NIGERIA, Dec. 9 -- In one of his many cutting observations about the fallibility of politicians, H. L. Mencken had this to say about the practical sort: "It is his business to convince the mob (a) that it is confronted by some grave danger, some dreadful menace to its peace and security, and (b) that he can save it." Regarding Australia's often provincial politicians, that grave danger remains the Yellow Peril, albeit it one garbed in communist party colours, while the quackery they continue to practise involves the notion that the United States will act as shield bearer and saviour in any future conflict.

The AUKUS trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States has turned the first of these countrie...