It's pretty clear now that Australia and China are no longer friends.
They've had a falling out, a decent argument and China seems to have taken its bat and ball and gone home. Sadly for the Australian cricketers in India, they didn't have that choice. Mind you, we hear they are on their way to the Maldives.
Beijing has pretty much flipped the Monopoly board by deciding to cut all dialogue at the political level for years. And the so-called China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue has been suspended.
Of course, everyone should make sure they don't take this feud out on ordinary Chinese people. They're not the totalitarian communist government. They're just people.
That aside, we note the talk among military and political officials over concerns about war with China, whether that be cyber war, trade war, cold war, or any kind of war.
They clearly don't pay much attention to that classic song - War, huh, yeah, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing. Say it again y'all.
Of course, the tribal history of humanity means conflicts are pretty complicated and run deep into psychology and genetics. Funny thing, though. When you talk to veterans on Anzac Day, most of them don't see it that way. They just see war as pointless.
Over the many years we've covered Anzac Day, we tend to gravitate towards the veterans at the back of the crowd. They're usually the blokes who saw action. They carry long-term suffering in their faces and body language. They're usually the best ones to learn the real truth about war.
Anyhow, amid the beating drums of war during the past week, the Australian Defence Force announced it would soon be equipped with "world-leading Australian-developed camera sensor technology featuring next generation intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities".
This technology is specifically designed for use on tactical unmanned aerial systems [UAS], also known as drones.
The so-called "Spitfire camera gimbal" will be incorporated into the Australian Army's new tactical unmanned aerial system.
Brigadier James Allen, director-general of Army Aviation Systems, described this equipment as a "generational leap in optical camera sensor and image stabilisation technology that offers a significant capability advantage for Defence".
"The Spitfire camera gimbal is an extremely lightweight sensor package that provides a day-and-night surveillance and reconnaissance capability on the installed aircraft, which will significantly boost the Army's tactical UAS capabilities."
This advanced Spitfire camera sensor was "a home-grown innovation from Australia's technology sector".
The system uses electro-optical, short wave and medium wave infrared cameras, along with laser-range finding and target-designation technology.
Which reminds us of that old proverb, "If you want peace prepare for war". Or is all this talk of war just disturbing the peace?
A World War II Joke
Speaking of war, Waratah West's Fred Saunders sent us this joke from England.
"Following the European Union vaccine debacle, Boris left a voicemail for French President Emmanuel Macron.
"For a laugh, he left the message in German. Macron phoned him back later and said, 'Boris, I got your message but I'm afraid I don't speak German'. Boris paused for a second or two and replied, 'And who should you thank for that?'."
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