The dominant security issue in the western world is the attack by Hamas terrorists on southern Israel on October 7. Emotions are still exceptionally raw and there are limits to analysis at this point in an ongoing crisis. More than 2,000 innocent lives have already been lost – some in ways that bring back memories of the worst days of Islamic State. The response needs to be in a way that minimises further loss of civilian life, though the signs are not good. Was it an intelligence failure? It’s too early to tell – perhaps it was but tragically sometimes politicians have a tendency only to accept the advice that they want. Then - why don’t we lease nuclear-powered submarines rather than by them? And a final word about Taipan helicopters with the ADF now suppressing all information about the Talisman Sabre crash, which apparently shows that the helicopter was not to blame.