, who lost his life serving his country . . .

UKRAINE & THE EU

The dispute in the Ukraine could so easily have already bubbled over into war.

(AlJazerra photo)

I examined the EU's role in this piece for the Canberra Times on Saturday . . .

BOB CARR AND SUBMARINES

Only one issue is galvanising Australia at the moment - Bob Carr. 

While it's understandable that people are fascinated by his diaries, perusing these for insights may not necessarily be the best way to prepare for the future. 

A Collins off Cockburn Sound - Defence Photo

That's why I attempted to link him to the new submarine in the Canberra Times. Degree of difficulty : 2. Degree of fun : 9. 

Sorry . . . 

BUILDING SUBMARINES

This column is about the submarine industry, not their utility. And it's a story of chaos and dysfunction.

The Collins program spends 40 percent of the Navy's maintenance budget on a weapon used by just 6 percent of the personnel.

As I suggested in the Canberra Times, it looks as if here we go again . . .

SUBMARINES

Submarines. Let's sing along now:

"We're here, because we're here, because we're here."

But it appears as if the government's backing away from the commitment, as this special column in today's Canberra Times pointed out . . . 

PEOPLE WANT MORE

We're encouraged to want more - materially.

But when you look at the result of the latest WA election, it seems we want more spiritually, too.

(well, not all of us of course. Pat Campbell's clever take on the kingmaker)

There's nothing like a trip to Sweden to make you thing there should be something more to life than just raking it in, as this Canberra Times column suggests . . .