1- Australia needs a long range deterrent capability.
2- Stealth cruise missiles replace obsolete F111's.
To avoid regional paranoia and similar upgrades by regional forces, we use diplomacy to allay fears. This diplomacy, or explaination to our regional "allies", is a soft kill for Australia if we are the ONLY force in the region with cruise missiles.
If, as suggested by previous posts, we give the thumb to these countries and they see an immediate need for similar capabilities, we have missed an opportunity.
Australia can not defend itself against such capabilities. Whether at home ( unlikely ) or in regional operations without the Americans.
In having new generation cruise missiles EXCLUSIVELY, we effectively have our F111 1970's and 1980's advantage again.
To quote former US Secretary of State McNamara, the F111 was an all weather and first pass bomber. This capability made regional day fighters, early generation SAM's, anti-aircraft guns and ground based radar ineffective.
When regional air forces deployed next generation fighters and SAM's, the F111 was more vulnerable and lost it's previous advantage.
A stealth cruise missile swings the pendulum back in our favour. Especially with JSF and the flexibility of extremely long range Orions.
How we went down the track of appeasing muslims etc?
Ozbiggles
That's another absurd scenario. Sept 11 or the tragedy in Moscow this morning shows that despite the rocket forces of the Americans and Russians, you can not hit back rationally against small terrorist organisations.
Appeasing Muslim terrorists another pipped in. They want you to hit back , hard and without mercy. This creates a groundswell of fundamentalism amongst the uneducated impoverished masses ( West Bank etc ) and an unwinnable situation develops.
Don't pretend to have the answers for terrorism-as confused as the CIA, Mossad and the KGB!