...While it may be considered humane in some quarters (Kelly Tranter) to altruistically beat our collective chests for the billions who suffer inordinately in the world; in this article the cause of the Palestinians appears again as the flavour of the month and fails dismally to paint a complete picture.

...There is no right and wrong side in this conflict, but when the best available recourse to justice for the Palestinians themselves is to present an evil little psychopathic “Arafat” as their mentor, one would have to wonder firstly about their collective ability and secondly about the Palestinian national “psyche” !

...I think you should simply allow yourself to “grow up” somewhat, and wisen up to the political realities of this small country Australia, and its imperatives which I personally consider should be led by loyalty (not "by the nose" as your article suggests) to our primary allies, significantly the US.

Diver Dan does not speak for all Australians. He has obviously been diving too deep for too long.

That Australia is an American pawn is obvious to the world. Our political leadership (I use the word 'leadership' loosely) has been bum-kissing the U.S. with the same fervor that it once used on Britain.

We support one of the most brutal regimes the world has ever seen (Israel) and leave the Palestinians to suffer while mouthing platitudes about wanting them to have an independent State.

We also support the most brutal imperial regimes the world has ever seen (the U.S.) with the same devotion, never criticizing, never refusing to enter into its endless wars, its killing of millions, never caring about the cost in Australian lives.

Great article, Kellie! It will hopefully wake a few Australians up.

David G:

...But you fail to address Arafat and his string of terrorist acts and associations, and you fail to address the need for loyalty to our allies. Being allied is a mutual exchange with mutual obligations, its a simple concept really!

...I am sure Kelly Tranter is a very sweet girl no doubt, and I just love women who wear their heart on their sleeve, but she epitomizes that female quality of sentiment so distant and difficult for the normal bloke to understand..."blind impracticality".

A good article Kellie. Read Michael Brissendens new book,'American Story', for a broad picture of where the US is and where it is likely to be in 30 years. Why would we want to be tied to a failing,unreliable and dishonest 'super power'?

Diver Dan come out of the wood work and show us just how red your neck is. You are a bully. Diver Dan - deep sea prawn?

Bruce Haigh

...Well Bruce, I don’t sip Latte or beer. I drink the cool waters deeply from the well of reality though.

Diver Dan, you conveniently forget that that the state of Israel was established because of the terrorist activities of the Zionists who are currently represented by Benjamin Netanyahu.

David