Closely following D.C. electrics and hydraulics in my lexicon of boring or not understood things, (due massive interest failure) comes politics and the actions of politicians and those of their minders. Whether they are opening their mouths to change feet or setting fire to their feet to keep their hands warm, it is simply one of the many things I fail to understand. Not 'thick' you understand, just the hard wiring is different.
For example; MH 370 ranks up there with the Titanic as a disaster and a mystery. Perhaps even a bigger mystery; which was always (as demonstrated) going to draw a large crowd. That crowd keeping a watchful eye on the many layers of vested interest, Government, manufacturer, safety agencies, military, secret services etc. etc. Australia's SAR obligations soon became apparent and, to their credit, the government responded quickly and properly. Rapidly despatching our very competent search crews and aircraft into the wide, wild Indian Ocean; heeding neither the cost or risk, in an attempt to locate survivors and the airframe. The laudable SAR exercise was conducted by the first class Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and someone had the good sense to deal Angus Houston into the game. It was all peerlessly managed, honest, open and correct. First class job and bloody well done; by all; from the cleaning crew to Houston. Bravo.
Long before the 'theorists' got going for real, there were difficult questions, of a technical nature to answer. Conspiracy and piracy aside, there was enough 'smell' coming off the known facts to warn even the most naive, politically insensitive of creatures that this incident had the potential to turn very ugly, very fast.
So, why would anyone put the undermanned, under-skilled, under funded, discredited Australian Air Transport Safety Board (ATSB) management 'front of house' to replace the peerless AMSA and the impeccable Houston?.... Sure, it's an 'aviation' matter but without an aircraft to investigate and considering the world wide talent pool analysing the available 'aeronautical' data, the ATSB was pretty much one of the banjo players in the orchestra pit. Their practical value would be 'dubious', the clever folk, with the expensive toys would, eventually pass along their information; but not until 'they' were certain of their facts and results; at best ATSB would be an also ran in the information and analysis stakes.
Then, to crown this, a short sighted, blatant
PR attempt to 'resurrect' the tarnished Bea-Cur reputation by his golfing mates. He is shoved centre stage of the MH 370 production. This mind you following closely on the heels of a 'lacklustre' performance in a Senate inquiry which clearly identified several areas of incompetence, went very close to calling the duck-up of the cover up a collusive conspiracy, shamed Dolan and by extension discredited the entire ATSB, as an entity. No one blamed the coal face troops, but mud does have it's own methodology.
Which ever way it plays (or spins) out, MH 370 has the makings of a first class political disaster. What I fail to understand is why throw more fat into the fire by putting the Mrdak/Dolan duo into a very fierce spotlight?, when they're joined at the hip. One whiff of involvement in anything remotely resembling the Pel-Air debacle and the government will catch the blame; probably not all of it, but enough to 'shorten' their credibility. If any form of cover up is ever proven and with these two, already 'suspect' under a Senate exposed 'cover up' cloud, standing front and centre it will be very hard to deny Australian complicity; given the proven track record in domestic matters. Even if there never was a cover up of any sort; the international press are no where near as tame, frightened or benign as the local variety.
Nope, just don't get it – from a chance to shine by continuing with the great job done by AMSA and Houston to being tarred by a very dirty brush; in one ill considered, badly advised move, beats me. No matter, Julia will sort it all out, being a Bishop on a chess board, rather than an Abbott running a monkery.
Selah..