No, it isn't a yellow submarine

- at least I don't think it is. 

The news has been filled with stories about the AUKUS "submarine deal". We are, so it is said, going to be building some submarines in this state.

Maybe we are or maybe we aren't. It is still a long way from binding contracts being signed. We have already paid out close to a billion dollars to the French for a contract that apparently was signed but the conditions were not met, not right, not quite what it appeared to be, not what we wanted....or something.

This one does not seem any more likely to me at present. Apparently the American Congress has to agree. We are friendly with the Americans - hence the US part of AUKUS - but does that mean they will give up the secrets of their old nuclear submarines? I am not holding my breath.

It is all incredibly expensive too of course - some estimates are as high $368bn. Given cost blow outs (and there will be some) the figure is probably closer to $740bn. I won't be around to see this because there will be "delays" as well - and I don't expect to live quite that long. This is currently thirty years in advance planning - make that forty at least.

All of this is apparently about "defence". I am aware we need "defence". I would much prefer we did not need the armed services at any time. It would be good if they were simply defensive, that we knew they would never need to go to war. That's unlikely. There have been rumblings about China lately. Will they use all this as the excuse to try and, as they see it, retrieve Taiwan? I know this worries my Taiwanese neighbours.

It has been obvious to me for far too long that the best form of defence a country can have is properly targetted foreign aid. The aid given has to be the sort that benefits those who need it most in a way that helps them be self-reliant. Rather than telling all those young men who make the perilous journeys in search of a better life "we don't want you" we should be telling them something different. We should be saying, "You can come and we will train you in new skills so you can return to your country of origin and build new lives for yourself and others. We will give you the seeds of development and you can do the growing." 

Oh yes, it is much more complex than that. I know it is but it is a possibility we need to keep in mind. Just one of the billions of dollars spent on those submarines could plant so much more good will.