Nicely said Brock; and no serious disagreement from any here. The questions are valid, the observations pass the smell test; and, to a ‘thinking’ person demand at least some examination. Then again, so do the conclusions and analysis of several ‘honest toilers’ whose good work, for no gain or fame, continues to fall on profoundly deaf ears.
Australia could have come out of this ‘squeaky-clean’ and smelling of roses, indeed would have, had the discredited, not yet pardoned ATSB ( an 'investigator') not been shoved centre stage. Had the AMSA (crack SAR specialists) been allowed to continue, I believe ‘things’ would have turned out a lot better. The government lost all semblance of credibility by placing the highly compromised Dolan in charge. Dolan had been weighed and measured by a Senate committee and found wanting. Few, if any, who followed the Pel-Air debacle would believe, rightly or wrongly, much of what Dolan said, about anything. It was a bad error in judgement to foist Dolan into the middle of the 370 search, once again, rightly or wrongly, he was ‘seen’ to be shall we say, flexible.
When credibility or even plausible deniability is quintessential, to place the unimpeachable front of house is an essential. AMSA was, is and remains ‘front of house’ quality; stood down in favour of a person and an organization which was, is and remains – under a cloud. Dolan and the ATSB may well be pure as the driven snow – but, after the Pel-Air inquiry, by the Senate, bringing in ATSB placed an element of doubt over Australia’s involvement. That doubt, to this day, casts a long shadow over Australia’s involvement. There is enough doubt and confusion without that additional element. Problem for the minister and his word weasels now.
Australia could have come out of this ‘squeaky-clean’ and smelling of roses, indeed would have, had the discredited, not yet pardoned ATSB ( an 'investigator') not been shoved centre stage. Had the AMSA (crack SAR specialists) been allowed to continue, I believe ‘things’ would have turned out a lot better. The government lost all semblance of credibility by placing the highly compromised Dolan in charge. Dolan had been weighed and measured by a Senate committee and found wanting. Few, if any, who followed the Pel-Air debacle would believe, rightly or wrongly, much of what Dolan said, about anything. It was a bad error in judgement to foist Dolan into the middle of the 370 search, once again, rightly or wrongly, he was ‘seen’ to be shall we say, flexible.
When credibility or even plausible deniability is quintessential, to place the unimpeachable front of house is an essential. AMSA was, is and remains ‘front of house’ quality; stood down in favour of a person and an organization which was, is and remains – under a cloud. Dolan and the ATSB may well be pure as the driven snow – but, after the Pel-Air inquiry, by the Senate, bringing in ATSB placed an element of doubt over Australia’s involvement. That doubt, to this day, casts a long shadow over Australia’s involvement. There is enough doubt and confusion without that additional element. Problem for the minister and his word weasels now.