A modern obsession is with extraordinary achievement at work or in life. People, especially youth, are simultaneously told they can ‘’be anything’’, yet they are increasingly ill-equipped to find meaning in being ordinary resulting in disappointment or depression.

The increasingly dangerous interceptions of Australian aircraft reflect deliberate military coercion; a deteriorating regional security environment; and the breakdown of global norms—reinforcing the urgency of AUKUS and strengthened Australian deterrence.

Decades of U.S. dominance have bred complacent assumptions about mobility and sustainment in the Indo-Pacific. Williams argues planners must confront logistical, geographic, and force design limits, adopting realistic, resilient postures grounded in war-gaming and analysis.

Despite unmatched resources, U.S. cyber power remains strategically strong but operationally weak. Centralised authorities stifle agility. Decentralising cyber command and empowering forward-deployed operators is essential for integrating cyber effects at the speed of modern warfare.

Recent Russian drone and aircraft incursions into NATO airspace are provocative but not an immediate existential threat. Europe can address the modest risk with layered counter-drone measures, avoiding escalation and direct NATO engagement in Ukraine.

Unrealistic expectations rooted in entitlement often lead to frustration and anger. Entitlement fosters hypersensitivity to perceived disrespect, inflexibility in thinking, and blame-shifting, undermining self-awareness, resilience, and the ability to manage emotions constructively in relationships and workplaces.

The U.S. Army and AirJoule Technologies are developing systems to extract water from the atmosphere, enabling soldiers to generate potable water independently in austere or contaminated environments, reducing logistical burdens and enhancing operational endurance.

Small, strategically mobile forces—when guided by patience, audacity, and mastery of local terrain—can offset numerical disadvantage and achieve stalemate as a viable pathway to success. Concentration of force remains a timeless principle.

Political turmoil in France is deepening New Caledonia’s instability—disrupting peace efforts, delaying autonomy agreements, and threatening fragile relations between pro-independence movements and Paris amid growing Pacific concern. Renewed unrest could reignite tensions.

Rushed border settlements risk repeating historical mistakes. Lasting instability often follows partitions drawn from convenience, rather than understanding, leaving nations with unresolved tensions long after the fighting stops. Poor mediation risks permanent cessation of hostilities.