Most of us learnt early in life that the only language a bully understands is a good old punch in the face. Perhaps as importantly we also realised that appeasing the bully would end up requiring a far harder punch at a later date. Nothing much changes.

Leap forward a few imaginary years and wake up to Rhun ap Iorwerth’s worst nightmare; Wales has actually become independent. Confounding both his critics and especially his supporters, Rhun has introduced radical free market supply side reforms and Wales is making a fist of it.

Valleys have been dammed capturing fresh water that has increasing value. Offshore wind generates unreliable but clean electricity. Of course there has to be transmission infrastructure (pylons?) to use and export it. Turning it into reliable energy requires population level backup; so massive liquid hydrogen storage has been developed. It can power ultra clean dual cycle gas turbines making Wales a green battery for the UK and beyond.

Patrick Loxdale (Patrick Loxdale)

With simple, sensible taxation Wales is attracting inward investment, much of it high tec. But there is of course plenty of space for huge data centres or robot run factories, hungry for Welsh power and thirsty for her water. And who knows; with a revolution in education and infrastructure maybe Wales is making the stuff needed for this to happen, and exporting it to the world.

But, as Wales regains her rightful place as a leading, outward looking high tec country not everyone will be happy. Driven by jealousy, bullies hate to see others succeeding. Putin loathed the success that a democratic Ukraine was achieving. It showed up all the miserable failures of his totalitarian offering to the Russian people. So he tried to destroy Ukraine. Tragically, we passed up the opportunity for a little bop on his nose a few years ago.

All the signs are that he is embarked on a hybrid war with Western Europe, every bit or perhaps even more dangerous than the Cold War; and the worry is that he wants to expand it or God forbid go further. Offshore wind turbines, undersea cables and stored hydrogen are all very vulnerable. And don’t for a moment delude yourself that Putin will be the last bully.

So the economic success that will be required to allow an independent Wales to prosper, will inevitably bring threats. Of course old friendships and alliances should be maintained and new relationships nurtured. That’s a two way process requiring material and human commitment.

But there are and always will be bad actors. A velvet glove is all good and well, but it needs an iron fist inside it. Nations that value democracy have to be prepared and willing to defend it, by force if necessary. The best way to prevent war is to be ready for it. It’s called deterrence, and for many years it allowed us to sleep safe in our beds.

An important litmus test is playing out. Back in July, our Plaid Cymru Government called in the DARC application in Pembrokeshire (Elly Foster, Green Space, Cambrian News, 16 Sept). This radar installation is part of the Australia/UK/US (Aukus) defence pact. It is a defensive installation designed to spot military and non-military threats up to 36,000 miles out into space, all around the globe. It will help to maintain the safety of NATO countries as well as our democratic friends in the Indo-Pacific region.

Does Wales want to contribute to and be part of these critical alliances which look to secure peace? Or are we going to bottle out and try to appease the bully? Quite soon, we will know if those who advocate independence have the moral courage to deliver it.