Episode 150

We have a lot of foreign policy material to cover, starting with the Strait of Hormuz and President Donald Trump's idiotic war with Iran. Of all the Middle East countries that hate Iran, on the top of the list is the UAE. With a population of just 1.1 million people coupled with vast economic wealth, it seeks to interfere in the affairs of a number of other countries. We ask again - with all this wealth, why has Australia given about $100 million worth of AMRAAM missiles to them and why is a RAAF Wedgetail aircraft still deployed there?

Probably more consequentially, a sudden rift is emerging between South Korea and the US, with President Trump now openly siding with Kim Jong-un, the North Korean dictator and mass murderer. This is just an appalling development - South Korea is a vibrant democracy with a thriving, creative economy. North Korea is one big prison that has nothing to contribute to civilisation. Thankfully, Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles has said publicly that Australia sides with South Korea - and also Japan, which is part of the mix. This is one of the rare occasions when we seem to have realised that the actions of the US are contrary to Australia's safety and security. It's a long overdue development - and let's hope it continues.

However, there is now a very real prospect of South Korea developing a nuclear weapon if it can no longer rely on the US. If that happens Japan will instantly follow. Both countries are well prepared and could field and deliver a nuclear warhead in months. If that happens, where will it leave Australia?

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