THOMSON FEVER

It's impossible to ignore the Thomson affair any longer.

Naturally I have no knowledge about the alleged illegalities themselves. This column refers merely to the fact that the government - and Julia Gillard - has already been 'convicted' by most Australians.

It needed have been this way . . .

MATCHING DEFENCE POLICY TO SPENDING

There's been a sudden, dramatic change to Australia's defence policy. 

In the past we've focussed on objectives first, and then insisted we'll find the money to fund these. Next years Defence White Paper will make it clear that that formulation has changed.

The number one priority is to keep defence spending constrained to less than two percent of GDP. This means abandoning the objective of acting as an "independent middle-power", as this column seeks to explain . . .

IT'S ABOUT TRUST - THERE IS NONE

Late again. This was printed in the Canberra Times on 31 March as I attempted to find a reason that might explain the disaster that engulfed Queensland Labor . . .

A SHINY BIG NEW GUN

Far too often procurement decisions for the military end up following the path of lease resistance. That seems to be the only way of explaining Australia's forthcoming decision to buy the South Korean built K-9 Howitzer . . .

REAL CHANGE WON'T BE HAPPENING, NOW

Before embarking on a course of action, it's always important to choose the right 'mission'.

That's the disaster that accompanies the series of 'culture reviews' Defence has undergone over the past year. They'll change nothing.

Far better to consider how it might have been done differently . . .

RUDD REDUX? CARR DID.

Political lives rarely end in glory.

The contrast between  Kevin Rudd and Bob Carr is instructive.

Perhaps it's got something to do with the motivation behind their actions. Or perhaps it's just luck . . .

CARR'S FOREIGN AFFAIR

So.

Bob Carr did come to Canberra in the end . . .