In which the bromancer covers the action, and warrior Liz tries to steal the bromancer's thunder...

 

At last things have begun to wind down, though the 'toonists are still seeing high comedy in the election, with First Dog celebrating Sky Noise down under ...

The reptiles retained their focus with ongoing exhaustive and exhausting coverage ...

It was left to former Chairman Rudd, right down the bottom, to try to save Bluey, helped along by Joe, that prolific lesser member of the Kelly gang, but what about Barbie? 

Who will save her and Ken?

Over on the extreme far right, the pond drew a blank ...

The pond is relieved that any attempt to feature petulant Peta always provokes rage. No need to go there ...

There’s no future in a Labor-lite opposition
The new leader must honestly confront the party’s mistakes and weaknesses but keep perspective. Convulsions about turning left or right are counter-productive; the Liberal Party’s ­values are its North Star. 
By Peta Credlin
Columnist

Just as she doubled down, so did the reptiles by calling on the onion muncher for an opinion ...

Lib MPs urge unity ticket as Abbott blasts Dutton’s lack of ‘conviction’
Sussan Ley is believed to have already offered top jobs to colleagues in exchange for their support, as Tony Abbott condemned a ‘lack of courage’ for the spectacular election failure.
By Sarah Ison and Jack Quail

Ah, the old 'didn't have the ticker' routine from experts in budgie smuggling, but as post-mortems remain the go, it did allow the pond to slip in the infallible Pope early ...

He's joined the immortal Rowe in doing Rembrandt? 

What an honour for Gina, and of course the pond is compelled to feature the source ...

By golly this day's pond outing could end up being a Seinfeld episode featuring nothing but 'toons ...

Speaking of nothing, freedumb boy was back and he was doubling down in Gina- and Peta-approved style ...

Three more years of nuking the country, three more years of hate media ...

The pond supposes it should offer a couple of reptiles, and the bromancer was on hand further down the page with a bigly splash, accompanied by a Minns ...

There's nothing like a war to get the bromancer going, and there's nothing like ethnic cleansing to warm the cockles of a NSW premier's heart, and so a special shout out to Minns, by way of a Rowe offering celebrating the ethnic cleansing ...

Back to the bro, and the pond had no dog in the fight between barking mad Hindu fundamentalist nationalism and barking mad Islamic fundamentalist nationalism, but the pond had a two bob bet each way that the bromancer would write something that would pass as an Indian government press release, and so it came to pass ...

The pond only offers it as a curiosity, what with warrior hawk bromancer exceptionally keen to have a war with China by Xmas, but rather tepid when a regional skirmish - set up long ago by the tepid British - breaks out...

The header: Will ‘intensely dangerous situation’ lead to all-out war between India and Pakistan?, The world now confronts the situation of two nuclear-armed states, with a long history of mutual hatred and an unresolved territorial dispute, engaged in continuing, conventional military conflict.

The caption: Demonstrators shout slogans beside a banner with a picture of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an anti-India protest in Hyberabad, Sindh province, on Wednesday. Picture: AFP

The mystical command: This article contains features which are only available in the web version, Take me there

Then it was on with the press release:

India’s retaliatory military strike against Pakistan over a murderous terrorist incident in Kashmir was limited, surgical and designed not to lead to a broader military conflict with Pakistan.

However, the world now confronts the situation of two nuclear-armed states, with a long history of mutual hatred and an unresolved territorial dispute, engaged in continuing, conventional, albeit relatively low-level military conflict.

Once a conflict starts on the so-called escalation ladder, the situation is intensely dangerous.

Nonetheless it’s unlikely to lead to mass military mobilisation, much less nuclear war.

Both India and Pakistan have highly sophisticated military and political leadership and long experience in not letting their conflict escalate to the point of a nuclear exchange.

That’s no guarantee that the worst will never happen, but the India/Pakistan conflict represents, in its own bizarre and troubled way, a kind of success for nuclear deterrence.

The April 22 terror attack at Pahalgam in Kashmir saw armed men open fire indiscriminately on a group of innocent tourists.

Kashmir is one of the naturally loveliest locations in the world and attracts huge numbers of Indian tourists. When it is peaceful, international tourists flock there as well.

In this attack, 25 Indians and one Nepali were killed.

Narendra Modi’s government in New Delhi attributed the attack to a terrorist group ultimately controlled by Lashkar-e-Taiba, which in turn is intermittently supported by the Pakistani military.

The reptiles interrupted with an AV distraction, Tensions escalate between India and Pakistan following cross-border air strikes targeting alleged terrorist camps. Pakistani forces shoot down two Indian jets and a drone, leading to casualties and fears of further military conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

Naturally the bro didn't blame the dilatory Poms for the original muck-up. 

If the pond might head off to the wiki for a little background ...

Kashmir was neither as large nor as old an independent state as Hyderabad; it had been created rather off-handedly by the British after the first defeat of the Sikhs in 1846, as a reward to a former official who had sided with the British. The Himalayan kingdom was connected to India through a district of the Punjab, but its population was 77 per cent Muslim and it shared a boundary with Pakistan. Hence, it was anticipated that the maharaja would accede to Pakistan when the British paramountcy ended on 14–15 August. When he hesitated to do this, Pakistan launched a guerrilla onslaught meant to frighten its ruler into submission. Instead the Maharaja appealed to Mountbatten for assistance, and the governor-general agreed on the condition that the ruler accede to India. Indian soldiers entered Kashmir and drove the Pakistani-sponsored irregulars from all but a small section of the state. The United Nations was then invited to mediate the quarrel. The UN mission insisted that the opinion of Kashmiris must be ascertained, while India insisted that no referendum could occur until all of the state had been cleared of irregulars

See how the bro can reduce complexity to a single sentence mush ...

Kashmir is the only Muslim majority state in India. Its then ruler, the Maharajah, opted for his state to be part of India rather than Pakistan at the time of partition between India and Pakistan in 1947. After savage communal fighting, most of the state has been part of India ever since. A smaller portion is part of Pakistan.

Pakistan has never accepted the legitimacy of this choice. India and Pakistan have fought two wars over Kashmir.

Although it pro forma denies sponsoring terrorism, there is no doubt that Pakistan has a long history of supporting anti-Indian terrorism in and around Kashmir, and sometimes in India itself.

There is not the slightest chance that the Indian state will ever give up Kashmir. Therefore there is a kind of nihilistic savagery and pointless, futile barbarity about the terror campaigns which Pakistan continues to sponsor.

Islamabad has a permanent chip on its shoulder regarding its giant neighbour.

India is now one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and a considerable power in global affairs. Pakistan’s economic performance is much poorer. It cannot achieve political stability. And it is riven by internal Islamist challenges to its own legitimacy.

Off to another visual distraction, Local residents and members of the media examine a building damaged by a suspected Indian missile attack near Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, on Wednesday. Picture: AP Photo

Then it was time for a final bro burst ...

One way the Pakistan state has for dealing with that internally is to try to channel the Islamist impulse to external targets, chiefly, though not solely, India.

For a long time India did not make military responses to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

But the gradual escalation in the severity of these terrorist attacks finally convinced New Delhi that it had to impose a military penalty on Pakistan.

The Indian government in a statement said that its attacks on Pakistan in this round have been “focused, measured and non-escalatory”.

It attacked what it said were terrorist sites mainly in Pakistan controlled parts of Kashmir and it did not directly attack Pakistani government facilities. Pakistan shot down an unknown number of Indian military jets and has fired artillery into Indian Kashmir.

The situation is extremely tense and there is still a real danger of escalation.

China backs Pakistan strategically but there is no sign it wants this conflict.

The US similarly is urging de-escalation. Since it withdrew from Afghanistan, Washington has less direct influence over Pakistan.

Both Pakistani and Indian societies have strong nationalist sentiment. Each regards the other as villainous. As the vastly more successful state, India has more to lose. Although it’s certainly the case that India has also made its own share of mistakes in the way it rules Kashmir.

If it follows the pattern of earlier incidents, the military action should subside relatively soon.

But the incentives for Pakistan to continue to promote terrorism in Kashmir remain unchanged.

Therefore, new incidents are always likely. No solution is remotely in sight.

That left the pond in a state of mourning - no solution remotely in sight - and no chance to celebrate a different kind of elbows up conflict, featured in style by the immortal Rowe ...

There was also no chance to feature genuine local loonery, right up the road from the pond at St Pete's ...

More on that loon below, but in the meantime, the pond was caught short for a bonus.

The pond ruled out Jack the Insider ...

At least the Liberals have a template on what not to do

It was the worst political campaign I’ve ever seen and I am old enough to remember Mark Latham’s Labor opposition clutching a humiliating defeat from the jaws of a potential victory in 2004.

By Jack the Insider

The trouble of course is that it's the same mob, and who can expect anything from the double S woman or the beefy boofhead from Goulburn?

That only left an effort from warrior Liz, albeit only another three minute read, or so the reptiles said, as she trampled on bromancer turf and tried to steal his thunder:

The header promised much: Defend ourselves? We don’t even know who we are, The upside of Albanese’s election win is we can keep on coasting, baby. Printing money for a long list of half-baked defence schemes that our kids will foot the bill for.

Just what the pond wanted to know. Who the fuck are we? Where the fuck are we?

Sorry, first an acknowledgement of that splendid artwork: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles.

And never forget the mystical injunction: This article contains features which are only available in the web version,Take me there

The pond had half-expected warrior Liz to explain who we are, but no such luck. Perhaps she herself didn't even know who we are, because the pond searched high and low for signs of who we are, and came away empty-handed ...

There is a grim reality to Anthony Albanese’s historic thumping of the Coalition: Australia will keep coasting along in strategic affairs.

Our cautious approach to China will continue, emboldening Beijing’s regional assertiveness and undermining the strategic balance in Asia. Defence spending will remain woefully inadequate, potentially placing us in the crosshairs of Donald Trump and his distaste for free-riders and freeloaders. Happy days, so long as we don’t rock the boat.

When did Australia become the scrawny kid in the playground consistently targeted for lunch money? We are now at the point where we offer up the goods as soon as we get to school, fearful of any altercation, just wanting to get through the day. We’ve stopped asking questions of our defence representatives and that has enabled an entire system to take root that awards stability and caution over bold action.

Cue a snap of warrior King Donald, President Donald Trump arrives at the South Lawn of the White House.

The pond felt in urgent need of a 'toon featuring the warrior in action...

On with warrior Liz ...

Bleating about Trump 2.0 or ruminating on the future of AUKUS is a popular fixture among Canberra’s “strategic community” and commentariat. But will commentary on the perils of an isolationist America change Australian policy? No.

Will a blow-by-blow account of our historical mateship squawked from an X post jolt Washington? No. 

That's the best warrior Liz has got? Historical mateship is who we are? 

And somehow a squawk in the lizard Oz amounts to a hill of beans? But do go on with the bleating...

Does a sound bite on the promise and potential of AUKUS have any repercussions? No.

Sure, the discourse is loud, but it’s repetitive and vacuous.

As a nation we have killed subject matter expertise and stomped out contestability. It is no wonder we lack the building blocks to provide a vision of strategic policy for the next generation.

Contestability? WTF, but the pond was relieved that the reptiles decided to slip in an AV distraction, featuring the Swiss bank account man, Former Labor Senator Graham Richardson discusses the future of Australia’s relationship with the United States and President Donald Trump. This comes after Donald Trump praised his relationship with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese amid the recent federal election result. “It’s a very good thing, we must maintain that relationship with the United States,” Mr Richardson told Sky News Australia. “It shouldn’t matter in Australia who wins elections, Australia and the United States have to remain very close allies, things like AUKUS have to be nurtured and repeatedly refreshed because they are so vital to our country's safety. “I think Trump will receive [Albanese] very openly and warmly; Trump understands the need of the maintenance of the alliances the United States has around the world, and Australia plays a key part in that.”

So all's well, the Swiss bank account man has settled the matter, and it's way past time to meet warrior Liz ...

Strange, the pond had half-expected someone with a military air, but no ...

Still, there's nothing like a jolly good rant and a sticking it to the Swiss bank account man ...

This government wouldn’t have it any other way.

Beneath our learnt ambivalence is a hard truth: we are unsure of our place, who we are and what we want in the world.

Australia’s defence plan is wedded to a policy of pay now and receive later, with wild assumptions that the environment of the future will somehow rhyme with today’s circumstances. The sands are shifting beneath our feet daily; our great American mate slaps tariffs on us one day and breaks bread with Vladimir Putin the next.

The AUKUS deal – specifically the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines – was sold as the solution to countering the regional assertiveness of China. In effect, this plan ties Australia to a decades-long project with uncertain results while diverting resources from more immediate needs of middle-power Australia.

She does realise she's writing for the lizard Oz? She does realise who sold the solution?

Bromancer, there's a cuckoo in the nest, a warrior trying to steal your turf ... speak up, speak up...

On the surface, AUKUS deal is an excellent outcome

This brilliant nuclear submarine deal is a giant step forward for Australia.

Greg Sheridan

This brilliant nuclear submarine deal – in which we buy three or more Virginia-class nuclear submarines from the US, while simultaneously working with both the Brits and the Americans on a common sub design for a little further down the track – is a giant step forward for Australia.

It could revolutionise our military and industrial capability, at an expensive but affordable cost.

Frankly, it’s the first time a working Australian nuclear submarine under AUKUS ­arrange­ments has looked plausible.

The government is likely to send 1000 Australian personnel to the US to learn how to make nuclear subs. That’s a fantastic idea.

Oh dear bromancer, watch out, there's a rat in the ranks, a drone in the hive mind ... and of course there's a snap of the head villain ...Anthony Albanese

Warrior Liz then shifted into a high gear bleating ...

A clear AUKUS vision would prioritise adaptability, diversification and scalability as hallmarks of policy.

Any vision certainly would light a fire under pillar two and undertake a reassessment of just what the hell we are actually doing.

Australia has lost its way in terms of innovation, research and development too.

Government missed an opportunity to celebrate Australian innovation with the recent sale of the Jindalee Operational Radar Network to Canada. We’re home to some of the world’s best radar technology – just look to our homegrown CEA Technologies.

These are decades-old stories of Australian innovation and defence solutions changing the world. Today? International firms are selected over national ones to forge 155mm munitions.

We are a democracy with high living standards. But in an era of sharpened confluence between enduring strategic competition, resource insecurity and shifting political orders, merely “muddling through” is not sufficient.

Nor can we look to traditional sources of comfort – the US is redefining its own national interests and reordering its strategic priorities. As it is entitled to do so.

Countries such as Singapore and Norway offer more relevant guides for today’s Australia. Both provide a clear strategic vision for their nations, built on agility and clear-eyed understanding of their unique national interests. They have prepared their populations for tough times.

Time then for a supporting villain snap, Richard Marles during a visit to the Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane.

That produced a final moan, with the pond still none the wiser as to who we are ...

If we don’t know what we are fighting for, who we want to be in the international community and how we get there, concepts such as preparedness and resilience hardly matter.

Australia continues to permit external forces and legacy piecemeal platitudes masquerading as foreign policy, to define and shape our place in the world. Where is our ambition?

This is the true pressing whole-of-nation endeavour our country faces: rediscovering, or reinventing, the Aussie spirit to innovate, contest and shore up our own future. All the things that won’t see daylight under this government.

The upside of Albanese’s win is we can keep on coasting, baby. Printing money for a long list of half-baked defence schemes that our kids will foot the bill for. Continuing to duck and weave hard strategic choices. It is high time for a national discussion on Australia’s purpose and place in the world. Just don’t expect action, Australia has not voted for that.

Elizabeth Buchanan is a senior fellow with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

Well done warrior Liz, though perhaps the pond might have been better off looking out for some kind of smoke in the eyes ...

And so to another step in the pond's slideshow night travelogue. 

One of the joys of heading up to Armidale is the Moonbi pass, where back in the day Morris Minors could be seen steaming on the shoulder, and where it's the duty of every traveller to stop at the lookout for the view of the valley below ...(click on for panorama effect)

Naturally the pond chose magic hour for its snaps ...

There's always a plaque, there has to be a plaque ...

And now to finish off that local loon, with the pond regretting that it's against the rules to link to Murdoch publications, because talk about trying to sell coal in Newcastle...

A few samples, a few highlights, and all this happening just down the road from the pond, and the pond completely unaware of the St. Pete's comedy...

Oh there were comments, the pond likes to read the comments, and at long last St Peters had landed in New York and made a big splash....

So it goes, and so ends the entertainment for the day, and apologies, maybe this will bring some correspondents around to demanding the return of petulant Peta...