Twiddling the clocks is normally limited to a 1 hour shift, either forward or back, near the equinoxes. Even then, not all countries, states and territories follow the practice. But now, we have been exposed as amateurs by the Houthi terrorists from Yemen.

Much like Crocodile Dundee scoffed as the street thug attempted a hold up with a knife on the New York streets, “That’s not a knife; THIS is a knife!”, the Houthis have decided a 1 hour clock shift is not a shift at all.

So the Houthis have gone for 150 years. Backwards. THAT’S a clock shift.

The Suez Canal was opened just over 150 years ago. It created a new sea route from Europe to India and the Far East. Before the canal opened, shipping to and from the east went south around Africa. The canal allowed ships to transit the Mediterranean, the Canal, the Red Sea and onwards to India, the Far East (or Australia in my case). The time and money saved was substantial.

It is, or was up until last month, the world’s most significant shortcut, even more valuable than the Panama Canal.

The importance of the Suez Canal has driven wars and war strategy even from Young Winston Churchill’s days as a British Cavalry rider fighting the River War in the 19th century.

As of this week, 3 out of the largest 5 bulk oil tanker shipping companies have abandoned the Suez Canal and are re-routing around the southern tip of Africa. Other shipping businesses are considering the same. The reason is that Houthi terrorists from Yemen are attacking ships in the Red Sea. The Houthis are a disaffected group whose motives are clearly documented on their logo. Their objectives include Death to America, Death to Israel and A Curse upon the Jews. Charming.

Despite their backward outlook on life, they are well equipped with military grade drones and weaponry. They are a serious problem. They are literally setting our clocks back 150 years to before the opening of the Canal. There will be interruptions to supply chains and higher costs of goods and services for the rest of us.

The US is coordinating a multi country task force to defend shipping in the Red Sea. Australia was asked to send 1 warship to assist. Inexplicably, our Government said no.