Holbrook and USUKA
The siting of an Oberon class submarine in a town 400 kilometres from the sea appears to be a metaphor for current governmental thinking.
Decommissioned in 1994 HMAS Otway did not appear to hinder the southward movement of North Vietnamese troops, the development of nuclear missiles by North Korea, or indeed any other developments in East Asia during its thirty years in service under the sea or sitting in dry dock.
Lining up the three countries involved in current submarine planning by powerfulness, it seems the first two – the US and UK- are huge financial beneficiaries, paid for by the third, transferring huge monies better spent on domestic priorities. (A very fast train network anyone?).
Perhaps the first submarine should be named Alice Springs so in years to come as people travelling to that beautiful town will be able to visit a huge retired submarine 1000 kilometres from the sea, a symbol of how what is perceived as strength by current politicians is actually a front for fear and timidity, indeed an absurdity.
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