I suspect the Prime Minister is lying to you. This may come as no surprise, but lying your way to war, even a little one, is an order of magnitude more serious than simply lying your way into office and out of your promises. Some lies lead only to disappointment, perhaps to resentment. Some lead to violence and tragedy and death.

The Prime Minister, I fear, tells two very particular lies as he prepares to swaddle the ballot box in desert camouflage. First that there will be no Australian combat forces in Iraq, and second that these combat forces – which won't be there – will increase your security.

Tony Abbott's response to ISIS has been pure political theatre, writes John Birmingham. Credit:Getty-Images

There will be boots on the ground. This will not protect you. It will, with dread certainty, increase the chances of atrocity here.

That is no reason not to send them of course. If you believe Fascist Islam presents a credible, existential threat to Australia then you would not be much of a Prime Minister if you did not raise a mighty army and take the field against the Daesh* horde.