Yes eagle888, we are not at war with Indonesia nor at war with asylum seekers but we are at war with illegal boat smugglers and I can't think of a more effective way than to turn the boat people back so that they can then focus their anger towards the smugglers themselves by seeking a refund for not delivering on the service they had promised.
If enough boats are reversed the tide will eventually turn whereby the smugglers will be running for cover but there won't be anywhere to hide.
