Military incompetence arises without trace

June 9, 2026

This article illustrates that the old dictum that failing to understand the lessons of history predicates repeating it.

In this case, students of military history will immediately recognise the same path that produced the ‘Dreadnought’ race that was – while not as much a tangible cause as geopolitical shifts of the time – still part of the combative ambience that created the First World War.

‘My ship is bigger/more lethal etc. than yours’ became what we now call a trope – a competition of no effect on the outcomes or the progress of the subsequent warfare. The prosaic artillery exchanges were the main battles that decided the end result. The race of the Dreadnought was a ‘mine is bigger than yours’ competition between profoundly incompetent military panjandrums to acquire more toys for the boys.

There was no analysis of what shape the forecast war between nations would take; no comprehension of what actual battle requirements would be.

Now we have repetition of that obdurance coming from not just the clueless Minister but also the intellectually constipated military itself.

There has been zero discovery of a coherent strategy for Australia having AUKUS submarines.

Not good enough, Minister Marles and the Military.